Old AGA U-wick revamp Mod

Wanted to try a U-wick, so pulled out the sad old AGA from the first Co-op, drilled 3.19mm holes for wicks, 2.5mm holes to tap to M3 for decent ground connection and fill hole screw, cleaned the top plate and polished back.
Set up a 0.8 Ohm 4wrap 28g Kanthal coil on a 50mm x 90mm #200 mesh U-wick.
I had already reshaped drilled out and ground the topcap, and replaced pos post and nuts with one from DUD.

Superb flavor, Impossible to get a dry hit.

What I started with.



The modding and wick set-up



The dryburn and quick test, size in 18650 on the Paps

 

Should have buffed the knurling out while you were at it, off of the top plate at least but again more nice work mate.
I Especially like how you've rounded the shape of the top cap on it.

Do you think these would fit to make a hybrid, using the top plate like you did with the AGA-T?

 

I wanted to remove the knurling Noe, but the O-rings that seal the tank at both ends sit against that part of the meat, and the tank is really thin where it meets the knurling, so you would end up with as really sharp edge where the tank protrudes beyond the recess created by removing that considerably deep knurling.
As for hybridizing, it's 20mm diameter as opposed to the AGA-T's 22mm, so the chances of finding a 18XXX mod with a 18/19mm x1mm thread to mate with the topcap are slim.

 

Wait a bit, I understand the loss of 2mm could be an issue but why is the threaded tank & non threaded center post an issue?
The center post would surely fit into a top plate top & bottom & the tank section should still be the same screwing onto a top cap top & bottom, unless there is a depth difference in top & bottom plates?

 

LoL, I edited that comment out about a minute after I wrote it to avoid muddying the waters. But as it happens the top plate is much deeper to allow for some juice capacity, so that would be an issue also.

 

Still not certain that is going to be an issue, I have 2 but I'm currently using one lol
When I pop the coil on it I'll see if I can exchange a bottom plate for a top plate & make it work, then there would just be the issue of finding a suitable tube to make it work as a hybrid.
Not in any rush though lol the chances of finding the right tube are going to be pretty slim.

 

The issue is, you will find your center post will be to short to seal and properlty seat against the two top plates.
The original base plate is flat inside and the top plate is cupped.
Anyhow you will see what I mean when you dismantle your two.
Assuming you could find a mod with the thread you would at least have to machine or adapt a new center post.

 

I'm starting to get it , that is, what all the fuss is with U-wicks, I've tried Dual wick setups and to be honest I was nonplussed, not too hard to set up, but serious drain on the battery, and although the flavor was a little better it's nothing like as good as the U-wick in the AGA, I'm trying hard to resist modding one of my three DID standards to take a Uey.

 

im gonna try this out when i get free time. have the same exact atomizer.

 

Couldn't resist, Just drilled out another 3.5mm wickhole in the DID, and setup with the same wick and coils specs as the AGA. WOW!!!!! Sweeeeeet!!!

 

i have teh exact same atomizer and just tried to make a u wick, until i realised you replaced the negative post with a screw that closed the gap to avoid the coil from heating up. i need that screw! made such a pretty u wick tho. gotta get me some screws that fit

 

Just an update, this U-wick in the AGA is still running sweet as a nut,great throat hit, blissful flavor & loads of vapor.
I have spent ages trying to get the same experience with my other gennys to little avail.
the closest I have got is to run an unoxidized 3.1mm wick with a 35x35mm #500 semisolid core with a 35x35mm #200 outer layer rolled on tight.
If you haven't tried it I recommend it. I use the hot coil to oxidize the mesh just under the coil, it is fiddly and takes a while, but it is worth it.
I used to get sick of that just dryburned taste that took ages to go away if it ever did. Now after a dry burn (coil and wick in place) I run the wick still in the atty under a super hot tap (water),
then I place a tissue against the wick to soak up the excess, and then fill, saturate the wick, and after the last remains of water have left the wick (6 of 7 puffs) band in the comes the flavor pure as dripping

 

A quick post to tell you folks where I'm up to with what is my optimum setup.
#200 mesh (cut at 45 degrees),U-wick 4wrap 28g Kanthal 0.8 Ohms on a mech mod.
40-50 mm width x whatever length needed for the u-wick.(i usually find around 90mm is what I use)
unoxidized wick, rolled solid'ish' ( just lightly flamed to remove machine oils,not glowed any shade of red), pulsed and poked to remove hotspots ( this takes more care than the same practice with the #500), usually tightening coil once or twice towards the end of setup. Then I run wick and coil while still in the Atty under piping hot running water for a couple of minutes, then hold atty upside down and use paper towel to soak up water from u-wick before dropping juice on the wick for final testing, then fill vape and enjoy the purest most saturated flavor and best vapor I've experienced.
I have modded AGA, AGA-T,DIDstd & Mini DID all to take a U-wick by boring out an existing or new hole.
the #200 is so flexible you can coil it with only one end of the wick in place then insert the other end.
the positioning of the positive post/coil leg connection is a little trick at first, but after a while it's easy.
The #200 U-wick does not have the same capillary action as the #500, but doesn't need more than a 4o'clock tilt, which is my natural vape angle anyway. the wicking gets better stick after initial break in, and DOES NOT BUILD UP GUNK like the #500 and develop that gunky crappy taste that goes with it. I have run 80ml of dark tobacco juice through this wick and coil picture below, and only had to do a light dry burn and rinse under the piping hot water, before soaking the excess water up and refilling. I'm vaping that setup as I type and it's still sweet as a nut and bombproof to boot.
The throat hit is stellar also, at 0.8 Ohms at 3.7v under load that's around 15-16 watts of rich warm clouds.

I can safely say it endures and endures, and endures.
Since building this coil was such a revelation, it has lead to me modding another 5 of my prized gennys to accept the hallowed U-wick, and the unoxidized wick is definitely safer and better tasting.
Enjoy