Juice Flow – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Juice Flow is the controlled movement of e-liquid (also called juice) from a tank or dripper’s reservoir into the wicking material and onward to the coil. Proper juice flow keeps the cotton or Japanese cotton consistently saturated, preventing dry hits and ensuring full flavour production. In bottom-feed (squonk) systems it describes e-liquid travelling up from the bottle through the 510 pin; in traditional tanks it refers to the rate at which juice leaves the juice well and travels along juice channels. Balanced juice flow is critical: too slow and the wick dries out; too fast and the coil floods, causing spit-back or leaking.

Technical Details

Juice flow is governed by capillary action, vacuum pressure and viscosity. Most modern tanks use juice flow control (JFC) rings that widen or narrow external slots, altering the cross-sectional area of the juice channels from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. High-VG juice (≥70 %) is thicker, so wider channels or larger wicking ports (2 × 6 mm oval) are standard; 50/50 blends can use tighter 1 mm channels. RTA decks position the juice well 2–4 mm below the deck to create a small hydrostatic head, while squonk bottles deliver 7–10 mL per squeeze at 8–12 kPa positive pressure. Variations include top-to-bottom wicking (Zeus-style), bottom-to-top (TFV-style) and capillary-tube systems found in pod mods.

Usage & Tips

  • Wick density: Fluff cotton enough to fill the port without bulging; over-stuffing chokes juice flow, under-stuffing causes seepage.
  • Close JFC when filling: Prevents vacuum loss and leaking on top-fill tanks.
  • Season new coils:Drip 5-6 drops directly onto the coil, then take 3-5 primer puffs without firing to initiate juice flow.
  • Temperature matters: Cold juice thickens; open JFC slightly or warm the tank in your hand before vaping.
  • Safety: If you taste burning, stop and check wick saturation—continuing can ignite the cotton and release formaldehyde.

History & Context

Juice flow control first appeared on 2014 Kayfun v4 RTAs to solve vacuum-lock gurgling. As sub-ohm tanks pushed juice capacity past 8 mL and VG ratios climbed, adjustable channels became mainstream. Today, even 2 mL TPD-compliant pods incorporate proprietary juice-flow membranes, proving the concept’s enduring importance in Australian and global markets.

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