Braided Kanthal

[Bob4156]

I've done tons of twisting diffferent gauge kanthals together with a drill experimenting for fun. But does anyone know if there is any benefit to actually braiding instead of twisting kanthal? I tightly braided 3 strands of 32 gauge and am about to make a coil, but I was wondering if I may have just wasted half an hour of my time.

 

[tayone415]

I've done tons of twisting diffferent gauge kanthals together with a drill experimenting for fun. But does anyone know if there is any benefit to actually braiding instead of twisting kanthal? I tightly braided 3 strands of 32 gauge and am about to make a coil, but I was wondering if I may have just wasted half an hour of my time.
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If it works better and you like it, it's not a waste of time, some people think anything beyond regular kanthal strands and a normal coil build is a waste of time.

 

[rondasherrill]

There is a problem with braiding. When you twist them together tightly, the pretty much stay in place, but when braided, the gaps between the strands will expand/contract as it heats and cools. The end result is the wires will touch each other and sometimes not, so the resistance won't be stable.

That is, unless you managed to braid them amazingly tight.

 

[Bob4156]

i pulled one the end of it pretty much as hard as i could then hit it with a torch while tight, the braids aren't budging, but I disagree with people (now this is just my opinion) that say anything beyong normal kanthal and standard coils are a waste of time. With twisted kanthal more surface area of the heating element touches the cotton. Plus you can make use of some Kanthal you had laying around because it is too thin but to each there own.

 

[rondasherrill]

i pulled one the end of it pretty much as hard as i could then hit it with a torch while tight, the braids aren't budging, but I disagree with people (now this is just my opinion) that say anything beyong normal kanthal and standard coils are a waste of time. With twisted kanthal more surface area of the heating element touches the cotton. Plus you can make use of some Kanthal you had laying around because it is too thin but to each there own.

Give it a shot and let us know how it works. With a soft type wick, it may work great(although I doubt any benefits over twisting). I know from personal experience that you don't want to twist or braid using SS Mesh wick. For the same reason I said before. As it contracts and expands different parts touch and pull away from the mesh.

 

[Bob4156]

Update, made an 8 wrap coil, resistance ended up about 1.1ohm, but on a mech mod, or my variablel wattage, I would have to say it lights up quicker from the center of the coil out and also noticably cools faster when you let off. Put some organic cotton in it and juiced it up. Works awesome, I feel like I dont have to hold the switch nerely as long with a twisted coil. I can't see myself braiding every coil I make in the future or else I'd end up with carpal tunnel within a week, but was fun and got good results.

Edit: after vaping it a while, on my VW mod it has a nice cool but tasteful and satisfying vape at 4.64 volts (18 watts 1.2ohm now). on my nemesis its a little lack luster probably due to its high resistance. Next time I would try 6 wraps and shoot for around .8 ohms.

 

[tayone415]

but I disagree with people (now this is just my opinion) that say anything beyong normal kanthal and standard coils are a waste of time. With twisted kanthal more surface area of the heating element touches the cotton. Plus you can make use of some Kanthal you had laying around because it is too thin but to each there own.

I don't agree with that either, 90% of my builds are more complicated than most builds, and most of the time I twist my kanthal. Twisted kanthal does ad surface area, but it can take awhile to heat up, which is why some people don't like it. The only time I do regular coils is when I'm too lazy to build, but I only do that with low resistance wire (not kanthal).

 

[Bob4156]

I don't agree with that either, 90% of my builds are more complicated than most builds, and most of the time I twist my kanthal. Twisted kanthal does ad surface area, but it can take awhile to heat up, which is why some people don't like it. The only time I do regular coils is when I'm too lazy to build, but I only do that with low resistance wire (not kanthal).

Thats why I twist with higher gauge kanthal only like 32. Although I tried one piece 32 gauge, one peice 30 gauge, and one peice 28 gauge and it heated up and vaped fantastically, but overwrapping or making to many wraps will cause it to heat slower, which some may like for a cooler vape I dunno to each there own. I just get bored of single strand coils and play around ;-) with an ohm meter at hand of course.

 

[tayone415]

Thats why I twist with higher gauge kanthal only like 32. Although I tried one piece 32 gauge, one peice 30 gauge, and one peice 28 gauge and it heated up and vaped fantastically, but overwrapping or making to many wraps will cause it to heat slower, which some may like for a cooler vape I dunno to each there own. I just get bored of single strand coils and play around ;-) with an ohm meter at hand of course.

I like a hot vape and I twisted 28 gauge and didn't like it. I twist 26 gauge or 24 gauge depending on what I'm building, the only time I don't twist is if I'm doing a dual parallel setup on a sleeper build or using Royal wires or G Plat wires.

 

[Bob4156]

Dual coils, although in theory if identical it will cut the resistance in half of that of a single coil, can also take longer to heat up simply because more wire. I believe lower resistance isn't always the answer. Sometimes watching 24 gauge coil can be time consuming, even if at half an ohm. This triple braided coil at 1.2 ohms kicks the .... of my other dual coil .5 ohm RDA in terms of vapor. Flavor is better with the duals though.

 

[tayone415]

Dual coils, although in theory if identical it will cut the resistance in half of that of a single coil, can also take longer to heat up simply because more wire. I believe lower resistance isn't always the answer. Sometimes watching 24 gauge coil can be time consuming, even if at half an ohm. This triple braided coil at 1.2 ohms kicks the .... of my other dual coil .5 ohm RDA in terms of vapor. Flavor is better with the duals though.

I love duals and can't even use single coil anything. Many people have no idea about surface area and vapor, and just build low and have no idea why they have small clouds especially people who try to get low resistance with 28 gauge kanthal doing 4 wraps and can't figure it out that they have almost no surface area.

 

[Bob4156]

I love duals and can't even use single coil anything. Many people have no idea about surface area and vapor, and just build low and have no idea why they have small clouds especially people who try to get low resistance with 28 gauge kanthal doing 4 wraps and can't figure it out that they have almost no surface area.

Exactly, also I love my dual coils too. Just thought I'd try something different. I like to make dual coils with the same piece of kanthal, although making the second coil can be a bit of a pain to make it snug.

 

[tayone415]

Exactly, also I love my dual coils too. Just thought I'd try something different. I like to make dual coils with the same piece of kanthal, although making the second coil can be a bit of a pain to make it snug.

If you're talking about a sleeper build, a precision screwdriver and pliers makes the difference for the 2nd coil I pull on each wrap to make it tight as possible. Sometimes my 2nd coil looks better than my 1st coil sadly.

 

[coalyard]

I do twisted 32ga coils all the time for my Kayfuns and drippers. I believe they provide better flavor. I don't venture below .7 ohm or so on the drippers, and never below 1.2 on the Kayfun. YMMV.

 

[Bob4156]

If you're talking about a sleeper build, a precision screwdriver and pliers makes the difference for the 2nd coil I pull on each wrap to make it tight as possible. Sometimes my 2nd coil looks better than my 1st coil sadly.

Ehhh my second coil usually ends up having an issue, can't seem to get it wrapped close enough together and close enough to the RDA, but i've only been practicing those types of coils for about a month now,

 

[HecticEnergy]

I like the braded single coil i did (3 strands of 32ga i think - running as single coil at about 1.2ohms).
It was a lot of work IMO. I'll probably do it again, but not as a regular thing.
I usually do dual coils running at between .5 and .8 ohms using 28ga. or I'll do parallel wraps with 28/32 ga... I've been pretty happy with those. I didn't notice a ton of difference with twisted over single, but the parallel is a notch above IMO.

It's all personal preference


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[tayone415]

Ehhh my second coil usually ends up having an issue, can't seem to get it wrapped close enough together and close enough to the RDA, but i've only been practicing those types of coils for about a month now,

I usually wrap over and under for the second one and a precision screwdriver is a lot easier than a drill bit. I go over and under, then slide the wire to the handle of the screwdriver, than pull up with pliers. I don't know why but I can do a sleeper build pretty easy, even in the beginning, but other than building coils I suck at building everything else.