building coils, very frustrated

[Dan_The_Viking]

I am curious what people experienced just getting into rba's? I have been making coils every night and I keep getting HOTSPOTS! THEY ARE EVERYWHERE AND IT'S DRIVING ME INSANE!

Did you encounter this problem? I have a guy at the local B&M that has been building me while I watch, but I have been determined to get this down myself. Maybe I haven't been doing enough wraps. I don't really feel like getting into too much detail, I'm just getting frustrated and knowing that I'm not the only person who has experienced this would be uplifting.

 

[ENAUD]

You are not alone! I had a real hard time at first myself. I now usually do my wraps on a 3/32 drill bit shank now, and use the drill bit to hold onto the coil while attaching it to the terminals. Practice, practice, practice. If there is a vape meet at your B&M, might be worth checking out. Good place to see how others are doing it, and maybe get some, you build it while someone else guides you kind of hands on help.

 

[Dima1973]

Hey EANUD,,
We have the same quit date

 

[Ryedan]

Hang in there. Took me a while to get the hang of it too. It does get better with practice

 

[Zurd]

RDA aren't that hard compared to Genesis or DID atomizer, note that it can still work even with hotspots. But I understand your pain, it's not easy at first!

 

[Cr0tchF4i]

Well explain what you are trying to build- wraps, wicking material etc..

What are you using it on? Dripper or genny?

The easiest and best performing build is incredibly simple... Micro coil, ss rope with eko sleeve. done deal.

 

[cramptholomew]

I can build everything from a Protank, to an RDA, to a Kayfun style RBA with NO problem, and great performance. Gennies, on the other hand, I STILL haven't gotten the hang of. It's not really the coil that's the problem. It's the SS wick. If you don't get it *JUST RIGHT*, you'll have problems. There are a lot of people here that get them to work EVERY DAMN TIME, but I haven't had good luck with them. That doesn't mean that I'm giving up on them. No. I like a good challenge. Just note, that once you get them built so that there no hotspots, then you have to worry about proper wicking... ;-)

 

[Cr0tchF4i]

I can build everything from a Protank, to an RDA, to a Kayfun style RBA with NO problem, and great performance. Gennies, on the other hand, I STILL haven't gotten the hang of. It's not really the coil that's the problem. It's the SS wick. If you don't get it *JUST RIGHT*, you'll have problems. There are a lot of people here that get them to work EVERY DAMN TIME, but I haven't had good luck with them. That doesn't mean that I'm giving up on them. No. I like a good challenge. Just note, that once you get them built so that there no hotspots, then you have to worry about proper wicking... ;-)

Honestly, ditch the mesh and get SS rope with ekowool. It's mind-numbingly easy.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

I'm using RSST. SS Mesh and 32 gauge right now. I got some ribbon wire also. I think I need lower gauge

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Hang in there. It'll come. You're just in the 'trough of disillusionment'. It's not as easy as the guys on YT or the B&M guy with 2000 builds under his belt make it look.

I would recommend that you consider making microcoils if you're not already. Hot spots practically become a thing of the past. Simply wrap tightly (touching) around a jig of small diameter (e.g., 1/16th in drill bit), pull it off and torch it for 5 sec (holding with tweezers or pliars), install it, and wick with cotton. That's a quick explanation - you would benefit (if you're interested) in watching any of the many videos on this technique on YT. Microcoils tripled my enjoyment of rebuilding, but YMMV.

 

[Bunnykiller]

my coil gets hot spots too sometimes the whole coil gets hot and turns red

 

[Ryedan]

I'm using RSST. SS Mesh and 32 gauge right now. I got some ribbon wire also. I think I need lower gauge

I tried using 32 gauge in my AGA-T and found 28 much easier to work with. But the resistance will be lower too, even with more wraps. What battery are you putting it on?

 

[rurwin]

@Bunnykiller

Sounds like you've got severe wicking problems ;-)

 

[stumpfreeman]

I finally turned the corner with rebuilding when I figured out how important "wire tension" was while wrapping.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

I tried using 32 gauge in my AGA-T and found 28 much easier to work with. But the resistance will be lower too, even with more wraps. What battery are you putting it on?

mnke imr-18650. Orange ones. I didn't really know what I was buying when I bought the 32 gauge. I tried making a twisted coil and that worked for about 15 minutes, then shorted out i think.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

Hang in there. It'll come. You're just in the 'trough of disillusionment'. It's not as easy as the guys on YT or the B&M guy with 2000 builds under his belt make it look.

I would recommend that you consider making microcoils if you're not already. Hot spots practically become a thing of the past. Simply wrap tightly (touching) around a jig of small diameter (e.g., 1/16th in drill bit), pull it off and torch it for 5 sec (holding with tweezers or pliars), install it, and wick with cotton. That's a quick explanation - you would benefit (if you're interested) in watching any of the many videos on this technique on YT. Microcoils tripled my enjoyment of rebuilding, but YMMV.

Do you have to use cotton with microcoils? And do micro's on Genny atomizers work? It seems more difficult to me.

 

[graybuck]

THe mirco coil is easier to build without hot spots. I use cotton or stinless with a ceramic sheath like XC116. Most hotspots can be worked out carefully by massaging the coil. I have found if you wrap it too tight the tightest coil will hot spot. That is where cotton is nice.

PBusardo has some great vids on wrapping coils.

 

[Christopherja]

I don't personally feel your pain, as I don't mess with mesh.

However, the way I understand it - from friends who do these builds - is that tension is your friend when it comes to avoiding hotspots. However, the above poster has said that "too tight" will lead to hotspots, so obvs. YMMV.

As always though, practice makes perfect!