confused on Kanthal

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datrax

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Jan 6, 2015
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hi all,

i've read through at least a dozen forum posts on Kanthal, and sadly it's becoming harder and harder to understand.

As far for choosing which type I am stuck, and although I'm worried the info might be somewhere in this forum, I'm not able to find it search nor reading through a lot of posts last weekend.

So far, I've seen various postings advising to stay off from Nichrome and to go for A-1 Kanthal.. but that's where it becomes confusing.
fasttech is currently my supplier of choice, as I'm ordering a big pile of birthday goodies for myself from them anyhow :) but they carry 3 types of A1..

- Authentic Kanthal A1 Nichrome
- Authentic Kanthal A1 FeCrAl Allow
- Authentic Kanthal A1 Nickel Resistance

Obviously in various sizes and lengths.. the difference in that I can understand.. but A1 AND Nichrome in one product?
Thumping head.. must read more forums.. must read.. must... well, you get the picture, I couldn't find the answer :(

Can anyone please tell me which is the safe choice, and if possible the quick differences between these 3?

thanks a lot
Tim
 

Steam Loco Motive

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Kanthal is FeCrAl and Nichrome actually is FeNiCr. We able to use kanthal A1 or D1 because is easier to handle it and avoid "hotspots" and increase temperature faster than Nichrome, so e-juise became vape faster. - Authentic Kanthal A1 Nichrome i think is just a mistake! Check the sites below for more information

The Mesh Company (Warrington) Ltd

http://www.vape-atomizer-mesh.com/

Zivipf.de
 

invisiblehand13

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Well the middle one is what kanthal actually is so in other words....Iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) and depending on the ratio's that is what A-1 is (I'm not sure why fasttech lists these three different wires as the same when they're not at all) and the "Authentic Kanthal A1 Nichrome" is not "kanthal" at all, it is simply nichrome and I have used nichrome with no issues at all for about 8 months (I find it preferable due to it's lower resistance and we will not get into why right now lol) and this "Authentic Kanthal A1 Nickel Resistance" I have no clue but unless you are using ni200 and with temp control I can not say I would recommend this wire at all...in fact I would not recommend fasttech for wire at all, I would find something here in the states that has a clear description of what it is and what it's composite ratio's are so something like temco wire or lightning vapes are two that I know and trust, I mean for something you are going to be inhaling I do not feel comfortable ordering Chinese wire with no clear description of what it is but that is just me, take it or leave it and happy vaping...:vapor:
 

invisiblehand13

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Kanthal is FeCrAl and Nichrome actually is FeNiCr. We able to use kanthal A1 or D1 because is easier to handle it and avoid "hotspots" and increase temperature faster than Nichrome, so e-juise became vape faster. - Authentic Kanthal A1 Nichrome i think is just a mistake! Check the sites below for more information

The Mesh Company (Warrington) Ltd

http://www.vape-atomizer-mesh.com/

Zivipf.de

I myself, I disagree, and I feel that my nichrome has ALWAYS outperformed my kanthal, but again this is IMO
 

invisiblehand13

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But there is also different grades of nichrome out there and the only one I will use is nichrome 80, all the rest are garbage and I think that is why there is so much negative info out there about nichrome because they used 20, 40, or 60 grade instead of 80 grade so inferior results were produced but again just IMO
 

invisiblehand13

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thanks guys!

Well, i'm actually not in the states sadly.. but in the Netherlands :)
And i've actually been referred to some decent local places.. it was just driving me nuts after researching this for days now trying to found out the how/what/etc.
Thanks for clearing that up.. I hate being in the "I don't have a clue zone" ;)

Yup, sorry, should have read that you weren't in the states so my apologies but I am sure you could find it locally and KNOW what it is as opposed to not knowing
 

Susan~S

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Have you found this part of ECF yet? => National Forums or this UK Forum. Lots can be learned there.

Below are some links I have accumulated from other members for UK/EU vapers. You can thank fellow ECF member djsvapour who has provided most of these links.

Hardware

1. UK & Ireland E-Cigarette/E-Liquid Vendors <= Great list of links and coupon codes by ECF member Chrissie (hardware & juice)

More links and comments from ECF member djsvapour
2. Vape Escape <= the best
3. Myepack.co.uk <= the cheapest
4. Cloud 9 Vaping <= the poshist
5. UKecigcabin. That is CABIN, not store. (Don't even ask about the 'other' one...)

Wire & Wicking

1. Cloud 9 Vaping - Cellucotton (Rayon)
2. The Vape Mesh Company - Source for A1 Kahthal. The wire listings state both the AWG and the wire diameter (e.g. 0.28mm etc.)
 

twgbonehead

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But there is also different grades of nichrome out there and the only one I will use is nichrome 80, all the rest are garbage and I think that is why there is so much negative info out there about nichrome because they used 20, 40, or 60 grade instead of 80 grade so inferior results were produced but again just IMO

I agree about the Nichrome80; I like it better than either nichrome60 or kanthal.

One minor correction, though; the nicrome 60,80 aren't actually different grades of nichrome, they are different chemical compositions. Nichrome80 has no iron in it , which I think gives a better flavor (actually, no flavor). With the ni-60 I taste metal.

From wikipedia:

NiCrA (Nichrome 80)
Chemical Composition: 80% Ni, 20% Cr
Approx. Melting Point: 1400°C

NiCrC (nichrome 60)
Chemical Composition: 61% Ni, 15% Cr, bal. Fe
Approx. Melting Point: 1350°C
 

datrax

Full Member
Jan 6, 2015
17
13
49
Netherlands
Have you found this part of ECF yet? => National Forums or this UK Forum. Lots can be learned there.

Below are some links I have accumulated from other members for UK/EU vapers. You can thank fellow ECF member djsvapour who has provided most of these links.

Hardware

1. UK & Ireland E-Cigarette/E-Liquid Vendors <= Great list of links and coupon codes by ECF member Chrissie (hardware & juice)

More links and comments from ECF member djsvapour
2. Vape Escape <= the best
3. Myepack.co.uk <= the cheapest
4. Cloud 9 Vaping <= the poshist
5. UKecigcabin. That is CABIN, not store. (Don't even ask about the 'other' one...)

Wire & Wicking

1. Cloud 9 Vaping - Cellucotton (Rayon)
2. The Vape Mesh Company - Source for A1 Kahthal. The wire listings state both the AWG and the wire diameter (e.g. 0.28mm etc.)


Hiya.. just wanted to say thanks again!

Finally got round to order (well, was that time of the month again after the xmas hollidays..)
and went for http://www.vape-atomizer-mesh.com - one of the list you suggested.
Ended up buying A1 kanthal AWG 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 in rolls of 10m to get me started,
although i'm guessing the AWG 30 most likely will suffice, I did want to build some various coils for experimenting sake and see if I can get them as close as possible to calculated values in an ohm meter.

Cutters, pliers, muji cotton pads and butane torch waiting patiently for the delivery of the kanthal..
looking forward a lot to doing coils :)
 
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