First Clapton build

[faeriekitsune]

My RSST needed rebuilt tonight and I wanted to try something different. Figured it would be a good time to learn how to do Claptons.

Watched this video

Gave it a try with a 24ga core with 32ga wrap -

Made my coil -

Ohm'd out at 1.26.

Haven't installed yet, trying to finish emptying my tank so I can rinse out first. I'll update with final pics when I do.

What do y'all think? Not bad for very first try! Couldn't get the spacing right at first, but once I figured out to use my nails to guide the wrap, I was zooming along. Got a little over 2 inches of good wire out of it.

I think I'm gonna have to order more kanthal!

PS sorry the pics are so big, I can't figure out how to resize them from my phone.

 

[faeriekitsune]

Btw, does anybody know an easy way to pre calculate ohms per inch with Clapton wire? So I can figure out what gauges of wire to use to build specific sized coils?

 

[fyrefiend]

I've never gotten the hang of making them with a drill as I tend to make a mess of them (overlapping wraps) but I've gotten pretty good at making them by hand wrapping 30 AWG kanthal around 24 AWG. Great flavor

 

[fyrefiend]

Btw, does anybody know an easy way to pre calculate ohms per inch with Clapton wire? So I can figure out what gauges of wire to use to build specific sized coils?

I'm afraid I haven't. I just wrap, coil, and test. Mine tend to come out at 0.5 Ω at five wraps around the middle sized pin on my coil jig (I don't know what the mm is).

 

[faeriekitsune]

I've never gotten the hang of making them with a drill as I tend to make a mess of them (overlapping wraps) but I've gotten pretty good at making them by hand wrapping 30 AWG kanthal around 24 AWG. Great flavor

It helps that I have girl nails. I figured out to use the corners of my nails to trap the wrap wire and the pads of my forefinger and thumb to guide and steady. I actually just made another length about 4" long. Perfect except the first and last quarter inch, I had a gap in the wraps.

 

[faeriekitsune]

I'm afraid I haven't. I just wrap, coil, and test. Mine tend to come out at 0.5 Ω at five wraps around the middle sized pin on my coil jig (I don't know what the mm is).

Yeah, I used all the useable wire on a 3mm jig which ended up a 6/5 wrap coil. Soon as I get it mounted, I'll be able to fully ohm it. I just guessed it with a multi (that's a little funky).

 

[BobbySavage]

If you know the total width of your wire steam engine works great

Coil wrapping | Steam Engine | free vaping calculators

 

[Tom Forde]

Nice! Practice makes perfect, looks great for your first go. I find it easier to wrap about 6" at a time, less wire spinning around on the other end and it would basically be making one coil at a time

 

[faeriekitsune]

I so sad... I mounted the coil and ohm'd it at 1.2. That's low enough only one of my mods will fire it... So I stuck it on there, cranked it up as far as it would go (11w) and tried to fire.

No glow. Got some sizzle from the contaminants burning off, but it wouldn't get hot enough to be useful.

Dang it. It was so pretty though.

...I gotta buy a new mod.

 

[USMCotaku]

I so sad... I mounted the coil and ohm'd it at 1.2. That's low enough only one of my mods will fire it... So I stuck it on there, cranked it up as far as it would go (11w) and tried to fire.

No glow. Got some sizzle from the contaminants burning off, but it wouldn't get hot enough to be useful.

Dang it. It was so pretty though.

...I gotta buy a new mod.

A build like that requires around 20 watts or so to ramp up quickly

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

wrap 32 on 32 or similar, your far better to try and clapton a shorter length with these thinner wires, or maybe a inch longer than you need for your coil.

if you really squeeze tight your clapton wire with your thumbnail and forefinger and have the wire being claptoned ontop of that thumbnail with a faster drill speed will get a nicer tighter clapton than a slow. but it takes a little practice

or get some 38g(0.1mm) to wrap on the 32g(0.2mm) should heat up nice and fast

 

[EverPresentNoob]

And then you can get really crazy and make a 32G core claptoned with 38G, then clapton THAT around a 22G core...

In all seriousness it looks good. I found that stealing my wifes sewing thimble for my finger and filing a small notch in my thumb nail made it easy to control the wrapping wire. I normally wrap about 12 inches at a time. i'm a glutton for punishment.

 

[USMCotaku]

Or you can walk the wild side, and make a 32/28 gauge Clapton stovetop...

Sent with one hand, the other is busy vaping.

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

And then you can get really crazy and make a 32G core claptoned with 38G, then clapton THAT around a 22G core...

In all seriousness it looks good. I found that stealing my wifes sewing thimble for my finger and filing a small notch in my thumb nail made it easy to control the wrapping wire. I normally wrap about 12 inches at a time. i'm a glutton for punishment.

we should have comp's to see who can clapton the longest piece of wire lol

something else i found that is good for helping with claptoning is a pump valve used for pumping up football's that has a little side hole

 

[EverPresentNoob]

My first attempt at claptoning was with about 2.5 feet of 24G. that end started whipping around like crazy. Actually slapped me upside my darn head and cut my ear a bit. Stung like all get out. And of course my dog just sat there looking at me like I was some kind of nitwit. Which I am, but thats beside the point... Now I have a block I use to put my coiling rods into that I hold in a vice, running the free end of the core wire through the hole to control it. but I still wrap longer pieces that I really need to. Again, its because Im a nitwit and proud of it!

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

My first attempt at claptoning was with about 2.5 feet of 24G. that end started whipping around like crazy. Actually slapped me upside my darn head and cut my ear a bit. Stung like all get out. And of course my dog just sat there looking at me like I was some kind of nitwit. Which I am, but thats beside the point... Now I have a block I use to put my coiling rods into that I hold in a vice, running the free end of the core wire through the hole to control it. but I still wrap longer pieces that I really need to. Again, its because Im a nitwit and proud of it!

ooops! hahahaaaa!

good idea with the block around the hole, though i just coil enough for either one or two at a time, its satisfying nailing the measurements by eye lol