First time wicking coils (help needed)

[bananastrawberry]

Hello. I just bought my first wire to wick my own coils.

I bought SS316L 30 AWG and Kanthal A1 27AWG. Since it's my first time making my own coils I wasn't really sure what to get. I saw 30 AWG SS316 recommended by someone here so I picked that one. Also picked a thicker wire in case the thin one wasn't any good.

Now that I've received it I'm surprised by how thin the 30 AWG SS316L is. Can someone please tell me if it's fine to use with MTL? Previously I've only used prebuilt Clapton coils and once a prebuilt, much thicker random 0.5ohm MTL china coil.

It seems very flimsy now that I've wicked it. Can I use this one or are these wires more intended for making Clapton, wrapping it around a thicker wire?

My coils are 8 to 9 wraps about 1-1.2ohm

Also according to the steam-engine vape calculator a 28AWG SS316 for example would require 13 wraps just to get 1 ohm. So even if you wanted to you can't really go any lower and still get 1 ohm. Maybe by using Claptons but not round wire.

So it's fine then? High ohm coils are just flimsy???

 

[bananastrawberry]

Please approve need help quickly!

 

[englishmick]

Please approve need help quickly!

I use 28g kanthal and 28g SS.

You didn't mention the size of the coils, the diameter. Based on the ohms and number of wraps you reported I guess you made small diameter coils.

I wrap kanthal 28g coils at 2.5mm with 6/7 wraps. That gives a coil with around 1.1 ohms. That gives me a nice MTL hit.

I also use SS 28g to make coils 6/7 wraps at 3.0mm. That gives around 0.74 ohms. Those I use in TC mode.

My SS coils are quite flimsy and hard to wick even with 28g. 30g SS must be even more flimsy, I wouldn't fancy that. Were you planning to use TC? I've read SS can be used in either power or TC mode but I never tried it in power mode.

 

[Toots]

You can absolutely use the 30 awg to wrap around a thicker core, such as Clapton. Even twisting thin wires together works. I do believe that I have wrapped Claptons and other cores in 30g SS, with various cores.

If you used prebuilt coils that you enjoyed, perhaps you can find the wires and wraps used on those and build similar coils. Coil packaging almost aways shows wire specs used.

Power mode on SS is very nice. All that vapes well is very nice.
Best wishes and enjoy the adventure.

 

[bananastrawberry]

You can absolutely use the 30 awg to wrap around a thicker core, such as Clapton. Even twisting thin wires together works. I do believe that I have wrapped Claptons and other cores in 30g SS, with various cores.

If you used prebuilt coils that you enjoyed, perhaps you can find the wires and wraps used on those and build similar coils. Coil packaging almost aways shows wire specs used.

Power mode on SS is very nice. All that vapes well is very nice.
Best wishes and enjoy the adventure.

I only use power mode, nothing fancy, no tc, bypass... The diameter is about 2.4mm. Since I don't have a coil jig so I used a 2.4mm screwdriver, normally I use 2.5mm but I figured this would be close enough.

Is it fine to use on it's own?

 

[bananastrawberry]

You can absolutely use the 30 awg to wrap around a thicker core, such as Clapton. Even twisting thin wires together works. I do believe that I have wrapped Claptons and other cores in 30g SS, with various cores.

Yes but is it fine to use on it's own also? Or are you supposed to use wires this thin to wrap them around others?

That's the issue I'm facing. First time ordering my own wire and surprised by just how thin it seems.

 

[hittman]

I use 28 on my mtl tank and wrap 6/7 wraps on a 3mm jig. I use the jig that has multiple steps on it so you can wrap different sized coils with one jig. My coils usually come out around .8 using ss wire but my coil legs are a little longer than normal because of the tank I’m using needs the coil to be raised some away from the air inlet directly below the coil. For me, 30 is too small. Another idea would be just to buy some premade MTL coils. I have some Vandy vape Clapton coils that are 1.03 ohm.

 

[bananastrawberry]

I use 28 on my mtl tank and wrap 6/7 wraps on a 3mm jig. I use the jig that has multiple steps on it so you can wrap different sized coils with one jig. My coils usually come out around .8 using ss wire but my coil legs are a little longer than normal because of the tank I’m using needs the coil to be raised some away from the air inlet directly below the coil. For me, 30 is too small. Another idea would be just to buy some premade MTL coils. I have some Vandy vape Clapton coils that are 1.03 ohm.

Premade is more expensive that's why I'm switching to DIY. Wire, coils, hardware, juice is hard to get here in the EU otherwise I'd just order another one. Also not a complete noob been vaping for years just never bought wire before and it was time.

Are there people that use wire like this for simple round coils? Or are these more for making Clapton / twisted coils?

One of the reasons I'm worried is I left my nic base out for quite some time. Which is bad I know but I had no choice since I had no bottles or flavor left. The flavor I use right now is quite weak it's some Heisenberg knockoff mixed with the old base and then there's the break in time for cotton so I'm not sure if it's the coil or those factors. To add onto that I also have an RTA which has an annoying mounting system which makes me feel like the wire is wayyyy too thin.

All in all my question is , is 30 AWG SS316L an acceptable vape? Do others do this? Or am I stupid for even attempting this.

 

[Letitia]

Premade is more expensive that's why I'm switching to DIY. Wire, coils, hardware, juice is hard to get here in the EU otherwise I'd just order another one. Also not a complete noob been vaping for years just never bought wire before and it was time.

Are there people that use wire like this for simple round coils? Or are these more for making Clapton / twisted coils?

One of the reasons I'm worried is I left my nic base out for quite some time. Which is bad I know but I had no choice since I had no bottles or flavor left. The flavor I use right now is quite weak it's some Heisenberg knockoff mixed with the old base and then there's the break in time for cotton so I'm not sure if it's the coil or those factors. To add onto that I also have an RTA which has an annoying mounting system which makes me feel like the wire is wayyyy too thin.

All in all my question is , is 30 AWG SS316L an acceptable vape? Do others do this? Or am I stupid for even attempting this.

For a new builder the kanthal is so much easier to learn with. Practice a few builds with the kanthal for now is my advice. Also the 27g is much easier to wind as well.

 

[bananastrawberry]

For a new builder the kanthal is so much easier to learn with. Practice a few builds with the kanthal for now is my advice. Also the 27g is much easier to wind as well.

I don't know why people say that. You spin the wire around a screwdriver. It's hardly rocket science.

 

[hittman]

Premade is more expensive that's why I'm switching to DIY. Wire, coils, hardware, juice is hard to get here in the EU otherwise I'd just order another one. Also not a complete noob been vaping for years just never bought wire before and it was time.

Are there people that use wire like this for simple round coils? Or are these more for making Clapton / twisted coils?

One of the reasons I'm worried is I left my nic base out for quite some time. Which is bad I know but I had no choice since I had no bottles or flavor left. The flavor I use right now is quite weak it's some Heisenberg knockoff mixed with the old base and then there's the break in time for cotton so I'm not sure if it's the coil or those factors. To add onto that I also have an RTA which has an annoying mounting system which makes me feel like the wire is wayyyy too thin.

All in all my question is , is 30 AWG SS316L an acceptable vape? Do others do this? Or am I stupid for even attempting this.

You’re not stupid. You’re learning by doing like everyone else does. I don’t know what rta you’re using but 30 can be fragile and hard to use. The other thing is that it takes so many wraps to get the resistance you want and a coil that wide might be difficult to fit in the rta. I really don’t hear about people using 30 for single wire coils but that doesn’t mean you can’t. It probably just takes more patience. What rta are you using. There might be someone on the forum with experience of that specific tank that could help.

 

[zoiDman]

I don't know why people say that. You spin the wire around a screwdriver. It's hardly rocket science.

Since you already have that 30ga Wire, by all means Try It.

For me, 28ga SS is about the Thinnest Wire I like to work with. And that is to make a 3mm Coil. Sure, you just Twist the Wire around a Rod. But after that, It's kinda a Pain to get the Wicking Right and the Coil Spacings the way I like it because the Coil is so Flimsy.

 

[bananastrawberry]

You’re not stupid. You’re learning by doing like everyone else does. I don’t know what rta you’re using but 30 can be fragile and hard to use. The other thing is that it takes so many wraps to get the resistance you want and a coil that wide might be difficult to fit in the rta. I really don’t hear about people using 30 for single wire coils but that doesn’t mean you can’t. It probably just takes more patience. What rta are you using. There might be someone on the forum with experience of that specific tank that could help.

Cthulhu Valor

 

[Izan]

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IMO,
thicker wire is more forgiving.
with a regulated device, resistance should be a useful range versus a precise target
the tricky part of the build is proper wicking...practice practice practice


Cheers
I

 

[hittman]

Cthulhu Valor

I haven’t seen that one. I’ll see if I can find out anything about it.

 

[hittman]

The Valor rta looks pretty user friendly. I found a video review on it.

 

[Letitia]

I don't know why people say that. You spin the wire around a screwdriver. It's hardly rocket science.

If that were true this thread wouldn't exist...

 

[bananastrawberry]

If that were true this thread wouldn't exist...

This thread is about wire gauges, what coils are proper vs improper to use. Not the mechanics of wicking. I've been using an RTA for over a year. As for "diy coils" I got it right on the first try.

If you're older or have thick fingers then I can see why but don't know why it would be otherwise.

Maybe making Claptons or aliens would be hard / bothersome however.

Finding a good build or what you like however can be difficult however I agree with that.

I think I'll try a twisted coil build too but I don't have a drill so I'll have to do it by hand. Parallel too maybe.

 

[bananastrawberry]

The Valor rta looks pretty user friendly. I found a video review on it.

I used to like it but don't anymore really. No leaking or anything even when lying down sideways for a long time but I don't like the way the coils are mounted. I think I'd rather have one where the legs go in a stand. Also really nothing special tbh. This one was the only cheap on in stock.


You're probably better off with another one. Berserker v3 is the one I would go for if given a second choice. Or Brunhilde. Although both are weird in their own ways, the first one with the small glass and the other with the metallic wicking strands but they're supposed to be very good.

 

[hittman]

For MTL I’ve been using the old digiflavor siren V1 rta for years and more recently I’ve been using the Hellvape dead rabbit mtl v2 rta which I’m liking a lot.