I built my first coil! (a.k.a How not to build your first coil)

[B2L]

I'll have to look into those. A couple people have mentioned a coil jig, but I'm not sure what they are. Seems I need one, though

Here ya go

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kNT5-s0U5jk

Sorry, for some reason videos will not embed using my iPad

 

[Nytebreed]

Wish You Were Here. (we're both in MA) You may have helped (while being entertained by my utter NOOBness) and I would have about 3 hours of my life back

Always happy to help, but being the resident mod doctor for my converts at work does get tiresome. I feel like Yoda sometimes, you are not ready young padawan, then they come in with a shiny new mod that is all outta adjustment.

What part of MA?

 

[tehgyu]

Can you give me a link to where you got the desk magnifier with the led lights? Thank you. It is just what this old lady needs.

Normande Lighting 12W Daylight Desk Lamp w/ Magnifier 17.5" in Height with Black Painted Finish

This is the one I am using.

 

[TamiP]

I have this from Harbor Freight, one of the members here told me about it. It's AWESOME

http://www.harborfreight.com/magnifier-head-strap-with-lights-38896.html

 

[Avid]

Always happy to help, but being the resident mod doctor for my converts at work does get tiresome. I feel like Yoda sometimes, you are not ready young padawan, then they come in with a shiny new mod that is all outta adjustment.

What part of MA?

Southcoast, Obi-wan! Not soon a Jedi Rebuilding Master will I be

 

[Nytebreed]

Grew up in Canton, myself. Moved North for the work.

Wait until the 1st time you make a coil and the wire was flawed. The visual is awesome when you test fire it, you wanna watch, but you know if you don't shut it down bad stuff gonna happen.

 

[Avid]

Wait until the 1st time you make a coil and the wire was flawed. The visual is awesome when you test fire it, you wanna watch, but you know if you don't shut it down bad stuff gonna happen.

uhhhh not looking forward to it

 

[DebiK]

One of the best posts EVER!

I think I would have paid to see the video!

 

[eratikmind]

Absolutely a fantastic account of what many have experienced during their maiden coil building voyage.

Thank you for sharing your personal account, as I recall and laugh at myself.

 

[Nightshard]

Iv'e learned a few things along the way too:
1. Practice makes perfect.
2. Same gauge and same amount of wraps always give roughly the same resistance (theres no sometimes 2 sometimes 1.5 or 1.2) but each new coil must be checked.
3. Torching kanthal takes the springiness out of it and twisted kanthal is even more springy then normal.
4. It really does look bigger on youtube.

 

[TamiP]

Iv'e learned a few things along the way too:
1. Practice makes perfect.

4. It really does look bigger on youtube.

Amen to that

 

[roxynoodle]

Oh, last week I had one all pretty and perfect. So proud of this coil. And somehow it sprung across the room as I was about to put it on. I could not find it for the life of me. I found it yesterday when I stepped on it. Amazed it hadn't gotten swept up in the vacuum.

 

[Avid]

And somehow it sprung across the room as I was about to put it on. I could not find it for the life of me. I found it yesterday when I stepped on it.

Hope you weren't barefoot at the time. Ouch!

 

[Stringplucker]

Mistakes I've made while building...

Stripped screws.
Lost screw, but had replacement
Lost about 3' of 28ga Kanthal due to dropping the 100' spool
Multiple kanthal pokes into hands.
Lost small piece of kanthal on carpet...found it embedded in my big toe
Fired on dry cotton
Shorted while squeezing coil, burning the legs off
Dropped freshly torched coil on my lap...jumped up and knocked the table over with all the building tools and kanthal


The list goes on...but at least I'm no longer smoking. LOL