Is it a good idea for me to start building my own coils? How does it work

[vapemate93]

Hi I've been vaping for a while now to get of the smokes. Although I've been vaping for a while I am sick of buying pre built coils and they are costing me a fortune for my pico 75w with the mini Milo 3 tank.

I buy a box of eleaf coils every couple of weeks and I've heard it's much cheaper building your own.

Truth is I know nothing about building coils, does this mean I need another tank? Can I still build coils suitable for MTL as I only MTL vape. I've also heard diy coils are better flavored? Biggest thing is will it be cheaper?

Thanks

 

[Eskie]

Yes, it will be cheaper. Wire and cotton wicking cost almost nothing per coil. You will need a new tank, an RTA with a dedicated build deck. There are little coil like things you can also build that might fit a tank that uses factory coils, but they can be a pain to use.

Building is not hard after a bit of practice. YT is filled with tutorials from generic building to tank specific. There are quite a few RTAs suitable for mtl use. I'm sure mtl vapers here will also pitch in and you can check the RTA forum here for specific models. The Tootle Puffer thread in the general discussion section is also a good source.

 

[john1211]

MTL RTA Tanks
Ares
Siren 2
Beserker
Prime or Prime clone
Doggystyle
Kayfuns
These are the most popular MTL RTA
For a new RTA MTL user I would suggest the Ares from Innokin as it comes with everthing you need to build your coils nad is easy deck to build on. It will cost you around $30 to $35 bucks. It is a great/easy tank to learn how to build and very user friendly and reviews are very positive.
Good Luck

 

[Izan]

Hi,
If you want to dip a toe in the water, the Eleaf EC-R "coil" is rewickable and rebuildable.
Comes with wire and cotton

Have fun
I

 

[lynn508]

If you want to save money building your own coils is a great start. It is really easy and to start you can get pre-wound coils from FT cheap. My first coil I sat at my computer with a youtube video and stopped and started it til I got it right. I have found the subtank mini is the easiest to build for me and has different airholes you can select for mtl or dl vaping. Start with single coils and then if needed you can advance.

 

[Bonskibon]

I second the Subtank or Toptank mini. I personally use the Toptank mini and it is by far the easiest for me to build on.

 

[Bonskibon]

Just don't get discouraged with whatever you choose to build on. Sometimes it take a bit of time and patience to get a good coil and wicking just right, but once you get it you'll be glad you started building your own.

 

[Bonskibon]

Oh, and also... watching a couple YouTube videos on whatever tank you decide is very helpful too.

 

[vapemate93]

Thanks all for the great advice, where is the best place to buy the metal for the coils? Is there a particular brand? And same with cotton?

I'm going to look at all of the tanks mentioned.

One more thing, is there any proper tools you need in order to do this, like to wrap the coils and things. Thanks

 

[lynn508]

The subtank mini has drop in coils which I found to be a pita to rebuild but the rba which is a separate purchase is the easiest. I have both of the ones below just bought the tank and both are good. Can't beat the prices if you want to try them. The clone rba screws rust out in a month so buy authentic kanger rba
$6.76 SUBTANK Mini V2 Styled OCC Clearomizer - 4.5ml / 0.5ohm (15W-30W) at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
$5.30 Authentic KangerTech SUBTANK Mini RBA Plus Coil Head - stainless steel at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[lynn508]

$5.66 AOLVAPE Kanthal A1 Pre-Coiled Wire - 100pcs/pack / 26 AWG / 0.4mm dia. / 0.9ohm at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[lynn508]

I use kogendo organic cotton to wick. You'll need small needle nose pliers, some small metric screwdrivers, nailclippers to clip wires, small pair scissors that are sharp and for old people like me a pair of the highest magnifying reader glasses at walmart. Others will probably chime in with more stuff. It becomes a hobby for some of us.

 

[zoiDman]

...

Truth is I know nothing about building coils, does this mean I need another tank? Can I still build coils suitable for MTL as I only MTL vape. I've also heard diy coils are better flavored? Biggest thing is will it be cheaper?

Thanks

Hi vapemate93. It isn't going to be Cheaper if you Build your own coils. It's going to be Orders of Magnitude Cheaper.

For RTA's, I run a lot of these...

$3.26 Pre-Coiled Wires for Rebuildable Atomizers (100-Pack) - 29 AWG / 0.3mm dia. / 1.1ohm / 12*12mm leads / 5 loops at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

And I have used about Half of the $7.00 Bag of Muji Cotton Pads I bought about 2 Years. So for Coils and Cotton, that comes out to Less than 10 Bucks per year.

So yeah... It is going to be Cheaper if you Build your Own Coils.

 

[Eskie]

Wire Temco Electrical. Cheap, free shipping, and the same wire as "expensive" vapr wire. Cotton, Japanese organic cotton pads roughly $10 for a pack of 80 from Amazon. Should last you a few years.

Tools. A good part of scissors for the cotton. A wire cutter or nail clipper for the wire, and a drill bit of known size like 3 mm to wrap on or a coil jig. Tweezers help.

You can also buy a build kit from someone like Coil master with all the nice stuff in it that will be more than enough including an ohm meter and build deck for $30-40. I recommend it but as you can see from the list above not a requirement.

 

[lynn508]

Definitely get an ohm meter to build on...makes it so much easier but it can be done on the mod at first. I always want to know the ohms of my coils. Once you get the equipment you are set for a long while and just knowing you don't have to buy all those coils any more is very rewarding. Next you can look at making your own juice. It gets even better then.

 

[entropy1049]

Start with a simple RDA. Some tanks are more finicky to wick, and learning to build is easier a step at a time. Find a YouTube tutorial for building that RDA. Be sure to understand what’s a safe resistance for your set up and include a healthy large safety factor between your build and over drawing the continuous discharge rating of your battery cells.

Read tutorials, ask questions, have fun!

 

[vapemate93]

Thanks I think I might just get this, this will have everything I need? It makes sense to get the kit for me as it has everything I need (I think). Including the ohm reader.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...ilding+kit&dpPl=1&dpID=51rjCnYGZyL&ref=plSrch

 

[lynn508]

Nice kit but expensive.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I started just as you are starting. Never hesitate to ask a question, I asked a lot, and I got a lot of help. If someone says, "Do your research"; ignore them, you will get helpful answers rather quickly. This place is your research.

 

[DaveP]

Go to SteamEngine.org for a calculator that will allow you you enter the wire type and size that you have, the diameter coil you want to build, and the type. Once you enter the parameters it will tell you how many wraps to wind. That's the easiest way to get accurate info on the coil before wasting wire

I use a 100' roll of Temco 28ga wire in stainless SS316L to wind my coils. That roll will last you a couple of years or more winding a single coil every week or two.

I have a stepped mandrel for winding coils and it has several size steps. I like 2mm and 2.5mm for my coils. For single coils, that's all you need. You can even use a nail in the size of your choice to wind your coils.

Cotton is easier and more forgiving. Rayon lasts longer before you need to rewick.