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

[listopencil]

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.

I would agree that a kit is a nice thing to buy. You could dig around and get the stuff cheaper, and probably higher quality, if you built the kit yourself. But for starting out I'd recommend buying a kit because it can be confusing for a new person. The Coilmaster kits are pretty good for someone to start with. I bought the Coilmaster V3 for about $36 but I am seeing it for $40-$45 now. I don't regret getting the kit and in hindsight I'd do it again if I were just starting out. The cotton that they put in it is crap though. You'll want to buy some different gauges of wire and definitely some decent cotton to go with it.

As others have said watch some YouTube videos of people making coils. Try to find tutorials of people building on what you use so you'll know how to wick the coils efficiently too. It can be really frustrating at first, so don't give up. You get a real sense of accomplishment from doing it after using store bought atomizers.

 

[listopencil]

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

That's the one I started with. It worked very well for me. Beware that the cotton included in the kit is horrible and it only comes with one gauge of wire. The tools are fine but they aren't the highest quality that you can get. I broke the wire snips by clamping down way too hard on the deck (instead of the wire) when I wasn't paying enough attention.

 

[lynn508]

Back when I started building coils there were no kits and very few videos. P. Busardo was my first coil video instructor... I think on the original Kayfuns. I had no knowledge of batteries or electronics and when my first coil worked I was just amazed. Been doing my own coils ever since. The prebuilt coils from FT are a real timesaver but it's good to learn to wind your own.

 

[JCinFLA]

From the list above, I highly recommend the Vandy Vape Berserker 24mm RTA for MTL. I just started using one a week ago today, and was very impressed with everything about it (ie. easy to build deck, comes with 2 different tank sizes, produces smooth vapor and lots of flavor, has many air flow setting options for MTL vapers, uses eliquid very slowly, etc.). For me, it's replaced a version of the Kayfun Lite Plus, as my all-time favorite RTA. So I ordered 6 more Berserkers from the website below and received them already Tuesday. I'm also getting ready to order a couple of the Berserker 22mm Mini RTA from FastTech.

You can get the 24mm one from here for a super price of just $21.99:

Vandy Vape Berserker MTL RTA - EightVape

I have the materials to make my own coils, and can do it with no problems, but I also have hundreds of the Kanthal A1 pre-wound coils I bought from FastTech (about $4.76 for 100). Vapes.com (US vendor) also carries a variety of them for about $9.99+ for 100. All I have to do is install one on the deck and wick it. It's an easy way to get introduced to not using factory coils like you've been using and to learn about wicking correctly. Then go on to building the coils themselves, too, if you want to.

I used KohGenDo cotton for wicking for a long time, but switched to Rayon about 6 months ago, and I love it! The first wick in the Berserker lasted for 5 days before I needed to rewick, and I never had a dry hit while chain-vaping those 5 days. The flavor from Rayon is amazing in comparison to cotton, too, IMO.

 

[vapemate93]

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.

I agree with this completely. Thanks you.

 

[vapemate93]

Back when I started building coils there were no kits and very few videos. P. Busardo was my first coil video instructor... I think on the original Kayfuns. I had no knowledge of batteries or electronics and when my first coil worked I was just amazed. Been doing my own coils ever since. The prebuilt coils from FT are a real timesaver but it's good to learn to wind your own.

I agree I think it kind of looks fun to do aswell. I think I'd get some kind of satisfaction from building my own completely

 

[vapemate93]

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.

That is extremely helpful thank you for that.

 

[vapemate93]

Nice kit but expensive.

I can get it for cheaper on ebay from looking.

 

[lynn508]

The wicking is usually the hardest part..with kogendo sheets I cut them down to about 4.5mm strips and thread them into the coil. You want to make sure the cotton moves easily through the coil and does not change the ohms on the meter. Too thick it chokes off the juice and too thin it floods a bit. That's where it gets a bit frustrating until you get the hang of it.

 

[vapemate93]

What's the best material to use for the coil for a starter? I think it would be wise to stay away from temp control at first? Anyone agree?

 

[vapemate93]

The wicking is usually the hardest part..with kogendo sheets I cut them down to about 4.5mm strips and thread them into the coil. You want to make sure the cotton moves easily through the coil and does not change the ohms on the meter. Too thick it chokes off the juice and too thin it floods a bit. That's where it gets a bit frustrating until you get the hang of it.

Thanks for that I'll keep that in mind.

 

[vapemate93]

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.

Thanks I took your advise and went for a build kit.

 

[Bonskibon]

I started with 28gauge kanthal, 8 winds on a 2.5 diameter will give you about a 1.6 ohm coil.

 

[vapemate93]

I started with 28gauge kanthal, 8 winds on a 2.5 diameter will give you about a 1.6 ohm coil.

Thanks I've heard Kanthal is the best for newbies who are understanding ohm's law. I may get the same.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Building your own coils is cheaper than buying stock coils only if you place low or no value on your spare or recreational time. That being true, once you get to the right build -- that is, you find your sweet spot -- it becomes your recreational time and then it doesn't matter how much you save.

When you're just getting started good and you're cursing the leaks and howling at the dry hits, you'll mumble to yourself about how the stock coil really wasn't all that costly. You'll look at all those rolls of 52 different wire metallurgies in 179 different gauges, the different types of wick materials, the coil building kit with 12 different means of turning a screw. You'll have the two dozen different RDA's, RTA's, RDTA's and RBA's for convertible tanks from four different manufacturers. You'll look at all that and you'll wonder why you gave up just popping a new coil out of a blister pack.

Then you'll hit that perfect resistance on the perfect diameter in the perfect atomizer with the perfect juice flavor and you'll wonder why you didn't just start with rebuildables.

Oh, and... you'll have to decide which of your other pastimes or girl- or boyfriends to give up because you won't have time for them.

Anyone talked to you yet about DIY juice? That will save some money...

 

[Eskie]

What's the best material to use for the coil for a starter? I think it would be wise to stay away from temp control at first? Anyone agree?

I would actually recommend SS wire. It's as easy to work with as Kanthal, and is good for use in both wattage and temp control mode. That way if you start with Kanthal but decide down the road to play with temp control, you don't have to buy additional wire and if you stay with TC, you don't end up with a bunch of Kanthal spools you'll never use.

I didn't realize you're in the UK. Temco is a US company so I expect buying wire from a UK company will be more cost effective.

 

[listopencil]

Here's a UK vendor: StealthVape

I am not recommending that you buy from them. I'm not familiar with UK vendors. I just noticed that they seem to have a good selection and they have contact info listed. You should call them and check them out yourself. I am only bringing them up because their name stuck in my head.

 

[vapemate93]

I would actually recommend SS wire. It's as easy to work with as Kanthal, and is good for use in both wattage and temp control mode. That way if you start with Kanthal but decide down the road to play with temp control, you don't have to buy additional wire and if you stay with TC, you don't end up with a bunch of Kanthal spools you'll never use.

I didn't realize you're in the UK. Temco is a US company so I expect buying wire from a UK company will be more cost effective.

Thanks again took your advice went with SS, I appreciate your help, cheers.

 

[Baditude]

Is there any proper tools you need in order to do this, like to wrap the coils and things.

Tools:

• Resistance wire – kanthal, stainless steel, nickel, nichrome, etc.
• Flush wire cutters – wire cutters that can cut close in small spaces
• Tweezers – preferably ceramic tipped, to pinch your coils while pulsing
• Small metal rods – a precision screwdriver set, or coiling tool
• Organic cotton – or whichever wicking material you prefer (ie Rayon)
• Scissors – to trim your cotton

• An ohm reader – or a mod that accurately detects resistance
• A coil jig – it can make your life a little easier
• A second vape – to vape on while you’re building those coils, silly

You don't need a coil jig set, but you will need at least a precision screwdriver set that has a variety of stem diameters to wrap your coils around and their stem diameters labeled in milimeters on each screwdriver. You'll need a wire cutter or nail clipper to cut wire. You'll need an ohm meter to measure the resistance of your finished coil. Fast Tech is an inexpensive website to get tools & supplies if you don't mind waiting 3 weeks.

What's the best material to use for the coil for a starter? I think it would be wise to stay away from temp control at first? Anyone agree?

Agree. I'd recommend 26 or 28 gauge Kanthal or stainless steel. You can use stainless steel with wattage or temp control. You can use kanthal only in wattage mode. You can use Nickle only in TC mode.

 

[vapemate93]

Tools:

• Resistance wire – kanthal, stainless steel, nickel, nichrome, etc.
• Flush wire cutters – wire cutters that can cut close in small spaces
• Tweezers – preferably ceramic tipped, to pinch your coils while pulsing
• Small metal rods – a precision screwdriver set, or coiling tool
• Organic cotton – or whichever wicking material you prefer
• Scissors – to trim your cotton

• An ohm reader – or a mod that accurately detects resistance
• A coil jig – it can make your life a little easier
• A second vape – to vape on while you’re building those coils, silly

You don't need a coil jig set, but you will need at least a precision screwdriver set that has a variety of stem diameters to wrap your coils around and their stem diameters labeled in milimeters on each screwdriver. You'll need a wire cutter or nail clipper to cut wire. You'll need an ohm meter to measure the resistance of your finished coil.







Agree. I'd recommend 26 or 28 gauge Kanthal or stainless steel. You can use stainless steel with wattage or temp control. You can use kanthal only in wattage mode. You can use Nickle only in TC mode.

Damn your helpful I appreciate the time it's took you to search that all up. And this is pretty much everything I needed in a nice easy to understand post.

What is better for MTL 28G or 30G wire?