Just started rebuilding my own coils. They work!!

[treetrimmerguy1977]

I've been watching youtube videos non stop since I started vaping April 1st almost two months ago. At first I saw them and was thinking there is no way I'll be able to do this, but after watching like fourteen bazzilion videos of people doing it, I decided it looked really simple. lol

I ordered 32 guage A1 kanthol wire, and some 2mm silica wick and tried it out on a vivi nova first. I didn't have a voltmeter of any kind at first, but I just did 5 wraps, and tried it. I knew it was risky without testing it, but it worked! like a week later I got a cheap voltmeter from harbor freight and have been testing them before firing. You have to minus off the resistance that the leads have. with mine that number is .9 ohms, so I've ended up shooting for as close to a 2 ohm coil as possible. Six wraps gives me 2.1-2.2 ohms.

I was a little nervous about using them still because my rebuilt 2.2ohm coil pops a little bit more than a 2.2 coil that I buy already made. I've been doing this for like 3 weeks now on and off, but haven't gotten the nerve to really use them till last night because of that extra popping. So far, since last night it has been performing extremely well besides the fact that about every 5 puffs or so, it pops just a little bit. I don't mind it really as long as I'm not going to be hurting my ego twist.

Has anyone noticed there is more popping on a rebuilt coil? I don't understand why it would be more hot than any other coil. I made sure the wraps aren't touching. it looks perfect! It's not touching the sides of the head or shorting out in any way. It vapes perfect actually.

 

[aushizz]

I'm interested in this as well can you kindly link the videos that helped you the most? Why did u chose that wire and wick?

 

[Ibocpro]

welcome treetrimmer!

I have been rebuilding coils for a while now, getting better all the time, and have had similar "popping" that you describe. I use cotton for my wicks and mainly build RDA's and not so much for the Protanks or Novas. Some of my coils would really pop, like loud and strong. I found that my coil was a little too tight on the wick and was pinching into the material. I then started using a die to pre-wrap and then would pull the cotton through the coil, this allowed the cotton to just fit and after swelling with juice the popping was reduced and now just the wonderful crackling of vaporizing juice (well little pops from time to time but no mini-explosions). With silica pulling or pushing it through would be tough so I would say use a large ish needle in the silica while wrapping your wire, then when you have your coil ready pull the needle out. This will give a little room for you wick and should also help it wick better.

Mainly it is trial and error, keep at it and try new things. Glad to hear that you are testing your builds first now, that can be a bummer for a device without protection.. Anyway I am sure there will be more and better tricks and tips you will find here or offered by those with more experience but I hope this helps a bit.

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

Sure, I just went to youtube and searched, "rebuilding vivi nova" Pbusardo is a really popular guy. I think I've watched like 10 hrs of his videos over the last couple months, but there are many many other videos that you will find if you search what I said, or search other things. I also tried "rebuilding vivi nova with cotton wick" I tried some unbleached, un-dyed organic cotton yarn, but didn't have much luck. Well, just thought it tasted weird. I also google searched these same things, and saw ideas on this forum that helped me. I went with a1 32 guage kanthol wire because it seemed like it was the most commonly used gage and type I saw people using from this forum and on youtube. I went with 2mm silica because it seems like I remember seeing people on youtube using smaller wick, and having leaking and gurgling issues. I wanted something big enough to fill the gap where the wick sticks out of the head so no excess e juice would be able to seep into the coil area and cause flooding. It's worked perfect so far except for that little bit of extra popping noise I'm getting. Not sure how to describe it, but there's a certain fulfilling feeling I got when I built the coil, and it made awesome vapor. I'm like "I made this!" hahahaha

 

[supertrunker]

i think the popping is the coil heating up and VG in the juice - i find it rather comforting, but occasionally it startles me!

I started rebuilding coils for Novas and they are a fabulous way of learning.

T

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

Thanks ibocpro! I've seen videos of people using a machine screw to wrap the coils, then pulling the wick through. I've been using a large paperclip that I straightened out and held next to the wick as I wrap, then pull out paperclip. I have noticed that I catch myself wrapping so tight that it breaks some of the strands of silica, but when I do that, I just pull the wick through the coil a little ways to a part that's unbroken. Then I end up trimming the broken part of the wick off so it's not even being used.

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

I'm starting to notice as the day goes by that the popping has subsided a little bit. Now it seems more like the normal popping sound all other heads have made. Maybe it was just breaking in. Yeah, I rebuilt vivi novas at first, but the one I'm using now is a kanger t3 bottom coil supertrunker. It was a tiny bit different, but still easy. I just had to find some needle nose pliers to get it done.

 

[Ibocpro]

Glad to hear it is working out for you, just for fun try a "microcoil" (saw super_X_drifters coils and had to try). I now build all my coils this way now but have never tried it with silica..

(edit) that is 28 gauge kanthal A1, hence the many wraps..

 

[supertrunker]

Getting silica thru them is difficult - at least with a cotton ball you can make a decent little point on one end and pull it thru. I find silica frays at the slightest excuse.

What i dislike about cotton is losing the ability to dry burn a coil to get crap off it and the fact that i have to rewick it every 2 days.

The only method i have tried in the past is to wrap a loop of wire around your wick and just bully it through, pulling on the wire thru the coil, but then you have to adjust all the coils again. I use a safety pin for that because i am accident-prone!

T

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

I'll look into that. I've never had an actual true rebuildable. I still have so much to learn in this world. I don't feel intimidated by it all. Just intrigued. lol I've seen so many cool things on youtube. Started out with an 808 from cigeasy, then moved up to a couple ego twist. I just have a couple vivi's, a kanger protank, t3, bunch of boge cartos, and about 15 different flavors. I know I'm still just a newb, but I'm loving this, and I know it's going to be more than just a way to quit smoking.

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

I just had a hard time getting used to the way the cotton felt when it vaped. Hard to describe it. Although I knew better than to dry burn it, I just couldn't shake the feeling that I was going to burn it. lol It was actually working though. It took a little longer to become saturated with juice too. I was just wondering if it would be able to keep up with my vaping. Maybe I'll give it another try.

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

Hey, will cotton work on a bottom coil t3?

 

[Cuando]

Having tried everything under the sun I think it's RBA's for life for me after the past couple months using one. I've found that placing your wick along a toothpick, then wrapping the wire tightly around both the wick and toothpick, and removing the toothpick makes for an almost perfect coil every time. The wick will puff back out and sit nicely within the coil. I've had no popping since I started doing it.

 

[HughDaHand]

Hey, will cotton work on a bottom coil t3?

It works fine for me in T3's and eVod's. Been using it for about 3 months or so and can't stand the taste of sillica anymore. The main thing to watch out for with bottom coils is that there are no air gaps around where the wick enters the head. It will leak through any air gaps so I just fluff up the cotton in that area. Works like a charm.

 

[Rat2chat2]

Where do you buy your supplies. Just wondering. I watch a bunch of YouTube's and I think I am ready to try it too. Thanks

 

[Ibocpro]

Had the same feelings, but I really liked that cotton is organic and just did not like the "feel" of silica. It is not green thing for me as much as I like that I can buy 190 yards of cotton yarn for about $2. When I started I was running low voltage as to not "burn" the cotton (makes sense right??) well turns out I was replacing the wick daily cause of all the buildup on the coil. Turns out that I was boiling my juice and not vaporizing it so it would leave behind residue.. Now I am running the same voltage if not higher than I used with silica and holy pencil sharpener Batman clean coil for days..

Also with cotton I used to get that "earthy" taste for a while, this I corrected by my patented (not really) process:
1) Soak the cotton in booze, I have used clear tequila and vodka, (what I had on hand ) for half a day or so.
2) Boil the cotton in distilled water (I used filtered, again what I had on hand) for 20 minutes or so, pour out water rinse and repeat.
3) Hang cotton on a hanger and let air dry.
4) Use the cotton as a wick.

It may seem a bit much but I do about 12 feet at a time so I have wicks for, well still working on my first 12 feet so I really have no idea how long. The other thing I really like is when I want to change a flavor I just pull out the old wick, burn the coil, insert a new one and carry on.

OK, that's it, no more gushing over cotton... I do not think it is better or should be used it is just what "I" like, so take it for what it is worth. Bottom line is what ever works is the right thing to use.

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

Nice. You guys have all tempted me to get a rebuildable. What's one that's been used by a lot of people and is popular?

As far as mods, all I have is ego twist so far, (not even sure if that quallifies as a mod lol) but I'm sure that will change soon. I'm still trying to decide on either a variable volt, or variable watt device so I don't have to figure out my desired wattage all the time. I know how, but it would be nice to be lazy and have it done by a device I think. lol

 

[Nature Boy]

I had the same satisfied experience with my GG Ithaka !!!! Nice job mate !!!

 

[Light Seeker]

What i dislike about cotton is losing the ability to dry burn a coil to get crap off it and the fact that i have to rewick it every 2 days.

The only method i have tried in the past is to wrap a loop of wire around your wick and just bully it through, pulling on the wire thru the coil, but then you have to adjust all the coils again. I use a safety pin for that because i am accident-prone!

T

Interesting, my cotton wicks last a good 2 weeks or more. I rinse them off with hot water every few days, then let em soak for about half hour in the tank before vaping.

Ive found if you torch your coil before pulling the wick thru, much easier & the coil retains most of its shape.

 

[treetrimmerguy1977]

The cotton I got was good stuff. It was recommended on a thread I read on this forum a few weeks ago. I think it was an old thread.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-yarn-vision-vivi-nova-rebuild-technique.html

I didn't soak it in alc or boil it. does that make a big difference?