New Wire

[Kemosabe]

Does new wire have an off taste?
i bought some kenthal from OKC Vapes to rebuild some coils.
i burnt the wire with a Bic lighter until it glowed (did the same for the silica wick).
the rebuild went off without a hitch, but the taste is off. i thought maybe it just needs to get seasoned with some ejuice. well, several milliliters later, my flavor still has not improved.
please help!

edit: its tough to describe the taste, it might be metallicy?

 

[BJ43]

Does new wire have an off taste?
i bought some kenthal from OKC Vapes to rebuild some coils.
i burnt the wire with a Bic lighter until it glowed (did the same for the silica wick).
the rebuild went off without a hitch, but the taste is off. i thought maybe it just needs to get seasoned with some ejuice. well, several milliliters later, my flavor still has not improved.
please help!

edit: its tough to describe the taste, it might be metallicy?

Taste different to what? Yes kanthal tastes different than nichrome. Wire flavor does tend to diminish with use.

 

[tobarger]

Some people say Kanthal tastes bad
Some people say Nichrome tastes bad
Same people say they can taste no difference
Maybe you're just a Nichrome kinda guy

 

[Kemosabe]

Taste different to what? Yes kanthal tastes different than nichrome. Wire flavor does tend to diminish with use.

good point. i never mentioned what i was used to. im used to the flavor from attys (joye, empire mods, shifu, and vision). im also used to the flavor from stock vivi nova heads. these all seem to taste about the same to me. im not sure if they use kenthal, nichrome, or something else.

the kenthal i used to rebuild seems to be tasting a tiny fraction of a bit better, but this is after about 8ml has been vaped off of it. should i just keep going on this and expect improved flavor? or perhaps i should buy a torch flame to use in place of a bic lighter for my future rebuilds. in other words, is there a way for me to avoid/surpass the metallicy flavor?

also, is it possible that maybe they sent me nichrome instead of kenthal? i was under the impression that nichrome tasted *more* metallicy than kenthal. or is that perhaps up to the user to determine?

 

[P1NkY]

...is that perhaps up to the user to determine?

Pretty much sums it up, I'd say!
BTW, pretty much all chinese attys (joye, smoktech, etc.) use nichrome, I believe.

 

[BJ43]

good point. i never mentioned what i was used to. im used to the flavor from attys (joye, empire mods, shifu, and vision). im also used to the flavor from stock vivi nova heads. these all seem to taste about the same to me. im not sure if they use kenthal, nichrome, or something else.

the kenthal i used to rebuild seems to be tasting a tiny fraction of a bit better, but this is after about 8ml has been vaped off of it. should i just keep going on this and expect improved flavor? or perhaps i should buy a torch flame to use in place of a bic lighter for my future rebuilds. in other words, is there a way for me to avoid/surpass the metallicy flavor?

also, is it possible that maybe they sent me nichrome instead of kenthal? i was under the impression that nichrome tasted *more* metallicy than kenthal. or is that perhaps up to the user to determine?

It is a good idea to torch the wire before wrapping as it not only takes the springiness out of it, will also burns off any residual oils from production. I also wash it with soap and water.

 

[Kemosabe]

nice. i will take that advice.

i just thought of something...does the tightness of the wrap affect the flavor? one of my coil wraps is not flush with the wick: it extends ever so slightly from the wick. could this be a source of strange taste?

 

[Kemosabe]

Pretty much sums it up, I'd say!
BTW, pretty much all chinese attys (joye, smoktech, etc.) use nichrome, I believe.

interesting. do you know perchance which wire is used in stock vivi nova heads?

 

[BJ43]

interesting. do you know perchance which wire is used in stock vivi nova heads?

The vivi nova is probably nichrome. As far as a loose coil, the further the coil from the wick the dryer it vapes and can effect taste. Normally harsher if dry.

 

[tobarger]

You're probably just used to vaping Nichrome
Commonly used in Chinese atomizers
Its kind of like Coke and Pepsi
Which ever one you're used to drinking, its the other one that tastes off

 

[P1NkY]

You're probably just used to vaping Nichrome
Commonly used in Chinese atomizers
Its kind of like Coke and Pepsi
Which ever one you're used to drinking, its the other one that tastes off

Best analogy evar!

 

[Rule62]

You can determine if your new wire is kanthal or nichrome with a magnet. Kanthal is magnetic. Nichrome isn't.

 

[TomCatt]

If part of your coil glows red when you power it, or when you're vaping, that could account for an off taste. I've had coils/wicks where when I fired them up without 'drawing' on them, they looked fine. But when vaping, part of the coil would glow. This results from the coil not touching the wick good enough. The coil needs to make good contact with the wick, but not be so tight that it restricts the flow of the juice through the wick.
If you have a 'hot coil' and this flavor is decreasing slowly from vaping; you could just be building a layer of 'gunk' on the hot portion of the coil and insulating it some.

 

[Kemosabe]

You can determine if your new wire is kanthal or nichrome with a magnet. Kanthal is magnetic. Nichrome isn't.

its magnetic. so i did infact recieve kenthal. after another build, it still tastes unfavorable IMO. i burnt the wire and silica more than i did the first time and it does taste a slight bit better, but still not optimum. perhaps i need a torch rather than a lighter to burn it properly.

i want to try nichrome. can anyone tell me which specs on the nichrome that i might want? does it get measured in AWG like kenthal does? i found this:
Science Lab Supplies - Educational Laboratory Scientific Supplies & Equipment
but their specs include SWG rather than AWG. is it the same thing? at madvapes they call it AWG. but they also have the number 60 after the name. what does that signify and what number is optimum here?
i know i'd like 28 - 34 AWG with kenthal, so i assume id want the same AWG range for nichrome, but im not sure.
thanks for any help.

 

[P1NkY]

its magnetic. so i did infact recieve kenthal.

Nichrome 80 is non-magnetic, as neither nickel nor chromium are magnetic.
Nichrome 60 contains iron, just like Kanthal does, therefore it is also magnetic.

 

[tobarger]

SWG - Standard Wire Gauge
AWG - American Wire Gauge

Here is a PDF file with a side by side comparison of the two standards
With conversions to inches and mm

http://www.oilfield.de/download/techtabs/mechanic/mech001.pdf

 

[Kemosabe]

Nichrome 80 is non-magnetic, as neither nickel nor chromium are magnetic.
Nichrome 60 contains iron, just like Kanthal does, therefore it is also magnetic.

oh jeez. so now i still dont know if i have kenthal or nichrome. i tend to trust the dealer (OKC Vapes) that they indeed sold me what i purchased, which was kenthal. so, im pretty positive that i dont like the taste of kenthal. either that or i didnt burn the kenthal wire sufficiently, resulting in a metallic taste. is this feasable?

all i know is that i like the flavor i get from stock vivi nova heads, and every other atomizer ive used. this leads me to believe i like nichrome. i cant figure out if i dont like kenthal, or if i just dont like my particular rebuild jobs (possibly because of my lack of torching, but possibly because of somehting else?). ARGH. im frustrated because i dont know if i should try to make my kenthal work or if i should try nichrome.

 

[P1NkY]

If that's what OKC Vapes says they sold you, I'd believe them. I don't see why they would lie about something like that.
If you hadn't noticed any strong metallic flavor on commercial atties I think it's pretty safe to assume you're a nichrome kind of guy.
I'd suggest buying some nichrome and trying that out, just to be sure. 100ft of nichrome can be had for less than $7 on eBay, shipping included.
I know Madvapes also carries shorter lengths for about two-fitty, but be sure to get some other stuff with your order, cuz it's $2.99 for shipping
Someone else might chime in with other dealie-ohs...

 

[LucentShadow]

...
i want to try nichrome. can anyone tell me which specs on the nichrome that i might want? does it get measured in AWG like kenthal does? i found this:
Science Lab Supplies - Educational Laboratory Scientific Supplies & Equipment
but their specs include SWG rather than AWG. is it the same thing? at madvapes they call it AWG. but they also have the number 60 after the name. what does that signify and what number is optimum here?
i know i'd like 28 - 34 AWG with kenthal, so i assume id want the same AWG range for nichrome, but im not sure.
thanks for any help.

The smallest diameter that I saw in that link was about 0.018" (26 SWG,) which is generally too large, IMO

I use 34 AWG nichrome 80, though I'm going to get some 32 AWG for use in slightly bigger rebuildables. I have some 36 AWG, and have only used it 3 times, early on. It's a little too quick and concentrated with it's heating. I've considered 30 AWG, but my coil would have to be almost 3 times as long as a 34 AWG one would be.

Check out the sticky at the top of the forum for some info on how the different wires compare for our purposes:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo.../320042-resistance-wire-kanthal-nichrome.html

Kanthal generally delivers the same resistance as nichrome one size smaller in diameter would, so a 33 AWG length kanthal wire is about the same as an equal length of 34 AWG nichrome wire, in resistance.

I got mine from the link below, but they have been out of 100' lengths of one of the sizes for quite some time, now, so I'm not too sure how reliable they will be.

PnJ Resources, LLC : Nichrome 80

Ebay probably has many more choices.

 

[Kemosabe]

thanks for your advice. i think i am indeed a nichrome guy. i ordered 10ft (2 or 3 bucks) along with my did clone. they only had nichrome in 38awg so its gonna be too high of an ohm unfortunately but maybe not. at least i can see if i am truly a nichrome guy, which i think i am.

If that's what OKC Vapes says they sold you, I'd believe them. I don't see why they would lie about something like that.
If you hadn't noticed any strong metallic flavor on commercial atties I think it's pretty safe to assume you're a nichrome kind of guy.
I'd suggest buying some nichrome and trying that out, just to be sure. 100ft of nichrome can be had for less than $7 on eBay, shipping included.
I know Madvapes also carries shorter lengths for about two-fitty, but be sure to get some other stuff with your order, cuz it's $2.99 for shipping
Someone else might chime in with other dealie-ohs...