Nichrome vs Kanthal

[Hittman2780]

Ok lets hear whats said.. I'm ordering from Temco and they have both.. which is the best to use in sub ohm builds?

 

[Mad Scientist]

I'd go with nichrome. Less resistance per length, or looking at it another way, more wire for same resistance. The more wire heats a tiny bit slower but can heat more wick area and thus more juice.

 

[Hittman2780]

Well if that's the case.. wouldn't you aslo go with flat/ribbon wire?

 

[Mad Scientist]

Well if that's the case.. wouldn't you aslo go with flat/ribbon wire?

Similar idea -- more surface area generally results in improved thermal transfer. Nichrome will allow a longer length of ribbon wire than same diameter kanthal ribbon for the same resistance. Ribbon wasn't the original question. For any given wire configuration (fat or thin, ribbon or round -- depending on the wick and what you are trying to accomplish), in a low resistance build, I prefer nichrome for the reasons stated.

 

[Thrasher]

i didnt care for nichrome, had a metallic taste to me. even after break in. i know its still big in the EU

flat wire rocks in a dripper.

 

[Hittman2780]

I'm doing a build on my Reo... And kinda wanna make it perfect is the only reason I'm asking.

So I guess I'll go with nichrome. I'll have cotton under it vs cotton running threw it.. So to get the most areas of.contact that would be.my best bet..

 

[Hittman2780]

Thrasher" data-source="post: 11029337" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

i didnt care for nichrome, had a metallic taste to me. even after break in. i know its still big in the EU

flat wire rocks in a dripper.

Did you torch it first?

 

[pdib]

I prefer Nichrome wire. That said, some people find a (metallic?) aftertaste in it, and others actually get a sore throat from it. I wouldn't recommend buying a giant spool of it until you've established whether it works for you.

 

[Hittman2780]

I prefer Nichrome wire. That said, some people find a (metallic?) aftertaste in it, and others actually get a sore throat from it. I wouldn't recommend buying a giant spool of it until you've established whether it works for you.

Dang thank you

 

[JeremyR]

I tend to prefer Nichrome too. Flavor is better to me and I get more metallic taste from kanthal. Another thing is you get a roll of kanthal and the wire can have tiny rust spots/ discoloration at least the roll I got does. Not a horrible thing but it can happen over time in high humidity. Nichrome doesn't have that issue.. At least that I have seen. I always heat my wire to burn it off and treat it for micro coiling.

 

[NicoHolic]

To me, nichrome has more of a sharp "bite" to it and I like it with certain juices. Fortunately, I'm not one of those sensitive to it. And again, to me, Kanthal gives a smoother hit. YMMV.

 

[pdib]

Yep, Kanthal is definitely more "tame", mellow and Nichrome is tangier (I think it brings out the bright notes of flavor better). I've compared equal resistances (say, 26 Nichrome and 25 Kanthal are almost equal in resistance), and found the Nichrome to hit harder and punch the vape better. Furthermore, to achieve the same resistance, you have to use a thicker piece of Kanthal, which slows down your heat-up time.

 

[pufZeppelin]

Fun Facts for those who might like to know

Resistance wire is a high-resistance electrical wire that is often found in industrial applications
including electrical ovens, toasters, knarly wicked personal vaporizers and heating elements.
The two major types of resistance wire are Kanthal and Nichrome wire.

-Kanthal wire is a ferritic iron-chromium-aluminum alloy that can be in high temperature applications. It is often used in large, industrial applications and chosen for its high resistivity and excellent oxidation resistance.

-Nichrome is made from nickel-chromium alloys is generally only used in temperatures below 1250°C. Nichrome has a slightly lower maximum operating temperature than Kanthal and operates best applications such as hair dryers, pvs, toasters, and kilns.

Corrosion, Rusting, and Oxidation
Resistance wire does not easily rust or oxidize, even in extreme environments. Kanthal is often chosen for its excellent oxidation resistance. It can be exposed to sulfuric compounds and not corrode quickly, making it well suited for corrosion resistance in hot states. Nichrome has similar properties but oxidizes more quickly than Kanthal in sulfur-containing atmospheres.

TEMCo VAPE like there is no Gravity≈...

 

[JeremyR]

Lol that's funny about the corrosion.. Weird It seemed to be other way around around. I don't doubt it but not sure what I see on the kanthal spool.

 

[evgeny131]

i use kanthal A1 only...both awg and ribbon.....ribbon is fantastic for mesh, drippers, awg for microcoils....
i noticed the metallic taste from nichrome and didn't get the same flavor/vapor production from it....

 

[Thrasher]

lol so as we can see here, maybe the best thing to do is get yourself a couple small spools of each and try both as it will ultimately come down to your taste preference
if we all liked the same thing there wouldnt be 500 juices and 1000 different atty's

 

[JD1]

lol so as we can see here, maybe the best thing to do is get yourself a couple small spools of each and try both as it will ultimately come down to your taste preference
if we all liked the same thing there wouldnt be 500 juices and 1000 different atty's

What size ribbon do you use in your drippers?