Fran, I gutted the head to see what the coil looks like since I've never done it or seen one. Surprisingly, it's not all that gunky. I think the wicked burnt taste I got was user error. I get a lot of condensation inside the center tube, so I poke a q-tip down it to clean it. I think I poked one too deep and got some q-tip cotton on the coil

The cotton in the head was discolored some from my juice, but no burnt spots.
Tracy, I vape my KSM wide open so I've adapted quite well to lung hitting. It's funny, I still have a BP in action and now when I hit it, it's like Dee says...trying to suck a watermelon through a straw!
I still haven't bought replacement o rings, so my first KSM still has the red ones BLEH! (Sorry Moon!) Love my silver istick, and you're right...everything matches it
OCC = Organic Cotton Coil