question about coil types and kanthal

[Alex4866]

Hey fellow vapers

I have been into rebuilding for quite some time but I've so far just been making coils with 28g kanthal around a random screwdriver which came with my RTA.
From what I can understand there are different types of coils such as: micro, macro, nano etc.
What are the differences/purposes of these types? Because the only difference I can think of is size.
When it comes to these types of coils can you just make any coil out of any type of kanthal or are there gauges of kanthal more suited to one or the other?
I have some 27g kanthal and soon I will get 26g. Which coil types would suit this kanthal the best?

My new screwdriver set consists of screwdrivers which are 1mm, 1.4mm, 2mm, 2.4mm, 3mm, 3.8mm in diameter. If I were to guess, 1mm would be for super nano, 1.4mm would be nano, 2mm - 2.4mm would be micro and the rest macro? Is this right?

I am currently waiting for a Magma rda to come in the mail. If you were to recommend me a build based on the kanthal I have and my screwdrivers, which coil type, screwdriver, how many wraps and which kanthal would you say I should use to get the best performance (flavor, vapor)?
For this rda would there be another gauge of kanthal I don't have that would work better than what I have? and if so which coil type should I use with that?

 

[WharfRat1976]

Nano- 1mm coil ID or less.
Micro- 1mm - 2mm
Macro- 2mm or greater
Some may say a micro could go as large as 2.5mm, whatever.

The best thing to do is to go into steam engine and play with all the variables and you will see the relationships.

There is a great Magma thread in the RBA forum with all kinds of opinions and different builds.

 

[Susan~S]

Coiling Calculator

Here are a few links for you regarding building coils and getting the resistance just where you want it:
1. Steam Engine
2. Coil Toy Calculator

Make sure to check your build with an ohm reader or DMM before putting it on your mod and firing it.

 

[Bored2Tears]

I too have questions similar to Alex. I get both steam engine and the coil toy calculator. What I'd like to know, and I think Alex eludes to ...is the theory behind choosing the right coil for the situation. I can attain any coil I desire and use both steam engine or coil toy to achieve that, but I'm not sure how folks decide which coil to build in the first place. I know it'll be mostly personal preference, but there must be some performance reasons and choices folks are making.

For example, I am rebuilding Kanger coils. The're is very limited space, and I understand using 30ga or higher for that reason. I guess this wire also heats up quicker, but probably will not be vaped at really high watts either.

Now I have a en Eleaf Lemo coming. It has a huge deck to build upon, and big airflow. Someone suggested I use 28 ga instead of the 30 ga I have, and use larger diameter than the 1.5 mm id coild I build on the Kanger Protanks. I realize that gives me a larger wick, and more surface area , and the 28 ga doesn't get quite as hot.

So am I thinking correctly that one wants as much surface area, wicking material and airflow as the build deck will allow? I guess this assumes most people want the most vapor possible.

Then the mod's limitations come into play. There are just so many variables. So, I am running an Eleaf istick (3 to 20 watt device).

Is there a point at which wicks become too large or too small to function well?