Hey guys. Ive gotten to the point in my vaping career (about 3 months) where Im sick of buying new heads for all my novas. Its time I learn how to Re-coil/wick my heads. I've been reading all about the different types of wicks and wires and its all quite overwhelming. I figured I better go with 34 gauge kanthal wire. Now the confusing part, the wick. Cotton has great flavor, SS mesh is long lasting, silicon is risky etc...All have there pros and cons. But as I have been reading, Im really getting quite deterred. Im thinking Im just going to get the wire and 3mm silicon. Here's my reasoning: I've been using silicon all this time and have been satisfied. I like how it vapes, the flavor might not be at its top potential, but hey it works for me, and it just overall is something I'm comfortable with using again because I know what to expect. SOOOOO if anyone can tell me a few reasons to go another route please convince me. Also, Im vaping two vision spinners and finding the 2.4 ohm heads to work best. If anyone has any wire recommendations or wick recommendations please link me because Ill be buying in about 2-4 days. Thanks, Tanman.
Re-Wicking...Im stuck in between a rock and a hard spot #Help?
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When I made my foray into RBA's, I was using a 1000mAh USB eGo.
I purchased the phoenix Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer (some call them rda's). (Phoenix Rebuildable 510 "Dripping" Atomizer)
I use 32 gauge nichrome, also available from the same vendor.
4/5 wraps usually gets me 1.8 ohms, which is an ideal resistance for your device. (On a spinner you'll most likely be the happiest between 1.6-2.2 ohms.)
Buying the supplies is the easiest part. Whether you go with an RDA or a tank-style is up to you, but I would advise againt spending more than 15-25 dollars on your first setup. Buy something cheap first.
Building coils is simply a matter of time investment. With $10 worth of supplies you can make 100+ coils. Each coil I build literally costs less than a penny.
Honestly you should try your 3mm silicon, get some 32 gauge, and if you're felling adventurous use a pinch off a cotton ball/pad/gauze/yarn. It just takes practice.
Good luck!!!
I purchased the phoenix Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer (some call them rda's). (Phoenix Rebuildable 510 "Dripping" Atomizer)
I use 32 gauge nichrome, also available from the same vendor.
4/5 wraps usually gets me 1.8 ohms, which is an ideal resistance for your device. (On a spinner you'll most likely be the happiest between 1.6-2.2 ohms.)
Buying the supplies is the easiest part. Whether you go with an RDA or a tank-style is up to you, but I would advise againt spending more than 15-25 dollars on your first setup. Buy something cheap first.
Building coils is simply a matter of time investment. With $10 worth of supplies you can make 100+ coils. Each coil I build literally costs less than a penny.
Honestly you should try your 3mm silicon, get some 32 gauge, and if you're felling adventurous use a pinch off a cotton ball/pad/gauze/yarn. It just takes practice.
Good luck!!!
Oh and one more thing: You'll want a cheap multimeter to verify resistance. Something like this: Equus 3300 Hands-free Digital Multimeter : Amazon.com : Automotive would be just fine. You don't need an expensive one because all you are measuring is low level ohms. The expensive ones out there are intended for professional use, they do lots of things you'll never need.
Another thought
Smoktech "Drunk Tank" ecig clearomizer tank This might be a good starter if you like tank attys.
Another thought
Smoktech "Drunk Tank" ecig clearomizer tank This might be a good starter if you like tank attys.
A number of vendors are offering SILICA (silicone is a heat resistant 'plastic' that seals in various cartos/clearos are made of) wicking.
34 gauge resistance wire is better for ~2.5+ Ω, for lower ohms coils, 32g would be better.
34 gauge resistance wire is better for ~2.5+ Ω, for lower ohms coils, 32g would be better.
I also started with a phoenix clone just to get the feel for rebuilding. You can get a really affordable one here: The Bulldog Rebuildable Atomizer or here: Phoenix Style Rebuildable Atomizer. But I have been rebuilding my vivi nova heads for a while now. It's pleasant, being self-sufficient. I'm working on mastering a genesis style at the moment but my attempts have mostly been duds so far.
I use Kanthal. It just tastes a little cleaner to me than nichrome, but there's not a huge difference. 34g is easier to wrap than 32g, but the resistance is higher. 4 or 5 wraps usually gets me around 3 ohms, but you can get a bit of each for cheap and decide which you like better. Since you use VV it doesn't matter so much for you.
I use silica. I have some 3mm, and what I usually do is cut off about an inch and a half and then debraid it so that it's frayed, it seems to wick better that way than using multiple strands of the smaller diameter wicks.
My method is I'll lay the silica over the smallest micro screwdriver i have, and then wrap the coil around that. that way it's not too loose but it's not so tight that it chokes juice flow to your coils. Then I'll position the whole thing, screwdriver and all, in the slots on t he head. Because if you pull it down too low into the body while you're securing the legs of the coil, that won't wick very well either.
Now the most important thing, is do NOT let the positive lead touch the inside of the head body. The positive lead is the one caught between the rubbery plug and the metal insert. Usually you can peer down in there and see which way the wire is coming from and secure it on the opposite side.
Here, phil will show you what i'm talking about.
It is important to measure the resistance of your coil afterward. If you're comfortable fiddling with a multimeter, great. I find it cumbersome, so I invested in one of these: Portable Ohm Meter - Avid Vaper
Good luck, OP. Once you get the hang of it you'll be able to crank out 20 of them in an hour's time.
I use Kanthal. It just tastes a little cleaner to me than nichrome, but there's not a huge difference. 34g is easier to wrap than 32g, but the resistance is higher. 4 or 5 wraps usually gets me around 3 ohms, but you can get a bit of each for cheap and decide which you like better. Since you use VV it doesn't matter so much for you.
I use silica. I have some 3mm, and what I usually do is cut off about an inch and a half and then debraid it so that it's frayed, it seems to wick better that way than using multiple strands of the smaller diameter wicks.
My method is I'll lay the silica over the smallest micro screwdriver i have, and then wrap the coil around that. that way it's not too loose but it's not so tight that it chokes juice flow to your coils. Then I'll position the whole thing, screwdriver and all, in the slots on t he head. Because if you pull it down too low into the body while you're securing the legs of the coil, that won't wick very well either.
Now the most important thing, is do NOT let the positive lead touch the inside of the head body. The positive lead is the one caught between the rubbery plug and the metal insert. Usually you can peer down in there and see which way the wire is coming from and secure it on the opposite side.
Here, phil will show you what i'm talking about.
It is important to measure the resistance of your coil afterward. If you're comfortable fiddling with a multimeter, great. I find it cumbersome, so I invested in one of these: Portable Ohm Meter - Avid Vaper
Good luck, OP. Once you get the hang of it you'll be able to crank out 20 of them in an hour's time.
Another wick option is xc-116 ceramic wick from sng vapor. It is hard to get because it is always out of stock but performs great. I find you don't get the nasty taste after a dry burn like silica. It also wicks very well and it is stiffer so you don't have to use a needle to wrap your coil, I just hold the wick and wrap the kanthal, super easy.
You say ceramic, and i thought of those airstone looking things people put into gennies sometimes. But now that I've googles it that actually looks pretty nifty. How do they do that? It looks like a candle wick.
Mind officially blown.
Sounds like you have enough heads now. You could do a bit of experimenting and do your own comparison.
Mesh will be the most difficult in such a small configuration.
Cotton might be a surprise +
Silica is good for practicing and getting comfortable with builds.
Remember silica comes in different weaves and qualities. Don't buy in bulk unless you are sure you have what you need.
Mesh will be the most difficult in such a small configuration.
Cotton might be a surprise +
Silica is good for practicing and getting comfortable with builds.
Remember silica comes in different weaves and qualities. Don't buy in bulk unless you are sure you have what you need.
Roll of white cotton yard and some 32guard kanthal wire and a few minutes of your time. Very uncomplicated. I was confused as well. 5 dolalrs for 100 feet of kanthal wire and 3 dollars for a ball of yarn. No point paying inflated prices for a foot or two of silica wick. That's easily 300 wicks for the price of 2 or 3 replaceable coils.
I'm not sure how they do it but it is some advanced stuff used for the aerospace industry as heat shield or something. It is exclusive to the good ole' U.S.ofA. they are not allowed to export it. If you do want it sign up for an e-mail notification because it sells out in minutes. You can also get it from omega in large quantities but it has to be torched or kilned. That's what's nice about the stuff from SNG vapor they do the heat treating for you.
Neat! and presumably it's resuable for a long time huh? does it fray out or hold that shape? i see the ends are taped.
So I could get like three of those and be set on my +/-20ish vivi nova heads for a while? just have to replace my gunked coil now and again?
ETA see this is what I love about these threads. I pop in here with my own two cents for a newfriend and I also learn something new in the process.
The ends do fray when cut. I just got mine and rebuilt one of my heads I got that was d.o.a. so I'm not sure how long they will last but it's supposed to be good for a while. It takes the heat well when dry burned so that isn't really a problem and you don't get the nasty dry burnt taste either.
i use 32g kanthal and silica i won't get silica again once i run out. i'll probably get hemp instead. i just re wick every few days because i can. it takes less than 5 minutes to wrap and burn it. i don't wrap a coil around anything but the silica and get clean wraps every time. i do 4 wraps around a single strand of 2.5mm silica. i haven't metered it yet because i don't have a meter at my house now and don't really care. i know what to do not to blow up a battery and it vapes fine. not advised obviously.
i just burn mine on the stove because i'm using silica and can burn the whole thing. if you are using something else burn the wire before you wrap it.
i just burn mine on the stove because i'm using silica and can burn the whole thing. if you are using something else burn the wire before you wrap it.
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