Rebuilding.

[Two_Bears]

I started diy juice before I wrapped my first coil. Premix was always way too over flavored or sweet for my palate so I struggled to find the groove in 2013. After I figured out mixing I was like "hey, if I can mix my own stuff I can wrap my own stuff".

Early on was a struggle. Silica wicks and wrapping on drill bits. Never consistent. But I figured it out and became proficient with igo and kayfun single coils.

Then I got some screw drivers with accurate diameters and switched to cotton. Then life got really easy. 1.2ohm 2.5mm kanthal became second nature. I have a good jig now and it's even easier. I've tried all kinds of diameters, guages, and ohms but keep going back to .8 - 1ohm on drippers and 1.2ohms on kayfun style tanks. I think it's all I'll ever need.

The short story of my post is to find your preferred guage, diameter, and resistence and just stick with it and not worry. I wrap and wick pretty much the same way every time and couldnt be happier.

With coil jigs and youtube videos galore there is no reason that anyone cant do it themselves and find their sweet spot. I find the process of rebuilding quite relaxing now. A little practice solves many years worth of problems too.

I started wrapping coils around the Shaft of the little blue screwdriver. I used organic cotton balls from Walgreens.

I wasted too much kojendo.

I lived that organic cotton. Wick too thin get a few mire fibers and make the wick fatter. Too tight simply remove a few fibers. I was able to get a perfect fit about 99% of the time.

I use Rayon now vand i stillbadd or remove fibers for a good fit.

 

[IMFire3605]

If it wasn't for a move by Kanger with the release of the T3 and Protank 1 at the same time, then not shipping coils for the tanks for a month, probably would have taken me longer to get into rebuilding. So I was pretty much forced into rebuilding those tiny tiny coil units on the PT1 just so I could vape and not have to go buy a new tank every week for a new coil -_-". Month after this I got my first sets of RDAs and a Mech, old Smok Octopus RDAs and a Magneto V1. Bah it was fun learning to modify things, further and further I tumbled down the rabbit hole. Ahhhhhhh, the good old fun days of vaping for me =D

 

[Thayamax]

I was happily vaping away on Protanks for quite a while. I read that they could be rebuilt so I saved the heads but never tried to actually rebuild any of them. Then the Kayfuns became the big thing. I debated on whether to go for one with the knowledge I would be forced to make my own coils. I watched some YouTube videos on how to do it and finally made the leap.

The very first coil I made worked! I was astounded at how easy it actually was to do. I've been building all my own coils ever since and have done so on drippers, tanks and RDTAs without any problems. I would never go back to premade coils.

By the way, I'm a 64 year old female, so you can teach an old dog new tricks.

 

[NC_Fog]

I was happily vaping away on Protanks for quite a while. I read that they could be rebuilt so I saved the heads but never tried to actually rebuild any of them. Then the Kayfuns became the big thing. I debated on whether to go for one with the knowledge I would be forced to make my own coils. I watched some YouTube videos on how to do it and finally made the leap.

The very first coil I made worked! I was astounded at how easy it actually was to do. I've been building all my own coils ever since and have done so on drippers, tanks and RDTAs without any problems. I would never go back to premade coils.

By the way, I'm a 64 year old female, so you can teach an old dog new tricks.

This post made my day!!! Like x10

 

[Two_Bears]

If it wasn't for a move by Kanger with the release of the T3 and Protank 1 at the same time, then not shipping coils for the tanks for a month, probably would have taken me longer to get into rebuilding. So I was pretty much forced into rebuilding those tiny tiny coil units on the PT1 just so I could vape and not have to go buy a new tank every week for a new coil -_-". Month after this I got my first sets of RDAs and a Mech, old Smok Octopus RDAs and a Magneto V1. Bah it was fun learning to modify things, further and further I tumbled down the rabbit hole. Ahhhhhhh, the good old fun days of vaping for me =D

Thanksfor sharing the story.

I rebuilt a pro tank coil a few times.

 

[Two_Bears]

I was happily vaping away on Protanks for quite a while. I read that they could be rebuilt so I saved the heads but never tried to actually rebuild any of them. Then the Kayfuns became the big thing. I debated on whether to go for one with the knowledge I would be forced to make my own coils. I watched some YouTube videos on how to do it and finally made the leap.

The very first coil I made worked! I was astounded at how easy it actually was to do. I've been building all my own coils ever since and have done so on drippers, tanks and RDTAs without any problems. I would never go back to premade coils.

By the way, I'm a 64 year old female, so you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Stories like this is why i started this thread to help and encourage newbies using premade coils.

Thanks for sharing. I hope the newbies will learn rebuilding abd learn to DIY their ejuice

Every one we can turn into building and DIY could be another life saved from tge cancer sticks.

 

[coolerat]

Stories like this is why i started this thread to help and encourage newbies using premade coils.

Thanks for sharing. I hope the newbies will learn rebuilding abd learn to DIY their ejuice

Every one we can turn into building and DIY could be another life saved from tge cancer sticks.

For me its the fresh clean flavor. I have a very narrow sweet spot between yucky new coil taste a yucky old coil taste. Other people get weeks out a coil and god bless them but I'm good for 3-4 days max.

Now factor in the duds.

So I ordered a Taifun V2 clone and waited by the mailbox for 2 weeks.

Then it came and also some pre wrapped coils. I was the most excited boy in the whole USA. Whipped it up and enjoyed the most prefect vape ever. Then did not enjoy the 5ml of juice dumped on my lap. Tossed it away for awhile thinking I can't do this. Then another dud coil followed by another failed attempt at building. Rinse and repeat.

By now the Orchis was a thing and more my style anyway so two more weeks standing by the mail box and I had a Orchid. I swear I built and wicked that thing to the sound of harp music and a golden ray of sunshine. Soon I had a fleet of Orchids and was turning my friends on to them and maintaining there tanks. I have some on my desk now for spa treatment. To this day with about 200 RTA's on my desk I say the Orchid V6 is the simplest most reliable RTA ever made if you can stand its filling and restricted airflow.

Now I buy new RTA's and build them to perfection, however long that takes, and move on to the next big thing. But Orchid #1 still sits hear with me.

 

[Alter]

My rebuild journey started with my first metallic hit off the CE4 clearo stock head. First I found what the coil wraps were suppose to look like and mine was a jumbled mess of wraps, realign to make the wraps even, found I could dryburn then move the silica to the side and get another life out of the coil. Youtube to show me the steps to recoil that CE4, first attempts were futile but it worked and I bought miles of silica wick. Protank showed up and with a little knowledge of building I began to rebuild the PT with silica then ekowool, all was fine then cotton came into the scene. First PT rewick by removing the silica from a new head and replacing with Qtip cotton...OMG what a difference, started rewicking and rebuilding with cotton. Cotton was short lived since I happen on a coop, I bought one of the last couple bags of hemp fiber. Hemp outlasted the cotton and performed better so I rebuilt our PT heads with 30 gauge kanthal and hemp fiber for year and a half. Began to buy wire to have more variety in my PT but too small of a build area to have any good vape production.
Kayfun, now I have the space to build 26, 28, 30 gauge builds and lovin the vape, tried twisted and microcoils and lovin the vape even more. Kayfun expanded my rebuilding in ways a PT couldn't. Now today I now have subtank mini's and got even better and easier build deck. I now make my own claptons and enjoy more and more subohm vaping. Bought enough subtank parts to last eons and so far the subtank mini is the atty for my wife and my vape needs. I also bought a couple TFV4 but they are finicky to rewick so they sit on my desk till I feel like hassling with them. Recently a couple Merlins also, they are easier to build than the subtank but the merlin seeps a little juice like the kayfuns did but from the orings so I assume since they torqued the merlins together in the factory they distorted and/or damaged the orings so when I toast the coil its going to bits and replacing the orings.
Moral of the story is that I can never use a stock coil again or haven't used a stock coil other than the clapton that came in my TFV4 to see what the hype is about clapton coils, those CE4 clearo coils were my only stock coils I used 3 years ago. Rayon is the only wicking material, I've been using rayon for well over a year and so far nothing can come close to the greatness of rayon builds. Don't be intimidated by coil building just jump in with both feet and take your lumps but once mastered, you'll be in vape nirvana and have a great vape experience.

 

[Two_Bears]

For me its the fresh clean flavor. I have a very narrow sweet spot between yucky new coil taste a yucky old coil taste. Other people get weeks out a coil and god bless them but I'm good for 3-4 days max.

Now factor in the duds.

So I ordered a Taifun V2 clone and waited by the mailbox for 2 weeks.

Then it came and also some pre wrapped coils. I was the most excited boy in the whole USA. Whipped it up and enjoyed the most prefect vape ever. Then did not enjoy the 5ml of juice dumped on my lap. Tossed it away for awhile thinking I can't do this. Then another dud coil followed by another failed attempt at building. Rinse and repeat.

By now the Orchis was a thing and more my style anyway so two more weeks standing by the mail box and I had a Orchid. I swear I built and wicked that thing to the sound of harp music and a golden ray of sunshine. Soon I had a fleet of Orchids and was turning my friends on to them and maintaining there tanks. I have some on my desk now for spa treatment. To this day with about 200 RTA's on my desk I say the Orchid V6 is the simplest most reliable RTA ever made if you can stand its filling and restricted airflow.

Now I buy new RTA's and build them to perfection, however long that takes, and move on to the next big thing. But Orchid #1 still sits hear with me.

Thanks for sharing.

I used an Orchid V3 between tge Kayfun nano, and the Goblin Mini.

Orchid is a nice vape. I used my Orchid with a single coil.

I am one if those that has a coil last 2 1/2-3 months. I do understand your point about the bad flavor in a few days. I get around that by removing the wick Dry burning the gunk off the coil them install a new wick.

 

[Two_Bears]

My rebuild journey started with my first metallic hit off the CE4 clearo stock head. First I found what the coil wraps were suppose to look like and mine was a jumbled mess of wraps, realign to make the wraps even, found I could dryburn then move the silica to the side and get another life out of the coil. Youtube to show me the steps to recoil that CE4, first attempts were futile but it worked and I bought miles of silica wick. Protank showed up and with a little knowledge of building I began to rebuild the PT with silica then ekowool, all was fine then cotton came into the scene. First PT rewick by removing the silica from a new head and replacing with Qtip cotton...OMG what a difference, started rewicking and rebuilding with cotton. Cotton was short lived since I happen on a coop, I bought one of the last couple bags of hemp fiber. Hemp outlasted the cotton and performed better so I rebuilt our PT heads with 30 gauge kanthal and hemp fiber for year and a half. Began to buy wire to have more variety in my PT but too small of a build area to have any good vape production.
Kayfun, now I have the space to build 26, 28, 30 gauge builds and lovin the vape, tried twisted and microcoils and lovin the vape even more. Kayfun expanded my rebuilding in ways a PT couldn't. Now today I now have subtank mini's and got even better and easier build deck. I now make my own claptons and enjoy more and more subohm vaping. Bought enough subtank parts to last eons and so far the subtank mini is the atty for my wife and my vape needs. I also bought a couple TFV4 but they are finicky to rewick so they sit on my desk till I feel like hassling with them. Recently a couple Merlins also, they are easier to build than the subtank but the merlin seeps a little juice like the kayfuns did but from the orings so I assume since they torqued the merlins together in the factory they distorted and/or damaged the orings so when I toast the coil its going to bits and replacing the orings.
Moral of the story is that I can never use a stock coil again or haven't used a stock coil other than the clapton that came in my TFV4 to see what the hype is about clapton coils, those CE4 clearo coils were my only stock coils I used 3 years ago. Rayon is the only wicking material, I've been using rayon for well over a year and so far nothing can come close to the greatness of rayon builds. Don't be intimidated by coil building just jump in with both feet and take your lumps but once mastered, you'll be in vape nirvana and have a great vape experience.

This is the kind of post i wanted when i started this thread!

You and Thayamax (SP) knocked it out of the Park. thank you!

I want to encourage people to get off the pre made coils and start building to get better flavor and a resistance that works for you instead of what Someone else chooses.

When. I rebuilt the OCC heads for my Kanger Nano. I accidentaly built to .85 ohm instead of .5. I noticed two things.

1. Tge vapor didn't taste Burnt as .5 ohms did.
2. My Juice consumption went down while i vaped the same as before.

Then this one flavor i like i noticed that the flavor was better at 8-12 watts instead of 15-20 watts, and again my Juice consumption went down. Now i use 3-4 mls a day when i was using 7-10 mls before. Now i have a flavorful satisfying vape, abd use less Juice and battery power.

I have been building to .8-1 ohm ever since

 

[Eskie]

Eskie tgere are rebuild videos for both tge Nautilus BDC and BVC coil heads.

Yeah, I watched them. I also looked at the third party RBA for them (VVTF I think on eBay) and after watching both felt if I'm going to go through that much trouble, I might as well just move to an RTA/RDTA. My RTAs taste as good (well, actually for some way better) than my old Nauti compatible stuff, so I don't feel bad about moving on. Given the number of well performing and affordable RTAs out there these days for veery vape style, it was worth it for me to transition over.

There are lots of folks who have great luck rebuilding their factory coils or using RBAs for their tanks. If it's working for them, great. Everyone needs to stay in their own comfort zone with this stuff. But with the long term uncertainty of factory coils remaining readily available, knowing you can DIY a coil, even if you're not doing it all the time now, is just IMO a comfy place to be.

 

[Two_Bears]

Yeah, I watched them. I also looked at the third party RBA for them (VVTF I think on eBay) and after watching both felt if I'm going to go through that much trouble, I might as well just move to an RTA/RDTA. My RTAs taste as good (well, actually for some way better) than my old Nauti compatible stuff, so I don't feel bad about moving on. Given the number of well performing and affordable RTAs out there these days for veery vape style, it was worth it for me to transition over.

There are lots of folks who have great luck rebuilding their factory coils or using RBAs for their tanks. If it's working for them, great. Everyone needs to stay in their own comfort zone with this stuff. But with the long term uncertainty of factory coils remaining readily available, knowing you can DIY a coil, even if you're not doing it all the time now, is just IMO a comfy place to be.

If i were to rebuild the Nautilus coils for tge Mini or Kabuki: i would get the BDC coil heads and rebuild those. That isca MUCH EASIER BUILD.

leave the surounding wick in place.make a coil and install a wick like a little bow tie long enough to contact both sides of the wick around tge coil head. Install the insulator and PIN then trim the wires EASY PEASY.

rebuilding the BVC heads is a LOT more work.

 

[Eskie]

If i were to rebuild the Nautilus coils for tge Mini or Kabuki: i would get the BDC coil heads and rebuild those. That isca MUCH EASIER BUILD.

leave the surounding wick in place.make a coil and install a wick like a little bow tie long enough to contact both sides of the wick around tge coil head. Install the insulator and PIN then trim the wires EASY PEASY.

rebuilding the BVC heads is a LOT more work.

I think I watched the BVC one. I though the BDCs weren't even still available. I'll have to look into it. Thanks!

 

[ckquatt]

I started rebuilding after about 2 months into vaping back in 2013. I was using the old Kanger Protanks and found that rebuilding the coils was a breeze and the performance was twice as good as a stock coil!

Ahh the good old Protanks! Thinking back, I think I'm going to get another EVOD starter kit and a couple of Protank Minis for my stash! Love the vape from those things!

 

[coolerat]

If i were to rebuild the Nautilus coils for tge Mini or Kabuki: i would get the BDC coil heads and rebuild those. That isca MUCH EASIER BUILD.

leave the surounding wick in place.make a coil and install a wick like a little bow tie long enough to contact both sides of the wick around tge coil head. Install the insulator and PIN then trim the wires EASY PEASY.

rebuilding the BVC heads is a LOT more work.

I admire your spirit trying to get people building. Rebuilding factor coils is so much harder then just using an RTA. Once I tamed the Taifun its like 10 minutes twice a year for a coil and 30 seconds as needed for wicks. 50 bucks buys two clones plus parts and wick and wire to last a lifetime. Yet I see people here buying hundreds of dollars worth of coils and worrying about getting more. All to get sub-par flavor and save a net of 15 seconds a week (15 seconds to screw in a new coil vs 30 seconds to rewick a Taifun).

I don't understand people some(most) times.

 

[Two_Bears]

I admire your spirit trying to get people building. Rebuilding factor coils is so much harder then just using an RTA. Once I tamed the Taifun its like 10 minutes twice a year for a coil and 30 seconds as needed for wicks. 50 bucks buys two clones plus parts and wick and wire to last a lifetime. Yet I see people here buying hundreds of dollars worth of coils and worrying about getting more. All to get sub-par flavor and save a net of 15 seconds a week (15 seconds to screw in a new coil vs 30 seconds to rewick a Taifun).

I don't understand people some(most) times.

Lets just say I am passionate about vapers becoming self sufficient.

If they learn rebuilding and DIY Ejuice then proclamations from these little tin plated dictators can't affect them much at all.

 

[Baditude]

I was a long-term cartotank person. I was at a very happy place concerning vaping, despite the occasional "dead carto" phenomenon.

I was and still am an avid ECF member, and I try to keep up with all the new stuff. Rebuildables quickly became the rage, and although I resisted for a long time, I purchased a Genesis-style RTA, an AGA-T2. It must have taken me 45 minutes to make my first wick and coil. Genesis-style RTA's use a wick made of rolled up stainless steel mesh, which I found to be extremely difficult to work with. I ended up purchasing my SS wicks pre-made. Wrapping coils was easy. I got acceptable results with my Gennies, but for me, a cartotank was much easier and I got better results with that.

I began working at a vape shop, and sales staff had to be able to make coils for customers. By this time, Kayfun-style tanks were on the market, and I received an authentic Svoemesto Kayfun Lite Plus RTA from a dear friend. This was a much better experience for me than the AGA-T2, and it eventually supplanted my cartotanks. Not long after I purchased a RDA.

All of this happened over the course of about 1 1/2 years. I don't use cartotanks any more, and as my vaping style has changed I no long use the KFL+ which has too tight of a draw. I continue to use my Patriot and Velocity RDA and a Crown clearomizer tank which have a more open draw.

I feel that I am no longer dependent upon the quality of factory made coils (cartomizers or clearomizer heads). By rebuilding, I am totally in control of the quality of my vape. By rebuilding, I am vaping more cheaply than if I had to rely on factory-made coils. By rebuilding, the FDA Deeming has less effect on me.

 

[Two_Bears]

I was a long-term cartotank person. I at a very happy place concerning vaping, despite the occasional "dead carto" phenomenon.

I was and am an avid ECF member, and I try to keep up with all the new stuff. Rebuildables were the rage, and although I resisted for a long time, I purchased a Genesis-style RTA, an AGA-T2. It must have taken me 45 minutes to make my first wick and coil. Genesis-style RTA's use a wick made of rolled up stainless steel mesh, which I found to be extremely difficult to work with. I ended up purchasing my SS wicks pre-made. I got acceptable results with my Gennies, but for me, a cartotank was much easier and I got better results with that.

I began working at a vape shop, and sales staff had to be able to make coils for customers. By this time, Kayfun-style tanks were on the market, and I received an authentic Svoemesto Kayfun Lite Plus RTA. This was a much better experience for me, and it eventually supplanted my cartotanks. Not long after I purchased a RDA.

All of this happened over the course of about 1 1/2 years. I don't use cartotanks any more. I continue to use my Patriot and Velocity RDA and a Crown clearomizer tank.

I feel that I am no longer dependent upon the quality of factory made coils (cartomizers or clearomizer heads). By rebuilding, I am totally in control of the quality of my vape. By rebuilding, I am vaping more cheaply than if I had to rely on factory-made coils. By rebuilding, the FDA Deeming has less effect on me.

Baditude. Thanks for sharing your vaping journey.

 

[Alter]

Ohhh carto's.....my only epic fail in my vape journey. I bought a bunch of Smok DCT's thinking from research that they were the way to go, was I wrong. I couldnt get those things to work at all. It was a nightmare from one extreme to another, dry or flooding and leaking. I took the carto apart and realigned the coils and still it was beastly. Into the drawer and eventually PIF'd to a buddy who would use them. I did keep a tank and few cartos just incase I get the urge to become absurdly frustrated.
I never got into the drippers, bought a couple out of china then bought a couple nice ones and still babysitting juice bottles isn't my thing. I was able to get satisfying vapes off my PT's and kayfuns I didn't need a dripper. Who needs a dripper when your cookin a .5ohm 26/32 clapton in a subtank at 23 watts...good stuff.

 

[funkfist]

I got the urge to build my own coils when a coworkers friend showed up with a Tobh sitting on top of a Dreadnaut. I knew the kid who had it, never really liked him because he was a spoiled rich kid with a douche bag attitude but I didn't know he vaped. At the time I was using low resistance 510 carts on a Megalodon mech. I seen him take a hit off his and blow out a ridiculous amount of vapor. I was intrigued so I put my personal feelings I had for him aside and initiated a conversation. We talked, he puffed and puffed asking what I had. I showed him and he laughed offering to let me take a hit off his. The flavor was like nothing I ever experienced and the vapor had heat I was never able to achieve. I also found out this tool bag was starting a vape shop, he offered to teach me about it but I pretended not to be interested because I really f****** hate this guy. Went home and started looking up what was available. Found out that these new mods worked the same as my Megalodon so I considered just buying a RDA to put on top of that...then I seen most RDA's were bigger than a 510 cart. So I purchased a Pegasus, RDA and high amp 18650s, the rest is history.