Rewrapping batteries

[Anise]

I have two batteries that have nicks in the wrappers. The one ecig store near me doesn't rewrap them or sell wrappers.
Are some wrappers better than others? If I'm going to attempt this I want to do it right. Is there some recognized method to do this so I don't mess it up? I know I need a hair dryer which I think I have and a Wrapper and battery and that's all I know about rewrapping. Should I admit I'm just too ignorant to do this and buy two new batteries? I have a feeling I'm making this more difficult than it needs to be. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Rossum]

It's easy. There's a bzillion vids on YT that show you how:
rewrapping 18650 - YouTube

 

[Anise]

I'm really thinking maybe I shouldn't attempt this. I never even thought of checking utube! Thank you!!
Now the other part of the question. Are some wrappers better than others?

 

[Hawise]

I was rather nervous the first time I tried rewrapping. By the time I was done it was "Seriously? That's it?" It's really very easy.

I don't know where you might find wraps locally, but they're plentiful online. Fasttech, Amazon, vape shops and battery vendors all carry them. They're cheap as dirt so stock up to make sure you have a few handy when next you need them.

When you get the wraps, follow Rossum's advice and check out some videos. I recommend watching a few of them. There are slight variations in technique, so go with whatever method seems best to you.

The key safety tips are:

• Be very careful with your unwrapped battery and don't let anything metal touch it. This means no knife or scissors when removing the wrap. You can usually just pull off the wrap with your fingers starting at the nicks. You can also use a ceramic blade or a wooden toothpick or something along those lines.
• Don't lose the insulation ring! It's the (usually) white piece of plastic you can see sticking out from the wrap on the positive end. Actually, pick up a few spares when you get the wraps. They have an annoying tendency to try to blow away while you're shrinking the wrap.
• Don't overheat the battery. You should be able to hold it in your fingers while you're shrinking the wrap (not right where the heat is blowing, but nearby). Use as little heat as necessary to get the wrap shrunk properly. For some reason, I always want to keep heating it to see if I can smooth out the folds from the wrapper. I have to remind myself that a functional and safe battery is better than a perfect wrapping job.

Finally, if the videos raise as many questions as they answer, please come back and ask away!

 

[CMD-Ky]

Tutorial: Re-wrapping a battery

I have two batteries that have nicks in the wrappers. The one ecig store near me doesn't rewrap them or sell wrappers.
Are some wrappers better than others? If I'm going to attempt this I want to do it right. Is there some recognized method to do this so I don't mess it up? I know I need a hair dryer which I think I have and a Wrapper and battery and that's all I know about rewrapping. Should I admit I'm just too ignorant to do this and buy two new batteries? I have a feeling I'm making this more difficult than it needs to be. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Hawise]

I'm really thinking maybe I shouldn't attempt this. I never even thought of checking utube! Thank you!!
Now the other part of the question. Are some wrappers better than others?

I've never noticed a major difference in any of mine. Maybe I've just been lucky. I'd guess some might be thicker than others, but I don't know how you'd tell the difference before buying them.

 

[untar]

Are some wrappers better than others?

Yes and no. Maybe? It depends on what "better" means in a particular case.
There are wrappers made of different materials and of different thickness. In an ideal world you would measure how much space you have for the battery in your mod and buy accordingly.
Calm down, nobody actually does this

Just go with 0.1mm thickness and some generic material. Most are already better than the wrap the battery came in.

I'm really thinking maybe I shouldn't attempt this.

Why not? It's really easy and can even help with organizing your batteries.

Be very careful with your unwrapped battery and don't let anything metal touch it.

Also do not wear rings or a necklace that could short out the battery while unwrapped.

 

[Anise]

Thank you all for your help! And I wouldn't have thought to take off my ring first. I sure love this site and it's members!

 

[stols001]

I got a bunch in different sizes @Anise. The ones IMRbatteries.com sends with the batteries seem equally substantial (and probably better than the original wrap.) It's easy and much better than buying new batteries. Even if you don't wind up purchasing whatever the equivalent of the titanium wrap for your battery, once you do it once, you won't hesitate to do it again if you need to, even on an already rewrapped battery. Have fun.

Anna

 

[Rangertrix]

Just go with 0.1mm thickness and some generic material. Most are already better than the wrap the battery came in.

This can be a very important tip based on the mod you are using them in.
Thicker wraps won't fit in all mods.

 

[Punk In Drublic]

This can be a very important tip based on the mod you are using them in.
Thicker wraps won't fit in all mods.

Good advice! Batteries sizes are not exact across different brands/models. The variances are slight but there is a difference. Something larger with a thicker wrap could be very problematic if there is not much wiggle room in your mod.

And to add, doesn’t hurt to stock up on insulator rings as well. Again, dirt cheap.

 

[sonicbomb]

I did an updated version of the wrapping tutorial that CMD-ky posted with some links to suppliers of the actual wraps themselves.

Tutorial: Re-wrapping a Battery | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[G and C]

I re-wrapped a couple of batteries that needed it a few months ago, I was nervous about it too. But it really was quite easy, and cheap with the stuff I got on Amazon. I bought wraps and the insulators and redid it all. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be, that's for sure.

 

[My Batt Hurts]

Just did my first re-wrap today - easy-peasy!

Hairdryer on warmest setting did it quickly. Admittedly, the wrap was pre-cut, and I was lucky that the insulator ring stayed in place.

All in all - really easy, and no more than a minute or two. Don't worry one bit.

I even learned something - the cat doesn't like the hairdryer much. But it's OK - she made sure to let me know.

 

[Llamasquito]

Its scary for sure for the first time, just be careful and your fine.
I wrap with a lighter, i dont recommend it, need to be extra careful.
I guess hair dryer would be the safest but i dont own one.

 

[My Batt Hurts]

I guess hair dryer would be the safest but i dont own one.

Well, here's the excuse you've been waiting for!
Besides, blowing the battery back and forth across the table is fun when you're as easily amused as I am.

 

[ames001]

so twist on this one (hoping to not make a new battery thread as i know there are already hundreds...
if my batteries somehow fell into coconut oil (dont ask me how, they were the other side of the room) and i AM rewrapping them.
do i need to vodka wipe the parts that came into contact, or just wipe REALLY WELL before putting on the new wrapper?

 

[untar]

Isopropyl alcohol would be better (because it's not 60% water) and don't wear rings/jewelry while the battery is unwrapped (generally make sure your working surface is free of metal and that they can't fall/roll down).

I've heard of fried electronics but I think that usually means they're broken, not breaded and dropped into sizzling oil

 

[Hawise]

Isopropyl alcohol would be better (because it's not 60% water)

But it (and vodka) are both conductive, so be very careful. You'd need to make sure the wet cloth or tissue never connects the positive and negative. Honestly, I would stick with wiping it very thoroughly with a soft dry cloth.

 

[untar]

The resistivity of 99% isopropyl is around 166kΩ/m (6*10^6pS/m conductivity), I wouldn't call that a good conductor.
http://www.panachem.com/msds/iso_propyl_alcohol_IPA.pdf