I have some 28g Kanthal (dont know what type, specifically) from my local b&m. When I wrap a coil and torch it to 'anneal' it, there is always some smoke and a distinct smell that comes off of it. I dont think that its oil, because the fumes come off of it even if Ive torched it a few times (just glowing for a few seconds each time). My torch supposedly goes to 1300c, and the only component of Kanthal with a melting point below that is Aluminum (660c). Is it possible that in just a few seconds that aluminum or aluminum oxide is evaporating out of it? If thats the case, it cant be too good to smell it.
Smell that comes off Kanthal?
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Not evaporating per se, but the metallurgic cross-section does adjust somewhat... being most visible with the first, new coil build, dry burn. Aluminum oxide (alumina) content is promoted to the wires surface during this higher temperature dry burn.
Alumina, being electrically resistive, serves to protect the electrically conductive iron/chromium content "core". With a lower temperature vaping, wet heating, the metals cross-section remains stable... but the alumina can be called upon to reassert itself with another dry burn.
Alumina, being electrically resistive, serves to protect the electrically conductive iron/chromium content "core". With a lower temperature vaping, wet heating, the metals cross-section remains stable... but the alumina can be called upon to reassert itself with another dry burn.
Honestly couldn't say... perhaps a compound that is a byproduct of the metallurgic shift. Note that it only occurs once, and that after the first (or sometimes second if the first is short in duration) dry burn, no additional vapor is produced.
Your inquiry prompts me to get to find a factual answer to the question. I'll do some on-line research, and if I can't find anything... I'll contact Temco directly.
Speaking of Temco, this comment...
may be an issue. If the wire you bought is not a genuine Sandvik/Temco Kanthal product, then the metals content may be questionable.MonoNatural said:
Packet says Kanthal, place just opened, all expensive stuff - no clones. Pretty sure it gives off some smoke any time it gets glowing hot. Test firing between wick changes, even after juice and rinse water is burned off- still smokes a little. But ya, not as much as the first dry burn.
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We know already that genuine Kanthal would be heat sterilized in the annealing process.
I contacted Gleb Tchertkov, the Product Manager at VapoWire, the premium wire subsidiary of Temco.
In response to my question...
Gleb indicated that there is nothing on or in genuine Kanthal that would produce a vapor or smell during an initial dry burn... and that anything that produces a vapor or smell, would have to have been transfered directly from the tools or hands of the coil builder.
So... take it for what it is. ;-)
I contacted Gleb Tchertkov, the Product Manager at VapoWire, the premium wire subsidiary of Temco.
In response to my question...
Gleb indicated that there is nothing on or in genuine Kanthal that would produce a vapor or smell during an initial dry burn... and that anything that produces a vapor or smell, would have to have been transfered directly from the tools or hands of the coil builder.
So... take it for what it is. ;-)
Makes sense.
One time I had an odd smell and taste coming from a fresh build. Come to find out the 2mm precision screwdriver bit I was using to wrap the coil had a little machining oil on it and transferred just enough the wire wrapped around it.
Maybe its the oil from your skin.... Just thought i would put it out there.
too much touchy touchy makes things dirty.
too much touchy touchy makes things dirty.
Uh oh. Some further scouring of my source's website reveals that its infact "UD/youde" "Kanthal" ... I found the exact same thing on this website
Kanthal Heating wire10-Free shipping $50+ On all E-Cigs & E-liquids | VaporEngine.com
It claims to be Cr/Al/Fe ... but I guess its not true Kanthal, right?
Kanthal Heating wire10-Free shipping $50+ On all E-Cigs & E-liquids | VaporEngine.com
It claims to be Cr/Al/Fe ... but I guess its not true Kanthal, right?
I'd bet it's just hand oils/dirt and/or juice residue. Juice seems to get on everything, and even if it's a fresh coil some juice could get on there from the deck/posts while being mounted. Not like a whole drop of juice, just tiny tiny amounts. While dry burning I usually get small amounts of vapor coming out from the screw/post area too which is probably just heat wicking into that area and vaping off residual juice.
The hand oils are most noticeable when rolling mesh, even when I wash my hands right before rolling the mesh up, it goes from the gray color of a fresh torch to a darker blackish color once I roll it a few times in my (seemingly clean) fingers.
The hand oils are most noticeable when rolling mesh, even when I wash my hands right before rolling the mesh up, it goes from the gray color of a fresh torch to a darker blackish color once I roll it a few times in my (seemingly clean) fingers.
Thanks bros,
I feel assured by all this. I do find it hard to believe the amount of smoke and metallic smell Im getting is coming from sweat though. Im pretty much just going to avoid torching them near my face (sounds like common sense) in the future.
I feel assured by all this. I do find it hard to believe the amount of smoke and metallic smell Im getting is coming from sweat though. Im pretty much just going to avoid torching them near my face (sounds like common sense) in the future.
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