SS wire. Where is the best place to get it?

[Anise]

I screwed up and ordered a box of 6 different types and gauges of wire. Most are kanthal, some nickel and I think only one is SS. Id like to get another roll of SS wire in case I waste the one I have learning. Where would be best and are there different types of SS that I should be looking for? Thanks. And yes I did a search but couldn't find a specific answer

 

[Myk]

Kidney Puncher has a good assortment and quality wire.

How much did you get and what gauge? I think it's about 3" of 26ga for .5Ω for TC. That's about 120 coils in 30 feet. How much are you planning on messing up?

 

[Anise]

If you saw my attempts so far you'd understand why I'm looking for more wire. I probably don't NEED more but id like another roll just in case

 

[Mr. Relentless]

Lightning vapes is super cheap. The ss seems fine to me.

 

[denali_41]

Temco has all of it,but it is all just plain wire

 

[Anise]

Can i practice with the kanthal and then use the ss for the real coils? If i did that i wouldnt have to order more wire and id have more money for more attys.

 

[ShamrockPat]

Can i practice with the kanthal and then use the ss for the real coils? If i did that i wouldnt have to order more wire and id have more money for more attys.

You sure can. However you'll find some differences with the same gauge of different types as some are more springy or stiffer than the others. You can google annealing.

I'll usually spin a length in my drill (and cut it into lengths that fit in those old school thin unicorn bottles) to straighten it before wrapping.

 

[Myk]

Can i practice with the kanthal and then use the ss for the real coils? If i did that i wouldnt have to order more wire and id have more money for more attys.

Pretty much.
You'll probably find Ni to be very springy (they may have fixed that since I got it).

Use my tip about wrapping on a slightly smaller arbor than you want the coil to be and sliding it on a arbor the size you want and springy shouldn't be a big issue (sliding it to a larger arbor might be).

 

[Anise]

Cool thanks for the sites and the advice. One day I'll finally have it all figured out. Heh, yeah right.

 

[mackman]

Best to stick with the reputable sites, others may sell SS wire of unknown quality and composition of metal

 

[stols001]

Kidney Puncher and Advanced Vapor Supply both carry high quality wire. Also premade coils that can be excellent.

I used up ALL the kanthal in my coilmaster's kit practicing how to make coils. You may find it easiest with SS to anneal the wire (heat it with something, a blowtorch, a gas stove etc.) that makes it less "springy" and easier to work with. You don't have to go nuts, but heating it a bit will cut down on that annoying springiness. I did find SS a bit harder to coil than kanthal, although I've gotten used to it the more I build rebuildables.

Best of luck, and by all means, use your kanthal for experiments, it's what I did. SS properties are slightly different so you may want to practice your "SS desired build" in terms of wraps, coil diameter and etc. I mean, calculate out how many wraps you will need on steam-engine.org, and then wrap the kanthal as IF it were SS you were using, so number of wraps, space or contact and etc. IDK, it's just a thought.

Anna

 

[Beamslider]

This company has really good clean wire in all types and gauges. They also have good pricing
https://www.kbeevapes.com/

They have ebay store and sell 250 ft of SS 316L wire for $7.88 with free shipping. Maybe a lifetime supply
SS 316L - Stainless Steel Wire 250ft of 26 Gauge AWG 605994123966 | eBay

They are also on Amazon and have a pack of 600 ft (100 ft of 6 different gauges) for $16.99 with free shipping
https://www.amazon.com/600ft-total-...id=1528904405&sr=1-5&keywords=kbee+ss+wire+26

 

[Myk]

If you saw my attempts so far you'd understand why I'm looking for more wire. I probably don't NEED more but id like another roll just in case

Even in case of vapocolypse and everything being banned you can go to a store like Harbor Freight and get a wire welding spool that's rated the same (316L is 316L).
But as it is you could get down to your last foot or so of wire before ordering and get it in time.
You certainly don't need, but if you want I certainly have no problem with that, I have enough Kanthal ribbon to open a toaster repair shop.

Once you get using SS coils you'll find they can last a long time.

 

[Beamslider]

Practicing with Kanthal is ok but the same gauge wire in Kanthal will give you about twice the resistance with the same number of wraps as SS

 

[DaveP]

Practicing with Kanthal is ok but the same gauge wire in Kanthal will give you about twice the resistance with the same number of wraps as SS

I was about to say the same. That, and SS 316L and SS 304 can be used interchangeably in power mode or TC mode. Kanthal is power mode only between the two. Kanthal being twice the resistance/ft of SS316L, It's good for higher wrap coils. Some of the atomizers we use that have small chimneys don't have the room for 16 wraps of SS316L to get to 2 ohms, if that's where you want to be. SS316L will do 2 ohms in about 8 wraps on a 2.5mm mandrel.

Amazon apparently has quit carrying Temco SS316L wire. They have other brands, though.

 

[Beamslider]

Temco is still on Amazon. None of them mention using it for vape coils anymore though. I think Amazon cracked down on vape stuff

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=tools&field-keywords=temco+wire&rh=n:228013,k:temco+wire

Temco 26AWG SS316L
https://www.amazon.com/TEMCo-Stainl...TF8&qid=1528924953&sr=1-7&keywords=temco+wire

 

[gpjoe]

I screwed up and ordered a box of 6 different types and gauges of wire. Most are kanthal, some nickel and I think only one is SS. Id like to get another roll of SS wire in case I waste the one I have learning. Where would be best and are there different types of SS that I should be looking for? Thanks. And yes I did a search but couldn't find a specific answer

Enough good wire vendor suggestions (I use Kbee and Lightning Vapes), so I am going to switch gears:

Curious what you are winding your coils with? If you are using a drill bit or other rod, there is a more steep leaning curve than when using a coil jig. If you are not using a coil jig, I would suggest getting a Kuro Koiler (ebay) or Coil Master coiling jig. You will save yourself a lot of wire and frustration.

The Coil Master jig is a bit more expensive but allows you to coil clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on the post configuration of your atomizer.

Every vaper who rebuilds should have one in their tool kit - IMO.

 

[Anise]

I have a coil master jig but haven't tried it yet. I also have some cheap jig set I got from ebay before I had heard of coil master.

 

[Letitia]

Advanced Vape Supply and Kbee both have worked well for, wasn't liking LV ss for some reason. I would avoid ss430 until you get used to using 316 or 317.

 

[Anise]

I didn't even consider ss430. I ordered ss316 from Kidney Puncher. Thanks for the sites though. Knowing me I'll set my wire down and it'll disappear. Then no matter how long I look I won't find it and I'll have to order more.