If you are going to DIY, don't forget a proper hat.
So I have been buying up a decent stock of RTAs over the past few weeks, and today it hit me. I have no building tools. My question is this? What exactly do I need. Should I buy one of those fancy Coilmaster all-in-one kits? Should I just buy items seperately? I am having a hard time figuring out what are necessary items, and what things are just kind of extra (nice to have, but can live without). Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks for the advice @Katya. I think the mini-kit I ordered today has most of the must haves. One of the reasons I got it was because it has the Coilmaster Coil Jig. I have never heard of Temco, but I will look into them. Because my next step is figuring out what wire to get and what cotton (or Rayon). This was suggested to me by Amazon after purchasing the kit, but I don't know if it is good vaping cotton: https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Organic-Cotton-Sliver-Unbleached/dp/B079QH8TLJSorry, I haven't read back yet, but let me offer my 2 cents.
Just like you said, there are must haves and nice to haves. (I built my first coil using a toothpick and stuffed it with organic cotton from Walgreens.)
What you must have is quality resistance wire--I get mine from Temco, Kanthal (26-28g) or ss ir you're going to use TC; and an Ohms reader (you can use your regulated mod for that purpose), and some wicking material. And scissors, nail clippers, whatever you have around the house will work at the beginning.
Everything else is, IMHO, is a nice-to-have. I love my Kuro coilers (2, 2.5, 3mm) and would be very unhappy without them. A dedicated ohms reader/building stand is nice. A good magnifying glass with good light fixture is almost a must. I like those that you can attach to your tabletop so your hands are free and you have a nice large area of magnification.
Ceramic tweezers, wire cutters, sharp scissors, etc., are also very handy, of course.
I never got a kit--there were no kits when I started. We just bought stuff from FT that other people found and liked and recommended. But don't be intimidated by the variety and all the choices out there. You can get a kit, or you can make your first coil with just those few must haves and take it from there. It's not rocket science, you just have to pay attention.
Good luck!
I have never heard of Temco, but I will look into them.
Because my next step is figuring out what wire to get and what cotton (or Rayon). This was suggested to me by Amazon after purchasing the kit, but I don't know if it is good vaping cotton: https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Organic-Cotton-Sliver-Unbleached/dp/B079QH8TLJ
Oh yes, I saw the thread! Saw that it was over 400 pages. Now does anyone have the Cliff Note's version?Have you seen Jeremy's big rayon thread? All you ever wanted to know about rayon but were afraid to ask:
Rayon Wick - Better Flow, Flavor, Longevity, and Nic Hit!! - Pt.2
Saw that it was over 400 pages.
Now does anyone have the Cliff Note's version?
So that's a no on the Cliff's Notes version then?That's part 2.
See my post above.![]()
So that's a no on the Cliff's Notes version then?
Fair enough. Do you use Rayon as well, or do always stick with cotton?No, that's my version of Cliffsnotes.![]()
Fair enough. Do you use Rayon as well, or do always stick with cotton?
I'll probably try both. I'm not sure what Rayon is popular to get for vaping, but I am sure it is probably not that expensive to try out.I tried rayon in the past. It's fine, really. But I was so used to cotton that I found rayon to be fiddly. Of course, I had zero experience with it, so it wasn't really unexpected. I may revisit it some time.
I'll probably try both. I'm not sure what Rayon is popular to get for vaping, but I am sure it is probably not that expensive to try out.
It's not expensive, but you have to buy a huge box of it, like miles, at Sally's or on Amazon.
IIRC, Sally's Beauty Supply has it by the 10' bag. Gotta make sure it's the 100% Rayon Fibers though, not the cotton/rayon blend.![]()
40ft. box of Graham Beauty CelluCotton at Amazon is about a 5" cube shaped box of it. It weighs almost nothing. It shows 100% Rayon Fibers on the left front of the box. Number on the upper right hand corner of the box is 44130.
The one I linked above from Sally's is 3 lbs.... 44043.
Thanks, but I actually just grabbed one of those late last night. I was looking to add to an order for free shipping and noticed the site I was on had one for 13 bucks! I think it is a lot better than trying to do building on my mod.