What tools you use for wrapping coils (coil jig, or metal rods, or etc.)

[MacTechVpr]

I micro torch my coils for the same purpose that NealBjr stated. Sometimes, I torch before using the coil winder and sometimes I torch it in tweezers or pliers after it's coiled. Either method stabilizes the wire and keeps the coil from springing outward. The legs stayed aligned for insertion into the atomizer.

I have a 100' spool of Temco 32ga Kanthal wire that's bright and shiny and squeaky clean. I also have a spool of 28ga Kanthal wire that's darker silver and dull. Who knows what is used in the factory to promote wire handling or reduce machine part wear.

My 28ga 100' spool from Lightning Vapes has the brand name Yuaze heat stamped on the spool. If you rub your finger on the wire in the spool you come away with a silicone feel as you rub your fingers together.

I'll continue to anneal with the torch for dual reasons.

Maybe we should dave, no? Yuaze?

Respectfully, hand mandrel winding to adhesion and pulsing to alumina oxide bond on your mod (or in your clearo head) will get you there inside of 3 minutes.

Lot less fiddly.

Y'all enjoy your vape and good luck.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I took your advice. I wrap for Squape, Taifun and ProTank and while I have been doing it long enough to get a "perfect" wrap I never did. My coils were sloppy, uneven and pretty poor quality. After reading your posts, I quit "torching" before winding. I just do the final burn and pinch on the device when finished wrapping. What a difference, the coils have come out even and uniform leg to leg. I have used it several times - it's not dumb luck. I can get the wind to touch "micro?" or, if using redyxwick, give each wind a little breathing room. The metal is much easier to work with when un-torched. I don't where the use of a torch before a warp began but it was a mistake. I am sure a mistake made by many.

MacTech, I don't know what you do for a living but if you are discussing metals experiencing stress, I am going to listen. I appreciate your comments, they have been as helpful as any I have read on here. Does anyone have a need for a lighter collecting dust?



a

Thanks CMD. School of hard knocks. We're all on the curve somewhere. Just tryin' to spare the folks.

Good luck.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I do it to burn off whatever contaminants from manufacturing are present on the wire so I am not inhaling whatever that is nor getting it into my juice. Whatever it is, it's nasty.

So many are caught up in the technical arrangements of how to put something together, but forget to think if it's healthy or not. Maybe it doesnt make sense from a technical point of view, but it makes sense from a health perspective.

The "dry" burn prior to placing the wick gets pretty hot [maybe hotter than flicking my BIC] and I can see the stuff I don't want in my lungs burning off - pretty good puff of smoke that I now take outside to produce. I understand and agree with the health concern but a couple healthy dry burns looks to me to do a good job removing oils or whatever else. The dry burn is, for my old hands at least, a more certain method to get a clean coil than trying to hold the wire in my tweezers while making sure I heat the whole piece of metal and at the same time avoiding getting my fingers scorched. Age may have its compensations [I'm trying to remember what those compensations are] but a steady hand doesn't appear to be one.

 

[MacTechVpr]

The "dry" burn prior to placing the wick gets pretty hot [maybe hotter than flicking my BIC] and I can see the stuff I don't want in my lungs burning off - pretty good puff of smoke that I now take outside to produce. I understand and agree with the health concern but a couple healthy dry burns looks to me to do a good job removing oils or whatever else. The dry burn is, for my old hands at least, a more certain method to get a clean coil than trying to hold the wire in my tweezers while making sure I heat the whole piece of metal and at the same time avoiding getting my fingers scorched. Age may have its compensations [I'm trying to remember what those compensations are] but a steady hand doesn't appear to be one.

I see we keep similar hours. LOL

Listen, just wanted to take a few moments to thank you for your remarks. I've spent a considerable amount of time and resources researching approaches to improving how we use vaping equipment and materials. And yes, I have a background in electronics and engineering, but I'm not an engineer or metallurgist. Just dedicated CMD.

Another area of concern that motivated me to contribute here is how prevalent the lack of real knowledge about the devices we use, how they work and why. I really feel for newcomers to vaping. Researched first hand what we experience and became even more motivated to get folks through transition to vaping quickly. It don't hurt if we're all a bit more satisfied at the end for the experience. But above all to make this simpler. And fundamental electronics are, and readily accessible, repeatable, for most of us.

The broader discussion on localization, symmetry, adhesion, tension, etc. may be found on the following threads…

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tips-tricks/463771-protank-cotton-rebuild-way-i-do.html

And the more advanced…

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/clearomizers/486794-protank-microcoil-discussion.html

Tap me on the shoulder anytime. There's a fine crew of now practiced veterans there that will likely kick in if you post.

Thanks again, and good luck.

 

[dave the rave]

To assist with poor eyesight (get more far sighted with age, sucks) I've got a headband with a built in magnifier. Inexpensive and it's a boon when threading wicks in a tiny microcoil.

 

[WharfRat1976]

I bought one of these off ebay. I just clamp my drill bit in and wind my coil. It is also handy for many other things. It's not large or heavy and you can get a clamp that holds a Dremel, which comes in handy for polishing.

View attachment 349338

A real beauty. Old school. It's called a VICE

 

[Ryedan]

MacTechVpr, I've always flamed the wire before wrapping and wrapped contact coils finger tight, but after reading about your and super_X's experiences not flaming and using more tension I'm going to try that next time.

Might be a while because I just re coiled my Cyclone BF'er which is my main vape machine these days, unless I get bored one day and try it for s & g's . I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[CMD-Ky]

That doesn't look like my vice. I like it, what is the name of this kind of vice?

A real beauty. Old school. It's called a VICE

 

[CMD-Ky]

Believe me, if you make one like this, you will not go back. I am making better coils that I ever have. I don't fully grasp the concepts behind the unflamed wrap but I do grasp the results, it works.

MacTechVpr, I've always flamed the wire before wrapping and wrapped contact coils finger tight, but after reading about your and super_X's experiences not flaming and using more tension I'm going to try that next time.

Might be a while because I just re coiled my Cyclone BF'er which is my main vape machine these days, unless I get bored one day and try it for s & g's . I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[MacTechVpr]

MacTechVpr, I've always flamed the wire before wrapping and wrapped contact coils finger tight, but after reading about your and super_X's experiences not flaming and using more tension I'm going to try that next time.

Might be a while because I just re coiled my Cyclone BF'er which is my main vape machine these days, unless I get bored one day and try it for s & g's . I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks R, applying tension to the point of adhesion (where it's naturally drawn together) is an innovation that I hope will be widely adopted, and soon, by the vaping community. It will radically improve the vape for most of us as it brings a coil closer to optimal performance. You can't get a coil any tighter in nature. And tight is where you want to be when you fuse the coil by pulsing. As I often describe it, it's like slapping two sheets of painted drywall together. When that paint sets, they are one. And that's what you get with a t.m.c. (tensioned micro coil).

Fastest way to get there is using a hand held pin vise, winding directly from the spool, in seconds. You learn the point of adhesion (stickiness) in a couple'a three tries. You'll easily see the difference if you don't apply enough tension. The coil will separate, like a conventional microcoil that hasn't been annealed (torched) enough.

Once you get there and perfect that using good principles of electrical symmetry in your build (I discuss on various threads) you will, I have no doubt, enjoy the best vape you're likely to encounter.

That's not to say that other tools can't be used to achieve adhesion. A jig, and others can certainly be adapted. I focus on this technique because a screwdriver kit is usually readily available for most of us to try. Once you see that it simply works an inexpensive pin vise will do the trick. I try not to forget that a great many of us are just starting out and I'm not going to overlook that.

Good luck R.

 

[MacTechVpr]

Believe me, if you make one like this, you will not go back. I am making better coils that I ever have. I don't fully grasp the concepts behind the unflamed wrap but I do grasp the results, it works.

No worries. You will! As you continue to experience success and a great vape. It will become clearer why each step just works. Nature is not hard to understand. Including our own. An example would be muscle memory. That part of our nature takes a little bit of time. But you will definitely seen an improvement in your accuracy and consistency with time.

Good luck.

 

[MacTechVpr]

To assist with poor eyesight (get more far sighted with age, sucks) I've got a headband with a built in magnifier. Inexpensive and it's a boon when threading wicks in a tiny microcoil.

An inexpensive example found here stateside…

MagniLamp

and this old codger can't do without one these days. Vaping is about temperature and the number of winds in a coil is important to getting there. Seeing count right can be a challenge. But using one of these is really helpful when we try to rebuild our clearomizer coils. Looking inside the cup with one can be very revealing as to what went wrong, and what goes right. The diff? Great vape, or no vape.

Good luck. Dave.

 

[rc3po]

I torch my wire before wrapping my coils and never have a problem. Also, if there is a weak spot in the wire, I would rather find it before I waste time wrapping the coil.

For lighted headband magnifiers, I prefer the Aven #26221 from all-spec.com
It doesn't block your peripheral vision either.

If torching a wire before building the coil harmed it, then it wouldn't last long vaping either...

 

[o0ohydr0o0o]

Honestly no disrespect but a coil jig, really? I would recommend watching some youtube and watch some rebuild videos. Don't waste your money man.

 

[MacTechVpr]

I torch my wire before wrapping my coils and never have a problem. Also, if there is a weak spot in the wire, I would rather find it before I waste time wrapping the coil.
View attachment 353350
For lighted headband magnifiers, I prefer the Aven #26221 from all-spec.com
It doesn't block your peripheral vision either.
View attachment 353354
If torching a wire before building the coil harmed it, then it wouldn't last long vaping either...

As long…that would be true.

As super_X_drifter commented on this thread http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...crease-vapor-flavor-th-1058.html#post12752033 — not necessary.

As for annealing, real Kanthal A-1 is already annealed and has no surface impurities (that won't easily vaporize with pulsing).

So really what you're arguing is to form the coil rather than tensioning it as I suggested a few posts earlier in this thread.

Just so newcomers understand the distinction rc3po. This…

They can produce in about 30 seconds, no torching required.

Good luck.

 

[nicetucu]

I should pick up a jig cause my coils are a bit fugly doing them by hand. I do notice with each one it gets a bit better and more uniform.

I definitely need something to see better, I think that is the most frustrating part. I used to see so well close up, now not so much lol.

 

[MacTechVpr]

I should pick up a jig cause my coils are a bit fugly doing them by hand. I do notice with each one it gets a bit better and more uniform.

I definitely need something to see better, I think that is the most frustrating part. I used to see so well close up, now not so much lol.

Don't wind them by hand nice. Thirty seconds and you can be good to go per the pic above.

Good luck.

 

[rc3po]

I only torch my wire to take the springiness out of it and to see if there are weak spots in it.
It works great for me. I'm still using the coil that I built almost 2 weeks ago in my R91. I just cleaned it and put a fresh wick in it awhile ago and the coil still looks great. I don't need a jig.

 

[jaxgator]

I don't need a jig.

Good for you and many others.

For myself, I have found the winding gizmo to be an invaluable tool. I never torch my wire prior to forming my coils. I build my coils with tension and utilizing the tool, I seem to build a perfect coil every single time. There is pretty much no futzing with it once it's wrapped.

Whatever works for each individual user and keeps them off of analogs, I am all for. A jig/winding tool works for me.

 

[Juicylicious2]

I use a coil wrapping jig I picked up here: Coil Wrapping Jig



This jig came with five different sized mandrels, and a 510 threaded hole to hold the atty you are building. It's a fantastic jig and makes wrapping coils really easy for me.