If you’re new to vaping, building your own coils may seem intimidating. We’re not going to lie, it can get pretty technical. Coil building is something more experienced vapers usually do in order to get the best out of their vape. In fact, building your own coils was the best way to get the ideal vaping experience before the advent of pre-built coils. But despite ready-to-use coils becoming more and more common, many experienced vapers still continue to build their own vape coils. If you’re interested in how coil building works, this complete guide to building your own coils is just for you.
What is a vape coil?
A vape coil is one of the most important parts of a vape. It is essentially the heating element for your vape kit that turns the e-liquid into vapour. A coil consists of a piece of wire that is wrapped in a spiral shape around the device’s wicking material, which is usually made of cotton. This is then held together by an atomiser head that connects the positive part of your vape’s battery to the negative.
As you vape, the wicking material gets soaked in e-liquid and the coil will begin to heat up. This heat then vaporises the e-liquid and the vapour continues to travel up the drip tip (the vape’s mouthpiece) where you’ll be able to inhale the vapour.
If you’re jumping into coil building you’ll often see these two terms, RTAs and RDAs. RDA stands for Rebuildable Drip Atomiser and these tanks allow you to drip the e-liquid directly onto the wicking material. RTA is short for Rebuildable Tank Atomiser and these include a tank that holds the e-liquid for your vape. Most vapers start coil building so they can start using RTAs and RDAs and create coils with their precise preferred resistance levels.
Benefits of building your own coil
Cost efficient
Although it may not seem like it at first, especially if you don’t have some of the tools or materials at hand, building your own coils can actually save you a bit of money compared to buying ready-to-use vape coils.
The main materials you’ll be needing for coil building are the wire and cotton, and you can buy enough of these to make plenty of vape coils for pretty cheap. Once you have these materials on hand, you’ll be able to build a coil whenever you need one. The tools you’ll need for coil building are also tools we’re sure will come in handy for many other different projects, which makes them a pretty good investment in the long run.
More personalised vape
Building your own coils also means you’ll be able to customise your vape coil according to your preferred vaping style. We like to compare these to ready meals; they may be nice and convenient but you might still be left picking things out of it. It’s the same principle with vape coils, pre-built coils may be more convenient but they may not perfectly suit your vaping preferences. With coil building, you’ll be able to make the perfect vape coil for you. Whether you’re a sub-ohm cloud chaser or more big on flavour, you have full control of how your coil works for you.
Controlled coil quality
Personalised vape coils can also help you feel more assured that you’re using the right coil for your vape. Some kits require coils with specific resistance levels or made of a specific material, and this can sometimes be tricky to get if you’re relying on pre-built coils. The last thing you want to get in the way of your vaping is a pesky ‘out of stock’ sign whenever you’re looking for a replacement coil. By building your own coil, you can use ohms testing and trying out different combinations of wire wrapping and wicking to make sure you’re using the best coil for your vape kit.
What do I need to build a coil?
In order to start building your own vape, you’re going to need a few bits of equipment. The main tools you’ll be using are flush cutters, ceramic tweezers, fine tip tweezers, a small screwdriver, and scissors. You may already have some of these tools with you, but don’t worry if you don’t. You can easily pick up a vape tool kit which will come with everything you need for coil building.
In terms of materials, you’ll need to pick up some wire and wicking material. The most common material for wicks tends to be cotton, which is pretty easy to get your hands on. However, you can’t use any old cotton from your local drugstore because this can be dangerous. Instead, you need to use vape cotton which is unbleached and safe to heat.
The wire is where you can be a bit more experimental as there are a variety of different types that can be used for coils. The most common wires used for vaping include stainless steel, which is longer lasting and more versatile, and Kanthal, which is a great choice for beginners but can only be used in wattage mode. Other great options include NiChrome, nickel, and titanium. You should pick the right wire material depending on how you like to use your vape.
How to build a coil
Step 1: Cut your wire
Start by cutting a length of wire. The wire should ideally be around 3-4 inches long but beginners may find it more useful to cut it at around 5-6 inches. This added length can help make coiling and adjusting the coil size easier.
Step 2: Wrap your coil wire
Now you’ll need to wrap the wire into a coil. If you have a specialised vape tool kit you can use the coiling poles included in the set and wrap your wire tightly around them. If not, a screwdriver will work just as well.
As you’re coiling, make sure you pay attention to the number of loops you’re making as that will help determine the coils resistance. You should also make sure that you’re wrapping the wire as tight as possible while avoiding any overlaps. When you’re done coiling, ensure the ends are facing the same direction.
Step 3: Install coil into vape kit
To start fitting the vape coil into your device, detach the tank build deck and carefully insert both sides of the coil. You’ll need to insert one side of the coil into the positive slot and the other into the negative slot. Make sure your coil is going in as straight as possible.
When the coil is inserted, simply tighten the screws back on again.
Step 4: Wick the coil
A vape coil isn’t ready without its wick. Cut out a small piece of cotton and crimp one end of it to help you pass it through the coil. Thread the cotton through the coil until you have around a half inch of overlap around the sides, enough to have the cotton resting just above the deck. Finish off by tucking the cotton underneath the coil to help it absorb the e-liquid.
There you have it, your personalised vape coil you’ve just built with your very own hands! It may take a bit of getting used to but once you get the hang of it you won’t be going back to pre-built coils anytime soon. Now you’re one step closer to building the perfect vape kit for you.
If you have any other questions about vape customisations, or any other vape-related inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll do our best to help you get the best vaping experience.
