What is Coil Wire?

Coil wire is the metal wire that is used to create coils that sit in your vape’s tank – it is the element of your vape kit that is heated to convert your e-juice into the vapour that you inhale. However, the wire that you will find above is different to that which makes up regular vape coils, as these have been made specifically for use with rebuildable tanks such as RTAs, RDAs and RDTAs.

The disparity between different types of coil wire can be wide, as not only are numerous types and materials available, it also comes in various different gauges (or levels of thickness) which in turn, alter the resistance—which is measured in ohms—of your coil. If your e-cigarette coil is has a lower coil resistance (if it is lower in ohms), more power will be able to flow through it, meaning that your device will be able to produce more vapour, hence, sub-ohm coils are known for their extensive vapour production.

Ramp-up time is closely related to coil gauge, so it is certainly worth noting. Ramp-up time describes the amount of time it takes your coil to reach a temperature at which it can vaporise e-liquid. Therefore, if you are looking for faster ramp-up time, you will want to select a coil wire that is on the thinner side – one that has a higher gauge.

Often, thinner wires are wrapped around thicker wires to produce multiple cores. These are known as multi-strand coils, fused coils or Clapton coils, and you can find many in the selection above. These types of wire offer a fast ramp-up time, as well as a larger surface area, which promises more intense flavour with every inhale.

Many different materials can be used to create coil wire, and as each of them react differently to heat and electricity, they each carry their own unique benefits. The four most popular coil wire materials are as follows:

Kanthal Wire

Kanthal is one of the most commonly-used coil wires, most likely due to its accessibility. If you are creating a personalised vape by building your own coils for the first time, the chances are, you will want to opt for kanthal wire. However, when compared to some of the other materials available, its ramp-up time can seem a little slower.

Nichrome Wire

Nichrome (as the name suggests) is comprised of nickel and chromium. It makes for a great coil material as it is durable and it features a fast ramp-up time. Some popular types of nichrome wire are Ni80 and Ni90.

Stainless Steel Wire

Stainless steel wire is advantageous in that it also does not take a long time to ramp-up. It is highly malleable, making it excellent for coil bending.

Nickel Wire

Nickel wire—commonly called Ni200 by vaping enthusiasts—is highly effective at allowing for temperature control, but cannot be used in wattage mode. It is also a highly malleable material.