Vaping has become more than just a smoking cessation tool; it’s a hobby and a passion for many. Part of this passion includes building custom coils, which can significantly enhance the vaping experience by improving flavor, vapor production, and the overall performance of your device. Here are some must-try coil building techniques that will allow you to tailor your refillable vapes to your personal preferences.
1. The Standard Single Coil Build
For those new to coil building, starting with a standard single coil is advisable. This involves using a single piece of wire, wrapped in a coil formation around a screwdriver or a coiling tool. The simplicity of this build makes it easy to practice achieving the right resistance and learning how to properly install and wick coils. A standard single coil is perfect for consistent daily vaping and is a great way to understand the basics of ohmβs law as applied to vaping.
2. The Dual Coil Build
Once you are comfortable with a single coil, upgrading to a dual coil build can enhance your vaping experience by producing more vapor and flavor. Dual coils involve two identical coils installed on either side of the deck, balancing the resistance of each coil. This build requires a bit more precision and understanding of how resistance works when coils are in parallel, as the total resistance is halved compared to a single coil.
3. Clapton Coil
A Clapton coil is essentially a small gauge wire tightly wrapped around a larger gauge wire. The surface area is significantly increased, which allows for more e-liquid to be vaporized at once and results in increased flavor and vapor production. Building Clapton coils can be more time-consuming and tricky, but many refillable vapesrs find the payoff in enhanced experience worth the effort.
4. Twisted Coil
Twisted coils are made by twisting two or more strands of wire together, creating a spiral pattern. This increases the surface area, similar to a Clapton coil, but is easier to make. You can twist the wires using a simple coffee mug and a drill, or even manually by hand, although this requires more patience and physical effort. Twisted coils are known for producing more flavor and vapor than standard coils and are a good step up from single or dual builds.
5. Parallel Coil
A parallel coil involves wrapping two wires in parallel to each other, effectively doubling the surface area compared to a standard single wire coil. This build lowers the resistance and allows for quicker heating of the e-liquid, which produces more vapor. Parallel coils can be a bit more challenging to work with due to the increased thickness and need for precise installation to avoid hot spots.
6. Staggered Fused Clapton
The staggered fused Clapton is a more complex version of the basic Clapton coil. It involves a pair of parallel wires as the core, with a thinner gauge wire wrapped around them in a spaced manner, followed by another tightly wrapped wire over the spaces. This build is for those who want to push the boundaries of flavor and vapor production. It requires precision and patience but offers exceptional performance.
7. Mesh Coils
While not a “build” in the traditional sense since mesh coils use a sheet of mesh instead of a wire, including them is important as they offer a different approach to coil setups. Mesh provides an even heat distribution and a larger surface area, which leads to increased flavor and vapor production. Mesh coils are also easier to handle and install compared to some complex wire builds.
Conclusion
Building your own coils is a fulfilling part of the vaping hobby that allows for extensive customization and optimization of your vaping experience. Whether you prefer a simple single coil for everyday vaping or want to experiment with more complex builds like the staggered fused Clapton, each technique offers its own set of benefits. Remember, safety should always be your top priority, so make sure you understand ohmβs law and battery safety as you embark on your coil building journey.