
- Wire gauge: a brief rundown. Gauge, in its definition, is the actual diameter of the wire. Vapers usually use 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 gauge wire.
- Five types of vaping wires. As I’ve mentioned earlier, there are five varieties of vape wires. These wires are basically used to make vape coils.
- There is no best vape wire. You read it right. ...
What gauge wire is used for vaping?
Most commonly, you’ll see 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 gauge wire used for vaping. As a rule of a thumb, the higher the value of the gauge, the thinner the wire is. As an example, a 28 gauge wire will be thinner than a 26 gauge wire, but thicker than a 30 gauge wire.
What to look for when buying a vape wire?
You should be looking for a wire that doesn’t change resistance when heated up if you choose to go with variable wattage mode. Temperature Control, or TC vaping, on the other hand, has its own distinct function. This mode lets you freely set the temperature of your choice at which you want your vape to heat up.
What is the best wire material for straight wattage vaping?
Another wire material that is perfectly suited to straight wattage vaping is that of nichrome. Nichrome wire consists of chromium and nickel alloy and may sometimes contain other metal-based materials such as iron. Nichrome is available in several varieties, commonly referred to as “grades”.
Do you need a thicker wire for vaping?
Some wires are extremely difficult to coil and handle. When a wire has more ‘spring’ in them, you need a thicker wire but never go for 32 gauge because it’s just not going to work and you might end up damaging your newly bought tank. What does Wattage and Temperature Control Mode have to do with vaping wires?

What gauge wire is best for vaping?
Kanthal has been the choice of most vapers for a longer time, due to its ease of use and higher resistance. Mouth to lung vapers appreciate their higher builds, and a 26-28 gauge Kanthal wire is always dependable—and hard to swap for anything else.
Is stainless steel good for vaping?
Stainless steel works in temperature control mode for those who prefer TC vaping. Since it also works in wattage mode, though, there's no chance of configuring things incorrectly.
Are stainless steel coils safe?
For that reason, stainless steel is considered an ideal material for pots and pans and other cooking tools. You can rest assured that the steel won't melt or otherwise leach into your food. Now, some might be more concerned about the thought of using vaping coils made from this material.
What is SS vape?
Stainless Steel Mode (SS Mode) Stainless Steel Mode (or SS Mode) was created for use with stainless steel wire. Stainless steel is arguably the most versatile of coiling materials, as its heating properties allow it to be compatible with Power Mode and SS Temperature Control Mode.
Can you vape stainless steel in wattage mode?
Stainless steel: this wire is very popular and readily available. It comes in various grades such as 304, 316, 316L, 317, and 430 but the most common is SS316L. SS can be used in wattage or temperature control mode.
How do you vape stainless steel?
5:4520:43AdvancedVape Stainless Steel Dry-Firing Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you need to be gentle and in the way that you do it not too hard and not when it's red-hot youMoreBut you need to be gentle and in the way that you do it not too hard and not when it's red-hot you don't ever want to strum it when it's red-hot.
What is the safest coil for vaping?
in stainless steel. Chromium (Cr) undergoes passivation by oxygen present in the air. During this process a very thin layer of chromium(III) oxide is formed. It is widely known that chromium(III) compounds are recognised as safe.
What is the best metal for vape coils?
Kanthal is the most popular type of wire for making a coil, and it is perfect for wattage vaping because it's very malleable but retains its shape. It's cheap, does not oxidize quickly, and is readily available. Beginners and people who don't want to waste time making something time-consuming mostly use it.
How do you use stainless steel coils?
1:2923:19AdvancedVape Build Guide Episode One: 316L Stainless Steel Spaced ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo to start out. You just want to kind of trap. Trap one side with your finger. And wrap. It goingMoreSo to start out. You just want to kind of trap. Trap one side with your finger. And wrap. It going this way away from you and count the reps as you wrap around. This is going to be ten wraps.
What wattage should I vape at 0.2 ohm?
0.3 ohms - 40 watts to 90 watts. 0.2 ohm coils - 40 watts to 100 watts.
What wattage should I vape at 0.15 ohm?
60-90 wattsIn contrast, the 0.15ohm dual mesh coils have a best recommended wattage of 60-90 watts. Both atomisers offer huge clouds and flavour production. Since these coils are sub ohm / direct to lung (DTL) in vaping style, they are recommended for use with higher VG e liquids.
What wattage should I set my vape to?
On the contrary, even 10 watts is sufficient to guarantee a satisfying vape, which may be ideal for new vapers. As you become more experienced, it's safe to say that vaping starts to shine between the range of 40 and 50 watts.
What does different gauges of vape wires do?
Different gauges (diameter) of vape wires will give you different resistances & ramp up times , while different types of vape wires will give you different flavor & cloud production. Even if you aren’t building your own coils, it can be hazardous to use coils of certain materials in the wrong mode (see Nickel wire down below). ...
What is the most common wire used for vaping?
Kanthal is the most common wire used for vaping, and is a ferritic iron, chromium-aluminium alloy. Because of its inexpensive price, wide availability, and resistance to oxidation kanthal is a great material for building coils.
What is the best vape wire?
Stainless Steel is a special vape wire that can be used with either wattage or temperature control mode, and is a chromium, nickel and carbon alloy. While stainless steel comes in a variety of grades, 316 is medical and food grade and is perfect for vaping.
What is the best wire for vaping?
Nichrome Wire. Nichrome wire is another great wire that can be used for vaping, and is a nickel and chromium alloy. While less commonly found in stores than kanthal, nichrome is similarly resistant to oxidation and can function at high temperatures without being damaged.
How many types of wires are there for vaping?
There are five types of wires that are commonly used for vaping, and they each have differing uses and properties. Some wires can only be used for vaping with wattage, some only with temperature control mode, and one special wire can be used with either. We will discuss each one in detail down below, but first a lesson on wire gauges and resistance.
Which vape wire heats up the fastest?
Nickel heats up the fastest out of all vape wires and was the first wire used with temperature control mode. Because of its soft and springy nature, nickel wire is harder to work with than kanthal or nichrome. While nickel wire can offer better flavor and a faster ramp up time than some other vape wires (such as kanthal), ...
Can you use nickel wire in temperature control?
While nickel wire can offer better flavor and a faster ramp up time than some other vape wires (such as kanthal), it should only ever be used in temperature control mode. If nickel wire gets too hot and overheats, and you can end up with nickel or even graphite in your lungs.
What is the best wire for vaping?
Kanthal Wire. Kanthal is the OG and the first wire that started it all. This is the most commonly used wire for vaping, and it has been recognized for more than a decade now for producing high quality vape coils, both by amateurs and industry professionals.
What gauge wire do vacuum cleaners use?
Gauge, in its definition, is the actual diameter of the wire. Vapers usually use 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 gau ge wire. The bigger the number of the gauge increases, the thinner the wire gets. For instance, a 24 gauge wire at about 0.02 inches, that is 0.51 mm in diameter, while a 30 gauge wire falls at 0.01 inches, 0.25 mm in diameter.
What is VW vaping?
Wattage vaping, or VW (which stands for variable wattage) is the standard mode of vaping. This allows you to independently set the wattage at which you want your vape to operate. You should be looking for a wire that doesn’t change resistance when heated up if you choose to go with variable wattage mode.
Why is it important to know about vape coils?
It is very important to be aware of all of this information because every wire behaves differently. This will give you information about how vapes taste separately depending on the wire used.
How many types of wires are there in vaping?
There are five common types of wires in the vaping industry. These five materials have distinct differences from one another. These differences are based on temperature control mode and wattage mode. One certain wire can even be used in both modes.
How hot can a wire be before melting?
This wire can also tolerate very high temperatures of up to a astonishing 1,500 °C before it actually starts melting. This wire is preferable for beginner rebuilders because not only is it easy to use, but it is also good for beginner-friendly single coils that are not difficult to build.
What is the TCR of nickel wire?
Because of that, this wire has a nice TCR of 0.006, which means it’s easy for devices to determine the amount of current needed to maintain and when to cut it off to reduce the risks of overheating.
What are the things to look for when choosing a vape wire?
There are three things way pay attention to when choosing a vape wire – flavor, vapor production, and ramp-up time (how fast the wire heats up). Knowing the properties of each of these wires will give you an opportunity to find one that matches your particular vape style more easily.
What metal is used to make vape wires?
Those materials are: Kanthal (FeCrAl) NiChrome (Ni80) Nickel (Ni200) Stainless Steel (SS) Titanium (Ti) Each of these materials is specific, and vaping with it will produce different results.
What is TCR in vaping?
TCR is a complex calculation that tells the device how to regulate things to keep the resistance of the vape wire steady and even throughout your vape session. The mod delivers short, intermittent pulses of current, making sure that the temperature never exceeds safety limits.
What are the two modes of vaping?
In essence, there are two different modes of vaping – the wattage mode and the temperature control mode. Not every wire can be used in both of these modes! If you try, and you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re risking a battery mishap or, worse yet, poisoning yourself. So, tread carefully!
Why does a 20 gauge wire heat up so slowly?
That’s because the resistance of the wire goes down, meaning that it takes more time to heat up. 20 or 22 gauge (thicker) wires will heat up slowly, but same is true for coils that are made from thinner wires but have multiple strands (exotic coil builds such as the Alien or Clapton).
What is SS wire?
Stainless steel wire is available in a lot of grades (316, 316L, 410, 413, just to name a few) and most of these grades are suitable for use when building vape wires. However, because there are so many options, there’s often confusion as to how good SS really is – that’s because some talk it up, while others hate it with a vengeance. Of course, these people are usually talking about totally different SS wire grades.
What is the TCR of a nickel wire?
Vapers familiar with temperature control mods will remember that nickel was, in fact, the first wire used for it. Its TCR is a nice, round number (0.006) , which means that it’s easy for devices to calculate how much power needs to be applied to it and when to cut it to maintain a safe temperature. With that said, you need to know that nickel should only ever be used with TC. It has a propensity to overheat when used in wattage, which means that it can catch on fire and melt, leaching harmful substances into your vapor.
What kind of wire is used for coils?
The most common types of wire used for building coils are kanthal, nichrome, nickel, stainless steel, and titanium. I’ll be focusing on the best kanthal and stainless steel coils, mainly because of they’re both safe and easy to use, and stainless steel coils are known to be more durable than the rest while also providing exceptional flavor ...
Which wire has the slowest ramp up time?
If you want to learn more about nichrome, nickel, and titanium wire, Mr. Long Drag has a great article that explains their qualities. It’s true that Kanthal has the slowest ramp-up time amongst them all, but it’s also very forgiving.
How much is TEMCO wire?
TEMCo’s wire might be a little more expensive at $6.45 for 100 feet, but it also has more reviews and the highest rating of any kanthal A1 I’ve found on Amazon.
Can nickel coils melt?
For example, nickel coils can actually melt in your RDA if you bump the wattage too high. One last thing you’ll want to consider is the gauge (AWG) or thickness of your wire, which typically ranges from 22 to 34. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. The thinner it is, the more resistance per foot.
Top Vaping Wire for Building Vape Coils
Fortunately, we've taken care of the hard work for you. By trying all the most popular brands, our selection has been narrowed down to only the top products, making decisions easier.
Atomic Wire - Ohm Run Hitters
Atomic Wire Looks like any other vaping wire on the market. However, once it is inside your vape, the differences couldn't be any easier to notice. Other wiring brands haven't been nearly as durable, especially when heated frequently. Vapers often run through shoddy materials rather quickly, but these seemed as if they lasted forever.
Aspire Mini Triton Clapton Coil 5 Pack
Built for the Triton vape, the Aspire coils are a force to be reckoned with. Not only are they reliable, but they are also available with multiple wiring options. Nickel sounds like it's somewhere in the middle, neither too resistive nor conductive. You could also choose to work with some Kanthal wiring.
Smok V8-Baby Q2 Dual Core Replacement Coils (5 Pack)
Smok's coils are still some of our favorites, on account of how tasty they make each hit. The V8-Baby Q2s are from another planet, so to speak. Most coils, in today's market, are only meant to use a single wire. These, on the other hand, happened to take advantage of two of them. They are dual-coil-style coils.
Vaporesso C-Cell Coil 5 Pack
Vaporesso has been so great at meeting customer demands they've built their reputation on it. Other manufacturers stick to the same, tired and boring, concepts. Innovation hasn't been as common as it had been years ago. Yet, they've managed to break that trend, thanks to these unique coils.
KA1 100 Foot 22 Gauge Wire Spool - Demon Killer
For those who would prefer building their own vapes, this wire offers more than enough material to build several coils. As such, you'd only need to purchase a single spool for most purposes. 100 feet of wire could build dozens of functioning coils, each performing optimally.
Ni90 Comp. Wire - Mad Bomber Wire
Nickel still reigns supreme when it comes to coil-building. Other materials simply don't match nickel's unique characteristics. Fortunately, we've got plenty of options, so finding something perfect isn't a problem. Durable and conductive, coils built of this should meet even the most stringent expectations.
What is the best wire for vaping?
Best Wire Type for Vaping. Different types of coil wire will behave differently to electricity and heat, and thus will have their own sets of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the four most popular types and what each can offer you. Kanthal – As one of the most widely available types of coil wire, Kanthal is extremely popular.
What gauge is coil wire?
A higher gauge number will mean a thinner wire and smaller diameter. Typically coil wire is somewhere between 22 and 32 gau ge.
What tool is used to build coils?
Wire cutters. A screwdriver or metal tool to shape and tighten the coils and bolts holding the coils in place. While building your coils has a couple of advantages, giving you greater control over customising the vaping mod you select at a slightly cheaper price, most still opt for pre-built coils.
What is vaping coils?
Vaping is about fine-tuning your experience to get the right hit from your device. With so many finer points to iron out, coils are only one part of the equation. You have to consider how many watts you want to vape at, the flavour consistency expected from your coils - even the sort of cloud production you want.
What is nichrome wire?
Nichrome – This type of wire is an alloy made of nickel and chromium. The points in favour of using nichrome (NiCh) are that it holds its shape well, and it can ramp up quickly. On the downside, it’s that it isn’t so easy to find, so you’ll probably have to search online to get it.
How does a vape coil wire work?
A vape coil wire plays a very important role in your overall experience. It will form the coil, which works to build up the heat with the help of your battery and transmit them to your wick so it can be heated. Once your wick soaked with e-liquid is heated, then that lovely vapour will be produced.
Is vaping kit essential reading?
If you’re happily vaping along with a premium yet simplistic vape kit that’s easy to set up and use, this guide isn’t essential reading. Nevertheless, whatever your stage is in the vaping journey, knowing the basics such as the different vaping coil materials and each unique quality they possess is useful. If you’re interested in rebuilding your atomiser and all that they can do for you, these basics are a must. After all, any vapour device we use will have one.
What is the ramp up time on a vape?
The ramp up time of the vape coil refers to the time it takes for the coil to reach the required temperature needed for the e-liquid inside the vape to begin to vaporise.
Why does it take longer for a wire to heat up?
This, in turn, means that it will likely take longer for the wire to increase in temperature because of the greater diameter and mass of the wire. Thinner wires with a lower gauge number will be higher in resistance than a thicker wire.
