Winding your own coils (heating coils) is the entry into the professional league for many vapers. Not only does it save significant costs compared to ready-made coils, but also enables it, Customize the vaping experience perfectly to your own preferences. In this guide you will learn, like you a reliable one 1,2-Ohm-Micro-Coil for your RDA (Dribbler) build.
⚠️ Important safety notice: Working with wire and batteries requires basic knowledge of Ohm's law. Make sure, that your battery carrier is suitable for the desired resistance. Always check windings for short circuits, before you fire them up.
Wind coils yourself: Step-by-step instructions for the first 1.2 ohm winding
The required tools and materials
For a clean result and maximum security you need the following setup:
- Ohm-Meter (Resistance tester): Indispensable, to measure resistance and detect short circuits.
- resistance wire: For this example we use 28g Kanthal A1 (ca. 0,32 mm diameter). Kanthal is stable and ideal for beginners.
- Coil-Rechner: Tools wie Steam Engine help you with planning. For our goal (1,2 Ohm, 2 mm inner diameter) we need approx. 8 convolutions.
- Changing aid: A 2 mm screwdriver or a special coil jig.
- Precision tool: Small screwdriver for the deck screws of your RDA.
- Ceramic tweezers: This allows you to squeeze the coil while glowing, without causing a short circuit.
- Side cutters: For cutting the wire ends flush.
- Wrap cotton: Preferably unbleached organic cotton.
- E-Liquid: For priming the finished winding.
Step-by-step instructions
1. Wrap the coil
Take the 28g Kanthal wire and hold one end on the handle of yours 2 mm screwdriver with your thumb. Now wrap the wire 8-mal tight and even around the shaft.
- Pro-tip: Pay attention to it, that the turns do not overlap. After 8 Both ends of the wire should be round (the so-called “Legs”) point in the same direction.
2. Installation in the RDA
Loosen the screws on the posts of your wrap deck. Insert one end of the wire into the positive pole and the other in the negative pole a.
- Important: Position the coil centrally over the air supply. Tighten the screws firmly, but pay attention, not to shear the wire with too much force. Clip off the excess wire ends as close to the post as possible.
3. Check the resistance
Screw the RDA onto your ohm reader. The displayed value should be close to 1,2 Ohm lay (small deviations from +/- 0,05 Ohms are normal).
- Troubleshooting: Does the device show “Short” or a fluctuating value? Check, whether the screws are tight or whether the coil is touching the evaporator chamber.
4. Burning and alignment (Dry Fire)
Place the RDA on your regulated battery carrier. Fire the coil briefly at low wattage (ca. 10–12 Watt), until it glows.
- Remove hotspots: If the coil glows unevenly, Gently stroke the coils with the ceramic tweezers or press them together lightly. The goal is an even glow from the inside out.
5. Lay the cotton wool (Wicking)
Pull a strand of organic cotton through the coil.
- The right resistance: The cotton should be able to be pulled through with slight resistance. Is it too loose?, squirts liquid (Spitback); it is too tight, There is a risk of a charred taste (Dry Hit).
- Cut the ends like this, that they rest loosely on the bottom of the liquid tray of your RDA.
Congratulations! You have successfully built your own coil. Now moisten the cotton wool generously with e-liquid, Let it soak in briefly and enjoy the pure taste of your handiwork.
Do you want to learn?, how to calculate resistance for mechanical mods or are you interested in advanced coil types like the Clapton coil?
