Question regarding wire types

[MyMagicMist]

I've been winding up wire to build coils. I see all kinds of advice on all kinds of subjects. Something I wonder about though is can wire types be mixed and matched. I'll offer an example below.

Say I've 28 awg SS316, can I wrap it with say Ni80 36 awg to create Claptons, Aliens? Can I also then mix Ni80 with Kanthal A1? Can I wrap Kanthal A1 with SS316?

I'm not looking for a super detailed technical response. Sure, explain the why not if that's the case but keep it basic and topological. I can generally go do a little research myself and/or comprehend stuff from basic explanations. I'm thinking there is likely rationale to not mixing and matching wire types. I'm not doing so at present, rather asking as curiosity if some others may or may have further rationale than my base instincts telling me it might not be prudent. Okay, thanks for reading and I hope I've directed this into the correct area.

 

[KingPin!]

Yeah I mix and match all the time mainly as I prefer working with Nichrome on the wraps

Tend to use SS or kanthal cores depending on what I’m doing but hey I’ve done builds with all three in just because

In fact if you have a delicate palette mixing and matching can adjust the flavour notes at least I find it does ...as to what’s best you’ll find out which mix n match style you like along the way

 

[gbalkam]

Sure, you can mix and match a fair bit. like a SS core and nichrome or kanthal wraps, or a nichrome or kanthal core and SS wraps.
kanthal vs nichrome is more to solve a coil size issue, since kanthal is more resistant than nichrome. Some decks are pretty small compared to others.
Stainless steel wraps transfer heat faster than say a nichrome wrap, but they also oxidize faster. This all helps when planning your builds.

 

[KingPin!]

Actually that’s a really good point most of the time for mix and match when you build larger coils it’s to help bump up the resistance when going for dual coils if you can’t add the wraps you need to because of deck size

Kanthal and Nichrome are my most used in complex builds

 

[MyMagicMist]

tainless steel wraps transfer heat faster than say a nichrome wrap, but they also oxidize faster. This all helps when planning your builds.

Ah. *nodding* Yes, yes it does rather quite well in fact. *ambles on now chuckling maniacally* "Haha! I will now has the one coil to rule them all, a triple cored SS316 wrapped with Nichrome to avoid extreme gunking up & oxidation, it will last forevers, forevers I say! Muhahahamuhaha!!!"


Yep, I know that's not likely the pure case. It will though seemingly last quite a bit longer, I'd think. Thank you both for somewhat allaying this dark instinctual and near phobic fear I had. Now I can get into doing a little better with builds, knowing that I can combine the types safely (or least a reasonable proximity thereof).

 

[KingPin!]

It will throw TC off mixing and matching magic if you want to use that mode ...go with the material used in the cores and adjust TCR from there I’d say

Edit: but even then it depends how much metal you use on the wraps and how good the mod is at reading resistance changes...you’ll definitely need to tune it in manually either way

 

[MyMagicMist]

It will throw TC off mixing and matching magic if you want to use that mode ...go with the material used in the cores and adjust TCR from there I’d say

Revision: Removed abrupt slightly off color humor, as thought better of it. Apologies.

I don't use TC mode at all mate. Coils for myself will be built running on a mech. I will bear this in mind though should I ever build for someone who might/may use TC mode. Thanks.

 

[KingPin!]

What you haven’t discovered TC on your mech magic?

You are missing out!

 

[gbalkam]

Oh they both gunk up the same.. just ss oxidizes a bit faster. BUT it also transfers heat from the core to the juice faster.
3 core SS... remember.. SS has much lower resistance. 3 core is 1/3 the resistance. So you might find you are using huge coils to meet resistance levels needed. Say 0.15ohm as a target. (remember, most regulated mods run 0.10 to 3.0 ohm). It really isn't hard. Just look at your deck, your mod and what kind of coil you want and build accordingly.

Also.. note I said SS TRANSFERS heat faster... not that it heats up faster under current. Kind of like how you see stainless steel bottom fry pans but not stainless steel coil stove elements.

 

[MyMagicMist]

What you haven’t discovered TC on your mech magic?

You are missing out!

*LOL* Don't I wish I had. Unfortunately, in my case I've not 3 or 4 hundred guineas to piss into the wind on mech mods, much less 50 quid at a go. *LOL*

I do know though a lot of it's due reckoning of the build itself as you've no on board computer chip to sort it all for ye. Daftness letting a machine think for you, although I've no problem letting a calculator help sort me maths as is required to a point. Might have the gist of the how to do, yet get muddle headed in the doing.

Also.. note I said SS TRANSFERS heat faster... not that it heats up faster under current. Kind of like how you see stainless steel bottom fry pans but not stainless steel coil stove elements.

Got that. Trying a Alien 3 core SS, wrapped in 36 g Ni80, at present. Know I said I wasn't swapping out coils any time soon but, ... well some mates said doing this was a go and me being me, "just had to give it a shot!" So, my thoughts are the wire wrapped up a lot nicer and provided me with a little better physical "muscle memory" on how to wrap effectively.

I've got a coil in the Gorge, it's reading a rough 0.30 ohms +/- about 0.02, 5 wraps around 3 mm inner diameter does the trick for me there. The wire despite being 3 strands of SS is fused tightly enough to resemble a single 28 awg of SS. Well, It's doing alright so far. It does vape a bit hotter than I'm usually keen to vape. Yep, I'm a damn wuss for not wanting my lungs on fire.

My take away, I'll need to "play" some more using mix and matched wire. Need to learn to build a fair piece better using it. I may try adding more wraps so as to cool the vape a bit. Yes, I understand that'll alter my ohm rating, I'll be watchful of that. If I get higher ohms no great loss for me, shoot even at 0.60 ohms I can vape well enough to suit myself. My main concern is to not go below around 0.20 ohms for my own sense of caution so far, as well as my sense of battery safety.

 

[gbalkam]

My take away, I'll need to "play" some more using mix and matched wire. Need to learn to build a fair piece better using it

Steamengine has a tool you might find useful. It's in coil building. What you want to look for is heat flux. You can actually build your coil to a specific ohm and using ohms law and the heat flux reading, adjust your temperature that way. 400mw/mm2 is pretty hot. 300 is fairly warm.. 275 would be probably pretty close to a medium warm.