Proper wire_ all aspects

[Gratefdaryl]

I could really use help from someone patient.
Primus Koopor vape mod<>with a DPRO_><CoilArt_><by coiltech...
I need what tools along with how to build coils.
Also if its possible to know what the wire is made of if its not labeled.
Etc... etc....

 

[ScReWbALL]

Needle Nose Pliers
Blunt Tip Pliers
Side Cutters (aka Diagonal Pliers)
Nylon Pliers (if doing Fused Clapton’s)

Tape and Scissors (if doing multi-core builds)
Angled Tweezers (for wicking placement)
Ceramic Tweezers (for pinching/strumming)
Precision Screwdriver Kit (for wrapping)
Compact Scissors (for trimming/shaping cotton wicks)

Drill (for straightening wire and more advanced builds such as Clapton’s)

Ohm Reader
As for what the wire is made of...the only real test I know of is that you can take a magnet and if the wire responds and is pulled by the magnet, it is Kanthal, and if it doesn’t it’s either Nichrome or Stainless. I’m not sure of how to tell the difference between SS316L and Nichrome 80 before it’s coiled up and fired.
Here’s a couple of helpful sites:

http://vaping360.com/how-to-build-coils/

http://olympiavaporworks.com/coil-building-101/

You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

 

[MrMeowgi]

Wow I bet he just needs the basics but that's a great list. The plyers he listed are great but blunt tip I've never used. For basic builds YouTube is going to be your best friend. And Ohms law is the Bible of building.read read read. As far as wire. 26 guage kanthal would be a good starter size. I'm sure someone else can chime in with other things I've missed.

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[ScReWbALL]

The blunt tips are what I use to pull the wire straight while coming off the spool instead of having to straighten the wire with the drill. They are also what I use when wrapping fused clapton wire and alien wire around the precision screwdriver to coil it up. I don’t use jigs and “folding” the wire over and under the screwdriver while keeping my thumb on the wraps to hold the tension gets it to lay perfectly flat and gives me consistent sized coils. The needle nose are toothless and not so good for those jobs.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

 

[zephyr]

I could really use help from someone patient.
Primus Koopor vape mod<>with a DPRO_><CoilArt_><by coiltech...
I need what tools along with how to build coils.
Also if its possible to know what the wire is made of if its not labeled.
Etc... etc....

If you just have unmarked wire laying about in your shop or something, stay away from that!

Tools you Have to have would be a winding rod that you know the diameter of, like a precision screwdriver with it's size clearly marked - there also things called "coiling jigs" that are little rods with their sizes marked.

You will need wire - I suggest Kanthal first, also called A1, or FeCrAl, and the guage I would suggest is 24. It is easy to work with.

You will need wire cutters -for your DPRO RDA it actually doesnt matter, but you will want flush cutters (flat on one side) if you get any other RDAs. People used to use fingernail clippers, but clippers would get ruined pretty fast by 24 guage wire.

Then you need Steam Engine.org
http://www.steam-engine.org/coil.html
This site will tell you how many wraps your coil will need to be. Look at any "DPRO RDA build" or review video to see how people install wire on your RDA.

Imo you don't need to buy an Ohm reader, you can build on top of your Koopor mod.

You'll need an allen key or driver or T-driver with a 2.5 mm bit (hexagonal) to unscrew and rescrew the screws in the DPRO rda (where you will install the wire coil)

Some ceramic tweezers, regular tweezers may be fine but don't heat up your coil with metal.tweezer tips.touching it!

You will need organic cotton, from.a vape shop or online ideally. Do not use regular cotton balls, they will taste nasty, get organic cotton. Cotton Bacon V2 is popular

I think that's it?

 

[zephyr]

Beginner needs:


And to watch some coil build videos, and hang around the forum to learn more if you want to play with wire more and make advanced coils!

Edit: I forgot to include wire, I'm out of kanthal right now though

 

[Carambrda]

Some other stuff I also use.

Cotton hook tool (first and foremost, you need to be a pro fluffer)
Jig that uses a bearing normally used for skateboarding/longboarding (is better than ball bearing swivels normally used for fishing)
Vice (with a piece of wood to attach the swivel thing at the same height as the chuck of your drill... a vice is also used for pulling hard when coiling up)
Masking tape (Squidoode taught me this on YouTube─The Art of Vaping)
Ziploc bags (the "ziploc technique" is used for claptoning wire)
Box (see: "ziploc technique")
Spool tamers
Hot glue (only the sticks, not the gun that normally goes with it)
Torch (used before coiling up some builds that are much too springy)
Lighter (to melt the hot glue and to light the torch)
Keyring (some people use bent paperclips or something else instead; used in some builds to hold the cores flat)
Button (Staggered Spaced Clapton Button Trick video by Coil Mother Fudger on YouTube)
Weights (used for the weighted loop method and can also be used to add some weight to the button to keep it more stable; also used for Kumihimo)
Kumihimo disc (to give it a shot one day)
2 pairs of 3× magnification plastic reading glasses stacked together (I use that instead of magnifying goggles, just because I can)
Lamp (must be strong enough and placed at the appropriate angle)
Ceramic sticks by Coil Master (used for really delicate builds; Wire Theory mentioned this on Instagram)
Vape brush
Ultrasonic cleaner
Dish washing soap (to mix with water in the sonic cleaner)

 

[ScReWbALL]

Granted, a lot of the stuff we’ve listed are definitely not absolute must-haves. I can liken it to the movie “Gran Turino” and you’re the teenager with nothing of your own walking into Clint Eastwood’s fully stocked garage and asking “What do I need?” We can overload you with a ton of things that CAN be used to do the job, but in reality, a few basic tools will cover about 80% of what you’re needing to do. Hell, back when I first started to get into building I just had an arms length of wire (that’s how one of the first B&M’s sold wire here), a toothpick, toenail clippers, and some cotton balls...worked just fine for me then, so, I’m sure it would work now.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

 

[strigamort]

Yup. I have most of the stuff everyone has mentioned, but I started with a 25' roll of 24g kanthal, a pair of old needle nose pliers and a sharpie. I made several twisted coils by looping a length of wire around the marker and twisting the ends with the pliers.

There are a few things you can do without a drill but if you decide you enjoy tinkering it won't be long before you want a drill.

Here's what I would suggest for initial purchases. I'll start with the stuff you can get at Harbor Freight.

Inexpensive cordless. Either from Walmart or Harbor Freight, $20 will do it.

A trigger clamp.

With this you can forgo the need for a vise. You will most likely need to drill a hole in the bar so that your swivels are in line with your drills chuck. As luck would have it you just happen to have a drill handy to do the job. I have a smaller trigger clamp for when I want to go ultra portable, but the clamping force from the bigger one (the one in the pic) offers the stability you'll want for doing complex builds. I have a couple of vises, but I always come back to the clamp since it's so versatile.

Flush cutters. Buy a few of these while you're at HF. Generally I consider flush cutters disposable. They are pretty delicate. You can make them last using proper technique, but even $50 (a pair) Lindstrom cutters are sold in packs of 3 (or 5?) because they won't last forever. Outside of HF there are many options, but the super cheap HF cutters are great. I just bought some decent Xuron's ( made) at Hobby Lobby and they are fine. After the ubiquitous 40% off coupon I think they were around $10. At Home Depot you'll find a Cresent brand kit that includes a very nice needle nose pliers and flush cutters. I love the handles and HD has been good about replacing the cutters after they get chewed up. I think the set is around $15

Lots of other odds and ends at HF, but a drill, clamp and pliers/cutters is a good start.

Spool Tamers. Absolute necessity for me. You can buy them online or at Hobby Lobby. HL sells 3 packs for a great price. I suggest you buy 1 for every spool of wire. You can auto clapton with just a single tamer.

Wire. Duh. Just buy a variety pack at kbee for next to nothing. I suggest the pack that has spools in 24, 26, 28g and 30g along with a pack of wrap wire in 36g from their wholesale page. If you have the $ throw in a 50' spool of ribbon wire.

Swivels. I love the Japanese made Spro Heavy Duty ones. Size 5 are rated to 560lbs and aren't so heavy that they pull on your wire like others can.

I think that's enough to get you started. You can make pretty much anything with the above. There really aren't many specialty tools needed and you can piece-meal all of that together as you go. For instance, you may find that you require a good lighting setup, or magnification considerations. A wire crimper for doing corrugated builds... Stuff like that. To get started though the buy in isn't so bad.

Drill $20
Wire $30 (for a LOT)
Clamp $4
Swivels $15
Pliers/cutters $15
Spool tamers $6

Just a rough estimate but you shouldn't have any problem getting started for under $100. That's all in with supplies AND tools, it's gotta be the least expensive hobby I've ever had. Then again I've definitely got over a grand spent now and probably closer to 2k but that's a personal problem, not the fault of the hobby!

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