Cotton & Wire

How do I choose wire and cotton for a rebuildable?

On a rebuildable atomizer, the coil does not arrive ready-made: it is built by hand on the deck of the atomizer, from wire or a pre-built coil, and finished with a cotton wick.

Resistance wire or pre-built coil?

Resistance wire, like the Ni80 26 GA wire or the Kanthal A1 wire, is sold on a spool and means braiding and winding the coil yourself. A pre-built coil, like the Alien Ni80 coils or the Quad Core Fused Clapton coils, arrives ready to install: you just fix it on the deck and adjust its position, with no building tools.

Kanthal, Ni80 or SS316L: which material for which mode?

Kanthal A1 is the simplest material, reserved for classic wattage mode. Ni80, found in the Ni80 28 GA wire as in most of the Alien and Fused Clapton coils in this range, heats up quickly and gives good flavour. SS316L wire is the most versatile: it works in wattage mode as well as with temperature control on the box mods that offer it.

Alien or Fused Clapton: which coil structure?

An Alien coil twists several strands of wire around a central wire, which noticeably increases the heating surface and the density of the vapour, as with the Recoil Alien coils or the Requiem Alien coils. A Fused Clapton coil winds a fine wire around two parallel wires: the temperature rises faster and the flavour comes through more clearly, as with the Bonza Pro 4-Core coils.

Which cotton for the wick?

Cotton in pre-cut strips, like the XFiber Profile cotton, is cut to the right length with no effort. Classic loose cotton, like the Vipers cotton or the Premium Slawick Cotton, is fluffed at the ends before being slid into the coil, to avoid the dry spots that give a burnt taste.

Find your wire and coils by brand

Our 7 brands cover the materials and structures most used in rebuildables.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a coil last before I need to rebuild it?

A coil on a rebuildable lasts one to two weeks on average before losing flavour, a little less with sweet liquids that clog the wick faster. The wire stays in place, only the cotton is changed.

Do I need to clean the wire before building a coil?

Yes, new wire should always be prepared before building: a light sanding or a pass with a torch removes the surface oxide and avoids a metallic taste on the first puffs.

Why does a burnt cotton taste appear at first priming?

A burnt cotton taste at first priming almost always comes from cotton that has not soaked enough before the first puffs. Let the liquid reach the whole wick for a few minutes before vaping.

Is Ni80 wire suitable for box mods without a temperature mode?

Yes, Ni80 wire works very well in classic wattage mode, without a temperature mode. Temperature mode remains an option, not a requirement, for this type of wire.

See also

• Coils: ready-made coils, with no building to do.
• Tanks and Atomizers: the rebuildables that take these wires and coils.
• Box Mods: the devices that power the build.
• Accessories: tools and small parts for looking after your kit.
• Replacement Glass: the glass for the rebuildable, to match the build.