Verdampfer & Coils

Wind your own coil - instructions for self-winding devices

Learn to coil yourself: step-by-step instructions on materials, resistance, measuring ohms and safety. Ideal for beginners and DIY vapers in Switzerland.

Building your own coil means shaping, inserting and wicking the heating wire in your atomiser yourself, rather than buying pre-made coils. This gives you full control over resistance, flavour and vapour production – and saves you money in the long run. At the same time, you take responsibility for safety and correct assembly. This guide shows you what materials you need, how the technique works, what to look out for when using a rebuildable atomiser, and how to avoid common mistakes. By the end, you’ll know whether building your own coils suits your daily vaping routine and which ohm values make sense for your style.

A coil is the heating element in the atomiser that vaporises the e-liquid. When building your own coil, you shape this element from a straight wire – usually Kanthal A1, NiCr80 or SS316L stainless steel – into a precise coil with a defined number of turns and inner diameter. You then place the coil into the deck of the buildable atomiser (RTA, RDA or RDTA), secure it in the posts and thread organic cotton through as a wick.

The finished DIY coil has a measurable electrical resistance in ohms, which you check before vaping. Unlike a pre-made coil head, which is simply screwed in, here you determine every detail: wire type, wire gauge (AWG), diameter, number of turns and wattage. This allows you to fine-tune the flavour, draw and vapour production very precisely to your setup.

The process is always the same, whether you’re building a simple round-wire coil or complex Clapton coils.

Materials and tools

You will need: resistance wire (e.g. Kanthal 0.4 mm for MTL, 0.5 mm for DL), a winding rod with a diameter of 2.5–3.5 mm, ceramic tweezers, side cutters, organic cotton and an ohmmeter or a mod with a resistance display. To get started, it’s worth buying a ready-made DIY coil-building kit that contains all the components.

Building and installing the coil

Wrap the wire tightly around the rod in 5–8 neat coils. Then clamp the ends into the posts, trim them short and align the coil centrally over the e-liquid feed. After tightening the screws, carefully heat the coil at a low wattage until it turns red evenly from the inside out. Finally, thread the cotton through, trim it and soak it with e-liquid.

Learning to build your own coils isn’t rocket science, but the details determine flavour and safety:

Resistance and battery must be compatible: Below 0.3 ohms, you’re in the sub-ohm range and need high-current batteries (min. 25 A continuous current). For MTL vaping, 0.8–1.2 ohms are standard and much more relaxed.
Choose the wire type: Kanthal is beginner-friendly and stable in pure wattage mode. SS316L stainless steel also allows for temperature control (TC) mode. Use nickel and titanium only with TC.
Clean burn-in: Carefully squeeze any hotspots (localised red-hot areas) with ceramic tweezers until the coil glows evenly. Uneven coils will burn the cotton.
Use the right amount of cotton: Too much cotton blocks the airflow; too little leads to a burnt taste. The cotton should be able to be pulled through with slight resistance.
Always check the resistance: Before taking your first puff, check the reading on the mod. If the display jumps or shows ‘Short’, there is a short circuit – do not continue vaping.
Record your settings: Note down the wire gauge, number of wraps and your preferred wattage. This will help you replicate successful builds.

A common beginner’s mistake is using too high a power setting immediately after installation. Start with 15–20 watts less than planned and work your way up until the vapour and flavour are just right.

Is building your own coils worth it financially?

Yes, definitely. A metre of Kanthal wire costs just a few francs and is enough for many builds. Compared to pre-made coils, which need replacing after 1–2 weeks, you’ll save a significant amount over the course of a year. The initial investment in tools usually pays for itself within a few months.

Is building your own coils dangerous?

Not if you follow the basic rules: use certified batteries, measure resistance, avoid short circuits, and ensure a clean build. Regulated mods with protection circuits automatically detect faults. Unregulated mech mods are only suitable for experienced users with knowledge of Ohm’s law.

How many wraps should my first coil have?

For a single-coil RTA with 0.4 mm Kanthal on a 2.5 mm post, 6–7 wraps yield around 1.0 ohms – a good starting point for MTL. For DL vaping, use 0.5 mm wire on a 3 mm post and wrap around 5 times for approx. 0.4 ohms.

How often do I need to change the coil?

You should change the cotton every 3–7 days, as soon as the flavour starts to fade. You can burn out and reuse the wire itself several times until it becomes brittle or no longer heats up evenly – usually after 2–4 cotton changes.

Building your own coils gives you control over flavour, draw and cost, but requires some practice and a basic understanding of resistance and battery safety. If you want to build a coil yourself, start with a simple single-coil RTA and 0.4 mm Kanthal – this way you’ll gain experience quickly. You’ll find suitable wires, cotton and ready-made coils for comparison in our selection of coils and winding accessories; it’s also worth taking a look at the atomiser category for your next RTA setup.