How does the winding process work in practice?

The aim is to create an even coil with a defined resistance. The process is similar for every winding technique. Step by step Measure the wire: Cut approx. 8–10 cm of wire, depending on the number of turns. Winding: Wrap the wire around a winding rod (e.g. 3 mm) and make 5–7 tight turns close together. Insertion: Screw the coil into the top of the atomiser, trim the leads. Heating: Heat with short bursts of flame at a low wattage (15–25 W) until the coil glows red evenly from the inside out. Press out any hotspots with ceramic tweezers. Wicking: Pull a strand of cotton through the coil, trim the ends, and loosely tuck it into the wicking channels. Testing: Apply a few drops of e-liquid, check the resistance on the mod and start vaping at a moderate power setting. Simple winding techniques Round Wire: Classic single-wire build, ideal for beginners. Clapton: A core wire is wrapped with a thinner wire, providing more surface area and flavour. Fused Clapton: Two cores in parallel, generous vapour production, higher power consumption. Round Wire with Kanthal A1 is perfectly adequate for beginners. Advanced winding techniques are only worthwhile once you have mastered the basic principle.

Verdampfer & Coils

Coil winding - instructions for your own vaporiser coil

Coil winding explained: instructions, winding technique, materials and safety. How to build your coil for self-winding vaporisers safely and step by step.

Building your own coil means making the heating coil for your e-cigarette yourself using wire and cotton wool, rather than buying pre-made coils. If you build your own coils, you can precisely control the resistance, vapour production and flavour, and save money in the long run. At the same time, it’s essential to work cleanly, as a poorly built coil can strain the battery or spoil the vaping experience. In this guide, you’ll find out what the term means, what materials you need, how the winding technique works step by step, and what to look out for when buying tools and wire.

A coil is the wound heating coil in the atomiser head. Electricity from the mod flows through the wire, heats it up and causes the e-liquid on the surrounding cotton to vaporise. Pre-made coils (pre-built heads) are sealed and need to be replaced after 1–2 weeks. When building a coil, you create the coil yourself in a rebuildable atomiser (RDA, RTA or RDTA).

The difference from a pre-made coil lies in the control: you choose the wire type (Kanthal, NiChrome, stainless steel), wire gauge (usually 0.3–0.5 mm), inner diameter of the coil (2.5–3.5 mm) and number of turns. This allows you to set the electrical resistance in ohms, which in turn determines how much power your mod needs to deliver. The organic cotton wick transports the e-liquid to the wire.

The aim is to create an even coil with a defined resistance. The process is similar for every winding technique.

Step by step

Measure the wire: Cut approx. 8–10 cm of wire, depending on the number of turns.
Winding: Wrap the wire around a winding rod (e.g. 3 mm) and make 5–7 tight turns close together.
Insertion: Screw the coil into the top of the atomiser, trim the leads.
Heating: Heat with short bursts of flame at a low wattage (15–25 W) until the coil glows red evenly from the inside out. Press out any hotspots with ceramic tweezers.
Wicking: Pull a strand of cotton through the coil, trim the ends, and loosely tuck it into the wicking channels.
Testing: Apply a few drops of e-liquid, check the resistance on the mod and start vaping at a moderate power setting.

Simple winding techniques

Round Wire: Classic single-wire build, ideal for beginners.
Clapton: A core wire is wrapped with a thinner wire, providing more surface area and flavour.
Fused Clapton: Two cores in parallel, generous vapour production, higher power consumption.

Round Wire with Kanthal A1 is perfectly adequate for beginners. Advanced winding techniques are only worthwhile once you have mastered the basic principle.

Building your own coils requires a basic understanding of electrical systems and battery safety. You should tick off these points before you start:

Use an ohmmeter: Measure the resistance of each coil. Values below 0.15 ohms are only suitable for regulated mods with sufficient power reserve. Mechanical mods require in-depth knowledge.
Suitable tools: Ceramic tweezers, side cutters, a winding rod or coil jig, a screwdriver and a heat-resistant mat are essential.
High-quality wire and clean cotton wool: Use wire from specialist retailers and unbleached organic cotton. Household cotton wool is unsuitable and poses a health risk.
Check batteries: Only use undamaged batteries with intact insulation film and sufficient continuous current rating (CDR). Calculate the current requirement: I = U / R.
Be patient when heating: Hotspots lead to a burnt taste. It is better to heat briefly several times and readjust than to heat for too long just once.

Common beginner mistakes include cotton packed too tightly (no e-liquid flow, burnt taste), cotton packed too loosely (leaking), and excessively low resistances without understanding battery specifications. Start with a single coil between 0.8 and 1.2 ohms – this is forgiving, delivers a clean flavour and is compatible with any standard battery mod.

How long does a self-built coil last?

With proper care (dry burning, changing the cotton), a coil often lasts 2–4 weeks. Sweet e-liquids with a high sucralose content shorten the lifespan, as sugar builds up on the wire.

What resistance is best for beginners?

A single coil between 0.8 and 1.2 ohms is beginner-friendly. It can be used at 15–30 W and is safe to use on any regulated mod.

Do I need a mechanical mod for building coils?

No. Regulated mods with ohm measurement and short-circuit protection are ideal for those who build their own coils. Mechanical mods have no protection circuitry and should only be used by those with a sound knowledge of batteries and electronics.

Can I use coil building on pod systems?

Only a few pods allow for custom coil building. Most pod systems use fixed coils or replaceable pre-built heads. For classic coil building, you’ll need an RDA, RTA or RDTA.

How much does the starter kit cost?

A starter kit comprising wire, cotton, ceramic tweezers and a winding tool costs around 25–40 CHF. You’ll also need a suitable rebuildable atomiser and a regulated battery mod.

Coil building is a craft that pays off quickly with a bit of practice: more flavour, lower costs and full control over your setup. Start with a simple round-wire build, a regulated mod and high-quality materials. In our selection of coils and winding accessories, you’ll find wire, cotton and tools, and suitable rebuildable atomisers are also available. Compare, try different types of wire and find your favourite winding technique – for adults aged 18 and over.