Clapton Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Clapton Coil is a type of vape coil made by wrapping a thin resistancewire (usually Kanthal or Nichrome) tightly around a thicker core wire, creating a guitar-string-like appearance. This design dramatically increases the surface area that contacts cotton and e-liquid, producing thicker vapour and richer flavour compared to standard round-wire coils. Popular with Australian cloud-chasing enthusiasts, Clapton Coils can be used in rebuildable atomisers (RDAs/RTAs) or purchased pre-made for sub-ohm tanks. They heat up slightly slower than simple coils, but the payoff is denser clouds and more intense taste without extra power.

Technical Details

Clapton Coils work by turning the outer wire into a micro-ridge of heated ridges and grooves. E-liquid trapped in these crevices vaporises first, creating a constant “juice feed” to the hotter core. Typical specs: 24–26 GA core, 32–36 GA wrap, 3–3.5 mm Diameter“>inner diameter, 5–7 wraps yielding 0.3–0.6 Ω dual-coil builds. Variations include Fused Clapton (two or three parallel cores), Alien Clapton (de-cored and re-wrapped for a wavy outer wire), and Framed Staple Clapton (ribbon-wire cores sandwiched between round frames). All variants aim to maximise surface area while keeping resistance within the safe range of common ceramic-coil regulated mods.

Usage & Tips

• Wicking: Use medium-density organic cotton; too tight causes dry hits, too loose leaks.
• Burn-in: Pulse at 20 W until glowing evenly, pinch with ceramic tweezers to remove hot spots.
• Power: Start 10 W below predicted sweet-spot (usually 45–70 W) and work up slowly.
• Problems: Spitting = too much cotton or excess liquid; reduce wattage or re-wick tighter. Uneven glow = strum coil with screwdriver to equalise wraps.
• Safety: Always check resistance on a Mod“>regulated mod before firing; stay above battery CDR. Replace when wire looks dark grey or flavour drops—typically after 20–30 mL of e-liquid.

History & Context

The Clapton Coil was pioneered by YouTube builder “Mr. Clapton” (UK) in 2013, quickly spreading to Australian vape forums. As rebuildables gained popularity, pre-made Claptons became factory staples, bridging the gap between hobbyist coil building and everyday plug-and-play cartridge systems.