Micro Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Micro Coil is a tightly wrapped heating element made from resistancewire (usually Kanthal, stainless steel, or nichrome) that has been wound so the coils touch each other, creating a uniform, compressed spiral. In vaping, the micro coil sits inside the atomiser and heats e-liquid-soaked wicking material to produce vapour. Because the coils are in direct contact, heat spreads evenly and quickly, giving consistent flavour and dense clouds. Popular with rebuildable dripping atomiser (RDA) and rebuildable tank atomiser (RTA) users, micro coils are easy to build, require minimal space, and work well on both regulated Mod devices and Mechanical Mod setups.

Technical Details

Micro coils typically range from 2 mm to 3 mm internal diameter and use 28–34 gauge wire. The wraps sit flush, creating a “spring” effect that shortens the overall length while keeping resistance low—commonly 0.3–1.0 Ω. When power is applied, heat travels laterally across the touching wraps, eliminating hot spots and ramp-up time. Builders often install the coil close to the air-flow holes so incoming air passes directly over the entire coil surface, boosting flavour and vapour density. Variations include Contact Coils (generic term), Super-tight Micro Coils (wraps squeezed with ceramic tweezers), and Dual Micro Coils (two identical coils in parallel for lower resistance). Compared with a Mesh Coil, a micro coil is round-wire based, making it simpler to trap cotton and easier to dry-burn for cleaning.

Usage & Tips

Mount the micro coil on your Deck“>build deck, lightly pulse at 15 W to check for even glow, and pinch with ceramic tweezers to remove hot spots. Threadorganic cotton tight enough to move the coil slightly, but not so tight that it deforms. Prime the wick generously to avoid dry hits, especially when chain vaping. If you experience muted flavour, raise the coil closer to the top cap or reduce cotton density. Always check resistance on a regulated mod before firing; a shorted wrap can drop resistance dangerously low on a Mechanical Mod. For MTL (Mouth to Lung) vapers, a 2 mm, 6-wrap 28-gauge Kanthal micro coil around 1.0 Ω pairs perfectly with 12–18 mg nicotine salts at 10–15 W.

History & Context

Micro coils emerged in 2012 when early rebuilders sought faster ramp-up and smoother wicking than the widely spaced “macro” coils of the genesis era. Their compact design dovetailed with the rise of drippers and 18350/18650 tube mods, and they remain a staple for flavour chasers who value simplicity over exotic multi-strand builds.