Braided Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Braided Coil is a type of rebuildable atomiser coil made by weaving or twisting together three or more strands of resistancewire—usually Kanthal, Nichrome, or Stainless Steel—into a tight, rope-like structure. The interlaced design dramatically increases surface area compared with a single round wire, allowing more e-liquid to contact the coil at once. The result is denser vapour, richer flavour, and faster ramp-up without the bulk of a massive single strand. Braided coils are popular among Australian Mod“>box mod users who enjoy DIY coil building on build decks and want a mid-range resistances (typically 0.15 – 0.3 Ω) that still delivers warm, saturated clouds.

Technical Details

A classic braid uses three strands of 28 – 30 gauge wire, each 8 – 10 cm long, woven in a simple “under-over” pattern until the entire length is plaited. The finished braid is then wrapped around a 2.5 – 3.5 mm rod to form 5–7 wraps, yielding resistances around 0.2 Ω on a dual-batterybox mod. Because the valleys between strands act as capillary channels, juice is constantly drawn toward the hottest areas, reducing dry hits and extending wick life. Common variations include flattened braids (lightly hammered for even more surface area) and “alien braids” where a thinner decore wire is wrapped around the braid for extra texture. Stainless-steel versions can be used in both wattage and temperature-control modes, whereas Nichrome limits users to wattage only.

Usage & Tips

Install the braided coil as you would any rebuildable: trap the legs firmly, pulse at 20–25 W to check for hot spots, and strum lightly with ceramic tweezers until the glow is even from the centre outward. Use enough cotton to fill the braid’s grooves without over-stuffing; Scottish-roll wicking works well. Expect slightly higher juice consumption—keep your bottle handy. If you notice spitting, raise the coil 1–2 mm above the bottom coil airflow or increase wattage by 5–10 W to vaporise liquid faster. Always verify resistance on a regulated mod before firing; braids can drop surprisingly low. Finally, brush gently with a small brass brush every second re-wick to remove carbon and prolong coil life up to four weeks.

History & Context

Braided coils emerged in 2015 when Australian builders sought a middle ground between massive claptons and thirsty Vertical Coil)”>BVC (Bottom Vertical Coil) factory heads. Early YouTube tutorials popularised the three-strand plait, and within months vape shops from Melbourne to Brisbane began stocking pre-braided spools, cementing the style as a staple of the local coil building scene.