Caterpillar Coil – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
A Caterpillar Coil is a specialty vape coil whose outer wrap is deliberately “crinkled” or compressed so the finished wire resembles the segmented body of a caterpillar. Created by taking a standard Clapton Coil and squeezing or beading the outer layer with pliers or a crimping tool, the textured surface dramatically increases surface area and juice retention. The result is denser flavour and thicker cloud chasing vapour without needing extra mass or battery strain. Popular with rebuildable atomiser users, the caterpillar coil sits between a fused Clapton and a staple coil in complexity, making it an eye-catching yet practical upgrade from plain round wire builds.
Technical Details
Construction starts with a core of two or three parallel wires (usually 26–28 ga Kanthal or Nichrome). A thinner 34–38 ga wire is Clapton-wrapped around this core at a slow 1:1 pitch. While still on the drill, the builder pinches the outer wire every 2–3 mm or drags a nylon jaw pllier along the wrap to form uniform “wiggle” segments. Typical finished Diameter“>outer diameter is 2.5–3.5 mm; resistance lands between 0.12–0.35 Ω dual-coil depending on core count and inner material. Wicking uses medium-density cotton strips: too tight and the crinkles can’t feed juice, too loose and the cartridge leaks. Post-less decks and clamp-style RDA posts hold the flat, wavy profile best. Variations include “micro-caterpillar” (single-core, higher ohm) and “alien-caterpillar” where the outer wrap is first de-cored then re-wrapped for deeper grooves.
Usage & Tips
Mount the coil high enough that each segment contacts airflow but doesn’t touch the cap—start at 45 W single / 70 W dual and pulse at 20 W to work out hot spots. Because the ridges trap e-liquid, start with thinner 70 VG juices to avoid flooding; increase wattage 5 W at a time until vapour is warm but not yellow. Dry-burn at 18–20 W only until the coil glows evenly; over-glowing will flatten the caterpillar profile. Expect 3–4 weeks life if you brush lightly under running water every re-wick. Watch for inner-core corrosion—if resistance jumps 0.05 Ω, retire the coil. Always check that no cotton tails block the juice wells; caterpillar coils wick fast and can empty a pod quickly if left on its side.
History & Context
The style emerged in 2016 Australian Facebook groups looking for a “poor-man’s Alien” that didn’t need specialised jigs. By 2018, reviewers like VapingWithVic popularised the crimping method, and Chinese manufacturers began selling pre-made caterpillar spools. Today it remains a staple of artisan coil builders who prize its balance of flavour, moderate ramp-up, and Instagram-ready aesthetics.