Nest Coil – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
A Nest Coil is an advanced rebuildable atomiser coil that resembles a tightly packed bird’s nest of ultra-fine wire. Its purpose is to maximise surface area in contact with nicotine or nicotine salte-liquid, producing dense vapour and intense flavour while operating at moderate wattages. By wrapping dozens of micro-loops from wire such as Nichrome or stainless steel, the coil forms a porous lattice that wicks efficiently and heats evenly, making it popular among Australian flavour-chasers who prefer single-battery or Battery“>NiMH battery mech mods.
Technical Details
Construction & Operation
Builders twist 38–44 gauge wire into 8–12 strands, then spiral the bundle around a 2–3 mm jig. The resulting “nest” is compressed to 0.2–0.4 Ω resistance and installed in RDA posts. When power is applied, the intertwined filaments heat almost simultaneously, creating micro-boiling pockets within the e-liquid for rapid vaporisation. Variations include framed staples (cores wrapped in ribbon wire) and staggered nests (alternating gauges), both of which lower ramp-up time and enhance nic salt smoothness at 15–25 W.
Key Specifications
- Wire gauge: 38–44 GA (often Nichrome 80)
- Target resistance: 0.2–0.4 Ω
- Recommended wattage: 15–40 W
- Diameter“>Inner diameter: 2.0–3.0 mm
- Cotton fit: moderate Scottish roll for balanced wicking
Usage & Tips
Building & Maintenance
Begin by dry-burning at 10 W to remove hotspots, then pinch the nest gently with ceramic tweezers. Thin the tails of your cotton to prevent choking the coil, and prime with 3–4 drops of nicotine salt e-liquid before first fire. Common issues include spit-back (reduce wattage by 5 W) or dry hits (re-wick if cotton darkens within 24 h). Always check resistance on a Mod“>regulated mod before use; avoid pairing low-ohm nests with unprotected NiMH battery cells.
History & Context
The Nest Coil emerged in 2016 from Filipino coil-building forums, evolving from the earlier “bird’s nest” macro coils. Its compact, low-mass design quickly gained traction in Australia’s tight-restricted lung scene, especially after the 2021 nicotine prescription laws encouraged discreet, high-flavour setups compatible with low-wattage devices.