Recoil – What is it in Vaping?

Recoil – Definition

Recoil is the informal name given to a pre-wrapped coil or coil head that vapers install in Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers (RDAs), Rebuildable Tank Atomizers (RTAs) and RDTAs. Made from resistancewire such as Kanthal, Ni80 or stainless steel, the Recoil provides the heating element that turns e-liquid into vapour. Its primary purpose is to deliver consistent flavour and dense clouds without the user having to wind wire by hand.

Technical Details

Recoil coils are factory-machined to precise resistance values—commonly 0.15 – 0.4 Ω for dual-coil RDAs and 0.3 – 0.8 Ω for single-coil RTAs. The wire is usually 24–28 gauge, wrapped into 5–7 wraps around a 2.5–3.5 mm Diameter“>inner diameter. Variants include:

  • Clapton Recoil: A core wire tightly wrapped with a thinner wire for greater surface area.
  • Fused Clapton Recoil: Two parallel cores for faster ramp-up and richer flavour.
  • Mesh Recoil Strips: Thin stainless-steel sheets offering even heating in refillable mesh RDAs.

All Recoils are installed by securing the legs into post-holes or clamp systems, then wicked with Cotton“>organic cotton.

Usage & Tips

When installing a Recoil, dry-burn at 15–20 W until it glows evenly from the centre; pinch gently with ceramic tweezers to remove hot spots. Always double-check resistance on a Mod“>regulated mod before vaping. Common issues:

  • Hot legs: Re-position or re-tighten screws.
  • Muted flavour: Thin cotton tails and fluff for better wicking.
  • Low resistance warning: Ensure the Recoil is compatible with your device’s limits.

Replace cotton every 1–2 days and the Recoil itself after 1–3 weeks, or when flavour drops. Use battery wraps free of nicks and never exceed the continuous discharge rating of your cell.

History & Context

The term “Recoil” gained traction in 2016 after the popular Recoil RDA by GrimmGreen and OhmBoy, whose included pre-built coils became synonymous with hassle-free building. It now broadly describes any ready-to-use coil in the rebuildable scene, bridging the gap between convenience and customisation.

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