Ripsaw Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Ripsaw Coil is a hand-made vape coil whose outer wrap is cut into jagged, saw-tooth waves instead of being left smooth. These aggressive ridges increase surface area so the coil contacts more e-liquid, producing thicker clouds and fuller flavour when used in an RDA, RTA or RDTA. The wavy profile also traps vapour for a split-second, giving a warmer, denser draw that many Australian vapers compare to a “mini Ripsaw ride”.

Technical Details

Ripsaws are normally built with dual-core Clapton wire (2 × 26–28 gauge N80 or SS316L cores) and a 34–36 gauge wrap. After the Clapton is wound, the builder presses a fine hobby file or scalpel against the outer wrap while spinning coil spins on a rod, carving evenly-spaced notches 0.3–0.5 mm deep every 1–2 mm. Typical specs are 3–3.5 mm internal diameter, 5–6 wraps, ending around 0.12–0.18 ohm per coil. Variations include staggered Ripsaws (two notch rows), Framed Staple Ripsaws (4–6 core ribbons) and “Micro-Rips” for single-cell mechs that stay above 0.2 ohm.

Usage & Tips

  • Mount the coil high in the posts so the saw-teeth sit just below the top cap airflow; too low and juice will spit.
  • Use medium-thick cotton (Scottish roll) and fluff tails hard—teeth grab fibre and can cause hotspots if packed too tight.
  • Pulse at 25 W, pinch lightly with ceramic tweezers until inner cores glow evenly from centre-out; never glow red-hot or the notches will oxidise and add metallic taste.
  • Keep resistance above 0.10 ohm on single-cell mechs to stay within Australian vaping battery-safety margins.

History & Context

The Ripsaw profile appeared in late-2019 when Melbourne builders started modifying standard Claptons on lathes to mimic the “aggressive” feel of high-wattage mesh without buying new wire. Instagram tags like #Ripsaw and #SawWrap quickly spread the style across Facebook groups, making it a staple at Aussie cloud comps by 2021.

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