Straight Wire – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
Straight Wire is a length of un-coiled resistance wire—most commonly Kanthal A1, Nichrome 80, or stainless steel—used to build or re-build the coil inside a rebuildable atomiser (RDA, RTA, RDTA). Unlike pre-made coils, straight wire is supplied in spools and must be cut, wrapped, and wicked by the user. Its purpose is to provide a customisable heating element that turns e-liquid into vapour when electricity from the Mod“>Squonk Mod or regulated device passes through it. Beginners moving up from a Kit“>Starter Kit often experiment with straight wire to explore Sub-Ohmvaping without buying expensive pre-built coil heads.
Technical Details
Straight wire works by converting electrical energy into heat via Joule heating; the wire’s resistance (measured in ohms) dictates how much current will flow and how hot the coil will become. Standard spool lengths range from 3 m to 30 m and diameters from 20 AWG (0.81 mm) to 34 AWG (0.16 mm). Lower-gauge numbers are thicker, produce lower resistance, and are favoured for Sub-Ohm setups. Common alloys include:
- Kanthal A1: 0.45 Ω–0.60 Ω per foot (26 AWG), ideal for wattage mode
- Nichrome 80: Faster ramp-up, 0.40 Ω–0.50 Ω per foot (26 AWG)
- SS316L: Temperature-control compatible, 0.30 Ω–0.35 Ω per foot (26 AWG)
Users typically wrap 5–8 wraps around a 2.5 mm–3.5 mm rod to achieve the desired resistance; spacing or contact coils can further fine-tune flavour and cloud production. Always verify resistance with an Ohm Reader”>ohm reader before firing to avoid Short Circuit Protection cut-offs.
Usage & Tips
Measure twice, cut once: snip only the length you need—roughly 4–6 cm per coil—to minimise waste. After wrapping, pulse the coil at low wattage (10–15 W) to identify hot spots and pinch or strum until the coil glows evenly from the centre out. Wick with moderate tension to prevent dry hits and allow Steeping e-liquids to fully saturate. Common issues include hot legs (fix by tightening post screws) and metallic taste (resolve by dry-burning at a lower wattage and rinsing). Always install in a device with proven Short Circuit Protection, and never exceed the continuous discharge rating of your battery when building low-resistance coils.
History & Context
Straight wire became popular in the early 2010s when cloud-chasing enthusiasts moved away from factory coil heads toward rebuildable atomisers. Initially limited to Kanthal, the market expanded to Nichrome and temperature-control-ready stainless steel as regulated mods grew more sophisticated. Today, straight wire remains the cornerstone of DIY coil building in Australia, bridging the gap between a basic Starter Kit and advanced Sub-Ohm performance.