Tiger Coil – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
A Tiger Coil is a hybrid rebuildable coil created by twisting a single round wire with a flat ribbon wire, then wrapping the twisted strand into a standard coil shape. The round core (usually Kanthal or stainless steel) gives the coil its spring-like structure, while the outer ribbon (often Nichrome 80) flares outward during heating, increasing surface area and juice contact. Designed for tank or dripper users who chase dense vapour and rich flavour without the mass of complex Claptons, the Tiger Coil offers a middle ground between simple round-wire builds and exotic multi-core monsters. Its distinctive striped appearance—shiny ribbon against matte round wire—earns the “tiger” name and makes coil gunk easy to spot.
Technical Details
Most Tiger Coils begin with 26–28 gauge round wire (0.4–0.32 mm diameter) twisted tightly alongside 0.3 mm × 0.1 mm flat ribbon. A common 3 mm internal-diameter, 5-wrap Tiger reads 0.25–0.35 Ω in dual configuration, ideal for 40–70 W regulated mods. Because the ribbon is thin, ramp-up is faster than fused Claptons yet slower than plain round wire, striking a balance that suits both wattage and Temperature Control (TC) when stainless steel is used. Variations include “Tiger Claptons” (Tiger core wrapped with 36 ga wire) and “Tiger Twists” that reverse-wrap two Tiger strands together, lowering resistance and increasing texture. Wicking requires moderate cotton density: too tight and the outer ribbon chokes, too loose and throat hit becomes harsh.
Usage & Tips
Install Tiger Coils with the ribbon grooves facing outward toward the airflow; this channels juice into the micro-grooves and maximises flavour. Pulse at 20 W to check for even glow—hotspots appear as bright orange lines along the ribbon edge, gently strum with ceramic tweezers to eliminate. Prime generously: the flared ribbon wicks faster than round wire, so 3–4 drops per coil prevents dry hits on the first fire. Replace when the stripes darken beyond recovery; ribbon edges trap sugars more aggressively than plain wire. If using Titanium Wire for TC, limit temperature to 220–240 °C to avoid titanium oxide formation. Always lock resistance at room temperature before engaging TC mode.
History & Context
The Tiger Coil emerged from early 2015 Reddit coil-building forums as vapers sought simpler flavour-focused alternatives to resource-heavy Claptons. Australian YouTube reviewer “Vaping Bogan” popularised the build in 2016, demonstrating that exotic performance was possible without nickel or gold-plated wires. Today Tiger Coils remain a staple in local vape shops’ rebuild bars, prized for low waste and easy replication on basic twist jigs.