Twisted Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Twisted Coil is a vape coil made by tightly twisting two or more strands of resistancewire—most commonly Kanthal, Stainless Steel, or Titanium—into a single, rope-like helix. Its purpose is to increase surface area without adding much mass, resulting in faster ramp-up, denser vapour, and richer flavour compared to a standard round-wire coil. Ideal for rebuildable Tanks or drippers, the Twisted Coil strikes a balance between simplicity and performance, making it a favourite for vapers moving beyond beginner builds.

Technical Details

Twisted Coils work by multiplying the wire’s surface area exposed to e-liquid; more surface equals more evaporation per second. Typical builds use 26–30 AWG wire twisted 2–4 strands deep. A 2×28 AWG Kanthal twist, for example, lands around 0.4 Ω dual-coil on a 3 mm internal diameter with 6–7 wraps. Variations include “twisted Claptons” (a twisted core wrapped with thinner wire) and “triple twist” (three strands). Stainless Steel and Titanium variants allow Temperature Control (TC) operation, preventing dry hits. Pitch—the tightness of the twist—controls resistance and wicking speed: tighter twists read lower ohms and wick faster.

Usage & Tips

When installing, align the twists so juice flows between grooves for consistent saturation. Pulse at low wattage to work out hot spots, then wick snugly but not tight; over-stuffing causes muted flavour. Expect a warmer vape and a slightly stronger Hit“>Throat Hit; lower nicotine or higher-VG juice can balance this. Watch for stray wire ends—they can short on Top Fill caps. If resistance jumps, re-tighten screws and check for broken strands. Always use Titanium Wire only in TC mode to avoid toxic oxide formation.

History & Context

Twisted coils emerged in the early “cloud-chasing” era (2013–2014) when vapers sought bigger vapour from mech mods without complex Claptons. The technique spread through Aussie Facebook groups and local vape meets, becoming a staple build before pre-made exotic coils dominated shelves.