Rebuildable Coils & Wire
Rebuildable coils and wire are the raw materials behind every RDA, RTA and rebuildable dripping tank atomiser. Instead of buying a sealed head you cut, wrap or drop in your own heating element, wick it with cotton and set the resistance you want. This collection holds 8 products covering spooled vape wire, flatwire, competition wire and drop in mesh strip coils from Flatwire, Wotofo and OFRF, with in stock prices from £1.49 to £3.99.
Building is where vaping gets cheapest and most controllable. A metre of wire and a bag of cotton costs a fraction of a season's worth of stock coils. You set the resistance, the surface area and the ramp speed rather than accepting whatever the manufacturer sealed inside a can. It also demands more of you. Everything below assumes a regulated mod with a resistance readout and a working knowledge of battery safety.
What is in this collection
Spooled wire. Sold by the reel for wrapping your own coils. Gauge and alloy determine the resistance per wrap and how quickly the coil heats.
Flatwire and ribbon. Rolled flat rather than round, so it puts more of its surface against the cotton at the same resistance. The result is a faster, more even ramp and a lot of the flavour reputation flatwire carries.
Competition wire. Heavier gauge intended for very low resistance builds and high current use. This is experienced builder territory rather than a first project.
Mesh strip coils. Precut strips such as the OFRF NexMESH range that drop straight into a compatible mesh deck. No wrapping, no legs to trim, just seat the strip and wick it.
Rebuildable pod coils. The Wotofo SMRT PnP rebuildable coil is a PnP shaped shell you rewick and rebuild yourself, which lets a standard pod device run a homemade element.
Wire alloys and gauges
Most vape wire sold in the UK is one of three alloys. Kanthal A1 is the default for wattage mode because it holds its shape well and is forgiving to work. Nichrome such as Ni80 ramps faster and shapes more easily, though it takes heat more readily so it is easier to scorch during a dry burn. Stainless steel 316L can run in wattage or temperature control, which is why it appears in so many builds on modern chipsets.
Gauge governs resistance. Thinner wire with a higher AWG number gives more resistance per wrap and a quicker ramp. Thicker, lower gauge wire gives less resistance per wrap, holds more heat and suits higher power. Always read the resistance on your mod after fitting a build rather than trusting a calculator alone.
Mesh strips against wrapped coils
Mesh has taken over the flavour chasing end of building. A strip presents a broad, flat heating surface across the whole face of the cotton, so it wets evenly and ramps almost instantly at moderate wattage. Wrapped coils, especially claptons and other fused builds, hold heat for longer and give a denser, slower delivery that plenty of vapers still prefer. Mesh decks and wire decks are not interchangeable, so buy the strip or the wire that matches the atomiser you actually own.
Wicking, dry burning and build safety
Tighten the grub screws firmly onto clean legs and check the resistance reads as expected. Pulse gently to find hot spots and strum them out with ceramic tweezers. Lay in your cotton so it fills the wicking channel without packing it tight, trim to length and saturate it fully before firing. Never build below what your cells can safely deliver. Check their continuous discharge rating, keep the wraps intact and never fire an unread build on a mechanical mod.
Buying rebuildable supplies in the UK
Wire and mesh contain no nicotine, so the 10ml bottle limit and the 20mg per ml cap that apply to e-liquid do not apply here. They are still sold to over 18s only. UK delivery is free over £20. Call 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm if you need to check whether a strip fits your deck.
Building questions answered
What do I need to start building my own coils?
A rebuildable atomiser, a spool of wire or a compatible mesh strip, organic cotton, ceramic tipped tweezers, flush cutters and a small screwdriver. A regulated mod with a resistance readout is essential so you can check what you have built before firing it. Coil jigs make neat wraps far easier on a first attempt.
Which wire should a beginner use?
Kanthal A1 in a mid gauge is the usual starting point. It holds its shape while you wrap, tolerates handling and works in straight wattage mode on any regulated mod. Nichrome ramps faster but scorches more easily during a dry burn. Leave competition wire and very low resistance builds until you fully understand battery current limits.
What is the difference between mesh and wrapped coils?
Mesh is a flat precut strip that sits against the cotton across its whole face, so it heats evenly and ramps almost instantly at moderate power. A wrapped coil is round wire wound into a spiral, holding heat longer for a denser, slower delivery. Mesh decks and wire decks are not interchangeable.
How do I stop a new build tasting burnt?
Pulse the coil gently and strum out any hot spots before wicking. Trim the cotton so it fills the channel without being packed tight, then saturate it thoroughly and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Start low on wattage. Dry cotton or an over stuffed channel is nearly always the cause.
Is building safe on any mod?
Use a regulated mod with a resistance readout and short circuit protection while you are learning. It reads the ohms and refuses to fire an unsafe build. Mechanical mods offer no protection and pass full battery voltage to the coil, so they demand a proper understanding of Ohm's law and of cell current limits.
Do I need to be 18 to buy vape wire?
Yes. Vaping products including wire, mesh and rebuildable hardware are sold to adults aged 18 and over only in the UK. Orders placed with Vapestore Direct are age verified before dispatch and identification may be requested. They are intended for existing adult vapers and adult smokers switching from cigarettes.