Nothing quite beats a fresh coil and a prematurely burnt out one can really put a dampener on your day! We’ve got a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of your coil and help it last as long as possible.
Choosing the right e-liquid
One of the most important things when it comes to getting the most from your coil is pairing it with the right e-liquid.
E-liquids are available in different ratios of VG and PG. Vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) are the two base ingredients of all e-liquids. Known as diluents, they make up the majority of an e-liquid and are used to dilute the flavour concentrate and nicotine and to create a consistency that is suitable for vaping. Different e-liquids contain different ratios of VG/PG such as 50/50 or high VG, and these will be best suited to different types of devices. We delve further into this in our blog post ‘The different types of e-liquids explained’.
Devices like starter kits and pod systems usually utilise small coils which work best with a 50/50 or high PG e-liquid. This is because these e-liquids have a thin consistency that is easy for the coil to absorb and remain well saturated. High VG e-liquids on the other hand have a thicker consistency that is harder for small coils to absorb, which can lead to dry hits and decrease the longevity of the coil substantially.
High VG e-liquids are better suited to advanced and sub-ohm devices as the coils inside these devices tend to be larger with more exposed cotton. The thick e-liquid can be easily absorbed by these coils without drying out or becoming over saturated. If you are unsure which type of e-liquid you should be using take a look at our blog post ‘How do I choose the right e-liquid?’
Something you might not know is that the flavour and nicotine strength of your e-liquid can also have an impact on the life of your coil. Sweet flavours are delicious, but the sweeteners within the e-liquid can burn out the coil faster than other flavours. High nicotine strengths can also reduce the life of your coil, and these are things to factor in when thinking about how long your coil will last. If you are looking for an e-liquid that will help your coil last longer consider a menthol flavour, they have less sweetness and the strong flavour actually masks the taste of the coil starting to burn out so you can use it for longer.
Prime your coil
Every time you change your coil it is important to prime your new one if you want it to last as long as possible. If you put it a new coil and try to use it straight away you are effectively just burning a dry coil, which is not a pleasant experience at all, and once a coil is burnt it cannot be saved.
Before putting the new coil into your tank you can put a few drops of e-liquid on the exposed cotton around the outside of the coil to kickstart the absorption. Once you put the coil into the tank, let it sit in the e-liquid for 10 – 15 minutes to make sure it has fully saturated before you start to use it.
Those who use a high wattage may even want to ease the coil in by starting off on a slightly lower wattage, and increasing over the next 30 minutes or so.
Tips when vaping
Once your new coil is primed and ready to go, these are a few things you can do while vaping to help prolong the life of your coil.
·If your device has buttons it, it can usually be turned off or locked when not in use. Doing this will ensure that the device cannot be accidentally fired in your pocket or bag, burning the coil out without you even knowing. Depending on the device they can usually be locked by clicking the fire button 3 – 5 times in quick succession, but it is best to check the user manual for your device to be sure how to lock and unlock your personal vape kit.
·Take a break between pulls to help your coil remain well saturated. If you have a habit of chain vaping it can be hard for the coil to absorb the e-liquid fast enough to keep up with you. Give the coil 10 – 15 seconds between each pull to reabsorb e-liquid so you can avoid dry hits and keep getting the best from the coil and e-liquid.
·To help your coil easily absorb the e-liquid and remain well saturated try and always keep your tank topped up with e-liquid, at least to the top of the cotton contacts.
·Finally, if your device has variable wattage it can be tempting to ramp it up high, but this isn’t always what is best for your coil. Each coil comes with a recommended wattage range at which it performs at its best, this can be found on the box and printed on the side of the coil itself. Using a wattage setting that is too high for the coil is sure to burn the coil out much faster than it should.