Rebuildable atomizers: Build your own coil for more flavor

Everything you need to know about rebuildable atomizers!

A central and essential element in the composition of your e-cigarette or your MOD, the rebuildable atomizer simply allows you to produce the vapor you inhale while also guaranteeing the most faithful possible reproduction of the flavors of the product you have chosen. A closer look at one of the "must-haves" for the vaper.

The definition of the atomizer

"A device used to finely disperse liquids, solutions or suspensions" — that is the exact definition the Larousse dictionary gives to the masculine noun "atomizer." Indeed, the rebuildable atomizer — also known as RTA for Rebuildable Tank Atomizer, in English — gives the vaper the choice regarding the experience they wish to have during inhalation. More clearly, the rebuildable atomizer allows you to adjust the desired vapor production while best reproducing the flavors contained in the e-liquids sold on the vaping market.

1 - The difference between an atomizer and a clearomizer

Beware, the atomizer should not be confused with the clearomizer. While both play the same role in the vaping experience, they do not offer the same services. Whereas the rebuildable atomizer allows a customized build regarding the wick and the coil, the clearomizer offers pre-installed coils that are ready to use straight away. In short, clearomizers offer a hassle-free experience for vapers seeking efficiency without any special manipulation required beforehand. With a clearomizer, the e-cigarette user simply has to fill the tank and vaping can begin! Atomizers, on the other hand, are aimed at a more experienced vaping audience. The idea of an atomizer-based build is above all to customize your equipment so that it can precisely meet your needs. With an atomizer, the vaper will need to set up their coil using cotton and a resistance wire.

2 - The role of the coil

Here is one of the other key elements in the composition of the electronic cigarette: the coil. The latter plays an absolutely essential role as it makes up the complete circuit, together with the atomizer, which allows vapor to be produced and flavors to be maintained in the mouth.

But then, how does a coil work?

It is very simple: when the button provided for this purpose is pressed by the vaper, the battery then triggers the production of electricity which, in turn, will raise the temperature of the coil. Once the coil is hot enough, the liquid will then be able to evaporate through a cloud of vapor. This is precisely where the importance of a coil created by the vaper themselves lies: customized to the dimensions desired by the user, the coil will offer a more effective experience to the consumer in question.

3 - The advantage of a rebuildable atomizer

In addition to the personalized experience it offers the vaper, the rebuildable or so-called "repairable" atomizer also allows you to enjoy a significantly more economical and even ecological device. Indeed, this type of equipment generates less waste than a pre-built device.

How to choose your atomizer?

Several criteria should be taken into consideration to best guide your final choice.

1 - Which build to choose?

The build refers to the step of manufacturing the coil. There are currently three categories of builds for rebuildable atomizers:

- The so-called "genesis" builds: these types of coils are the most difficult to assemble, due to the complexity of the build. For these coils, it is referred to as a "top coil" build, meaning the coil — which literally means "coil" in English and actually refers to the resistance — is placed at the top of the atomizer. The resulting vape will be rather warm. The difficulty of this type of build lies in the fact that it is done in "mesh," meaning a sheet of metallic compounds must be rolled to form a kind of tube, and then the whole thing must be oxidized using a flame. This type of build requires particular attention and can produce several heat points at the resistance coil. Abnormal and undesirable, these hot spots are to be avoided; the "genesis" type build then requires precise adjustments to prevent uneven heating of the resistance wire.

Silica fiber or cotton are also used in the so-called "Genesis" build. As far as atomizers are concerned, the most commonly found in this type of build are the atomizers from the AGA T series by the brand Youde, the Unyon Pipe range, or the iconic The Kraken.

- The "Bottom coil mono" type builds: this refers to a much more common type of build because… it is much simpler! The term "bottom coil" means that the coil is located at the heart of the rebuildable atomizer, at its base. In short, the coil is immersed in the so-called "atomization" chamber, which allows the vapor to concentrate at the "drip tip," i.e., the mouthpiece through which the smoker inhales the vapor. With this type of build, the vaper enjoys a rather lukewarm, or even cool, vapor.

- The "bottom coil dual" type builds: unlike the builds previously mentioned, this refers to a "dual coil" setup, meaning using not one, but two coils. Installed in parallel with each other, these two coils produce a more intense and flavorful vapor output. However, this type of build is more complex and requires care and precision from the vaper.

2 - The types of atomizers

RBA, RDA, RTA… In the range of atomizers, several groups stand out and allow you to personalize the experience by best matching everyone's needs and desires:

- The RBA or RTA-type atomizer: also known as a "tank," the RBA-type rebuildable atomizer, "Rebuildable Atomizer" in English, features a tank that allows for powerful autonomy since the vaper can carry a good reserve of e-liquid on a daily basis. With this type of rebuildable atomizer, smokers who are fans of subohming will be pleased as it favors the installation of low-resistance coils. Experienced vapers know it all too well: low resistance means… substantial vapor!

- The RDA-type atomizer: here, vapers speak of a "dripper" when referring to the RDA-type atomizer, "Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer" in English. Unlike its RBA-type counterpart, the RDA dripper has no tank. Rather than focusing on the quantity of vapor produced, the RDA atomizer bets on flavor reproduction. It is referred to as an atomizer based on "tasting" the flavors contained in the electronic cigarette. The downside here lies in the obligation to soak the cotton very regularly, in order to avoid the undesirable "Dry hit."

- The RDTA-type atomizer: what if you opted for a dripper but… with a tank? That is what the RDTA atomizer offers, standing for "Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomizer" in English. To understand the difference with the RBA atomizer, which has a tank and more specifically a coil deck that soaks in the e-cigarette liquid, the RDTA rebuildable also features coil decks but they do not sit directly in the e-liquid. Instead, it is the cotton that makes the transfer and draws from the tank itself. This is referred to as an auto-dripper. The advantage of RDTA rebuildables? They promise highly aromatic inhalations and offer all the benefits inherent to a tank.

Why choose a rebuildable atomizer?

While the question may seem trivial, it is nonetheless essential. Indeed, before deciding to purchase, it is important to ask the right questions. Is the rebuildable atomizer suited to my needs? For what reason can this type of setup improve my vaping experience and reduce my e-liquid leaks or backflow?

1 - Aromas with preserved flavors

The main appeal of the rebuildable atomizer is to offer a different and, above all, more personalized vaping experience. Thanks to their internal mechanisms, rebuildable atomizers allow mods and boxes to reproduce, as faithfully as possible, the flavor of the aromas that make up e-liquids. See also rebuildable electronic cigarette kits.

2 - A pleasant vapor density

Thanks to the heating temperature as well as the concentration of vapor, the aromas are not only preserved during inhalation, but the vapor produced can also become very dense depending on the type of build chosen.

3 - A cost-effective device

Because the financial aspect also matters, it turns out that the rebuildable atomizer involves a very low cost in the sense that the price of the components for the assembled coil is minimal and therefore amortizes fairly quickly.

Rebuildable atomizer: what you absolutely need to know

Before purchasing, a few points should be taken into consideration in order to fully enjoy the benefits of the rebuildable atomizer.

1 - The resistance value

In order to properly manage your rebuildable atomizer, it is essential to know its value beforehand. Measured in ohms, the resistance value allows you to modulate the power of the atomizer. In short, the lower the ohm value, the higher the vaping power. Indeed, a powerful vape produces a greater amount of vapor and, therefore, more heat points, which places greater demand on the battery or accumulator.

2 - The vaping experience you are looking for

In order to determine what equipment you will need, what atomizer power, etc., you will first need to know what vaping experience you are looking for. Do you want powerful flavor reproduction? Are you more in search of a vape cloud? Are you looking for a direct or rather indirect inhale? Define your needs before diving into the adventure!

3 - The limits not to be crossed

To vape safely and without fear of damaging the equipment, it is strongly advised not to go below 0.15 ohm of power for the rebuildable atomizer.

4 - Using a micro coil calculator

When you embark on creating a coil for your rebuildable atomizer, you will necessarily need to know the value of the device, but not only that. Do you know how many wraps (i.e., how many turns) you will need to make? To determine the size of your build, you will need to calculate everything! Many online calculators are available on the web to help you in your process.

What do you need to build a rebuildable atomizer?

After having chosen the type of rebuildable atomizer you want (RTA or RBA, RDA or RDTA) with the appropriate deck, other elements may potentially be added to the list of equipment needed for an effective build:

- The resistance wire: it will be useful for creating the coil of your rebuildable atomizer. This wire refers to the part that will heat the system and thus allow the vaporization of the liquid in your mod or electronic box. Several types of wire are available to you: Nichrome, Kanthal, or Stainless Steel, among others. In addition to the type of resistance wire, it is the diameter of the product that should also catch your attention. As a reminder, the thicker the resistance wire, the lower the resistance, which will result in more intense heating. Once the resistance wire is purchased on a spool, you will be able to create your wraps as well as the coils necessary for the proper functioning of the e-cigarette device.

- The wire cutters: they will allow you to work with your resistance wire.

- The scissors: very precise scissors will be useful for cutting the wick that you will need to place between the resistance wire and the wraps.

- The jig for your coils: to know the ohm value of your coil, you first need to take very precise note of the coil diameter and thus make the wraps. To do this, a jig such as a "Coil Master Coiling Kit" will be very useful!

- A ceramic tweezer: for working on the coil.

- An Ohmmeter: this instrument is used to measure the resistance value.

- A "Tab" type Ohmmeter: in addition to the classic Ohmmeter, it has a function called "burn" which allows the wraps to be heated at the resistance level. The resistance wire will then become more supple, which helps prevent the occurrence of "hot spots."