Vape Accessories and Coils

A lot of times, even the simplest of objects can seem very valuable. This is always the case when you talk about vape tools, supplies, and vape accessories. These have always been the key to a fun vaping experience. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner, an intermediate, or an advanced vaper, there are things that you will definitely require otherwise you will not be able to get the optimum vaping experience. Even though not all types of vapes are handy maintenance, there are some handy accessories that can make your vaping life easier.

What vape Accessories include?

Common vaping accessories include a mouthpiece cover, battery charger, car adapter, pouch, battery stand base, USB charger, coils, drip tips, atomizers, empty bottles for e-juice and so on.

Batteries

Batteries are an essential part of your vaping experience. There are different types of batteries that come in different shapes and sizes including the 18650 battery. The 18650 batteries are easily the most commonly used type of batteries in vaping. Most of the vapes these days are reliable, readily available, and extensively tested while the vast majority of them come with 18650 compatibility. Even though the newer batteries including 20700 and 21700 have raised the stakes higher than ever, we don't usually get them in dual or triple-battery vape mods because of their larger size. Most manufacturers these days still rely on the 18650s as they combine their smaller size with a tried and tested performance. Because of the massive availability of the 18650s for the electronics manufacturers, this list will not have any rewrapped batteries. However, it isn't rare for the 18650 batteries to be counterfeited so you should always do thorough research and only go for batteries from a reputable vendor.

Battery Chargers

There are many factors you have to consider at the time you're choosing the best possible charger for your vape batteries. Always try to go for Battery chargers that safely, accurately, and promptly charge different sized batteries. Most 18650 chargers are not compatible with the 20700 and 20100 batteries, as those are larger and come with a capacity higher than that of 18650.

The anatomy of a battery charger

Battery chargers come with a lot of new features these days including power bank usage, Bluetooth capabilities, the feature to use a charger for data transfer, and more. The important features for vape battery chargers are fairly basic but critical if you are looking for safe charging.

• Reverse polarity: You cannot use the charger if it is inserted incorrectly
• Over-charge protection: Reduces the stress on your batteries
• Li-ion capability: It is the typical type of battery used in vapes

How to charge your batteries?

The process of charging a battery is fairly simple and easy. There are something that you need to keep in mind when charging your vape battery:

Do:

• Always insert the battery's negative side first
• Remember to remove the batteries after you are finished charging
• Use only those cords and charging cables that come with the charger
• Before buying, make sure that the charger is compatible with the chemistry of your battery
• Charge your battery before the first usage

Do not:

• If your large cells aren't fitting comfortably, do not force the cells to fit
• Try to modify the charger in any way
• Leave the batteries in charging as it will avoid overcharging
• Use chargers that have a wrong battery chemistry
• Charge batteries that have damaged wrappers because of fire hazard
• Charge the replaceable cells using the on-board USB Ports in vape device

Most of the modern chargers come equipped with a lot of safety features. With that being said, using the safety battery charging practices are still required from the users. Any electronic feature can fail if you're not careful, so using safe and proper usage from the user should be the last line of defense against potential hazards.

What is a drip tip?

A Drip Tip is an essential vape accessory that is used as a mouthpiece on vape tanks and atomizers. These began to be referred to as drip tips because the vape juice would drip through them and onto the wicks and the coils. "Drip tip" as a name stuck even though it was used mostly for non-dripper vape tanks. While the tips seemed as inconsequential and small things, they were able to greatly affect the vape's quality while they also added a bit of customization to the kit.

Two types of drip tips: 510 vs. 810

510 and 810 are the common drip tip sizes in the market. A simple rule of thumb that is applied is that 510 tips are narrow while the 810 tips are wide. Each of these work well in tandem with how the value is inhaled, either direct lung inhales or the mouth-to-lung inhales.

510 used to be the original standard for a lot of years but these days, they are used only for mouth-to-lung and restricted lung vaping. 510 drip tips also have a wider bore than others as they are around 8.5mm in the outer diameter at the base.

The major factor behind the sudden increase in popularity of the 810 drip tip was RDAs like the Good and Kennedy. 810 drip tips became the standard for optimum cloud making devices as they typically had a significantly wider bore as compared to the 510 drip tips (12.5mm in outer diameter at the base). It is a common sight to see the 810 drip tips being used in popular sub ohm tanks and drippers.

Plastic drip tips

For those people who tend to lose small accessories, plastic drip tips are an inexpensive way to go. These are highly affordable and very easy to replace. There are expensive plastics aimed at the vapors that enjoyed sub-ohm builds as they are better at displacing heat. Here are some of the expensive plastics that are used in vaping.

• Delrin: This one is one of the most common brand names for the POM (Thermoplastic Polyoxymethylene). It is heat resistant and is available in a variety of colors.
• Teflon: Teflon is a common brand name for thermoplastic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). A lot of people are familiar with Teflon because it is used in making non-stick cookware. Teflon is a heat-resistant material that gives a silky mouthfeel and is resistant to lip gunk which is why it lets you enjoy a better vaping experience.
• Ultem: Ultem, a common brand name for thermoplastic polyetherimide (PDE). The drip tips made from Ultem are gaining popularity given they are highly heat resistant and flame resistant. Most of the Ultem products are opaque dark yellow in color but a few manufacturers have begun offering black Ultem products.
• Resin: Resin is a popular drip tip material that is an in-demand commodity these days. These have the durability of plastic but with a soft touch and a great variety of colors and designs.

Metal drip tips

After plastic, the most common drip tip material is metal. Drip tips that are made from stainless steel or aluminum are durable and affordable. Vape users who are looking for luxury can look for titanium or gold drip tips. Metal drip tips not just look great but these also retain heat easily. This can be an issue with sub-ohm vapers as these drip tips can become hot especially during chain vaping sessions.

Glass drip tips

Glass drip tips are very unique as they are an artistic accessory for your vape kit. However, they are an impractical option as these are expensive and fragile. Glass drip tips are heat resistant and provide a comfortable vaping experience which is why some people argue that glass can make the vape taste even better.

Stone drip tips

These are the artisan drip tips that are made from stone resins and composites. Depending on the material used and the manufacturers, stone tips are either incredibly durable or fragile. However, they are great because of their heat resistant nature but they tend to be more expensive than plastic and metal models.

Wood drip tips

Arguably the least common material used for the production of drip tips is wood. The drop tips that are made from wood look beautiful and are excellent at resisting heat, but a lot of attention has to be paid to the finish otherwise a low-quality finish can lead to the wood getting exposed to moisture and heat. Since you can't vape without moisture and heat, these will remain novelty items. The exposed wood can easily warp and lose shape.

Hybrid material drip tips

Apart from the materials mentioned above, companies also try experimenting and mix and match the materials to provide the characteristics of both. Trinity Copa Drip Tip is one such amazing hybrid drip tip that makes use of glass and metal. It offers the heat resistance and smooth lip-feel of glass which combines well with the durability and looks of metal.

What is a vape coils?

Vape coils are the ideal choice for heating your vape juice and for creating vapor. An atomizer is relatively simple in construction as it consists of just a coil wrapped in wicking material that absorbs e-liquid. Once the device is activated, the vape coils will draw power from the battery and produce heat to vaporize the e-liquid.

What is a vape cotton?

Most people might not know but vape cotton is nothing but the untreated cotton (often found in organic varieties) which provides the absorbent wicking for coils for vapes.

Vape cotton didn't always have a market. Originally, the vapers would use the best possible option at corner pharmacies. However, usage of cotton bought from stores is not advisable because it is highly processed with dyes and bleaches. Previously, the vapers would boil cotton and then dry it. But isn't it the easier option to just purchase a pack of cotton that is specifically designed for wicking?

Inevitably, the Japanese organic cotton rose to prominence and became highly sought after to be used as vape cotton. The vapors also figured out that they can purchase small pods of inexpensive cotton which is great for wicking. Even though they were originally meant to be marketed for the purpose of skincare, it didn't take long for the Japanese cotton to be marketed to the vapers around the world.

These days, you can easily find a lot of brands that specialize in selling cotton that can be used for vaping. In this business-oriented world, the companies have become more creative with products such as Cotton Bacon (stripes that make it easy for you to get the perfect wick).

The current trend sees the use of organic cotton wicks that are agleted which you can see coming from the Geekvape, COTN threads, and Wotofo. These are pre-measured so that they can perfectly fit in the most frequently preferred coil sizes, with a 3mm inner diameter among others.

How to wick a coil?

• Make sure that you are using the correct amount of cotton – Using too much can easily cause hot spots which might result in inconsistent performance.
• Twist one of the ends – In case the cotton is not agleted properly, try twisting and rolling at one end tightly to easily insert it into the coil.
• Pulling the cotton through – You can insert the right amount of cotton at the end which is twisted into the coil and pull it out through the other end.
• Cutting the ends – Remember to keep the cotton centered while cutting the ends with enough length such that it can easily go into deck of the atomizer without getting all bunched up. The wick's length will be determined by atomizer's type you are using. It might take a bit of experimentation for finding out the perfect fit. If you are making use of an RTA and you keep on getting dry hits, then you should try cutting the wicks at certain angles or in different shapes so that you get tapered ends.
• Fluffing the wicks – Even though it isn't a mandatory step that you must absolutely do but it ensures that the cotton is not bunched up while also checking that the e-juice is flowing freely. This can be done by making use of a high-quality pair of tweezers or a flathead screwdriver for gently fluffing the wicks in a slightly upward motion.
• Tucking in the wicks – Tucking in the cotton ends into the deck's wick ports is important. You can either use a flathead screwdriver or a pair of tweezers but you should be sure that you aren't stuffing the cotton in.

Does the choice of cotton really matter?

"Is it really such a big deal? It is just cotton!" While you are correct for thinking that how does a detail as small as the choice of cotton make a difference but you should know that all types of cotton aren't the same. Whenever you are making use of MTL devices having low wattage then cotton pads will work very well but if you are using coils that have low-resistance, then you will benefit more from a wick that is heat-resistant such as Cotton Bacon.

Coil Building Kits

The coil building kits can be thought of like the Swiss army knives of the vape accessories. They contain a selection of tools that you need to start building coils in a rebuildable atomizer, without having the need to shop item by item.

Coil building kits for vape are essential for you if you have planned to build your favorite customized RTA or RDA.

Usually tool kits will come in carrying cases that also includes dividers and pockets to keep the tools organized making them easy to access.

Essential tools for coil building kits

Regardless of how compact your tool kit for coil building is, there are tools that you must include in your tool kit. Unless you are already an owner of some of these, you should make sure to get a coil building kit for yourself. Here are some of the items that should be a part of the kit at the time of purchasing –

• Ceramic tweezers – Tweezers will let you easily strum your coils even when you are looking for hotspots in the vape.
• Needle-tip tweezers – These are essential for placing the cotton inside vape's wicking channel.
• Flush cutters – This are the ideal tools that you need for cutting the coil lead flush with build posts.
• Coil rods – Jigs and Rods are helpful when you're wrapping your coils manually.
• Scissors – Scissors will come in handy and be used for a variety of tasks including cutting the tail of your wick.

Non-essential tools

Non-essential tools are the ones that aren't necessarily needed all the time but can come in handy at occasions when you are building your own customized rebuildable atomizer. You should try looking for coil building kits that include these –

• Ohm reader – This is a good-to-have tool but many regulated mods these days can also work for you.
• Pliers – Another useful but not necessarily needed tool are pliers. These are not absolutely required for kits with coil building properties but they should still include them.
• Screwdrivers – Most of the rebuildable kits should come with a set of compatible screwdrivers.
• Wire – An important tool that is not often included in most tool kits is a wire. It is great as a backup option especially if you are running out of wire.

Conclusion:

Vapes and vape accessories always go hand in hand. Accessories can help you keep your vape in tip-top shape, make it a great device to look at and perform better. The best accessories will help you achieve all these while making you feel more relaxed and give you a better vaping experience. You should always look for the best quality when it comes to vaping accessories, and never compromise to find something that both supports your device and makes it more enjoyable to use.