Hardcore Coil Porn
Coil porn is what the vaping community calls close-up photos of elaborate handmade coil builds. Back in 2017, we went hunting on Instagram for the most impressive builds we could find.
Here are the builds we featured, with each builder’s handle and the RDA the coils sat in, plus a quick guide to what the build names mean.
The builds we featured
We said it then and we still mean it: coil building should be an Olympic sport. The time and patience behind these builds is amazing.
- Corrugated Binary Staple Helix by @widowmakervapor, in a Goon RDA. We couldn’t work out how it was put together.
- SFC/Alien Parallel by @kahliber, in a Tsunami RDA. The color alone had us hooked.
- Interlocking Enigma Alien Tsuka by @nonexistentman, in a Tsunami RDA. It left us speechless.
- Staple Staggerton by @twin_coils, in a Goon RDA. We bet it vaped as well as it looked.
- Interlocking Fraliens by @allkindzofcoils, in a Goon RDA. We wished we knew the secrets.
- Quad Core Staggered Fused Clapton by @dutch0hms, in a Goon RDA. Almost too pretty to vape.
- Staggerton Variation by @alenarjad, in a Goon RDA. Worthy of a frame on the wall.
- Staggerton Variation by @smubbie, in a Goon LP. We couldn’t stop staring at the color work.
The Goon and Goon LP are RDAs from 528 Custom Vapes, and the Tsunami comes from Geek Vape. Seven of the eight builds used a Goon, a builder favorite at the time.
What the build names mean
- Clapton: a core wire wrapped tightly in a thinner wire, like a guitar string.
- Fused Clapton: two or more core wires side by side, wrapped together.
- Alien: a fused build whose outer wrap snakes around the cores in waves.
- Staggered: wraps applied in alternating sections for a ridged look.
- Staple: a core made from a stack of flat ribbon wire.
- Parallel: two or more strands wound side by side, which lowers resistance.
Want to try it yourself? Start with our guide to building a basic coil and the anatomy of an RDA. Exotic builds come with practice.
Where things stand now
Many vapers now use pod systems and disposables with factory-made coils, but rebuilding is still a rewarding hobby. If you build your own, check every coil with an ohm reader and know your battery’s limits before you fire it. Our guide to mechanical mod battery safety is a good place to start. Rather taste than build? The Zamplebox Club sends vape juice picked for your taste every month.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.