FYI
C IL
Porn
FEATURING STEVE MASSINGHAM
AKA CRAFTY COILS
Hello and welcome to another Crafty Coils feature.
This time I’m looking at coil polishing, so let’s dive in!
First off, it’s a very involved process.
Yes, the results are beautiful, but it can
take some time to get there. You will need
sandpaper/polishing paper from 400
grit to 7,000 grit. The grit you start with
depends on the wire you’re polishing.
The lowest you’ll ever need is 400. I
tend to increase in 500 grit increments
throughout the process.
You’ll also need a core to wrap the coil
around. It must be able to fit in the chuck
of your drill. I use a 3mm diameter piece
of steel rod I found on eBay for about £2.
An ultrasonic cleaner is, in my mind,
essential for cleaning all the metal
particles from your coils. I would advise
against vaping polished coils that haven’t
been through an ultrasonic cleaner.
Lastly, you’ll need a drill.
STEP 1
You need to drill-wrap a coil. Put your
core in the chuck of the drill, tuck the end
of your wire in the gap and, while holding
the other end, use the turning drill to wrap
the coil. Do this leaving at least four wraps
either side of what will be the body of the
coil. Once this is done it should easily
slide off the core. Snip the non-chuck end
of the coil flush with the main coil, leaving
no leg or protrusion.
Then you’re ready to go.
STEP 2
The polishing begins.
PHASE 1: If you’re polishing 22 or 24
AWG, you’re going to want to start with a
low grit, around 400. For 36 AWG, start
at 1000. It’s all about removing material in
an efficient way without causing damage
to the coil. Twenty two up to about 26 can
stand the lower grit as they have a lot
of mass, but after that you need to start
moderating your start point.
Cut your sandpaper into strips about the
206 | VM16
width of your coil and then pop the coil
onto the drill, remembering to polish in
the same direction as you wrapped the
coil. Fold the sandpaper over the coil with
the coil saddled in the fold, gently pull
away from the coil with the two ends of
the paper and start your drill.
The paper doesn’t need to touch the
coil all the way around as it’s rotating in
the little sandpaper sling you’ve made
it. I tend to do four or five 20-second
standings per grit with a five-minute go