How to Prime Vape Coils

Priming your vape coils isn’t just a suggestion; it’s an essential step to ensure a satisfying vaping experience. At Vape UK, we understand the pivotal role a well-primed coil plays in enhancing the longevity of its service life and the richness of flavour.

That’s why we’ve crafted a comprehensive guide to walk you through the simple yet very effective process, ensuring every puff is as enjoyable as the first.

What is a Vape Coil?

At the core of your vaping device is the coil, an indispensable element that ignites the magic of vaping.

Picture it as the powerhouse of your vape encased within a metal housing. Coils usually feature mesh wire, normally made from conductive materials like kanthal, nickel, or stainless steel. This wire is surrounded by absorbent cotton-wicking material, which soaks up the e-liquid.

When you activate your device, the battery sends an electric current through the coil wire, rapidly heating it up. As the temperature rises, the e-liquid soaked into the cotton wick is vaporised, transforming into the flavourful clouds you inhale.

The interaction between the coil wire and the cotton wick is essential, as it ensures a seamless conversion of e-liquid to vapour, offering you the pleasure of vaping with each puff.

Exploded View of a Vape CoilExploded View of a Vape Coil

How do I prime my vape coil?

At Vape UK, our customer's enjoyment and satisfaction are at the heart of what we do. With that said, we’re here to guide you on how to prime your vape coils so you never have a bad vaping experience.

Vape Tanks and Coils

When you’re priming sub-ohm coils, begin by dripping e-liquid onto the wicking holes until they’re nicely soaked. This keeps the cotton from burning when you first use it. Then pop the coil into the vape tank, fill it with juice, and you’re almost good to go.

Prepare your Coil, Tank and E-Liquid

Prepare your Vape Coil, Tank and chosen E-Liquid

Drip E-Liquid on the Coil

Drip some of the E-Liquid on the visible cotton wick of the Coil.

Fill your Tank with the Coil fitted

Place the Coil in the Tank and fill it up with E-Liquid.

Wait at least 5 minutes before firing device

Wait at least 5 minutes before firing up your device.

Before you start vaping for real, wait 5 minutes, then take a couple of draws from the mouthpiece with the device turned off, just to try and draw the e-liquid into the wicking material. 

After, you can take a few soft draws on a low-power setting. Doing so helps the liquid feed into the coil properly.

Finally, you can crank up the power to where you like it. It’s a simple trick, but it makes your coil last longer, and your vape taste better.

Pod Kits and Coils

Priming coils in pod kits is a doddle, especially if you’ve got the ones that come pre-fitted in the pods. There’s no need to drip e-liquid onto the coil itself; just fill the pod with your favourite juice with the coil already in place.

The key bit is to give it a bit of time – around 5 minutes should do the trick. This wait allows the e-liquid to soak into the wick fully, so you don’t get a nasty, burnt taste on your first draw.

Why is coil priming important?

Some vapers believe that coil priming isn’t a necessary step; however, it’s a simple fact that it elevates your vaping experience in multiple ways.

Optimal Output

Priming your coils is like warming up before a sprint; it ensures everything runs smoothly when it’s time to go full throttle. By properly priming your coils, you’re setting them up to perform at their best from the very first draw. This is where the magic happens:

Best Flavour

A primed coil means the e-liquid is vapourised smoothly, giving you that full, clean taste of your chosen flavour.

Maximum Vapour

Primed coils heat e-liquid more efficiently, producing satisfying clouds of vapour without any burnt undertones.

When you prime your coils right, you’re guaranteeing yourself the top-notch flavour and vapour production your device is designed to deliver. It’s a few moments of prep for hours of the perfect vape.

Coil Service Life

Getting into the habit of priming your coils isn’t just about immediate satisfaction; it’s an investment in your vaping future. A primed coil can deliver peak performance for up to a week, ensuring that every puff within that time is as fresh and flavourful as the first. 

After the week, you should replace your coils to keep a fresh taste. However, if you’re not priming your coils, you can expect to be replacing your coils more frequently.

Avoid Premature Coil Feature

Think of priming your coils as a kind of insurance against the dreaded dry hit. A dry hit is that rough, burning sensation you get when the coil’s wick isn’t soaked enough. This isn’t just bad for your taste buds; it’s also a fast track to ruining your coil.

A dry hit can also singe the cotton inside the coil, and once that happens, there’s no salvaging it – the coil is as good as gone.

So, priming is more than just a precaution; it’s a way to make sure your vaping stays smooth and the coils last. Should you skip this step, you will end up with a burnt taste that lingers, which is a sure sign you need a new coil.

How to keep your vape coils performing at their best

Keeping your vape coils in pristine condition is all about the right care and use. Taking this approach is the secret to a consistently rich flavour and robust vapour production.

E-Liquids

Choosing the appropriate e-liquid is crucial for coil longevity. Just like you wouldn’t put diesel in a petrol car, you shouldn’t pair high VG e-liquids with MTL coils; they’re just not compatible.

      Use a compatible e-liquid with your coils 

Make sure you understand what e-liquids are compatible with your device before you start vaping. High VG e-liquids, for example, are best suited for sub-ohm coils for high-wattage vaping, whereas nic salts and freebase nicotine are best used with low-powered pod kits for mouth-to-lung vapers.

Understand the type of e-liquid you’re using

Different e-liquids will have different effects on your coils. If you like those extra sweet juices, be prepared to replace your coils more often, as they are more prone to wearing down coils quickly. Whatever your preference, you should know how e-liquids affect your coils so you can always know when to replace your coils for the best experience.

Vaping Wattage

Getting your coil primed is just the start; you’ve also got to vape at the right power level to keep things running smoothly. Coils are made for either strong, high-power vaping or more relaxed, low-power use.

If you stick to the wattage that your coil is built for, you’ll get the best performance out of it. Pushing your coil too hard by cranking up the power too much can burn it out, while not giving it enough juice can mean weak vapour and a flat experience.

You need to find the sweet spot. Trust us, your vape will thank you by working better for longer.

New Coils

Whenever you swap in a new coil, don’t forget that priming is a must. It’s like a ‘welcome drink’ for your coil – it ensures the wick is fully soaked with e-liquid, so you get the full flavour from the first draw and avoid any burnt tastes.

And here’s a tip for when you’re just topping up your e-liquid: patience is a virtue. Give the liquid a few minutes to seep into the coil before you take a puff.

This mini-priming session helps to enhance the taste and can also extend the life of your coil. Just a little waiting time means you can enjoy a cleaner, better vape.

Vape Coils and Pod

What to do next

Proper coil maintenance is the cornerstone of a stellar vaping experience. From priming new coils to vaping at the right wattage, every step is key to enhancing flavour and extending coil life.

At Vape UK, we understand the nuances that go into perfecting your vape, which is why we offer an extensive range of replacement coils and pods to suit all types of vapers.

Whether you’re a cloud chaser or a flavour aficionado, we’ve got just the coil you need to keep your vape experience smooth and hassle-free.