How to Prime a New Coil — The Right WayUpdated 15 days ago

Why Priming Matters

Priming means saturating the cotton wicking material inside a new coil with e-liquid before you fire it. If you fire a dry coil, the cotton burns instantly — and a burnt coil can't be recovered. Proper priming prevents this and ensures your first vape on a new coil tastes as good as it should.

Step 1 — Pre-Saturate the Coil

Before installing the coil in the tank, locate the small wicking ports (holes) on the side of the coil. These are where e-liquid enters to saturate the cotton.

1. Hold the coil and place 2–3 drops of e-liquid directly onto each visible wicking port.
2. Also place 1–2 drops down into the center of the coil from the top opening.
3. Let it sit for 30–60 seconds to absorb.

Step 2 — Install the Coil and Fill the Tank

1. Screw or press the coil into place in the tank.
2. Reassemble the tank and fill with e-liquid as normal.
3. Close the fill port.

Step 3 — Let It Sit

This is the step most beginners skip — and it's critical. After filling, let the tank sit upright for at least 5–10 minutes without vaping. Longer is better — 15–20 minutes gives even better saturation, especially with thicker VG-heavy liquids.

Step 4 — Dry Puffs (Optional but Helpful)

Take 3–5 slow draws on the mouthpiece without pressing the fire button. This draws e-liquid up into the coil via suction. Don't inhale hard — just slow, gentle pulls.

Step 5 — Start at Lower Wattage

Even after priming, start your first few puffs at the lower end of your coil's recommended wattage range. Give it 5–10 puffs at lower wattage before working up to your preferred setting. This "break-in" period allows the cotton to fully saturate as you vape.

Signs of a Properly Primed Coil

• Clean, clear flavor from the first puff.
• No burnt or harsh taste.
• Consistent vapor production.

Signs of an Improperly Primed Coil

• Burnt taste on the first puff — the coil is already damaged and will never fully recover.
• Harsh, unpleasant flavor.

If you get a burnt taste on the very first puff, the coil was fired before the cotton was saturated. Unfortunately, a burnt coil cannot be fixed — replace it and prime the new one properly.