Advice - Orchid v4 setup

[chykensa]

My latest adventure arrived from Fasttech today, a Magma dripper and an Orchid v4.
Whilst this is my first foray into dual coil rebuildables, I was heartened when I managed to setup the Magma first time and am vaping it at 1.2ohm, with acceptable results.
However, I have now worked for an hour trying to setup the Orchid, having watched the obligatory few YouTube videos, but have come unstuck.
My problems are twofold - firstly, as per one of the videos I watched, I am using pillars 1 & 3 for one coil, and 2 & 4 for the other. The problem arises when I want access to the tails to snip them off after installing the second coil (I tidy up the first one whilst I can still get to the tails easily). Any ideas on how to install the second coil please? Should I change the pillars, using 1 & 2, then 3 & 4 for the other coil?
The second query is sort of related. My first unsuccessful build used .32 Kanthal, but the stiffness of the wire made the problem above even more tricky to execute, and I was getting a big hotspot on one of the coils, so I decided to use .2 Kanthal for the second attempt, but this wire is so springy that I couldn't really get the coils gripped in my tweezers to heat and squeeze. This all failed when I had a big short and one of the coils blew.
What wire do you experts use, and how many turns for each coil, with a target of about 1.2ohm? I understand that I need two higher rated coils, as the ohmage is halved when using two.
Any help and advice would be most appreciated.

[chykensa]

Shameless bump!

[Roscopecotrain]

Nov 1, 2014 8:54:57 GMT chykensa said:

Shameless bump!

Morning mate. I would use 2 posts on left for one coil and 2 on the right for the other coil. Then you should be able to snip the tails easy mate.

Not seen a video using 1 and 3 and 2 and 4.

[chykensa]

Thanks Roscopecotrain - I wondered if that was my problem; I'll have another go later on when the house is quiet!!

[Roscopecotrain]

Nov 1, 2014 9:09:54 GMT chykensa said:

Thanks Roscopecotrain - I wondered if that was my problem; I'll have another go later on when the house is quiet!!

Just taken a look at videos Andy. You may have issues getting the coils over the air holes using 1 and 2 and then 3 and 4 for the coils. Guessing using them 1 and 3 and 2 and 4 helps get them over the air holes Andy.

What about if you have super long legs sticking out and then wiggle them off rather than snip? Easy to grab hold of and no need to get in close to snip.

Just a thought mate. Not got mine yet so just guesses at the moment Andy.

[chykensa]

Funny, I've just been looking at the deck again, pondering what to do. You are right that using 1 and 2 will put the coil off-centre. I think the 'long legs' method might be the way to go. What wire diameter would you use? I have some .32, but wondering if that's too think, in which case I will order in some .25, which might be easier to work.
As stated in the OP I tried with some .2, but it's so flimsy in comparison that I had a hard job getting the coils to squish together to form up the microcoil.
Thanks for your input, Roscopecotrain, most appreciated

[Deleted]

What about turning the wire upwards at the back and snipping off flush.
@13 MINS:

[Roscopecotrain]

Nov 1, 2014 9:33:36 GMT chykensa said:

Funny, I've just been looking at the deck again, pondering what to do. You are right that using 1 and 2 will put the coil off-centre. I think the 'long legs' method might be the way to go. What wire diameter would you use? I have some .32, but wondering if that's too think, in which case I will order in some .25, which might be easier to work.
As stated in the OP I tried with some .2, but it's so flimsy in comparison that I had a hard job getting the coils to squish together to form up the microcoil.
Thanks for your input, Roscopecotrain, most appreciated

I use .32 for all my micro coil builds Andy so i would stick with that.

[chykensa]

That's great Roscopecotrain, got plenty of that, and saves me trying to sneak another purchase past SWMBO!!

[chykensa]

@zero - thanks for that, will have to watch the video with sound on my phone later, my laptop hasn't got sound (don't ask me why!!). Always helps to hear what they're saying, and I must have missed that one last night!!

[Marcus]

If still having problems, YouTube search for "center builds" will help you out.
I always use 1+3 and 2+4

Build one coil and go in with a pair of sharp snips and you shouldn't have any issues tidying it up.

[chykensa]

The biggest issue for me is feeding the tails of the second coil through without accidentally threading it through the first coil! Once it's in place I then can't find an easy way of getting the second coil tails up and out of the way so I can see to snip them - and that's with a new pair of glasses to boot!

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2014 10:25:26 GMT chykensa said:

The biggest issue for me is feeding the tails of the second coil through without accidentally threading it through the first coil! Once it's in place I then can't find an easy way of getting the second coil tails up and out of the way so I can see to snip them - and that's with a new pair of glasses to boot!

You think you got problems. I have to use a magnifying lamp as well as glasses and that with shaky hands.

[Tom]

My orchid v4 arrived today. Looks similar to the plume veil. My method for this was leaving the legs quite long for putting both coils in. Then manoeuvring them both in close, pulling the centre wire legs up when I'm happy with position. I screw down the negatives first. Then just get in close with the sharp, round wire snips. I'll take some photos when I rebuild later if u like mate?

[Marcus]

As already said, leave the legs 4-5" long, as you thread them through stick a mini screwdriver just below the hole the leg is coming through so you can then push up and direct the leg up.
Grab with a pair of pliers and pull tight.

Positive bloc attys are by far the easiest to build on, for me anyway.
Just make sure you keep long legs and it should be a breeze =)

If you still have issues let the know and I'll record a quick video of what I mean