Nickel = Strange Problems?

n0ugh7_zw

Data in the streets, Riker in the sheets!
ECIGSSA Donor
LV
28
 
Joined
11/8/14
Posts
1,891
Awards
28
Age
37
Location
Harare, Zimbabwe
Ok, So I've kept quiet about this, and I've tested extensively to make sure that there no ineptitude on my part responsible for this.

I've noticed that If i use a nickel build for more than about 4 days. I start getting headaches and stomach problems (cramping and such). Examining the coil, it looks clean (Vaping menthol juice) and the wick is not at all discoloured. In fact it looks like a fresh build. The taste is a little bit off. Very hard to describe. The first word that comes to mind is hollow.

I've made sure its not diet related or environmental either.

It's not settings either, I've been running at 390F well under the scorch point of cotton. Wattages between 15-21W Which even for a regular Kanthal build wouldn't burn anything.

I'm curious to know if anyone else is running into the same issues?

I'd been nickel free for a week, and was feeling good. I slapped on my Subtank Mini which had a nickel build that had a week of use on it. within 30min of vaping it, I had stomach cramps and was feeling generally pretty crap. I swapped for a Subtank Mini with a Kanthal OCC coil, and after about 2hrs the symptoms went away.

I used the same juice in both Subtank Mini's

Anyway the up shot of this, is that I'm not going to use nickel anymore.
 
Nickel allergies are a thing. Perhaps it's that?
 
I know it's a relatively common problem with nickel jewellery, sometimes even nickel guitar strings. I don't see why it wouldn't be an issue with nickel coils as they get older and degrade
 
I don't wear any jewellery or a watch or anything like that. So it's entirely possible I'm allergic to nickel, and have just never encountered a reason to discover it until now.
 
Braid some nickel and make a bangle? :p Hahahaha
 
Nickel allergy?! That sucks man. At least titanium wire exists.
 
Ok, So I've kept quiet about this, and I've tested extensively to make sure that there no ineptitude on my part responsible for this.

I've noticed that If i use a nickel build for more than about 4 days. I start getting headaches and stomach problems (cramping and such). Examining the coil, it looks clean (Vaping menthol juice) and the wick is not at all discoloured. In fact it looks like a fresh build. The taste is a little bit off. Very hard to describe. The first word that comes to mind is hollow.

I've made sure its not diet related or environmental either.

It's not settings either, I've been running at 390F well under the scorch point of cotton. Wattages between 15-21W Which even for a regular Kanthal build wouldn't burn anything.

I'm curious to know if anyone else is running into the same issues?

I'd been nickel free for a week, and was feeling good. I slapped on my Subtank Mini which had a nickel build that had a week of use on it. within 30min of vaping it, I had stomach cramps and was feeling generally pretty crap. I swapped for a Subtank Mini with a Kanthal OCC coil, and after about 2hrs the symptoms went away.

I used the same juice in both Subtank Mini's

Anyway the up shot of this, is that I'm not going to use nickel anymore.
Quite an interesting observation. Perhaps you are having some sort of allergic reaction to the nickel?

I have done 99% of my vaping over the last 3 months with nickel coils (both tanks and drippers, commercial and rebuilt ones) and have had zero issues.
 
Seems to be common according to: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nickel-allergy/basics/definition/con-20027616

Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis — an itchy rash that appears when your skin touches a usually harmless substance.

Nickel allergy is commonly associated with earrings and other jewelry, particularly jewelry associated with body piercings. But nickel can be found in many everyday items — from coins to zippers, from cellphones to eyeglass frames.

Nickel allergy can affect people of all ages. A nickel allergy usually develops after repeated or prolonged exposure to items containing nickel. Treatments can reduce the symptoms of nickel allergy. Once you develop nickel allergy, however, you will always be sensitive to the metal and need to avoid contact.
 
Ok, So I've kept quiet about this, and I've tested extensively to make sure that there no ineptitude on my part responsible for this.

I've noticed that If i use a nickel build for more than about 4 days. I start getting headaches and stomach problems (cramping and such). Examining the coil, it looks clean (Vaping menthol juice) and the wick is not at all discoloured. In fact it looks like a fresh build. The taste is a little bit off. Very hard to describe. The first word that comes to mind is hollow.

I've made sure its not diet related or environmental either.

It's not settings either, I've been running at 390F well under the scorch point of cotton. Wattages between 15-21W Which even for a regular Kanthal build wouldn't burn anything.

I'm curious to know if anyone else is running into the same issues?

I'd been nickel free for a week, and was feeling good. I slapped on my Subtank Mini which had a nickel build that had a week of use on it. within 30min of vaping it, I had stomach cramps and was feeling generally pretty crap. I swapped for a Subtank Mini with a Kanthal OCC coil, and after about 2hrs the symptoms went away.

I used the same juice in both Subtank Mini's

Anyway the up shot of this, is that I'm not going to use nickel anymore.
I've been using nickel twisted w/28g Kant. also w/ menthol@ 24w fortunately no symptoms .
 
Seems to be common according to: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nickel-allergy/basics/definition/con-20027616

Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis — an itchy rash that appears when your skin touches a usually harmless substance.

Nickel allergy is commonly associated with earrings and other jewelry, particularly jewelry associated with body piercings. But nickel can be found in many everyday items — from coins to zippers, from cellphones to eyeglass frames.

Nickel allergy can affect people of all ages. A nickel allergy usually develops after repeated or prolonged exposure to items containing nickel. Treatments can reduce the symptoms of nickel allergy. Once you develop nickel allergy, however, you will always be sensitive to the metal and need to avoid contact.
Johan, you are indeed a fountain of knowledge.
 
Very interesting @n0ugh7_zw - sorry for your reaction to nickel - but thanks for sharing and informing us
 
I never considered an allergic reaction to nickel or any wire used in our coil builds. A very unfortunate situation @n0ugh7_zw
 
Iit would seem most people that are allergic to nickle have to have skin contact with nickle. Your allergy may be different.

When vaping nickle using correct method(Temp control device) there are no particles/off gas given so it should not be an issue. Nickel does NOT off gas until it reaches about 700 degrees Celsius or above. On a temperature controlled device where the maximum temperature is limited to 315 degrees Celsius (less than half the temperature required for off gassing of nickel) - it is perfectly safe.
Have you ever vaped with nichrome wire ? If you've purchased pre-built atties from china, which covers about all of us, you have vaped with nickel wire.

Edit yes i know nichrome and Ni200 are different but they both contain nickle. Also nichrome is used with out temp limiting so could be much more of an issue.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
On the risk of necromancing this thread, can one suddenly develop a nichrome allergy or bad reaction to it?

I didn't think twice of the itchy skin I had for over a year but suddenly, with my usual vapes, I was coughing and getting a throat tickle for no reason at all while vaping.

Nothing's changed except me going over to RTA's and RDA's which require rebuildable coils. I thought I'd blame it on my usual seasonal hayfever and allergy rhinitus but none of my meds work. My nose runs after a couple vapes, throat tickle and coughing after that. Sometimes it's so bad, I cough til I almost choke.

Should I blame it on a nickel reaction or would it be PG? I've no issues vaping 100% VG though.
 
On the risk of necromancing this thread, can one suddenly develop a nichrome allergy or bad reaction to it?

I didn't think twice of the itchy skin I had for over a year but suddenly, with my usual vapes, I was coughing and getting a throat tickle for no reason at all while vaping.

Nothing's changed except me going over to RTA's and RDA's which require rebuildable coils. I thought I'd blame it on my usual seasonal hayfever and allergy rhinitus but none of my meds work. My nose runs after a couple vapes, throat tickle and coughing after that. Sometimes it's so bad, I cough til I almost choke.

Should I blame it on a nickel reaction or would it be PG? I've no issues vaping 100% VG though.

hi max VG rocks !
 
I’d advise that you proceed methodically excluding one by one
A. the coil material: nickel allergy is quite common and may appear suddenly
B. the juice: are you having the symptoms with one particular juice or different ones
C. eventually the wick...
Good luck!
 
Back
Top