Q. Kanthal or nichrome wire: which is better?

Answer

Kanthal has a greater melting point and maximum operating temperature than Nichrome, making it last a little bit longer in practice. There is some debate about whether or not the iron content in Kanthal wire imparts a little metallic flavor. Nichrome is quite similar to Kanthal in its operation, although it has lower resistance and warms up more rapidly. It's a breeze to coil, and it keeps its shape when wet. Care must be taken while dry burning Nichrome coils since their lower melting point makes them more susceptible to opening up. E-cigarettes' heating coils are often made of Kanthal.