Why only Kanthal/Nichrome wire? Any reasons?

[RooRooBears]

I have Kanthal wire myself thanks to researching the forum, but I'm curious as to why do people suggest only Kanthal or Nichrome wire for RBAs?

Reason I'm asking is I came across this at Home Depot:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/OOK-100-ft-Galvanized-Steel-Wire-50138/100204195#.UVwJOZOcfoI

OOK 100 ft Galvanized Steel Wire for $2.98.

Could I use this wire as well? I'm not entirely sure what galvanized means except from the definition.

Galvanized:
1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current.
2. To arouse to awareness or action; spur:
3. To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.

 

[SupplyDaddy]

Here are the main points when dealing with
galvanized metal:
• Metal Fume Fever is the result of
overexposure to zinc fumes from welding,
cutting, or brazing on galvanized steel.
• Metal Fume Fever is a short–term illness
with classic flu–like symptoms.
• The permissible exposure limit (PEL)
according to OSHA is 5 milligrams of zinc
oxide fume per cubic meter of air––always
monitor and measure your breathing air.
• To avoid the illness, keep your head out of
the fumes and do not breathe the fumes.
Use enough proper ventilation and/or
exhaust. If uncertain about the ventilation,
use an approved respirator.

 

[Thepinfamily]

Trust me. If Home Depot or lowes sold a wire we could make coils out of we would know by now. Kanthal is made specifically to do what it does. Even if you didn't mind a little metal fever it still wouldn't preform correctly. Hot spots, melting points, chemical make up, etc. all play a role in making the wire preform properly.

 

[RooRooBears]

Metal Fume Fever?? Yea, no thanks. I'll be sticking to Kanthal wire. Much appreciated for the info!

 

[RooRooBears]

Trust me. If Home Depot or lowes sold a wire we could make coils out of we would know by now. Kanthal is made specifically to do what it does. Even if you didn't mind a little metal fever it still wouldn't preform correctly. Hot spots, melting points, chemical make up, etc. all play a role in making the wire preform properly.

Lmao, very true indeed!

 

[Ctor]

Using steel wire for a coil would effectively be a dead short anyway. Zinc wouldn't likely be an issue.

 

[Antoly]

To make coils you have to use metals with high resistivity (see wikipedia). Steel does not have one. It's resistivity is 6 times lower than of nichrome, for example. To make the coil of 2 Ohm for example you will have to make coil six times longer, this means the same wattage will be distributed over six times larger area. It will not be heated to proper temperature, as a result.

 

[Antoly]

>Using steel wire for a coil would effectively be a dead short anyway. Zinc wouldn't likely be an issue.

I guess ,no. Zinc is even better conductor than steel. If you make steel or zinc coil of the same length as nichrome it will be a short circuit definitely. But in theory you can make a coil of any desired resistance from any metal if you make wire thin enough or long enough.

 

[RooRooBears]

Learning something new every day. Thanks for the explanations

 

[mike26038]

The resistive wire expels the energy of the battery to make the heat to atomize your juice. Steel wire would pass the energy back to the battery and cause it to fail, ie possibly explode, or at least melt.

 

[pdib]

These resistance wires were specifically designed (in their metallurgical composition) to be used as electric heater coils, toaster coils, hair dryer coils and the like. They are very different from most metal wires in that they are designed specifically to translate electrical current into heat energy and not suffer much for it.