Absolute newbie saying hi (plus a couple questions)

[Ladypixel]

Hi there. Firstly, I've got to say, this forum is fantastic (if in some areas overwhelming to a new vaper).

I've been a pack-to-1.5-pack a day analog smoker for, um... well, a very, very long time. The e-cigs are a neat change, and I love the potential that they have to cut me off the tars and crap. My husband picked up a generic starter for me somewhere locally - three-piece, automatic draw, king-cigarette (or mini, I believe the term is) sized. The exact type appears to be available online from cleanelectroniccigarette.com, and I'm desperately trying to figure out what it's comparable to. Is it an 808-style that just happens to have a separate atomizer? Is this one of the 309's I can't seem to find much info on, or is it like the Joye 510 that I'm seriously considering picking up as my next stop on experimenting? Or is this just a generi-ecig like so many of the oddball made-in-China types that people poo-poo? I know that most of the vapers around here seem to have major issues with any automatics, but I'm mostly trying to determine if it actually is usable with any other system just in case I can have the backup batteries for emergency use.

I really like something at present which is comparable in size/shape to a standard cigarette, mostly because of the weaning myself off years of tobacco use. I think, and am not 100% sure, that I'm not a fan of throat-hit, based off what I've read... but I could completely be misinterpreting throat-hit. To me, what I dislike is the very slight drying of the throat which results with direct inhalation of the vapor. I've read that it seems to work better if it's brought into the mouth and then inhaled from there, and I'm experimenting with that, but my present e-cig also produces very little vapor. Can someone try to give me a more in-depth concept of what throat-hit actually is/feels like, so I can determine if that's what I really don't like, or if I'm just doing it wrong?

Many thanks. You all are phenomenal, by the way. I've found so much information on these forums in the few days I've been reading them heavily that I just had to say that.

 

[space0matic]

Throat hit. I'm going to give a stab at what it is. Since you've smoked analogs, you already know the feeling. It's the feeling of the drag in the back of your throat when you smoke.
Here, it refers to the feeling of inhaling smoke or vaper. It's usually considered a good thing- unless someone says it's 'too harsh', or 'too' anything.

Dry throat is different. It's when you feel like you have no saliva, in a bad way.

 

[RevsVice]

The 510 mini sounds like it would work well for you. It is the size of a cigarette and gives good vapor. It is usually found in black but if the color of a cigarette is important, it can be found in white with the brown atomizer/cartomizer.

I bought a starter kit with cartomizers because most people here seem to prefer them. I think it was a good choice. They are easy to fill and last quite a while. I also have both the auto and manual batteries. My wife especially likes the autos since they are more like smoking a real cigarette. I prefer the manual because I have more control, and it cannot be damaged by an overfilled carto. But I use the auto sometimes too.

Throat hit is hard to describe. I think it is mainly caused by the nicotine. I have some very low nic juices and while they taste fine, they have no TH - like breathing flavored air.

I suck in the vapor into my mouth then inhale from there. But then, that's how I smoked cigs.

I switched from cigs to vaping almost 2 weeks ago. Though I have since bought an eGo I still like the small size of the minis. The only problem with the minis is that you have to change the battery several times a day. Between my wife and I we have 6 batteries plus 2 eGo batts.

 

[Lex0r]

Welcome to ECF! I started out with the small 510-T (tank) system and have since moved on to a bigger battery and LR carto's. The small 510's are nice because they are not bulky, and feel like a real cigarette in your hand...in fact, I even found myself doing the "ashing out the window" motion in my car...and I was like what am I doing?! Whatever you end up with, keep asking questions and reading the forum!

 

[CCC]

Generally speaking the more it looks like a real cigarette the worse it peforms, but most of us started out with something similar. I don't think it would be worthwhile finding compatible parts for the one you have, i would recommend getting something that is a bit more popular. The V4L website may interest you - Vapor4Life

Throat hit is that feeling right after you finish draging the vapor/smoke into your mouth, then inhale it into your lungs, it literally hits the back of your throat. From what i can tell you do the direct inhale into your lungs, so you don't actually get a throat hit, just a dry throat. You will either have to adjust your drag technique or not worry about it, and just drink a lot of water while vaping.

 

[brandontrjn]

For minis I recommend vapeshot.com for 510 style. Their starter kit is a decent price and you can get a discount code. They sell cartomizers for their units.

The 510 style will give you more compatibility to upgrade later.

If you want kr808 style you can check out V4L, Their starter kits are more expensive, but you can get a discount code for them as well. They also sell cartomizers for their kr808's

I've used "slim" style e-cigs for 8 months now and like them. You will definitely need at minimum 2 and preferably 4 total. If you are a heavy vaper, you may want to get a larger eGo style for at-home vaping.

 

[bigtiime]

Welcome to ECF Ladypixel. If you're ready to get started with this and really want to stay with the analog-ish size the Volt is a great kit. While many will stay with this type of "pen style" for quite some time, most that want the cigarette cravings gone quickly will opt for the larger (Sharpie size) PVs. It is of course your choice in the end. Good luck to you!

 

[bwood12043]

Welcome to ECF !!

I started this adventure in 2008 and have never looked back.

You will find your niche and will move forward on this road.

I agree with the suggestions given previously and urge you to read read read ! This forum is amazing and the knowledge base is awesome.

Good luck and never ever hesitate to ask any question.

Vape on !

 

[Ladypixel]

Throat hit. I'm going to give a stab at what it is. Since you've smoked analogs, you already know the feeling. It's the feeling of the drag in the back of your throat when you smoke.
Here, it refers to the feeling of inhaling smoke or vaper. It's usually considered a good thing- unless someone says it's 'too harsh', or 'too' anything.

Dry throat is different. It's when you feel like you have no saliva, in a bad way.

Actually, that helps a lot as did the other replies on throat hit in the thread... it's giving me a slightly better concept of what throat hit is. And, from the sound of it, throat hit isn't really my issue as much as dry throat is. Now, if my problem is dry throat, that may just be something I'll have to adjust inhale style for, and/or keep water on hand to combat. But will using VG e-juices assist in that (as I read here somewhere that VG tends to produce a 'thicker' smoke)? I realize there's a ton of experimentation involved here, but I'm looking towards generalities right now to sort of figure out where to start.

 

[Ladypixel]

The small 510's are nice because they are not bulky, and feel like a real cigarette in your hand...in fact, I even found myself doing the "ashing out the window" motion in my car...and I was like what am I doing?! !

Hah! My daughter pointed out I was doing that with my cheapie generi-ecig the other day, and I sort of stared vaguely at my hand and went "oops". At least I'm not the only one!

 

[swedishfish]

Actually, that helps a lot as did the other replies on throat hit in the thread... it's giving me a slightly better concept of what throat hit is. And, from the sound of it, throat hit isn't really my issue as much as dry throat is. Now, if my problem is dry throat, that may just be something I'll have to adjust inhale style for, and/or keep water on hand to combat. But will using VG e-juices assist in that (as I read here somewhere that VG tends to produce a 'thicker' smoke)? I realize there's a ton of experimentation involved here, but I'm looking towards generalities right now to sort of figure out where to start.

TH is what you get when you inhale a cigarette. Dry throat- all pvs do that. Drink a lot of water, or I use SF honey lemon cough drops or tic tacs.

 

[Ladypixel]

Generally speaking the more it looks like a real cigarette the worse it peforms, but most of us started out with something similar. I don't think it would be worthwhile finding compatible parts for the one you have, i would recommend getting something that is a bit more popular.

Yeah, that was the sense I'd gotten from jumping around the forums. I have to admit, I've been lurking around here for a few days now, sort of trying to get a handle on the terminology. However, I'm on the go a lot, and so to me, the concept of carrying around a few spare batteries in a small carrying case isn't all that much different than carrying a pack of cigarettes, and it still has the 'small' feel that I'm accustomed to. It's quite likely that as I get more experience with this, I'll lose the need for the smallish stuff... and so I've been looking towards the Joyetech 510-type things just so I've got the option of moving up to an E-go battery if needed.

It does help to know that the weird one I've got now is probably not compatible with anything else, though. I sort of assumed it wouldn't be.

 

[Ladypixel]

TH is what you get when you inhale a cigarette. Dry throat- all pvs do that. Drink a lot of water, or I use SF honey lemon cough drops or tic tacs.

Drinking water or the like will be easy. I can live with that if it gets me off the cigs, though... I hit the point where I absolutely hate smelling like an ashtray.

 

[swedishfish]

I have a 510 and like it. Generally you get about 1 hour per 100 mah of continuous use. Try the 510. If it's not enough for you, you can always pick up a bigger pv like an ego. Just make sure to get cartomizers too.

You can get boge 3.0 cartomizers at Joogler Juice. You get a free bottle of juice. Use the code ECF5OFF for $5.00 off your first purchase.

 

[swedishfish]

I got mine here.

JOYE510 Starter Kits : Rocky Mountain Vapor, The Mountain top of Electronic Cigarettes

I wouldn't get the tank kit. But if you wanted to try it, get a box of cartomizers too.

 

[swedishfish]

I got this for my nephew, has a little pcc. It's cheaper because they misspelled 'smoke'.

iVape "TuXedo" 510 PCC | Starter Kits | iVAPE

What is the one called that you have now?

 

[Lex0r]

Hah! My daughter pointed out I was doing that with my cheapie generi-ecig the other day, and I sort of stared vaguely at my hand and went "oops". At least I'm not the only one!

It's funny how many of the physical tendencies stick with us even after we transition into vaping...I'm sure quite a few of us do/did this

 

[bigtiime]

Flick your e cig "ash" out of the car window? yup, done that . .

 

[Ladypixel]

What is the one called that you have now?

I'm not even sure it has a name. It's a cheapie prefilled-cart Chinese cigarette clone, three piece with atomizer, automatic draw. The closest I've found to what I've got (both in look of box and in the cig itself) is this: Clean Electronic Cigarette Electronic Cigarette CS-66

But I'll be really honest. It produces little to no vapor, it's all dry hits, and all the prefills they have taste odd. They're not 'bad', but they don't taste great. I've been able to drip into the hole the atomizer makes in the prefills and thus refill a little with juice (right now, it's a juice my husband found from Vermillion River, which is a LOT better than what was in my original packs), but the batteries have virtually no lifespan whatsoever, which is a large part of why I'm looking at upgrades.

Given that I go to a lot of smoker-unfriendly locations (I live in southern California where that's common nowadays), I'm ideally looking at something which is cig-sized for my own preference, but that doesn't look identical to a cig (like the black 510 with the blue tip, or one of the bright blue metallic ones) so that people don't give me odd looks. Now, my husband has a cartomizer cheapie that he found somewhere or another, but I don't like its function -- it, too, is an automatic, and if you move it too fast, it produces vapor when you don't want it to. I'd rather have something that's more controllable. I'm going to check out where you got yours, though!

I looked at some of the others you'd pointed out, but honestly, I like the concept of being able to switch vapes, too. I've ordered a few ejuices to taste and play with, but haven't gotten any of them as of yet. On that iVape one you posted (the one where they'd misspelled "smoke"), I'm hesitant to get that because it doesn't come with backup batteries, and I've discovered with mine that batteries are an issue... I'd rather pay a bit more and get a starter kit that has a backup, I think. So I'll definitely consider the Rocky Mountain Vapor kit you'd linked -- it's more along the lines of what I'm considering. Might need at some point to look into a PCC, too.