Advice for new e-smokers

[shaun]

when i was starting with e-cigs i was amazed that simple information about the product was so confusing. most of the postings on you-tube are wither done by paid advocates or are so riddled with advanced e-cig lingo that it's impossible to understand.

i have a couple simple bits of advice for people starting to vape.

things NOT TO DO:

FIRST, do not buy from the major brands. you'll quickly realize that most of the dozens of e-cigs are made by just a couple Chinese companies and re-branded with a HUGE markup. if you don't believe me, go to e-cig.com and check it out. they have starter kits and equipment IDENTICAL to the big brands ie greensmoke, etc at 1/3 the price.

SECOND, avoid the three piece systems that require an atomizer. there's really no need to worry about a failed atomizer anymore. the easiest and best performing e-cigs are 2 piece (a battery and a cartomizer which has a built in atomizer). thus avoid BLU cigs, which by the way are terribly made, give poor smoke volume and break rapidly.

some things that i RECOMMEND:

FIRST, buy from an honest supplier that's based in the US. the top 90% of most popular e-cigs are made by just a couple of Chinese manufacturers and then re-branded at a huge mark up. don't believe me? check out Chinese seller/manufacturer e-cig.com and then check out greensmoke, identical products at 1/3 the price! BUT i do not recommend buying from foreign companies. instead, buy from an honest company selling the same stuff for a reasonable price. by reasonable i mean 15-20% markup not 300%! I RECOMMEND LECIG.COM

SECOND, buy empty/blank cartomizers and use your own liquid/juice. i can understand if someone doesn't want to deal with dripping juice but i HIGHLY recommend it. advantages include being able to refill a cartomizer when it gets low rather than dealing with poor smoke volume and it makes the whole process way cheaper. I RECOMMEND JOHNSONCREEKSMOKEJUICE.COM they the highest quality juice. lets face it the juice is what you inhale, some foreign juice has been found by the FDA to contain known carcinogens!

i am in no way affiliated or take any endorsements from any of the above companies. happy vaping!

 

[jj2]

Just a difference of opinion.
I use a three piece. Since I drip, it's great, and I'm looking forward to using a modded juice box.
My hardware I've bought from China and I've had no problems.
The one thing I shy away from is buying liquid from China, but since I'm off nicotine, I make my own with no problems.

 

[VPDownunder]

Nothing wrong with a 3 piece, I prefer it myself.

As for major brands it depends on what you think a major brand is. I consider the Janty Ego/Tornado etc a major brand yet it's a highly recommended one, I love mine.

 

[quasimod]

[...] avoid the three piece systems [...]

That may meet with some disagreement, since the most popular type of PV among ECF members is the 510 (a 3-piece). I'm glad the 2-piece is working for you, it's also very popular. You've made some rather sweeping generalizations and indictments that will be picked apart if anyone is in the mood.

EDIT: Ha! I didn't even get this posted before it started

 

[Sylvie]

Good advice but you are still a newbie

NOT all foreign companies are bad so I would recommend researching them and buying from at least the original ecig ones... I had my friend order the first kit I overpaid for straight from the china supplier and they got great all around service from them..

Although I agree on the two piece part, especially if one is new to vaping. I still think everyone should get a 3 piece set. Afterall it is a lot cheaper and easier to try out new juices using a cartridge that you can swap the filler out of, than it is using another cartomizer or the same cartomizer that you will have to boil/clean out first before you can try another juice...

hmm, I keep seeing the johnson creek recommendations, think I'll take your advice on that one and check them out

welcome btw..

 

[shaun]

just a couple of disadvantages with three piece system:

1. you almost inevetably get juice on your handswhen changing the cartridges. so not only is that waste, it's also unhealthy as nicotine is readily absorbed through the skin.

2. 3 piece systems make the atomizer a wear item that decreases in performance and inevitably fails. 2 piece systems offer you a new atomizer each time. PS the worst of the 3 piece systems is the BLU which barely makes any smoke and hogs up 1/3 of the cartridge space (space that can be used to hold more juice so you don't have to get a new cartridge every 30 puffs)

 

[Mixelle]

I also prefer to drip - thus, a 3-piece is perfect for me. Since I have a SideSho, I also like to mix up the colors of the atomizer/battery/cart with whatever I am feeling like that day. I know color isn't important to many people, but I like what I like.

Never have had a problem with the "spilled juice." Also like my 3 Piece bcs dripping increases my vapor and flavor.

 

[Automaton]

Hey Shaun. You've laid out some important stuff, but I'm going to have to disagree on a couple points.

There are good Chinese stores. In fact, some of them are cheaper than even the most reasonable US stores. Absolutely E-Cigs, Heaven Gifts, Health Cabin, and East Mall, all have really good reputations and good prices.

Also, some people prefer to use a 3-piece. I personally agree with you - you can pry my Kr8 out of my cold, dead hands. But each system has its followers, and they have different advantages. I don't think it's fair to say people are wrong for liking what they like.

 

[shaun]

RE: foreign companies

let me clarify that i dont believe all (or really any particular) foreign company is bad. i discourage ordering from them because:

1. shipment time is 4 times as long (2 weeks as opposed to 3 days)

2. shipment is MANY times more expensive- many US retailers will ship FOR FREE

3. if you run into a problem that's DOUBLE the already VERY expensive international shipping for returns.

4. Customs problems are rampant just do a search on this website for customs problems and you'll see many examples.

5. support US businesses

 

[jj2]

As I said, I drip so I waste very little liquid, and it's about as mess free as anyone can get. And that includes getting liquid in your mouth which is a waste.
As for my attys----March 2009 I started vaping and in that time, I've stopped using about 6 attys---four of those haven't died, they just don't produce the vapor like they use to.

EDIT: I'd love to support US business, but the FDA is dead set on banning so I went for bulk because no way am I gonna get caught without hardware. If there is a villain in all this it's the FDA.

 

[Automaton]

Those are valid points, and the shipment-related stuff is a big reason that I bought US.

But some people here buy a lot of stuff at a time. If you're going to make a really big purchase, the low prices more than cancel out the shipping costs.

Also, while I'm a fan of supporting local business for sure, you have to hand the Chinese their dues for inventing these devices in the first place.

 

[shaun]

lastly, i don't thing that people are "wrong" for ordering from foreign companies or using 3 piece systems. but if you want an easy transition to vaping with minimal worries at a reasonable price, then domestiic E8/9 two piece systems from well priced domestic resellers like lecig.com and dripping your own juice from places like johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com

personally i believe that batteries and vaping systems should be standardized because there is a tremendous amount of confusion currently. there are tons of apparatus that are exactly the same thing but are called by different names. frustrating.

 

[Automaton]

lastly, i don't thing that people are "wrong" for ordering from foreign companies or using 3 piece systems. but if you want an easy transition to vaping with minimal worries at a reasonable price, then domestiic E8/9 two piece systems from well priced domestic resellers like lecig.com and dripping your own juice from places like johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com

personally i believe that batteries and vaping systems should be standardized because there is a tremendous amount of confusion currently. there are tons of apparatus that are exactly the same thing but are called by different names. frustrating.

Yeah, except that an E8 wouldn't be anywhere near powerful enough to get me off cigs. Not even close.

Also, my blood's not rich enough for LeCig. I'm sure they're a great company, and I hear some awesome stuff about their D1's (which, as I understand it, is a modified Kr8). And since it is modified, and only they sell it, I'm not saying their prices are unfair.

But I got a standard Kr8 for half the price of LeCig. Not because I have something against LeCig. But because I really can't afford to slap down 60 bucks on a kit alone.

I spent $100 total on my kit, extra parts, juice, and DIY stuff. My $100 will last me 4-6 months. I couldn't have done that if I'd gotten a more expensive kit.

And the standard Kr8 (which I did get from an American company, but it's unaltered, and thus a purely Chinese product) is working out just fine for me.

This is what I mean. You CAN'T generalize like that. We all have different needs and abilities. Which e-cig fits which person is completely individual.

 

[AttyPops]

Thanks for the info shaun.

I'd like to cast a vote for a 3 piece... (I'm admittedly a noob.. but use a 3 piece setup). I can see the material on the end of the cart where it touches the bridge and know that it is not burnt. I've seen posts on this forum (carto horror pics) of burnt material inside the carto/atty just using stock stuff. 10-20 puffs and burn... even with lots of juice! I like knowing that the cart/atty is clean and no material/plastic is melting/burning. Just my 2 cents from a noob that likes the peace of mind from a 3 piece setup. To each their own.

 

[shaun]

i'd hate to see the inside of the cartomizer. its a fine line between getting a good drag and inhaling burnt whatever.

i just remember using BLU cigs and being so frustrated with the juice not coming into contact with the atomizer and the poor smoke volume. i'm sure there are better 3 piece systems out there.

 

[zoiDman]

My Best advise is to spend some time and read what have to say and have done here on the ECF.

Talk it all with a grain of salt but if everyone says something is good, or bad, it probably is.

 

[ChuckB]

Well, I don't think the L88B (Blu type PV) are all that bad. I use one myself and am very happy with it, carry it with me most of the time. It does have a longer learning curve than most devices and you really need to mod the carts and get some better juices to get the best out of it.

I carry a Volcano (L88B similar to a Blu) and a Magma (510) with me all the time, so here's another vote for the 3 piece devices, but it is what I learned on so that may be why I prefer them.