Good place to start is in the
ECF Library. Lots and lots of info you'll find helpful. I know I did!
a) I'd like a higher quality cigarette. I know why some people like separate atomizers, but I think I'm going to continue to steer clear of 3 part cigs for the sake of maintenance and component overload.
The main thing--I think--is pay attention to the standards out there. The screw threads these systems use have a few standards that let you be sure parts and pieces fit each other. Such as I started with 510. So I was able to try a tank system (which has a separate atomizer) but ended up moving back to the cartomizers. You'll want to watch which standard you jump into since you'll likely want to change things around in time. Or at least want a lot of sources for the parts and pieces.
I'm not familiar with the VGO and which threads we're talking about but others here I'm sure are.
b) I want to go away from pre-filled and test out filling my own carts
Funny as the name is, check out You Tube for the "condom method" (I know, I know). It can be a bit messy when you're first trying it but you get the hang of it fast. Easy way to fill. You can fill from the top but I just ain't that patient myself.
Here's a
short video of it.
I've gotten to letting mine sit a while after doing the fill that way. Definitely fill two or three before bed so they'll be ready in the morning. Found if I tried using them right away, they were so wet, I often got juice in my mouth. Which is a good way to stun your taste buds and they go on strike.
c) battery life is nice, flavor is important, but vapor/throat hit probably is #1 for me. I want a lot of vapor and a moderate to heavy throat hit
Which system you use can affect that but it's more the juice you use. The two base liquids--PG and VG--tend to produce different amounts of vapor and throat hit. More VG tends to make more vapor, more PG is known for throat hit. So you may want to try a 50/50 mix (which is common) then adjust from there.
2) E-Cig's VGO kit provides 2 batteries as well as two atomizers, implying it is a 3 piece ecig. But they also provide empty VGO cartomizers, implying it can be either a 2 OR a 3 piece depending on your preference. Am I misunderstanding that?
No I think you got it right. The big difference is that the cartomizer has the atomizer built in.
Basically, more or less, all e-cigs are "three piece". Power, atomizer, liquid. Cartomizers combine the atomizer and liquid in the same unit making "two piece" (and guess you could say disposables combine all three making a "one piece").
3) Smoketip batteries had no limit to the length of your draw. However, the E-9s I got from e-cig have an automatic battery shutoff if you drew for more than a couple seconds. I got *used* to that, but would prefer not having that safety mechanism there. Does the VGO have it? I see no mention one way or the other about it. Not sure how common that is.
Well, you want some kind of safety measure. You're generating a lot of heat next to a lithium battery. Don't want to go too far.
A couple of seconds though? Sounds short.
6) E-Cig offers, of course, the following bases: PG, VG, PG400, a PG+VG mix, and a VG+PG400 mix. My first purchase there used the PG+VG mix an I was pretty satisfied, but would one of the other options be preferable if the high vape/high throat hit is important to me?
I don't get their labeling of base liquid mixes. Such as "PG400". That's new to me. I'm used to seeing mixes as percentages. Such as 50/50 for 50% PG, 50% VG. Not sure what they mean by their labels.
But since you mention both vapor and throat hit as important, you'll probably want a mix of the two since they seem to produce more of one or the other. And how much of each is "right" is very subjective.
I suggest "sample packs". Try different mixes out. See what you like.
