Buying atty's/cartos etc - doesn't it get expensive?

[Postergirl]

I think I'm a bit unclear on one (ok, MANY) concepts about vaping. One is that I was told at the store where I got my Joytech ego-t (with clearomizer and one cartomizer) that these last until the ejuice is gone. Right now, because I'm still smoking analogs, and because I only started vaping less than a week ago, I have no idea how much I will end up vaping. But if I have to replace these clearmizers (or whatever I'm using to put the liquid in) every time they go empty, I'm thinking it might get pricey. I have the Vision clearomizer and I don't remember what I paid at the store but I see them online for $3.95 each. plus tax. plus shipping. I'd like to have several, so I can have several flavors available at the same time. How much do you who vape equal to a pack a day spend on these things (NOT including the juice... I know that varies too).
Thanks!

 

[John_]

Don't replace them when they run empty, replace them when they burn out. Most clearomizers have replacement coils you can buy to replace the one in your clearomizer when it burns out. Just search for "replacement" on the vendors website and they should turn up. When the coil burns out you will get a constant off/burning/metallic taste even when its wicked properly. If you really want to be economical you should really get into rebuildables but thats something youd need to research on your own, there are tons of posts on ECF about them though.

I think I'm a bit unclear on one (ok, MANY) concepts about vaping. One is that I was told at the store where I got my Joytech ego-t (with clearomizer and one cartomizer) that these last until the ejuice is gone. Right now, because I'm still smoking analogs, and because I only started vaping less than a week ago, I have no idea how much I will end up vaping. But if I have to replace these clearmizers (or whatever I'm using to put the liquid in) every time they go empty, I'm thinking it might get pricey. I have the Vision clearomizer and I don't remember what I paid at the store but I see them online for $3.95 each. plus tax. plus shipping. I'd like to have several, so I can have several flavors available at the same time. How much do you who vape equal to a pack a day spend on these things (NOT including the juice... I know that varies too).
Thanks!

 

[The Ocelot]

Most of the clearos now have replaceable "heads." You can use the unit until the head become gunky, and then clean the head or replace it. I have the old kind that were one piece. I used to clean them, but they never tasted quite the same (damm you little pieces of mass-produced plastic!) What I ended up doing was dedicating one flavor to a clearo and just filling it up until it died. Granted, I have a lot of toys and rotate things around, so the clearos may not have been vaped hard for a couple of months, but I have at least 4 that are almost a year old.

With a carto in a tank, I get about a week+ depending on how often I use it.

It's hard to predict how long clearos & cartos last. It depends on what they are, how you are using them and what kind of juice you are using. I use 70pg/30vg which is thin, so not as rough on gear.

 

[ShariR]

I bought an Evod for my Spinner. I also bought heads that you replace by unscrewing the one in the bottom and screwing the new one in. I used to smoke 2 packs a day. I go through 1 and a half of the Evod tank. I change the heads every 3 to 5 days, depending on if I switch flavors or not. I usually use just my tobacco juice in the Evod. The Evod costs between $6-$8 depending on if you are buying online or in a vape shop. The replacement heads are between $1.75 and $2.50 each, also depending on sales, where you purchase, etc.

I clean the Evod out every 3 fills by running hot water for a minute or so and soak it in 91% alcohol for a couple of hours once a week. After the alcohol soak I rinse under hot running water very thoroughly. The heads I run under hot water for a couple of minutes then carefully pat dry with a paper towel every two tanks or when I change flavors. I soak them in alcohol about once a week. Buy at least a 5 pack of heads to go with the Evod. There are other ways to clean the tanks and heads. Some use vodka. You can rebuild some of these heads also, but I do not know how to do that. There are posts here and videos on Youtube that will show you how.

The above will be similar for the Vivi Nova and some other clearomizers. I do not know how long their total life span is because I am into this only 2 weeks so far and the two heads are still working fine for me.

 

[Wow1420]

The type of liquid makes a big difference. I've gone through 20ml of juice (Hawaiin Punch flavor) in one bottom coil tank with no maintenance at all and the coil is still going strong. I've also had a dark sweet liquid hopelessly gunk up a coil in less than 2 fills.

 

[Rickajho]

Welcome! And congrats on your start.

There are sooo many variables to this kind of equation. How much any given person used to smoke. How much you care to or need to vape. If you turn into a "hardware junkie" and have to buy every new doohickie. Or if you are conservative, find a setup that works for you and aren't interested in owning eGo's in 12 different colors.

That being said, for me I'm spending about 1/3 of what I did on smoking. Could I have spent even less? Absolutely. But I'm perfectly fine with my former smoking costs having dropped by two thirds.

I don't know why that place told you that. Both cartomizers and clearomizers are refillable. The particular clearos I'm using? Kanger T3. The outer shell never needs replacing, unless you break it. The atomizer coils that go in it? They are replaceable and with cleaning the coils has lasted up to five weeks for me. The coils cost about $1.99 each in a 5 pack. Doing the math should be obvious - it's a lot cheaper than smoking.

You will figure the math out. First things first: Settling on a hardware setup and liquids that work for you.

 

[Tripster]

I always when possible invest in at least enough atties to hold me off for a couple months (approximately 6 months)...I normally stock up on juice/atties every 6 months unless a mod has achieved to manipulate my routine.

 

[djsvapour]

I haven't read the whole thread, but you don't need to replace clearomisers when they are empty. If they told you that, I'm surprised.
(That's being irresponsible with your money....)
Most clearos have a replaceable atomizer these days and it works out quite cheap even if the "head" only lasts a few days.

 

[BlueMoods]

As has been said here, learn to refill and replace atomizers (in clearos). Learning to DIY your juice mixes also saves money and gives you more variety, but that does take a bit of learning and a good juice calculator before you do that and, it is a little time consuming. Most juices should steep for anywhere form a few days to a few months for the best flavor so, you do need to plan ahead.

 

[E_DeCastro]

i just buy 32g kanthal wire and that gets cheap really fast. wait...uh yeah, 100ft of wire last a long time.

 

[mkbilbo]

I think I'm a bit unclear on one (ok, MANY) concepts about vaping. One is that I was told at the store where I got my Joytech ego-t (with clearomizer and one cartomizer) that these last until the ejuice is gone. Right now, because I'm still smoking analogs, and because I only started vaping less than a week ago, I have no idea how much I will end up vaping. But if I have to replace these clearmizers (or whatever I'm using to put the liquid in) every time they go empty, I'm thinking it might get pricey.

No, not at all. They're reusable. And the more recent Visions have replaceable coil heads (the little heater widget that vaporizes the juice and is most likely to eventually, in time, go out). And I think I've had one go bad in the last two months. That is, have one set aside that I couldn't get to fire up but haven't looked to see what the deal is.

In my experience, cartomizers are a bit more problematic and don't tend to last as long but they're also refillable and reusable. I still have some around I use for a small number of flavors that just seem better on cartos (no idea why, just are). They can last quite a while too if you're careful to keep them wet and not scorch the batting inside (once you get a "burned" taste from a carto, it's fried).

With Visions, you want what's called the CE5 or CE4+ or 2.0 (depending, nobody seems to agree on the terminology). Like, oh, this:



See that little "knurled" looking base? Those unscrew and parts can be changed. Also, you can clean them. Which, for me at least, amounts to rinsing in warm water. You could probably get more life out of them with better cleaning than I use but since the heads are $3... meh. I bought a pack of spare coils and, like I said, had one go wonky in the last two months. But they come apart like this:

I have the Vision clearomizer and I don't remember what I paid at the store but I see them online for $3.95 each. plus tax. plus shipping. I'd like to have several, so I can have several flavors available at the same time.

That's exactly my set up (and that of tons of folks). I have... went and counted... eight filled ones counting the one I'm using now. Don't do much with them except clean 'em when they seem to "gunk up". Let 'em air dry then reuse.

Maybe they were talking about "prefilled" cartos? And <cough> don't want you to realize you can refill pretty much any carto yourself?

 

[mkbilbo]

As has been said here, learn to refill and replace atomizers (in clearos). Learning to DIY your juice mixes also saves money and gives you more variety, but that does take a bit of learning and a good juice calculator before you do that and, it is a little time consuming. Most juices should steep for anywhere form a few days to a few months for the best flavor so, you do need to plan ahead.

Actually, it takes learning and math to do it well. You can do basic stuff without much effort. I get plain nic juice and some basic flavorings (like blueberry and banana and such) from Mount Baker and do simple, easy mixes. Saves a ton.

The good stuff, yeah, that takes patience and skill and practice or you buy from people that know what they're doing. But something simple? Not too hard really. In fact, I've kind of gotten to calling MBV's version the "easy bake" of liquid DIY.

 

[tj99959]

I think I'm a bit unclear on one (ok, MANY) concepts about vaping. One is that I was told at the store where I got my Joytech ego-t (with clearomizer and one cartomizer) that these last until the ejuice is gone. Right now, because I'm still smoking analogs, and because I only started vaping less than a week ago, I have no idea how much I will end up vaping. But if I have to replace these clearmizers (or whatever I'm using to put the liquid in) every time they go empty, I'm thinking it might get pricey. I have the Vision clearomizer and I don't remember what I paid at the store but I see them online for $3.95 each. plus tax. plus shipping. I'd like to have several, so I can have several flavors available at the same time. How much do you who vape equal to a pack a day spend on these things (NOT including the juice... I know that varies too).
Thanks!

No, you refill them when the e-juice is gone. (but I think you already knew that)

At first yes I did go through a lot of atties & cartos. With experience comes the ability to make them last quite a long while. A lot of it is learning what flavorings work best in which kind of device. For instance dark sweet flavors clog a carto very quickly, but they work fine in most atomizers.

 

[Postergirl]

I think I understand now. Really, price is the least of my concerns. I'd pay more not to want to smoke! If I don't have to replace clears after one use all the time, that's good.

 

[Train2]

But if I have to replace these clearmizers (or whatever I'm using to put the liquid in) every time they go empty...

Seriously, people - you're jumping to tell this poster about rebuilding coils?
Read the post - Start at the beginning!!
1) You REFILL the clearomizers with MORE JUICE. And use them til they aren't working as well.
2) You can usually replace a PART inside - the coil - for as little as about $1, and then they're good as new again

How long you get from a coil can really vary - but average...maybe a week, using it a lot?


OK -NOW everyone can chime back in, and explain about doing things with wire and wick and meters.

 

[Rickajho]

Welcome to the learning curve! We have all been there. Feel free to ask more when you need.

 

[Super Lyndotron]

I'm about a month in to vaping and am using the cartomizers from Smokeless Image.

Had I known how easy they were to refill I'd have bought more juice and fewer cartos.

All it takes to refill these ones is use a toothpick to pry open the mouth end of the car to, and slowly drip juice onto the filler until it looks, well, kinda slushy. I've been refilling the same car to for ten days and it still works perfectly, and - LOL - since I live in Oz I bought a ton of them so as to save on shipping. Have about 160 cartos in four flavours. Realizing it was juice for refills that I needed I made another large order for that last week. Should be set for many months when it arrives.

As to how much I go through - used to smoke 15-20 cigs a day, so medium smoker. The cartos hold approximate 1.6ml of juice and I probably refill once a day. 30ml of juice costs me $13.95 and would last me almost 3 weeks. A daily 20pack of cigarettes cost me approximate $17, so 20 days of smoking for me is either over $300 for analogues and probably $30 for vaping. *HUGE* cost savings should happen for me soon, although the initial setup costs hit my wallet a bit...

Enjoy vaping!

 

[Baditude]

As others before me have said, although these juice delivery attachments are considered to be disposable, you can get multiple use out of them with simple cleaning maintanance and in some cases replacing the heads with clearomizers and clearotanks. The cartotanks can be re-filled unlimited times, with the occassional replacement of the cartomizers when the draw becomes too tight.

I rationalize that I spent $5 - $6 a day on cigarettes and thought nothing about it at the time. Spending $2 for a cartomizer or $3 for a replacement clearo head that both should last me 1 - 4 weeks is a bargain.

 

[sailense]

Just to give you a totally non-scientific sampling of me and my co-workers who vape and how long a "disposable" clearomizer will last:

me - 4-7 days
co-worker 1 - 1-2 weeks
co-worker 2 - 1-2 weeks
co-worker 3 - 3-5 weeks
co-worker 4 - 1-2 weeks

So, you can keep refilling for a week on average and sometimes longer. And again, we've been using these:

So while they're technically "disposable", you can get quite a lot of use out of them.

Of course, a couple of us here have been rebuilding the coils to save some cash, but that's another topic.

 

[CheekyChica]

Hi Postergirl!
I know what you are talking about the "non-refillable" little tiny plastic tank that comes with the ego T, that when you pull it off if looses its suction and if you try to refill it, it just leaks all over. Joye eGo Tank Empty Cartridge Type B 5 Pack Clear Yeah, don't use these! Get the refillable larger clearomizers with replaceable coils/wicks attys and you'll save money plus you'll get a better vaping experience. Shop online, seems like you can find parts/e-juices online cheaper that in real e-cig "novelty" shops. I hate to say that as it takes away from local businesses, but def compare and save. The e-cig novelty shop nearest me is fine to go "look" so you can see items up close and get advice from face to face people but they are quite pricey. Also learn and find out how to make your attachments last longer, like when I got my first Kanger T2 with EVOD battery, the coil wicks seemed to clog after 2 days of use when I used darker colored e-juices and I didnt know I could clean them so I was throwing them out and using like 4-5 wicks a week! >.< Then I found out that I can wash them with hot water and dry them and reuse, thankfully I only threw like 2 weeks worth and not any more! lol Vaping full-time can be a bit expensive to start up, but in the long run, I think it will pay off if you shop smart and take care of your e-cig and parts. Figure out on what you spend on "analogs" per month, and set you a e-cig budget and eigther match that, or try and spend 20% less that what you did on analogs is a good plan. Deefinately get into DIY e-juices, at first I thought it seemed kinda complicated to DIY juices and I thought I'd probably make a mess and make juices too strong with nicotine and OD myself lol, but nope, its not as hard as it seems and is safe if you are responsible with your chemicals! Just keep going with the e-cig, besides if its a little expensive at first, just think about the health benefits....I dont mean to be morbid but I think even dropping $250.00 on a Provari and a few nice tanks and supplies and some DIY supplies is cheaper that cancer treatments, just saying. Good luck Postergirl and keep asking questions!