Coming back to E-cigs - Need Advice

[Wilco]

Hello all... I've been away from the forum a while and fell off the e-cig train about a year ago. I want to get started back up with e-cigs and have some concerns I would like to discuss with those in the know.

I think the main reason I gave up on e-cigs was the general maintenance and upkeep involved. Perhaps there have been some changes or innovations since that time. I suppose the most economical way to vape is still to use your own juice which is not so much a hassle in it's self, but I also started making my own filters with coffee filters etc and before you knew it, I just started lighting up instead.

My last e-cig purchase was a 901 I believe but is much bulkier then the one I had before and while i want a good vape I dont want something too heavy to hold between my teeth. So, I guess I'm basically looking at a fresh start. Any suggestions on a e-cig type and company that would address my above issues. Keeping things reasonably priced as possible is also a factor.

TYA, wilco

 

[brianishiwa]

Welcome back!

Cutting coffee filters sounds like the old cartridge system. Things have improved by leaps & bounds bud. Tanks, cartomizers, cartomizer tanks...there are so many things to try.

Get this (the Riva 510 Dual Coil Carto Kit, don't forget to click the 20% off at the top left) and some juice (there are a bunch of great juices to try, sample sizes start as low as around a buck per mil or you can DIY with tips from the area) and you're set pretty much. 2 batteries, 5 cartomizers, charger, case.

When you feel up to it, get one of these and your complaint about "maintenance & upkeep" is pretty moot, just fill it up and you're golden.

I know you'll get a bunch of great recommendations from the geniuses here on ECF. Good luck and again, welcome back!

EDIT Shoot, just read the whole "hold between my teeth" complaint, didn't realize you were planning to bogart. V4L gets great reviews and they have a nice selection of prefilled cartomizers, as well as will fit blank 808 cartomizers if you still want to DIY. These should be more conducive to what sounds like your vaping style.

 

[DaveP]

Too heavy to hold in the mouth is a requirement that eliminates most of the good ecigs that I would recommend. Anything with a battery capacity to prevent being tied to a charger is going to be too heavy to deal with between your lips without some support by the fingers.

Once you try a few small ecigs and get tired of running back and forth to the charger, then order a Riva 510 kit or something with 510 threads and a battery with a minimum rated current of 650mah or better. Then, you can vape for 5 to 6 hours on a charge. Once you get that, you will also have enough heft in the battery to support a Boge 510 low resistance cartomizer for a good taste and almost no fuss with filling. 2 or 3 filled cartos will last you a day and a larger eGo class battery (1000mah or better) will get you by for a full day at work with no recharge.


Cartos are best filled, at least the first time, by saturating them completely. Then, you can pop off the mouthpiece from time to time and add a drop here and there to prevent them from going dry and burning the filler. Try the method in this video. It takes about a minute to do and is clean, quick, and effective. Some like the syringe method, but this one is better, IMO.

 

[wv2win]

Rule of Thumb: the more it looks like the real thing, the worse the performance.

I agree with brian's suggestion of the Riva 510 or another good option is the E-Power 510 as good "beginner" PV's. Much less hassle since the battery's will last around 5 hours and using them with larger cartomizers means less re-filling.

e-Power

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Riva 510

 

[keyzygirl]

You can use 808s and refill your cartos.They are cig sized but I recommend the XL manual batts.Try Vapor4life,they have a mailing list so you can get the sales updates and save some cash.

 

[bnrkwest]

I started a couple years back with 3 piece mini ecigs and I gave up too. Came back this fall and wow things have really improved! I use Halo G6 a slim style with great warm vape and cartos, it is most like a regular cig for lightness just a bit longer. I also use a GLV2 super mini mod, love them both and have been off cigarettes since 9-15-11. I love vaping! Got some new DIY blueberry that is fabulous! Hope you find just the right set up you love. They are out there! Bnrk

 

[erock419]

Even with the 808 from V4L, it is a bit heavy to hold between your teeth. I find that I always have to hold it with my fingers. V4L makes a short battery that is much lighter weight (but doesn't last as long). That could be the solution you're looking for.

 

[Wilco]

Thanks for the great advice, all... I was completely unaware of the cartomizer. It takes the place of a cartridge? Is it the same size? Could I use it with my old 901 (for now) and it would fit? Sorry for all the Q's, but is the main advantage of the cartomizer that it lasts longer than a cartridge?

 

[judybr]

Welcome back Wilco,
Yes, they hold a lot more and are a cart and atomizer combined. Much easier!!

 

[Huffelpuff]

I can't answer for sure about the cartomizers fitting your 901 (possibly there is a 901/510 connector?) but can assure you 100% that I could never have stopped smoking without cartomizers. They are absolutely wonderful. You have choices of LR (which will make a 3.7 vape like a 5v), standard, dual coil, horizontal coil and many others, I'm sure.

Others will chime in with more experience than I but think that you need to decide first how important a "pen style" vs. a "fat batt (eg Riva) or "mod" is to you. The smaller the battery the shorter the time you are able to vape without recharging. I'm working with two mods and charge about every other day. It's so convenient but they are much larger than a "pen style."

Doormouse will be along sometime soon and offer you the real skinny on the best "skinny" cigs to use. I would speak w/ her before purchasing - she's a walking ecig encyclopedia!

Anyway, welcome back and good luck!!!!!

 

[KrisBKream]

808 cartomizers should work with 901. To make 501 work, you would need an adapter. I started after cartomizers were very common, and after trying a couple of atomizers, I am SO glad I didn't start vaping until cartomizers were around. I found atomizers to be too dang finicky and too much of a hassle for anything but drip-tasting diy concoctions

And an aside: I personally recommend syringe filling cartomizers, but it's by no means necessary. It just ensures a perfectly saturated topped off cartomizer with virtually no waste

 

[Huffelpuff]

+1 on syringe filling. Best $1.50 I ever spent.

 

[Robnoxious]

The e-cig i started out with was the joyetech ego-t type a with a 650 mah battery. It was light enough for me to hold between my teeth and was VERY affordable!!!! I has since switched to the ego-t mega which has a bigger tank, and a 1000mah battery. I cant hold this one between my teeth, but the fact that it is still affordable, sleek, low maintenance, and a darn good vaping expierience all around, I would reccomend this to anyone!!!!

 

[williedrew]

+1 for ego

 

[Balthezar]

Another +1 for the eGo. You can put a drip tip on it and hold it in your teeth, They make soft ones, easier on the teeth. Unless of course you get the passthrough, then I wouldn't want to plugged in (the eGo passthru can also be used unplugged), might get awkward . But the joye 510 is a bit lighter, just a little bigger than an analog, has about the same vape as the ego, but doesn't hold a charge as long (especially if you leave the eGo plugged in heheh). Just my

Balth

 

[Peezy]

5 volt mod + fluxomizer or a tank =

 

[dragonbone]

Another plus for the eGo-T.
Welcome back on the wagon Wilco! Like you I was an early adopter but fell off the wagon for a while. I got fed up with cleaning 901 atomizers and filling tiny little fiddly carts and finally went back to smoking. A couple of months ago I returned and found that EVERYTHING had changed, gave away my 901's and other small ecigs. Got myself an eGo-T (and a few mods), revamped my old Screwdriver SD MKII, by getting an extension kit for the eGo-T atomizer, and haven't looked back and have not even looked at a cigarette from the day my eGo-T stuff arrived.
There were so many new things, cartomizers, clearomizers, fluxomizers etc. I didn't know where to start.... So... to try out some of the many cartomizers, I bought a kit with about 7 different types from HealthCabin. Wow what a relevation!