Day #2.5. I keep on buying new kits and getting discouraged!

[ambition]

Hi kakg2x

I'm new to the forum too, but not new to vaping.

What everybody is saying about your tastebuds is absolutely true, they will come back, and you will start to notice flavours alot more...even to the point of some of your favourite foods becoming not so favourite anymore because they taste different. lol

One thing you may want to try that nobody has mentioned yet (as far as I can see) is cartomizers for your 510.
They hold a decent amount of liquid and horizontal coil cartomizers can produce very good flavour.

They take a little getting used to so you don't burn them out, but they're easy to refill and if you want to change flavours you just swap one flavour cartomizer for another and you're off.

Mixing your own liquids can be fun too, The perfumers apprentice has a whole bunch of excellent flavour concentrates that can be added to unflavoured nicotine liquid. The benefit there is that you can create your own recipes or try out ones that others have shared and even make them a little stronger in flavour if you prefer.

I was vaping for 4 months before I stumbled onto mixing my own and have never looked back, and mate, don't be frustrated after only a few days, it took me 9 solid months before I settled on the flavours and hardware that I liked.

There's an insane amount of information to absorb so don't try to do it all at once.
Oh, and I didn't quit analogs for good until just a couple of weeks ago.

Your 510 is a good unit and quite versatile, so give it a try with cartomizers and if you want any info on DIY mixing, myself or anyone else on the forum here will be happy to help.

Cheers, do stick with it, it's well worth it.

 

[gumchewer]

If you hate menthol at the momett , just dont try it straight. Menthol is e-juice ketchup.
I have several bottles of juice that I really dont care for, unless I mix in a little menthol.
Personally, I use a t-rex with a tankomizer. I have gotten them from several places, and they all seem the same. at that point it comes down to price and how long it takes to get it. As long as I prep (burn off) the wicks before the first use it does pretty good for me, and that should fit that Riva youre using, unless someone knows it will cause an amp/resistance/voltage issue.
remmember that one juice will not taste the same in two different pieces of hardware. My wife uses 808 mini carts and little 808 batts and it's a totally different vape.
My brother uses a pig cig and fluff filled dual coil cartomizers and you would not recognize my juice in it.
fiddle, play, experiment, keep a list by vendor, flavor, mg nic, pg,vg % and what it tasted like in a particular piece of hardware so you can nerrow it down to your all day vape.

 

[Kay1959]

I'm going to order a sample pack from them with stronger flavors (like, mint, watermellon, lemon --- all stuff I hate lol!)

That's what I had to do also...order stronger flavors. It's strange but the flavors I thought I'd like (vanilla, peach, orange) I couldn't taste worth a darn! And the flavors I thought would be too strong are just right for me. I too suffered from 'no flavor' to start with. These days I'm vaping a homemade combo of Wintergreen/Menthol/Sweetner and loving it!! Don't press yourself to get off the analogs, it will happen! Be patient with yourself!! You'll find that just like myself and others here, as the days go by, you'll start vaping more and more, and smoking less and less...until you start "The" countdown like I just did yesterday! Give yourself time to find your "sweet spot".

 

[kakg2x]

+1 this. Tidegirl is right....the Smoke51 is NOT a step up from the 510. Send it back if you can. Just don't open it. There are MUCH better kits for the money....and the 510 you have is one of them. If/when you want to "step up" to something better, the Riva 510 from Liberty-Flights (for $29.95) is a MUCH better option.

Jan

I went back on the site and asked them to cancel my order. if they don't, then I'll try for a refund! Thanks.

 

[hildicat]

I know it seems expensive, but you really should get away from the ego tank system. I never got the flavor I expected from it and only really was satisfied once I went to the Reo Grand. You will be happy with vaping in the long run but unfortunately (at least in my case) it took a while of trying different gear and juices to find my sweet spot. Just keep at it, read these forums, and you will be rewarded.

 

[kakg2x]

Hildicat - what do you suggest I purchase? And where do I get it?

 

[Lacedolphin]

I'm still having taste bud mombo 2 months in! One week I taste everything,wake up and BAM!! Can't taste nothing including food!

Eat something spicey wait a couple hours then try. I found if the food and the juice are on completely opposite sides sometimes I can jump start my taste buds. If not, this too shall pass. And keep both kits, I switch around if I'm having a cig craving, sometimes switching juice/PV does help a bit.

 

[VapingRulz]

I would recommend either a KGO or a Riva. You can get the KGO from lots of places but I'd recommend either Hoosier or Virgin Vapor. For the Riva, try Liberty Flights and don't forget to click the discount tab (top left) for 20% off your order.

 

[martinc]

It's hard for us newbies to forget the word "smoking" LOL! I keep hearing "menthol" - yuck! Maybe that will trick the buds into responding though huh?! I'm buying all sorts of trial-size flavors to start! Gotta taste at least ONE right?

Well,if you really really want to jump start them asap,you could always try the crab juice...now I`ll let you google it because just the tought of it wanna make me barf

P.S.

Ask for a double shot of flavor

 

[kakg2x]

I would recommend either a KGO or a Riva. You can get the KGO from lots of places but I'd recommend either Hoosier or Virgin Vapor. For the Riva, try Liberty Flights and don't forget to click the discount tab (top left) for 20% off your order.

Ok I'm on the liberty site.... which kit do I want? LOL

 

[martinc]

Just dont go out dissin your eGo just yet,the battery is usable for 300 charges!
And there are so many things you can screw on it,makes one`s head spin.

Being new to it,you GOT to experience cartomizers (Boge,Kangers),clearomizers (ce2-3-4-5) small,XL,extremvizion lines of clearomizers,tanks (smoktech),dripping atomizers (low res,1.5 ohms,standard,bridgeless)...only then I would venture into mods (not a big deal,took me less than 40 days to venture into mods!)

 

[kakg2x]

errrrr someone just tell me exactly what I should buy to start (aside from my 510T)! This is all too overwhelming! I've heard of cartomizers but don't know where how or if I can get one that fits my current e-cig!

 

[frndwthcrppl]

Any 510 threaded standard resistance cartomizer should work just fine for you

 

[ambition]

Mate, seriously.

You're brand new at this and you're accumulating kit like a seasoned collector.

Put your wallet away and give it a few days before jumping into something else.

Go and grab a set of cartomizers for like 7 bucks if you feel like spending money and just chill with the 510 until you get used to vaping. It's hard to explain but vaping and smoking are not the same and it's gonna take you a little while to figure out how its different for you. Only then can you know what you'd like to see improved in your vaping experience and then you can make better and more informed decisions about your hardware.

Just my $0.02, but it's your money I guess.

 

[martinc]

Oh,sorry...510-T is a small battery...

You got to upgrade to take full advantage of what is available today!

When ready,go for a big battery...1100mah or bigger if you can...those can sustain anything you can throw at them.

 

[ptsnipes]

Here's the kit I got: KGO

It has 2 1100mAh batteries that easily last me all day. IT also comes with the cartomizers which are easier for me than cartridges or dripping. I'm fairly new to this myself, but I got this and have been very happy with it.

As far as flavors of e-juice go, I've tried exactly 40 now, and I've only found 2 I really like, although more than that are ok. Like everyone else has said, I've been using cinnamon and mint and they really do help. Also banana seems to come through pretty good for me. A lot of places give you the opportunity to get extra flavor in the juices you order. I've been doing that to help me taste it more.

Hope this helps

 

[hildicat]

errrrr someone just tell me exactly what I should buy to start (aside from my 510T)! This is all too overwhelming! I've heard of cartomizers but don't know where how or if I can get one that fits my current e-cig!

OK, I can make no guarantees as everyone is different, but after many months of experimentation this is my go-to setup...

Reo Grand
reosmods.com
If you decide on the Reo you MUST check out this forum...
Reos Mods

Avid Vapor HH.357 atomizer
HH.357 Long Barrel Hybrid 510 Atomizer - Avid Vaper

Juice...
KickBassVapor E-Liquid
Alien Visions E-Juice
Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarette Organic e-Liquid | Electronic Cigarettes

Juice preference is highly personal, but those three vendors are MY favorites. Between them they have my favorite tobacco, sweet and minty flavors. You may want to sample...
From AV - Boba's Bounty, Raf-a-licious
From KBV - peppermint ice cream, gooey better cake
From VV - coffee milkshake, butter mint

There is a learning curve to vaping and everyone must take their own journey to find what satisfies them, but this is what works for me. I don't know if someone had pointed me to these places when I started that I wouldn't have had the headaches and wasted money that I did, but I like to think that it would have helped.

My best to you and your search, just know that even though it seems like a struggle at first, you are making a leap into a hobby that will ultimately leave you a healthier person.

DON'T GIVE UP!

 

[cuttinloose]

Wow..I felt like this too....My husband and I smoked for about 1 or 2 months with vaping..Until smoking just tasted so bad..It made it easier to think of never wanting to smoke a stinky again. I have spent lots of $$ in the beginning..like I think most of us have. Til u find what just works. I found it to b fun shopping, reading on ECF. Trying diff stuff. Hang in there, I had a terrible time w/ Atties..blew them up all the time. imo. Trying everything gives u so much more understanding of the whole thing. U wind up spending alot but thats how ya learn.Then u might get the mod bug, which i deff have..what works for 1 might not work for all.... & they keep coming out with new things.....Lots of luck

 

[VinPuff68]

Hang in there brother.. It will get better.

- Vin

 

[JD4x4]

Wow! 60 posts in 3 hours! No shortage of help & experience here, is there?

I'm only 2 1/2 weeks into it myself, but I'm off of 1 pack a day of tobacco after 45 years, so hang in there until you get 'dialed in'. I'm too noob to have good advice, but here is how I started & why this is the route i'm taking-

I rushed out to my local Wallgreens and bought a Blu starter kit, while I also had a 'Freedom Elite' starter kit (on sale from an ex-RYO tobacco supplier, and not the same as the myfreedomsmokes.com vendor ) on the way and while I was trying to figure all this out. I was in a rush to meet a stop smoking deadline and tapering off & Wellbutrin just wasn't cutting it. Being a tech guy, I decided after a lot of reading that it would be simpler (for me) to start by just focusing on carts, flavors, and batteries rather than 3 piece stuff. A lucky & smart choice so far.

1. Taste- I was quickly surprised that out of the 4 starter flavors in the Blu sampler (tobacco, cherry, coffee, menthol) I most enjoyed the menthol, even though during my 45 analog years I'd always hated menthol, and most disliked tobacco and coffee. Not what I would have guessed, & yes, after 2 weeks the tobacco & coffee isn't quite as horrible as it was at first but still not high on my list.

2. Equipment- I still don't have a good handle on batt voltages & carto resistance, but the Blue system has 510 type carto to batt connections, and the Freedom has 808 type connections. Both being brick & mortar (or mall type) intro kits, both batteries have disappointing charge life- about a half day with my mostly continuous use, but the Freedom is a bit bigger & lasts a bit longer. These two connector types cover 99% of all the combinations as near as I can tell.

3. Strength & TH- Didn't take me long to realize that I needed high nicotine and that in addition to being the tastiest, menthol gave me the best throat hit. Cherry was second for TH, but that's just me.

All of the above was learned within the first few days, so still wanting to keep my 'final' equipment options open I ordered 1 each of XL size automatic 510 and 808 batteries & chargers, a 510-to-808 and a 808-to-510 adapter, 1 each clear 510 and 808 bottom-feed cartos, a pack each of 510 & 808 unfilled cartos, and 6 or so assorted juices. The idea was clearly to mix and match types and test flavors (experiment). I got the clear cartos in case I really hated something I could just dump it and flush it with vodka (works well, btw).

I've moved from mixed juices to DIY, but mainly because I wanted to experiment with nic strength and flavors.

Sorry this turned into an essay and sounds complicated, but my starting out bottom-line advice is: get 2 long lasting batteries, get happy with nic strength, and try LOTS of flavors. Hang in there, you'll get dialed-in yet.