Discouraged already (ejuice taste/residue)

[Trill]

Hey, y'all,

I'm new to vaping, and right now I'm just feeling really discouraged after having spent quite a bit of money. Here's what I've done so far: Bought blu premium 100 kit. Using 6mg, because I am a doral ultra light smoker. It is okay, but leaves a not-so-great aftertaste. I also think that I'm addicted to something else in analogs because I am still not satisfied, and feel a craving for them.

Then, my daughter and I, this past weekend, spent about 16 hours total, researching, reading, watching videos, etc, because she is not happy with the battery life of the blu. We decided to go with the ego-t. So, I've now bought: 2 blu starter kits, 2 ego-t (type b) starter kits, some tobacco flavored (30ml 6mg) ejuice from Dragonfly, some tobacco flavor from madvapes (30ml 6mg VG only TopVapors) and a bunch of 5ml non-tobacco flavors from madvapes.

So I was all excited about the ego-t getting here today, but then it went downhill. First of all, one of the atomizers simply will not pull. I thought, oh no, is the ego-t supposed to be like this? I would pull and it would be like trying to suck a frozen milkshake, and I could get *something* in my lungs that choked me, but there was no vapor. Then I tried the other atomizer, and, whew, it worked fine. (I emailed dragonfly about it, not sure what can be done about the broken, or whatever, atomizer). But the juice I got from them tasted nasty, like I was smoking someone's spit from chewing or something. I mean, really gross. And it stays in my mouth and sinuses forever. So I switched to the VG stuff from madvapes and it's basically the same thing. I reckon, and please tell me if I'm wrong, that that first juice is still in there, so maybe I didn't really get to taste two different flavors. (I am using different tanks for each) Then I tried some lemon that I'd gotten, and yes, it still had that nasty tobacco taste, so I decided that it was probably leftover from the other two I used before. My husband was trying to research about the broken atomizer, but he also ran across something that said that the ego-ts just taste bad from the beginning, something about primer? And that it should get better after a few hours. Smoked the lemon for a few hours, but it never really got better.

So I'm smoking analogs while I try to figure this out. I really really really want to get off of tobacco. My mother died a couple of weeks ago from end-stage COPD, and, though I've tried to quit several times in the past, that just sort of sealed it for me: I have to quit.

I did read about steeping tonight. Maybe that will help? Maybe the vendors I got it from aren't known for good juice? Will the smell of that first juice be forever in the atomizer? Yes, I saw the cleaning video, but do I need to do that each time I change a flavor?

Right now, I'm just down because I've got this awful taste stuck in my ...whole head, it feels like, I'm sitting here looking at all this stuff I spent all this money on, and I just really want this to work out. Any help anyone can give will be really appreciated. I have a feeling that I'm doing something I do too often: get overly enthusiastic about something, and end up with multiple problems at once. Thanks in advance.

 

[Trill]

P.S. About the broken atomizer, I didn't tighten it too tightly, because I had read about that somewhere, and I was careful not to cover the air holes, so it's neither of those two things.

 

[Nokosa]

Hey Trill. I will try to answer as best as I can for you.

Yes, the juice is still in there. Whenever you put juice into an atomizer it will linger until it is completely used up. Unless you clean the atomizer to rid it of all the current juice, the taste will blend with whatever else you put in the atomizer.

Yes, all atomizers, not just the eGo-T, come with a primer. It is there as a safety measure from people accidentally using their attys without juice and burning them, or popping the atomizer, without juice.

As far as the first atomizer is concerned, there really is no simple answer as to why it did not perform well. My advice is to clean both of the atomizers. You can simply run them through with warm water for a good 5-10 minutes and let them dry, preferably over night, and do what's called a dry burn. Hold the button down for 3-4 seconds and then release. Wait about 5-10 seconds and repeat the process. You will eventually burn any remaining juice/primer residue off and the coil should glow red. Just peek down inside the atomizer while you are doing this. Be sure not to keep the button pressed for more than a couple seconds as you could pop the atomizer.

Make sure that if you do plan on switching flavors, that you clean the atomizers before hand or you will mix the flavors and, usually, it's not a pleasant result.

 

[Trill]

Thank you! That cleaning video was very intimidating to me lol! <3

 

[Trill]

Oh, wait, I think I read that wrong. I was thinking I could run water through them without taking them apart, but you mentioned the coil, which I can't see without taking it apart. I'm kind of scared to take it apart. Is there any other way to clean them? I'll go looking for that answer right now. Sorry, there is just so much to learn about all of this, and I'm kind of like a sponge, I can really soak up info for a while, but then I get saturated and start to leak. lol

 

[Stormlark]

I ran into similar troubles when I first started. I also bought a Blu starter kit and was very disappointed. Hopefully you can still return the two you bought and get a refund. The process does take a while. I returned mine a few weeks ago and still haven't gotten my money back, though I did get an email saying they were working on it.

I'm not too familiar with atomizers. I've only used cartomizers, but if they're similar at all then you'll need to clean out the atty to get rid of the juice you didn't like (as was already suggested).

One of the biggest hurdles I faced when switching to e-cigs was finding the right juice. Are you trying tobacco flavors? They don't taste anything like a real cigarette. You may want to try different flavors entirely.

It's true that vaping won't entirely get rid of your cravings. There are many other addictive substances in cigarettes that are not in an e-cig. I still struggled with some withdrawal symptoms and had some cravings near the beginning. Most of all, don't give up. Like I said, I wasn't too happy in the beginning and I also started to think I'd wasted money, but I'm now a happy vaper who's been off cigarettes for over a month. No more cravings at all and I love my flavors.

 

[Trill]

I bought the first blu kit for my daughter at walgreens, so hers can't be returned, but it's very likely that I'll be returning mine, because I got it from blu's site. I tried the java cartomizer, and wow, yuck. I do kind of like it, though, so portable and the premium 100 seems to have quite a bit more battery life + I like the cute blue tip. So, I haven't really decided about that, yet. I do know one thing: blu + beer = no can do lol. It just tastes awful with beer!

I have two different tobacco juices, because I was wanting to find the same taste as my cigs, but, honestly, after tonight, and going back to my analogs, they really don't have much flavor at all. Like I said, I smoke Doral Ultra Light 100s, so, yeah, not "full flavor," and really not any flavor. Just smoke. And, besides, at first, when I saw the 1000 mah and other big batteries, at first, I was like, ug, that is too big and bulky, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea that this hobby/habit (hobbit?!?!) is completely different from smoking. So I am pretty sure that I don't need the tobacco flavor, except maybe sometimes, if I find one that tastes like a nice cigar (I like an occasional cigar when I have the very very rare occasion to drink a little bourbon).

I'm ready to handle the withdrawals. The addiction itself isn't my problem with quitting. I've used chantix, which, for me, took away the craving 100%, but I've got that thing they used to talk about in the nicoderm pamphlet, the type of habit that requires therapy to stop. lol. So, it's basically the habit/oral fixation that I'm addicted to more than anything. I've got to pay attention and keep my lighters out of the way when I'm vaping, because I've already started to light my ecig a couple of times and had to stop myself. hah. It wouldn't surprise me if I end up vaping 0mg after some time, though. Sorry you went through some of this same stuff I'm going through now, but it's good to know I'm not alone, and it's great to know you got over the hurdles I'm dealing with now. Thanks!

I'm thinking I might like citrusy flavors, but not really sure. The only coffee I like is woods coffee, not fond of vanilla or caramel. Maybe the redhot stuff. I love cinnamon. I actually did buy some cinnamon extract, but am not sure how to use that yet. What do you like?

 

[NGIB]

A few tips for you.

The ego-t "tank" system is very, very finicky. Just read a bit here and you'll find a high percentage of folks can't get it working reliably. I highly recommend getting some good cartomizers as they are consistent and reliable. Some quality Boge LR (around 2.0 ohms) are what you need for an eGo class battery. The Resurrectors (Smoktech 1.7) are also great and they're what I use.

Crystal Clear Vaping

Next, 6mg nicotine level is very low for trying to transition from cigarettes. You may have smoked ultra lights but that doesn't mean you'll be "satisfied" at 6mg. Nicotine delivery from vaping is far less efficient than smoking. I highly recommend starting out at least 18mg to have better results. Many of us started at 36mg and it was necessary to get off the smokes. I'm down to 18mg now but I still keep some 24mg nearby.

Finding a flavor that's "perfect" is a quest we are all enduring. Get some sampler packs that have smallish bottles of various flavors and try them. As your tastebuds regenerate you will find your taste will change. Also, NO juice will taste like a cigarette - it can't as there is no combustion.

Frustration at this point is normal. We all spent (wasted?) way to much money in the beginning and it's a rite of passage I think. I'm over 2 months smoke free now and I was a 2 PAD smoker for over 35 years - so this does work...

 

[hairball]

Since I've never used a Blu, I won't comment on any issues as far as the hardware goes. But the cravings you're getting is from the withdrawal of all the other toxins in cigs. Grit your teeth and bare through it. It'll pass. Drink tons of water and try a little exercise if you're capable. The water will keep you hydrated and flush your system. The exercise, which we all need, will speed up your system to help remove the gunk also.

 

[Trill]

NGIB: Those look cool, and solve a question that I've had in my head, which was, how can I get rid of this plastic flat thing? Thanks!! I am not sure about the amount of nicotine, though, because when I got my blu the other day, I actually got that head buzz that I got when I first started smoking. If I struggle with craving once I find a juice that isn't narsti, I will definitely try increasing the nic and see if that helps. Thanks for that advice, too.


hairball: and I just signed up at the Y so I can swim at least 3 days a week! I take a lot of messed up meds + have to keep my kidneys flushed cuz of stones, so I'm good on the water front. Thanks!!

 

[WCSR]

Hang in there with us, Trill. A little time on here and YouTube, and you will be a pro before you know it.


To clean the atomizer, you do need to remove it from the battery. As was mentioned before, submerge it in some hot water, 100 proof vodka, or 90% isopropyl alcohol for a while. I prefer 90% isopropy alcohol, because it cleans better and dries quicker.

Also, the tobacco flavors, imo, are nasty. Because none of them taste like a lit cigarette. However, some people grow to love those flavors. And then there are some people that love to vape flavors like waffles-n-syrup, popcorn. or bacon. Personally, I, like a lot of non-menthol smokers, had to start out vaping menthol flavors (usually are actually mint tasting). Then I moved on to flavors like vanilla, Juicy Fruit gum, root beer, and watermelon. It takes time to get away from that taste of a lit cigarette you've been accustomed to for so long. We all have different tastes, and it takes a bit for them to recover and grow to love other flavors.

The other things in cigarettes that you're probably still craving, are known as "whole tobacco alkaloids". They're widely regarded as the most addictive chemical part of smoking....even more than the nicotine. But, over a short period of time of exclusive vaping (took me a week or so), you get past that withdraw. Then it gets easier from there.

We all spend a lot of money when we're first starting out. Most of us, in one way or another, went through the same things you are. Most of us got discouraged in the beginning. Most of us hit our points of depression at some point, as the chemicals leave our bodies and finally begin to let our brain receptors adjust to normal life. And some of us have even tried this e-cig thing two or three times before finally committing to it fully.


Like I said in the beginning... Stick around, and we'll certainly help you as much as we can. In my time here, I've noticed that this forum is not only a good place to get answers, but it's also a good place to get support.

 

[Trill]

NGIB: also, I am nearly the same w/ the analogs, been smoking for 35 yrs now, 2+ PAD. So, it's good to see another smokestack get off the analogs. If I can make all this work out, it's really not money wasted. Hubs and I talked about it when I first started reading about all of this, and he basically said "thumbs up, spend as much as you want, this is important," because I was kind of paralyzed by all the options, and didn't want to waste money. That's why I grabbed the blu first, because I knew that it was working pretty well for my daughter, and though I knew I would probably want something else in the future, I didn't want to sit here and analyze and research until next year, all the while smoking the analogs steadily.

 

[WCSR]

I take a lot of messed up meds + have to keep my kidneys flushed cuz of stones, so I'm good on the water front. Thanks!!

Ahhh... Me and the kidney stones have been around the block several times too. I feel for you on that.

 

[Trill]

Thanks, WCSR. I removed the atomizer from the battery, and just ran some pretty warm water over them. Do you think that will be okay? I'll grab some alcohol when I'm out later today (laaaaaaater today, it's almost bedtime for me now), because I like to use it to clean things, and I am out.

Good to know about and see the support. I really appreciate it.

I hope the Lemon will taste good once I get the atomizer cleaned out. It's probably like candles, though, some lemon candles are awesome and smell like lemon, but others smell like citronella, yuck! lol. I guess my next stop should be the eliquid reviews, even though I know we all have different tastes.

 

[Trill]

Ahhh... Me and the kidney stones have been around the block several times too. I feel for you on that.

Good thing I like water and lemons!! I keep asking my doc to ultrasound zap the ones I'm carrying around, but he says it's not worth it. And HE has stones. tsk.

 

[NGIB]

I quit smoking immediately after my first kit came off the charger. It wasn't a very good kit but I refused to buy anymore cigarettes as I had run out. As I said, I've spent a small fortune finding my way and I hang out in this area of the forum to help folks like I was 2 months ago. I don't buy "bling" or "flash" and I focus strictly on performance. I never ever want to go back to smoking so I just stay focused and spend what's necessary. I carry an eGo 650 mah kit every day to work and I have other devices I use at home where size isn't important.

One last tip: have backups for your backups. If a battery dies or a carto burns out - do you have a spare with you? The kit I take to work every day has at least 2 spare batteries, at least 6 cartos/CE3s, and I keep a charger in my truck and in the office. I also have small bottles of juice in the office. Running out of something is my fear and I refuse to "go back"...

 

[dragonbone]

OK, everyone is helping you, so I just want to say that a lot of us had growing pains and disappointments right in the beginning, so I couldn7t help smiling at your first post . You will work it out and get to love vaping. Just hang in there. I would also suggest getting a few cheap cartomizers. They are easier for newbies IMO.
Fill and vape. Want to change flavor? Fill and vape a new one. Getting dryish? Top up. Easy. You can always play with your T system later on, in-between - but for now you just want to vape while you figure everything out...

Good luck and welcome to the ECF.

 

[WCSR]

Good thing I like water and lemons!! I keep asking my doc to ultrasound zap the ones I'm carrying around, but he says it's not worth it. And HE has stones. tsk.

They will genrally only ultrasound them if they're too large to pass. While I've been lucky to never have them that big, I did pass 6 stones one night. My urologist basically told me to get hammered drunk, and they'd pass. I was living in Louisiana at the time, and I'm pretty sure my urologist was already hammered drunk when he told me that.

 

[Trill]

NGIB: I AM interested in bling and flash, because, like I said, I want this to be very different from smoking (plus, if I am smoking something flashy, other people are likely to ask me what it is, and I can spread the word). But I'm with you, I want to make this work to stop smoking, period. WITH you on the backups. Right now, I've got the blu kit and ego-t kit, got an extra car charger, because we only had one, and am about to take off and go out into the woods for about a week or so, so I do not want to end up running out out there, because my only resort would be bugler or something equally gross. At first, I thought I'd just take a carton of cigs just in case, but I really don't want to buy any more. I have about 6 packs right now, and I don't wanna buy anymore. So I will probably grab a few extra batteries and etc, before I go out there. Looking at my desk right now, though, it's like I need a separate backpack for my vaping supplies! So, that's another thing I need to check out, a PCC for the ego, and maybe some kind of case or bag or something that will store batts, attys, juices, chargers, etc. Anyway, thanks again for your help and encouragement. I need to get me one of those sig things when I quit these analogs for good.

 

[dragonbone]

A few tips for you.

The ego-t "tank" system is very, very finicky. Just read a bit here and you'll find a high percentage of folks can't get it working reliably. I highly recommend getting some good cartomizers as they are consistent and reliable. Some quality Boge LR (around 2.0 ohms) are what you need for an eGo class battery. The Resurrectors (Smoktech 1.7) are also great and they're what I use.

Crystal Clear Vaping

Next, 6mg nicotine level is very low for trying to transition from cigarettes. You may have smoked ultra lights but that doesn't mean you'll be "satisfied" at 6mg. Nicotine delivery from vaping is far less efficient than smoking. I highly recommend starting out at least 18mg to have better results. Many of us started at 36mg and it was necessary to get off the smokes. I'm down to 18mg now but I still keep some 24mg nearby.

Finding a flavor that's "perfect" is a quest we are all enduring. Get some sampler packs that have smallish bottles of various flavors and try them. As your tastebuds regenerate you will find your taste will change. Also, NO juice will taste like a cigarette - it can't as there is no combustion.

Frustration at this point is normal. We all spent (wasted?) way to much money in the beginning and it's a rite of passage I think. I'm over 2 months smoke free now and I was a 2 PAD smoker for over 35 years - so this does work...

Yep, agree with NGIB. Cartomizers are dead easy... Also agree on the nic. I smked 1mg cigarettes for many years. The lightest in the world and I couldn't buy them anywhere except Japan, so when I travelled I stocked up on many cartons at duty free. If other people borrowed a ciggy from me, they would look at me all puzzled and say; 'Why do you even bother? This is like pure air'.
However.... now I'm usually vaping 36mg lol. Not saying that is ideal, but just explaining, that what you smoked is not necessarily what you will vape to be satisfied.

Some bling and flash (all eGos) .