eGrip, too 'powerful' or did I get a lemon?

[cathouse]

Hi there. As a carton-a-week smoker for 40 years wanting to quit, I've been lurking & learning for a couple of months and I need some advice. Like many of you, I started with a disposable (NJoy) and moved on to cigalike starter kits from both Green Smoke and Halo. I've been using the Halo G6 for about a month and it's helped me cut way back on the Marlboro Silvers.


Anyway, I thought that maybe a better device could get me off the smokes for good and decided that the Joyetech eGrip was exactly what I was looking for. The eGrip Kit, plus two packs of extra coils, hit my mailbox yesterday morning. My frustration and disappointment hit the wall a few minutes ago. Other than being a little heavier than I expected, everything seems to work on the eGrip but I cannot taste the juice! There's plenty of vapor and I'm using the lowest setting but the vapor is more like a flavorless steam and I don't know what to do. I spent all day and most of the night trying to vape this unit but I've about had enough and might stay with the little cigalike.


I'm pretty sure I've let it wick or prime long enough before firing, I've even tried 3 replacement coils and a couple of fresh tanks of juice but I can't see me ever getting used to the device and its performance for me. fwiw, I can still taste and enjoy all my juice flavors on the G6 so this can't be a case of vaper's tongue and must be device specific, right?

Oh man, I was so looking forward to the eGrip giving me more satisfying & flavorful vapor. Is there something wrong with my eGrip? I don't know any other vapers and this town has no vape shop, so I'm hoping y'all can give me some explanations and answers. Sheesh, I took so long to write this post that I'm late for work and may not be able to reply for another couple of hours. Sorry if this seems like a hit and run...


So, is 8 watts too much of a leap from the G6 or could there be something

 

[daleron]

Hello cathouse, welcome to ECF. Make yourself right at home
Goodness, I have no idea! Hope someone comes along shortly to help you

 

[iamthevoice]

First of all, welcome to ECF! I'm sorry to hear about your situation; I haven't used an eGrip, so I have no directly relevant experience to speak of, but I might suggest a number of things to look into. First of all, loss of flavor can due to a number of factors (especially as you've pointed out you can taste your juice in another device), but I would suspect airflow as the primary culprit. Most of the cigalikes have a fairly tight draw, and moving to a device with a more airy draw can really impact flavor. Have you tried a lung hit with your eGrip (direct to lung, rather than mouth to lung). If you find that some flavor comes through, you might just try to adjust the airflow to a tighter draw.

 

[CampbellMC]

I find it odd that you are getting lots of vapor but no flavor, I am guessing it is just getting muted too much for you to even taste it. Different set ups have different "flavor levels" in my mind. For example I would give my iClear30s an 8 for flavor, it has a stiff draw, but the flavoring on it is the strongest of any low end tank I have used. Then if I compare that to say the Nautilus, I would only give it a 6. It produces much more vapor, smooth draw, but flavor gets muted. Other than that I don't know what to tell you, you already tried different coils, different juice, and wattage seems fine.

 

[Swordsbeer]

You mentioned you are using the lowest settings. Could be not hot enough for the flavor, try a bit higher and see?

 

[Bunnykiller]

what juice are you using??

 

[tj99959]

Flavor is produced by a combination of AFR (air fuel ratio) and coil temperature. You can adjust both with the eGrip. Your air flow screw allows you to adjust the AFR, and the wattage allows you to adjust the coil temp.

You might want to look into this however.

 

[cathouse]

Wow, replies! This is the first time I've ever joined and posted on a forum so please excuse my goofs and any bad manners. Like I don't know whether to answer each person individually or just reply to thread. And I've only got a few minutes now to post from the office so I can only get back to you with quick comments.

You know, I really wasn't sure what to expect with this unit because I've never vaped anything else other than the cigalikes. After reading reviews and watching videos, I had & have really high hopes. The vapor just seems so "hot" and steamy to me but maybe all the devices are like that and I just have to get used to it. But I definitely want to taste something more than hot air!

I've played around with the various wattage settings, I think they go up in 1.5 increments, from 8 up to 17 (which was like a geyser shooting straight to the roof of my mouth!) but didn't make it to the top 20 watt click. The flavor or lack of it honestly didn't change to me, the vapor just kept getting hotter and there was more of it. As for juice, I've used two Nicoticket flavors, The Virus and Radioactive, which both taste fine in the G6 along with Halo's Tribecca and Turkish.

About the air flow, I've adjusted the little screw all the way down up thru all the way open and I can tell the difference in the way it draws but not in the flavor. I love the eGrip's stealthy size and all-in-one convenience and want it to be a great step up for me. All the reviews, comments, and videos I've seen convinced me to buy it. I'm just worried that I got a defective unit that's somehow set to "nuke" instead of vape comfortably. At this point, however, I have no real way of knowing whether it's acting like it was designed to do or if I'm just not cut out to vape anything other than my G6.

I will be back later in the day. Gotta go now

 

[cathouse]

I wanted to give a big THANK YOU for your replies and suggestions! ECF truly is an impressive place for both lurkers and members alike. Unfortunately, I've given up for now and have abandoned the eGrip. My first foray into more advanced PV's was a big old failure. I'll keep lurking and might make a few more posts until I can get to your Pay It Forward place and possibly donate a nearly new eGrip Kit, 7 unused coils, and a skin to somebody who's capable of using it correctly. For me, it was simply too hot & nasty (insert crude joke here). I noticed in another thread from the VV APV forum that at least one other person had serious problems with the eGrip's hot vapor and serious dry hits at the lowest 8 watt setting. Everybody else seems to love the thing.

Peace & Purrs

 

[flbutterfly1]

Too hot for me also. Burns my throat with 0mg. I've fixed my heat problem by rebuilding my coils for the rba to 2.2-2.4. It's now useable to me but still playing around with it. I build all my coils no matter device to 2.2 that 1.5 stuff is just too hot. The replaceable heads being dual coil is too hot and I've never liked duals anyway. Egrip isn't my favorite at the moment. Hopefully i will be able to figure something out because I love the size and built in tank.

 

[cathouse]

You don't know how much I really appreciate your comments. I'm pretty bummed out about it and now I don't feel quite so alone in the situation. I honestly know nothing about the 1.5 vs larger coil numbers and just thought I was getting a decent device for a beginner. I'll probably just stick with the cigalikes for a while longer and not get serious about finding something else for another few months when I'll be retiring in the Spring. I'm still learning about this whole vape world and folks like you help so much.

 

[sofarsogood]

Hi cathouse,

I've had an Egrip since they were new last October. I use mine a lot for pocket carry when I'm out and about. When it's running with its rba accessory the flavor is intense. It should should also be very good with the replacable coil heads you are using, so be patient. May be a better next step than the egrip is a Nautilus mini on an iStick 30 watt. Consider getting that setup, which I recommend only because I'm familiar with it. That should buy you some time to fiddle with your egrip and get things sorted out. Play with the air supply, play with the power setting and be patient. The Egrip makes good flavor and vapor and yours will too.

When you ask good questions everybody learns so ask away. The people on this board may be about as good hearted and generous as any online forum you'll find.

 

[nagaimichi74]

So I just got my eGrip a few days ago from a local B&M. Being the first adjustable I have ever had (previously used the Halo Triton System) I burned out the original coil in less than a day playing with the settings. What I did notice is that even at 8w and AF open or closed, a mouth to lung hit would give me a slight burnt taste. A full lung hit would give me a flavorful hit with plenty of vapor.

 

[Woofer]

Your egrip may well be faulty. I have an iSTick that is super nasty and hot, unusable to me.

 

[Rickajho]

Before the OP gives up on the eGrip they should pick up the rebuildable atomizer Joyetech made for it. It's a very different experience than the stock coils - dual coil versus single coil - and people report getting better flavor out of the RBA. You don't have to learn to build coils for it either - you can buy pre-made coils for it.

Example here, but Cignot sells everything eGrip related. ~> https://www.cignot.com/product_p/joy-egr-rba.htm

 

[Kh888]

Too hot for me also. Burns my throat with 0mg. I've fixed my heat problem by rebuilding my coils for the rba to 2.2-2.4. It's now useable to me but still playing around with it. I build all my coils no matter device to 2.2 that 1.5 stuff is just too hot. The replaceable heads being dual coil is too hot and I've never liked duals anyway. Egrip isn't my favorite at the moment. Hopefully i will be able to figure something out because I love the size and built in tank.

Hi,

I am also in a very similar situation and I am experiencing the "too hot" problem, as well. I love the Egrip for size, but am desperately trying to tone it down.

For your builds, can you tell me what gauge Kanthal you are using? Have you found anything else that helps with the problem?

Thanks!

 

[Rickajho]

There are a couple of big threads dealing with the eGrip "as-is" and builds for the RDA as well. Here:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...cussion/613559-new-joyetech-20watt-egrip.html

And in the Cignot supplier forum:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/cignot/613850-joyetech-egrip-i-am-loving-thing.html

 

[MrSparkle]

Heya cathouse -

I'm brand new to vaping, but find the eGrip immensely satisfying. At first, I wasn't down with rebuilding coils and such - I wanted low fuss, plug n play action. But I relented, and gave the eGrip's RBA (Rebuildable Atomizer) Base a try, and while I was happy with the stock CS coils at first, the RBA was a big improvement in airflow and flavor.

I've been posting frequently in the eGrip thread in the Cignot supplier forum with my experience with the eGrip. I've also been keeping track of the eGrip thread in the APV forum, same as you. EDIT: removed links as Rickajho posted them above as I was writing my usual wordy post lol

As I read and absorb information from across ECF, two things come to mind here with your experience with the eGrip:

1) Taste is subjective. What's right for one might not be for another. Perhaps your vaping "sweet spot" is just at a lower level. Too much of something can be a bad thing, and the ability of the eGrip even with the stock CS coil to kick out thick vapor at low wattage, way over the ability of a cigalike, is overriding the flavor aspect. You might have already answered this yourself, with:

So, is 8 watts too much of a leap from the G6 or could there be something

2) I can't help but think your juice is maybe just not compatible with the stock eGrip CS coil. Maybe the extra airflow of the RBA base will help with your current choice. Maybe experimenting with other juices with the stock coil will do the trick. I don't even know myself on this next point - maybe someone out there with more experience with can answer it - but are you using the juice for the Halo in the eGrip? Maybe that juice is only meant for the lower power level of the Halo?

3) I think this would be the least of the culprits, but yeah, maybe the eGrip is defective - but as I've been reading, defects seem to be more of a "it works / it doesn't work at all" thing, over wonky power levels. There were early production run issues with the USB charge port getting pushed in and breaking away from the circuit board (due to the port being designed such that the cord plug doesn't seat flush to the base when plugged in - I imagine the hamfisted just jamming it in past the click thinking it's supposed to be flush), but that's germane to the works / doesn't work thing, and not your flavor issue.

Yes, the RBA is more fiddly, but as Rickajho mentioned, you can simply install a new pre-made, even pre-wicked coil when needed.


The freedom of choice we have in the market right now (and while it lasts) allows for so much tailoring of the vaping experience. This allows for a requisite trial and error period, which you should consider - and consider giving the eGrip another chance

 

[cathouse]

You folks rock. All the sincere comments & helpful suggestions showing up nearly a week later! Sadly, my eGrip has been a total flop for me. I know I should get the RBA base and keep at it or even buy another one in case mine is faulty. But I didn't. Overall I tried 7 different CS heads, 6 different juices (3 Nicoticket & 3 Halo), inhaled mouth to lung, did straight lung hits, adjusted the air flow and wattage in every conceivable manner/combination -- but all I ever got was basically a lot of flavorless vapor and it was always too d@mn hot to take for more than a few minutes. One time I thought a taste was coming through but it was almost metallic-like. Believe me, I really WANT the unit to work for me because I love its size, relative ease of use, and the way it feels in my hand. But this experience sure ain't been fun or satisfying. Geez, I am so jealous of virtually every other one of you who truly enjoys and is pleased with your device. I've read every last word of every thread I could find here and watched dozens of YouTube videos, and I think I've used all the suggested tricks & techniques.

I feel like an old idiot for not being successful with something so easy. The most disheartening aspect for me is that I've actually ended up smoking more real cigarettes than usual since opening the eGrip box and getting so disgusted with the frustrating experience and with myself. Sorry to disappoint everybody.

 

[flbutterfly1]

I use 28g and also 32g but wrap on the screwdriver that came with it. I vary the amount of wraps for each wire to get the resistance I want. Halo liquids are very thin and should wick well. Try alternating from your regular device to just a few puffs on the egrip and back again. I do find the more I use a more powerful device the more my throat gets used to the heat. Also try a long drip tip or an airflow control tip.