Excited noobie wanting to learn more

[rmpetty]

Like swedishfish says, listen to Rosa. I bought a Riva 510 kit from Liberty Flights, my wife wanted "a real looking cigarette with the little red light" that lasted two days. So I got another Riva 510 from LF, black. My brother stopped up for a visit and tried mine. He said that works great and he liked the black - so my wife gave it to him. I had to order another from LF, this time white. So I'm happy, my wife is happy, and now my brother is happy. All with Riva 510's from LF. And the best part is that none of us have had an analog since the first drag on a Riva.Best of luck.
Forgot to add, read the "Wonderful world of vaping" in the ecf library. It will give you a much better understanding.

 

[swedishfish]

Like swedishfish says, listen to Rosa. I bought a Riva 510 kit from Liberty Flights, my wife wanted "a real looking cigarette with the little red light" that lasted two days. So I got another Riva 510 from LF, black. My brother stopped up for a visit and tried mine. He said that works great and he liked the black - so my wife gave it to him. I had to order another from LF, this time white. So I'm happy, my wife is happy, and now my brother is happy. All with Riva 510's from LF. And the best part is that none of us have had an analog since the first drag on a Riva.Best of luck.

That's a success story if I ever heard one! Congrats!

 

[Krisb]

My advice may be a bit different, but then again we all took our own paths to get to where made us happy with vaping.

I bought a couple ego type ecigs at first, loved them and they got me to quit smoking...but, then again, I had no comparison. The egos/rivas etc are all 3.7v devices. That is perfect for many, some enjoy pairing them with an LR atomizer to simulate vaping at a higher voltage.

I then moved to a ggtb which is a tube mod that allows me to put many different battery combinations on it to change voltage. Knew I was close to 'my' perfect vape. Problem I have is the batteries start off, after being charged, a bit too high for me, then would be great for awhile, then as they drained, my vape would disappear.

At that point I knew what would work best for me would be a variable volt mod. Not sure if I agree with one point made that if anything went wrong with a mod you have no backup...isn't this true of owning any ONE device? A VV device will give you the ability to choose from a 3.7v up to 6 or 7v, and anything in between. Some juices taste great at low voltages and taste burnt at high voltages. And some have no flavor at low and come amazingly alive at high.

We all have our preferences, but honestly, a VV gives you all the options at once. The two I would suggest on the market now, is either a Darwin (I just got one and battery lasts for 2 days and is a wonderfully consistent vape) or a provari. They, unfortunately, are both a bit pricey though. I use a MAP tank on it and, wow...no more refilling all the time, no leaking and is perfect for no mess no fuss driving etc. If you need a backup, and I think everyone should have one, grab a cheap ego battery and you can use your carts/ attys on it.

May be a higher start up cost, but if I had gone that route, I would have saved A LOT of money! Good luck!

Sent from my ADR6300

 

[Krisb]

One last thing. As far as a mod being too complicated for a noob, not true at all. Any e-cig is basically a battery, atomizer, and something that holds the juice.( battery-atomizer-cart or tank, or battery-cartomizers). Only thing to know about mods, is they are capable of higher voltage and make sure you buy cartomizers or atomizers that have a high enough ohm for that voltage. I am using a 2.8 ohm map tank at 4.8v and it is wonderful! Lots of vapor, slightly warm and the taste is perfect (for me

Sent from my ADR6300

 

[arealltheusernamesgone]

I think I am going to go with the stuff Rosa suggested, my only concern is the word lite with that model. To me that conveys a sense of it being small, less battery duration, not as much vapor production, etc. Are those concerns unfounded? Will I definitely notice a difference between my 7-11 model and it? Is there any thing else that I'll need? That wait is gonna suck after I place my order tomorrow. What about care and maintenance, what do you recommend for that?

Individualized responses below. Thank you again everyone.

My answers in bold:



Good luck!!

Stellar information again Rosa, thank you. Would you recommend just doubling that order if I was going to get one for someone else?

Listen to Rosa!

I intend to. =) Thanks for your vote of confidence.

Like swedishfish says, listen to Rosa. I bought a Riva 510 kit from Liberty Flights, my wife wanted "a real looking cigarette with the little red light" that lasted two days. So I got another Riva 510 from LF, black. My brother stopped up for a visit and tried mine. He said that works great and he liked the black - so my wife gave it to him. I had to order another from LF, this time white. So I'm happy, my wife is happy, and now my brother is happy. All with Riva 510's from LF. And the best part is that none of us have had an analog since the first drag on a Riva.Best of luck.
Forgot to add, read the "Wonderful world of vaping" in the ecf library. It will give you a much better understanding.

Will re-read that. I read it once already, but I think going through it again after this thread would be a good idea. Great story, congrats. Which particular kit did you buy?

My advice may be a bit different, but then again we all took our own paths to get to where made us happy with vaping.

I bought a couple ego type ecigs at first, loved them and they got me to quit smoking...but, then again, I had no comparison. The egos/rivas etc are all 3.7v devices. That is perfect for many, some enjoy pairing them with an LR atomizer to simulate vaping at a higher voltage.

I then moved to a ggtb which is a tube mod that allows me to put many different battery combinations on it to change voltage. Knew I was close to 'my' perfect vape. Problem I have is the batteries start off, after being charged, a bit too high for me, then would be great for awhile, then as they drained, my vape would disappear.

At that point I knew what would work best for me would be a variable volt mod. Not sure if I agree with one point made that if anything went wrong with a mod you have no backup...isn't this true of owning any ONE device? A VV device will give you the ability to choose from a 3.7v up to 6 or 7v, and anything in between. Some juices taste great at low voltages and taste burnt at high voltages. And some have no flavor at low and come amazingly alive at high.

We all have our preferences, but honestly, a VV gives you all the options at once. The two I would suggest on the market now, is either a Darwin (I just got one and battery lasts for 2 days and is a wonderfully consistent vape) or a provari. They, unfortunately, are both a bit pricey though. I use a MAP tank on it and, wow...no more refilling all the time, no leaking and is perfect for no mess no fuss driving etc. If you need a backup, and I think everyone should have one, grab a cheap ego battery and you can use your carts/ attys on it.

May be a higher start up cost, but if I had gone that route, I would have saved A LOT of money! Good luck!

Sent from my ADR6300

I appreciate your input. The price is a bit too much for me with how ignorant I feel, but I will definitely be considering a model like that after I get my feet wet first.

One last thing. As far as a mod being too complicated for a noob, not true at all. Any e-cig is basically a battery, atomizer, and something that holds the juice.( battery-atomizer-cart or tank, or battery-cartomizers). Only thing to know about mods, is they are capable of higher voltage and make sure you buy cartomizers or atomizers that have a high enough ohm for that voltage. I am using a 2.8 ohm map tank at 4.8v and it is wonderful! Lots of vapor, slightly warm and the taste is perfect (for me

Sent from my ADR6300

Thanks for the clarification. That is very reassuring for when I branch out further.

 

[Krisb]

I felt the same as you in the beginning. Not sure I would have thrown that much $into it in the beginning, either. Just be careful, I know many that started with one of the ego/rivas and spent so much trying to simulate higher voltage. But, like I said, many start with the rivas and stay there happily.

Get your feet wet, make sure it even works for you. You'll know soon enough if that makes you happy or not. It's a fun hobby/addiction, there is no wrong way to go through the process. Good luck!!

Sent from my ADR6300

 

[swedishfish]

I think I am going to go with the stuff Rosa suggested, my only concern is the word lite with that model. To me that conveys a sense of it being small, less battery duration, not as much vapor production, etc. Are those concerns unfounded? Will I definitely notice a difference between my 7-11 model and it? Is there any thing else that I'll need? That wait is gonna suck after I place my order tomorrow. What about care and maintenance, what do you recommend for that?

I think the lite bundle means it doesn't have a bunch of extras. The Special addition gives two atomizer cones (which I never used) and 10 carts. The Lite gives 1 atomizer cone and 5 carts.

Just try to keep the battery clean. I clean them every so often with a q-tip and alcohol.

 

[jazdale]

This looks like a heluva starter kit. the Joye eGo Passthru Kit
1 ego with a pass-thru, cartos, cartridges, a dripper, and some juice for 50bux.
Allows you to try all methods except the tank

The tank and atomizer can be bought for another 25 from the same place and it is compatible

https://www.cignot.com/product_p/kit-ego-spt.htm

I noticed that the page is secured, if the page doesn't load the exact description is Joye eGo Passthru Kit

 

[Rosa]

This looks like a heluva starter kit. the Joye eGo Passthru Kit
1 ego with a pass-thru, cartos, cartridges, a dripper, and some juice for 50bux.
Allows you to try all methods except the tank

The tank and atomizer can be bought for another 25 from the same place and it is compatible

https://www.cignot.com/product_p/kit-ego-spt.htm

I noticed that the page is secured, if the page doesn't load the exact description is Joye eGo Passthru Kit

The only problem I have with that kit is that it only has one battery and I'm not hugely fond of the joye brand 510 cartomizers. Also it's $50, you can get the Riva lite bundle ($30), plus a 2 boxes of boge cartomizers ($16) plus a drip tip ($3) for that.

But it does look like a good kit if you hang around a computer quite a bit (though people seem to recommend that you not plug your USB into the computer but use an a/c converter instead - I guess a couple of people have fried their computers).

 

[arealltheusernamesgone]

Hey everyone - once again, thanks for the help. I placed an order that is essentially what Rosa recommended, but waiting for shipping is going to be a pain. I know y'all are probably getting a bit annoyed with me, but please can I get some last minute advice on cleaning, storage, etc.?

In other news, my two gas station e-cigs stopped producing basically any vapor without inhaling incredibly hard. So I went and bought another one to tide me over until the shipment came in, but now that one is producing almost no vapor right out of the box. What the heck is going on with that? Do they require cleaning? Are they just that bad? Was it a bad production cycle of cartridges that happened to end up in 4 different packages? I'm not gonna lie, it is pretty infuriating and it is making me worried about e-cigs in general (are the new ones gonna die like this?).

I felt the same as you in the beginning. Not sure I would have thrown that much $into it in the beginning, either. Just be careful, I know many that started with one of the ego/rivas and spent so much trying to simulate higher voltage. But, like I said, many start with the rivas and stay there happily.

Get your feet wet, make sure it even works for you. You'll know soon enough if that makes you happy or not. It's a fun hobby/addiction, there is no wrong way to go through the process. Good luck!!

Sent from my ADR6300

Thank you Krisb. Very sound advice, and I will follow it.

I think the lite bundle means it doesn't have a bunch of extras. The Special addition gives two atomizer cones (which I never used) and 10 carts. The Lite gives 1 atomizer cone and 5 carts.

Just try to keep the battery clean. I clean them every so often with a q-tip and alcohol.

Ahh, thanks for clearing that up. What do you mean the battery? The only model I have to really look at is the gas station one "Xhale" - I can't get at any battery. Do you mean the threading where the batter connects? I want to learn more about cleaning/maintenance.

This looks like a heluva starter kit. the Joye eGo Passthru Kit
1 ego with a pass-thru, cartos, cartridges, a dripper, and some juice for 50bux.
Allows you to try all methods except the tank

The tank and atomizer can be bought for another 25 from the same place and it is compatible

https://www.cignot.com/product_p/kit-ego-spt.htm

I noticed that the page is secured, if the page doesn't load the exact description is Joye eGo Passthru Kit

Thank you for the suggestion jazdale. That was one of the kits I was considering, but the price did sway me away.

The only problem I have with that kit is that it only has one battery and I'm not hugely fond of the joye brand 510 cartomizers. Also it's $50, you can get the Riva lite bundle ($30), plus a 2 boxes of boge cartomizers ($16) plus a drip tip ($3) for that.

But it does look like a good kit if you hang around a computer quite a bit (though people seem to recommend that you not plug your USB into the computer but use an a/c converter instead - I guess a couple of people have fried their computers).

And thanks again for the help Rosa. Your input has been greatly appreciated.

 

[pkj]

I am not popping in with information because you have received some super info here already.

But I will give a Shout Out and Big Welcome
To the ECF Forums. Glad to meet you and glad you found us.

Paula

 

[Rosa]

Hey everyone - once again, thanks for the help. I placed an order that is essentially what Rosa recommended, but waiting for shipping is going to be a pain. I know y'all are probably getting a bit annoyed with me, but please can I get some last minute advice on cleaning, storage, etc.?

In other news, my two gas station e-cigs stopped producing basically any vapor without inhaling incredibly hard. So I went and bought another one to tide me over until the shipment came in, but now that one is producing almost no vapor right out of the box. What the heck is going on with that? Do they require cleaning? Are they just that bad? Was it a bad production cycle of cartridges that happened to end up in 4 different packages? I'm not gonna lie, it is pretty infuriating and it is making me worried about e-cigs in general (are the new ones gonna die like this?).

• re; cleaning:

I just blow my atomizers out maybe once or twice a day (hold paper towel at one end and blow through other end to get the burned up gunk out. Some people swear you have to soak in vodka or coke or boiling water for 15 minutes, blow out and let dry for 24 hours (done weekly) but none of the manufacturers recommend doing any soaking that I've seen and my atty's work just find with a blow out once in a while.

It's important to keep the thread ends clean on all your parts though (wherever stuff screws together), I always wipe the threads off any time I change atomizers or charge a battery.. basically anytime I unscrew or screw anything on I wipe off all the threads.

Batteries can just be wiped off with a paper towel (the battery is the cigarette body part - not the cigarette filter looking part).

• re; storage:

People have different storage solutions, the most popular is probably just a craft box with dividers (like you'd get to store beads or sewing equipment). If you go to Michael's craft store you'll find a pretty good selection there (plus you can pick up some Wilton's Glycerin while you are there - just in case - it's near the cake decorating stuff).

But if you have kids at home I do recommend you get a locking box to keep your e-liquid in, just in case anyone gets curious while you're taking a nap or something.

• re; other tips:

refilling your cartridges: YouTube - Mooby's Guide for Noobies: How to Refill Carts
refilling your cartomizers: YouTube - Refill Ecig Cartos Quick and Easy (CCFM)
drip tips: YouTube - eCig Nylon Drip Zip Tip Review for Direct Dripping Totally Wicked Demonstration

• re; the convenience store e-cig is junky:

Many people are satisfied with the convenience store e-cig, but more people find that their performance can be inconsistent and certainly they do not last as long as a quality e-cig like an eGo or a Riva. If yours is not producing vapor right out of the box, I recommend bringing it back and seeing if they will either trade you for a new one or provide some refill carts gratis. It's likely that the cartridges were dried out (ie: old, or not properly packaged). And, no, the kit you got will not be like that.

Good luck!

 

[arealltheusernamesgone]

I am not popping in with information because you have received some super info here already.

But I will give a Shout Out and Big Welcome
To the ECF Forums. Glad to meet you and glad you found us.

Paula

Thank you, Paula. I am glad as well.

• re; cleaning:

I just blow my atomizers out maybe once or twice a day (hold paper towel at one end and blow through other end to get the burned up gunk out. Some people swear you have to soak in vodka or coke or boiling water for 15 minutes, blow out and let dry for 24 hours (done weekly) but none of the manufacturers recommend doing any soaking that I've seen and my atty's work just find with a blow out once in a while.

It's important to keep the thread ends clean on all your parts though (wherever stuff screws together), I always wipe the threads off any time I change atomizers or charge a battery.. basically anytime I unscrew or screw anything on I wipe off all the threads.

Batteries can just be wiped off with a paper towel (the battery is the cigarette body part - not the cigarette filter looking part).

• re; storage:

People have different storage solutions, the most popular is probably just a craft box with dividers (like you'd get to store beads or sewing equipment). If you go to Michael's craft store you'll find a pretty good selection there (plus you can pick up some Wilton's Glycerin while you are there - just in case - it's near the cake decorating stuff).

But if you have kids at home I do recommend you get a locking box to keep your e-liquid in, just in case anyone gets curious while you're taking a nap or something.

• re; other tips:

refilling your cartridges: YouTube - Mooby's Guide for Noobies: How to Refill Carts
refilling your cartomizers: YouTube - Refill Ecig Cartos Quick and Easy (CCFM)
drip tips: YouTube - eCig Nylon Drip Zip Tip Review for Direct Dripping Totally Wicked Demonstration

• re; the convenience store e-cig is junky:

Many people are satisfied with the convenience store e-cig, but more people find that their performance can be inconsistent and certainly they do not last as long as a quality e-cig like an eGo or a Riva. If yours is not producing vapor right out of the box, I recommend bringing it back and seeing if they will either trade you for a new one or provide some refill carts gratis. It's likely that the cartridges were dried out (ie: old, or not properly packaged). And, no, the kit you got will not be like that.

Good luck!

Alright! Rosa comes through in the clutch again! Thank you for that information - that is very reassuring.

 

[arealltheusernamesgone]

Ok, so my shipment just got in. My excitement has been diminished quite a bit by the fact that I just can't seem to get much vapor at all. I have tried carts and a drip tip. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[swedishfish]

You have the Riva ego, correct?

Did you blow out the atty? Do you have any cartomizers that came with the kit? I can't help you much with carts or dripping. I was very unsuccessful with that myself for some reason.

 

[arealltheusernamesgone]

You have the Riva ego, correct?

Did you blow out the atty? Do you have any cartomizers that came with the kit? I can't help you much with carts or dripping. I was very unsuccessful with that myself for some reason.

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, I got the model recommended by Rosa. I did blow it out some - nothing came out, but I tried.

I have these, which I believe are cartomizers.

 

[swedishfish]

Did you fill them up (with about 20 drops of liquid)? That's pretty much all I use and get tons of vapor. And you aren't getting any?

I do the condom method, fill the little cap with about 15 drops and push the carto slowly down on it. The I hold the battery end and shake shake shake like your shaking a thermometer. When it looks pretty absorbed, put a few more drops in.

Then, before putting the little plastic cap back on, I put a tissue to the battery end and blow- get a little excess juice out so you won't get any in your mouth. Then put the cap back on.

Your not getting any vapor with the cart & atty or the carto?

 

[acleaneroption]

heh this thread was super useful.

Maybe retitled and sticky it for us beginners?

 

[arealltheusernamesgone]

Did you fill them up (with about 20 drops of liquid)? That's pretty much all I use and get tons of vapor. And you aren't getting any?

I do the condom method, fill the little cap with about 15 drops and push the carto slowly down on it. The I hold the battery end and shake shake shake like your shaking a thermometer. When it looks pretty absorbed, put a few more drops in.

Then, before putting the little plastic cap back on, I put a tissue to the battery end and blow- get a little excess juice out so you won't get any in your mouth. Then put the cap back on.

Your not getting any vapor with the cart & atty or the carto?

Ok, I tried the cartomizer and I'm getting a good amount of vapor - too bad that the first flavor I tried was not very good. Lol. Thanks swedishfish! I just dripped it in there, I didn't try the condom method.

Are cartomizers reusable? If so, is there a way to clean them (say, to get rid of a bad first flavor?).

I'm going to have to re-try the other methods, maybe I was doing something wrong.

heh this thread was super useful.

Maybe retitled and sticky it for us beginners?

Glad you found it useful. Sorry my title wasn't very good.

 

[swedishfish]

Why don't you send a PM to Rosa? Maybe she can help you with the carts and atty in case she doesn't see this thread.

I didn't have luck with the atty & carts either. I couldn't drip (still can't) and couldn't fill up the carts right.

I only used cartos. Here's the negative with cartos, it's almost impossible to clean them so you have to know your going to like it before you fill up all the way. I was able to drip a little just to see if I would like the juice before I committed to a carto. But that's the downside of cartos. They can be refilled and topped off but it's difficult to clean them.

There are methods people post about here on the board to clean them, but I didn't have any success cleaning them. Some do I guess.

Sorry I can't be of more help.