First day, first ecig - now ?s

[Mazzy]

Got my ecig - a 901 - and have a few questions I hope you guys can help with.

I'm a menthol smoker so I ordered the menthol juice and the starter kit came with 5 diff flavors of carts (which was nice). I liked a few of the flavors, didn't like the menthol really, but all of them felt like a 'dry hit' - made throat dry and scratchy.

Is this the 'norm' with ecigs or are different juices not so "dry" tasting? I understand that diff juice manufacturers will have slightly diff flavoring but it's the 'dryness' thing that I'm hoping to get away from.

Also, for any previous menthol analogue smokers, can you rec a juice that mimics menthol cigs? Because the menthol juice I got is VERY minty, not so much "menthol", more like smoking a pack of tic tacs. Yes, menthol is 'minty' but the mint isn't overpowering in a regular cig, it's slight and (the important part, for me -->) smooth. This juice, or maybe it's ecgis in general, is not "smooth" at all. It's harsh. And so, I've returned to analogues for the rest of my work day today.

Lastly, I read that there's a learning curve with getting the proper draw and hit off an ecig. For myself, my first few hits had very little vapor and I thought the ecig might be a bust, then I got this one really good hit - lots of vapor and a smoother feel in the throat - but then have gotten nothing but the sub-par hits since. Could this be that my atty is a dud, or is this the learning curve you speak of?

**I know, in general, people on this board seem to like the 510, but I purchased the 901 because (try to follow my screwy logic here ) what I really wanted was a VK style ecig but the place I wanted to order from is on vacay and I'm impatient. I had read that the 901 batts and VK batts are interchangeable so I figured I could get the 901 now, check out ecigs, and then buy the VK travel kit (with PCC) and use the 901 at home with a passthrough and the VK (k808d) while at work where it would be realy simply to use 'on the go'. So I guess my last question is about the k808 style ecigs - I'm wondering if you guys think these are acceptable 'easy to use/on the go' models? I don't want to have to worry about cleaning the atty or refilling carts, etc. while at work so I'm thinking this would be the simplest kind to use that wouldn't have me thinking "ugh! too much work! screw it" and just buying analogues on the way to work.

Thanks for any guidance you can offer here.

 

[wv2win]

.........Lastly, I read that there's a learning curve with getting the proper draw and hit off an ecig. For myself, my first few hits had very little vapor and I thought the ecig might be a bust, then I got this one really good hit - lots of vapor and a smoother feel in the throat - but then have gotten nothing but the sub-par hits since. Could this be that my atty is a dud, or is this the learning curve you speak of.........

The inconsistency you are describing is just standard procedure with auto batteries no matter how versed you are in using them. That is why so many members have switched to manual batteries and devices that have larger batteries because they are the most consistent.

You can get manual batteries for the 901 now. They cost about $14.

 

[doots]

Hi Mazzy,
Welcome..

First I can address that there is a learning curve and it takes some time to adapt to Vaping vs. Analogs which I'm sure you've found out.

I'm not a menthol smoker but my sister is and she had to try several different menthols to find one she liked.

There are big differences in ecigs and what they do to the same juice as far as flavor and throat hit feelings. The 901 an 510 seems to produce a good vape. Higher voltage cigs will prduce even better vape experience IMO. I done them all almost and like the high voltage devices much better, Easy draws and its sure fire everytime. No sucking slow and forever to get satisfaction..lol

At your work I'd say a 901 or 510 would be best and plenty of battys and a pcc is a must.. Also juice..

If you decide on a bigger model after awhile you can always sell your 901 once you get another model, if funding is a problem. My motto is to always have several cigs around me in case something happens to one, you're safe..

Always stock up on juice. Never get caught dry and having to wait on a shipment!

Good success to you on your new journey!!

 

[JerriB]

Ive found that none of the menthols ive tried were like my analog's. But Ive found that the fruit ones I like waaay better. If anyone has a real menthol it would be dawn at ecigsmokestore.com shes known as the juice master lol! And I havent been vaping too long either, and I started with the 901, well needless to say, I got my janty stick in the mail yesterday. All I gotta say is drop the 901 and get the stick! We spent so much everymonth on the 901 cause bats and attys, idk, i guess we are hard on them, but we were always killing them, this janty stick tho, damn, it amazing! Huge hits, and I can actually feel the nic now, unlike with my 901. The 901 was glued to my lips practicaly. I can actually be hands free for 20 or so minutes now. Anyways, im rambling. Good luck whatever you do!

 

[Casey C]

well you didn't tell us what juice you're using now so.. try ecopure menthol less dryness, and a mild flavor...

 

[niczgreat]

It's all about economics the most reasonable vaping is to use a 901 510 801 etc and refill the carts yourself. If you want to spend more money on vaping they make cartomizer models that are two pieces and you can't refill them "Easily". But you'll spend a lot more money.They will be more convenient. I'm not really sure about what the real cart life is on those models.

Assuming that you stick with the 901 you need to keep that filler moist by topping off.
There is a myriad of places to buy your juice. I personally recommend nhaler.com in the United States and Heavens Gifts (Ruyan) in China. For hardware I'm partial to vaporkings.com they stand behind there product. Prices are reasonable. Ship quickly and the owner is a nice guy!!

I buy in the United States instead of China due to arrival time differences and uncertainty in whether shipments will arrive. I also consider the difficulty of resolving potential problems internationally. I bought once from Heavens Gifts and it went very well. They had a Manual switch 801 Battery that no one else had at the time.

Drew at nhaler.com does have some proprietary blends. He's not strong on the menthols but his 555 Menthol is very good. Subtle mint. He sells 3 30ml bottles for around $49.00 delivered to the door using his saveinnj coupon. This meets my under .50 per ML mark. As liquid taste is subjective I suggest that you order plenty of samples.
Be sure to have plenty of batteries and atomizers they don't last especially for heavy vapers.

I've avoided the mods so far due to cost and appearance. They look too much like drug devices. I'm probably going to buy a PV like the prodigy soon. Prodigy vapes at 5V which seems to be a hot spot temperature. It seems perfect for Home and Weekend vaping.

Good luck don't give up yet. There is a learning curve and reading the forums will provide a ton of information.


Taste in Juice is very subjective so I suggest that you try a number of different samplers from different companies to find what you like. They say 80% to 90% of the worlds juice is manufactured by DeKang so you will find identical juices at many places.


What you are experiencing is that you are vaping faster than the filler can absorbe. Also juice has a tendency to pool on the bottom.

Your solution is to buy juice separately and top the cartridge off when it appears to be going dry.

Nhaler Menthol 555 is fairly mild one. You might try mixing your menthol juice with a regular tobacco flavored juice. I recommend Kamul very highly.
Nhaler is very reasonable priced and his juices are very good.

 

[niczgreat]

One other thing to mention the symptom you described about your vaping experience sounds like a dry cartridge.
The first time I used a 801 no vapor came out than I added a few drops of liquid and it worked like a champ.

Personally I think that all the kit sellers should include a 3ml bottle of juice with the kit just to use in the event that a cartridge had dryed out.

 

[nocomply]

For the menthol, I have the same issue, it's not really a menthol, more a mint I get from juices.

What I did, was try taking menthol juice, and mixing it with another flavor, of the same nic strength(wouldn't have to) but to keep the original.

I mixed some menthol and turkish blended, and it knocks down the mintiness some, and gives a bit more realistic flavor with hints of more tobacco.

Also, mixing in a few drops of pina colada Loranns into menthol liquid, is good stuff. It gives a slight coconut flavor, that mutes some of the mintiness, and has a bit more sweetness and overall tastes good.

I'd just suggest, finding a non menthol flavor you like, and experiment with mixing it with menthol. Not bottles at a time, but drops at a time and try each one. You'll find a good one soon.

 

[wv2win]

Ive found that none of the menthols ive tried were like my analog's. But Ive found that the fruit ones I like waaay better. If anyone has a real menthol it would be dawn at ecigsmokestore.com shes known as the juice master lol! And I havent been vaping too long either, and I started with the 901, well needless to say, I got my janty stick in the mail yesterday. All I gotta say is drop the 901 and get the stick! We spent so much everymonth on the 901 cause bats and attys, idk, i guess we are hard on them, but we were always killing them, this janty stick tho, damn, it amazing! Huge hits, and I can actually feel the nic now, unlike with my 901. The 901 was glued to my lips practicaly. I can actually be hands free for 20 or so minutes now. Anyways, im rambling. Good luck whatever you do!

Nice to see another "convert" to better vaping by getting a better device. I moved from the 901 to the Screwdriver which is a bigger battery device (mAh) like the Janty Stick at 3.7 - 4.2 volts. I felt exactly as you did in the positive difference, consistency, less hassle and no "ritual" in how you have to vape with the SD in comparison to the 901.

Then I went to the 5 volt Prodigy and now the SD is my backup. (but a good one)

 

[Mazzy]

I'm home now and I busted out my other atty that came with my kit - just to see if it would be the same.

After trying the second atty, I really think my first was a dud atty. Using this second one, the hits are smooth - not scratchy as if I'm smoking burnt paper - and I'm getting a decent amount of vapor everytime where as with the other one sometimes I wasn't getting any vapor at all (but whether I got vapor or not, it was always scratchy and harsh). I had tried to top off the cart several times and that didn't help (with the first atty).

The liquid I'm using is from Vapor Kings, where I purchased the 901. I just didn't want to order from multiple sources for my first order - just wanted to get my stuff and try it out.

I do have a second question though - I don't think it matters (and I haven't been watching the way I'm inserting the carts), but I noticed that the carts have a flat side on one side and the rest is rounded (I"m talking about the portion that is inserted into the atty). I also notice that there is a little pin-sized hole in the atty device that I believe must be a carborator?? I'm wondering if the flat side of the cart should maybe line up with this hole or if anything should be 'lined up' anywhere for that matter. There wasn't much in the way of instructions that came with my kit. I don't think it truly matters how you stick the cart in, but if it does I'd rather be doing it correctly, obviously. The instruction sheet that came with the kit basically just had what not to do: don't keep atty and batt attaached when not in use, don't smoke dry/empty cart; and said that the batteries were already fully charged and didn't need to charge to begin use (which I thought was pretty awesome!!). Since it didn't say anything about proper insertion of the cart, I'm guessing it's fine however you put it in there, but just in case I thought I'd ask.

Bummer about that first atty. And even the second atty can't make that 'super mint' taste like menthol but that's okay, I'm going to take the advice of one of the posters and order some samples from ecigsmokestore.com, and maybe a couple from nhaler too just to try out different makers.

Thanks for your help, support, and guidence.

 

[Porphy]

Find a battery with a manual switch as WV2Win suggests. Personally, I'd like to save you the time and say go straight for a modded bigger battery but I fear you'll have to come to that cross road over time as most people enter into vaping like they do the swimming pool (toe/foot/sit/wade/etc/etc.... I'm a jumper myself). Manual switch batteries have a MUCH smaller learning curve as you control the atomizer with a press of your finger.

As for the rest of what I was going to say JerriB got to it first. Check out Dawn's liquids.

 

[Mazzy]

I have read about the benefits of the modded 'bigger better faster' PVs, but they are just not practical for my everyday use. Maybe if I didn't work - just stayed close to home - they'd be okay, but I work at a major University and as someone else on another post said [paraphrased] 'I can't be walking around with something that looks like a drug device'. It needs to have that 'ciggy' look to it - okay, not totally a ciggy look as the one I purchased is pink with a pink light for the specific purpose of NOT looking just like a cig so that I can vape by the building instead of crossing the street, but it must look more like a ciggy than like some kind of drug paraphenalia item (especially in Ann Arbor!! where those items are available on every corner) so those modded devices are of no use to me other than maybe 'at home only' and I'm currently most concerned about 'at work' as, at home, I have the juice, the carts, the batt charger, etc. and I don't have to worry about portability or ease as it's all right here at my finger tips. At work is another story and the crux of my concern with 'ease of use'.

BTW - just ordered a 6 ppk of juices in what seem like very yummy flavors. Can't wait to try them out!!