First e-cig experience: not so good

[mikea]

First post here -- hope I've selected the correct forum for it.

From the POV of folks here with a lot of experience with e-cigarettes: is an "eeeuwww, this tastes really bad" experience a fairly common one for first-time users?

After becoming increasingly stressed about getting King Tobacco out of my life, I spent a while looking over e-cigarette web sites. A lot of them are fairly confusing. Finally I settled on one where the product line seemed clear enough from the explanations and illustrations there. I ordered one of their "micro" size units -- I don't know what model number it equates to -- I see these things discussed here as much by model name as by seller name. The device arrived yesterday.

I started charging the batteries but right away it seemed that both supplied batteries already had a full charge (per the manual, it's: charger LED green while charging, red when done -- and it was red from the start with both batteries). So I began using the device.

I knew it couldn't possibly taste like tobacco and wasn't expecting it to. But I wasn't prepared for how bad it would taste -- first, the "regular" flavor. I don't know how to describe it, but it was bloody-awful, with a grim, "chemical" flavor. I had also ordered 16mg vanilla and chocolate cartridges. I tried them both. The first vanilla cartridge was apparently defective -- it "spit" some of the liquid into my mouth. Unpleasant. Fortunately, the next one didn't do that, but the taste was still pretty bad. Tried the chocolate cartridge. Still pretty bad. Both of the flavored cartridges had a taste that's a strange combination of cloyingly sweet and kind of bitter or acrid -- bad enough that I immediately found myself wanting a regular cigarette if only to get rid of the aftertaste of the e-cigarette.

The vanilla and chocolate flavors both left a weird aftertaste that's been hard to get rid of. Soft drinks, coffee...the aftertaste remained. I eventually went to bed and even after I woke up this morning, the aftertaste was still there. It's as if there's something still in the lungs that's "coming up" to cause this. (Just a guess.)

Well, I can't possibly go on using this product. It's just too unpleasant. I was willing to accept "different" in trade for giving up tobacco, but I can't live with "awful"...

But then, what device/cartridges to replace it with? There are a gazillion on the market and I haven't a clue whose cartridges I might end up buying that'd turn out to be from the same manufacturer -- and have the same taste problems. (I'd prefer using pre-filled cartridges, partly because I'm hoping to take this kind of device on a trip overseas. Carrying liquid around won't be convenient.) Any advice appreciated and apologies for rambling a bit...

 

[WorldPax]

Your instructions may be incorrect, it's usually green when fully charged and red while charging. Regardless, you need to charge both batteries for a full 8 hours initially, after that charge them for 3-4 hours at a time even if the light turns green. The light on these chargers just isn't reliable.

The bad taste you are getting is probably the nasty primer that they put on the atomizers, it will go away shortly. If you have any liquid, try dripping a couple drops straight onto the atomizer and see if that helps. Don't give up, there's a solution to every issue, just takes a bit to find it sometimes. The effort is worth it though.

 

[David Bruno]

Welcome to the site, you've come to the right place. First off, usually when charging the battery, make sure you have a full charge. The manual will tell you to charge for a few hours or more even though it shows that it is charged. As far as liquid coming out of the tip, it does take time to learn how to draw on a e-cigg. You have to take easy puffs, not at all like a regular smoke. If you puff to hard, you'll get some liquid in your mouth. After a few easy puffs this should stop. There are many flavors and brands of liquid, as well as nicotine strengths. If you go to liquid reviews on this site, you will get information and help with flavors. I like the tobacco tasting flavors like Hilton, Kent, Camel, 555.I also like a high nicotine content of 36 mg and 24mg, especially when quitting regular smokes. I also went to a high vapor and throat hit Joye 510 e -cig. This
model is as close to a regular smoke as I think you can get.
Most important, read this forum, the new members forum, for lots of information and videos on how to begin smoking these new ciggs. You will find much help from the forum community. I hope this helps a little.
Dave

 

[Mac]

You chose the wrong product. ALL 6 of smoke51's flavors taste great IMO.

 

[mikea]

I wondered about the instructions -- but in my experience different makes of chargers do different things with their indicator lights. Sometimes it's green while charging, red when done; or the reverse; or red when charging and then lights out when done; etc.etc.

I'll go ahead and leave the batteries in the charger for a while, and see if that light goes green. Maybe it'll change the way the unit operates.

You're right that it's worth it. It might be that I just picked the wrong product (as one of the other replies notes).

Thanks.

Your instructions may be incorrect, it's usually green when fully charged and red while charging. Regardless, you need to charge both batteries for a full 8 hours initially, after that charge them for 3-4 hours at a time even if the light turns green. The light on these chargers just isn't reliable.

The bad taste you are getting is probably the nasty primer that they put on the atomizers, it will go away shortly. If you have any liquid, try dripping a couple drops straight onto the atomizer and see if that helps. Don't give up, there's a solution to every issue, just takes a bit to find it sometimes. The effort is worth it though.

 

[elevenzen]

The primer taste was the first thing I thought of when I read your post.
My first 510 had a terrible taste, almost made me swear off that model completely...it did go away and the taste got 100% better after a couple of days once the primer was gone.

you might check out this link.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/21226-me.html

 

[framitz]

I wondered about the instructions -- but in my experience different makes of chargers do different things with their indicator lights. Sometimes it's green while charging, red when done; or the reverse; or red when charging and then lights out when done; etc.etc.

I'll go ahead and leave the batteries in the charger for a while, and see if that light goes green. Maybe it'll change the way the unit operates.

You're right that it's worth it. It might be that I just picked the wrong product (as one of the other replies notes).

Thanks.

Batteries only need to charge until the light goes from red to green. (opinions vary on this, but testing my 901 charger shows no current once the light goes green so no reason to leave it connected longer).

I think you have BAD juice. I have some that all taste the same and has an awful smell that takes 24 hours to get out of my sinuses. The vendor replaced it at no charge. Seems there was a bad batch out of China or something.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Hey Mikea,
I feel your frustration. This poll might be helpful to you http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...reviews/13928-primary-device-preferences.html

There are reviews and info. on all the devices in that section of the forum. It's overwhelming trying to navigate on the ECF but do use the search feature and look about in around in all of the forum sections.

My advice is probably not to get a manual button e-cig for the first one, but for you to purchase one that is easy to use and that has fairly easy to find parts.

I use a DSE 801 Penstyle and it was my first purchase. I've been very satisfied with it, has great vapor production and I was able to quit smoking completely after only about 2 weeks with it! Atomizers and batteries are easy to find and are fairly inexpensive.

The 801 atomizers are used often on many of the new manual button battery units that are available, so not a bad first purchase e-cig since you can buy a Janty Stick or Prodigy unit later and use the 801 attys with them.

My 2nd e-cig is the 510 with a manual button. Takes some time to get the hang of, but has super vapor and is a nice little size. Downside is the carts are small so don't hold much liquid and the batteries require recharging after about an hour (I chain vape, so I like the 801 most of the day). When I really want a ciggy, I grab up the 510 and a higher mg of nicotine liquid.

Many here also have started with a 901, and I've only read good things about those as well. Can't go wrong with one of those either.

Liquid taste is a personal thing. I don't think you got bad juice. Probably a combination of the primer and the prefilled cartridges. You'll have to try some different seller's liquids and decide on what you like. For me, RY4, peach, cigar and menthol are favorites.

I never seem to like what comes in the pre-filled cartridges with an ecigarette so it's a good idea to purchase blank cartridges to fill with your own liquids and then learn to put new polyester filling in them to refill yourself.

See Spikey's video if you haven't already for more great info. You can find it easy in a search, as I don't have it bookmarked.

Keep posting and asking questions. I'm sure you'll get along fine once you pick a good e-cig. Members are always happy to help.

 

[mikea]

Wow, lots of helpful replies here -- thanks to everyone who replied so far.

Hey Mikea,
I feel your frustration. This poll might be helpful to you (URL blocked in this quote due to my being a new member)

Thanks. (Love that login, b.t.w. Reminds me of one I heard on the radio once -- Amanda B. Reckonedwith.

I should have done more homework before buying. There's a lot about these gizmos I don't understand yet - separate atomizers vs. self-contained cartridges with atomizers inside, model names mentioned in your reply, etc. Not much time to reply now before heading off to work -- with the cigarettes I just made with real tobacco :-( -- and I'll have to go back through your message in detail when I'm home. Hopefully you'll still feel like replying then.

The one I bought, b.t.w., is from the company at esmoke.net and the taste problems aside I don't want to badmouth them because I might be doing something wrong with the device. I have searched for them here but haven't found them yet. Maybe someone here has reviewed their products under some other model name.

I wonder if cartridges with different manufacturers' liquids, available from other suppliers, will work in that brand.

On the primer that's been mentioned a few times. I wasn't aware that the cartridges had a primer chemical. If that's the source of the bad taste -- do you know how many puffs it should take to be rid of the primer? I haven't been keeping track but I'd think the primer should be gone by now if it should take only 2-3 puffs to be rid of it. But that smell/taste persists...

My advice is probably not to get a manual button e-cig for the first one, but for you to purchase one that is easy to use and that has fairly easy to find parts.

Here's where I need to start doing the homework. I hadn't yet seen a description of manual button e-cig versus some other. Is there a web site you know of (or a post here) that has an explanation of these different kinds of devices?

Re: the DSE 801 Penstyle you mentioned: where did you find that one? I'd like to read more...

Liquid taste is a personal thing. I don't think you got bad juice.

I'm not sure. These cartridges don't seem to be refillable -- unless it's that they look sealed only because I haven't inspected them closely enough.

I never seem to like what comes in the pre-filled cartridges with an ecigarette so it's a good idea to purchase blank cartridges to fill with your own liquids and then learn to put new polyester filling in them to refill yourself.

I can kind of see why this would be a superior approach but I wonder if the unit I got can take those blank cartridges. In going overseas I definitely wouldn't want to carry that liquid on the plane due to the possibility of it leaking out under reduced atmospheric pressure. That would be a bad deal...

 

[Robert]

I am about to get a 510 for me and later one for my wife. I don't want to have to burn through and unplesant taste. So is there some way I can wash the Atty off before using? My wife more than me is a "First Impression" type person, but I kinda am too. If she has to deal with the awfull taste she wont keep it up. So there has to be a way to was it? Or since it's the 510 manual switch, would you just hold down the button to heat it up and burn off the PG that is coating the new atty?

 

[redjazzy1]

I'm still new too but this forum and TONS of googles later, and the fact that I haven't had a cig in 3 days, I'M HOOKED!! My initial experience was disappointing too, but I've figured out it was total operator error (no offense!) on my part. Once you learn what exactly all the parts are and what they do you start to understand that it's awesome, just awesome! My carts (smoking everywhere gold- coffee, cherry, and regular) have all tasted really good... i just ordered and 801 and some different flavors from nhaler.com- great deal and I'm so excited! Stick with it and don't give up on giving up the leaf!!

 

[wv2win]

I am about to get a 510 for me and later one for my wife. I don't want to have to burn through and unplesant taste. So is there some way I can wash the Atty off before using? My wife more than me is a "First Impression" type person, but I kinda am too. If she has to deal with the awfull taste she wont keep it up. So there has to be a way to was it? Or since it's the 510 manual switch, would you just hold down the button to heat it up and burn off the PG that is coating the new atty?

Get some liquid and put 3 drops on the atty coil. This helps mitigate the primer taste until it burns off. You may have to do this a couple of times.

And GOOD CHOICE getting a manual PV. I wouldn't recommend any auto switch PV due to all the problems and inconsistent performance.

 

[snap6cat]

The electronic cig is a bit different from smoking tobacco that is for sure. Most who stick with it seem to sort of like it from the first few puffs. I have noticed that some people I know WANT to enjoy it but really don't. If you do not like it better than tobacco you probably won't stop, if we had will power we would have already stopped on our own. Many simply prefer the vapor, they are the lucky ones. I hope you are one of them, but this is not for everyone. Best of luck with this, it can be very pleasurable.

May your vapors be sweet and tasty and your carts be full.

David

 

[mikea]

My ignorance has overtaken me once again.

What is the 510? I take it from your message that there are e-cigs that don't activate just due to your inhaling -- you first hold down a button to start the vaporizing, then inhale?

I am about to get a 510 for me and later one for my wife. I don't want to have to burn through and unplesant taste. So is there some way I can wash the Atty off before using? My wife more than me is a "First Impression" type person, but I kinda am too. If she has to deal with the awfull taste she wont keep it up. So there has to be a way to was it? Or since it's the 510 manual switch, would you just hold down the button to heat it up and burn off the PG that is coating the new atty?

 

[mikea]

My initial experience was disappointing too, but I've figured out it was total operator error (no offense!) on my part.

No offense taken. I'm totally prepared to accept that it was user error...I just don't know what the error was yet.

My carts (smoking everywhere gold- coffee, cherry, and regular) have all tasted really good...

The SmokingEverywhere site confused the livin' daylights outta me. Regular, "2.0," Gold, Platinum... wottheheck IS all that stuff, anyway? The descriptions are so similar that it's all but impossible to tell the products apart -- except for the fact that the prices are way different for different products. Guess I'll have to call them; the web site seems all but useless as a source of info. (I work on a documentation team; I have a very short fuse about bad documentation and confusing web sites.

I do notice a lot of people saying "don't buy their stuff!", though...

 

[mikea]

Most who stick with it seem to sort of like it from the first few puffs. I have noticed that some people I know WANT to enjoy it but really don't. If you do not like it better than tobacco you probably won't stop

I definitely wanna like it. As much as I "enjoy" smoking tobacco*, I need regime-change: gotta depose King Tobacco before he disposes of me. If the e-cig taste hadn't been so grim, I know I wouldn't have had such a bad reaction. The smoke...vapor, I mean, isn't as hot for sure. But I could live with that -- no problem. Gotta do something about that awful taste, though.


* Actually, I learned at least this much from a smoking-cessation program years ago (which I of course failed): it isn't "enjoyment" as much as it is relief from taking care of the problem of the nicotine levels in your bloodstream dropping. Once I'd heard that, it definitely changed my idea of what "enjoying a cigarette" means. The tobacco companies always hyped it as "pleasure." But relief alone isn't necessarily pleasure...and after watching my mother die of complications arising from emphysema, I know that definitely isn't enjoyment or pleasure...why it took some years afterward for the point to be driven home, I don't know. But better late than never.

 

[happily]

I am about to get a 510 for me and later one for my wife. I don't want to have to burn through and unplesant taste. So is there some way I can wash the Atty off before using? My wife more than me is a "First Impression" type person, but I kinda am too. If she has to deal with the awfull taste she wont keep it up. So there has to be a way to was it? Or since it's the 510 manual switch, would you just hold down the button to heat it up and burn off the PG that is coating the new atty?

some people have burned it off,,,,,,,,be careful not to overheat..some have washed it off

 

[happily]

My ignorance has overtaken me once again.

What is the 510? I take it from your message that there are e-cigs that don't activate just due to your inhaling -- you first hold down a button to start the vaporizing, then inhale?

that is correct...........if people knew what kind of vaporizer you had or where you got it they could help you....you probably just need to get some juice on the atomizer coil. You could also try puffing it without inhaling it until the taste goes away(just dont get it so hot that it melts the carts), but if you cant see in your cartridge you will need to find someone with that type to help explain what to do

 

[Breakfree]

As with any type of product, you may run into those that taste bad but then you will find one that tastes great and say Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

[mikea]

What is the 510?

that is correct...........if people knew what kind of vaporizer you had or where you got it they could help you....

I don't know if it's a proprietary unit of some kind of something available from several vendors under various names. IAC it's the 'micro' product sold at esmoke.net. It's the "E Smoke Sensation Micro". (I'd post a complete URL but haven't posted enough messages in the forum yet to have that access here.)

you probably just need to get some juice on the atomizer coil.

I don't know if I can get access to that... it looks as if the cartridge is sealed up somehow.