Frustrated

[dice57]

I certainly sympathize with your dilemma. And understand the plug and play wanting. And I simply hate atomizers that breath through the stem and can leak onto the battery connection. And I really do understand that you don't want to build. But I have found that rba's actually give me the most trouble free, low day to day maintenance vaping experiance. Once I make my build and wick it, the only thing I do on a daily basis is fill it with juice, and charge batteries. Every two weeks or so I have to rewick it, and dry burn the coil, maybe even wash it out, especially if I am changing flavors, but that's it. Maybe 10 minutes of my time every 3 weeks or so. Once my coils start to perform below acceptable standards, I then will wrap a new coil and mount it. Takes maybe 15 minutes, depending on the atomizer. Usually do this while watching steaming video or surfing the net. So it's not like I have to dedicate extra time to wrap a coil. But that only needs to be done every couple of months or so.

And the vape I experience from a quality rba is well worth the small amount of time I spend messing with it on a monthly basis. Of course the effort and time invested to get to the point I am at was a bit intensive, but no more so than all the information I researched and read before choosing my devices, batteries and rba's. All my rba's, except one, get their air supply from the side of the atomizer, so I never have to worry about cleaning the contact points because of juice seeping.

Don't know of any changeable clearos that get their air from the side, but the Aspire BDC seems to be a fairly low maintenance changeable. And they are inexpensive.

Unfortunately, all things vape related takes time, hit and miss, and has a learning curve, before finding ones personal preferences. If a great satisfying non fiddly vape was possible from the get go, then everyone would be doing it.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck finding your vape gear, I'm sure you'll find the right stuff for you. There is just a lot to choose from and that is more time that needs to be invested.

 

[gazjd]

For something simple that works well with little maintenance id say a vivi nova. There everywhere some ppl love them others seem to really dislike them. I use a 3.5ml or a 2ml depending on what im up to. They seem to sell for £7-£15 in most vape shops but you can pick them up cheaper online, the wicks are very cheap to replace and it takes 2mins. Hope this helps

Sent from my RM-914_eu_euro1_327 using Tapatalk

 

[Sigmus9]

Hi

I've been successfully quit from "analogue" cigarettes for nearly 6 months now, but I have a few issues with vaping and hope to find a solution through the good people here at e-cigarette forum.

From what I've seen online there seem to be no people in my category. I love vaping, I have tried the odd analogue since and it makes me want to throw up. However, the maintenance required to vape seems a lot, and before I get flamed, I know most people here seem to love that element, like people who buy old cars and fix them up, etc. But I don't have the time or resources for this. I just want a convenient way to vape the flavours I like with as little maintenance as possible. However when I go to my local store, they almost seem patronising in the way they tell me I need to do this, this, this and this. Now before I continue let me tell you I have more patience than most analogue smokers I know. If they had moved over to this (and no-one I know has yet; they've either cold turkey quit or smoke analogues as ever) then they are not the kind of people who would be bothered to do even as much maintenance as I do to maintain a vaping habit. But it seems what I do is not enough, and increasingly it appears I will almost need to set up a small lab for the required cleaning and modifying I need to do.

I don't have a great deal of money, so I haven't been able to try these all-singing all-dancing £100+ types of kit. From the start I have used G-hit or Ego-Twist batteries combined with combination atomisers (clearomisers) and VG liquid. I am quite happy with the vape I get from this, and am not looking (nor have the time) to experiment, or see if I can find something "better". When all works I am happy with things exactly as they are.

However it seems increasingly that things aren't working often. I use a clearomiser for just over a week and then replace it with a new one. I fill it only to the top of the wicks (despite the tank having markers going higher) and keep it upright whenever I can. I charge the batteries until the charger goes green and then take them off the charger. I store the batteries in a plastic container. Before refilling a clearomiser I blow down it from the other side (the side that would normally connect with the battery) to remove any air in it (with the mouthpiece removed). When I refill it I use a refill bottle thing (with the needle-like tip) (sorry I don't have the vaping terminology that you guys seem to) and make sure to get it into the clearomiser without going in the air-hole. Before reconnecting to the battery I gently dab the end of both the clearomiser and battery end with a q-tip to remove any moisture before reattatching, screwing it firmly (but not over-tightly) on.

For someone who doesn't want to embrace vaping as a kind of sub-hobby (I literally only want it to replace smoking. Even when I smoked I wasn't a tobacco afficionado or anything) this seems an awful lot of work between refills (which occur a lot as I vape a lot). I keep a good stock of liquid, spare clearomisers, spare batteries and spare chargers. Oh, and I only charge on a non-flammable surface and don't leave the batteries charging overnight or unattended.

Even though this is what I would consider high-level maintenance, I am willing to keep doing this as it keeps me from smoking for real. However it seems this is not enough.

Seemingly all the time the end of the clearomiser is wet and thusly the top of the battery is too.

Whenever I look for simple advice on-line, I can't seem to find anything other than from people who embrace the art of maintaining vaping equipment. I realise me wanting simplification will ruffle a few feathers in said community, as they seem to give me the "if you can't stand the heat" attitude. This is a shame as I really don't want to go back to smoking, and I fear a lot of real smokers when presented with the level of maintenance required for vaping will return to their ways, as like I said I have more patience than a lot of smokers I know.

What I'm asking is, basically, is there something glaring I'm doing wrong? I've changed dozens of clearomisers and must be on my fifth battery since I began in July. If there is a kind of e-cig that is easier to maintain, even if it does cost a lot, would it be worth my while? I'm pretty desperate as I smoked 50 real cigarettes a day for nearly 30 years and this has been the only thing that has enabled me to stop - but more than that, I prefer it so much that I never want to return to analogues.

Help is appreciated. Please move this post if there's a more suitable board for it, mod.

Thanks in advance

My best advice is to keep it simple, grab you a Halo triton starter kit and get some 50/50 pg/vg 24mg nic juice. Try either Shadow or Legend from HeathersHeavenlyVapes or SmoothCriminal Xpress from Ahlusion and call me in the morning

 

[cags]

vaping is going to equal fiddling. that's just a fact we have to get over. even with say, a reo, which is pretty fiddle free, you still have to clean it, change the batteries and learn how to use it.
I got used to it by realizing that being busy fiddling around kept me from smoking.
and I am NOT someone who enjoys fiddling - but to me it is worth it

 

[Steamix]

I think you're the 'rule', not the 'exception'.
Lotsa a vapers just wanna get on with vaping and not bother about all the stuff tthat's discussed, reviewed and mulled over it here.
Unfortunately, vaping gear does need a little TLC and from what I read you're doing just fine in that department
Clearos do leak now and then and sometimes they do flood and sound like a bady maintained outhouse pulley...
No need to turn it into a religion, no need to consider yourself apostate when lighting up an analog every now and then.
You're still ahead. UK prices for analog sare pretty steep AFAIK. Every stinkie not touched puts you another notch ahead. Maybe you didn't see the savings. Money can and does vaporize without battery, without atty Saved at the door, gone throu the window...
But reading and posting here does not oblige you to sport a baseball-bat-sized contraption with some hyper-super-duper atomizer on top of it. On my desk right now : CE5 on a 650mAh ego battery, right beside it some hi-end mod with an Ithaka clone.
Don't see 'em scoffing at each other, so why should I ?
So you vape what works for you, the way it works for you. Simple as that...

 

[AttyPops]

My GF is VERY busy. Doesn't have time or inclination to fiddle with stuff. Just wants it to work with little fuss. (Although she did get a lanyard from the local vape shop and was sporting it the other day. lol. )

She previously had/has an eGo setup from a few years ago. Still using it (she put it aside for a long time). The previous method was cartos (syringe filled) and/or dripping. Both "too much fiddle" for her.

So this go-around, we got her an Evod to put on the eGos. Nice little window in it to see juice level. Matches the eGo color. Swappable coils. Coils are reasonable cost (currently).

So basically any swappable-coil tank and an eGo or similar setup is fine. You can research other stuff...mods, RDA's, etc. some other time. I'd suggest the VV batteries if you don't mind a little extra length on the battery so you can adjust the heat level. My GF's setup pre-dates the VV units.

P.S.
Tip: Keep all the old coils when you swap out. Just throw the used ones in a plastic bag or something for now. Most can be rebuilt. And just in case there's some internet ban in the future...you'll have the hardware. They don't take up much space. And if you're really worried about it...stock up on nic base too. But that's all a bit off-topic.

 

[edyle]

I don't think it's ever going to get as easy as smoking was... Damnit. But to me anyway it's still worth the extra effort.

Of course it is; it already is; just more expensive than cigs and less flavour to choose from; disposable cigalikes.

 

[edyle]

Ok; those clearos I see in the pictures look like top coil clearos, so I find it puzzling that you might have a leak problem;

They also do not look like the new ones that you can change the atomiser head.

I'd suggest you get a couple good pyrex tanks - either clearomisers or carto-tanks.
With the clearos, change the atomiser every week- put the old one to soak.
With a carto- you throw away the cartridge



For power:
Save some of your batteries; get one of these:

PowerPal eGo-T USB VV Mini-PT Battery

 

[mkbilbo]

I've changed dozens of clearomisers and must be on my fifth battery since I began in July.

Okay, that just sounds wrong. Like you've gotten bad equipment and/or bad advice. I got two Joyetech eGo Twist batteries about April and just started replacing them (literally, I stopped at the vape shop on the way from the grocery to buy a replacement for one that's dying pretty fast). And I'm a heavy vaper (was a heavy smoker as well). Many people get about a year out of a Joye (they're rated about 300 charge cycles so two batteries, charged once a day each, 300 or so days?). Any chance you're being sold "knock off" equipment?

And such as:

I use a clearomiser for just over a week and then replace it with a new one.

I'd be yelling at somebody if my clearos lasted only a week! I have Visions (similar to your second photo I think) that have been around months. Yeah, coil heads die but even those have lasted 3 to 6 months without me putting much effort in.

Something to think about is stick with your eGo style batteries (they're everywhere, relatively inexpensive, fit just about every attachment) but try out a Kanger EVOD. Here's an example (US store but I'm sure UK vendors have Kangers):

Kanger EVOD eGO Bottom Coil Clearomizer.

I'm switching to them myself actually. Got one to try out and really like it. Easy little things. Turn upside down, unscrew bottom, squirt juice in, screw bottom back on, put on battery, vape.

Also, the wick is replaceable. Which isn't hard. Really, it isn't.

I currently have a ton of these: Vision_Ego_Clearomizer_V2.0. They also disassemble by just unscrewing things and the little wicks are replaceable (and cheap).

Now, I know that may sound like more fiddling about but, actually, it makes "maintenance" dead easy. Since they come apart easily, they're a breeze to rinse out, air dry, and use again. Lots of folk here can give you more advanced and sophisticated cleaning tips but, myself, I "rinse in tap water and toss on dish towel to air dry". Seriously. That's it. I mean the wicks are $2 to $3 here. I get three to six (or more) months out of them without doing anything any more special than a warm water rinse. Is it really worth my time to go out of my way for a $3 widget?

Nah.

Same for the Kanger EVOD. Since it opens up easily, it's easy to rinse out and such.

I don't have a great deal of money, so I haven't been able to try these all-singing all-dancing £100+ types of kit. From the start I have used G-hit or Ego-Twist batteries combined with combination atomisers (clearomisers) and VG liquid. I am quite happy with the vape I get from this, and am not looking (nor have the time) to experiment, or see if I can find something "better". When all works I am happy with things exactly as they are.

Look to simplify what you have then. Try a couple of inexpensive cartos like the Vision 2.0 "rebuildable" (don't let the term scare you, it means, "unscrews apart and you can replace the little wick for cheap") or Kanger EVOD (or other Kanger, they make some nice stuff). The whole "you can take it apart" may sound like more work but it actually makes a lot of things simpler. I really do not put much time nor effort into "maintaining" my clearos. Unscrew the parts, run warm water over the parts, let the parts dry on a towel in the kitchen. And they truck on for months. Even though my area has "hard water" that tears up my drip coffee makers on a regular basis (no, seriously, I have to replace it twice a year so I buy cheap).

Definitely, I'm suspicious of your batteries. I mean I'm hard on my Twists and they lasted 8 months. They still actually work, they just don't hold a charge very long. So I bit the bullet and bought two new ones today.

Then again, I spent zero for three months (literally... bought some flavorings in July then my next order was November) so not so bad on costs. I figure I averaged about $16 a month the last six months before I got irritated enough at my batteries to just go get a couple of new ones.