Got my stuff...got some problems...help? hehe

[Yirabeth]

So I got my order from bestecigs and everything's there, etc...put some batteries on to charge, but I got a USB passthrough at the same time. I'm in busines!!

Well..I seem to have an atomizer issue, for one. I got a total of 6 atomizers -- one provides throat hit alright...like a freshly sharpened axe trying to chew it's way out of my throat...LOL The other 5 produce about the same amount of vapor (not huge) but NO throat hit. Occasionally a tiny little "hmm maybe that was the start of a throat hit but it gave up..." I have been using the same cartridge, just switching the atomizer around (wanted to test them) The one atomizer makes me choke and cough like I just tried to chainsmoke a pack of unfiltered Camel... the others..nada. And when I breathe out after a puff, there's no vapor at all. (but I've puffed and blew out without inhaling and yes there IS vapor if not a huge amount)

Should an 11mg juice be so harsh? Or is that the bad atomizer and I'm just expecting the others to be more "cigarette-like" and therefore expecting too much?

Second issue -- taste. As in, none I got a bottle of 11mg menthol from bestecigs, and there's just NO taste. I know it's menthol, because at first I overfilled it, and got it on my lips and they tingled in a menthol'ish way. So I took the cartridge out, used a paper towel to soak up the excess, and tried again. Still nothing.

So I got out the cinnamon juice I ordered from juicyeliquids. 36mg. Dumped the entire bottle of flavoring (5.5mg) into the 27.5mg of liquid. Nothing. No taste, no nothing. (didn't care if it was too strong, I also bought plain PG so could cut it later. I just wanted to TASTE something)

Am I misunderstanding how the taste should be? I get a tiny little bit of sweet'ish aftertaste sometimes, but if I didn't KNOW the flavors I would not guess Oh, menthol..or Oh, cinnamon...

Any help or advice for a vaping wannabe? hehe

~Yira

 

[mizmare]

did you drip a few drop directly onto the atomizer? The too harsh sounds as though the atomizer is dry and too hot.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Hi Yira,
Breaking in a new atty can be tricky... the primer is yucky sometimes, and it can take a while to get one broken in to give you a really good smoke.

Hang in there and keep using one at a time.

The primer may also be interfering with your taste on your liquids. Some rinse them in hot water, drain overnight and then reprime with a few drops of liquid.

If you are using your passthrough, I understand that can be an issue as well. Some folks have problems with the voltage when it is hooked up to a computer. You might want to check out the USB battery packs. There are several kinds (if you are using a 801 the Kensington works great). On sale at BestBuy right now for $39.00. Lots of folks don't like hooking them up to the computer, so they get these to use with the passthrough. You can search the threads for other different types (such as what is recommended for a 901).

Enjoy your new toy!

 

[Yirabeth]

Oh, forgot to mention -- I used the USB passthrough with a usb charger/adapter thingy (output, 5v, 500 ma) that plugs into the wall as well, same results. Also used the atomizers with a normal 901 battery once I had one charged, again same results.

I will try dripping directly onto the atomizer a drop or two -- do I then put the cartridge back on and try to use it normally, or do I use an empty cartridge...like I was actually dripping?

Actually I didn't notice any foul taste, on any of them...are my taste buds completely dead, then?? LOL

The harsh one doesn't seem to get as hot as the other 5 atomizers do...dunno if that means anything. The other 5 get quite warm, but not so I can't hold them...they don't "burn on contact" ... how hot is too hot?

You think, though, that the ones that have NO throat hit, are okay, and maybe the other one is just too dry?

~Yira

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Dripping the Atty - You can put the cart back on after you add a drop or 2. Sometimes, if I'm not getting good vapor, I'll blow out the atomizer (from the battery side) try a smoke, and that usually does it. Also I noticed that my new Battery and Atomizers were "greasy" so cleaned the contacts well, and that made a good difference (I use a microfiber cloth). I don't drip to smoke. I worry about battery and atomizer life span doing that. I've had one battery with a bunch of liquid in it already after a failed cartidge filler experiment!

Taste - Lots of people complain about the flavoring not living up to the hype, but then some rave about it. Suppose it all depends on the suppliers liquid. Have you tried adding a few Menthol Crystals? Juicy sells small packets (out yesterday when I checked). My pharmacy has them, only available in a 4oz jar and the price was a freaking unbelievable $85!! I'll try the 1/4 oz packet from Juicy first.

Also, you might want to try the LorAnn extracts to add flavor. Some folks swear by them. Walmart has been out of the kinds without oils here. I need to try to fix some 24mg Pina Colada that I just got (a huge bottle, sighhh) that tastes like s**t (old beer and plastic is what it brings to mind) so will probably look into some kind of extract for it (thinking about dumping loads of vanilla extract into it with a VG cut for sweetness/thickness).

Let us know how you do.

 

[Smokin'Sandy]

>snip<
Taste - Lots of people complain about the flavoring not living up to the hype, but then some rave about it. Suppose it all depends on the suppliers liquid. Have you tried adding a few Menthol Crystals? Juicy sells small packets (out yesterday when I checked). My pharmacy has them, only available in a 4oz jar and the price was a freaking unbelievable $85!! I'll try the 1/4 oz packet from Juicy first.

I purchased 2 oz of menthol crystals from ebay for a total of 7.50 with shipping.

The menthol crystals did the trick for me being a menthol smoker. I put a few crystals in a little bit of filtered water, zapped it for 20 seconds, let the waxy substance separate, then added one drop of the water to my tobacco flavored high nicotine cartride and I'm in business! The menthol is strong though, so be careful.

Yirabeth, the menthol flavored cartridges are not really good, but I've heard that JC uses menthol crystals in their juice, so they might be better. I'm new at this myself.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

let the waxy substance separate

Waxy? That doesn't sound good! What is that do you think? I haven't done tons of reading on the forum about menthol, but don't remember anyone talking about having any kind of separation or skimming in order to use it.

Is that normal?

 

[vaporize me]

If you aren't tasting any of the flavored liquids, you might try the "French Inhale" method. Take a drag, get the vapor into your mouth, open your mouth slightly and inhale through your nose. For a while, I didn't taste the flavors strongly either. I guess my taste buds were fried from smoking analogs. They are starting to come back..slowly but surely. Hope this helps.

 

[Angela]

I purchased 2 oz of menthol crystals from ebay for a total of 7.50 with shipping.

The menthol crystals did the trick for me being a menthol smoker. I put a few crystals in a little bit of filtered water, zapped it for 20 seconds, let the waxy substance separate...

... don't remember anyone talking about having any kind of separation or skimming in order to use it.

Is that normal?

You can buy menthol crystals that have a wax coating. They are NOT the ones you want for vaping! You should have the pure menthol crystals: no 'separation' needed.

 

[Yirabeth]

Thank you all for the replies!

I tried started to drip into the "harsh" atomizer first, and noticed it looked pretty shiny around the coil in the atomizer, etc. I thought hmmm...maybe too wet?? (not sure why that would make it too harsh but hey...) So I blew it out and there was quite a lot of liquid that came out of it. It's still harsh though. Due to the liquid coming out of the atomizer I didn't drip more in.

I did, however, drip into the other atomizers and try dragging on them without a filled cartridge in. This has definitely worked to make them give more of a throat hit. In fact, if I'm not careful, too much throat hit, almost as much as the "harsh" atomizer.

So I think it's the ol' learning curve thing going here -- it's NOT like a cigarette. Today is not as bad as yesterday, and probably won't be as bad tomorrow. I am out of analogs, and I feel I can manage with the e-cig okay

Taste does concern me, but, I think I'll get the second bottle of cinnamon out and try adding more -- hopefully they'll sell just flavors at Juicy Eliquids soon Or perhaps I'll order flavoring from Bickfords. (Lorann's sounds "sweet" -- cinnamon "roll" and I'm looking for something spicy not sweet)And add some of the menthol crystal liquid I ordered to my current batch of menthol that is so deficient (Not from Juicy Eliquids) to make it useable. Maybe it's just a matter of needing "overpowering" flavor until my taste buds revive? I'll keep plain stuff on hand to cut it if it suddenly gets to be TOO much flavor.

I'd try the french inhale thing, but I think I'm mentally deficient..I was never able to get that to work, even with normal cigarettes...LOL!

Thanks again everyone!

~Yira

 

[Wolf]

As someone who is using juice exclusively from JuicyLiquid, I can say that the cinnamon is not a real strong flavor. Well the bottle I got isn't. It seems to be more "a hint of cinnamon" type of flavor. Hubby was hoping for something stronger. I guess he'll just have to stick with the french roast coffee.

 

[Yirabeth]

Thanks for letting me know on that, Wolf..I'll definitely try adding the other bottle then! And consider checking out the Bickford's. I'm not big on sweet flavors, and most the ones I have found are a sweet sort,(or something I'd never use, like coffee UGGH lol) so I really would like a good strong NOT sweet cinnamon...

~Yira

 

[Wolf]

Jaaxx would tell you that anything over 20% is a waste of flavor. If you've already put an entire bottle of their flavor into the larger nicliq, I would hold off adding any more flavor for several reasons:
1. If you aren't going to use at the current strength, you will only succeed in cutting the flavor as well as the strength. Add the additional flavor to the desired strength in small dosages until you achieve a better flavor.
2. The bottle shouldn't hold much more.
3. You've already put in the 20%. The concensus seems to be that over 20% does nothing to your taste, but is a waste of flavor.

 

[Wolf]

I mix my flavors 5ml at a time with 10 to 20% flavor. I have not mixed a full 27ml (30ml) bottle yet. I may next time around since dh sucks down the coffee flavor faster than his real coffee.

 

[Yirabeth]

Well finally had a break this morning to play Mad Scientist...

I made my own menthol, and I'm quite pleased with it I just used a 30ml 36mg bottle of pg from Juicy eliquid, and added 60ml of plain pg, and in the long run, the entire 10ml bottle of menthol drops. This brought the nicotine down to 10.8mg/ml but that's about right for me

Finally I have taste, and I'm much happier with vaping
I still want a GOOD cinnamon but that'll have to be my quest in vaping! Wouldn't mind a good vanilla either

~Yira

 

[wv2win]

Oh, forgot to mention -- I used the USB passthrough with a usb charger/adapter thingy (output, 5v, 500 ma) that plugs into the wall as well, same results.
~Yira

You really need a 1000 mAh output adapter to get consistent performance. Here is the one I got and it works quite well:

http://www.amazon.com/Coby-CA81-Power-Adapter-Charger/dp/B001PRKK6G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1240279116&sr=8-1

 

[Yirabeth]

You really need a 1000 mAh output adapter to get consistent performance. Here is the one I got and it works quite well:

Sorry to edit out your link -- I'm not at 15 posts yet lol

I believe that's 1A output -- split among 2, for a total of 500ma per port -- same thing mine says on the back, but also splits it into what EACH port will provide

In any case I'm finding dragging an extension cord around the house to be a severe pain in my backside, so I'm gonna order a battery pack and use that as opposed to this method

~Yira

 

[wv2win]

Sorry to edit out your link -- I'm not at 15 posts yet lol

I believe that's 1A output -- split among 2, for a total of 500ma per port -- same thing mine says on the back, but also splits it into what EACH port will provide

In any case I'm finding dragging an extension cord around the house to be a severe pain in my backside, so I'm gonna order a battery pack and use that as opposed to this method

~Yira

The packaging it came in states 1000mAh each but I see your point. If you can find one that has only one port with 1000 mAh that would be best.

Your idea of a battery pack is a good one. Here is one that many members have raved about:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8994056&st=portable+power+pack&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1218007084076

 

[Jaaxx]

Jaaxx would tell you that anything over 20% is a waste of flavor.

No so much a waste of flavor (adding more flavoring will give stronger flavor), but at over 20% or so there is so much water and alcohol in the mix that vapor will begin to suffer so much that it won't be a satisfying vape. Who cares if it's super strong if you get tiny little wisps and sizzling atomizer?

We've had a couple of comments about the cinnamon not being as strong as people might like. I agree. The problem is that to get anything stronger means using cinnamon oil in the mix. We're committed to using flavors which do not use any kind of oil as a base (or sugar, or artificial color.) Most extracts contain at least trace amounts of oil, but LorAnn's cinnamon, for example is comprised of almost entirely Cinnamon Oil and colorings. I don't know about the Cinnamon Roll flavor as I haven't inquired about it, but I think some have given it the thumbs up.

Our decision to avoid oil, sugar and art color is just our own gut feeling about what may or may not be "safe." But yeah, cinnamon is real hard to do without the oil component.

Jaaxx

 

[Yirabeth]

Hehe, I appreciate the problem with cinnamon, and also your very excellent reasonings for not making it stronger Probably won't be ordering more, though....*g*

I had not "cut"the cinnamon 36mg with plain PG yet (Yeah, I stupidly just flavored the whole bottle, didn't bother using the cute little test tube you included...dummy me!) due to not being satisfied with the flavor -- so right now it's actually working just fine for me, as the "OMG I need a cig baaaad" vape to cure cravings. I'll keep trying though...I'm a bit boring, and not into all the funky flavors out there..Menthol, cinnamon, and vanilla are pretty much the only ones I have a desire for...wouldn't ya know, 2 outta 3 are the most impossible ones out there

I may go ahead and try the cinnamon roll (if I can find it locally) and hope it's not too sweet. Has anyone tried the Bickford's flavoring yet?

~Yira