Hello! I finally want in...

[Maselria]

I've been a guest user on this website for nearly a month... and the more I'm here the more I want to start using an E Cig compared to smoking a cig.

I do have a couple of questions for experienced users - and even new users and their experiences so far.

1. Manual or Auto battery?
- I wanted an automatic battery for the longest time... but about a week ago I started reading more about the manual one and it seems to be more popular and ideal for people. So if I go manual is that a bad choice?

2. M401(2) or Joye 510?
- I want one I can grow attached to and a supplier to match. I'm torn between the M401 and the Joye 510 simply because of the black and gold M401 and the Stainless Steel 510. Do M401's come in manual? What would be more starter friendly?

3. Homemade liquids!
- One thing that makes me more excited about this than anything is the chance to start creating my own flavors and liquids. Kind of like a new hobby... which would be extremely healthy for me. However, I get kind of confused on how to actually do it - I haven't mastered all the parts yet. Can you easily refill the cartridges you get with a starter pack? How often do I need new cartridges as compared to the atomizer and the battery?

4. Suppliers?
- I've been looking through so many websites and suppliers, I'm starting to go crazy. Something odd I've noticed is the difference in prices on some compared to others. What is overpaying or underpaying for the M401 or the Joye 510 kits?

Bah! I'll continue to be reading and researching!
Thanks.

 

[notsoogood]

Welcome to ECF! I am not the best one to answer your questions but hang around and you'll get lots of takers! This is a wonderful place! Enjoy!!

 

[Maselria]

Welcome to ECF! I am not the best one to answer your questions but hang around and you'll get lots of takers! This is a wonderful place! Enjoy!!

Thanks so much... it's already been wonderful to me. I'm hoping now it's my turn to help contribute.

 

[Ease]

welcome! I am new as well, and started with an automatic and cartridges. I have since graduated to a manual and dripping. I will never go back to carts!

 

[Maselria]

welcome! I am new as well, and started with an automatic and cartridges. I have since graduated to a manual and dripping. I will never go back to carts!

I looked it up in the abbreviations thing - but still don't quite understand what dripping is. Do you think you could explain it for me? Where are you buying your stuff?

Thanks for your answer... more encouragement to go manual.

 

[notsoogood]

Welcome to you too, Ease. I tend to go with the dripping too.

You buy a drip tip and just drip directly into the atomizer. Hubby buys all of our stuff though so I'm kind of ignorant on the 'where to buy and how much' end of it!

 

[jj2]

This should explain dripping.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/66848-guide-direct-dripping.html

 

[jj2]

This might help too.
Look in the Library annex for post for Items You Might Need For DIY.
I'm trying to post the link, but it's not working. :~O

 

[Ease]

Thanx so much for the welcome notsoogood! The suppliers forum here is a great place to look for deals on equipment and juices too, most suppliers post really good coupon codes.

 

[jj2]

Trying one more time.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library-annex/93083-items-you-might-need-diy.html

 

[DC2]

The thread linked in my signature below will answer questions (1) and (3) for you.

As for overpaying, each starter kit is different in regards to what it comes with, so you can't necessarily compare prices all that easily. Just make sure you start with no less than two atomizers and two batteries. And also make sure to buy at least 10ml of juice with your order, because you will run out, and it may be awhile before you have the whole DIY thing figured out.

As for suppliers to use, any of them that are registered here should be fine.

 

[ChuckB]

I'll take a shot at this! But it's going to me my opinion as no one can give you a definite on what will work for you but you trying different things out. This is what has worked for me.

1. Manual or Auto battery? - I prefer auto batteries most of the time just for the convenience. I do keep a couple of manuals around and use them from time to time and my box mods are manuals. I think this is very much personal preference. Manuals may be easier to learn with as it's harder to flood them out because most manuals are sealed.

2. M401(2) or Joye 510? - Can't talk to the M401 but I do have various 510 models. The 510 is easy to use and has a lot of options. You can use attomizers and carts, or get cartomizers, or drip. The 510 seems to be pretty forgiving too, it'll keep working even if you aren't doing it exactly correctly and it's fairly easy to clean it back up if you do flood it and make a mess.

3. Homemade liquids! - I make most of my own juice. To get started you'll need some basic supplies. I get my nic from extremevaping.com, PG from a local drugstore, VG from Walmart (Humco brand), Loranns flavoring from Walmart, and 151 rum from a local liquor store. Fruit flavors are the easiest to get started with in my opinion and you should start off with small batches, 3ml or so, and 0-nic, until you get the hang of it. Check out the DIY e-juice section on this forum for a lot of help on this, but here's a quick starter that I use as an example:

I use a graduated syringe to measure an mix in a 1 dram (3.7ml) dropper bottle.
.3ml 50mg nic from eXtremeVaping.
.3ml Loranns Raspberry flavoring (Walmart)
1.7ml PG (local drugstore)
.7ml VG (Walmart, Humco brand)
1-2 drops 151 rum (Can use vodka or just about any high proof alcohol)
After mixing, shake well and let it set overnight for the flavor to mix completely. This makes 3ml of e-juice at 5mg strength.

4. Suppliers? - I use volcanoecigs.com, vaporkings.com, thevaporroom.net, extremevaping.com, madvapes.com, and a few others. You can check them out but should also read on this forum for who other people use. A supplier that works well for me may not have what you need or just may not feel right to you. There are a lot of reviews of suppliers here and the duds are pointed out pretty quickly. I found most of those suppliers by reading reviews here and haven't been disappointed yet.

and 5. (guess you didn't have a 5 did you!) - Welcome to the world of vaping. It can be a lot of fun and as addicting as you want it to be. Listen to what others are doing, but make up your own mind. What's right for that guy over there may not work for you at all.

 

[Hoosier]

I don't know if the 510 types can be beat for the number of options out there. For such a simple thing there is an amazing array of ways to configure one. So finding a supplier willing to answer your questions would probably be your best course.

I always recommend that someone just starting get a number of different pre-made juices in a number of flavors and strengths. Getting the hardware is easy. Getting the the juice that works, and I mean REALLY works, for you can be a challenge.

While you are doing that, you can read the DIY forum and get some ideas for mixing.

Welcome to the journey.

 

[Maselria]

I'll take a shot at this! But it's going to me my opinion as no one can give you a definite on what will work for you but you trying different things out. This is what has worked for me.

1. Manual or Auto battery? - I prefer auto batteries most of the time just for the convenience. I do keep a couple of manuals around and use them from time to time and my box mods are manuals. I think this is very much personal preference. Manuals may be easier to learn with as it's harder to flood them out because most manuals are sealed.

2. M401(2) or Joye 510? - Can't talk to the M401 but I do have various 510 models. The 510 is easy to use and has a lot of options. You can use attomizers and carts, or get cartomizers, or drip. The 510 seems to be pretty forgiving too, it'll keep working even if you aren't doing it exactly correctly and it's fairly easy to clean it back up if you do flood it and make a mess.

3. Homemade liquids! - I make most of my own juice. To get started you'll need some basic supplies. I get my nic from extremevaping.com, PG from a local drugstore, VG from Walmart (Humco brand), Loranns flavoring from Walmart, and 151 rum from a local liquor store. Fruit flavors are the easiest to get started with in my opinion and you should start off with small batches, 3ml or so, and 0-nic, until you get the hang of it. Check out the DIY e-juice section on this forum for a lot of help on this, but here's a quick starter that I use as an example:

I use a graduated syringe to measure an mix in a 1 dram (3.7ml) dropper bottle.
.3ml 50mg nic from eXtremeVaping.
.3ml Loranns Raspberry flavoring (Walmart)
1.7ml PG (local drugstore)
.7ml VG (Walmart, Humco brand)
1-2 drops 151 rum (Can use vodka or just about any high proof alcohol)
After mixing, shake well and let it set overnight for the flavor to mix completely. This makes 3ml of e-juice at 5mg strength.

4. Suppliers? - I use volcanoecigs.com, vaporkings.com, thevaporroom.net, extremevaping.com, madvapes.com, and a few others. You can check them out but should also read on this forum for who other people use. A supplier that works well for me may not have what you need or just may not feel right to you. There are a lot of reviews of suppliers here and the duds are pointed out pretty quickly. I found most of those suppliers by reading reviews here and haven't been disappointed yet.

and 5. (guess you didn't have a 5 did you!) - Welcome to the world of vaping. It can be a lot of fun and as addicting as you want it to be. Listen to what others are doing, but make up your own mind. What's right for that guy over there may not work for you at all.

Holy wow! Thanks for that massive and outstanding information.
I'm even more excited about making liquids myself. If you guys could see the amount of tabs open up on my mozilla it would scare you. I do have a huge smile on my face because of it though.

 

[Drozd]

to the OP....first off...let me ask Bowling Green?...Kentucky or Ohio?....if it's ohio...that's nearby...if you wanna try out a 510 that's what me and my fiance use...you can see how you like it

 

[rosesense]

That is nice, Drozd.

I have used both the 401 and the 510. The 510 wins hands down imo. 401 carts are tiny and have to be refilled a lot.

If you can afford to go a few dollars more, find an Ego on sale (try Puresmoker.com or TastyVapor.us) as it is a 510 with far better battery life.

 

[Drozd]

yeah I would say to go with an eGo...but the 510 is definitely a win..not to mention you can get both auto batteries and manuals...and the joye 306 has the same threading too so you can even use 306 atties if you're curious (306 is a 401ish type exosed atty style)

 

[Maselria]

I ended up going with a starter kit from LiteCigUSA -- it's a M401 kit.
It's a cheaper option compared to the 510 right now. I have several friends interested in trying it - possibly if I try it and prefer to go with the 510, I can sell this one to a buddy and at least make most of my money back to buy a 510.

I also got a bottle of blackberry as my liquid flavoring for right now until I get the hang of things and can start making some myself. Will 5 cartridges be enough right now from the starter pack or should I invest in more?

 

[Mr.Self_Destruct]

Hello and welcome. Litecigusa is a great place for hardware. If you plan on using cartridges you may want to try a mod such as blue foam. Stock carts have a tough time wicking to the atty. I've never tried a 401, but I do enjoy 510's. You may want to buy some premium juice s also, such a vaporbomb or tasty vapor. the juices at litecigusa are chines dekang juices. They are good for some people. I do like some flavors.

Definitely post here with any further questions and progress. It's a nice community here.

 

[Poeia]

Have you read "The Wonderful World of Vaping? It will answer a lot of questions for you.
The ECF Library - E-Cigarette Forum

I started with an 801 partly because I thought I wanted an automatic battery. I prefer manuals. You have more control -- over when they get hot, how long you can draw, etc. Learning to push the button is just as easy as learning to tap the ash of a cigarette was. If you have a tendency to flood things (as I do), you won't hurt a manual but you can kill an automatic. And, if you decide to try dripping at some point, it's not practical on an automatic.

I don't know much about the M401. I know it has it's fans. The 510 is the most popular PV out there. That means more accessories are being made for it (e.g. I now use cartomizers rather than atomizers). If you decide to buy a mod, there aren't many that come with a 401 connection so you'd need an adapter.

But, the bottom line is that you did not propose any bad choices. If you end up with an automatic M401, I'm sure that will work well for you too.