Help An Overwhelmed Newbie!

[St_Francisco]

So, I'm sure you've all heard this story before. I'm a regular smoker, and I'm looking to switch to e-cigs in the hopes that I can quit completely. If not, at least it will be a healthier alternative, and provide more benefits (smoking in the house, no stale smoke smell, etc.) But when I finally decided to dive in and research, I became completely overwhelmed. Minis, pen-style, cartomizers, pipes, cigars, battery bodies, 801, 901, 501, different e-liquids, nicotine levels, dripping, e-cig mods, etc. My head is about to explode.

Now I post this in the hope that someone can point me in the right general direction, so far let me tell you a little bit about myself. I smoke one pack a day of Marlboro Smooth (menthol). So, getting a good menthol flavor from my e-cig is important to me...feel free to give me your suggestions of a specific menthol flavor. If I had to choose which one I'm more addicted to (nicotine or the habit of smoking), I would probably say the habit. I light up every time I get in the car, after meals, when I wake up, or when I get a phone call when I'm at home on the couch. Also, if I get wrapped up in doing something or working, I sometimes find myself only smoking half a pack per day. I work offshore in the oilfield, so I have long hours (12-hour shifts). As such, I need a portable e-cig...something that can go in my pocket no problem. As far as battery life is concerned, I'm not too worried about it since I'm around a power source 99% of the time. As far as throat hit goes...well, I've only ever vaped once, and that was years ago with a pack of disposable e-cigs, so I'm not sure what I'm looking for here. All I can say is that I'm looking for whatever can most closely emulate a menthol cigarette in terms of throat hit and nicotine intake. If I have to choose, the menthol flavor and throat hit would be my two big wants with the nicotine intake coming in third. I've also heard a lot about dripping...which I'm assuming is just dripping liquid straight into the e-cig without using a cartridge to get a better hit? I'll just say that I'm not interested in doing anything like that right now. The convenience of an e-cig is right up their in importance with the portability for me.

In my information gathering, I've landed mostly on e-cigs like Blu and njoy...but I've also heard bad things about them in terms of nicotine, throat hit, etc. However, I do like the portability. In this style of e-cig, what specific models would you recommend for me? Are there any different models you would recommend that are just as portable, and might give me better results as far as hitting the menthol flavor and throat hit are concerned?

I saw a video review of the Janty Stick, and was pretty impressed by that...it looked pretty portable. Plus, I liked the oddball shape simply because people would be less likely to start an uproar in a public place as opposed to e-cigs that closely resemble cigarettes. Plus, if I'm correct, you can put different atomizers on this thing? After reading what I'm looking for, can someone point me in the direction of the style of atomizer that might satisfy my needs?

Thanks in advance for all of the answers guys, and I look forward to your replies.

 

[HzG8rGrl]

Take a look at a few youtube videos of the KR808D-1, it seems that when you are offshore working that you may not be interested in having to refill and top off all the time. I have yet to try one of these but, I have one on order in transit as I type. What I do own is a Joye510. Works great and got me off analogs(cig). I also own a Chameleon that has 3 adapter threads that allow me to use the three most used atomizers there are, being the 801/901/510. The thing with all three of these is that you will always being topping off and refilling, cleaning the fiber, replacing the fiber and such. Money saved by refilling all e-cigs. You might not have time to do all this while on the boat. You can however save money by refilling the cartomizers (SP) on the KR808D-1, if you want to. So, you could throw your used ones in a coffee can or baggie and bring them home for refilling and just have enough cartos to last while on the boat. Have a bottle of e-juice just in case you run low on cartos. They are specifically made for no hassle though and it is said they last all day. I bet the way you are smoking though you might go through a couple a day.
Visit the sub forums and read up on specific models. At the bottom of this page you will see the Forum Jump box. Choose the model to read about and read. You can also scroll down to the ECF approved suppliers forums-click the supplier name and not the link and that will take you to sub forums where people talk specifically about the model and how they feel about that specific supplier.
Taste of e-liquids are also very specific to each individuals taste buds. What I like may be just horrible to you. I think finding the right nicotine level will be your first and foremost item to resolve. Second is up to you. With a manual battery there is a button to push when you want to vape. Automatic there is no button you just put it your mouth and take a vape. Now the automatics can be set off by noise. ?????Don't think you really have a choice in your line of work???
I hope this helps and I am quite sure others will come to help and give you some more ideas and thoughts. Good Luck!

 

[Greeneyeddevil]

Hi St! Fellow cajun here and noob too lol. I only have one kind of e-cig so that's all I can tell you about from my end. I got the Joye 510 from cignot.com. They have great deals on kits w/no boxes. I like mine. It seems to be a starter favorite around here which lead to how I ended up with that model. Lurking around these forums trying to figure out where and what to get for starting out. I was a pack a day Marlboro menthol light smoker. I bought some of the Ecopure menthol e-liquid with my kit and I gotta tell you, since I've started vaping menthol is probably my least favorite flavor. From my understanding, it happens to lots of vapers. You always start out thinking you wanted something that tastes exactly like your cigs did and end up finding something totally different that you love. My boyfriend was the same way. He was a pack a day Marlboro medium smoker dead set on finding a tobacco flavor and he has found his vaping love in Gingerbread cookie e-liquid of all things lol. My advice on flavors would be to pick up a small bottle of menthol and a couple of small samplers of others just to see what suits your taste best.

As far as size goes, the 510 is very portable. My boyfriend works in the plants and carries his around in his shirt pocket with no problem. The batteries on the 510 will die after around 2-3 hours of heavy vaping, but as you said being around power sources you won't have a problem as long as you have 2 batteries on hand.

Throat hit is still something that I am trying to figure out. I have had liquids in different strengths ranging from 11 mg to 26 mg and I'm not so sure throat hit depends on nic strength as I've had a stronger throat hit from the 11 mg juice than I did from some of the stronger juice. I do find that if I vape heavily, which I usually do lol, I don't get much throat hit anymore after a few good drags even with my cart full, so dripping does remedy that for me when I need a little extra oomph. I was adamant about not wanting to mess with dripping but have found that it's actually not much trouble at all. Just 2 or 3 drops directly onto the bridge of the atty and I get a throat hit again.

Looks wise my 510 doesn't look anything like a real cig. It is black with a purple LED. I will say that I am looking into buying a high voltage mod in the near future as I hear you get better throat hit with the higher voltage, but all in all the 510 has been a great starter. It's kept me satisfied with my cravings, haven't had an analog cig since I got it, and it was pretty economical with the deal from cignot.

Here is a link to the kits they have available. Hope this helps a little. Any other questions about the 510 I'll be glad to answer to the best of my noob knowledge lol.

Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store.

 

[St_Francisco]

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I have heard about the auto cigs getting set off by noise. I work in heavy noise environments, so a manual e-cig is the way to go for me definitely.

I'm currently looking hard at reviews on the Janty Stick, it's really caught my eye, but I'm also gonna check out the ones that you mentioned.

 

[St_Francisco]

Thanks greeneye! I'll definitely look into the Joyce 510.

 

[nightwalker83]

2-piece KR808D-1 is what you want.... for what you're looking for, a 3-piece like a 510 is gonna be a pain in the ....

theres lots of places to buy a KR808D-1, most popular place is Vapor4Life:: Because it's your life :: Electronic Cigarettes & Alternatives to Smoking, the manual ultimate ultimatum kit would be right up your alley, they have lots of menthol flavors too so they got you covered with that aswell I'd start off with some 18mg and 24mg strength carts in your desired flavor and go from there to find your sweet spot.

 

[keyzygirl]

I also recomend the 2 piece,check out Vapor4life,They have a great subforum with alot of helpful people

 

[pianoguy]

I'll put in another plug for the Vapor King from Vapor4Life - I've been extremely happy with mine and with the service I've received from the company. It sounds like it would be a great solution for your environment, particularly with a manual batteries, and a pass-thru if you are close to a USB port for any length of time.

Spend some time reading in the Nicotine section, especially the "so, are we getting it" thread. Lots of good info there about how to determine what mg of nicotine you should be using. The Marlboro Smooth Menthols are pretty beefy at 1.2mg nicotine. On the surface, if you go with the VK, it sounds like 24's would be a good choice, and maybe get a few 18's and 36's as well. I smoked Marlboro Mediums, and am now dialing back a bit from the 24mg cartomizers I started with, using some 18's and 11's, as well as diluting juices down to a lower nicotine level.

Whatever you decide, best of luck, and I hope you find something that works!

*edit* - also be sure to read the Wonderful World of Vaping thread that is stickied at the top of the forum. A treasure trove of information.

 

[HzG8rGrl]

I guess I must confess that the KR808D-1 I am waiting on was ordered from V4L. I already have cartos and so I ordered the smaller set they offer. If I did not already have some items in place I might have purchased the UU Kit. And I still may do so after I get my order and check it out. I do know one thing-Vapor 4 Life purchasers seem to be the biggest, most happiest of all in the ECF. The supplier one hundred percent backs their product and tends to ANY issue that you might have with the products they sell. I am in great hopes of wanting to become part of a group of people and product that so highly stands together.
Maybe you should base your decision on one of the V4L models, they do carry a 510. If you were to have any problems, well they would be right there to make it right.
Just so you know-I smoked analogs(cigs) since the ripe age of 12. I am 44 and no longer depend on the 4000 plus chemicals to get me through my day. And I loved my analogs. I enjoyed the taste, smell and the quiet outside moments we had together. 10 minutes per cig, 20 times a day minimum for 365 days a year.

 

[Fedor]

Here is what i recommend:

Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarettes | E-Cigarettes | E-Cigs from Smoore -

1 x M402 SMART PCC kit
1 x USB Passthrough
10 x Atomisers
100ml to 260ml of E-Liquid (recommended flavor: Marlboro)
10-20 blank carts
2 -4 Manual Batts (either M401 or M402 size)
1 extra charger

You won't need anything else and you should be ok for quite a while. The Mseries is an excellent choice and complete with all needed accessories. When you are at a place with loud noises, change to your manual batts. The USB Passthrough is a great piece so don't forget this in your order no matter what. Atomisers are only $6 a piece when ordering 10pcs. The liquid amount you wish to order is your choice. There is currently a great deal for 100 ml and 260ml so you decide.

Hope this helps.

 

[Brewster 59]

2-piece KR808D-1 is what you want.... for what you're looking for, a 3-piece like a 510 is gonna be a pain in the ....

theres lots of places to buy a KR808D-1, most popular place is Vapor4Life:: Because it's your life :: Electronic Cigarettes & Alternatives to Smoking, the manual ultimate ultimatum kit would be right up your alley, they have lots of menthol flavors too so they got you covered with that aswell I'd start off with some 18mg and 24mg strength carts in your desired flavor and go from there to find your sweet spot.

This guy is exactley right I have a 510 and a 901 and let me tell you for me they are great but they are a hassle if your on the go. I know you have no idea of how filling an ecig is but in your situation it would be a pain so the 2 pc kr808d is the way to go. Get a pcc which is like a cig pack that will keep your ecig charged.

 

[Madame Psychosis]

Welcome! Sound advice here (it'll always be varied and conflicting )...

If you go with the KR808d-1/Vapor King, keep in mind that you can also get parts and cartomizers from a number of good vendors (Nhaler.com, GoodProphets.com, Electronicstix.com, and so on). Vapor4Life, who makes the VaporKing, is well-liked on this forum by many. Be sure to purchase some blank cartomizers if you are interested in trying other vendors' liquid as well (which is worth trying ... I prefer to fill my own). The KR808d-1 is absolutely tops for convenience, but some think it doesn't deliver on throat hit as much as the 510 (but others will disagree with that!).

If you go with the Joye510 (often known as the 510, but the original maker is Joye), there are many, many good vendors of 510 parts and accessories. One general point is that the cartridge filler you get with the original model is not that great. It's best to find another form of filler, and you can look at the options under Cartridge Mods on this forum (pyramid tea bag, blue aquarium foam, etc).

There are other options, of course, these are just the ones I'm familiar with. The advantage of either of these models is that they're offered by a variety of vendors and each has a lot of other users on this forum you can consult for advice and troubleshooting.

 

[St_Francisco]

Thanks for the replies guys! I have a few questions about the VK:

1. I found a thread on here where a lot of guys complained about not being able to refill the cartomizers. It seemed the only ways to do it were to drip directly into the battery end into the atomizer, or cook up some elaborate tool to get the cap off at the other end, and refill them that way. I want to be able to refill my atomizers...don't wanna end up spending more money on carts than I did on analog cigs. Is it as hard as they say.

2. I also saw a lot of complaints about the carts getting really hot, especially after a refill. Any current VK users have this problem?

I've still got my eye on the Janty Stick. Any current Janty users that can share their experience?

 

[TaketheRedPill]

there are three diff types of cartomizers - the greencig, the KR808d-1 and the KR808d-2akaE9 - you want the KR808d-1
you refill by popping off the top (thru the bttery for the greencig cartomizers)
kr808d-1's are about the same diameter as a swisher sweet. assembled longer than a 100's cigarette
for slimness most similar to a real cigarette is the M401 (3piece) - bat lasts 4+/- hours, 2x that of the 510 or 901, similar to the KR808d-1. There are several Conus vendors who carry the M401 as well as the KR808d-1.

Janty stick runs on a 10440 li-ion batt, good for a day (or so). onboard mini-usb charger port. Takes 801 carts, which are about the same capacity as a cartomizer (you'll definitely want to use a 'straw mod' with the 801). About the same width as a bic lighter (little fatter, same length sans attny) Six month warranty from the manufacturer. Good rep. Widowsbeadwork.com has them in stock right now. Latest version is V2, thinner lightband around the base is the best way to tell the difference between V1 and V2. Ecigsupply.com has the atoms on sale right now; can also get the 801 atoms (Joye302) at Myvaporstore.com. (DSE-801 attys are high-bridge, some like the Joye302 low-bridge better, but have seen some flooding issues with low-bridge)

mist-stix.com is in your neck of the woods - standard flavors in e-liquid and KR808d-1 batts/charger case/cartomizers. Use code 'ecf' and sit down, your eyes will pop at the discount you'll get. Cletus and Clancey have good rep. The charger case they sell will charge the batt several times on the go, then you charge the case itself. (you can get the same case from the other KR808d-1 vendors also). For other KR808d-1 vendors, see "model specific" thread for listing.

Hope this helps!
Good luck and Merry Christmas!

TTRP

 

[pianoguy]

Thanks for the replies guys! I have a few questions about the VK:

1. I found a thread on here where a lot of guys complained about not being able to refill the cartomizers. It seemed the only ways to do it were to drip directly into the battery end into the atomizer, or cook up some elaborate tool to get the cap off at the other end, and refill them that way. I want to be able to refill my atomizers...don't wanna end up spending more money on carts than I did on analog cigs. Is it as hard as they say.

2. I also saw a lot of complaints about the carts getting really hot, especially after a refill. Any current VK users have this problem?

I've still got my eye on the Janty Stick. Any current Janty users that can share their experience?

Refilling the cartos by way of dripping is not the preferred method. There are 2 good threads sticked in the Vapor4Life forum with great tips on how to do it:

Vapor4Life - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat

I refill cartos all the time and don't have any problems. Typically you can refill anywhere from a few times to over 20, making the cartos very economical.

 

[Drozd]

ok gonna address the menthol issue first..Nhaler is the supplier, nuport and super menthol mixed 50/50 ...think you'd be pleased with that, their juice is awesome...

As for the model, it sounds like you like the look of the janty stick..a slightly cheaper version which seems super popular is a mod called the bartleby that looks very similar to the JS. It's made by cybervex here on the forums and you can see a review of it here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/video-reviews/43943-bartleby-pv-review.html
and a couple of pics of it here: Bartleby
me personally I've had a 510 for a month now and a KR808D-1 for a day now. the 510 delivers on the vapor and throat hit but the battery life really is crap. The KR808D-1 (the 2 piece cartomizer unit that some are touting here) just doesn't have the vapor production or throat hit to compare to the 510 (the 510 atty just gets hotter and that gives me a better TH..conveinience (life between fills) of the cartomizers is nice...but I've spent an entire day playing with it trying to find a flavor on the prefilled carts I like and keep turning back to the 510, so so far I'm just not happy with that model..
So if it were me I'd order a bartleby from cybervex here, and grab a 510 atomizer and the 2 menthols from Nhaler and you'd be all set..and I think you'd be more than happy..

 

[HzG8rGrl]

Drozd-You really should pick up some mega bats for your 510! Doesn't make life the best-but they do last longer!

 

[Drozd]

Drozd-You really should pick up some mega bats for your 510! Doesn't make life the best-but they do last longer!

Actually thinking of picking up a janty eGo (600mah bat on a 510 atty..baby!) or the aforementioned Bartleby...apparently he's 30 min up the road from me....but I like the cig shape and the Xls are just too damn long for my liking

 

[natura]

I have read GREAT things on the cigars. I am new to this about 3 weeks smoke free. Love my Joye510 w nicostick 3.7 v 900mah-but think I gotta try the cigar!

All Popular Models from what I have read-you have to top off is a constant. I've read reviews on Cigars that hit hugh and carts are the biggest. Can last days depending on the one you get or habits?? I am looking into the model RN4062. They do have disposable cigars, if you just want to try them.

 

[Madame Psychosis]

The atomizer on the 510 also gets quite hot if you vape constantly. In both cases you have to space yourself a bit more than if you were smoking a regular cigarette and could constantly puff. You get used to the rhythm, though.

In terms of refilling:
The nice thing about KR808d-1 cartomizers is you can take a bunch with you, use them up, and then refill them at home that night. If you try to do the same with 510 cartridges, they tend to leak a bit more in my experience. Again, in either case, you get used to the routine once you get past the learning curve.

One more note: if you're often near a power source, I'd grab a USB passthrough (available for both the 510 and the KR808d-1) and a power outlet adapter.
The passthroughs are just an e-cig battery that is connected to a USB cable for constant power -- so you can just vape away. If you need to get up and move, you can just unscrew your cartomizer or atomizer+cartridge and switch to a regular battery. This is a good way around battery life issues on either model.

And for what it's worth, the KR808d-1 batteries do last longer than the 510 batteries by design:
510 standard - 180 mah / 510 mega - 280 mah
KR808 standard - 280 mah / KR808 mega - 380 mah

Granted, you should get at least two batteries to start, so you can always recharge one while using the other. In either case the particular model's PCC (a small case that also acts like a portable recharging station) is handy if you're always on the move, but it doesn't accommodate mega batteries.