Help!!

[zombiluvva]

Ok folks, I've just received my very first e cig. After some advice from your good selves I went with the riva starter kit. I also ordered cartomizers and some 5ml sample bottles.

I am totally confused. And feeling rather stupid. I just don't understand how to work this thing. And I don't understand all the jargon used on the site.

I connect a cartridge into the atomizer. Do I put liquid into the cartridge? Is there already liquid in there? Theres a box that says atomized cartridges in the starter pack and the cartomizers I ordered came in 2 white boxes that also say atomized cartridges. Why? Are they the same things?

Sorry for all the questions, my frustration levels are high presently.

 

[uba egar320]

Ok, don't fret lol. Why not start with the cartomizers. A bit easier to use when getting started imo. Get one out, pop off the top and hold it at about a 45 degree angle..like this ---> \

Now, slowly begin to drip drops of your juice in. Only a few at a time. Let them absorb. Should be able to get 25 or so in there(been a while since I used small cartos). Once the stuffing stops absorbing, take a paper towel and hold it under the end that screws onto the battery. BLow through the end that you dripped into to get any extra juice out of the cartomizer(carto). Then, wipe the threaded end clean. Be sure to wipt down the contact point itself( little post) as this being wet will hurt performance. Now pop the top back on, screw it on your battery and give it a try!

 

[dormouse]

BTW you should order MORE juice. 5ml won't last long. 30ml minimum to start out then order more.

----

3-piece setup
battery + atomizer + cartridge (put liquid in the cartridge's stuffing if they have none - until they look damp)
OR
battery + atomizer + drip tip (for trying juices, or vaping occasional flavors)

Before using a new atomizer, * blow it out into a tissue, drip 4 drops on the mesh bridge /\ and wait for that to soak soak to the coil, vape that mostly off without inhaling (use empty cartridge or drip tip if you have one, else normal cartridge). Repeat from *. Repeat again and try inhaling.

-----
2-piece setup (what people prefer for their favorite juices)
battery+ cartomizer

---
How I fill a cartomizer (Vapor4Life for KR8 or Boge 510 for 510 which are all soft-cap w/ no inner seals and defined central air channel)

I use thin (20% or less VG) liquid or Vapor4Life WOW liquids, preferably clear liquids w/ no sediment

Filling a blank carto - I pop off the soft cap (unbent paperclip carefully in the mouth hole, not catching any wires or stuffing!). I hold some tissue against the threaded end hole. I tilt the carto and slowly drip 18 drops (per ml of carto capacity and these are 1ml cartos) onto the inner wall of the carto so it slides down into the stuffing while I rotate the carto. Then I wait 15 seconds or so then I drip however many more drops the stuffing wants to soak up. Then I do clean-up. If it is leaking, I clean that up. Then I tilt the open end down into the tissue and puff a couple of times into the threaded end to clear any juice out of the central air channel (I want to see light through there). If it looks too wet above the stuffing, I gently touch a bit of tissue to the stuffing (otherwise that liquid will be gurgling or spitting in my mouth). Then since this was a fresh fill of a blank, I now let it settle. I lay the carto on different sides for 15-20 minutes. Then it should be ready to vape. If you use thicker juices than me, then you may need to let it settle longer.

As I am vaping - if the vapor gets a bit light or a bit dry or tastes bit off or the carto is getting unusually warm, I will take the carto off the battery, open it, add 6-8 drops or whatever it seems to want (I will either hold a bit of tissue against the threaded end hole just in case, or skimp on how many drops I add to make sure I avoid drips if I have no tissue). I check to make sure the threaded end is dry, give it a couple of puffs into the threaded end to make sure the air channel is clear, and continue to vape.

Note - it is easy for me to "open" my main cartos for adding juice because I replace the white end cap with a plastic or delrin drip tip (I get them at LiteCigUSA.net). So I can easily pull that out with my fingers when I add juice and it keeps my lips cool if the carto is hot.

 

[leftfeild]

You need to put liquid into the cartomisers first before you use them. You just need to pop the cap off and do this...

Filling 510 electronic cigarette cartomizers using the "condom" or "push" method - YouTube


Then you just need to screw the cartomiser onto the riva and it should be good to go.

Atomised cartridge is the technical term for a cartomiser.


For your atomiser you just need to take the plastic mouthpiece off and put liquid into the wadding foam you can see in there and put it back onto the atomiser. It would help to put maybe two drops of liquid into the atomiser first though (straight in with the mouthpiece off).

 

[uba egar320]

Listen to the mouse lol. You're in good hands!

 

[hairball]

I think we all have been through the frustration so bare with us. We'll get you vaping in no time. Here are the best answers I can give you to your questions:

I connect a cartridge into the atomizer. Do I put liquid into the cartridge?

Yes, put liquid in the cartridge. It will absorb it. Keep adding, about 10 drops total, until it looks slushy on top.

Is there already liquid in there?

There very well could be. Most kits come with prefilled cartridges. If you don't like the flavor, take the filler out and run it under hot water and then press between paper towels to dry. Restuff the cartridges with it using tweezers and fill.

Theres a box that says atomized cartridges in the starter pack and the cartomizers I ordered came in 2 white boxes that also say atomized cartridges. Why? Are they the same things?

Not the same thing. What came with the kit are cartridges and atomizers. Cartomizers are a combination of the 2. Since you bought cartomizers also, they need to be filled with approximately 20-25 drops of eliquid. Hold it at a 45 degree angle and start dripping down the side while slowly turning the cartomizer. Try to avoid the airhole. Once you can't get it to absorb anymore eliquid, gently blow through the cartomizer into a paper towel to remove any extra eliquid that may have entered the airhole. Let it sit on the threaded end for about 20 minutes, screw it onto the battery, and enjoy.

 

[chevelle]

Agree. Heed The Mouse!

Also, neither the Cartridges that come with the Riva Lite kit or the Cartomizers you bought come with any liquid in them. You must fill them first before anything wonderful can happen. By the way, congrats on buying a GREAT starter kit. The Riva is excellent. I use them myself every day.

...edit...also noticed other great advice being given while I was pecking away at this post. I'll go now.

 

[chevelle]

Agree. Heed The Mouse!

Also, neither the Cartridges that come with the Riva Lite kit or the Cartomizers come with any liquid in them. You must fill them first before anything wonderful can happen. By the way, congrats on buying a GREAT starter kit. The Riva is excellent. I use them myself every day.

 

[SnakeFarm]

... Theres a box that says atomized cartridges ...

I think "atomized cartridges" is a result of some Chinese guy's tenuous grasp on English verb use. No, the cartridiges are not atomized Lu Wang, they are for atomizing stuff... they are "atomizer" cartridges, and these long ones, they are not cartrides at all. Nope. they are "Cartomizers", a combination of the atomizer and the cartridge into one doodad.

I work with lot's of stuff that has instructions translated from Chinese to English. I only read them for technical specifications and entertainment.

"Remember what the Dormouse said. Feed your head. Feed your head."-- Jefferson Airplane

Almost forgot, RiVa was what I replaced my obligatory "initial mistake" kit with. Still puffing like new over a month down the line.

 

[dormouse]

Also - the cartridges can be used over and over, washed, restuffed (with precut blue foam from strictlyejuice.com) - downside is they are the most annoying way to vape, but they are fine for learning, for flavors you vape rarely, thicker juices, etc. What degrades and may suddenly die, is the atomizer so it's good to have spares if you depend on atomizers. I mainly use atomizers to drip (for testing juices, and to vape some that are thicker than I use in cartos, and vape juices that didn't earn cartos)

Cartomizers (hold juice AND screw right on the battery) are what most people prefer for their favorite juices. They work best with thin clear juices (I use 20% or less VG and avaoid juices that drop flavoring sediment in the stuffing). But they have limited lives. You should be able to get up to 7 days use out of a Boge. I can get 10 or more days use out of a Boge with the juices I use. You have to keep them damp or you will singe the stuffing and add a bitter taste to the carto. I have actually gotten 2.5 weeks of use out of my current Boge carto but that is unusual. Some people try to clean and dry cartos to extend their use further - I don't.

 

[zombiluvva]

You guys are great. Sorry about the earlier frustration, technical, build-y things do my head in

 

[WVvet]

Did you get it working Zom? What do you think? Follow up please!

 

[zombiluvva]

Ok so I got it working. Thinking I might like this whole vaping lark. Tried a 18mg virginia tobacco flavour, quite strong I thought. Then I filled another carto with...wait for it....mint chocolate cream. Oh my word! Seriously? Could I have found the answer to both my smoking and eating problems? Lol. So far so good folks. I have 4 5ml tester bottles so think I'll put in an order for a few different types to try.