Help!

[thm3]

Hi all. I'm really in need of some advice. I'm fairly new to vaping and so far it's so much bother, expense and hassle, I'm beginning to think I should just not bother, only I'm nervous of slipping back into tobacco smoking. Despite pouring over advice on vaping, much of it on these forums, I have no idea what the problem is, so I really need someone to get their diagnostic hats on!

Ok, patient history: Initially I purchased a Liberro Realis kit which vaped beautifully and tasted great but was far too expensive a proposition as it turned out - the cartridges only held about 3 cigarettes' worth of liquid and could only be refilled about 4 times. I would have spent more on cartridges than I used to on tobacco.

So, upon a recommendation from this site, I purchased one of these: The VE Riva 1100 Deluxe Kit £34.95 - Deluxe Vaping Kits - Riva 1100 Kit Electronic Cigarettes | Vaping Devices | Accessories | E-Liquid . Got it three days ago. At first, was impressed and reassured by the sturdiness of the kit. Quickly ran into problems though: first of all, I filled the clearomizer with DK Tab, my favourite of the e-liquids I got from Liberro. Through the Realis it was truly delicious. Through the Riva it tasted like cheap, tangerine shampoo. Absolutely nauseating. So I washed it out according to these instructions: How To Clean Your Clearomizer - YouTube . Then I filled it with another juice, Johnson Creek's Espresso. It still tasted of soap. Gross. I emptied that out and this time immersed the clearomizer and drip-tip in near boiling water for about half an hour, changing the water about four times. I then dry-burned it and left it over night. This morning, the vapour is good and the soap taste is finally gone but instead it tastes kinda burnt and there is no throat-hit, despite having plenty of nicotine liquid added (I should say that I buy zero nicotine flavoured liquid and add a couple of drops of flavourless high-strength, so I have more control of the amount of nicotine going into me).
Now, onto the cartomizers. At first I was getting good results with the first cart and the aforementioned Johnson Creek juice, filling about 8 drops at a time, waiting for it to soak in a bit, then adding another 8 etc...until it was soaked (at about 30 drops I think) then blowing lightly through to get rid of any excess juice. I was getting good, if inconsistent throat-hit and flavour. After vaping quite heavily through the first and second day, the cartridge started to lose flavour, vapour and hit. Whilst I was disappointed at the longevity, I surmised that this was normal and time to change the cartridge. I did so in the same way and this time, though an improvement on the dilapidated cart 1, the flavour, vapour and hit have all been pretty weak from the get-go.
What the hell am I doing wrong? I never knew sustainable vaping could be so high-maintenance. I've got a new e-liquid coming my way from vapour juice (Espresso again) and I'm trying to decide whether to get Boge Carts or more clearomizers in my next vapeescape order...or just not to bother, send everything back and try not to smoke.

Thanks for trudging through my little history. Any ideas and suggestions much appreciated!

 

[alphanumeric]

Its possible that the liquids you are using are too think to move well through the cartomizers.
Check the pg/vg ratio of the juice.

The flavor problem you are having might be because you are using the unflavored liquid with it.
You should buy a set nicotine rate for the best flavor because most juices need time to mix well.

 

[kiwivap]

Which clearomizer are you using, and which cartos? What are the ohms? Also, at what voltage are your Riva batts?

 

[thm3]

The VE Riva 1100 Deluxe Kit £34.95 - Deluxe Vaping Kits - Riva 1100 Kit Electronic Cigarettes | Vaping Devices | Accessories | E-Liquid

 

[thm3]

Its possible that the liquids you are using are too think to move well through the cartomizers.
Check the pg/vg ratio of the juice.

The flavor problem you are having might be because you are using the unflavored liquid with it.
You should buy a set nicotine rate for the best flavor because most juices need time to mix well.

Noted. Strange though that A) the flavour and throat hit were great in the Liberro and b) the first cartomizer was fine (if short-lived).

 

[kiwivap]

Ok - so your using the clearo that came with the kit? Clearos sometimes come with primer on the wicks. It tastes awful and they can take a while to break in.
The first fill on a carto needs to be a good one. I drip mine - I don't stop after every 8 drops, I just drip in 20 drops, letting each one sink in, then leave them for about half an hour or more standing up. Some people use the condom method. There are a number of good vids on filling cartos. I'll put one at the end of the post.
As for carto life - it can vary. Some people get about 8 refills, some much more. I've never counted mine. If you've used the same one continuously for 2 days then it may be past it's used by date.

 

[thm3]

Thanks! Ok, development. I just filled another cart with Liberro Euroblend and a fair bit of nicotine juice. The flavour's coming through fine (and is nice) and the throat hit is erm...lethal! Oops. Too far, too far. Perhaps cart no.2 was dodgy or the Johnson Creek juice is, as suggested, too thick? That just leaves the Clearomizer and, by extension, the question of whether to get carts or clearomizers in future...

 

[thm3]

Unless, as you say, it was the primer you mentioned.

 

[kiwivap]

Glad its going better. I don't know what cartos came with your kit. Occasionally you might get a dud. Make the first fill a good one. Sometimes when people switch from a small pricey ecig to something like the Riva and clearos they initially have difficulties. Clearos may mute the flavour, do need breaking in, and can leak. On the other hand, they can provide a nice vape once you are used to them.
Cartos are easier for carrying around, don't leak, and are not going to crack with certain juices. They aren't really that expensive - even if one carto lasts 2 days - that's cheaper than cigs by far.
I don't know what the PG/VG is for your juice - although if it worked in the Liberro it should be ok. A high VG juice will be thicker and can clog your equipment.
Stick at it. It's better than cigs and cheaper. Cartos may be the option for right now, and then when the clearo is broken in you may like it.

 

[hairball]

First off, you're kit came with stardard resistance everything. You need to get some Boge 2ohm cartomizers. Give them a try. Better vapor, flavor, and throat hit because the vapor produced will be warmer.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Should really be premixing the nicotine and juice before putting in carto and/ or clearo. Yes there is a break in period for clearos. As hairball has suggested I would also say buy some low resistance cartos.
Boge 510 Low Resistance (5) £5.99 - Vaping Spares - Cartomisers Electronic Cigarettes | Vaping Devices | Accessories | E-Liquid
I have a Kgo which is identical to the Riva and only use single coil low res cartos and clearomizers.

Thanks! Ok, development. I just filled another cart with Liberro Euroblend and a fair bit of nicotine juice. The flavour's coming through fine (and is nice) and the throat hit is erm...lethal! Oops. Too far, too far. Perhaps cart no.2 was dodgy or the Johnson Creek juice is, as suggested, too thick? That just leaves the Clearomizer and, by extension, the question of whether to get carts or clearomizers in future...