Hi! Noob here with some basic questions.

[chelstar]

Hello. I started vaping the day before Thanksgiving, and smoked my last analog that day. I ordered a joye 510 starter kit, and a few different brands/flavors of e-juice. I am so happy I discovered this! I also want to say thanks to everyone here and the creators of the forum for organizing the plethora of information on vaping. I have a few (probably stupid) questions.

1. I have been re-using the filler material that came in the pre-filled cartridges all this time. My first question is, how long can I keep doing this? When will the filler material be unusable? I.E. what is the tell-tale sign that I shouldn't use it anymore? Or is there any reason I shouldn't do that?

2. Also, if I feel the atomizer getting really hot, does that mean I should top it off? Because it starts getting really hot, but I'm still getting plenty of vapor that tastes fine, and I pull the filler out and it still has enough liquid in it that my fingers get wet if I touch it.

3. I have tried dripping directly onto the atomizer. I try dripping three drops directly onto the wire bridge like they say to do.. but I don't really understand when to drip more on there.. What is the tell-tale sign that you need to drip more?

4. I am currently, as I type trying a new flavor I just got in the mail. (I know you are supposed to let it sit for a while, and I will, I was just really excited to try it!) I just tried dripping it onto the atomizer like in question three, and after a couple good-tasting puffs it now tastes really gross and metallic. But I'm getting a ton of vapor from it.. And it leaked a lot.. Does that mean I should drip more on there, or is it just the fact that the juice is brand new and I should let it sit for a week or so before trying it again?

Thanks!

 

[tybin]

hi chelstar. welcome. let's see if i can answer at least some of your questions.
1. you can re-use the filler. just was it out every once in a while. if it dissintegrates or get's burnt looking, i'd replace it. you may want to try the blue foam or a different cartridge modification down the road. you can find info on that in the tips and tricks section.
2. if the atomizer is getting really hot, you probably need to wait longer in between drags. you can try rotating with your second pv to alleviate this.
3. the tale tale sign for dripping more is a change in flavor. if the atty is tasting gross and metallic, i'd try to clean out the atty. try hot water first, as you may have burnt stuff on the wik. just fill your carts to 3/4 full to cut down on leakage. hope this helps

 

[chelstar]

Thank you, Tybin! That does help. I have tried the pyramid tea bag straw mod, but I think I need to try again a few times with it because it isn't making much vapor, and I don't get as much flavor with it.

 

[FreakyStylie]

Welcome to ECF! Looks like you've already got your questions answered very quickly. That's what I love about this place, and why I joined.

I don't know if you've seen this thread or not, but it will help a lot! http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-videos-newbies-particular-broke-newbies.html

 

[chelstar]

Thanks Freaky. Yes it is awesome how quickly people respond! I have watched some of those videos, but not all of them. (I'm too impatient to watch videos, I'd rather read the information lol) They were very helpful though. Thank you.

 

[tybin]

try the blue foam. you can get it at petco and it works wonders!

 

[CherieO]

What flavor is it? I have found that anything 'simple' works as soon as its mixed-mint, vanilla, watermelon-but anything that is a combo like irish cream never tastes good at first, it has to steep.
Ive been rinsing out my foam to reuse it since I emptied my first cartridge with no bad results at all.
You may want to try a drip tip for your 510 if you prefer to drip liquid directly, most places have them super cheap.
I did notice you said your fingers get wet after you pull the filter out-please use a pair of tweezers to check the filter material, unless you are using 0-nic juice because it is harmful to the touch if there is nicotine in it.

 

[chelstar]

What flavor is it? I have found that anything 'simple' works as soon as its mixed-mint, vanilla, watermelon-but anything that is a combo like irish cream never tastes good at first, it has to steep.
Ive been rinsing out my foam to reuse it since I emptied my first cartridge with no bad results at all.
You may want to try a drip tip for your 510 if you prefer to drip liquid directly, most places have them super cheap.
I did notice you said your fingers get wet after you pull the filter out-please use a pair of tweezers to check the filter material, unless you are using 0-nic juice because it is harmful to the touch if there is nicotine in it.

Thanks Cherie. It was thin mint cookie flavored, so yeah. It probably needs to steep. You're right, I know I should use tweezers, and I do to take out and put it back in. I just couldn't tell if it was still wet with liquid or not. I suppose dabbing it on a paper towel would do the trick, rather than touching it.

 

[chelstar]

O.K. I'll try the blue foam. Also the original filler material is the same stuff as the 100% polyester batting you can buy at craft stores right? Has anyone tried that, or can they direct me to a thread about it?

 

[CherieO]

I use my tweezerman super fine point tweezers that my ex-roomie damaged the tips on for my filter media and dab them on paper towels to see if they are still 'juicy'. I used to handle the filter and wipe the extra juice off if I loaded it to much with my fingers-until I started getting light headed and found out why.
Thin mint cookies...wow that sounds good, Im going to add that to my list to create

I would use blue foam from a pet store, or white filter media from a pet store before craft store batting-but that is just my personal preference.

 

[wizard27]

Welcome to the forum Chelstar, from another noob, and from a fellow Minnesotan! I'm new here also, but have found lots of info on Vaping here in the forums. Congrats especially on quiting the analogs! I have not succeeded that far just yet. Down to a couple a day now though. Seems really hard to not light up that first smoke in the mornings on the way to work.

Well you have alot of answers to your questions. Soon Vaping will become natural just like smoking was. I will state that Direct Dripping tastes alot better IMO, and smoother, so try a drip tip like CherieO suggested. I like it.

See ya around.

 

[chelstar]

Haha! No wonder I did feel really light headed/sick earlier today and I was wondering why... I think I got too much on my fingers! I'm such a dope!

 

[CherieO]

Most of us learn by trial and error. If it makes you feel better Im still trying to figure out how to upload an avatar, lol

 

[SpEcTReCHieF]

Welcome to the ECF chelstar and congrats on giving up the analogs. I almost strictly drip for the most part unless I am driving, then I throw on a carto for that, I don't suggest trying to drip and drive as you find yourself searching for red lights!! Dripping will give you better flavor and vapor production and usually 3-4 drops is all you need to get a good 6-8 puffs or so. When you start to get a slight burnt taste, add a few more drops. Hope that helps...

 

[chelstar]

Haha hey you got it Cherie! lol. Thanks, Wizard. I wish you good luck in quitting analogs, and hopefully (IMO) we'll stop getting so much stupid snow up here. Thanks specterchief. Hey I thought of a new question.. if you drip, can you then leave it sitting for a while before vaping again? or will it dry up and be wasteful..?

 

[venkman]

when dripping you can leave it sitting in there for a while (over-night at least) without it noticeably drying out, at least in my experience (though i only switched to dripping from cartos a few days ago). as far as nic-juice on your hands, you really don't have to worry about it that much. even if its high-nic, like 36mg, thats only 3.6%. the amount you might get on your fingers is a fraction of 1ml, so we're talking very little nicotine. certainly, wash your hands after getting liquid on them, especially if you will be around kids or pets, and don't touch your eyes, but don't stress about it. a nicotine patch puts more nicotine into your skin, and it does that all day. when blowing out excess 24mg liquid from an over-filled carto once, i had juice splash off of the paper towel into my eye. it burned a little, but i rinsed it out, and had no further irritation or any other problems. And the eyes are infinitely more sensitive and absorbent than the skin.

That being said, its always better to err on the side of caution, but you definitely don't need to be overly concerned or worried about it.

 

[dormouse]

The foam at the pet shops is in the aquarium section and is Marineland Rite-Size U. And StrictlyEJuice sells precut pieces for 510 and 901 carts.

And remember to wash/dry your atty periodically. I use carts w/ blue foam and every weekend I swap attys and swish/leave the used one in a jar of alcohol. I swish occasionally and leave it over night, swish again to get out any dissolved stuff, shake out, then set on a paper towel to dry until the next weekend. There are quicker ways to do it if you (like use a blow dryer to dry it).

 

[FreakyStylie]

Hey I thought of a new question.. if you drip, can you then leave it sitting for a while before vaping again? or will it dry up and be wasteful..?

As far as I know, you shouldn't have any problems, just so long as you don't put 3 drops in, then immediately set it on its side and walk away. PG and VG are humectants, so, if anything, they will absorb moisture out of the air and thin down your juice. I drip 3 drops and it gives me around 10 large puffs before the atty is dry again.

 

[chelstar]

Cool. Thanks! This forum rocks. So helpful!

 

[FreakyStylie]

Cool. Thanks! This forum rocks. So helpful!

Yeah, I know. Most of the time it is more like a chat room than a forum. If I hadn't've found this place, I would totally be cussing up a storm at my Blu!