I don't know what I want; please help

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Gunshow

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Jan 24, 2012
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For the TL;DR crowd, the BLUF (bottom line up front):

My problem:
1) My KR808 cartomizer from V2 sometimes give me a burnt taste – is this because I’m doing something wrong, because of my USB pass-through, or because of some other factor that I’m not aware of? What can I do to eliminate it?
2) I bought some juice and carts from iVape – I love the juice but not their cartomizer. Am I filling them wrong or are they just crappy cartomizers? What are some alternatives to use on my V2 batteries that will let me get the best out of my juice?

My parameters:
1) I’m over budget by a LOT and need to cut back on spending as much as possible
2) Between work, night-school and life, I move around a lot and need my main stuff to fit in my pockets. I keep juice, chargers, etc. at home but when I leave in the morning, all I take with me are batteries and cartomizers
3) I’m not against mods/etc but right now, I want to use as much of my existing gear as I can (see #1!)
4) I don’t like messy stuff. I don’t mind filling carts/whatever but once I fill it, I’d like it not to leak
5) I care about throat hit but not so much about "clouds of vapor" - as long as I get my nicotine.

The details:
I've been vaping for about 3 weeks now - I’m definitely not having second thoughts about e-cigs but I'm wondering how I can make my experience better. This is my experience so far and what I’ve learned along the way:

I bought a V2 with some spare batteries and whooole bunch of carts. I like the cartomizers but I’ve noticed the flavor isn’t consistent. Sometimes I’ll get a burnt taste – V2 says this is a sign that it’s time to change the cartomizer but sometimes it happens well before the cartomizer is supposed to be empty. I’ve kept on vaping them after that (even burnt it tastes better than a cigarette) and it will last a good long time. It might be my imagination, but I think this burnt flavor seems to happen more when I use the USB pass-through (also from V2). I does seem like the burnt taste is less noticeable when I take a “burnt” cartomizer off the USB and put it on a battery but this may be wishful thinking and perhaps my taste buds still haven’t fully recovered from 25 years of smoking. Is there anything to this? What am I doing (if anything) that is causing this burnt taste?

I also like the batteries – they’re small enough that I can carry them around with me and I bought extras knowing that they would only last a few hours each. I bought a couple of each of the manual and automatic batteries. I didn’t think I’d like the manual ones but I definitely prefer them over automatic. I saw a guy with a HUGE battery the other day. Someday I might get one but not right now – I spend the majority of my day on the go and need something that will fit in my pocket. A mod would be great for home use but I’m WAY past my budget right now and that will have to wait. I’ll have to ask about mods another day.

What I learned from this: I like cartomizers – a lot – but I don’t like the burnt taste. I use manual batteries almost exclusively and I love the portability of the KR808.

I bought some eliquid from iVape and a handful of empty cartomizers. I really like the experience of trying new flavors and I’m a HUGE fan of FrostFire but I’m not sure about these carts. The website says that they’re compatible with 808s (says it’s a 901/KR808 cartomizer) but maybe I’m not doing something right. I’ve been using this (A Great Way To Fill Cartomizers - YouTube) method to fill them but it doesn’t seem like the carts hold much liquid – I’ve almost always got juice coming out when I vape off of them. Is this not really a good way to fill cartomizers? Or do iVape cartomizers just suck? What are some other options?

What I’ve learned from this: I like to try new flavors but I don’t like the mess.

On a related note: Early on, I bought a Volcano Magma e-cig with some kind of tiny tank cartridge and some pineapple ejuice. It's not a bad e-cig but it's messy – it leaks after I’ve filled the little tank. Maybe I did it wrong? Also – it’s often very hard to draw. I smoked a pack a day for 25 years - I don't have the lung power (at the moment) to suck on this thing like a pro. The woman at the mall kiosk said that I would probably need to replace the atomizer on a semi-regular basis. Maybe it’s hard to draw because I need to replace/clean the atomizer? I didn't use it very long before it got hard to draw - maybe a couple days? Is that normal for an atomizer?

What I learned from this: I don't like messy. I’m not against cleaning my stuff but don’t have time for it if it will be a major chore. I prefer the cartomizer but I’m not against the atomizer if I can figure out a workable solution – my main thing is that I don't want to get a brain aneurism trying to get a drag.

In the last month, I’ve spent a metric buttload of money on vaping stuff. I’m well over the amount of money I used to spend on smokes. I don’t feel tooooo bad about it because I care more about my health than I care about money but I can’t afford to start over with new kits or rigs at this point. I told my wife not to let me spend any more money on vaping stuff until June! I’m hoping to get some suggestions on carts, clearomizers, whatever to use with my existing gear that will improve my experience. I wish I’d known about this forum when I was buying the V2 – I “googled” for e-cig reviews but I think a lot of them are people who get paid so I don’t think I got unbiased reviews. I’m not unhappy with the V2 – it’s better than smoking. I just want to get the most out of it.

There is a LOT of information on these forums. I’ve been reading about clearomizers and fluxomizers and low resistance cartomizers... there's a lot here. It all seems very complicated and it’s hard for a noobie like me to wrap my head around all the possibilities. It might be that there is no good solution to my particular problem set but if there’s something out there, I’m hoping that all the experts out there will help me find it. Thanks to all of you who reply – I’m looking forward to the day that I can be the expert to help the next guy :)
 
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swedishfish

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When you're saying carts- do you mean the cart that fits on the atomizer or the cart(cartomizer) that contains the stuffing that you fit on your battery. Not trying to be nit-picky, just trying to figure out what your using and having trouble with. Some websites call cartomizers carts too so it's confusing for everyone.
 

Gunshow

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Jan 24, 2012
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PaporPlas

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Dec 27, 2011
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Get this and don't look back! $50 total

eGo Dual carto case kit

Each eGo Mega Dual Coil Cartomizer Kit includes:

2 eGo 1100mah batteries with blue LED.

4 eGo Mega Dual Coil LR 1.7ohm Cartomizers 2 black 2 clear

1 eGo charger (Please use this charger only on these batteries)

1 med zippered carrying case black

1 vaperite Lanyard
 

Gunshow

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Jan 24, 2012
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Is the Volcano Magma a 510 ego type battery? Anyone know?

According to the website, it looks like it's a 510 series. This is a link to the atomizer:
Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarette Atomizer

The battery life isn't terribly great, but it came with a PCC and a spare battery so I could make it work for during the day use, I think - if I can figure out how to eliminate the muss/fuss.
 

swedishfish

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I've purchased from ivape but I've never used the cartomizers. If they're a standard size cartomizer, they should hold about 1 ml of juice (about 20-25 drops). I just pop the top off and hold at an angle and drip the juice into the carto. I do about 10 drops, shake like a thermomether, 5-10 more drops, shake again. Repeat until slushy on top and I get a drip or two out of the bottom. Avoid the center channel. Wipe it off and it should be OK.

If they don't work out for you, you can purchase empty cartomizers for the v2 (KR808) from Smokeless Image, Ikenvape, V4L, LiteCigUSA. All carry blanks. They really shouldn't be messy. The average person vapes between 3-5 mls a day. So I'd fill 3-4 and when flavor tapers off, change the carto. If you wait and get a burnt taste, it usually means the carto is burnt and they're usually done at that point.

Ikenvape carries mega cartos for the KR808 that hold about double the amount of juice. They cost more but that might be better for someone like you that's on the go.
 

Gunshow

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Jan 24, 2012
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I think iVape juice is 60/40 pg/vg just so you know, unless you ordered it differently. I find it a little thick for my cartos but the flavor is very good.

I didn't do anything special when I ordered it and there's nothing on the page to tell what the ratio is - what impact will the thickness have? Does that mean I need to fill the carts differently or that I should use less?
 

wiity36

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Jan 17, 2011
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This can be confusing! I generally keep my suggestions to forum vendors but since you didn't start out that way I suppose this is o.k. I use this vendor and they are stand up people. Great deal and the battery life is better than what you currently have. I would suggest that you buy the junior tank to go on it so there is not any fuss or mess. For me juice is very important and I only order mine from E-liquid / Smoke Juice by Halo (forum vendor)I hope this helps!
eGo Dual carto case kit
 
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marymarch

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Jan 2, 2012
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I am fairly new too, but I am really liking my set up now. I have an Ego-T, type B with 650 batteries. I got it from Vapor Kings. I bought 2 low resistance atomizers for it from cignot, I also bought the rubber tank caps from Vapor king (helps keep tank from leaking). I love the Bounty Hunter flavor from Nite Lite Vapor, but find the flavors from Vapor Bomb is pretty good too. As for cleaning, I keep it simple. I blow out the old juice from the atomizers, then pour thru vinegar and water until it runs clear, then do the same with plain hot water. I also do a dry burn as needed on the batteries when needed. MUCH better than the Duo 51 setup I had!
 

swedishfish

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I'm trying to think of a suggestion so you're not spending a lot more money.

You could get new cartomizers for the two pvs you have- for the 510 and the KR808. You'd probably spend about $20. You're still going to have battery issues and the cartos don't hold a lot.

Or you could get a little bigger pv that holds more juice which sounds like something you'd want. For $40-$50 you could get the kit that PaporPlas suggested, or here's a similiar kit-

Riva Mega Dual Coil Kit | Sweet-Vapes E-Liquid

Both would hold enough juice for the whole day without a refill and both have a battery that should last you most of the day.

The only other suggestion I think you'd like where you wouldn't have to mess with refilling juice would be a juice box and you might not be interested in that at this time because they cost a little more.
 

Gunshow

Full Member
Jan 24, 2012
24
5
United States
Get this and don't look back! $50 total

eGo Dual carto case kit

Each eGo Mega Dual Coil Cartomizer Kit includes:

2 eGo 1100mah batteries with blue LED.

4 eGo Mega Dual Coil LR 1.7ohm Cartomizers 2 black 2 clear

1 eGo charger (Please use this charger only on these batteries)

1 med zippered carrying case black

1 vaperite Lanyard

This looks nice but I don't see an adapter to use my 808 cartomizers - I bought about 80 coffee cartomizers from V2... this might be my next system down the road though.
 

swedishfish

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This looks nice but I don't see an adapter to use my 808 cartomizers - I bought about 80 coffee cartomizers from V2... this might be my next system down the road though.

You can get an adapter for the cartos. Mad Vapes sells them.

Adapters You could get one to use them on the 510 you already have.
 

Gunshow

Full Member
Jan 24, 2012
24
5
United States
I'm trying to think of a suggestion so you're not spending a lot more money.

You could get new cartomizers for the two pvs you have- for the 510 and the KR808. You'd probably spend about $20. You're still going to have battery issues and the cartos don't hold a lot.

Or you could get a little bigger pv that holds more juice which sounds like something you'd want. For $40-$50 you could get the kit that PaporPlas suggested, or here's a similiar kit-

Riva Mega Dual Coil Kit | Sweet-Vapes E-Liquid

Both would hold enough juice for the whole day without a refill and both have a battery that should last you most of the day.

The only other suggestion I think you'd like where you wouldn't have to mess with refilling juice would be a juice box and you might not be interested in that at this time because they cost a little more.

I don't mind refilling juice - just can't do it on the go. I usually take 3 batteries and two cartomizers with me in the morning and they seem to last me all day. Well... this is true if I take the prefilled cartomizers from V2. The ones from iVape don't seem to last very long at all and leak a lot.

I put all of this into a hard plastic case I got off of amazon and stick it in my pocket.
http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Full-Pac...MZ8S/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1327896902&sr=8-7

It's been working pretty good except for the burning taste on the V2 which I think might be related to draw technique or something and the fact that the iVape cartomizers don't seem to hold very much. Maybe cartomizers in general just aren't a good experience and I should be looking at tank models or something. Still - I'll look into the eGo and Riva models that you guys recommend and maybe give those a go.
 

swedishfish

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You're going to find the draw is much easier on the manual ego batteries if that is an issue for you.

No offense to the people using them, but I'd stay away from the tanks, and clearos. They definitely do have leak issues for a lot of people.

I can't say what the issue is with the V2 or the ivape cartos- never used either.

I have tried some mini's that have had super tight draws- don't know if that's the issue with the V2 or not.

I'd try some different cartos or get the adaptor and use the carto you have.

I started with an ego and boge cartos and it was a pretty simple setup.
 
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dormouse

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Oct 31, 2010
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What is the PG/VG of your juice (and if they don't say I would not buy it). Cartomizers work most easily with thin juices - juices high in PG and low in VG. I use juices around 80PG/20VG. I use manual KR808D-1 batteries (mine are V4L for the longer drag but manual V2 would work as well) and I keep my cartomizers damp.

Singeing of cartos is user error or using juice that is too thick to flow quickly enough through the stuffing to keep the coil area damp. My favorite KR808D-1 cartos are V4L WOW cartos (around 2.5 ohms, hot on the lips - use a plastic or delrin drip tip as a mouthpiece) and Bloogplanet/SmokelessImage cartos (cooler at lip end, absorbent, no horizontal coil 2.6 ohm cartos)

Here is how I fill blanks including cleanup and settle <- if you don't do this they could singe, and how I keep them damp. You can fill a different way but you still have to fill them to their STATED capacity, cleanup, settle, and keep them damp.

---
How I fill V4L/Volt/Bloog KR8 cartos and Boge 510 cartos (1ml cartos)

With the carto off the battery... Pop out the soft cap with an unbent paperclip in the mouth hole, very careful not to catch stuffing or the wire loop.
Shake and open the eliquid

Fill
Hold a bit of tissue on the threaded end hole (or use the carto condom spike to block the hole),tilt the carto, and add 18 drops per ml of capacity into the stuffing (Boges and most KR8 cartos are about 1ml). You may need to wait a bit for the first few to soak in, then continue. After getting the 18 in, wait 15 seconds or so then see how many more drops the carto stuffing will soak in easily.

Cleanup
Clean up the threaded end, tilt open end down into tissue, puff into threaded end to clear air channel (Boges and the KR8 cartos I use have a defined center air channel and I want to see light through that) While the carto is still open end down, touch a soft bunch of tissue to the top of the stuffing to get the loose juice - this will help prevent leaks.

Settle (first fill only)
Cap and let it settle - I lay it on different sides and on the ends for 15-20 minutes to make sure every bit of stuffing gets damp so I won't singe the carto. if you use thicker juice than me (I use 20% Vg or less) then you may need to wait much longer.

While vaping
While vaping - any time the vapor seems light, dry, or tastes the tiniest bit off or loses flavor, or if the carto is getting abnormally warm, I add liquid. I also occasionally look at the stuffing (especially before putting a fresh battery on or before going out) and if the top of the stuffing looks white, I add some juice. No settle needed when just keeping the carto damp. And if you do not keep it damp or if you use juice that is too thick (too much VG) you will singe the carto and that adds a bitter taste.

I use a simple plastic or delrin drip tip in place of the end cap so it is easy for me to remove that to look at the stuffing or add juice. I use thin clear juices that leave the stuffing white.
 
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