I'm basically ready to give up this ecig experiment.

[austerity]

My 3 weeks of using an ecig has been like a roller coaster ride but now I seem to be permanently at the bottom of the hill. I bought two Joye 510 starter kits that each come with 2 batteries, 2 standard resistance atomizers, charger, 5 carts.

At first I had no idea what I was doing and the first couple days were very frustrating. Then my flavored juice arrived from clouds of vapor and vixen vapor. By then I had watched some videos and at least knew how to take a decent drag. Things started looking up with the yummy flavors to use. It didn't take long though for the atty to give off a nasty taste, but I had four of them so I switched out atties. It helped and the great flavor experience lasted for several days but that's it.

Now I've been cleaning the atties but it doesn't really help. I've done the alcohol soak method followed up with a water flush using a child medicine dispenser method I saw on youTube. I can tell it cleans them because I can see the alcohol change color but it doesn't really do anything flavor/satisfaction wise. I've tried poly-fill, tea bag fill, and direct dripping with at most a very temporary, very slight improvement.

So in less than 3 weeks I have 4 atties that give hard/tight draws and produce no real flavor (at least they don't give a burnt taste I guess). It is weird. If I blow through the atty from the cart end I get basically no resistance but if I try to suck in it is like drinking molasses through a straw.

The batteries are a whole different story. They suck too. I somewhat expected that. I did get the small battery, but I'm talking about them lasting for two 10 minute sessions tops. So I'm looking at dropping more money to get something that lasts a reasonable period of time, but from what I'm seeing with the atties and flavors it seems like getting an enjoyable, flavorful, easy drag is just something that won't be happening.

As I read through the forums it looks like my experience is not unique. It looks like these things are a constant PITA for everyone. Since I switched to possibly save money and get something approaching the same nicotine enjoyment I get from a cig it seems my experiment has been a failure. 3 days ago I broke down and bought a pack of cigs and I'm lighting up the last one right now as I contemplate whether it is worth it to invest more money in ecig equipment that seems to be destined for failure. It seems it be just near constant fiddling with next to no satisfaction.

 

[Dr. Russell Fell]

Your problem started when you purchased a Joye 510. Regroup, research, and start again. Trust me, it's worth it. I started out with a 901 and then an 801 over three years ago, and that was hell compared to what's available in the modern PV market.

 

[Dr. Russell Fell]

Protip: Decide what's important to you; vapor production, TH, battery life, cost and ease of use. There are other variables too, but those are the most important to most users.

 

[cracker75]

As you stated, your experience is not unique.

I don't have time for a longish post, but I would suggest you upgrade your hardware, and just keep trying. For me, I'm finally at a point where I think vaping is more satisfying than smoking ever was, but to get here, you have to endure a bit of learning curve, and give your body time to regenerate.

Good luck, don't give up.

 

[dotma]

Austerity-- i started for basically the same reasons. They told me at the mall kiosk i would save so much money, etc., etc. Honestly, that did not happen, but i did quit smoking, and that means a lot more to me. Please give it another shot. Try something like an ego, kgo, e-power type kit with a bigger battery, manual battery, and some cartomizers or clearomizers, not those damn cartridges. I am using a lavatube with CE2 clearomizers or the submarine tank and I am so happy with my set up, i cant tell you. I was very unhappy also with my mall kiosk pen style with cartridges. the draw was terrible, the vapor was terrible, but fortunately i persisted until i found something i loved. Please try again!

 

[Shizzle]

same thing happened to me. then, i went on to buy an ego-t kit...also a disaster (leaking tanks, burning, muted flavor, etc)...however, it wasn't a total loss -- the ego-t 1000mah batteries are *fabulous*. i simply tossed the tanks, bought some cartomizers and BAM -- i was able to quit smoking the very same day...that was a year ago, btw.

so, i'd suggest you buy a couple of ego-t 1000mah batteries and a charger, and a couple packs of Boge 2.0 cartomizers, and you'll be pleasantly shocked at how wonderful and simple vaping can be. cignot sells the batteries and chargers individually, and boge 2.0 cartomizers can be bought from many vendors, including madvapes.

 

[ChrispyCritter]

Try CE2 cartomizers they use wicks and can be cleaned with a little disassembly/reassembly,burning off and work..if you don't like to clean them they come in packs of 5 for around $10. I suggest getting the metal tubed ones not the clearomizers they tend to leak a bit more.

10 min battery life is pretty bad must be bad batteries. eGo batteries are the best but a bit big and they use a 510 connector..they also make longer slim 510 batteries that last longer than the short. Don't give up and good luck

 

[luvinit]

Oh please don't give up! I think you got in over your head with the equipment you got. Simple is the key, when you're a noob (like me!) I started with a V2,, which is nobody's favorite around here, but it has served me well and I've been over a month without the stink-sticks and I'll never go back. Simple two piece design to start with, that's my opinion. Go to EasyCigs and look at the Elite 808.. there's a very good video review of it. So good, that I ordered one for myself last night and can't wait to get it! It doesn't have to be hard,,, I am so, so glad to be off those nasty things,,, my husband is glad and so is my healthcare provider. You can do it, if you keep it simple in the beginning... Seriously, it's awesome when you get the hang of it!! Good luck!

 

[Beans]

Wow, I really hate to see you give up after only 3 weeks. IMHO attys ARE a PITA. Have you considered trying an eGo with Boge cartomizers? I was in the same spot your in after my second week and I know its frustrating. Please don't give up just yet. Finding what works for you is hard but I'm sure with some help you will find it.

 

[Skennard]

Sorry to hear that you've had a bad experience so far. Atomizers are a no go for me unless I'm dripping juice into them. Cartomizers have been a much better fit for me and many others. I would try those if you want to stay with a small cigarette look alike pv. Otherwise a silver bullet or bombshell or similar mod will offer better battery life (1-18650 battery=1-2 days depending on usage)combined with a dual coil low resistance cartomizer might be a good fit. hope this helps and hope you stick with it.

 

[eddy-r3]

Im a newer vapour and also found it quite confusing not having any real help along the way other than this forum (which has helped me no end!)

The main thing i found is research really helps, watch reviews on various PV's thats what i done, i spent HOURS and HOURS watching reviews and reading about various carts, attys, batteries everything i could read, i read.

I brought a Tornado Tank and an SD from TW and have had nothing but joy with them both, i got rid of the standard bits like the attys on both PVs and opted for Smokymizers for 2 reasons, 1) always good reviews on them (odd people have leaking issues but if you fill them right they're fine) and 2) the flavour is superb, no burnt taste what so ever and not to mention the ~1ml capacity!

All in all, a little reading, and asking copious amounts of questions (im sure no 1 will get disgruntled) has really helped me!

Stick with it, its expensive in the 1st instance, but im sure that i will be reaping benefits from here on out!

Many thanks
Eddy

 

[9ball_AJ]

Wow, I really hate to see you give up after only 3 weeks. IMHO attys ARE a PITA. Have you considered trying an eGo with Boge cartomizers? I was in the same spot your in after my second week and I know its frustrating. Please don't give up just yet. Finding what works for you is hard but I'm sure with some help you will find it.

+1 to this recommendation. Once I got on an eGo with Boge cartos I was in vaping heaven. You will find a lot of support here, don't give up yet.

-AJ

 

[austerity]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I think the battery issue is easily solved so that isn't a big deal to me. I got the smaller batt because it was cheaper and I thought it would last more like an hour or two instead of twenty minutes of actual use. Still, easily solved.

What is most important to me is an easy draw that doesn't feel like I'm slowly pulling my teeth out, and something that will remain flavorful for more than two uses.

It sounds like maybe I should give cartomizers a try. I had heard they were less flavorful but nothing can be less flavorful than what I'm getting now which is zero flavor.

I don't actually mind fiddling, as in taking things apart and maintaining them. It is just the amount of it. Like if I had to clean once per day or two that would be fine. What I have now seems to be near constant though. Either the batt needs charged or the filler needs changed or the atty needs cleaned, etc. So every time I go to use it I need to do something! And the result is a tight, flavorless drag that doesn't feel like a drag at all.

I'll probably give it one more go with different equipment so thanks again for the input on what works for you.

 

[Homedude]

One thing that you have to accept is that almost every component of an e-cig is going to need to be replaced. Some parts will only last a couple of days, others will last months but whatever it is, you're going to be buying more of it. There aren't many things in the vaping world that are truly "Buy it for life**". Yes, the fiddle factor is going to be there. There are ways to minimize it but they usually conflict with the 'saving money' aspect of things. Personally, I like to tinker with things and found that cleaning, refilling and organizing my gear was a great way to work through some of the nervous energy and nic fits associated with quiting cigs.

If you don't mind a little fiddle factor but don't want constant upkeep, cartomizers are the way to go. Fill them up once really good and then just add a few drops a couple of time through the day to keep them wet. After a few days or a few week, toss them in the trash. An eGo style of battery or two will keep you going for the day without looking for a charger.


**notable exceptions include things like drip tips and mechanical mods like REOs

 

[austerity]

Thing is, I did read and watch reviews etc. The only error I thought I was probably making was with the small batt, but since it is a 510, I knew an upgrade path was available.

I was thinking of trying LR atties but it sounds like maybe I should skip that and just embrace the short life span of the heating elements and go to cartos.

 

[eddy-r3]

This is my take on cartos (smokymizers)

I brought a pack of 5 4 days ago, ive used 1 since with the same flavour juice, its not lost any vapour production or have i noticed a loss in flavour, it works as good as it did when i got it out the packet, its not particulaly hard to fill but you have to fill it using the right method (put a condom on the bottom before filling (the little rubber plug thing)) ive refilled it 4-5 times now and its still going strong, so far so good, ive not had a bad 1 yet!

I have to approve them, and say that i think ill use nothing but these, i used 1 on my tornado battery the other day, filled it with 1.2ml liquid in the morning and put it onto a fresh battery at 8am and went fishing, i vaped that until i got home at 6pm in the evening and still had some juice left and the battery was still going!

Just my input
Eddy

 

[eddy-r3]

On the note of Cartos i got some 510 LR Triple coil cartos, i filled them using the condom method which worked a treat, filled really easily and filled them right up! BUT - i still got a burnt taste, maybe it was me, maybe i burnt the material before i filled it properly (since i did try it by dripping a few drops into it first) but since that ive gone off them, again probably my own fault but it was horrible and enough to put me off, so now i have 3 cartos that i wont use lol

I did try another after learning that lesson and after filling a fresh new one with the condom method and letting it sit for 10mins before vaping i still found it less enjoyable as the smokymizers.

Again just my experience

 

[UnFettered_Soul]

I agree with the don't give up.
I started with the mall kiosk cigarette sized kit. Bought a 2 battery kit for myself and a 1 battery kit for the husband.
And even though I haven't had an analog since then, I can tell you it was a waste of money.

For what I spent on those 2 crappy kits I could have had 1 or 2 great mods that work soooo much better.

If I could make one myself, I would have
the battery life of the Go-Go with the digital display that tells you how much battery is left
the taste and vapor production of a 306 atomizer (possibly all stainless steal mesh, haven't tried that yet)
the lower costs of a rebuildable atomizer
the internals of a GGTS along with the versatility of it
the functions of the Provari and/or Darwin
the simplicity and durability of the Apex UltraMax
and either the bottom feeding or a good solid tank that will take almost anything, especially 306 atomizers or rebuildable
like the Odysseus for juice feeding.

I can't make that, so I literally have like 5 or 6 different PV's going at once.
Seriously, for the money investment, do a little research and purchase a mod you will be happier with.

They will all have a start up cost, but look around at what is out there before throwing in the towel.
Atomizers can be a little more work than cartomizers or cartridges, but I don't have any problems with them.

I use one for a few days to a week, keep them wet while in use.
When function drops, I rinse it out with steaming hot water 2 or 3 times, blow the water out, do 1 or 2 10 second dry burns and it's good to go again.
Others prefer the cartomizers, or a carto in a tank of some kind. I don't care for the taste of the filler myself.

Read some info and ask plenty of questions. Members of this board will give an honest opinion.
You will find something that works for you.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

 

[Dan Patrick]

KGo from Hoosier E-Cigs that comes with 5 1.7 Smoketec Cartomizers. Condum fill method. Drip to top off every so often. Can't lose!

 

[steven36]

i hate seeing new people get taken in by kiosk so this is what im going to do pm me your address and i will send you out some v4l batires a charger and a caring case i don't use any more you will need to pick up sum kr808d-1 cartomizers happy vapeing and welcome to the fam