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

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Beans

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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.


Well I'm happy you finally joined us here. I think youll get a lot more direction and help through the forum than on your own. The support really does make it easier and there is no shortage here.

When your looking at cartomizers know they are not all created equally. IMHO I think Boge 2.0 ohm will really help your quit efforts. The flavor is terrific and the 2.0 is a LR style that will give you better fuller hits.
 

Stef64

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I can relate to your experience. For close to 2 years i struggled to quit smoking and using PV's. I tried 901's 801,s and 510's. They did not do it for me, and like you, I gave up up and started several times. The inconsistencies, expense, poor vapor production were too much and it was so easy to pick up a pack of cigarettes.

What finally helped me get off analogs was finding the right hardware. In my case it was a Riva with cartomizers. At first I was reluctant to try it, thinking it was too big. But with a 750 mAh battery is only slightly longer than a 510 and it is as thick as a AA battery. On the other hand i can chain vape on a Riva for 5 hours easily. The Riva also provides more voltage and allows you to use low resistance attys/cartos. Both of these will result in hotter and more abundant vapor.

I found cartomizers to be more consistent than atomizers. They last at least 3-4 days, hold more juice than carts and you can get a 5-pack for about the price of an atomizer.

I encourage you to give vaping another try. Get yourself a fat 3.7V battery (Riva, KGo, ePower), a pack of Boge 2.0 ohm cartos and you will get a much better experience that with your current setup.

Good luck and happy vaping.
 

Doomed!

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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.

You can't use LR atties on small batts like you have. You would have to go to an ego size battery at least. Which I would highly suggest you do. As for the batteries you have now, if they are really lasting only 10 minutes, they are broken. Depending on where you got them, you might be able to send them back for a refund.

You have to ask yourself if all the fiddling and research and experimenting is worth it. Vaping has a definite learning curve and it takes some time to find the PV setup that works for you. I've been doing this for a year and I'm still experimenting. But now I'm doing it because I think it's fun not because I'm dissatisfied. But the tinkering and fiddling will minimize when you find a setup that works for you. It takes time, but it can get you off cigarettes. If you're willing to mess around with it a bit.
 

Jim Bob

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Ditto to this, really it IS worth it!

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!
 

austerity

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Thanks beans. I actually did start here just on the info pages and not the forums. I think the problem with the reviews I watched on youtube is just that there are so darn many of them. Most people probably post a review in the early stages before any deficiencies become apparent and they might be coming from an old style system that was even worse. The reviews of the joye 510 are almost all glowing. It seems actually using the forums would have been the best bet.
 

DietSalem

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The thing I found out while buying my first unit, and the week after it, is that I really just have to go big or go home with ecigs. I'm that way with a lot of things, and I couldn't be more happy I finally did that. I ended up with a perfect PV for me (Saber Touch VV). I hated my wifes unit, not enough vapor or flavor. I tasted nothing. Once I tried this, though, I got a nice hot mouthful of flavorful vapor.

Don't give up. If I can quit smoking (I am a tobacco LOVER, 2 pack a day smoker, regularly dip, smoke cigars and pipes) - anyone can. I quit accidentally just because this tasted so much better. It's so hard to start, but so worth it once you do.
 

austerity

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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

That's an awesome offer. I actually did my research starting on the info pages here though. Guess I just needed to read the forums more. I'm actually having a little trouble find how to PM but you don't have to do that for me, though, like I said, that is pretty awesome of you to offer. I'll learn my lesson hard way I guess. :)
 

Della Cirque

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Hang in there! I picked up a couple packs of stinkerettes when I was 3 weeks in also. Was having the same frustrations of short battery life of the Blu ecig...came back to vaping and found this forum. Got an eGo and Riva, atties and cartos, fiddled with cartos, dripping, making homemade syringe tanks...etc. Spent hours on this forum and finally found my sweet spot. Smoked for over 20 years and it took a couple months of experimenting to find what vape set up worked for me. Not bad considering it has that 20 year habit broken. Just keep trying, asking questions and don't be too hard on yourself if you have to have an analog occasionally.
 

waveryder

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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.

What you have written is a repeat of what I went through with one exception being the mod you purchased. I started with Blu's and was totally dissatisfied with battery life. I did some research on ECF and posted a question on ECF - "Which of these 3 mods are best?", the Silver Bullet was what most responses favored so I bought one, no regrets since the battery life was no longer an issue. I began with carto's (since that is what Blu provided) and started experiencing a burnt taste - did more research on ECF and decided to go to a tank (J tank and Liquinator), I then found LR Boge cartos for a price of around $5.50 per 5 pack, I purchased 6 packs (30) and punched them for the tanks. That took care of the carto problem. I was fortunate in that a VapeFest was held in Richmond,Va. I went to see what everything was all about and learned about atomizers. One guy was kind enough to strip all of the "stuff" off of the atty bridge for me (he said it ruined the juice flavor). He directed me to get a drip shield for the atty and I followed his instruction. For the remainder of the day I tested different juices using the atty and learned from the experienced people that attended the event. I no longer have any "issues" with equipment (I did purchase a Super T small mod for public vaping), the only thing I have added for equipment is a genesis type device so I can eliminate carto's completely. I now follow juice reviews and have found some that are my absolute favorites. Although it was frustrating when I began this vaping journey I discovered that experienced people were extremely generous in assisting me during my learning curve. I was spending $165 a month for analogs and decided to budget 3 months of that cost to getting started with vaping figuring that it would be worth it in the long run. I wasted some $$$ in the beginning but put that behind me and am happy that I persisted. My "keeper" stuff ended up being SB @ $85, J tank @ $20, Liquinator @ 35, Super T @ $165, Drip Shield @ $12 Carto cleaner $20. (I quit cleaning carto's, I buy them in bulk for just over $1 and toss them when the draw gets tight).
Replaceable stuff = Batteries, Cartos and Juice.
The cost for vaping is now running me far less than analogs (juice = approx $35 month) not to mention I got my taste buds back. I forgot how nasty analog smoke smells to nonsmokers but I remind myself every time I smell it just how nasty I will smell if I choose to go back. :)
 

Gloria

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Hi austerity,

So sorry to hear that you're struggling with the gear that you bought. I did the same. Overspent on a kit from the mall that was way too wimpy. It collected dust while I continued to smoke for another year until I found ECF and graduated to "real" ecigs. Please don't let that be you!!!

And just graciously accept steven36's offer! Let us know if you need help with PMing.

You can pay it forward to another newbie in the future when you're off of the stinkies. :)

Please reconsider and trudge your way through the learning curve. You'll be glad you did.
 

zoiDman

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...

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.

Maybe e-Cigarettes Just Arn't for you Right Now.
 

PaporPlas

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Get this and don't look back!

KGO 1100 mAh 2 battery kit

This kit has EVERYTHING that has been suggested to you on this Thread, with none of the problems you've experienced. If I could I'd take out adds to combat all the marketing campaigns the "bad" eCig makers put out there, and advertise this thing, cuz Starter Kits like this one will have a far greater success rate for first-timers.

Good Luck!
 

Vapoor eyes er

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Sorry to hear about your issues. Before I bought I spent a minimum of 200+ hrs researching. Before PV was delivered I prolly spent another 100+ hrs research.
My :2c:
but a PV with at least 1000 mah batts
make sure they are manual batts- less prone to damage from juice and puts YOU in control of the vaping experience
begin with cartomizers, preferably Boges
Afterwards if you wish you can upgrade your cartomizers and/ or add a tank.
There's no magic trick that others have used in their success with PVs. Just start slow and easy with the proper equipment.
Good Luck.

Edit: I almost forgot...after all those hours of meticulous research I still had some problems/ issues that I had to work through.

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.
 
Last edited:
Dec 31, 2011
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I feel your pain & frustration. I too have a 510 starter set, got it a few weeks ago, as well as 3x30 mls of e juice, not the greatest tasting. I did get some cartos too, better than atty & cartridge. All in all I spent $150 & I need to upgrade. I'm still smoking analogs, but half the amount that I was. For me I think that's great. I got a bit of DIY supplies to "fix" the juice, & it's working.
You can't suck through your device, I have to cover the holes where mine joins cause I'm sucking a lot of air, hmmm, wish we could combine them.
I'm sticking with it, I've been reading through the forum, getting advice & doing a ton of research. I hope you do too. For me it's worth it.
When I started on this e-cig experience I wasn't looking for an easy way to quit smoking, I love smoking. What I was looking for was an alternative. I have found it.:D
Since starting on this new journey I have learned a lot. Yes, there is a learning curve. Yes, I will have to spend $ to find the right hardware for me. Yes, it's going to take some trial & error to find e-juice that I like. Yes, it takes more time to fill cartridges & cartos, & clean parts than it does to open a pack of analogs & light one.:ohmy: And I have so much more to learn.
BTY.. I have spent about $100 less on analogs over the past month.
It's not all about $$$ for me :?: It's about health & an addiction. What ever amount I spend on e-cigs & supplies is way less than a set of lungs would cost, umm, oh ya, you can't buy them.
There is something I do know, I never want to have to tell my family I have lung cancer.
I'm excited about my e-cig journey because for the first time in the 35 years that I've smoked, I can see a way out.
Just my :2c: worth, and good luck.
:toast:
 

dearme

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This is where I think we do people new to vaping a great injustice. We are starting them out mostly with devices that will not meet their needs to quit smoking and they will get frustrated with all the fiddling around.

A successful vaping device needs power, ease of use, and a reasonable battery life. Most new users will also usually prefer a tube shape of some sort. They also need one with non-proprietary batteries which can be used with a multitude of PVs, will last a long time, usually around a year, and will be cheap to replace.

The truth is that you will need to spend more than 30 or 40 dollars to meet these needs. You can get a sturdy mod in the mid price range for between 75 to 100 dollars. This mod keep you happy for a long time with almost no fuss and can be your backup if you should later decide to go to a high end mod or a Variable Volt mod. A wise choice in batteries and charger to begin with will minimize your cost for any other mods you might decide to purchase.

There are several mods that meet this criteria.......the Silver Bullet is a good choice as well as most of the tube mods at Madvapes. The Rough Stack is a workhorse but has the disadvantage of not working with carto tanks without an adapter because of the button on top, but there are other mods at Madvapes that will work with carto tanks, or you could just continue to use cartos without the tank.

There are many more mid range PVs out there that will meet your criteria. I don't advise an EPower at the moment. Wait until they get their switch difficulties out of the way if you want an EPower.

First decide on a battery size. I strongly suggest a mod that uses either a 14500 or 18650 battery. In my opinion the 18650 battery is the better choice because it will last longer between charges, have more power than the 14500, and will be more versatile. A mod that uses just one battery instead of stacking batteries is generally considered safer.

You will also need a battery charger that will take several sizes of batteries as that will be more versatile in the long run.

Sampler packs of 5ml juices from several vendors to help you find your perfect vape.

You will also need a Drip Tip for ease and comfort.

The only other thing that you will need to purchase in addition to these items is cartos. I suggest a Boge LR 2.0 single coil carto. A carto will generally last 5 to 7 days, or longer depending on your juice, and at about 7 or 8 dollars for a box of 5 will be an inexpensive way to vape. There's no sense in buying lots of different types of exotic cartos until you at least have something to compare it to.

I know this sounds like more money than you were expecting to spend, but after the initial purchase, you will only need to buy eliquids and cartos. These will probably easily be under 30.00 a month and even less if you decide to DIY your juices.

These choices will give you the best chance of quitting analogs, probably a 100% success rate, or very close to it, with the least cost in the long run and with no muss or fuss.
 

PaporPlas

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To make things easier get five (5) of these dual coil cartomizers:

dual coil cartomizer

Or the Boge's to go with your kit.

: )

dual coil cartomizer
Get this and don't look back!

KGO 1100 mAh 2 battery kit

This kit has EVERYTHING that has been suggested to you on this Thread, with none of the problems you've experienced. If I could I'd take out adds to combat all the marketing campaigns the "bad" eCig makers put out there, and advertise this thing, cuz Starter Kits like this one will have a far greater success rate for first-timers.

Good Luck!
 

PepNYC

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Don't give up man. We've all had hardships with finding what works for us. I sure as heck didn't hit it on the first try. As a matter of fact, with all the new technonogy that just came out like tanks and stuff I'm still looking. It's going to take some time and some money to accomplish but when you find it the heavens will open and the angels will sing to you. Ok, so I'm exaggerating a tad bit. :) But seriously, don't give up. You're not expected to drop your analogs and switch right over the day you get your PV. Take your time. Do your research. You'll still have some bumps in the road along the way but with the help of these fine folks here at ECF and all the info available you'll be smooth sailing before ya know it. Just remember, take your time and have patience.
 
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