I'm not a mechanic! I just want a product that works!!!

[emus]

IMO, the most reliable and easy vape:

Direct drip.
Flavorless juice.
Manual battery (high current).

 

[lesilu]

With V4L I think the passthroughs and the manual XL are the best bet. I have a manual and auto passthrough with them (I only got the second because I thought the first had died when really I had too many USB devices plugged in), an auto XL, a manual shorty and a manual XL. I've had the manual XL for nearly a year and it's still going strong whereas the shorty died after a few months and the auto XL can be irksome to deal with. I've never cleaned them (didn't know I was supposed to). But then again I don't drip, so I haven't had the "sticky" issue. Their forum here seems pretty helpful and active, if you're not finding the answer you need elsewhere. Good luck with your vaping ventures.

 

[phantom2x]

Ego-T is easy, just fill the tank up, push it into the atomizer, good to go as long as the battery is charged. I don't know about cleaning, it looks clean to me..

 

[tee217]

Vapian I so agree with what you wrote. Well said.

 

[JD1]

I haven't tried it but the Bloog MaxFusion has been getting some ink as being relatively hassle free. I'm not sure how you could try one, and after all the money you've spent, it would be nice if you could try before you buy.

Another option might be a mod, then if it didn't work out you could sell it and recoup some of your monies at least. I have the e-power and with duel coil cartos, or even the 2.0 ohm cartos that everyone raves about, it would be a fairly hassle free system as cartos are easy to fill.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/181832-realest-e-cig.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/electronic-cigarette-reviews/174172-e-power-review.html

 

[Coreva]

Thanks for the links

 

[Chris Macy]

I'm using a manual battery. I've been smoking 2-3 packs of full flavor cigs for 30+ years.

So far, I'm using the pre-filled cartomizers.

Have found contradictory instructions on re-filling the cartomizers. One said to refill 12-15 drops; yet another said to refill 25 drops! Both of these instructions came from V4L.

I don't mind the cost; it's the unreliability that bothers me.

 

[Chris Macy]

I'm using a manual battery. I've been smoking 2-3 packs of full flavor cigs for 30+ years.

So far, I'm using the pre-filled cartomizers.

Have found contradictory instructions on re-filling the cartomizers. One said to refill 12-15 drops; yet another said to refill 25 drops! Both of these instructions came from V4L.

I don't mind the cost; it's the unreliability that bothers me.

 

[Chris Macy]

Thanks, that was helpful.

 

[Erida]

Do you get these problems with Janty's kissbox design?

 

[Zorgoth]

It has actually improved vastly since i first started using ecigs... Hopefully it keeps getting better, but honestly anything that requires electricity to operate can and most likely will fail eventually. The less complex the better, which is why your best bet is always to go with heavy duty mechanical switch operated devices. As far as atomizers go, they are finicky and it can be annoying. As long as there is supply for the product, it will continue to get better ( At least i hope!! )

 

[Gat]

pushing the button becomes 2nd nature really easily, and according to others it's eventually actually more like smoking because you immediately get the vapor, rather than sucking away for a few seconds to activate the battery.

I started out with auto batteries too and I way prefer the manual batteries! They make life so much simpler!

I agree I too started with automatic and switched to and EGO-T and I had the same thoughts when I started I don't want a manual it won't be like smoking but it becomes second nature pushing and smoking even after just 21 days.

 

[CBB]

I'm
Have found contradictory instructions on re-filling the cartomizers. One said to refill 12-15 drops; yet another said to refill 25 drops! Both of these instructions came from V4L.

It depends on the size of the cartomizer, I know there are at least two different types of cartos that V4L sells. Refilling a carto usually takes 1/2 to 2/3 the ammount needed to fill a blank but it also depends on when you top it off, some people will vape a carto a lot dryer than others do before topping off.

 

[skh]

I dont know. Ive been using ecigs for a few months. I tried 401,901,510 - they are all good. The 510 might be the best if you are using it with the cartomizers - but filling them? No way - sorry - I just cant do that. I spend like every morning with my needle, trying to fill my cartomizers - leeking all over if they get flooded and stuff. Its a mess, and it made me buy normal cigarettes some days. Also - the button bothers me on the manual batteries. Really - its just not what I want.

Now Im at kr808d-1. There are several new and improved versions, and Im sure they are better - in a while thy will all be the improved version. But all over - kr 808d-1 has a good vapor production, they are easy to use. They have nice accesories, as pretty pccs and stuff. They use cartomizers that are easy to fill using the condom method.

If you dont want any fuzz - buy the kr 808d-1 - if you see talk about better batteries, thats fine . they will fit your other stuff. They have longer and shorter batteries, they have many colours. They are sold all over.

I will continue using this. I wont try any more brandnames.

You can buy the cheaper or more expensive, it all fits together. New cartomizers with drip tips, bloog - or bloog maxx fusion, the 808d-1 from Nhaler - the cheaper 808d-1 from china. Alle the new pcc they show on the net lately. Everything fits together. You no longer need to have 6 different types that dont fit to gether. Many people talk about the 510 - sure, its ok. But not better and the treading is different so it is not compitable with anything, and also - those hopeless cartomizers.

So - sorry - I would say go for the 808d-1 if you want something easy, no hazzle to use in stead of zigarettes. If you wanna make your waping a hobby and use big batteries and see true cartomizers - you need to talk to someone else. For me I feel as an druggie when it gets to much stuff. I want it clean, easy and I want to put it in my mouth, take a drag - an blow it out. I dont want to be smoking a big pipe with a huge battery and things sticking out - to me those things look more like something you would but ...... in. Yeah - really - ....... It gives me a unclean feeling. Do not like

 

[melloyello]

the number of drops into a carto isnt too critical. if you want to use a carto and be good for few hours, then get a XL carto.... if your fine refilling every couple hours, then a regular size carto will do.

 

[mlinky]

You want something that is as easy as smoking, you need a REO. Fill a bottle, pop on an atty, slide in a battery and you are good for the day with a REO Grand (or with a couple of extra batteries with the REO Mini). I needed easy to keep off the cigarettes. Pop by the REO forum and read up Reos Mods Here's a good picture of the relative size: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...urements-parts-terminology-8.html#post3092444

 

[Gat]

The 510 you could grab a tank system for it that would make it easier for you grab like 5 tanks to go with it and then you would only have to fill the tanks every other day and the top pops off for fast refilling or you can use one of the blunt needles instead of messing with the top and then refill that way same as the ego tank very easy and no mess no fuss I fill 2 ego tanks for the day and I am done till the next day I love it and the 501 I heard is pretty much the same

 

[lilady]

You want something that is as easy as smoking, you need a REO. Fill a bottle, pop on an atty, slide in a battery and you are good for the day with a REO Grand (or with a couple of extra batteries with the REO Mini). I needed easy to keep off the cigarettes. Pop by the REO forum and read up Reos Mods Here's a good picture of the relative size: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...urements-parts-terminology-8.html#post3092444

mlinky these look very cool but what about changing flavors?

 

[VapRon]

That was great Vapian. Just how I feel.

To the OP: Just stick with it. It is worth it and I feel your pain. I have the same frustration as you but we will manage with all the help here.

 

[Wintering]

I've been vaping for one month tomorrow and will not bother to state specifically how much time I've spent researching, money I've spent getting started, or time spent trying this or that or the other thing... even being a retired Submariner, Navy Chief and a gadget freak to boot -- that is to say, not one to shy away from inherent complexity -- it has been VERY surprising how difficult it's been to get good, solid information and hardware to get started. So I've felt this pain, but one of the ones likely to push past it to get to the goal.

I think you're absolutely right. It's a flipping mess out there with lots of options, almost too much information to make a good decision on your first steps, lots of matters of taste and technique, and it's way too easy for a bad initial purchase to snowball into an (initially) expensive and frustrating experience.

While I haven't really had any physical craving for cigarettes, I have dang well missed the simplicity of a box of smokes and a lighter!

Designers and Engineers, e-Cig / PV manufacturers, take note: that is your "UI" standard. A pack of smokes and a lighter. The first one of you that creates a system as simple to use as that, with extremely easy, well-documented use and maintenance, at no more than the long-term cost, and with the option of all the wonderful juice flavors out there, could not only rake in but also keep the "former smokers/ new vapers" market and make a mint.

(Hard core enthusiasts, I have nothing against you and do not fret; as with any endeavor, there will always be room for your plan to turn that space heater into the world's most awesome whole-house PV... it's just not for all of us. Peace. )

All of that said, despite the early frustration and sometimes overly complex setup/operation/maintenance of today's eCigs/PVs, I must tell you Chris... it's worth it. It's worth the effort. Really, it is.

It's worth it to me to wake up without my mouth tasting like sulfur. It's worth it to me every time my wife kisses me without hesitating, without wrinkling her nose and muttering "phew!" under her breath. It's worth it to me for the better sleep I get since I no longer stop breathing from time to time at night... that I don't have to make sure that I have a pack of gum or mints with me all the time... my hands actually feel I warm again... don't have to worry about making sure to stay down-wind of others when I "light up"... for the fact that I no longer get a runner's high from two flights of stairs.

Take a deep breath and accept that, for now, going from Smoking to Vaping is lot like going from any "casual" activity to becoming a hobbyist. While this isn't a perfect analogy, making any casual activity (smoking) into a hobby (vaping) almost always involves taking the time to learn more about what you're doing, some cost as you acquire more materials or items, some frustration as you learn the things that do and don't work well for you, and certainly more time as one learns more about it and hones the skills needed to partake in it.

The big difference in our case is that our casual activity was killing us. Our new hobby will not.

Unless, perhaps, you really get to the point of wanting to build that whole-house PV... no good can come of that. Just sayin'.

Being well beyond the point of TLNR, the last thing I'll recommend is that if the Internet is a big bottleneck for you, try spending part of a day using one at the local library, or if you have a laptop spend a while at a coffee shop or some place with free Wi-fi, and see if you can't dig up more if the info you need to get where you need to be.

I wish you EVERY success in going the distance and sticking with it!

Vapian... I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing post.