Into the abyss... To APV or not to APV? A newbie's foray into the world of vaping.

[taymac54]

So, I am about as brand-spankin new as they come. and I'm sure by posting all of my questions I am probably breaking rules, making people angry, being redundant, etc. But I have spent more hours than I would ever care to admit on this forum trying to answer my own questions without actually asking them. And the time has come for me to register, and just come out and ask. Let me start by taking you on a journey through my vaping history:

(if you would like to skip the vaping history and get straight to the questions, scroll down to the wall of emoticons)

About 4 months ago I bought one of those little disposable things from the gas station. I smoked the hell out of it and it was donezo in an hour and a half. Tasted like crap, did not satisfy, but I could see how the concept would get me there.

The next day I went out and bough an e-cab system, little slim pen lookin thing that came with some atomizers. This thing frustrated the hell out of me. Battery would last between 2-4 hours (of not too heavy vaping) there was always leaking (in my pocket, in my mouth, in my car, anywhere and everywhere) and I burned through atomizers like crazy trying to figure out why it was burnt-tasting, why it didnt hit hard, etc. I eventually lost it, which I guess was a blessing as I was using analogs regularly to satisfy my needs.

About 3 months ago I moved on to some model of ego, i don't remember which letter (C maybe) that was supposedly a 1000mah battery with the ability to switch it from 3.something volts to 4.something volts by turning it of, holding the button for 10 seconds, and turning it on again. Now we're vapin! They got me going with some cartomizers, i think dual coil but i'm really not sure. Either way, it was night and day. I could puff this thing for hours at a time and be satisfied. Lovin' life all of a sudden. Didn't smoke an analog for almost 2.5 months (then one drunken night i gave in and had a few, oh well, regretted it the next morning for sure). Things were going great until I lost 1 of the batteries. SO

I went out and purchased an Ego twist (900 or 1100mah or something) and HOLY CRAP did that thing hit like a champion. I began to understand the need for VV, different juices, flavors, feels, etc. But this thing was so ungodly not made to be carried around in your pocket. Which brings me to where I am as of 2 days ago. On friday, my other ego battery (non-twist) just stopped working. The button still lights up, but it won't connect to a tank, a carto, a charger, and make things happen. I tried cleaning the connection, swabbing, scraping, rubbing alcohol. No love. If anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know. Then on sunday morning my Ego Twist bit the bullet. It basically snapped in half, revealing wires and buttons and a circuit board thingy (whatever they're called) and the red wire was snapped in half. So I am now without a vaping tool. I made it through sunday ok. On monday I started to lose it. I went to the gas station, almost bought an Njoy King disposable, but ended up buying a pack of grossy gross analogs instead. I've smoked 2 of them and hate my life. So, now on to the point of this all: Where do I go next?





(end story mode, begin question mode)


I know I like variable voltage. I know I need good battery life (i feel like an 1100mah has trouble getting me through sun-up to sun-down) and I hate being attached to my charger all the time. Beyond that I don't know what I like.

The things i don't like: the perceived quality of "joyetech" products (I've been told the ones I had were genuine "joyetech" products. Whatever.) Is it normal for an ego battery to just crap out after 3 months? And is it normal for the twist to just "come apart?" I realize that carrying a twist around in your pocket all day might put stress on certain points, but less than two months? That left a bad taste in my mouth. I also don't like atomizers, but this could be wholly based on the fact that the e-cab just wasn't a strong enough system for me, so I am open to trying again.

Things I don't know about: Tanks? Cartos? What are my other options? I enjoyed cartos for awhile, then someone convinced me to buy a tank. I thought I liked it better, but i was replacing the things on the inside (aren't they really just smaller cartos anyways) like every 2 or 3 days, and some of them would be horrible as soon as I opened them, and some would last for like a day. So I don't know. Clearomizers were fun for like 15 minutes but I kept getting a burnt taste all the time and didn't want to always be filling it up. So i really don't know what delivery system I like in that regard.

So! If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read this. What Do I Do NOW? Do i just suck it up and buy more ego-type batteries but give a different brand a try (SmokTech e-power and kgo are the other options I have found so far)? And if so, can I get VV out of an ego-style battery that is not a joytech ego twist? OR... do I get an APV?

If I get an APV, that opens a whole 'nother Pandora's box of questions. Which one? Why? I'm seeing a bolt online for 37.50, which seems like a good starting point. What about a provari? a vmax? a kmax? a gmax? a zmax? A lavatube? A volt? Are all of these things real? I don't know! What do I want and why? What about box mods? Does that make a better pocket-carry model? How do they work? Who even makes those? What do I do? Help me please.

Bottom line is, it is still important for me to get that "almost smoking a cig-feel." It has to hit like Floyd Money May, it has to produce vapor like the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and it has to get me through sun-up to sun-down of constant vaping for those days i just can't put it down. Thank you for your time.

(Also, i've contemplated going off the deep end and buying an APV for around the house, as well as a variety of 650, 900, 1000+ mah ego-style batteries for different levels of portability and convenience. This almost seems like the best way to go. But I just don't know.)

 

[DrApex]

I compliment you on your thoroughly descriptive post.

Like you, I loved the eGo twist. Especially with a 1.5 ohm carto tank. It hit wonderfully.

I ended up buying a provari a few weeks ago. It's a pretty good device. Definitely made to take a beating. I use the 18490 batteries which are rated 1100maH. This is about the same as the big eGo twist. This battery will last me almost a full day of chain vaping. (5ml per day?)

So if you can justify the 200, go for the provari, as you seem to be sensitive to quality, or at least the lack of quality.

The real magic is in finding the right tank or carto for the device. At best, the provari is only responsible for half the equation, battery and amps.
The rest is in juice delivery and in vaporizing the liquid. I have been happy with Tanks and dual Coil cartos. Right now, my favorite is a 2.5 ohm at 5 volts. This moves a bit depending on the juice and my mood.

I noted you had burning sensations with your carto tank experience. I wonder if you may have filled them incorrectly. It's important the carto gets good and moist inside, before vaping.

I fill the tank, add 10-12 drops in the top, dripping each drop down the side then turning the carto 90 degrees and dripping again.

Then I take 10-15 dry hits and let it set up for 15 min or so. After that, it's ready to go. Maybe try something like that. My experience with other juice delivery systems hasn't been so good.

Pure dripping seems like too much of an interruption. Regular cartos were weird tasting. Blah blah blah.

As far as what to carry when you are out, I must say I wondered how carryable the provari would be out of the house. What I end up doing is leaving it in my car most of the time. It does fit in my pocket if I need it... But it is way larger than the small eGo with the EGo tank I started vaping with.




Typed on my mobile. Please excuse typos.

 

[muteego]

I compliment you on your thoroughly descriptive post.

Like you, I loved the eGo twist. Especially with a 1.5 ohm carto tank. It hit wonderfully.

I ended up buying a provari a few weeks ago. It's a pretty good device. Definitely made to take a beating. I use the 18490 batteries which are rated 1100maH. This is about the same as the big eGo twist. This battery will last me almost a full day of chain vaping. (5ml per day?)

So if you can justify the 200, go for the provari, as you seem to be sensitive to quality, or at least the lack of quality.

The real magic is in finding the right tank or carto for the device. At best, the provari is only responsible for half the equation, battery and amps.
The rest is in juice delivery and in vaporizing the liquid. I have been happy with Tanks and dual Coil cartos. Right now, my favorite is a 2.5 ohm at 5 volts. This moves a bit depending on the juice and my mood.

I noted you had burning sensations with your carto tank experience. I wonder if you may have filled them incorrectly. It's important the carto gets good and moist inside, before vaping.

I fill the tank, add 10-12 drops in the top, dripping each drop down the side then turning the carto 90 degrees and dripping again.

Then I take 10-15 dry hits and let it set up for 15 min or so. After that, it's ready to go. Maybe try something like that. My experience with other juice delivery systems hasn't been so good.

Pure dripping seems like too much of an interruption. Regular cartos were weird tasting. Blah blah blah.

As far as what to carry when you are out, I must say I wondered how carryable the provari would be out of the house. What I end up doing is leaving it in my car most of the time. It does fit in my pocket if I need it... But it is way larger than the small eGo with the EGo tank I started vaping with.




Typed on my mobile. Please excuse typos.

Thanks for the useful info. Just needed that push to get myself the provari.

 

[taymac54]

DrApex, I appreciate the response, the compliment, and the fact that you made it through the brain-word-explosion I created and were able to give me a solid answer. But now I must pepper you with questions. Why the ProVari over any other tube mod out there? I like the fact that its made in the USA, and would only expect something that expensive would have to be of quality. As you so eloquently put it, I am sensitive to lack of quality. Is it just that much more of a superior product? Does it hit better/harder? Use the batteries more efficiently?

I agree that finding the right tank/carto setup might be even more of a pain in the ...., but I'm much more willing to spend $50 trying 10 different things than spend hundreds trying to find the right PV for me. I appreciate the advice on the tank, I'll give that approach a shot next time. Thanks again for the advice. Can anyone else way in on the provari vs. other tube mods?

 

[Baditude]

I might add, since you are open to spending the money on a Provari (which is totally worth the money), there is a mini Provari available on the Provape website. Same price, same inside electronics, just in a shorter package. It won't have the battery duration of the larger Provari, but how difficult is it to carry an extra battery or two and just exchage a drained battery for a fresh one?

View attachment 161892
mini provari's

I have the full size Provari and love it. I use it everywhere, including out in public at professional sporting events, outdoor concerts and festivals, and with the blessings of security guards. Most people don't pay any attention, and if you click on the link at the bottom of my post where my signature is, you'll see that my setups look nothing like a cigarette.

Having said that, there are times when I desire using a smaller, lighter, and stealthier device. For instance, for quick trips out-and-about and for work (where tobacco products are outlawed). I considered getting the Mini Provari, but couldn't justify another $200 + another set of batteries at this time. I went looking for a cheaper alternative.

I found the Smoktech variable voltage Gripper. It has variable voltage just like the Provari. It has the ability to check ohm rating and battery voltage. Nice LED display. Nice rubberized impact resistant plastic case. Very light in weight and very pocketable (about the size of a regular pack of analogs). As you can see from the pic, it can be used relatively discreetly in the palm of your hand for stealth vaping. I've even used it in the cinema. It uses an 18650 battery that lasts all day and more. All for $50.

View attachment 161879

 

[*deleon517*]

i for one am not in the pro column for the provari. while it is built solid and is a awesome device i cant justify dropping $200 bucks on a device that does the same thing as much lesser items. two great options available are the volcano brand chrome lavatube, which has the same 3.5 amp limit and ohm checker with a easier to use menu system then the provari for half the price in kit. paired with a 1600mah 18650 will last most all day long. the other option also from volcano is the lavatube version 2 which comes with a 3.0 amp limiter and ohm checker which is also almost half the price in kit, this is one of my favorites right now since it works flawlessly and will push full power the whole length of the battery.

now im not saying that as a fanboy or representative of volcano, i have owned the 3 various version of the lavatube all direct from them. the original didn't stand up to my day to day life and lasted almost a year before it was dead. the chrome has been put through worst treatment and stands up very well to it, and the version 2 is a beefier version with a amazing build quality.

i rank my devices in this order: darwin, version 2 lavatube, chrome lavatube, wetboxes. hopefully the mvp vv box will fall somewhere in the middle but i wont have that till xmas.

no matter what device you do choose the biggest challenge will be finding a system that works best for you. most carto tank systems if not used right will always give that burnt taste, and performance can vary based on liquid you use as well. a good starting point might be a vivi nova kit, which will give you 3 ohms to start off with 1.8, 2.4, 2.8. can be used with varying pg/vg level. not to mention you can later start learning to rebuild it or just keep buying the re-build-able heads once they can no longer be cleaned.

 

[Baditude]

Why the ProVari over any other tube mod out there? I like the fact that its made in the USA, and would only expect something that expensive would have to be of quality. As you so eloquently put it, I am sensitive to lack of quality. Is it just that much more of a superior product? Does it hit better/harder? Use the batteries more efficiently?
Can anyone else way in on the provari vs. other tube mods?

There are literally scores of threads here on ECF testifying to the accolades of the Provari. Since it's introduction over a couple years ago, it has been considered the gold standard of mods to which every new device is compared to.

It's construction and durability is unquestioned. People have dropped their Provari from two stories tall, dropped it in a swimming pool, washed it in the washing machine, ran it over with a dump truck, etc and still it keeps on vaping. You can instantly see the workmanship the first time you hold one. The machining of the battery cap threading has been described as "buttery smooth."

The military grade microprocessor maintains the set voltage for the duration of the batteries life and offers intelligence to know when unsafe applications are unknowingly being attempted by the user. It therefore is one of the safest e-cigs on the market. It has a built in ohms and volt meter.

Provape's customer service is unparaelled. You can have confidence that should your device require servicing even after warranty, Provape will do so for a reasonable fee. Should any software upgrades become available, Provape will update the Provari for a minimal fee. What other device offers that?

There are other less expensive devices that do some of the things what the Provari does; some devices even do some things better than the Provari, but none of them do it all as well as the Provari does in one unit.

Is it worth the extra price? Only someone who owns one can say for sure. I feel it is worth every penny.

 

[dnakr]

I do not own a provari, so I will not comment on it.

As far as variable voltage, I own a Gripper, Zmax and Vamo. I would recommend any one of them for a cost effective device.

Out of the 3 I listed, I find I am constantly reaching for my Vamo. I can use it with a single 18350, or stack 2 18350, or use it with an 18650.

 

[Iusedtoanalog]

Hi Taymac. Great explanitory post. First on your eGo that is not working but lights up, I suspect one of two things. First suspect is the center contact has been pushed down too far as to not make contact with the carto center, easy fix if this is the issue, just get something thin and firm, and give it a gentle rock back and forth while finessing it outward... you only want it to move up about half a milimeter so go gently...... If thats the issue you could be vaping in a few short moments..... Second suspect would be the solder joint at the center contact has broken off, fixable with some time, patinece and a soldering iron but a rather abysmal prospect if you have little knowledge on how to do so.....

On the broken twist, the eGos ALL(no matter whos logo is on it) will snap apart at the button-to-body joint if they have a small to medium amount of force applied to the joint(like the carto&body being bent while in your pocket) . This is where the two pieces are press-fit during manufacturing. Also repairable with a soldering iron but again without the know-how rather a daunting task.....

So on to mods. If you plan on remaining a vaper for a good long time then you almost cant go wrong with a Provari. You will only need a few batteries in the next few years. Those things are built about as solid as you could expect anything hand held could be. Very nice device. I Do not own one. I have Used one for an extended time while my own daily device was out for repair a very long time ago. The Provari is the device that woke me up to the possibilities and promise of VV.... I immediately started looking through the modders forum and built myself my very first mod(evercool vv with 6a+limit)that runs on a pair of 18490IMR (1100mah) batteies. I have used this device and a few backups that I built for about a year now...... If I where in your particular situation I would be eyeing either the Provari or a Silver Bullett(with kick) or the Zmax(in stainless steel). These three devices are well built (listed in order by my opinion) and all of these in their full size configuration (with 18650batt) should last you (or most any vaper) 10hrs+ on a single battery. They all are rather large but you no longer care to look like you are smoking an analog anyway...... as far as box mods go there are some great boxmods available but all the really nice ones are approaching(if not over) Provari pricing.......most are though, simply a plastic box with some moderately inefficient chip and no great expectation of being very durable. As far as feed devices I would suggest(for now) sticking with the tried and true cartomizers you are accustomed to and venture out from there once you have your power supply situation under control. Good Luck. Happy Vaping.

 

[NancyR]

Hi, I am gonna throw another option out there, bottom feeders. While not vv we do have a modder here who is making some for around $30, which would let you try one and if you like it you can check out ones like Reo later who has a vv bottom feeder

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modder-accessories-supplier-forum/341078-pocket-mods-custom-built-order-3-7v-5v-vv-box-mods-bottom-feeders.html

 

[Amish Ed]

If I had it to do all over again I would go for a Provari, carto tank, and Vivi Nova for most situations. For the pocket an eGo 650mah with a low resistance XL cartomizer.

I started with the original eGo system with the atomizer and cartridge a couple years ago. Didn't work well enough and I went back to smoking. 4 months ago I got an eGo-t system and it was ok. I went from a pack a day+ to 2-4 a day. Then I got a Twist and Vivi Nova (actually a GS V-core, but I never had a problem with them). Since I got that combo I've had 4 smokes in 3 months. I found myself almost always at 3.7V. So, I got a Bolt and loved it. Until I got a carto tank which liked a higher voltage, so back to the Twist. Plus, I was getting tired of the unregulated Bolt. I was going to get a Kick for it, but Christmas came early and I got a Provari. I love the Provari for its brick house feel, 1yr warranty, smallish size, ease of use (it took one day to feel comfortable with changing settings), and very regulated voltage. If I didn't have the money I might have considered the Vamo, PBusardo seems to be really impressed with them. Watch his reviews on Youtube for the Provari and the Vamo and make a choice.

For the pocket the eGo 650 is great. It's a small little workhorse that I've found to be pretty well regulated. I don't really like cartos outside of a tank, but for as often as I use my eGo/carto combo it's no big deal. I also use the eGo 650 for my LR 306 for dripping. But, I don't do that that much either.

Now of course you need backups for your backups. Right now I own 4 eGo 650's, 2 eGo Twists, and my Provari. The Bolt just got passed on to my brother who will hopefully be vaping for Christmas. I like the Twists for backup because they fit my eGo case well. I always carry in my case an eGo 650 w/ a carto loaded on it, Ego Twist 1000mah, extra AW IMR 18490, Vivi Nova, and a bottle of juice. I've had days where I needed everything in it. Had it not been for that case, I would've smoked again.

Don't forget extra chargers too.

Hope something in this rambling helped.

 

[UncleChuck]

Welcome to ECF!

You sound like a guy who knows what he wants, but just doesn't quite have the knowledge or experience with PVs to track down something that will fit his needs to the T. I like that! Makes it a lot easier to suggest things, as we don't have to guess what you would like, you already know. So, here are my suggestions:

You say you were looking at the Bolt. I like mine, it was my first APV, and I still use it on occasion to this day, even though I have several variable wattage devices. One thing about the Bolt, which had I known at the time, I probably would not have bought it: THE BUTTON.

The silly button that they use in the Bolt is pure garbage. It cannot handle much power, at all it seems. Mine burned out shortly after getting it. I bought a replacement switch for it, which was a total PITA to install. Now, I used to be into high-end hobby-level R/C cars. I am highly experienced in soldering from teeny tiny circuit board to soldering 10ga stranded wire to motor terminals. I know what I'm doing in that regard, but I failed at installing a new switch. There is very little room inside the head of the Bolt, which you wouldn't imagine seeing as it's pretty large on the outside.

The button is huge, the interior plate that covers up all the guts of the Bolt's head is extremely close to the interior of the button, and the inside of the 510 connection is close to the switch as well. Why am I saying all this? Because when using a guage of wire suitable for the current we are dealing with here, it's pretty hard to get the wires from the 510 connection, to the switch, then from the switch to the inside positive battery terminal. Once everything was soldered together, I tried jamming it all back inside the Bolt's head. Every time there was either a short, the switch terminals would break off (went through several switches) or there wasn't enough room to put the plate back in.

All that means, really, is that the switch is a major weak point, and is pretty difficult to replace (at least for me) Madvapes is selling an entire replacement head for the Bolt, which features an eGo like connection with the well, which allows you to use Stardust style clearos and other things that have eGo skirting. It's close to 20 bucks, though, so it really adds to the price of the bolt.

I've got that replacement head, along with an 18650 extension and I have more money into my Bolt than I do my Vamo. And my Vamo is a far superior variable wattage device, so honestly I don't think the Bolt is worth the money any more.

Back in the day when simple mechanical mods were all the rage, and variable voltage or otherwise regulated mods were more expensive, the Bolt was a good buy. Now, you can get very good quality VV/VW devices for close to, if not the same price, or even sometimes cheaper than you can get a Bolt for.

If you are after variable voltage or wattage devices, I would seriously consider picking up a Vamo. Here are two great reviews:

A PBusardo Review - The Vamo - YouTube

REVIEW OF THE VAMO VV VW ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE - YouTube

I also have a Zmax that generally costs around/over $100. The Vamo is about half that. And I personally feel the Vamo is a better device. The screen is superior (OLED vs old school 7-segment LED screen) so all your settings are very simple to read, no trying to figure out what your device is displaying. The Vamo also is a 3-button device, where as the Zmax is a single button device. This makes adjusting your volts/watts, checking head unit resistance, and remaining battery voltage VERY VERY easy. With the Zmax it takes much longer and is more frustrating.

Unless you have a problem with the way the Vamo looks, I don't think you will be disappointed at all. Plus, in stock configuration (meaning no buying extra stuff) it has 3 battery configurations: a single 18650, a single 18350, or two 18350. The Zmax cannot use a single 18350 (without ghetto rigging some crazy long extension) and it cannot use dual 18350s without buying an extension cap that costs around 10 bucks.

Even though you are new to vaping, you'll have zero issue "figuring out" a Vamo. It's just not complicated, at all. Throw a battery in, screw down an atty, and your good to go. Then easily adjust your power to suit your preference.

For the price of a Zmax, or an eVic, you can have a Vamo, two 18350s, two 18650s, and a charger. It's a really, really good deal for a really, really good device.

As far as a Provari, if you like them and are willing to spend the cash go for it! No reason to purposefully stay in the "low-end" just because you are new. These devices really aren't that complicated, I don't really get why some people always think new vapers are mentally incompetent and unable to do something as simple as figuring out how many times to press a button to set your power.

The Provari is a very, very well build piece of kit, although in my opinoin it's a big behind the times. An old school two digit, 7 segment LED screen. A single button user interface. Variable volage only, no variable wattage. Where the Provari shines is it's regulation circuit, that is prett much THE most accurate one around, and its build quality.

But the new, cheaper variable mods coming out of China are really stepping it up. The version 2 Zmax and Vamo are both pretty damn accurate in RMS mode, close enough to the Provari that I wouldn't personally care.

Basically, the only reason to NOT get a Provari is if you don't like how it looks, you don't like the user interface, or can't/don't want to spend that kind of money. If you think it looks cool, have a few hundo to burn, and don't mind the old school UI and lack of variable wattage, then just get one!

As far as toppers, you say you don't like Attys so I'll ignore those (although the new Vision Eternity is a rebuildable atty, looks great, is about 30 bucks, and performs awesome, also holds about 30 drops without any leakage, something no other drippy atty can claim)

Smoktech makes Ego Mega Dual Coil Cartomizers (EMDCC for short) that are available all over the web in both Black, Stainless, and clear plastic. They put out a monster throat hit, good vapor, and decent flavor. The reason I mention these is that they hold a good 4mils of juice, more than some tanks, without any of the tank-related issues. These are good solid cartos, cheap (usually 3 bucks each or so) and last a long time.

Here's the black:

http://www.madvapes.com/ego-mega-dual-coil-cartomizer-flat-tip.html

And Stainless:

http://www.madvapes.com/steel-ego-mega-dual-coil-cartomizer-flat-tip.html

If you don't like the rubber flat tip, you can get some huge diameter drip-tips, or you can get a standard tip adaptor that allows you to use normal 510 drip tips with the mega cartos.

Regular cartos are.... well just regular cartos. There are obviously differences between all the different brands and styles, but basically they are all pretty similar. A coil wrapped with filler material which is filled with juice. These days pretty much all the common cartos perform very similar and are of good quality. Just pick whatever size you want (anything from Smoktech's tiny super shorty cartos, to the xxl sized) Bottom coil cartos have a little muted flavor (in my experience) as well as a cooler vape (because of the additional distance the vapor has to travel before reaching your mouth/lungs)

Carto-tanks: I really am fond of carto tanks, and never really had the issues other people talk about (leaking, flooding, burning, blah blah) It's your responsibility to make sure you are matching your juice up to the number/size of holes/slots in the carto. Thick juice, more/bigger holes/slots. Thin juice, less/smaller holes/slots. Pretty simple stuff, get some cartos of varying number of holes so that you can experiment as match your carto to how thick of juice you're using. Because of this matching up you have to do, carto-tanks take a little extra effort to get set up properly, but once they are se up you shouldn't have to touch the things until it's time to refill. In my experience cartos last a lot longer when they are in tanks, due to the fact that the filler material is constantly saturated (assuming you are using the proper juice-hole setup) so you can save a bit of money not burning through cartos all the time.

When you talk about the tanks with tiny cartos, I'm assuming you are referring to the Vivi Nova, or other tanks of similar design. They don't really have a tiny carto in them, as a carto is generally defined as having both a coil and filler material. These styles don't have filler material, they just have a coil wrapped wick. Many of these you can actually rebuild the coil yourself, even though they aren't really made for that, but it's easy enough that if you want to you can. Not really any reasonable way to rebuild the coil in a cartomizer or a carto-tank.

I've also found that Nova and clearo style tanks are far, far more of a hassle to get "right" You have to tilt your tank to get juice up to the wicks, burnt taste due to lack of proper juice wicking is something many, many people have to contend with. I've been able to get my clearos working to my satisfaction, but it was after a lot of fiddling and tinkering. And then continued fidding. I still hate Vivi Novas, I think they look like crap and I still am unable to get any consistency out of them. Sometimes juice spits up into your mouth and the thing floods, other times it just decides to stop wicking and you get awful burnt hits. Some people swear by them however, but just figued I'd share my experince, as it's possible it would be yours as well.

Carto-tanks are a good all around functional design. If you want glass tanks, IBTanked - Get Tanked With Us! makes some awesome tanks. You buy the glass tube, and then you can browse the end-cap selection and choose what style you like best.

If you don't care about or want glass, the Artemas tanks are very good tanks. They use Smoktech flanged cartos, and also feature a locking ring. One of the very few carto-tanks to have this setup. This feature means that once you insert a carto and screw down the locking ring, the carto WILL NOT slip/slide/fall out of your tank. It also makes it a lot easier to screw down the tank, as other tanks with no rentention system are able to spin freely on the carto. They are usually about 10 bucks each, and come in chrome, black, or gun metal. The end caps are sealed onto the tube, so you cannot remove them. This also means they won't pop off the tube, so these are by far the most secure tanks out there. They also have a large size that holds about 6mil and a much slimmer model that holds maybe 1.5 mils if you're lucky.

Here are said tanks:

Full-size: Chrome Artemas Locking 510 DCT, Clear

Slim: Chrome Artemas Slim Locking 510 DCT, Clear

I hope this helps somewhat, and this post took me awhile to write up so if I have said anything redundant please forgiveme

Once again welcome to ECF, and vaping, and if you have ANY questions please feel free to ask away to your heart's content!

 

[taymac54]

Holy Awesome. I am literally overwhelmed with information right now. Thank you all for your replies. I just did a quick-check to see if there were any new posts, and I've been studying this thread for 20 minutes now. I have a few more errands to run, then I will stop back and get deep down into these responses. Thanks again for all the information. What a helpful forum.

 

[Baditude]

Bravo to Uncle Chuck for his extremely informative yet concise breakdown of battery devices and juice delivery devices!

I enjoyed reading that. The information was also very unbiased towards any particular item, which can be difficult to do if you favor one over another personally. Job well done.

 

[taymac54]

Sorry, life got in the way for a few days. Time to give these well-thought out answers a decent response. Thank all again for you help.

The Provari seems like it would be a solid choice, perhaps even the mini. I like the slightly more portable size, and could see extra batteries being less obnoxious in the pocket than a full-sized Provari. However, since it is the Christmas season, I feel my best option may be to go for something a bit more cost-effective this time around, celebrate my own Christmas in January of February when I buy myself one of these bad boys. I like the looks of the SmokeTech Gripper, but since I have been burned by something snapping from pocket-use before, I wonder how sturdy the connection is between the Gripper and the delivery system or whatever you call it (clearo, carto, tank, etc). I would hate to have that thing snap in half in my pocket as well. Baditude, any advice in that area?

The version 2 lavatube seems like a decent option, but I find myself being swayed more towards the Vmao simply based on the number of positive reviews on this particular thread. Anybody own both a Version 2 lavatube and a Vmao and care to comment? I'm not really that mechanically inclined, so there may be some features I don't quite understand yet. I'm just looking for which one is more durable and more consistent for the price.

Iusedtoanalog, I tried the more simple of your 2 reccos with my Ego Upgrade, but to no avail. When you say "solder," you might be as well be speaking in Manadarin. I am not the best at such things. Anyone have any other words on the Silver Bullet or Zmax?

NancyR, I know nothing of bottom-feeders. Care to elaborate more? I am easily confused.

Amish Ed, I really like where your head is at. It has taken me a few months (well, really a few stressful days) to realize that you need a main unit, a back up, and some back-ups. And maybe some more. I am about to head to a B&M shop and pick up a few 650 Ego Twists. As far as portability goes, I feel like that will be my best bet for something that will vape at a high level for a few hours. In the mean time, I really need to make a decision on a better unit.

UncleChuck, with no disrespect to anyone else on this thread, you have provided the information I find to be the most compelling. Thank very much for your thorough explanation. The Vamo seems to be the direction I am leaning in. For that price to get the unit, all the batteries, and the charger just seems like a steal. You're not the only one to recommend a Vamo, so for the price and the quality it seems this might be my best pre-Christmas purchase. As far as what to use with it (clearos, cartos, tanks, etc.) I will process that valuable information (most likely with more questions) once I have a Vmao on the way.

So this is where I stand. I like the Provari, but not the price tag, only because it is Christmas time, and my money is not for me these days. The lavatube and the Zmax seem like solid choices, but the Vmao comes more highly recommended (in this thread) and again, I like the price tag of the Vmao very much so. I am going to pick up a couple 650 twists in the mean time, while I order and wait for my Vmao. Unless someone can talk me out of the Vmao, or present a more compelling argument for a different device.

This leads me to my final question, and I know this may be taboo to ask, but I would love some recommendations on which vendor to purchase my Vmao from. Anybody have experience with one over the other as far as price, warranty, and customer service goes? I realize as a new Vaper it will be important for me to find a few good vendors, so I'm just hoping for some suggestions.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your advice. More helpful than I could have ever asked for. You have made a believer out of me, and I hope to help contribute to this forum in the coming future. Vape on my friends, vape on.

 

[EvilOne]

I have gone through 4 or so variations of vape setups. I ended up with the provari because of the upgrades available, the durability (I have friends who work in a body shop that told me they drop it on concrete all the time and chipped tiles in the office), flavor when I tried my friends provari, and the consistency with which it vapes. After having this thing now for 2 weeks I am finally satisfied and have found my vaping device of choice. I bought mine local at a brick and mortar shop and the guy let me try out his personal. And I noticed all the store employees had provaris as well but they sell all models it seems at the shop. And I cannot find a bad review...wish I had known about the provari long ago so I could have saved all that money I spent on the other crap. If quality is your concern then the provari will be what you want. I carry mine in my pocket all day long with keys and other stuff so far so good.