I've settled on a first product for vaping, but need recomondations on parts \ and E liquid

[Mikenet]

After hearing many suggestions on products in my first post......

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...some-concerns-about-e-cigs-need-opinions.html

I've decided to go with the Maxi RoughStack V2 kit from the following website.....

Maxi RoughStack V2 Kit


It seems to offer all the flexibility I'll need, and has different power options if different types of batteries are used. A decent amount of power at under 100 bucks is what I was looking for and I'm hoping this one will deliver. Id love to hear any opinions on this product from anyone who has used it, or knows about it. This will be my first purchase of any E-cig or Vapor product so I still need all the help I can get.

The kit above comes with the following items...

1 Maxi Rough Stack Unit
2 16340 3.7v batteries
1 AG-126 Battery Charger

2 510 Atomizers (4.5 ohm)
5 Empty 510 Single Round cartridges(with filling but no e-liquid)
1 10 ml Dekang USA e-liquid 24mg


Im guessing this has everything I need to start vaping right away (correct me if im wrong)

However I want to add a few things to my purchase to increase my options and need some advice on the compatibility of any addons.

First of all I don't know for sure if I'm going to lean toward Atomizers or Cartomizers. The kit comes with 2 attys, which will probably be enough for testing. However I really like the sound of Cartos so Im going to get a few of these as well.

These are the two I'm looking at getting, but I don't know which one is better or more compatable with the Maxi Roughstack..... (remember I'm a newb)

The 510-Dual-Coil-Stainless-Mega-Cartomizer
510 Dual Coil Stainless Mega Cartomizer

and

The eGo-Mega-Dual-Coil-Cartomizer
eGo Mega Dual Coil Cartomizer Flat-Tip


I'm thinking that one or both of these may require an adapter extension, so any direct links from madvapes.com on compatible extensions would be helpful.

I'm also going to get a 2nd battery as extra, since the kit comes with the batteries needed for High volt vaping, I'm going to get one of the 18650 Batteries for a 3.7V experience.

I'll probably go with this one...

TrustFire Protected 18650 Battery
TrustFire Protected 18650 Battery, 2400 mah

Another upgrade I was wanting is a USB passthrough so that I can extend the life of the battery by using it less. I don't know which one to get that would be compatible with this unit, so any suggestions would be helpful.

Lastly I need to test out various E-liquids available at madvapes or possibly elsewhere, and need some links on a good sampler pack. The sampler packs I saw at madvapes had 18mg per ml, which I think may be a little weak. I was hoping to go with 24mg or possibly more.

Any comments on E-liquds that produce a very thick but smooth tasting vapor would also catch my attention. Currently I smoke menthol's, so any flavor that mimics that would be nice to hear about too!

Mike

 

[Techwipe]

I really enjoy Raspberry Tea from Rawr vapors. So far that's the only flavor I've bought a big bottle of cause I like it so much.

 

[Mindfield]

For the hardware, you can't go wrong with dual coils -- but the ones you linked to won't work on the Roughstack at 6V. Those DCCs use two 3.2ohm coils in series, which comes out at 1.6ohm to any device measuring it. If you stick that on a device at 6V you're asking it to push 22 watts at 3.75 amps (the switch on the Roughstack is only rated for 3A), which is a ridiculous amount of power. You can solder with half that heat.

What you want in a DCC is some of these 2.5 ohm models (2x 5ohm coils). You're still talking about 14+ watts at 6V, so a pretty hot vape, but that's more reasonable, and it won't fry your switch. If I were you I'd add a couple of 18650 batteries to your order so you can step it down to 3.7V when you want to use dual coils, and I'd order some high resistance cartomizers (3.5ohm or above) for your 6V vaping needs.

 

[jkoecher]

I just got an order or the ce2 style cartos, and I absolutely love them. the flavor comes out so well and the vapor is huge. would recommend those to anyone

 

[dormouse]

You need a drip tip. You need WAY more juice. I recommend ordering at least 30ml with your kit. And maybe make one small bottle 18mg

I don't even know what cartos can be used on that voltage. Somebody else will know. I would have started on 3.7v or VV since aren't you the guy who wanted something similar to Marlboro Lights? 24mg is more like full strength cigs BTW. Definitely buy one bottle of 18mg.

IMO get one of these - I think this will give you the option of using it as a 3.7v w/ one battery. That will let you use more things that may be too low ohms for the big high voltage configuration.
http://www.madvapes.com/RoughStack-V2-Short-Body_p_2999.html

 

[Mikenet]

For the hardware, you can't go wrong with dual coils -- but the ones you linked to won't work on the Roughstack at 6V. Those DCCs use two 3.2ohm coils in series, which comes out at 1.6ohm to any device measuring it. If you stick that on a device at 6V you're asking it to push 22 watts at 3.75 amps (the switch on the Roughstack is only rated for 3A), which is a ridiculous amount of power. You can solder with half that heat.

What you want in a DCC is some of these 2.5 ohm models (2x 5ohm coils). You're still talking about 14+ watts at 6V, so a pretty hot vape, but that's more reasonable, and it won't fry your switch. If I were you I'd add a couple of 18650 batteries to your order so you can step it down to 3.7V when you want to use dual coils, and I'd order some high resistance cartomizers (3.5ohm or above) for your 6V vaping needs.

Interesting,

Are there any of the 2.5 ohm DCC's available at Madvapes.com? For parts I want to keep my purchases on one website if at all possible.

I do plan to get one of the 18650 batteries for 3.7 V of power. Do you think those will work well with the DCC I listed? Also do I need an adapter extension to make either of those fit the Maxi?

 

[Mikenet]

originally posted by dormouse You need a drip tip. You need WAY more juice. I recommend ordering at least 30ml with your kit. And maybe make one small bottle 18mg

I don't even know what cartos can be used on that voltage. Somebody else will know. I would have started on 3.7v or VV since aren't you the guy who wanted something similar to Marlboro Lights? 24mg more like full strength cigs BTW. Definitely buy one bottle of 18mg.

I'm the one that wanted a starter device that is strong and produces decent amount of vapor, and no I don't smoke light cigarettes.

In my first post I mentioned that I was concerned about whether or not vapers are actually absorbing nicotine at all with these devices. I showed a couple of studies giving different opinions on that. I'm not convinced yet that these devices actually deliver nicotine to the brain, so I want to be sure my first device is strong enough to determine this conclusively.

Now, I'll probably start out using a single 3.7 volt battery first, and if im not satisfied I'll switch them out. I want that option to go 6V so I went with the Maxi kit that included the stronger bats. About drip tips, I'm only vaguely familiar with these, aren't they supposed to be used with atomizers? Either way, do I absolutely need one with my kit? If so why?

 

[dormouse]

You probably won't care about the exact nicotine amount you are absorbing. You will get TH and once the 4000 cigarette chemicals wear off the one that makes nicotine more addictive will be gone from your system. I find the big habit is sucking in something and then feeling it hit your throat and you will get plenty of that. And don't worry about not absorbing enough nic. You can overnic yourself pretty easily because ecigs don't have a start and a finish. You can even overnic yourself on juice that is lower than what you normally vape. It can build up and you can end up vaping a bunch sometimes. Like when you get new juice samples. Or a tasty juice that just never says stop. If you get headache, rapid or irregular heartbeat, cold fingertips or a hazy malaise then you probably got too much nic. But also remember to drink fluids! Vaping can be drying.

I am suggesting some 18mg in case your voltage and ohms combo's heat gives you uncomfortably strong TH with 24, especially since your starting juices may be 100% PG.

Drip tip - you use it on the atomizer for testing juices or vaping occasional juices. I only put 20% Vg or less juices in cartomizers and only my favorite and a few oddball flavors. but I have a couple of thicker juices I like to vape occasionally and a few that I don't want often enough to waste a cartomizer on, so I drip those on the atomizer. That way you don't have to dirty a cartridge to test juice.

BTW hospitals use PG vapor to deliver inhaled medications and a thoracic surgeon said that is true even for lung transplant patients. And it seems like about 85 percent of people can stop smoking immediately with ecigs and many of us don't even choose a good model to start with. I did not choose a good model yet I quit a 3+ decade 1.5-2 PAD smoking habit immediately. We get a number of people who quit and didn't have any intention of quitting smoking - they only bought the ecig to fool around with.

Note - if you start with 100% PG juices... medium and high nic in 100% PG can be irritating. Nicotine is a skin irritant. Some people get sore tongue (I did), bleeding gums, sore mouth, sore throat, or in extreme cases sore lungs. For your subsequent juices I recommend try juices with some Vg in them. You can use juices with a lot of VG on an atomizer as long as the juice is thin enough to flow and wick at least as fast as you are vaporizing it. Tanks and reservoir cartos generally like 20-30% VG but may work with thin 50/50 juices (some vendors thin the juices). And I find standard stuffing cartos like 20% VG or less (but some say the dual coil cartos can handle 100% VG)

 

[Mikenet]

You probably won't care about the exact nicotine amount you are absorbing. You will get TH and once the 4000 cigarette chemicals wear off the one that makes nicotine more addictive will be gone from your system. I find the big habit is sucking in something and then feeling it hit your throat and you will get plenty of that. And don't worry about not absorbing enough nic. You can overnic yourself pretty easily because ecigs don't have a start and a finish. You can even overnic yourself on juice that is lower than what you normally vape. It can build up and you can end up vaping a bunch sometimes. Like when you get new juice samples. Or a tasty juice that just never says stop. If you get headache, rapid or irregular heartbeat, cold fingertips or a hazy malaise then you probably got too much nic. But also remember to drink fluids! Vaping can be drying.

I am suggesting some 18mg in case you voltage and ohms combo's heat gives you uncomfortably strong TH with 24, especially since your starting juices may be 100% PG.

That's interesting but it's also part of my concern, that the TH may be realistic enough to fool the brain. Problem is I like nicotene, as most smokers do, and I want to be sure I'm getting it. To be honest I wasn't planning on quitting smoking, but the idea of E-cigs opened up the possibilitiy that I can perhaps continue to smoke in another form, without as manyy health risk. The other addictive ingredients in ciggarets I'm thinking I can live without, but I do at least want my nicotine.

However I will take your advice and take it easy with E-Cigs to start, because I don't quite know what I'm dealing with yet.
I've read a lot in the last week, but I've yet to try it out so I'll be cautious.

So what's your input on drip tips? You mentioned them before and Id like to know why I need one. Are they only necessary with attys? Will my device work well without one at 3.7V?

Thanks

You edited your previous post while I was typing this one, and commented on drip tips, thanks.....
I'll probably go without them to start since I can just fill the cartridges instead of dripping. Maybe I can just fill them with less juice to test out various kinds? If I don't like one, I'll probably finish it off anyway unless its god awful.

 

[dormouse]

We all loved smoking. That is why we are vaping. BTW remember to smell the vapor - a LOT of the flavor is in the aroma. Cigs dump their aroma all over you - with ecigs you have to remember to smell the vapor.

It will be different from smoking. At first there is primer on the atty you need to vape it off without inhaling (* blow out atty into a tissue, prime the atty bridge /\ with 4-5 drops of liquid, wait for that to soak in, vape that mostly off without inhaling - use a drip tip or empty cart, repeat from * until the vapor tastes OK to inhale.) then the vapor will feel odd and foreign for a while - it may make you cough (and the 18mg may be helpful there). but you will get used to it. BTW did you buy an atomizer for 3.7v? try a standard res atty for starting out on 3.7 - maybe 2.5 to 2.7 ohmish?

Then once you get vaping figured out.. Vapor will smell more like tobacco itself rather than burning leaves and tar and chemicals (and believe me - once you have been away from cigs a while then try one, they will taste AWFUL like stink and chemicals). But the tobacco smell is familiar and comforting. And adding a bit of cocoa or chocolate eliquid can help (most US cigs have cocoa in them) but it's hard to find one that doesn't clog attys and carto - try Vapor4Life WOWbacco juice (clear cocoa tobacco) - you could sign up lower left on their site to get sale emails because their shipping is $7 so sales help make up for that (btw their cartos are NOT 510 - they are KR808D-1 but they sell the juices - some are overflavored but I love WOWbacco). Some people prefer food flavors to tobacco flavors right from the start - go with whatever makes you feel satisfied.

Ecigs will not give you the same buzz that cigs do because the buzz of cigs is carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (asphyxiation) plus 4000 chemicals including carpet glue. But when you find juices with a flavor, aroma and TH that makes you go ahhhh, it will be better than smoking. And you will feel better, food will taste and smell better, and you will smell better.

 

[Shadow102]

Mike- dormouse recommended the drip tip more for testing juices with the atty. Basically it allows you to sample juice by "dripping" directly onto the atomizer instead of filling a whole carto with it. Last thing you want is filling a whole carto with something that tastes like ..., and yes there are a few juices out there that taste like ....

 

[rob0128]

vermillion river do sample packs worth a try

 

[Mikenet]

Any comments on whether or not I need an adapter extension for either of the dual coil cartomizers I mentioned in the opening post? I'd use one of those with a 3.7v battery if they will be reliable at that voltage. I don't know if either of them will fit the Maxi unit though. I also don't know which extension would be best to get.

I'm thinking dual cartomizers will be my primary choice for everyday vaping. With the higher volt batts I'll probably use the attys included in the kit.

 

[dormouse]

You should buy the shorty extension. I know many big batteries/mods need that to use the Ego dual coils. I think Ego dual coils also need a syringe (not sure if blunt or sharp). if you mean Smoketech dual coils, I don't know but it won't hurt to have a shorty extension.

I use Boge cartos (the most popular cartos for 510 threaded devices) and some like the Smoketech normal stuffing cartos. I would recommend learning on standard resistance simple stuffing cartos.

---
How I fill Vapor4Life KR8 cartos and Boge 510 cartos

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
Hold a bit of tissue on the threaded end hole, tilt the carto, and add 18 drops per ml of capacity into the stuffing (Boges and most KR8 cartos are about 1ml).
Wait 15 seconds or so then see how many more drops the carto stuffing will soak in easily.
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)
Sop up any loose juice above the stuffing
Cap and let it settle - I lay it on different sides 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, if the vapor gets a bit light or a bit dry or the carto is getting hotter than normal, I take the carto off the battery and add eliquid. I sometimes use a plastic or delrin drip tip as a mouthpiece on Boge and KR8 cartos (not to drip into since the juice would head for the central air channel)

 

[Mikenet]

IMO get one of these - I think this will give you the option of using it as a 3.7v w/ one battery. That will let you use more things that may be too low ohms for the big high voltage configuration.
RoughStack V2 Short Body

I forgot to respond to this, but I think the Maxi Roughstack is compatable with a 18650 3.7v single battery without getting that extra part.....

Maxi RoughStack V2 Kit

Here is the battery I was going to get...

TrustFire Protected 18650 Battery, 2400 mah

(correct me if I'm wrong)

 

[Mikenet]

You should buy the shorty extension. I know many big batteries/mods need that to use the Ego dual coils. I think Ego dual coils also need a syringe (not sure if blunt or sharp). if you mean Smoketech dual coils, I don't know but it won't hurt to have a shorty extension.

I use Boge cartos (the most popular cartos for 510 threaded devices) and some like the Smoketech normal stuffing cartos. I would recommend learning on standard resistance simple stuffing cartos.

---
How I fill Vapor4Life KR8 cartos and Boge 510 cartos

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
Hold a bit of tissue on the threaded end hole, tilt the carto, and add 18 drops per ml of capacity into the stuffing (Boges and most KR8 cartos are about 1ml).
Wait 15 seconds or so then see how many more drops the carto stuffing will soak in easily.
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)
Sop up any loose juice above the stuffing
Cap and let it settle - I lay it on different sides 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, if the vapor gets a bit light or a bit dry or the carto is getting hotter than normal, I take the carto off the battery and add eliquid. I sometimes use a plastic or delrin drip tip as a mouthpiece on Boge and KR8 cartos (not to drip into since the juice would head for the central air channel)

Will this one work? There is an unsealed version as well

V2 510 Shorty Extension Sealed

Thanks, sorry for all the questions.

 

[Mindfield]

I think the 510 shorty extension will be a bit too short to work with an EMDCC (you'd really need an eGo adapter to use those, and I don't think MadVapes carries them), but it's fine with regular/large DCCs.

If you want to use the dual coils, you can get the 1.6ohm dual coils if you get some 18650 batteries to vape them at 3.7V, so you'll be fine with the TrustFire 18650 and some of their XL DCCs.

 

[Mikenet]

I think the 510 shorty extension will be a bit too short to work with an EMDCC (you'd really need an eGo adapter to use those, and I don't think MadVapes carries them), but it's fine with regular/large DCCs.

If you want to use the dual coils, you can get the 1.6ohm dual coils if you get some 18650 batteries to vape them at 3.7V, so you'll be fine with the TrustFire 18650 and some of their XL DCCs.

Thanks for the tip, I have a number of cartomizers I'm planning to start with now.

For use with the 3.7 volt battery I plan on trying the following cartomizers.....

MadVapes 5102.0 Dual Coil Black Cartomizer (2.0 ohms +-2 ohm) DCC

510 Dual Coil Stainless Mega Cartomizer (1.6 ohms) DCC

Smok Tech 2.0 ohm 510 Cartomizers Single (2.0 ohms) SC

Dual Coil Clear Mega XL Cartomizer (1.6 +- 2ohms) DCC

I also plan on getting the shorty extension and the Maxi short stack in case I need them. Let me know if the above models will not work or fit with the Maxi Roughstack, and I'll be open to others that may work better.

For now I want to keep all my purchases at Madvapes for my first order, otherwise i would have also considered the DCC you recomended for 6V use.

Also, a couple of the DCC I listed above have an ohms rating that is (+ or - 2 ohms). I'm assuming this means that the ohms rating on a 1.6 ohm +- device can work at 3.6 ohms?

For example take a look at the last link for the MadVapes Dual Coil Clear Mega XL Cartomizer 1.6. There was at least one person who reviewed that cartomizer who said it worked good with 6v devices.

If you think the +- DCC I listed would be smart to try out at 6v, let me know. I definitely don't want to fry my switch.

Thanks

 

[ricksinvest]

dude... these things deliver nicotine.

If this we're all just about the hand motions I for one wouldn't have been able to quit analogs and the whole e-cigs cottage industry wouldn't have sprouted up.

Seriously, sucking out of flavored straws would be cheaper if we could.

 

[swedishfish]

Sounds like you're doing great with hardware.

I'd recommend Vapor Station for some good tobacco juices. They also carry an excellent sampler pack.

Vapor Station