Just got my ego, need help getting started.

[doubledown]

So, I just opened this thing up and have batteries charging. Anxiously awaiting my first vape ever but have some questions so I get a positive experience.

Are the carts that come on the attys usable or are they dummies?

Do I need to do anything to the carts or atty before using it for the first time?

Is it best to drip or use carts for my first time?

Anything else I need to know?

Pardon my ignorance but this will literally be the first time I have tried vaping and am REALLY ready to quit the analogues.

 

[lmrasch]

So, I just opened this thing up and have batteries charging. Anxiously awaiting my first vape ever but have some questions so I get a positive experience.

Are the carts that come on the attys usable or are they dummies?

If they have no filler in them, they are dummies, but you can use them as a mouthpiece for dripping purposes

Do I need to do anything to the carts or atty before using it for the first time?

Blow the primer out of the atty before use, to do this put a tissue at the battery/screw end of the atty and blow numerous times into the open end. When there is no more residue coming out on the tissue you're good to go to the next step.

Next step is here, prime the atty with a few drops of e liquid and draw, if you're getting a burnt taste drip another drop and draw again. Too many drops will flood the atty, you won't get much vapor and hear a gurgling sound when you draw. If you flood the atty, repeat the steps on blowing out the primer and start again.

Is it best to drip or use carts for my first time?

I prefer dripping, but many use the carts, just make sure the atty is wet before putting on the cart.

Anything else I need to know?

There is a learning curve with e cigs...ask if you don't know....be patient..and enjoy the experience!

Pardon my ignorance but this will literally be the first time I have tried vaping and am REALLY ready to quit the analogues.

Please see my bolded response in your quote

Also, here is a link to the ECF library, check out the wonderful world of vaping series:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/
Happy Vaping!

 

[doubledown]

Perfect, thank you!!!

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Are the carts that come on the attys usable or are they dummies?

Every 510 atty I've bought has come with carts that are completely usable. I just filled mine with aquarium filter media and that's that. Well, unless you count the debate over what makes the best cart stuffing. Lots of threads in the 510 sub-forum about that. I suppose some people like to keep an empty cart on the end of their extra atties to protect the internals from ... something. Dust?

Also, I'm guessing the eGo is still shipping with incorrect charging instructions. If not, then hurrah! With LiIon batteries, there's no need to do an intial 8-hour charge, followed by some other "conditioning" charge, or any other arcane battery rituals. LiIon batts should have appx. 40% "storage" charge in them for, uh, storage, so it's likely your eGo batts are partially charged out of the box. You can vape right away after cleaning the primer fluid out of the atty. Some people (such as myself) like to do more than just blow it out, because you can't get it all out that way. I do a PGA rinse. As far as your batteries go, when the green light comes on, they're charged, and there's no need to leave them on the charger any longer.

Congrats on getting started vaping. Main thing to know is that it's a learning experience. Lots of juices to try. Lots of accessories. It might take some fiddling about with cart stuffing, different juices, and who knows what else, before you hit what feels like your "sweet spot", but once you do, you'll discover how much better vaping is than smoking. (You might discover that right away, for that matter).

The other thing is that while many people switch right over to vaping and never look back, many also have a relapse here and there. I tapered down on my smoking while increasing my vaping over time. Had a few relapses as well, when I was at work with nothing but dead batts. (The eGo will save you from at least that issue, unless you get very absent minded with keeping your spare charged.) Don't beat yourself up if you have a smoke. Just keep on the path to your goal.

 

[doubledown]

Thanks guys. Well, I am officially vaping My first juice I'm trying is Ms. T's Blueberry Muffin. On first impression I'm a little disappointed. While good, there is a little burnt peppery taste that is going along with it. Also not near as much vapor as I have seen from some ego videos. I'm going to keep experimenting and give this thing a real go. I can see why so many people are liking it though. So many benefits over cigarettes. What do you do when you want to change flavors? A new cart for each one or just change juice when one dries up? Thanks for the help!

 

[Whistle_Pig]

There are multiple opinions on switching flavors. The short answer it depends on the flavors and your tolerance for flavor carryover. These threads likely cover the entire spectrum.

• http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...9044-clean-atomizer-w-each-flavor-change.html
• http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-how-do-i-clean-510-atty-between-flavors.html
• http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-maintenance/107763-switching-flavors.html
• http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...967-those-who-drip-flavor-switching-ques.html
• http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...105301-how-do-you-keep-flavors-separated.html

 

[doubledown]

Wow! Call me lazy. I usually am very good about searching before asking but I guess I just dropped the ball being all distracted by my new toy. BTW taste is improving, vapor still seems a little weak to me but that could just be learning curve and technique.

I just finished reading the recommended threads. Thanks. Makes perfect sense.

I gotta take a break, I'm vaping myself silly, guess it's growing on me pretty fast

 

[Whistle_Pig]

I'm assuming you have std. 510 atties for your eGo. Lots of info in the 510 subforum for that. It will take a bit of practice to get good at filling your carts. I just used a syringe to fill from the bottom. When using carts, the flavor will get weak when they're almost empty.

I always take the massive clouds of vapor in videos with a grain of salt. I haven't gotten that either. I suspect that there's some lighting effect going on there.

 

[tarheeldan]

Nice I love seeing people come in and give great advice to the newcomer! I wanted to mention quickly that draw technique to me seems to have a good bit to do with vapor production. Hard, short drags don't do nearly as well as long, light drags where you just create a sort of vacuum and let the vapor flow in. Also, if it doesn't make you cough and you like a good throat hit, direct inhaling seems to create more vapor for me. More poofy than a two-step mouth-->lung inhale, but more vapor nonetheless. I haven't read it, but there's a post on vaping technique in the ECF library. Maybe I should go read that now.

Oh, and most importantly: congrats on your purchase and getting started doubledown!! I think you'll be very happy with your ego Like Whistle-Pig said, don't beat yourself up over an analog if you don't happen to be one of those that never has one after the first vape. It's not like with other quit methods where you feel like you gotta start over again. You just pick up the ego instead of an analog and that's that.

 

[Whistle_Pig]

Also, if it doesn't make you cough and you like a good throat hit, direct inhaling seems to create more vapor for me.

I tried that. Major increase in TH, some coughing. Didn't turn blue though. I think you get a better flavor experience with 2-stage technique.

 

[tarheeldan]

I think you get a better flavor experience with 2-stage technique.

Agreed, I should have mentioned that

 

[doubledown]

It is interesting to see how different this is compared to smoking. I'm sure the contrasts will continue to surprise me for a while. So far I'm not even thinking about cigarettes. A little light headed (haha). The flavor smoothed out a little. Almost like a pipe tobacco taste! I discovered the 2 stage technique. Works much better than my "cig drag" style. Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I'm enjoying being able to take a puff just when I want as opposed to a whole cigarette.

 

[stubear62]

Hi doubledown and Welcome to the eGo Group.
Also glad to see you're asking questions b4 starting on your journey with ur new toy, The eGo.
I will say this, there are things you will notice as you go on with the eGo.

The 510 atty, for one, has a break in period and this may be an hour, a day, or in very rare cases, a week.
Yes I did say a week as it happened to me. Bu t just one time.
Anyways, give the atty a little time to break in and you will see a big change in the vapor. But you will notice the TH getting better first, than the vapor.
If you can, try a LR 510 atty. Also, you may want to try a Mega 510 atty or even the Mega eGo slim atty.
There are a lot of possibilities for you, but do take it slow.

Again, I want to say welcome to the group and I know you will be happy with the eGo..

Vape On! =)

 

[doubledown]

Thanks Stu. A day later and still no desire for analogs But it is a strange trip so far. Just not quite what I expected. TH has been a strong burning feeling on exhale in the lower back of my throat. Not really pleasant at all. I've tried carts on the 510 and dripping through a zip tip. I've tried juice from 0 to 24 mg of nic. I am so glad to be replacing cigs with something else but I hope I can find my sweet spot. What my "dream vape" would be is a mild TH that wasn't a burning feeling. LOTS of taste and vapor. Any suggestions on how to get there? BTW, being in the same state and all hope to get to sit and vape with you one day. Have a great weekend.

I'm dripping Ms. T's Snickerdoodle at 18mg through a zip tip right now. Not bad.

 

[stubear62]

Hey, I didn't even notice that!! LOL..
I'm in MB accross from CF off HW 501..
PM me if you are close by or going to be comming thru this area and I'll give u my info.
Glad to sit and vape. =)

As for the TH you want milder, I do suggest two things, first, try to keep your nic around the 18 to 24mg. Also, use the higher voltage atties. Something around the 2.5 to 30 Ohms and see what happens. The cooler the vape the milder the TH. I don't care for a TH either, but with the 36 o 48mg nic I vape, I get most TH's around the 6 to 7 out of 10 mark. Not too bad.
I use RY4 from Awesome Vapor and Ultrapure from InnoVapor.
You can try Dawn @ DIY Flavor Shack. She can hook you up with almost anything you like. Even Freedom Smoke USA too. They have some very, very good Strawberry/Banana that really has a low TH inMHO..
I do like there flavors too.
You might need to get liquids from diff suppliers and see what you are going to like. I know my wife likes menthol, and thats all she wanted when she started vaping. with in two weeks, she was using sweet flavors and very little menthol..
Also you might want to stay with the VG base liquids as VG will be smoother.
Good luck!

Vape On! =)

 

[doubledown]

I'll have to order some of those high voltage addys. I've got normal and lv right now. I'm getting more and more pleased with this. All night I've been hitting that snickerdoodle and found more how to drip and keep the liquid at the right level. Pretty awesome. Also still no analogs Haven't even thought about em actually. I do have a good selection of juices I ordered from diff suppliers last week. I even think I may have something in a 50/50 mix I haven't tried yet.Wanted to make sure I'd have something good when the ego got here.

 

[stubear62]

I will say this, I started on Sept 20 and I was on and off with the SS No7. Then I went to CigNot and got my 510 by Joye. That was it with the cigs for me and that was Oct 1st.
I got my wife set up for Xmas of '09 and she started @ 8:30 am on Xmas and never had another cig. That was a very important thing as she was a 3+ pack a day smoker. I got her the KR808D-1 as she wanted the 2 pc. Thats when I bought my eGo from Janty and got it in Jan of '10 and she never liked it. LOL.
Now she has the eGo herself (from CigNot) and she love's it..
My 1 yr is almost here.. How fast it went..
Saved a lot of $$ too.

 

[VaporMadness]

Thanks Stu. A day later and still no desire for analogs But it is a strange trip so far. Just not quite what I expected. TH has been a strong burning feeling on exhale in the lower back of my throat. Not really pleasant at all. I've tried carts on the 510 and dripping through a zip tip. I've tried juice from 0 to 24 mg of nic. I am so glad to be replacing cigs with something else but I hope I can find my sweet spot. What my "dream vape" would be is a mild TH that wasn't a burning feeling. LOTS of taste and vapor. Any suggestions on how to get there? BTW, being in the same state and all hope to get to sit and vape with you one day. Have a great weekend.

I'm dripping Ms. T's Snickerdoodle at 18mg through a zip tip right now. Not bad.

Sounds like you're off to a grand start! I'll chime in on what might make for your "dream vape" based on what you said...

* Try some liquids with higher a VG to PG ratio. The reason being is twofold: vg makes thicker visible vapor, vg is less 'burny' feeling than pg. The downside to the mellow fog that vg provides are: slightly muted flavor, can gum up attys. A 50/50 (or even 40v/50p) mix is pretty rich in VG, you should see considerably more fog out of a mix that rich than 100% PG, but not so much VG that you will miss out on flavor.

* Try a 901 atomizer. These attys are generally considered to be "less harsh" than 510s and to provide better flavor. The std 901 attys are considerably higher resistance level (3'ish ohms) than the std 510 atty (2.3'ish ohms)... but even if you get them all at the same resistance level (for example 2.0 ohm line from IkenVape)... the 510 is still harsher than the 901. Personally I think the 901 is the mildest of the big three atty styles (510/901/801). You'll need a thread adapter to screw a 901 onto your eGo, but those are easy to come by.

Based on what you said, I'd say get a 2 ohm 901 from IkenVape and run some 50/50 or 40v/60p liquid in it. The 2.0 ohm is slightly lower resistance than the std 510 which helps make for shorter satisfying drags more than anything else. The smoothness of the 901 in general will make that a smoother setup than your std resistance 510. And the 2 ohm level will just make it a much more satisfying experience than the std resistance level 901s (which is just too high of a resistance for an eGo).

Anyway... have fun with your new toy!

 

[doubledown]

Thanks for the suggestions VM. I'll definately give them a try. I had been thinking the key might be in the PG/VG ratio but don't know enough about it. I'll start with your advice and order some 901s and an adapter as well. I'm really enjoying vaping, but tweaking the experience to my tastes would be great. Still, I've only thought about analogs once or twice. Even vaped with a friend yesterday while she smoked. I didn't even want one. She did try and like my ego though.

 

[Sue1971]

I started on Sept 20 and I was on and off with the SS No7.

Stu, I see you started with the SS No 7.... I have 3 of the NO.7's, but upgraded to the ego. Do you know if there is an adaptor for the attys so they will work with the ego?