Just started with a 510 kit and need some advice

[cconti]

Before I made the plunge, I joined and read most relevant posts on this forum. After about 6 hours of research, I decided to buy a 510 kit from one of the sites recommended here plus a few flavorings to try.

I Have to say I agree with most of the advice on this forum: tobacco flavored liquids by and large taste horrible, but so far I really enjoy the menthol (never liked the real thing incidentally) and the RV4 liquid. Don't care much for the licorice flavor I bought and I plan to buy more flavors today to try out.

Almost as soon as I started using my 510 (after charging the batteries for 8 hours according to the instructions) I was really impressed by how realistic the smoke and throat hit are. Pleasantly surprised even though I had read that was the case. It surpassed my expectations.

The only problem I have is that I don't seem to be able to get a consistent vaping stream going equivalent to smoking an analog cigarette. The first puff or two are fine, but after that the quantity of smoke/vapor really thins out.

I have found that there may be several reasons for this. For instance, I don't seem to be able to load the wick with an amount of liquid that could deliver a cig worth of vapor.

Also, it seems that if the combustion chambers overheats, the resulting vapor is less.

If I let the e-cig cool off, often the next drag is very satisfactory, but as soon as I start feeling the heat coming through the smoke thins out. If I left it rest again I then get a good hit.

However, by then I usually run out of liquid in the reservoir and I Have to fill again (also, some liquids seem thicker than others and sometimes I need to take the wick out, fill the reservoir and then re-insert the wick in order to properly fill it so it lasts more than a couple of drags).

By the way, I am trying the "Tea Bag" mod and while it is better than the wick it came with, it's still giving me the same issues.

Basically, I need help refining my technique. Both in the maintenance and in the preparation departments.

Other than that (and I am sure eventually I will find the proper technique), my wife and daughter are thrilled that I Have not touched an analog cig since this thing arrived. It's worth it just for that, but now I need to stick with it.

The only other thing I noticed, was a slight headache in the first couple of days. Incidentally, it was the same type of headache I got when trying out the gum or the lozenges to quit smoking. I assume that may be normal but I will make a separate post for that i it persists.

 

[rob5482]

It would help if we knew what model you are using. I am assuming the basic 510. The problem is the same one I had when I started, you are trying to hit it like an analog. With e-cigs u have to give the filler time to rewet the atty. Depending on what model you are using and if you are using carts or addys or a tank this can take a few seconds or a few min.

When you took a drag, then put it down then took another one is how you have to use the basic kits. When you move up to a mod you will find you can hit it quite often w/o any problems.

The headache more then likely is from the reduction in nicotine you are getting. IE withdrawls as you have experienced with other NRT.

Read the forums some more about various mixes of juice as well, ie pg vs vg. Different mixes will give you different vapor.

 

[dormouse]

A lot of what you said is why many people prefer cartomizers to cart on atty. I recommend Boge cartomizers (standard resistance are the ones you need on 510 - you cannot use LR ones - they can kill a slim battery)

I also find carts are very inconsistent - one stuffing tight, one stuffed loose, one messy, one neat. I like to toss the white stuffing and use blue foam. If you want to try blue foam on a standard 510 cart, buy the very cheap precut pieces of blue foam at strictlyejuice.com (I think 10 for 75 cents?). I think the blue foam wicks pretty well and is more consistent.

Tobacco juices - there are lots of nice tobacco juices. Just not whatever Chinese stuff you got with your 510. Try Backwoods Brew tobacco juices, or my other fave FreedomSmokeUSA DesertShip (I recommend 70og/30vg, or 80pg/20vg for more TH). At FreedomSmokeUSA I also recommend the Cocoa premixed - almost bitter and super for toughening up a weak tobacco or smacking down the sweetness of a too-sweet tobacco. Most real cigs have cocoa in them so it is not weird to add cocoa juice to tobacco juices.

And you have to smell the vapor. Nothing is going to taste like cigs because cigs actually taste awful and chemically but have dulled your taste buds to that. But cigs did cover you in smoke - you could not help smelling them. You need to make sure you smell the ecig vapor.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

It sounds like you're trying to vape faster than your atomizer can wick. When you're "power vaping", the atomizer will start getting hot and the vapor production will drop drastically. The bridge and wick inside the atomizer need to stay wet in order for it to vaporize correctly. Try taking the filler out of your cart and cutting it in half. That way more liquid can wick more quickly. You'll also be able to get a little more juice inside that cart.

You can also try taking longer, slower draws rather than trying to suck on it like a straw in a milkshake.

Vaping is very different from smoking and it takes a little practice to get it right.

 

[dormouse]

Headache when vaping is almost always too much nicotine - if you want to vape a lot, try lower nic juices. Too much nic can also cause rapid or irregular heartbeat.

One other possible headache cause - muscle ache from dragging automatic batteries. If you have auto batteries try a manual one.

And stay hydrated - vaping can be more dehydrating than smoking. And when you first start vaping it may be helpful to take vitamins. You are loosing 4000 chemicals.

 

[cconti]

Thanks for the quick replay. I had pretty much concluded the same thing but I think I was attributing it to the heat build up rather than on the atty's need to re-wet.

And indeed, I am using the basic 510. I am not aware of any other definition that would help identifying it. The user manual (such as it is) calls them the "510 personal Vaporizer" and they seem to be that basic entry level kit for sale pretty much everywhere.

And you are right: I do need to read the forums some more. It's a lot of stuff to go over and initially my goal weas just to get started, but I am still reading a lot.

 

[cconti]

Wow, by the time I wrote my response there were another 3 posts. Thanks for the valuable advice.
Indeed, I think it's natural I would use them like a regular cig initially. It's all I know.

But I Have already decided that most of the tobacco flavors are awful. I really don't care about reproducing the cigarette flavor. It's more about reproducing the ritual and essence of it. The taste... I never liked cigarettes to begin with.

I am actually just about to order more flavors to try out. I like the mint flavor (although I always hated menthol cigs).

I actually bought the 510 kit with the intention of graduating rather quickly to something more advanced. I figured the 510 had good reviews and it seemed ideal in both price, portability and reputation to start with.

As far as the headache, it could be too much or too little nicotine. So far I only tried the low nicotine liquids but I will be getting a full nicotine liquid to try as well and one with as little as possible and experiment. Occasionally I do get migraines just for the heck of it anyway.

I'll be checking for the wicks you guys mentioned. I do Have to find something better than what I Have. I will also try different tea bags and work on the way I roll them. One thing for sure: it didn't take me long to realize the wicks and flavors the kit came with were pretty awful. I won't be vaping those

 

[swedishfish]

Sounds like your doing great so far though. You could always try cartomizers on your 510 (that's the cart & atty combined). You don't have to fill quite as often as using carts.

The great thing about the 510 is that parts and accessories are available everywhere. Backwood Brew has some pretty good tobacco juice.

Good luck!

 

[MickeyRat]

The great thing about the 510 is that parts and accessories are available everywhere.

And if you graduate to an eGo or a Riva which a lot of people on here will recommend, you'll be able to use your 510 stuff and a huge variety of attachments. Hope you aren't gadget happy.

 

[cconti]

You could always try cartomizers on your 510 (that's the cart & atty combined)

Anyone has a link to the beast? I know I could try to figure it out, but I could also end up with the wrong one or misunderstand how it works. Since I would like to place an order today for some new flavors to try I might as well get a cartomizer. I am also buying a USB adapter so I am not constantly changing batteries when I am at my desk.

But I Have to say that so far, this is much more effective than anything I Have tried. Normally by now (second day no cigs) I am rationalizing the purchase of a pack of Camels or eating icecream from the carton. Instead I am doing quite well and i go entire stretches not even thinking about the lack of cigarettes.

I was just thinking that if this work (and I really don't see how it cannot), the inventor should be getting a Nobel price. Instead, from what I Have read, rampant misinformation and bigotry rules the day and those that should be doing cartwheels and jumping of joy are condemning it to anyone that will listen. Bizarre.

 

[MickeyRat]

Anyone has a link to the beast? I know I could try to figure it out, but I could also end up with the wrong one or misunderstand how it works. Since I would like to place an order today for some new flavors to try I might as well get a cartomizer. I am also buying a USB adapter so I am not constantly changing batteries when I am at my desk.

But I Have to say that so far, this is much more effective than anything I Have tried. Normally by now (second day no cigs) I am rationalizing the purchase of a pack of Camels or eating icecream from the carton. Instead I am doing quite well and i go entire stretches not even thinking about the lack of cigarettes.

I was just thinking that if this work (and I really don't see how it cannot), the inventor should be getting a Nobel price. Instead, from what I Have read, rampant misinformation and bigotry rules the day and those that should be doing cartwheels and jumping of joy are condemning it to anyone that will listen. Bizarre.

You can get the Boge 510 cartomizers here at Liberty Flights but, they are available a lot of other places. Make sure you get the 3 ohm. The 2 ohm will likely mess up your battery. If you are using Internet Explorer, there's a %20 off button at the top somewhere. I'm not and I had to go hunt up a coupon code that did the same thing for me. It was ECR69.

It appears LF is out of the Riva starter kits. I'd have recommended that as well. It's very nice to go 9 hours on a battery charge.

 

[Rikaroo]

Not sure what you got but I found my pcc (portable charging case) and two 510 bats to be great. Vape on one and by the time it needs a charge the one in the charging case is and has been ready for some time..swap out the batts and keep on going. Also the blue foam is the best cart mod Ive found. Tried the tea bag, straws and other types but blue foam is the best. works great keeps the atty wick thingy moist and quick and soaks up/holds the juice well. Also I highly recommend cignot.com. I ordered late friday night and my juice was in the mailbox today (monday). Two other orders I place at 2 diff vendors at the same time havent even shipped yet. used the 510's from there for 2 months and the atties still work great. (occasional cleaning of course, and prefer the dry burn method mostly) the batts are still as good as new too. Ordered a back up batt just in case but havent really needed it. at two months in I picked up a riva se kit from liberty flights and the main thing about that that is a significant change is I can vape that bad boy all day long with out needing a charge. Truly cant say the vape is significantly more powerfull but the charge lasts and lasts. Also cappuccino from cignot is my all day vape and its good right out the mail, no steeping needed. anyway keep reading here at ecf the support is awesome and pretty key to my experience with out those nasty analogs that i smoked for 30+ years.

happy vapes