making the switch to virgin.....

[amy_h_26]

Hey everyone! my first order is in the mail on its way and Ive got a few questions. firstly, what's the best way to clean out my kanger protank mini so there's really truly none of this....impure...ejuice left in there? also is there any way to speed up the steeping? one site suggested boiling the bottles in water....hmmm...

using 2.5 atomizer with the mini....saw something on ohms on the website but didnt quite get it...can anyone elaborate?

thanks so much!!!!!!

 

[Angiebubs]

Hi Amy,

I find that the Absolute line doesn't need any steeping whatsoever! For the Virgin line, shake well, uncap and leave uncapped for 24 hrs. Then just shake it a couple times a day. It should be good to go within a few days.

 

[amy_h_26]

thanks! Ive talked to Patti a bit about things too and what im concerned about is increasing the flavors of my sample packs since I have favors tounge so often, booo. any tips or tricks on cleaning? looks like my order will be here tomorrow or maybe friday, yaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!

 

[kittypie]

Hi there, amy_h_26, and welcome!

We're not trying to be big meanie heads, but we just can't customize the samplers with extra flavor because it's so labor intensive and time-consuming. The good news is that the we pre-mix the samplers (every other size is hand-mixed to order) so they usually don't need to be steeped, unless you want to uncap the original Virgin flavors to let the organic ethyl alcohol evaporate.

The best way to clean the tanks is with plain old hot water, IMO, but some people like to use something stronger like Everclear. It can be difficult to clear the head of all traces of flavor and you're bound to get some flavor overlap. The lighter flavors will be more forgiving than the strong flavors like Dark Turkish Roast or Best Damn tobacco. Just do some experimenting to see what works for you! What flavors did you order?

I'm not sure I can elaborate on ohms (I assume you read Annette's blog about ohms?)
http://www.virginvapor.com/blogs/news/6091560-what-is-the-difference-between-ohms-ratings

but I will try! What are your questions?

 

[amy_h_26]

oh no not complaining at all I totally understand about the samplers! in fact its good to know they will be coming to me pre steeped so thats fantastic!
thanks so much for the tips on cleaning. I suppose I'll just do what ive always done and then pop a new atomizer in the protank so I wont have to worry about trying to get the wicks or coils squeaky clean, just the actual tank.

I re-read the blog on ohms and after reading it a few times im getting more of what its saying....diffrent atomizers are gonna be better for diffrent flavors and personal preference.

I guess I was curious, since the blog compares the two, which one works better for VV in general?

I know, again, alot is subjective, just curious what others think/use. ive only got 2.5s on hand at the time, so what would you guys suggest to avoid a throat hit?

ok, as far as flavors lets see.... death by chocolate, cookie dough, orange cream scicle, blueberry bliss, pina cola, and tropical storm.

sorry this was so long winded, and thanks so much!!!!!

 

[kittypie]

For minimizing throat hit, 2.5 ohms is a great place to start. I use mostly 2.2 ohms, sometimes 1.8, because I like throat hit. To me, 1.5 ohms makes it too easy to burn my juice (yuck). I use the EVODs the most. Like you said, a lot depends on personal preference, so don't be afraid to experiment a little bit.

Phil Busardo, vaping guru extraordinaire at tasteyourjuice.com has some good comments about ohms, and includes an ohms chart as a guide to voltage/ohms. I know, so much to learn! But you'll get the hang of it, and have some fun experimenting:
Taste Your Juice | VOLTS & WATTS VS OHM SETTINGS

I hope that helps!

P.S. For best results, be sure to shake your Orange Creamsicle well before filling your tank because the flavor tends to float to the top. Actually, shaking benefits all flavors but is especially true of citrus type flavors.

I hope some other VVers will chime in with their experiences!

 

[FilterLess]

I am going to chime in here and welcome you. I am new to vaping but I too want a clean device. I will tell you what I do with mine. I honestly do not believe there is a right or wrong way, just providing another option.
I use an EVOD with the PT coil, should be same as yours if I am not mistaken.

I only use distilled water. The idea of taking chemically treated tap water to clean my tank and then fill it with something as pure and delicious as VV juice turns my stomach. (kittypie... I get brownie points for thinking that way right?)

During the day, between juice I do what I call a quick rinse. I pour about a cup of “distilled” water into a coffee cup and microwave it for 1 minute. Drop the tank and bottom section (coil installed) into the cup and agitate it a little. Dump the hot water out and add another cup of water to it, agitate again and it is cool enough to pull out by hand. Now I just dab dry with a paper towel and refill. Takes about 2 minutes total.

At night before I go to bed I take it a step further, I use about 2 cups and bring just to the point of a simmer on the stove. I take the tank, the bottom, and the coil (there is a rubber piece that slides over the flavor wick, remove that and put to the side) and drop them in and let soak a minute or two. Take them out with a slotted spoon and stand up on paper towels. I blow through the coil from the bottom while holding a paper towel over the flavor wick ends, then I add a drop or two of my next flavor to the wick. (the idea of leaving a metal coil that has been moistened sit all night is not desirable to me). Then I twist the end of a paper towel and slide it into the tank and dry it out and assemble everything until fill time in the morning. Done in less than 5 minutes.

I have only been vaping for almost a week now so havent run into “real” cleaning problem, but I have a bottle of Crest ProHealth mouthwash waiting for that to arise.

I have read many don’t even clean theirs. Some rinse with tap water and go on and others just add the next liquid and let it sit all night. I guess cleaning is cleaning, you will do what makes you feel comfortable.

As for ohms... I find I currently have best luck around 2 ohms or more, 1.5 would sometimes feel like I was huffing a blowtorch.

Now steeping... I'm lazy in that respect. I have yet to find markings on the bottles to separate the Virgin from the Absolute, so I steep everything. Would be nice it there was a different colored border around the label on the absolute line or something to distinguish it a little more readily. Hmmm, maybe I should have kept that comment to myself. (I might have just lost brownie points)

Great to meet you and I just know you will enjoy your shipment the moment it arrives.

P.S. Sorry, I get long winded at times.

 

[amy_h_26]

filterless, thanks so much for your input! super appreciate it. I didnt even think to clean it with distilled water, Doh! seems obvious now that you mention it lol.
also glad that to know you dont think ill be far off with 2.5s, again great input! thanks!

 

[FilterLess]

Something to keep in mind when working with the e-liquids is that nicotine is a poison. In it's pure form (from what I have read) one drop could kill a small child. Don't be alarmed, remember math class, you are likely looking at 2.4% compared to the 100% I just referenced (would need to ask a DIY for the real number). So remember to be safe, wear gloves to clean up spills or keep something between your skin and the liquid whenever possible. Wash your hands if any get on them.

I laugh as I type this, before I was disabled I was a mechanic and you could not imagine the things my hands have been in. I washed engine parts in gas or diesel while smoking lol, I have had chemical burns to my hands so many times I could not start to count them, but I have also experienced the side effects too. Now older, hopefully wiser, I do not subject myself to these unnecessary hazards, I try to be a little more informed now and follow a few safety guidelines. I have a 24 year old daughter in college and needs moral support and a 16 year old boy that needs a kick in the ___ (insert word of choice) from time to time, so I need to stick around a little longer.

Just popped into my head, something I read not long ago.... if you are like me and new to vaping, there is a possibility that you are vaping incorrectly (I likely am). If you are drawing on your tank like it is a cigarette or vaping at to high a voltage, you could be pulling juice droplets into your mouth or throat and that would cause the TH as well. From what I have read, hopefully someone will correct me. We want a soft even draw lasting between 3 and 4 seconds, nothing hard like a cigarette or straw.

Another thing is hydration, while I have read many people say to drink plenty water when vaping, I personally find that my coffee or a hot tea from time to time helps as well... even eating chips seems to stimulate the (mine anyway) mucus membranes and help keep my mouth and throat moist. I have yet to understand how I can inhale a vapor and it cause dryness but it does.

Yadda yadda yadda... there I go long winded again. There is just so much to learn, but it is much like riding a bike. You don't climb on a 15 speed mountain bike and head out on the Shenandoah Trail the first try, need them training wheels and guidance first... That is why I am on this site, I need my guidance because I broke my training wheels the first day

Anyway, I best stop before this is offered in hardback. Hope everything is working out well for you. You are on a great site with a lot of knowledgeable folks that are more than happy to help.

 

[amy_h_26]

thanks filter, ive been vaping since November and my boyfriend a little longer than that (so he helps me out too when he can) but after many long threads in the new members forums, and literally tring everything under the sun they suggested (trust me I could not be more freakin hydrated if I tried lol) the concensus is ive gotta have a pg allergy. sadly ive already wasted a TON of money on juice from other companies and at this point am very discouraged. if VV doesnt rid me of my chronic sore throat, im ready to just quit vaping completely. booooo!!

thanks again filter filter appreciate the support and words of good luck! fingers crossed!

 

[thedrpepperdude]

The sandpaper sounds like a dry hit. If the coil is not wet with juice you will get a terrible, burning penny kinda taste and a sore throat. Best flavor is usually just this side of a flooded atty. It is kinda like a balancing act. A few dry pulls ( take a draw without pushing the button ) will help get the juice to the coil. Protank coils sometimes have quality issues, you may have a dud. Try a new coil whenever you get the bad TH and flavor. Or try a different device.

Amy you might want to try a couple of different techniques on your draw as well as different voltage settings.

Try lower voltage, around 3.5v and push the button for a second before you start your draw.

Also you can try to "pipe it up" by taking a puff or two into your mouth and blowing out before taking a puff that you inhale, while holding the button the whole time. This is what I do with higher ohm coils. It seems to help get it going.

I agree with Kitty about the video. Phil has several good video reviews, watch as many as possible to find all of the different little tricks that people use. Some are subtle but make a big difference. Search utube for Bishopheals, he also has several good videos.

I think the protank is more suited for convenience than for best flavor. Have you considered a dripping atty? My brother loves the HH357. I find dripping to be sorta a pain, but it does produce great flavor. You are definitely on the right track with high quality juice from VV. If you keep trying I am sure you will find your sweet spot and be very happy. Don't give up.

Have you tried snakebite yet? It is my favorite.

Filterless glad to see you got your gear!!!

 

[amy_h_26]

dr pepper, thanks so much! glad to know that harsh hit was simply user error. curious as to how hitting the ecig without pushing butting wets the coil. seems to my newbie brain that it wouldnt do anything (but I believe you!) hmm also curious as to how you you get your protank close to flooded without flooding.....my main goal has always been to absolutely not flood it, lol.

as for the protank vs dripping, yeah I cant imaging how much of a pain dripping would be for me, so I dont think for me personally that would be a very good option. I have read however, in some other part of the forum, that by removing the flavor wick, or by partially doing do, you can get a better flavor because as with with dripping the coil is exposed. I've played around with that and may again in the future but for now im not gonna mess with anything.

the protank mini is my fave device of the ghree I own, in terms of tank. I also have a glass vivi nova fusion, and an iclear 16....not sure I ever even bothered to buy extra wicks/coils/whatever for either of those. in general unless I flood it I have very little issues with my protank thankfully.

again thanks so much for your help!!!!!!!!

 

[kittypie]

Dr Pepper! Good to see you! Thank you for helping out our fair friend! (You too, Mr FilterLess!)

 

[thedrpepperdude]

Hey Amy, glad to see you are starting to have more success with a different coil. Your e-cig is working kinda like a straw. The more you suck on it the more juice you pull through the wick towards the coil. If you cover the air holes with your hand and restrict airflow the effect will be more dramatic.

almost flooded= light, cool, wet vapor and big flavor
mostly wet coil= bigger, warm, moist vapor and good flavor
almost dry coil= big, dry, hot vapor and less flavor
dry coil= huge, hot vapor and burnt terrible flavor ( sore throat )

Everyone wants something a little different, Someone just off of ciggs may be satisfied with a less flavor and a little bit of burnt flavor as long as vapor production and TH is good. Protank or vision ego or vivi nova may work good for this. All of these are difficult to regulate juice flow through the wick so careful management of voltage and draw technique are necessary.

Drippers are easy to manage juice to the coil and thus easier to get the flavor/vapor desired, but cost you convenience.

As long as you supply enough juice to coil you can push as much voltage/power as you want without burning, within reason.

I would still recommend a dripper, just for experimentation, use it when at home and you have both hands free. Like when watching TV or something. They are a good way to figure out the difference between warm/moist and dry hot. 3 or 4 drops and you get 6-8 good hits. you will see how flavor and heat relate to each other. This will make it easier to recognize when a dry hit is going to come from your protank.

I usually use a rebuildable tank style atty with a mechanical mod. This works best for me but is a bit fiddly and requires trial and error to get a good reliable coil/wick setup. There is no best setup, you just have to play around and try to find what works best for you. When you find a setup that works good for you and a quality juice ( like VV ) you will really enjoy your experience. Keep at it, your perfect setup could be just a day away. I hope this helps, I wish I could explain myself better.

Do you have a good Brick and Mortar near you? That would be a good place to hang out and meet other vapors and try different setups.

p.s. kittypie, your pic makes me laugh. I always want to say don't jump kitty!!!