My vape experience so far...FRUSTRATING

[ReleaseXtheXKraken]

Ok, where to begin....I guess we'll call this a rant/ looking for advice kinda post. After doing a few years worth of research into vaping and following the progression of the industry and watching countless review videos I purchased the Smokeless Image Volt and shortly thereafter the X2 battery roughly a year or two ago. I had the regular cartos and a one of the X2 clearos. Well, the X2 clearo (stardust) leaked constantly and provided dry scratchy hits when it would hold onto juice and the regular cartos were kind of a pain to fill AND lost flavor too quickly. I guess the batteries worked well for what they were. I tried juice after juice. Some were alright. Some were horrible. Some blew out my palate and I couldn't taste a damn thing for a day or two. I found one juice I really liked (100% VG Shire Malt from E-Pipe mods) but the "inconsistent" flavor drove me to put vaping down. Well fast forwrd a lil bit and Vape shops just keep popping up everywhere. So I decided to give it another go after watching some of friends having successes with jumping on the vapor train. I broke down and bought a Vision Spinner along with 2 T3S clearos and a pack of replaceable heads. I figured it was smarter to switch to the 510 after realizing that going to a local vape shop selling 510 connection devices and having friends using said PV's is more convenient than ordering online for an 808. Surprise surprise, nothing but trouble. Constant leaks with the T3S (now I think can be attributed to crappy knockoff replaceable heads), issues with flavor loss, issues with a possible faulty battery providing a burnt taste all the while watching other people having this wonderful vape experience is down right infuriating, let alone frustrating. Currently, I have that 1100 mah Vision Spinner, 2 t3s tanks, an evod tank, and a protank mini tank (which for about a day or two provided the closest thing to a satisfying vape I've ever had). All of a sudden my flavors don't taste right (they are a 50/50 blend). The smooth hits are gone and I just get a scratchy rough hit even after I put in a new head (1.8 ohm). The flavor wicks had brown almost burnt looking spots on them from where they sat on the coil, so I took them out to see if maybe they were obstructing the wicking of a thicker juice. Nope the flavors are still screwed up and the hits are still nasty. One friend insists its the battery thats messed up and that I should just forget about ".....ty" ego batteries and mod-up. Which I think is almost pointless because if I'm having these issues with something as simple as an ego why would things be easier with something more complex?!?! I don't know what I'm doing wrong, and I don't know what to do or what to buy or if I even want to continue with this vaping thing...any help or insight or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I'm three days into not smoking and I would like to go longer than that and stay smoke free but the more issues I have with these electronics the more I kinda just want to go buy a pack...

 

[elfy]

watch this video about doing protank II coils

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrvwOf13U-s

personally I use this goody from Harbor Freight to see what im doing:

http://www.harborfreight.com/jumbo-helping-hands-with-led-lights-65779.html


I use 5/64ths drill bits, and I got some 30 guage Kanthal wire, you might want 32 guage so you make less wraps to get a decent 2 ohm coil, you will want to test the resistance on it too so you know its not shorting and is within the right range.

I use sterile cotton balls from CVS as my wick. I have the mini II and when I redid my coil it was a LOT better vape.

Also: you have the tools to stop smoking so dont give up now. You have 1) the goodies and 2) this forum. Everyone has been through what you are going through. Its a learning curve to get vaping going correctly for each person and we all have different needs/desires for our vape effect.

You are close to a breakthrough so dont give in now. And you will wonder later why you used tobacco at all. Its really loaded with poisons (including radon and Polonium-210...im not kidding).

 

[Racehorse]

I read your post, to be honest, it kinda sounds like Clearomizers aren't for you.

That's okay. They weren't for me, either.

I did not think I would have made it past a month if I had stuck w/them.

I got a bottom feeder and vaped on shorty cartos and atomizers, and it made all the difference for me.

For others, RBAs or tanks w/punched cartos work.

I hope you find your sweet spot, and I think you will. One thing I found helpful was to not allow myself any cigarettes. The comparison with vaping, and having them close at hand, was a big downfall for me, and I could continue to find fault w/vaping. Once I only had vaping, I was more motivated to "make it work." Not saying that will work for you though, just that it did for me.

 

[elfy]

Also: stock Kanger heads are at best spotty. If you can rebuild your coil and put a wick in/prime it..you might really like that. I might have to throw out the cotton once it tastes like crap, but its easy to remove it, rinse coils, dry burn, rinse again, dry once more and then stick a new wick in. Its two dry rice grains of cotton (that amount of cotton), a little bit of trimming and prime it..ready to go.

Check out the video

And dont give up.

 

[CreepyLady]

WHat Voltage is the spinner set to? TUrn it all the way down and move up a tiny notch at a time. Some of my liquids taste burnt and scratchy (well pretty much like you inhaled a cat that is clawing your throat) if I am a notch or 2 above the lowest setting. I rarely go over 4-4.2. I am hoping this setting solves the problem.

I would suggest sticking with the evod and protank if the t3s are leaking.

Also - if it is 100% VG and super thick - add a few drops of distilled water to help it wick. Literally only a few drops.

Are you priming after you change the coil head and fill it? It may not have wicked yet by the time you are puffing it. I usually puff on mine without hitting the fire button a few goes to help pull liquid into the wick, sometimes it still takes a few puffs to get it going and not gross tasting.

 

[elfy]

...Where can I get cat flavored joose?

And how much is a 60ml bottle? I has money.

I do the same thing, its vital to not only prime a wick but then a few draws to really get the vacuum going in the tank too. And I had awful tastes from my stock heads (cat, no...wet burnt sheepdog after its been in a dirty creek). Ewww.

 

[CreepyLady]

...Where can I get cat flavored joose?

And how much is a 60ml bottle? I has money.

Just put any joose you want in tank, do not prime and turn volts/watts to ludicrous speed = you just DIYed angry cat claws. Its free.

Hate it when I pick up a tank and pop it on and forget I had wattage cranked for something else. OUCH.

 

[Amberina]

WHat Voltage is the spinner set to? TUrn it all the way down and move up a tiny notch at a time. Some of my liquids taste burnt and scratchy (well pretty much like you inhaled a cat that is clawing your throat) if I am a notch or 2 above the lowest setting. I rarely go over 4-4.2. I am hoping this setting solves the problem.

I would suggest sticking with the evod and protank if the t3s are leaking.

Also - if it is 100% VG and super thick - add a few drops of distilled water to help it wick. Literally only a few drops.

Are you priming after you change the coil head and fill it? It may not have wicked yet by the time you are puffing it. I usually puff on mine without hitting the fire button a few goes to help pull liquid into the wick, sometimes it still takes a few puffs to get it going and not gross tasting.

Try this first ^
Also if you you want to try something a bit better and relatively inexpensive then try out the iTaste MVP 2 mod. It is only $39 right now and it is very easy to use and I get incredible vapor production from it. It has a super long lasting battery (2600mah) and can even be used as a charger if you need it! The MVP is also variable voltage/wattage with a puff counter and ohms reader. It comes with the iClear 30 tank which you may like (it produces TONS of vapor) but I did not like (too strong for me) and I replaced it with a protank 2.
This is just a thought if things don't get better with the ego style batteries you are currently using. I switched from the ego's to the MVP 2 and I was like 'OOOOHHH.... THIS is what it's all about!!' It was a totally different experience!!

Whatever you do DON'T GIVE UP!!! You WILL find something that works!!! I promise!! Just keep trying. Sometimes it takes a while to find what works best for you but it will happen.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[MissAmerican]

Starting to vape can sometimes be very frustrating and costly when trying to find what works best for you. I went through a tough time for a while after buying an evod, protank2, iclear30, phoenix rba, stardust etc and all the heads that go with them only to have them all leak, burn or produce very weak and inconsistent vapor. I've since stuck to using my boge cartomizers and am usually very satisfied with they're quality. Once in a while out of a box of 5 one of them will be a dud, but between the boge's and my Vamo2 I've found the setup that works best for me. It might take a while to find what works best for you but I promise once you do you will thank yourself for not giving up on vaping. After you find "the one" its really smooth sailing from there on out. You mentioned your flavors aren't tasting right, do you switch flavors fairly often? If not it can cause your palate to get too used to the flavor which can lead to the dreaded "vapors tongue". If possible try out the setups your vaping friends use, maybe one of theirs will end up working out for you. If not keep going to the vape shops, i have found many that offer to let you try out several different setups (that's how i found my much loved vamo2). You've gone 3 days without smoking which is not an easy thing to do, stay strong and keep trying it really is worth it!

 

[Baditude]

More than the batteries, I think the OP's issues are with the juice delivery attachments he is using. I never had luck with the Kanger T3 clearomizers. They are old generation attachments.

Try one of the more modern clearomizers such as the Innokin iClear or Kanger Protanks.

Better yet, try a cartotank. More consistant, better flavor, and no maintanance compared to a clearomizer.

Cartotank Setup Guide

IBTanked pyrex cartotank review

 

[Jazzi Mike]

As someone stated earlier in the thread, bottom-feeding mods are the way to go. Once I got my Reo up and running, it was like I had not truly experienced vaping with eGo batteries and clearomizers. Granted, I do build my own coils and that attributes a lot to my satisfaction with my experience. However, I ordered some Cisco atomizers from Avid Vaper : Personal Vaporizers and Accessories for the times when I didn't have enough time or energy to build my own coils and it was still largely better than most of my previous gear.

reosmods.com They really did change everything for me. I am no longer ordering a ton of vape gear to get a "better" vape because I already have it. To top it off, the Reo and RM2 combo is nearly as simple as the upkeep for eGo and clearomizers, just a lot more effective.

 

[Katdarling]

Ok, where to begin....I guess we'll call this a rant/ looking for advice kinda post. After doing a few years worth of research into vaping and following the progression of the industry and watching countless review videos I purchased the Smokeless Image Volt and shortly thereafter the X2 battery roughly a year or two ago. I had the regular cartos and a one of the X2 clearos. Well, the X2 clearo (stardust) leaked constantly and provided dry scratchy hits when it would hold onto juice and the regular cartos were kind of a pain to fill AND lost flavor too quickly. I guess the batteries worked well for what they were. I tried juice after juice. Some were alright. Some were horrible. Some blew out my palate and I couldn't taste a damn thing for a day or two. I found one juice I really liked (100% VG Shire Malt from E-Pipe mods) but the "inconsistent" flavor drove me to put vaping down. Well fast forwrd a lil bit and Vape shops just keep popping up everywhere. So I decided to give it another go after watching some of friends having successes with jumping on the vapor train. I broke down and bought a Vision Spinner along with 2 T3S clearos and a pack of replaceable heads. I figured it was smarter to switch to the 510 after realizing that going to a local vape shop selling 510 connection devices and having friends using said PV's is more convenient than ordering online for an 808. Surprise surprise, nothing but trouble. Constant leaks with the T3S (now I think can be attributed to crappy knockoff replaceable heads), issues with flavor loss, issues with a possible faulty battery providing a burnt taste all the while watching other people having this wonderful vape experience is down right infuriating, let alone frustrating. Currently, I have that 1100 mah Vision Spinner, 2 t3s tanks, an evod tank, and a protank mini tank (which for about a day or two provided the closest thing to a satisfying vape I've ever had). All of a sudden my flavors don't taste right (they are a 50/50 blend). The smooth hits are gone and I just get a scratchy rough hit even after I put in a new head (1.8 ohm). The flavor wicks had brown almost burnt looking spots on them from where they sat on the coil, so I took them out to see if maybe they were obstructing the wicking of a thicker juice. Nope the flavors are still screwed up and the hits are still nasty. One friend insists its the battery thats messed up and that I should just forget about ".....ty" ego batteries and mod-up. Which I think is almost pointless because if I'm having these issues with something as simple as an ego why would things be easier with something more complex?!?! I don't know what I'm doing wrong, and I don't know what to do or what to buy or if I even want to continue with this vaping thing...any help or insight or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. I'm three days into not smoking and I would like to go longer than that and stay smoke free but the more issues I have with these electronics the more I kinda just want to go buy a pack...

Rant away... it's ok. We've ALL been there.

I am one who also does not like clearomizers in any shape or form.* I have tried... MANY, but I can't find a good, consistent vape. So, I rely on my carto tanks. For me, they have always always been the best vape in my nearly 3 years of vaping. I do get blinded by shiny shiny bling bling syndrome, so I tend to want to try out the newest, latest and greatest, but it inevitably turns out that those items are the oldest and worstest (LOL).

Carto tanks are simplicity, consistency, and a lovely warm vape for me. I also don't have to commit my life to a bottom coil or a top coil set up that requires endless new heads.

That's ME tho. Everyone likes what they like. For you, it seems that you've discovered you don't like clearos, so, like Baditude and others, I highly recommend trying out the tried and true carto tank set up. It just works, and works all the time.


*Tiny thumbs up for the Aspire line. They are imo the best of the clearos, but only for an occasional vape, or an easy-peasy out and about topper.

 

[ReleaseXtheXKraken]

Thank you everybody for the advice and words of encouragement. As an update, I'm still SMOKE FREE . I had to buy an NJoy King to get me through the day because I stopped using my vision spinner. Needless to say a new purchase had to be made. I went down to one of my local vape shops and bought a 1300mah Smoktech Winder. So far so good. Now I may have had issues with the Spinner, but when my friends said that that particular battery was the issue I remembered something....I took the spinner with me to Texas in late September and it was about 90 degrees down there maybe a little hotter...and I left said battery in the car. I'm pretty sure that could have screwed up the Spinner severely. So as it stands now, the new battery is working great and I using the mini protank v2 with a 50/50 juice and its working wonderfully. I'm starting to seriously think about getting myself an E-pipe (what I've REALLY had my eye on for awhile). Again, thank you all so much...the encouragement means a lot

 

[LauraBull]

I finally have the set-up that works for me. Awesome! Now the problem is my fire and ice has no taste. Menthol is to minty. And everything else taste like hot crap. Help!?!?

 

[Amraann]

I finally have the set-up that works for me. Awesome! Now the problem is my fire and ice has no taste. Menthol is to minty. And everything else taste like hot crap. Help!?!?

Maybe vapors tongue? Or your taste buds are coming back so things taste different? Or your liquids need to steep?
Maybe try another vendor?

 

[LauraBull]

I started out with an ego and protank 2. Juice was Fire and Ice from Zeus.
Wanted a Mod that would last and better battery supply. So the Warranty sold me on the Provari Mini.
Then the search for the tank. Ibtanked Xl worked well with Cinnamon so I have that.
I accumulated way too many different juices without luck on a 2nd fave.
So I'm like fire and ice it is.
About 3 weeks ago that started tasting odd. So I didn't vape at all for 4 days. Now it all tastes ....y.

 

[Iquitcigs]

i would try a cheap dripper i have after having probs with pro tanks i rebuilt them with micro coils and they worked for while then flooded i think i was warming my liquid to much as i chain vape once at home after work.With a dripper i don't have to let it cool off at all and zero chance of a leak unless i put to much in the vape is full of flavour give it a go probably only cost you about 10 dollars and it may be for you if not its not a lot to lose

 

[Glenn_K]

Greetings Kraken and welcome to the forum, you're in the right place to get sorted out and end up with an awesome vaping experience.

I had a not-so-good intro to E-Cig (though nothing nearly as frustrating as what you are describing), but thanks to advice I received on ECF, it didn't take long to get onto the right track.

My 2 cents, if you're determined to give vaping a serious go, you might want to take your friend's advice and get a mod. The Innokin stuff looks both affordable and relatively pain-free (I don't use any Innokin products now though i'm expecting an SVD any day now). The advanced features of a regulated mod like this allow you to 'dial in' a sweet spot. Once you've got a good battery, it's just a matter of time before you find a clearo or carto system that works for you.

Good luck!

Regards
Glenn

 

[OlDogNewTricks]

Hello and congratulations on being smoke-free. Glad you found a battery that you like. I started with BCCs (Kanger PT2) but never had any luck with the heads and they are waaayyyy too small for me to bother rebuilding them. Hearty second on cartomizers and tanks. They are my daily driver. Once you get them down, they provide inexpensive and reliable performance without 'fiddliness'. If it helps, I run Boge XL LR (F16) cartomizers in Smoktech pyrex DCTs and IBtanked tanks at 8 watts (I prefer variable wattage devices). Dark colored juices 'gum up' heads or cartos fast. With light colored juices, I typically get around 30ml through my cartos until I need to replace them. Hope this helps, good luck and have fun!

 

[ReleaseXtheXKraken]

WELL now we are back to issues....The 1300 has been burning through coils on my protank like its nobodies business. I think maybe the resistance is too low. I'm hoping that the battery didnt get fried by being overcharged or something. Ugh. And on top of that the flavors I got are absolute crap. My local vape shop screwed me...twice. First they didnt blend my juice the way I asked. Then they told me this java flavor was mild and DEFINITELY was NOT mild. It tastes like tree bark and used coffee grounds that are a week old. Back on the frustration train for me. There was a good thing though I, I do have a carto tank and I do like it. The flavor is really nice. HOWEVER vapor production is lacking, and I'm kinda scared to crank up the voltage. This is mainly due to the fact that I'm hearing and seeing different voltages for certain resistances...