Need recommendations for cheap setup

[DejaEntendu]

I've been vaping for around 2 months or so now, I'm starting to become more and more intrigued by the whole direct-dripping idea. My local B&M had a cloud competition the other day, and my interest is finally about fully peaked. I want a piece of that pie.

The only issue is money. I've asked around at the local shops, and they all say the cheapest I'm going to be able to get into dripping (with products purchased from their stores, anyway) is going to be $150+. I feel I could easily get into it much cheaper if I just had the right websites and product recommendations from you all. I understand that there are mod "clones" around on the internet which are considerably cheaper than the real thing? So, my question is, what would a decent setup be for someone who has never done any building of coils or dripping? (website recommendations would be greatly appreciated on products suggested) I need to know the exact items I need, as I have a very limited understanding of the art of dripping. I am currently researching the building and safety, ect aspect of this.

So, setup recommendations while keeping a very low budget in mind?

Sorry if this has already been posted or if this isn't the right forum. I just signed up and understand that this is the only place I am allowed to post for now.

 

[Warpigs]

Welcome to ECF! I'm sure with a little research and reliable responses you will get here. Will get you on your way. I never used a starter kit. I went right to a Silver Bullet heh.

 

[somatown]

I have been looking into the same sort. The price can be little high there has to be a better cheaper option

 

[DejaEntendu]

Not necessarily looking for a premade "starter kit", just looking for a list of things I could order that would get me started. (if that makes sense)

 

[Wickedgt]

That's a pretty loaded question! First off, I'd recommend very good high drain batteries i.e. something like Sony VTC4's or VTC5's $10-12. Then a decent Mechanical mod clone which there are several good options. Like Stingray, Stingray X, Nemesis, Panzer, M16, etc... Just to name a few, they will run $50 + or - $10 bucks. Then you'll need a dripper clone. My recommendations for clouds and flavor... Plume Veil, Veritas, TOBH, maybe even a Magma... they'll run about $20 or so. Also you'll need a good charger. I have an XTAR SPII (about $35). Nitecore is also a brand many will recommend. IMO, this will be the least expensive way to start chasing clouds. That's a total of about $125.00!

But Caution! If you are going to go the Mechanical Mod route, you really should read up on "Ohm's Law" you really need to be able to understand the relationship between your battery voltage, coil resistance, and battery discharge rates. Mechanical mods are awesome, but you really need to be careful and understand what you are trying to do! You'll also need to read up on different gages of Kanthal Wire, coil wrapping, and so on!

Surf around on the forums and you tube, there's a TON of information out there... Make an informed decision BEFORE you purchase and all will be ok.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Keeferes]

Around $150 seems right to me. And that is for clones of high end gear. Not going to tough authentic high end stuff for that. Heck, a good mech will burn that price point. I second what Wickedgt said, but add to that a list a good OHM checker ($25'ish).

Firing a mech without knowing EXACTLY what resistance it is can be pretty bad for you.

Not to be selfish, but it can be bad for the whole community when people blow things up, catch things on fire, or otherwise show the world it's not safe by a mishap which could have been avoided with proper knowledge and education. Adds more fuel to the regulation fire currently spreading.

 

[Wickedgt]

I second what Wickedgt said, but add to that a list a good OHM checker ($25'ish).

Damn... I knew I was forgetting something! Thanks bro!

That brings the total to about $150.00'ish! And that still doesn't include Kanthal wire, Torch, and wicking material.

 

[Keeferes]

No prob...

And all of that is needed before sifting through juices suitable for cloud chasing. High VG content and flavors you like, or at least can stand, at relatively high temps.

 

[fishj]

I don't rebuild, so I use bridgeless atomizers for around $4 with a long drip tip around $4. It works for this incompetent, cheap guy.

 

[danfinger]

Not sure why everyone went straight to mech's. Since OP is just starting out, I'd go with the same dripper clones people are recommending but pop it onto a regulated box mod like a iTaste MVP V2.0 ($60). Big 2600Mah battery that you won't need a charger for. Seems safer until OP gets some practice building coils under his belt. Plus a variable v/w will be more flexible in the future if he wants to put a tank/clearo on it later, should he decide to go mech.

I just got a magma clone for $19 and it clouds a room just great! Ohm readers can be found for less than $20

That puts you in the $100 range- plenty of money left over for wire and cotton and JUICE!

 

[Wickedgt]

Not sure why everyone went straight to mech's.

You are correct about the MVP (I have one)... but the OP said he went to a cloud competition..."and wants a piece of that pie"... the MVP just won't hang in that arena and has serious limitations IMO. Mech clones are very inexpensive (Some less than $25.00) and it will enable him to grow into bigger and bigger clouds if he want's to compete. JMHO...

With that in mind, I personally do not chase clouds... I'm more of a flavor chaser...

I try very hard not to mislead, and I apologize if I've offended or mislead anyone. So these are just my ...

 

[danfinger]

You are correct about the MVP (I have one)... but the OP said he went to a cloud competition..."and wants a piece of that pie"... the MVP just won't hang in that arena and has serious limitations IMO. Mech clones are very inexpensive (Some less than $25.00) and it will enable him to grow into bigger and bigger clouds if he want's to compete. JMHO...

With that in mind, I personally do not chase clouds... I'm more of a flavor chaser...

I try very hard not to mislead, and I apologize if I've offended or mislead anyone. So these are just my ...

fair enough! Didn't really get the competition aspect of it-- I can chuck some pretty big clouds on this magma at 11w, dunno if that would be in the competition realm though.

 

[Baditude]

This is one of the setups that I rock:

Silver Bullet USA made. $85 AltSmoke
IGO-W rebuildable drip atomizer. $17 AltSmoke

Sony VTC4 30 amp batteries. $9.50 RTD Vapor
Nitecore Intellicharger i2. $17 RTD Vapor
________________

~$130


0.6 ohm dual microcoil build with organic cotton


Rebuildable Tools (recommended):

Omnitestor (ohm reader/voltage meter combo). $20 RTD Vapor
Kanthal wire 26 gauge, 50 feet roll.$9 RTD Vapor
Organic cotton. $4 CVS Pharmacy
Precision screwdriver set. $7 Walmart
Precision tweezers. $9 Walmart
Butane Torch. $15 Walmart

 

[Wickedgt]

fair enough! Didn't really get the competition aspect of it-- I can chuck some pretty big clouds on this magma at 11w, dunno if that would be in the competition realm though.

No worries bro! We're all here for the love of vaping and we try to help, or get help when we can... It's all good!

PEACE!!!

 

[Ladiekali]

I've been vaping for around 2 months or so now, I'm starting to become more and more intrigued by the whole direct-dripping idea. My local B&M had a cloud competition the other day, and my interest is finally about fully peaked. I want a piece of that pie.

The only issue is money. I've asked around at the local shops, and they all say the cheapest I'm going to be able to get into dripping (with products purchased from their stores, anyway) is going to be $150+. I feel I could easily get into it much cheaper if I just had the right websites and product recommendations from you all. I understand that there are mod "clones" around on the internet which are considerably cheaper than the real thing? So, my question is, what would a decent setup be for someone who has never done any building of coils or dripping? (website recommendations would be greatly appreciated on products suggested) I need to know the exact items I need, as I have a very limited understanding of the art of dripping. I am currently researching the building and safety, ect aspect of this.

So, setup recommendations while keeping a very low budget in mind?

Sorry if this has already been posted or if this isn't the right forum. I just signed up and understand that this is the only place I am allowed to post for now.

Fasttech is a good source for cheap, read comments on products. They have a good selection of mods and drippers cloned. The private v2, magma
I buy batteries from rtd. 101vapes have good prices.

 

[Keeferes]

I too went to the mech based on the price range he was quoted and the competition aspect. I can't speak to the MVP, as I don't have one. I've been against anything I can't replace a battery in since day one. I personally enjoy a kayfun clone and a sigelei 20 watt at the moment. I can fill a room with it also. But again the competition aspect is what I was looking at. I have personally never seen a cloud comp with serious competition using anything other than a mech. Now if they were originals or not I couldn't tell you. I am not experienced enough to sight subtle differences in the devices to decipher authentic and clone. I have seen some regulated devices entered, but they were always quickly knocked out of the running.

 

[DejaEntendu]

Well, if I weren't going to be entering any competitions soon.. And you all say you can hook a dripper clone up to an MVP, would it be possible to hook a dripper clone up to my Itaste VV3 just to try it out?

 

[Baditude]

Well, if I weren't going to be entering any competitions soon.. And you all say you can hook a dripper clone up to an MVP, would it be possible to hook a dripper clone up to my Itaste VV3 just to try it out?

Yes you could. The only restriction would be the ohm that you make your coil to. All regulated mods have an amp limit and protection circuitry which sees any resistance lower than 1.0 ohm as a short, so the microprocessor will refuse to fire it to protect itself. Make your coil to 1.3 ohms or higher and you should be good to go.

Where you get into the "cloud chasing" aspect of vaping is with sub-ohm coils (less than 1.0 ohms). You need a mechanical mod or a DNA mod using 30 amp batteries to get into this aspect of vaping.

 

[Wickedgt]

Yes you could. The only restriction would be the ohm that you make your coil to. All regulated mods have an amp limit and protection circuitry which sees any resistance lower than 1.0 ohm as a short, so the microprocessor will refuse to fire it to protect itself. Make your coil to 1.3 ohms or higher and you should be good to go.

Where you get into the "cloud chasing" aspect of vaping is with sub-ohm coils (less than 1.0 ohms). You need a mechanical mod or a DNA mod using 30 amp batteries to get into this aspect of vaping.

+1 on that!

FYI the VV3 and MVP have the same performance and functionality... the MVP just has a bigger battery capacity. But it'll definately work! Just stay above 1.3 ohms...

 

[DejaEntendu]

Yes you could. The only restriction would be the ohm that you make your coil to. All regulated mods have an amp limit and protection circuitry which sees any resistance lower than 1.0 ohm as a short, so the microprocessor will refuse to fire it to protect itself. Make your coil to 1.3 ohms or higher and you should be good to go.

Where you get into the "cloud chasing" aspect of vaping is with sub-ohm coils (less than 1.0 ohms). You need a mechanical mod or a DNA mod using 30 amp batteries to get into this aspect of vaping.

Awesome! Apparently, the vv3 is supposed to test the ohms resistance of your coils when you press the + and - buttons at the same time, but I'm not so sure how accurate that would be. Should I not rely on that to test the resistance?

Also, I've been using a Nautilus Mini on my vv3 for a couple of weeks now, which is pretty good when compared to all of the other tanks I've used in terms of flavor and vapor production.. so even though I wouldn't be running a dripper clone at very high wattage settings, should I still get a good increase in those categories if I try this?