New and VERY confused

[turbodog]

Hi there -

Hoping some of you can help me and I can get to vaping the right way. I must admit there is alot of information in this forum and I've read quite a bit but can't seem to find all the answers.

I purchased a Joye510 from Nicotine Nirvana one week ago - I assembled it and put 2-3 drops in the atty and started puffing. Very funny tasting at first, however this is how I continued to vape all weekend but something didn't seem right - Long story short - The cartridge I was using had no filler in it - so I guess I was dripping? I then got a pre-filled cartridge (very wet and sticky) but didn't really like that taste so once it was dry I refilled it with the juice I had purchased seperately.

So here are my problems -

1. I am no longer getting a smooth vape - it freaking burns and tastes horrible (2 different juices and they were good before).
2. Inconsistent vapor - sometimes there is nothing there, very little and sometimes it's pure heaven
3. My atty gets VERY hot - I would like to puff on that thing more than twice before it's scorching hot - which then makes the juice taste horrible.
4. I seem to dry out a sopping wet cartridge in no time
5. I can't seem to get satisfied - that ahhh I'm content feel

So here's what I've done and none of this seems to work for more than a couple puffs.
1. Cleaned all the cartridge fiber things.
2. Soaked attys in efferdent, rinsed them out with hot water, let them dry over night
3. Tried dry burning atty's
4. I ordered twice the nicotine mg (should arrive monday) in hopes that maybe that will help with the amount of puffs I try to consume.

So basically - I can't seem to get this vaping thing down. I really want to and every now and then I get a glimpse into proper vaping but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I can the the exact same thing next time and get a different experience.

Please help - the old cigarettes no longer smell good and taste like crap already.

TIA

 

[dormouse]

Cartridges suck
They can be made a bit better with blue foam stuffing (buy precut blue foam stuffing for 510 at strictlyejuice.com)
Your attys may also need a cleaning

With clean attys and good-wicking clean stuffing carts can be OK (and that blue foam is super easy to clean and pat dry)

in addition try the way most people prefer to vape - cartomizers. They are a slight additional cost. They cost about $2 apiece and if you fill one properly and keep it damp with juice 9so you don't singe it) a Boge carto can work well for a week or more.

LiteCigUSA.net - buy the standard resistance Boge 510 cartomizers (not ones that say LR or HV - those are for other kinds of batteries)

Always fill a carto totally to start (for the Boge size, that is about 18 drops or more into the stuffing if it will take it. Hold a tissue against the threaded end hole). Then clean it up (dry the threads, blow it out into the threaded end, sop up any loose juice above the stuffing). Recap. And on a fresh fill of a blank now let it settle and spread the liquid to every bit of the stuffing. With 70pg/30vg juice I find 15-20 minutes of laying on different sides is enough to get all of the stuffing wet. then as you vape, if the vapor gets a bit light or dry, or if the carto is getting extra warm, add some juice. if I keep a Boge carto damp I can usually get 1-2 weeks decent use out of one.

 

[Del Boy]

Turbodog - well done mate you've started the journey of getting off analogs.

Right. take a chugg on you're e cig now. But make it a very slow gentle chugg. Count to 5 slowly then break it off.

Tell me how that goes please.

 

[Del Boy]

Hey dormouse, i'll bet if turbodog has been filling a cartridge with no foam in in then there will be gunk in the battery too. Does the joye 510 have a hole where the liquid could get through to it ? Or is it sealed ?

 

[DivisionMatrix]

It sounds like you're unhappy with the cartridges, I personally wont even use them anymore. You could try cartomisers, I'm sure someone who uses them will chime in on that subject. Or, you can just drip, (my only method anymore). First off, till you get a drip tip, pop the end out of an empty cartridge with a screwdriver or pen or something. On a cleaned atty, put 4 or 5 drops right on the bridge (that mesh thing in the middle), take a puff or two then add more as needed (on a standard res atty, 2 drops for 6-8 puffs seems about right) when the taste starts to change or vapor drops off add more liquid (this is why I said remove the tip of the cart so you can drip without having to pull it off). I've found that dripping gives the most consistency for flavor and vapor.
Don't forget to prime your atty before you use it too, that could cause the burnt taste on a clean atty, you have to put 4-5 drops on the bridge before you put a cart on (if you stick with carts) otherwise half the cart will sucked into the bridge before you take your 1st puff.
As for the hot atty, they do warm up quickly, but scorched after 2 hits?!? are you using a low res atty? All I can say about that is, take a few seconds between puffs (especially on a cart so it has time to draw more liquid down to the coil) and make sure you keep your atty wet, that should take care of that.
Vaping has a bit of a learning curve, it takes a little time to find what works for you. But once you do it gets super easy, and you'll get that content feel you're looking for. Good luck!

See, I go to type and carto crowd is here already

 

[daleaik]

After you cleaned the atomizers, did you "prime" them with 4-5 drops of e-liquid? That could be the cause of many of the issues you mentioned...

Hot atty, inconsistent vapor, and bad taste are all possible if the wick is not primed.

 

[dormouse]

BTW do not drip if you have auto batteries. Dripping is safe on 510 manual batteries which are totally sealed on the end.

And if you have auto batteries then be extremely careful with cartomizers too. The place where a cartomizer might leak is right over the hole in the end of an auto battery. In summary - auto batteries are much more easily damaged by juice leaks than manuals.

 

[permafrying]

cartomisers are great still prefer them over dripping, if you want to just stick with the cart a good free mod is to take the stuffing out, cut about 3/4 of it off fill the plastic part of the cart with probably 10-12 drops (thats in my 901 carts may be different in 510), i usually go till i can see the juice, then put the stuffing in flush with the top of the cart and pop it in and use it. havent had any problems with leaking doing this and it works great.
still wouldn't recommend with auto battery just in case.

 

[TC Rider]

The carts are in my rear view mirror. I've gone to tanks totally. love it.

 

[LibertyValance]

The 510 is a super starter kit and I prefer carts myself over cartomizers. I blow out new attys pretty good and then prime with a few carefully aimed drops.

When you fill the cart fill it till its almost slushy at the top like a snowcone. About 13 drops more or less. If you are not getting that much in insert a toothpick down the side to help start the wicking.

I keep the cart full by frequently dripping a couple drops more into it often until it slushes again. Supposedly you can flood an atty but it never happens to me. Just gurgles a little as the excess vapes off.

In spite of all that for some mysterious reason the whole setup tastes MUCH better a week later. Don't know if its true juice needs to steep a while or there was some leftover primer on the attys but its decidedly improved a week later.

Stick with it. Maybe I'm dense but I didn't get it at first either. Took a week almost. Now its great.

 

[turbodog]

Wow - you all are great and I appreciate all the info and tips -
I have the Joye 510 manual -

Dormouse - thanks for the links -

Del Boy - Produced vapor is ok - but I feel NOTHING for the most part - a slight burning at the end (on my tongue) and I 'm still missing that "hit" feeling. When I inhale it's empty feeling. Which is why I can puff and puff and puff.
I think I need stronger nicotine (ordered) to get the "hit" feeling.

DivisionMatrix - Thank you for the drops/per puff ratio - sometimes I get the feeling that 5-6 drops should last all day and for me that's just a ride to work. As far as a low res atty - I have no clue - it's the Joye 510 manual. And what is "priming the atty" actually consist of - just adding drops?

Daleaik - if priming only means dripping juice into then yes I've done this, normally 2-3 drips though

Permafrying - thanks for the tip - gonna order some cartomizers and try this.

Once quick question - do the cartomizers come prefilled or can I use my juice?

Thanks again all

 

[permafrying]

Permafrying - thanks for the tip - gonna order some cartomizers and try this.

do this with your carts that you have now not the cartomizers, you don't want to pull the stuffing out a cartomizer unless its already dead.
and you can order blank or prefilled cartomizers wichever you prefer and even with the pre filled after you use up the juice in them you can refill them

 

[turbodog]

Ok so far this is sweet!! Getting more vapor and more of a hit at the end. I'm liking. Thanks

With your 13 or so drips how long normally until you have to refill? Or do you just top it off?
So the cart filler only purpose really is to limit the amount of juice on the atty?

do this with your carts that you have now not the cartomizers, you don't want to pull the stuffing out a cartomizer unless its already dead.
and you can order blank or prefilled cartomizers wichever you prefer and even with the pre filled after you use up the juice in them you can refill them

 

[Del Boy]

Turbodog - great news. Sounds like you're getting sorted.

Filling the cart (once you've filled it) as you go is fine. You can add a few drops every hour or two. Or you can vape away till you sense a drop off in "hit" or vapor. Then top it up then.

I would think you'll be better off learning your way around the equipment you have got there. Before ordering a lot of parts and trying everything out in your first week. I would say ..take your time. You have a lot of different things to try in the future. Take it all in.

This vaping is a gas....literally. I feel like you're off and running now judging by your last post.

 

[moose]

cartomizers are far better then cartridges. Also if you say your atty gets very hot very fast im guessing its low res. These atty's should not be used with cartridges because they get so hot and burn the filling which would explain the bad taste. So try ordering a new atty and make sure its standard res. Or pick up some carto's. I prefer boge carto's from avidvaper.com.

 

[permafrying]

Ok so far this is sweet!! Getting more vapor and more of a hit at the end. I'm liking. Thanks

With your 13 or so drips how long normally until you have to refill? Or do you just top it off?
So the cart filler only purpose really is to limit the amount of juice on the atty?

i have to refill it ever couple hours or so, i just do this when im at home so i can make my cartomizers last longer cuz im not using them. and ya pretty much it just keeps the filler wet i always had a problem keeping the tops of carts wet they would always go dry after a few hits untill i started doing this

 

[JumpSteady]

With vaping you want to take a long slow draw, unlike analogs which are hard and fast.

 

[DC2]

So the cart filler only purpose really is to limit the amount of juice on the atty?

The purpose of the cartridge filler is to get juice to the atomizer, and also prevent too much juice from getting to the atomizer.

Please note that the filler material MUST touch the bridge of the atomizer to function.
Sometimes people push the filler material in too far and the atomizer gets dry after a few drags and tastes burnt and nasty.

The filler material should be even with the top of the cartridge, no more, no less.

 

[turbodog]

The purpose of the cartridge filler is to get juice to the atomizer, and also prevent too much juice from getting to the atomizer.

Please note that the filler material MUST touch the bridge of the atomizer to function.
Sometimes people push the filler material in too far and the atomizer gets dry after a few drags and tastes burnt and nasty.

The filler material should be even with the top of the cartridge, no more, no less.

THAT helps - I'm not sure my filler has ever touched the bridge.

OK so now I can say that after posting today and getting all this great information, I am enjoying vaping MUCH MUCH more.
I still want to suck on it like an analog, but I think once I get the higher mg that will help with craving the nicotine.

Y'all rock!!!!

So next question

Is second hand vape harmful? I've never smoked with my girls around but now I'm vaping inside and don't want my kiddos to start craving nicotine.

 

[Valsacar]

I would not say cartomizers are the way most people do it, I personally hate them and know many people who feel the same way. What works for one doesn't always work for another.

LR atomizers (which work fine with carts) will give you more of a cig like feeling, warmer vapor and requiring less of a drag. Higher nic will also help, as does the flavor (as far as the throat hit goes).

Looks like you've gotten some good advice, and (if you can afford it right now) give some cartomizers a try as well, you might like them. The new dual coil ones have been very popular, and Boge one as well.

As for second hand vapor, all respectable studies (IE, not ones by the FDA) have found nothing harmful to it and very little to no nicotine. I vape at home without any issues, my son (2 years) actually likes seeing the vapor.