new...frustration and desperation

[Boodle]

After buying mod after expensive mod North of $100 each I was shocked at the performance of a kit under $50. You mentioned that vapor isn't like smoke. It can be if you have the right equipment. I certainly agree with you that the harshness in pre-filled cartomizers isn't like a cigarette. Thick, warm vapor that fills your mouth that you can feel with a mellow, flavorful taste and smooth smoke-like experience is what most of us want. A KGO will deliver that. It's an upgraded eGo - type ecig with more voltage (harder hit) and more mAh (battery lasts much longer). The kits are $42 to $46 depending on the vendor you choose. With shipping they're all about the same. KGOs can take the stress of the new (LR) low resistance supplies. That's (very) important. The low resistance supplies offer a warmer cigarette-like vape. The biggest difference in the KGO is that the battery hits the same on your first vape as a vape 5 hours later. Most batteries in the "Fat Batt" class slowly fade in performance over the day giving you less and less satisfaction. With the higher voltage, higher mAh and steady performance it's the best in class imo.

KGO vendors
Hoosier E Cig Supply (use code 5off at checkout for 5% discount)
BreezEsmokes
Dark City Vapor

Other things to heighten your experience:
Low Resistance cartomizers 1.25 to 2.0 will give you a warm to very warm vape. The lower the number the warmer the vape. I suggest very warm (1.25 to 1.8ohm) for tobaccos and non-sweet flavors and 2.0 cartomizers for sweets and fruit flavors (less heat). YMMV
510 Drip Tip - put it on the end of your cartomizer in place of the plastic plug for a better vape and it's easy to pop off when you need to add juice. They're about a buck to wildly priced. You pay for cute. They function the same.
Juice With craves hitting you upping your nic level might help. If you like sweets and bakery juices, KickBassVapor.com is among the ginormous favorites around here. If you're looking for tobacco flavors, Halo, BackwoodsBrew, and AVE have popular tobaccos.

Whatever you choose I hope you're vaping happy and satisfied soon.

 

[madjack]

...couldn't agree more with the Boodle, she has the whole kit is few quick paragraphs
madjack

 

[justinjj1280]

wow, thanks Boodle, some very clear and useful info there.

So, I know I should have found the answer to this question elsewhere...but are filling carts and dripping not the same thing? I think I've been under the impression that they were.....Sorry guys, it's really tough to sift through all this.

 

[dormouse]

battery + atomizer + cart... you just drip drops in the cart

On a sealed manual battery (no hole in the middle of the threaded end) you can use an atomizer and a drip tip instead of a cart. You drip into the drip tip right onto the atomizer bridge. This is great for testing juices and vaping thicker juices that don't work well other ways,

Back to your ecig issues - I think you know the issue. You buy smaller and it's worse. Most slim ecigs are just not enough to keep heavy smokers off ecigs. Automatic batteries (which are probably all of your batteries) and not the way to get a good hit either. And slim ecigs have limited heat, are often less than 3.7v, because they are slim low mah batteries can't use the hotter low resistance atomizers and cartomizers which give more hit and bigger drags.

The strongest slim ecig is KR808D-1 manuals. SmokelessImage Volt or Bloogplanet are one kind. very nice though their drags are limited to 5 seconds. The Vapor4Life manuals are more like the original manufacturer model but with a custom 10-second drag allowed before the safety cutoff. Their WOW cartos are darn hot and you have to use a plastic or delrin dip tip as a mouthpiece or it can be too hot for your lips. or you can use the SmokelessImage/Bloogplanet cartos on it - they give a bigger easier drag with a bit less heat and hit. I recommend the standrd/78mm batteries for 120mm ecig. Manuals only for good hit and hard to kill or damage with juice leaks (which will happen sometime when you are refilling cartos).

Beyond that are the fat battery models that have been mentioned. I recommend Riva 510 from Liberty-flights.com only because their kits are all the new 3.7v model. You can use blank Boge (most popular) or other cartomizer (learn the easy Boge ones first)

On either of those, with an adapter you can use RN4081 cartos if you want.

And try other juices. In simple stuffing cartomizers I recommend 80PG/20VG or 90PG/10VG for good hit and flavor and a bit of extra vapor from the VG. These are thin juices and the clearest juices work best, not juices that drop a lot of flavoring sediment.

 

[madjack]

...dripping is the act of putting drops directly onto an atomizer(atty)...you can do this directly or thru a drip tip, which is used as the mouthpiece for the atty...carts are filled by dripping onto the filling of the cart and then placing the cart(cartridge) into the atomizer...this is not commonly called "dripping"...and then you have cartos(cartomizers) which combine the atty and cart into a single unit...there are many methods for filling these...these include, the condom method, the drip and thermometer shake, the Tarwyn spin and my favorite, the fill and flood.............
madjack

 

[justinjj1280]

wow, thanks. Believe it or not, this research is all starting to come together fairly quickly and I'm formulating a plan. It's not as daunting or complicated as it seemed when I first came in here. Going to continue the research and resist the urge to just buy, buy, buy, which has obviously gotten me in trouble. The next thing will obviously be the psychological part, but soon, I won't be able to blame faulty equipment!

 

[normajean999]

I just got my first kit yesterday. I got the green smoke kit. I am really please with it. I still get edgy but so far I have not cheated. I think I didn't do enough research though and picked lower strength cartos in my pack (because I smoke lights). I think that's why I'm edgy. So I've already ordered some 36mg e-liquid. I assume you're buying the strongest. I too am a die hard and I'm really hoping I can do this. I wish you luck!

 

[Qlock]

wow, thanks Boodle, some very clear and useful info there.

So, I know I should have found the answer to this question elsewhere...but are filling carts and dripping not the same thing? I think I've been under the impression that they were.....Sorry guys, it's really tough to sift through all this.

An atomizer is a discrete unit consisting of a heater. You either drip juice onto the mesh element or use a separate cartridge that contains vape juice.

A cartomizer is one piece, consisting of a heating element surrounded by a similar batting material as found in a cartridge. You can get cartridges or cartomizers filed or unfilled, and can refill either when they run out.

Everyones experience and preference is different, especially when it comes to juice flavors, so this is just my 2 cents. Skip all the small mods and go for a big battery mod. Below is what I would purchase for the least amount of trouble and the best vape experience.

Buy a variable voltage PV like the Provari. Get the extended bottom piece and pick up an 18650 battery (x2) like the TrustFire LI-ION ones. I say two so that you always have one charged. I get almost 2 days out of one of these batteries depending on how much I vape that day. Yes this setup is expensive, but its about a month worth of cigarettes so it evens out. With the variable voltage, it doesn't matter what type of atomizer or cartomizer you choose because you can adjust the voltage the PV puts out.

Next, buy an atty from either Ikenvape or Cisco, I would buy a LR(low resistance) version, usually 1.5 or 1.8ohm as well as a standard version(2.0-2.5ohm) and then a HV(high voltage) version(3.0-3.5ohm). This is where your Provari will come in to play as you can adjust the voltage up or down to achieve the best flavor/vapor/throat hit. The only downfall of the atomizer is your constantly dripping into it. You'll get 5-10 hits out of it and then have to drip more juice onto the coil. This can get tiresome and is the reason so many people are trying the "tank" systems. You will fall in love with one of these. IF you don't, try a cartomizer.

Cartos from Ikenvape are great too, I haven't really seen to much variation in these. Cartos are cheaper, and usually come in a pack of 5 for the same price as one atty or less. They have a filler material in them that absorbs juice so you can drip 20-30 drips in (search youtube for filling methods, the condom technique works great!) at a time and can usually get a day of vaping before needing to be refilled. They have gotten better lately and produce a great amount of vapor and flavor depending, of course, on the brand you get.

I use both. If I want great TH and the most flavor, i drip into an atty. If I don't feel like fumbling with an atty or am taking a drive and can't refill every 10 min, I go with a carto.

There are a lot more variables such as juice and voltage, but you will sort that out by trying different flavors, vendors and settings. With the setup above, you'll have the right tools and it will then come down to your preference.

good luck.

 

[Reanimator]

I have a RN4081 setup for me and the wife. I love it. If you do decide to move on, the 510 is not as strong of a battery as the RN4081. I sent back my Blu (510) due to short battery life. Otherwise, I did like the 510.

 

[mafig]

hi justinjj1280 & welcome to ECF..vaping is a new experience to be learn from seniors & veterans..i am still learning even after 7 months into strictly vaping.

in the beginning took me over 1 mth be4 i totally succumb to vaping as 30+years on analogs..was a uphill to begin with and needed all the support i was getting from members here(like now we are doing this for U)..i started on wrong kit but than managed to purchased my 510-T..and the rest of my vaping journey grew..getting extra kits,accessories and e-liquids..and now DIY my own flavors be4 i was strictly on menthol & tobacco @ 18-36mg nic..now my choice has many combinations(all the essenses i get from my local bakery supplier..my fav lychee,coffee & pineapple..and so many i still to try,even durian) and settled on 12mg to 18 mg nic 70/30VG mixtures..all learn from the experts here..so hopefully U too will have the same motivation with support from members and vape & give the analog up for good..in doing so health & wealth gain as time-goes-by..give yrself time to adjust to the change but once U R hooked on vaping,its a newly found "hobby"..regards mafig ps my photos

my starter kits

DIY is fun after menthol & tobacco flavors

 

[mrkipp]

A few people have hit on it but you really need to think about upping your nic level. You said you are using 18mg. I was a heavy smoker and found that I needed 30mg/ml to kill the nic fits. Try getting some small bottles of 24, 30, and 36mg/ml and giving them a shot. Also, nothing really tastes like a cigarette. You might have better luck using a strong flavor like cinamon, mint, menthol, or licorice rather than trying to duplicate your full flavor cigarette. Once your body learns to associate the nicotine with the new flavor the need for the full flavor taste will subside.

 

[mlinky]

When you are trying to quit smoking, a smaller pv probably won't do it. They are generally weak and short lived. Don't be too worried about the size of the pv, or if it looks like a cigarette. The point is that you don't need it to look like a cigarette, because you are vaping, not smoking. As to the size, no pv is bigger than a portable oxygen tank.

 

[VaporChic]

I just wanted to say welcome! Don't give up, if you need help there are many wonderful people here who would be glad to.

 

[Outre]

Hey everybody. New member here. I love to smoke. Actually, I probably love to smoke more than I love anything in this world, be it drinking, sex, eating a good meal. Nothing on earth "does it" for me like a cig.

Like everyone, I'm concerned about my health. I decided to switch to vaping a couple of years ago. Bought an NJoy 510 kit. I probably didn't give it a fair shake. I couldn't deal with the 3 piece setup, ended up tossing it away, thinking it was outdated anyway.

Moved on to the SafeCig. I was doing pretty well for awhile. I had cut my analogs down to about 5 per day. I don't know what happened after that. I ended up going right back to half a pack or more a day with analogs, and just using the SafeCig when indoors/otherwise unable to smoke.

When SafeCig came out with the Micro, I just had to try it. I was sure that the smaller size and weight would look and feel so much like the real thing that it had to work. They even come in cig-like packs! They also have batteries that you must recharge several times a day, and about half the vapor draw of the original. And the Turkish flavor....well, it tastes like every other ecig flavor that I've had...some sort of fruity plastic taste.

Is the problem with me or the products that I'm using? I've known 2 or 3 pack a day smokers who switched seamlessly and never looked back. I just can't find anything that satisfies me, either in taste, texture, or just general pleasure, and I'm racking up some pretty big costs on equipment that I never use, not to mention I'm still spending 20 a week on analogs.

I'm thinking of getting some cartomizers for my safe cig battery, which is apparently an RN4081? Or maybe an adapter to convert it to a 510? These seem to be the cheapest routes, based on my research.

Why must I love tobacco so much? I fear my last breath will be a drag on a cig, and probably come sooner than I want I do realize that ecigs aren't a cessation product, but I've known so many people that have had good results in switching.

Advice on both the technological and psychological side of this is welcome.

I guess I'd have to echo other folks and say - vaping is nothing like smoking a cigarette, nor should you expect it to be. I can't speak to the psychological aspects of "it has to look like a cigarette" because I decided after reading here that vapor production and long battery life were more important in a vape stick than it resembling an analog cigarette.

Another echo - bigger is better. Better vapor, longer time spent vaping, better flavor.

However, this is where I and many others diverge in opinion.

You need to decide what you like and what you DON'T like. Then you make up your mind about HOW you want to vape.

If you HATE the idea of dripping - don't.

If you love the idea of cartomizers - go for it.

If you need to continue analogs on and off for a while before you find your own niche with vaping - cool. It's ALL good.

You are in more control of the vaping experience than you ever were with smoking. Decide to have fun with it and enjoy the ride.

Just make sure it's YOUR ride and not someone else's.

Personally I settled in with a Riva 510 kit, one pass-through, tank cartridges and VG e-juice. It works for me just fine and I don't need anything else, or advice about anything else. I have tried cartomizers, tanks, etc. but THIS is what works - for me and I will most probably continue with it.

The worst thing I had to get over was indecision. At first I was "worried" about making a wrong choice. But then I just dove in and got started and have been having a blast with vaping for six months now.

Once you figure out HOW you want to vape you can get your set up and the costs go down dramatically, unless you treat it as a hobby and want to collect everything out there - lol!

Make a choice, have fun, don't look back, and hold no regrets. You've made a great decision to vape

P.S. The ONLY thing I miss sometimes is the smell of a fresh, unlit cigarette. Yes, I used to smell my cigarettes the way cigar aficionado get a whiff of a fresh cigar. But, it passes and I'm more than happy to "whiff" my Kona Cream instead

 

[kayte1987]

You've gotta find a flavor you really like!

 

[Survivors Mom]

And don't forget to get paper towels... lots of paper towels.

 

[Sophey]

Just make sure it's YOUR ride and not someone else's.

Wise words!

This statement really sums up the attitude here -- hence, all the choices. There's a vaping sweet spot for every person that wants to kick his/her smoking addiction. Getting to it requires a bit of research and floundering around with different PV's and e-liquids, but in the end it is oh-so-worth-it.

 

[AttyPops]

I'm late to this party. Hope you found a kit that works. I can't really say what will work for you (only you can do that) but I can tell you what it took for me.

I go with 5 volt mods, and 3.0 ohm atties/cartos (that's 8.333 watts). Lots of vapor, it's warm, but not too warm, and some TH. Basically, it hits like a cig does. You can use lower ohm stuff on the 3.x volt devices but it's not quite the same (still good tho).

Anyway, good luck and I hope you find a setup that works for you. It does take some trial and error, unfortunately. There's a futz-factor and learning curve that can be discouraging. Don't let it get you down. Work through it.

I smoked and vaped at the start until I was comfortable with my juice and setup. Then I finished off my last pack and never looked back. It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing-no-matter-what. You can make sure it is working 1st. Some people know they have it "right" when they forget to smoke......... lol.

2 cents.