Many thanks John, I will look into those you mentioned.
*******
harmudge, the following massive cut-and-paste contains links to just about everything you will need to get a good vape going. I really do like the eGo-C tank system for its innovativeness, compactness, and "coolness", but I use it only occassionally, mostly for kicks, and to admire its coolness. The DCT tank/carto is my main battle weapon, and it will be joined soon by the Vivi Nova, the Bulli A2-TM atomizer (which happens to use the Joyetech "B" tank that can be used with a Joyetech "C"-type 3-piece atomizer), and many other cool things.
Here goes: (as always, please hang on to your wigs and keys!)
*****
[To whom it may concern]:
"I am not going to recommend any one particular setup as being patently, universally superior to any other, for all users, for all purposes.
That said, I'm going to recommend to you a setup that is arguably a no-brainer, slam dunk, practically must-have setup for almost any vaper, regardless of experience level, perceived wants, existing equipment, or skill level.
It is the Joyetech eGo-C Twist, an arguably game-changing "battery"/PV/AP/power source - call it what you will. It is being called by many a "game changer" because it provides variable voltage - a near-necessity for anyone who wants a really, really good vape IMO - in the eGo form factor, for not much money. It uses standard 510 threads, can be used with almost any "attachment" on the planet, and costs about $25. You will really need two for best results in keeping the ciggies away.
Grimm Green and Phil Busardo are two of the best reviewers in the "vaposphere" in my opinion. They both own and have used more vaping hardware than I ever will in my life, and their words will probably speak much more effectively to you than mine. Please watch these two videos, and please take to heart what they have to say. Grimm Green just said that he is getting just about the best vape he has ever had by using the Twist with the eact same setup - right down to the little trim piece between the Twist and the Smoktech 3.5ml DCT tank that is fitted with a 2.0 ohm single-coil cartomizer - that I just bought thirty of as my current preferred starter kit for beginners.
Here is Grimm Green's video:
THE EGO TWIST IS A GAME CHANGER - YouTube Grimm Green Twist Game changer
And here is Phil Busardo's review:
A PBusardo Review - eGo Twist - OvaleUSA - YouTube Phil Busardo Twist review
There are many form factors, for many different occasions and uses, for many different mindsets, many of which change over time. Some people want something that looks and feels as much like a cigarette as possible, That said, I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of people who stick with vaping will add additional hardware to their "arsenal", while always having warm spot in their hearts for, and often still using, what they started on. For me, that just happens to be an eGo-class battery/PV, the Joyetech (constant 3.4 volt) battery. I will probably also get a [ciggie-sized] 510-style setup - or many of them, for those people I start out who absolutely must have a cigarette look-alike, as well as for myself - just to have, and become familiar with, and maybe even to use more than I think I might right now. They will likely be the Volt which seems to be the mostuniversally-recommended PV in that form factor.
This is exactly what I would get, and what I think you should get, if and when you can "swing" it. If you have about 70 bucks to spare I'd just go ahead and order it all tomorrow.
Two Joyetch eGo-C Twist 650 mah (milliamp/hour) batteries. They come in black, chrome, blue, white, and pink, wih the first three far easier to find in stock anywhere but at Health Cabin (in China - delivery takes a while). About (Two x $22) = $44.
One or more Smoktech 3.5ml (milliliter) "DCT" tanks - I like the chrome ones. $8.55 each.
A box of five - or better yet, two boxes - of Boge 2.0 ohm single coil "XL" sized (50mm overall) stainless steel cartomizers. About $1.45 each, although you can get them for $0.92 each if you buy 25 of them from a particular vendor that I'll link to below.
A wall charger and a USB charger that plugs into it. Standard fare at any Joyetech vendor. About $13.
A little chrome trim piece that goes between the tank and the battery that serves two purposes; makes the setup look much more finished, sleek, and damn fine-looking, and keeps the tank from sliding down the non-flanged cartomizers and onto the outside of the 510 connector. Simpler than it sounds. About $1.49
A drip tip. Just a plain, clear "Delrin" (plastic) one will look great. About $3.
That's about $85.50 plus shipping if you get one tank and five cartomizers. In Connecticut,that's about ten days of smoking a pack a day (high taxes).
****
Links:
Joyetech eGo-C Twist:
Joye eGo-C Twist Variable Voltage 650mAh Battery (MyVaporStore)
Smoktech 3.5ml DCT tank:
Pro DCTank Tube (MyVaporStore)
USB charger:
eGo Rapid USB Charger 6.75 (MyVaporStore)
Wall charger:
Mini AC Wall to USB Converter 6.25 (MyVaporStore)
eGo trim piece:
eGo Cone Cover for DCTank (MyVaporStore)
Plain drip tip:
Colored Drip Tip - 510/901 (MyVaporStore)
Cartomizers:
Crystal Clear Vaping CrystalClearVaping
Cartomizers:
Boge Mix n Match (5 Boxes) SureVapes - $0.92 each
No, I do not own, work for, or am in any way affiliated with MyVaporStore.com.
If you don't like this setup, you can PM me and I will buy it from you fr what you paid for it. For you, I will reimburse you for shipping. For anyone else reading this, same deal except the shipping to me is on you.
You will like it, and you wll like it very much. You will have to slot the cartomizers; either per Phil Busardo's YouTube video:
A PBusardo Tutorial - How I slot my cartos!.wmv - YouTube - or PM me and I will call you and tell you how to do it. You'll need to own or borrow a Dremel tool for someone, and you'll need some Dremel cut-off wheels, # 409. Or you can buy a cartomizr punch. It's hard to find pre-punched cartomizers that will work well with lower-voltage devices, even ones that go up to 4.8 volts like the Twist. Some people - including MyVaporStore - will say that dual coil cartomizers work fine on lower-voltage devices - but they do not.
From the MyVaporStore website:
These cartomizers were designed specifically for use with Dual Coil Tank (DCTank) Tubes. A 510 drip tip and DCTank tube is needed in order to use these cartomizers. There is a hole punch on the side of them so may leak if used without a DCTank Tube.
All of our eLiquid will work with the DCTank (full PG or 50/50 PG/VG). Full VG eliquid is too thick and will not work well in theDCTank. [
VG will work much better in a carto slotted for it].
These new cartomizers contain two heating coils instead of one to produce more vapor than your standard cartomizer [
if you can put enough volts/watts to them]. They have been designed to work great with 3.7V batteries [
Not IMO] or a HV (high voltage) setup. Available in 1.5ohm or 2.5ohm. Please allow +/- 0.3 variation. We recommend 1.5ohm for Ego batteries [
why?] or 3.0V-4.2V batteries and 2.5ohm for 5V or higher.
These cartomizers must be used with batteries of 650mAh capacity or higher and are known to discharge batteries much quicker than single coil cartomizers.
This is nowhere near as complicated as it might seem, and will be well worth the modest learning curve to figure out. This thread:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...sion/302432-why-ego-c-twist-game-changer.html
contains a thorough discussion of why single coil cartomizers are far superior (IMO) to dual coils for use in a Joyetech Twist (or any eGo-class battery/PV).
If you do nothing else, please at least watch the Grimm Green review of the Twist, and feel free to ask any questions that you might have. Good luck, and happy vaping, whatever it's on.
*****
Others might recommend other things, and I encourage them to do so without making direct comparisons to what I have recommended if those other devices are of a different form factor.
*****
Also: I have always found the term DCT[ank] to be a misnomer, since "DCT" stands for Dual Coil Tank, potentially leading one to believe that single coil cartomizers are somehow not well-suited to them, which IMO they very much are. Some people like dual coils, and IMO they have their place, but not in lower-voltage devices; not even a 1.5 ohm dual coil in a Twist, due to the marginal wattage per coil, and the greatly increased amp draw of say a 1.5 ohm dual coil cartomizer over a 3.0 ohm single coil.
*****
Final note:
Volts are great, but they're not variable voltage. kGo's, Rivas, and standard eGo's are great, but they're not variable voltage. IMO, there is no longer a compelling reason not to start with variable voltage. I've asked what that compelling reason is, and hereby ask again. What is the compelling reason for not getting two Joyetech eGo-C Twist batteries right from the start, if for no other reason than to have a perfectly fine variable voltage device to vape on while you continue to explore your options?
I have a lot of stuff, but right now, I'm vaping on a 650mah Twist fitted with a Smoktech 3.5ml DCT tank with a nicely-slotted Boge 3.0 ohm single coil SS XL carto in it. My vape is great. I don't even want to bother to pick up my VMax. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong? TIA".
