New Nerd to Vaping

[s0be]

[This post deserves a table of contents, I'm sorry for not adding one]

So today I switched from Analog to vaping....

and I'm pretty sure I'm not going back.


I've been a habitual quitter for just shy of 9 years. I started with Djarum cigarettes, then transitioned to the filtered cigars, but didn't really like them. I'd stuck with the cigars because I didn't like the taste of anything else. I opted to go with a Smoketip started because they had Clove as an option with the Beginner kit, and they're KR808D-1 compatible, so I'm not painting myself into a narrow spot to start.

So far, I'm happy with the flavors (Tried their almond, clove, and coffee). The almond has been the most enjoyable of the three. The clove tastes more like a true clove than a clove/tobacco mix, but it works for me. The coffee tastes exactly like artificial coffee flavoring, including the annoying creamer flavor everything artificially coffee flavored has.

I'm planning on ordering some juice samples from a few places, as well as some blank cartos. So far I've decided on Marcado from Johnson Creek. Any other 'clove' flavors people would suggest? I'm also sort of confused by the different ways you can handle getting juice. I see that some places list a 'percentage'. Is that a nicotine percentage, or the base juice mix percentage? The samples I'm planning on ordering are listed as "1.8%". 1.8% of what? I find that the 12mg smoketip cartos are more than enough to curve my 'urge' to smoke in one or two puffs, and now that I don't have to some a whole clove, I'll likely drop down to lower soon. I'm guessing it's cheaper to buy stronger juices and to dilute them down?

What should I do with my spent cartos if I intend to reuse them later, haven't burnt them, but don't have juice handy yet? Based on everything I'm seeing, I should be 'fine' if I just set them into a cool dark place, then later wash them for reuse. I ordered a few variety packs to experiment with different strengths and different flavors, so I'd rather do more sampling of prefilled cartos before I start refilling, but I'd hate to waste the 30 cartos I have next to me. After opening and starting smoking, how long is a carto good for? While I've been experimenting, I've been doing lots of swapping, and am wondering about trying other strengths, but don't want to have 8 different cartos going at once.

On the nerdy front...

I plan on designing and printing a insert for an altoids tin tomorrow that will hold 4 batteries and 6 cartos. I also have a design that holds 2 batteries and 12 cartos, and a 3rd that holds 2 batteries, 1 usb charger, and 5 cartos. After printing the 3 and testing them, I plan on throwing it up on thingiverse. Anyone seen any other similar projects?

On the nerdier front...

I also plan on designing a capacitance battery and inductive base to replace the PCC idea. My thought would be a capacitor, or set of them, that can deliver 1 3-5 second drag per charge (might be able to do 2-3, haven't looked at the resistance profile of the atomizers), much like those short flight helicopters and whatnot work. An inductive base is something I've always wanted to do in a project, and this seems like a good one. I plan on documenting the whole process and keeping the whole thing 'in the open'.

I guess that's enough for a first post(second first post, the first one was lost into the ether)

 

[Spookaloo]

Hi, sObe! I knew you were a nerd when you said "analog" vs. cigarettes. I'll have to check out Smoketip's flavors. Since switching to the Volcano with regular nicotine juice from SafeCig, I've been missing the great flavors.

 

[KraKsX]

Congrats on switching to vaping!

 

[s0be]

Hi, sObe! I knew you were a nerd when you said "analog" vs. cigarettes. I'll have to check out Smoketip's flavors. Since switching to the Volcano with regular nicotine juice from SafeCig, I've been missing the great flavors.

In proper form, I've been lurking on the forum and reading day and night, trying to make sure I was well educated in my buying choice. Smoketip only seems to sell pre-filled cartos, so that might be a game killer for you.

 

[The Ocelot]

Hi and welcome! I read slowly and have a short attention span, so I will answer what I see when I see it Nicotine is measured by volume - 1.8% = 18mgs; 12% = 12mgs; See, clear as mud...

 

[The Ocelot]

I had to look up "Smoketip," I wasn't familiar with those. You're right - the cartridges will run dry of juice before they burn up. I didn't know that (or anything about e-cigs) when I got my first cig-a-like, but I am a squirrel, so when they ran dry I threw them in a drawer. I have some that are over 6 months old, but work just fine if refilled with liquid.

 

[sonicdsl]

Welcome to ECF s0be! I have a few notes for you. Ultimately, use what works best for you, and what flavors/options you like best.

I opted to go with a Smoketip started because they had Clove as an option with the Beginner kit, and they're KR808D-1 compatible, so I'm not painting myself into a narrow spot to start.

Note that 510 is the most common (added "eGo" style threads are gaining popularity on the 510 connectors as well). KR808D-1 is not rare, but it is much less common and therefore fewer options.

I see that some places list a 'percentage'. Is that a nicotine percentage, or the base juice mix percentage? The samples I'm planning on ordering are listed as "1.8%". 1.8% of what? I find that the 12mg smoketip cartos are more than enough to curve my 'urge' to smoke in one or two puffs, and now that I don't have to some a whole clove, I'll likely drop down to lower soon. I'm guessing it's cheaper to buy stronger juices and to dilute them down?

The percentage is per milliliter. For example, 1.8% means that the nicotine solution is 1.8% per milliliter of fluid. 12mg is 12mg/milliliter, and is the same as saying 1.2% (per milliliter). Nicotine level doesn't affect pricing at most vendors I've used (and I've used plenty, believe me!), but if you dilute it down, you will lose some flavor and TH (throat hit). Some people do this though when they have a higher strength, and decide to move down, just to keep from trashing remaining higher strength juice. Don't know if I'd do it purposefully though, but again, whatever works best for you is what will work.

What should I do with my spent cartos if I intend to reuse them later, haven't burnt them, but don't have juice handy yet? Based on everything I'm seeing, I should be 'fine' if I just set them into a cool dark place, then later wash them for reuse. I ordered a few variety packs to experiment with different strengths and different flavors, so I'd rather do more sampling of prefilled cartos before I start refilling, but I'd hate to waste the 30 cartos I have next to me. After opening and starting smoking, how long is a carto good for? While I've been experimenting, I've been doing lots of swapping, and am wondering about trying other strengths, but don't want to have 8 different cartos going at once.

You can store used cartos in that manner, and it should be fine. Cartos have varying lives, and depend in part on the quality and ingredients in a particular liquid, as well as the voltage of your device and the resistance of your carto or atty (typically in 1.8, 2.5, or 3.0 ohms, +/- and ohm or two). Probably a week or two of constant use, but you'll know if you start getting a burnt taste to refill, and if it persists, then it's shot. You can rebuild the filler, but it's a PITA, IMO. Ultimately, it's dead if the coil pops; that will be obvious.

There are lots of options instead of cartos. I like clearomizers myself for general usage, and I usually have 6-7 clearos going at any given time. I like to rotate flavors sometimes (mood), or sometimes I lose taste on a particular flavor and have to set it aside for awhile. There's also carto tanks (a plastic or glass cylinder in which you put a carto, so less refilling), RBA's, and RBT's (rebuildable atty's and tanks). Lots of fun stuff! Just depends on how much you like to tinker, or not.

Poke around, get involved and enjoy whatever it takes to keep you off of those combustibles!

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Hi s0be, welcome to ECF and congrats. Generally cartos hold about 1 ml of juice. There are larger ones that hold 1.8- 2.0 ml. Depending on your PV you can also move up to a tank with your carto or a clearomizer...much easier to maintain and fluid level is easily judged.
Cheers.

 

[s0be]

Thanks for all the great tips. I'll probably order a clearomizer instead of some blank cartos. I see VaporKings carry one for my battery. The brand on them is Kanger.... Does that happen to be the KR from KR808?

 

[sonicdsl]

Thanks for all the great tips. I'll probably order a clearomizer instead of some blank cartos. I see VaporKings carry one for my battery. The brand on them is Kanger.... Does that happen to be the KR from KR808?

I'm not familiar with VaporKings, but those look good, and should work for your batts. I'm not sure how the nomenclature came about, other than 808 is the thread type.

Here's their sub-forum here on ECF: Vapor Kings

Hope this helps!

 

[s0be]

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely read through there about them. Based on a quick skimming, they look reputable.

Here's a V1 rendering of my altoids tin insert:



I'll start printing it tonight and will see how it turns out. Expect a picture tomorrow.

 

[CowDog]

Welcome. Vaping applies itself very well to nerds.

Ask any random person to describe the relationship between ohms in a resistor as applied to battery milliamp hours… a vaper would know.

 

[sonicdsl]

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely read through there about them. Based on a quick skimming, they look reputable.

Here's a V1 rendering of my altoids tin insert:

View attachment 176234

I'll start printing it tonight and will see how it turns out. Expect a picture tomorrow.

Sweet idea there s0be. I'd seen people make mods out of Altoid tins, but not cases with 3D printed inserts. I look forward to the photos.

 

[s0be]

Sweet idea there s0be. I'd seen people make mods out of Altoid tins, but not cases with 3D printed inserts. I look forward to the photos.

As you wish...

Basic showoff pic

Giving a full idea of the capacity

Tat small triangle in the side is for a ribbon to go through for extraction.

The trough for the 3rd set of cartos in the bottom was a little narrow. they don't come out easily with the condoms. Rev 2 will fix that. Also thinking about taking apart a USB charger and adding a charger embedded into the plastic. Will have to see how full they are.

... I did say I was a nerd ;-)

 

[s0be]

Any other suggestions on things I should add?

 

[sonicdsl]

Wow, impressive indeed!

Now if you could manage to fit all of my gizmos into the Altoids tin, I'd really be amazed!

Seriously though, not sure what else you could add (limited space there it seems). I think you need to check out some of the modder's forums, now that you're over 5 posts.

 

[s0be]

Wow, impressive indeed!

Now if you could manage to fit all of my gizmos into the Altoids tin, I'd really be amazed!

Seriously though, not sure what else you could add (limited space there it seems). I think you need to check out some of the modder's forums, now that you're over 5 posts.

An altoids tin might be tough, but I have a nice CNC machine. Could make a nice 'lil box for ya.

Yes, I will definitely be heading to the Modders forum ;-). I've built CNC machines and 3d printers, do robot guidance controllers for a living, so I suspect I can contribute to this scene. I'll move along once I have 2-3 cases printed for the various setups.

 

[sonicdsl]

An altoids tin might be tough, but I have a nice CNC machine. Could make a nice 'lil box for ya.

Yes, I will definitely be heading to the Modders forum ;-). I've built CNC machines and 3d printers, do robot guidance controllers for a living, so I suspect I can contribute to this scene. I'll move along once I have 2-3 cases printed for the various setups.

Wow - woodcraft, metals, both, or something else?

I notz haz those skillz

 

[s0be]

Wow - woodcraft, metals, both, or something else?

I notz haz those skillz

Well, I come from a physics background, woodworking and programming are just byproducts. I, personally, have a small 12"x12"x4" Zen toolworks CNC that's great for plastics as hard as High Density Polyethylene. That could easily cut a nice case from a small block that holds your goods. At work, I use a huge 2.5 axis Bridgeport that could hog out a block of 4130 Chromoly Steel like it was butter, if you wanted to haul around a 15# case. I got into CNC to build tee signs for the disc golf courses I frequented. Being the sort that doesn't got 50% into something, I started with a basic woodworking set to learn how to build benches for the courses (have 28 benches on 3 courses in northern michigan), then moved onto improving the tee signs. It's always been my goal in life to leave the world better than when I left it, so I've always contributed everything I learned back to the community. If there was a skill I didn't have, I gained it, then learned and shared what I learned.

 

[sonicdsl]

Well, I come from a physics background, woodworking and programming are just byproducts. I, personally, have a small 12"x12"x4" Zen toolworks CNC that's great for plastics as hard as High Density Polyethylene. That could easily cut a nice case from a small block that holds your goods. At work, I use a huge 2.5 axis Bridgeport that could hog out a block of 4130 Chromoly Steel like it was butter, if you wanted to haul around a 15# case. I got into CNC to build tee signs for the disc golf courses I frequented. Being the sort that doesn't got 50% into something, I started with a basic woodworking set to learn how to build benches for the courses (have 28 benches on 3 courses in northern michigan), then moved onto improving the tee signs. It's always been my goal in life to leave the world better than when I left it, so I've always contributed everything I learned back to the community. If there was a skill I didn't have, I gained it, then learned and shared what I learned.

Wow - overwhelming stuff (to me). Sounds very lofty, but obviously works for you. I'm too narcissistic to have that sort of goal. Of course, right now, just trying to find a job (was laid off in March). Sucks, sort of. I've caught up on a lot of reading, TV and movies, and spent extra time with family, so it's been decent so far.

I don't really need a case for all that...was sardonic mostly. I have a backpack with a perfect size outside pocket that I use if I must take them all with me (like going to a vape meet or a vape shop, or travelling, etc.). Usually I just take 2-3 of the eGo or GoGo style devices with me (in case I need/want a new flavor or a batt dies). Having a case, for me, would be something to lose.