New to dripping and on line juice.

[OlderNDirt]

Just looking for any advice or suggestions on my new vaping direction.

First about the juice. I have been getting all my juice "locally" and have several that are good, but just found out my #1 favorite is now discontinued. I have tried pretty much everything they offer with no success on a new favorite, so made my first on line order with Mt Baker since I have read some favorable reviews here about them. I do intend to try others as well during my search. Any suggestion for them specifically or online vendors generally on steeping, breathing, or anything I have overlooked?

Liking to try new juices somewhat regularly and tiring of cleaning tanks to change juice, I picked up a Freak Show atomizer for dripping to try new juices. I am firing it on a Cloupor ZNA 50 clone. Being totally new to dripping, about all I have garnered to get me started is dripping 6 - 8 drops which should provide about 8 hits before re-dripping. Any advice and/or suggestions as it relates getting the best results with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any and all help with my venture.

 

[HecticEnergy]

MBV was good for clearos - but in my experience the flavor breaks down in drippers and just tastes like hot garbage (what i imagine hot garbage tastes like anyway.. lol). It does have extensive steep time on some flavors. What I did was take the lid off when i got them, squeeze out the air a few times then shake really well and throw it in a drawer for a week. Test after a week and if it is still "perfume-y" repeat. Some people use hot water or ultrasonic cleaners.
AlienVision Ejuice is good IMO (AVEJuice.com)
Cant go wrong with ordering 3-6ml sample packs from a vendor IMO. Give them a try for "cheap" (atleast you won't be throwing away/PIFing a 15-30ml bottle).
Switching from tank to dripping (especially on that freakshow) you'll probably want to drop your nic if you haven't already. Also PG comes across a lot harsher in a dripper.

Enjoy

 

[novamatt]

There's good stuff in the RBA forum here that will help, but here's a couple of things to get you started.

Juice: If you want the cheap stuff, I really like VapeWild.com. They'll let you pick 6 of their flavors in a sampler pack with 10ml bottles of each for $17. It's a great way to try a lot of things without having so much juice you feel like you're wasting money when you don't like it. For the good stuff, check out Nicoticket.com. They're really well liked here, have a forum in the vendor section, and make a great product. If you're a tobacco fan, their Virus flavor is killer, and for a fruity vape, I really love their Beetlejuice.

Dripping: Don't worry about the amount of drops - the best way to drip the juice is to pull off your top cap and put it right on the wick. You'll be able to tell pretty quickly when the wick is full because it won't absorb any more juice. For your first build on the Freakshow, go to youtube and search "Freakshow build". You'll find a bunch of videos of someone building it for you step by step. Watch a couple, pick a build that looks do-able (don't start with the complex twisted quadruple coil stuff) and follow the video. When you first start using it, you'll probably get some dry hits here and there when it's time to add more juice, but after a few days, you'll be able to taste when it's about to run out before it goes dry.

As far as good results, since you've got a high wattage regulated mod, you don't have to build super low ohm stuff, and a little higher resistance can acutally be better since it has more surface area. I don't have a Freakshow, but my Plume Veil is built at 1.5ish ohms right now (two 12 wrap 28 awg coils on a 1/8" bit), I run it at 40 watts, and it's awesome.

Don't expect to get the build just right the first time. There's a bit of a learning curve with these things, especially when it comes to wicking. You can shorten the curve by reading up on your RDA on the rebuildables forum here - almost every dripper has a good long thread where people have learned the individual quirks for building on that one.

Hope that helps. Other than that, play with it, have fun, and you'll be rocking your perfect vape in no time. Oh, and don't drip and drive.

 

[Bigflyrodder]

Juice...that's a really tough one without knowing what you like to vape flavor wise or what you are looking for. There are hundreds if not thousands of juice vendors out there right now so very hit or miss. You have a Nicoticket banner on your posts, have you tried his stuff? I have really enjoyed everything I have vaped from them but like I said, there are too many good vendors to list without some direction. Every store sells juices, every site sells juices, some sites sell only juices...lol. Look at places like The Drip Club for big lists of vendors, there are tons of juice reviews that can be found on youtube, and ask here of course.

As far as dripping just make sure you keep your wicks and coils wet but not flooded. Over dripping will not only cause leaks but will drown out your vapor production because you will in essence be trying to boil the juice rather than vaporize it.

Hang in there, you'll get it!

 

[HecticEnergy]

there is also zamplebox, drip club, and craft vapory for a monthly subscription to juices.

All I would add to novamatt's post is when you get that dry hit, or first build your coils, count how many drops it takes to saturate the wicks. You don't want your coils sitting in a pool of liquid, but you want your wicks to be nice and saturated and a bit of a juice pool in the well (unless you are putting it in your pocket... lol)
after you have that count you know how many drops to put in next time! if you are counting from a fresh installed wick, you may need to back off a few drops as even when you get a dry hit the wick still has some juice left over in it.
Another pro tip:
Dropper bottles - if your bottle has a dropper in the lid you remove to add juice to your atty, fill the dropper, count your drops and look how much is remaining in the dropper after you have counted.. next time just squeeze to that level to fill your dropper.
nipple/needle top bottles - dispense your drops into the atty by applying even pressure to the bottle and not letting off until your count is done. then you'll know how much to squeeze the bottle the next time... different bottles feel different when squeezed, and different type tops give you a different sized drop, so this takes some playing with at times.

Different wicking materials taste different when you get a dry hit. By far the best dry hit I ever had was on ReadyXWick. It's made of a ceramic material that holds up to heat really well. I use it on a few of my attys because its easy to clean when traveling (dry burn and it comes mostly clean, or pull the wick and torch it and its good to go again). The stuff isn't exactly cheap though... and you have to build with a certain inner diameter depending on the size wick you buy. It's different to wick with, but once you get the wicking process down with it, its nearly as easy as cotton pads.

If you decide you like dripping, look into getting a Reo Grand LP. They aren't cheap ($175), and they are mechanical mods, but its much easier, and you never have to worry about over dripping. I've had mine for a month and don't really use my other mods any more :O

 

[OlderNDirt]

Hectic Energy: Thanks for the tips on MBV. Although they said it was good to go, I started the process planning on overnight, but will give it longer. And once I get through trying the 5 flavors I got from them, will check out Alien for their sample pack. I have found that many offer pre-determined flavors, but a couple would let you pick the ones you wanted to try. I am already in the process of dropping nic levels since getting the Atlantis and today, the subtank. Already down from 18 to below 10 and my MBV order was for 6.

novamatt: Thanks as well. I copied the information on juice and Nicoticket was my other option for my first order. I may also be able to stop in since they are in Omaha, but that is 100 miles or more away, so consider them as online as well. As far as the dripping, I should have been more clear. Unfortunately, due to essential tremors, building coils is unlikely for me, although I may give it a try at some point. The B&M that sold me the Freak Show said they would do it for me for free when needed, which they estimated every 2 to 3 months, depending on use. And I don't plan on hitting it on a regular basis, so I thought that would work out OK. I have tried it a bit, but may have to up the watts from the 28 to 30 I have been hitting it at.

Thanks guys and yes, I will be playing with it and having fun! That part is pretty easy for me!

 

[novamatt]

As far as the dripping, I should have been more clear. Unfortunately, due to essential tremors, building coils is unlikely for me, although I may give it a try at some point. The B&M that sold me the Freak Show said they would do it for me for free when needed, which they estimated every 2 to 3 months, depending on use.

That makes sense. And they're right that coils last a long time. You'll want to change the wick out a lot more frequently, but if you can change the atomizer cartridge in your tanks, you should be able to re-wick, too.

 

[klynnn]

Some of us that are older than dirt start making our own when we can't find what we want any other way. I would suggest checking out the diy forum and dabble a bit in what I call the land of the free. Make your own ...it will take time and patience so start now.

 

[OlderNDirt]

Bigfly, no I haven't tried them, but they are up for my next order. I haven't gotten into the real fruity or sweet juices yet, tried a few, but still prefer a mellow flavor. My #1 was a banana/chocolate/peanut butter/chocolate notes (whatever that is) flavor. I am slowly branching out, but still haven't gotten over a midnight apple I tried when I started and haven't gotten any desire to try again. Although now with the dripper, may give it one more try. Thanks for the tips.

 

[OlderNDirt]

Some of us that are older than dirt start making our own when we can't find what we want any other way. I would suggest checking out the diy forum and dabble a bit in what I call the land of the free. Make your own ...it will take time and patience so start now.

Patience? I don't even buy green bananas!

I have come really close to thinking I might be able to do that, then I have a "bad day" where I struggle buttoning my shirt and think otherwise. Let's just say I am to the point I don't eat peas. For now, yeah, it costs me a bit more, but trying to get all I can from vaping without causing frustration. As long as I can fill my tanks, I'm good.

 

[klynnn]

I like peas. What is coming may make peas unaffordable.

 

[OlderNDirt]

That makes sense. And they're right that coils last a long time. You'll want to change the wick out a lot more frequently, but if you can change the atomizer cartridge in your tanks, you should be able to re-wick, too.

Curious if I am hitting it an average of 2 to 4 hours a day, what would be your estimate on how long the wick would last? My guy talked like they use wicking that should last a long time and through many dry burns, ie - months. I would at least give re-wicking a try should I find I need it done in less then a month. I even checked a video on re-wicking the Atlantis coils, but still testing how long the $4 coil will last. If I continue getting at least 2 weeks on average, the cost would not be too prohibitive.

 

[HecticEnergy]

Curious if I am hitting it an average of 2 to 4 hours a day, what would be your estimate on how long the wick would last? My guy talked like they use wicking that should last a long time and through many dry burns, ie - months. I would at least give re-wicking a try should I find I need it done in less then a month. I even checked a video on re-wicking the Atlantis coils, but still testing how long the $4 coil will last. If I continue getting at least 2 weeks on average, the cost would not be too prohibitive.

Depends on the wicking material. Some can be dry burned and cleaned that way. I pull cotton, dry burn, and rewick every few days. I have readyxwick which I can just dry burn every few days and pull it out and torch it ever week or two to clean it. I haven't tried going a month on it, but it may last that long.
sylica is also heat tolerant.

 

[Danbrooks2k]

steamjuice.us

three 120ml jugs of juice for 69$ after your first order they send monthly coupon codes

I suggest Jerry Juice, Thick vanilla Custard, Toasted RY4, Juicy Peach and Tropical Steam.

Great juice, big jugs... low price

 

[OlderNDirt]

Hectic: I think they said it was the silica. They said I didn't have to worry about burning it when I dry burned. I will have to ask more questions next time in.

Dan: I will check out steamjuice. I may be old, but always interested in big jugs at a low price! I know better then to go b y names, but the vanilla custard and toasted Ry4 especially sound intriguing! PS: Liking the new subtank I got today.

Thanks guys!

 

[HecticEnergy]

With silica you should be good to dry burn it once a day or so to keep your coil clean, not sure how good that is for the wick, or if it cleans the wick as I don't use silica
another benefit to that readyxwick is it doesn't taste nearly as bad on dry hits

 

[dgm76513]

I diy, and use a 357 dripping atty for sampling several flavors without having to change wicks on an rda or heads on a clearo. You just drip a few drops in, take a couple hits, and clean it out with PGA. Rinse/repeat.

Here is what I'm talking about. These seem to be all but forgotten about: HH.357 Long Barrel Hybrid 510 Atomizer - Avid Vaper

I know the price is high, and a regular cisco or 510 bridgeless is $7-10 but in my experience the 357's have better flavor and last a bit longer.

Good luck!