New To E-Cigs & need Some Advice Please

[debcos]

Hello all,
I've been smoking E-cigs for a few weeks now but from what I have been reading & learning here there are much better brands out there. The ones I bought are awful. I get hardly any vapor. Sometimes a filter will start off seeming like it's going to be a good one giving me lots of vapor & that throat hit but after about 4 or 5 puffs/drags it just goes sour & I suddenly get no more vapor. Not only that...in their advertisement they said that a Filter is equal to a pack of cigarettes...I smoked 1 to 1 & 1/2 packs a day so I figured that one filter would last me all day...no way! I've been averaging 2 Filters a day. I really wouldn't mind that if I got good vapor & that good throat hit. They also said that the battery would last about a week...no way on that either! I have to charge it every day. But, again...I wouldn't mind if the quality of the e-cig was good.
I've been reading this forum & trying to learn as much as I can. I've pretty much figured out what "PG" & "VG" are & the differences between them.
I also read in here somewhere that "dripping is the way to go"....can someone explain what "dripping" is?
And I see that there are many different brands. Can anyone give me their opinion on a good brand...I smoked Full Flavor Menthol Cigarettes - 1 to 1 & 1/2 packs per day...so I want something pretty strong & Menthol Flavor of course.
I didn't know about the Liquid that we can buy until I read about it here. I figured out that I should probably start with the 18mg strength Menthol but can anyone recommend a good brand? Also...how much liquid do you usually go through in a week or in a month? And, how long do the Filters last? In other words if I have an empty filter & fill it with the liquid Nicotine...how many times can I use that same filter before I need to switch to another filter?
Sorry for all the questions...I didn't realize there was so much to this. Oh yeah!....What is a "Cartomizer"? And what is a USB Pass Thru?
One last thing (for now...) I read that a model with a "Manual switch provides lots of vapor, good quality and a consistent throat hit"....what is this all about?
Thank You So Much
Debbie

 

[warlike36]

Here are some good models..and suppliers. 510.. Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store. www.Unsmokes.com Joy Ego.. Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store. Vapin in the Cape As for the filter, the "bad guys" dont speak the truth and we will need to know what model you have in order to give accurate advice.

BUT...you have started vapin and that my friend is a HUGE step in the right direction. You have came to the right place, ask and you shall receive....LOL Welcome and CONGRATULATIONS !!!!

 

[Kerensky]

Hi there,

It's probably going to be easier to give you a good answer if you could give a few more details about what it is you bought?


Myself I bought a '510' which is a very popular model. It comes in separate pieces - rechargeable batteries, atomizers (the bit that makes the vapour) and the cartridge that holds the liquid and acts as a mouthpiece. You fill the cartridge with e-juice from a bottle. The amount of vapour is reasonable though I understand that other models offer more.

What do you have? It sounds like you have something that comes pre-filled?

I'm sure some of the more experience members of the forum will be able to advise you properly, but it sounds like you got a bum deal...

The manual part is about the battery. The batteries I have for my 510 are manual, they have a button on the side. When you press the button they pass current through the atomizer to make the vapour. You can hold the button down as long as you like. The alternative is automatic batteries that kick in when they sense you trying to inhale, and cut out after a pre-determined amount of time. I have heard that they are harder to use, or take a bit of getting used to.


HTH

 

[texasgranny]

Hey Deb
Sorry you kinda have gotten off to a bad start. But better days are coming, if you spend more time here, learning. If you would spend a little more time, reading here, you will find all the answers to your questions and then some. Also another great
place to learn is on YouTube. There are some great videos there that will also visually answer your questions. Just do a search..such as "cartomizer ecig" there.
When it comes to the best model, there is going to be alot of different opinions. What works best for some, does not for others.
I am still a 30 day newbie, so I don't have enough experience to answer some of your questions.
I went with a ProVape for my first unit. Love it. More cost at first than some, but well worth it, in my opinion.
I was a menthol smoker like you as well. The only advice to you at this point, is you might have to up your nic content a little at first to maybe 24mg. The menthol flavor is another thing. I have ordered several from different vendors. I like some, I hate some.
The best so far, has been a Creme De Mint with a little cinnamon added. So prepare yourself....you will have to spend a little time and money, trying out different menthols, flavors and venders. It will not be as simple as buying your favorite menthol in a store.
Order some menthol flavors (small bottles at first) and find out what works for you. Your taste buds WILL CHANGE over the next few days, weeks, months. (from getting off the analogs). Only after 30 days, the menthol is getting almost too strong for me.
I am trying other flavors that I did not originally think I would like.
One thing that some of the more experienced are going to want to know from you, to help you...is
what brand/model of ecig do you have now?
Anyway, good luck to you, you have come to the right place to learn and get help.
But you need to read alot more, so when the answers come, you can better understand.

 

[tigerlily]

You've asked some good questions. Those kits that most folks begin with are great only because they tend to introduce the consumer to the possibilities of vaping instead of smoking. Once folks are accustomed to the idea, they start asking the questions you've asked. I'll do my best to answer your questions based on my own experience.

First off, my original experience was similar to yours. I found I needed to take 3 batteries along with me to get me through the work day and keep at least one battery on the charger at all times. I was also having to change out the cartridges on a regular basis. There was little consistency in how long they would last so I always had to carry around several extras.

To solve that problem I ordered both the Joye 510 and the Joye eGo. I thought I would prefer the regular 510 since it is smaller and resembles a real cigarette more. Although I did like the regular 510, I found I was still having battery issues, so I have started using the eGo exclusively. Two eGo batteries last me all day. I take one with me when I'm out and about during the day, then switch it out with the one on the charger in the evening.

Dripping is when you don't use a cartridge at all on your ecig. Instead you drip juice directly on your atomizer and use a drip tip (which is basically a mouthpiece...no filler). I generally drip only when I am sampling new flavors, but some folks prefer it as their major form of vaping. The advantages of dripping is you tend to get a stronger, more pure flavor from your liquids. It can also cut down on expenses since you don't have to use cartridges or cartomizers. What I don't like about dripping is that it can be messy sometimes and I find it inconvenient to have to constantly be dripping onto your atomizer. It may be fine if you are the stay-at-home type, but impractical if you have to be out and about. Some folks have found using mods allows them to get the same experience as dripping without having the fuss of dripping. I haven't used any of these mods yet, but may try them eventually.

Cartomizers are one piece units that contain both an atomizer and filler material which holds your liquids. I have found these to be the best solution for me. There are many varieties of cartomizers available. The regular ones are pretty easy to use. I just pop the cap off the end and drip my liquid into it, much the same way you would with a cartridge. There are Youtube videos which show you how to do it. These last quite a while, but I still needed to carry a couple extras and change them out during the day. That is fine some days, but I really prefer the eGo mega-cartos which can last for hours.

A usb pass thru is a device that can be plugged into your computer. You simply attach your atomizer/cartridge or cartomizer to the passthru and you have eliminated the need for batteries. I have one of these and use it sometimes, but since I've been using the eGo I find I really don't have a need for it. I really don't care for being literally tied to my computer.

I manual switch imo gives you better control over your vaping experience. I don't know about better quality or throat hit, but since you are manually operating it by pushing a button you have more control. The thing about these imo is safety. From what I understand, the automatics are more vulnerable to problems since the batteries are unprotected. This could allow your juices to leak into the battery which could cause problems. With a manual battery, you don't have this problem since there is no way your juices can actually get into the battery itself. So for me, using a manual battery is a safety issue. I thought it would be difficult to get used to pushing a button, but it really hasn't been a problem.

Now then, comes the big question....what juices should you get? That is something you are going to have to experiment with because everyone has different tastes. I suggest you try sample sizes of several varieties from different vendors. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone in this area. Just because you are a menthol smoker does not mean that you won't enjoy other flavors. You will find some flavors you absolutely hate and others you won't be able to live without. I have honestly never had a bad experience with any of the vendors I've discovered from this site, so feel free to get adventurous!

 

[mlinky]

I was a 40 year pad Kool smoker. I found my sweet spot with the Joye eGo and VaporBomb Fire n Ice. Good luck!

 

[debcos]

Hi there,

It's probably going to be easier to give you a good answer if you could give a few more details about what it is you bought?

What do you have? It sounds like you have something that comes pre-filled?
HTH

Hello Warlike36, Kerensky, Texasgranny, & Tigerlily,

Thanks to each of you for the quick replies & all that very useful info. The brand I bought is called "Liberty Stix". They don't have any model names or numbers. As a matter of fact they only offer one type of battery & one type of Atomizer - you don't get a choice. They do have a choice of Nicotine strengths - High, Medium, Light, & Zero. ..and they have a variety of flavors...although they don't really offer "Menthol" - they call it "Mint" & to me that's not Menthol. And..they don't sell E-Liquid at all.

"Yes Kerensky",...the Filters did come pre-filled (that's all they offer at Liberty Stix) & it seems to me that some of them are either dried out (I don't know if that's possible - I just thought of that when they started losing the vapor so fast) or they didn't put the same amount of liquid into each filter. And...from what I've learned here on the Forum their prices are quite high too. I am so happy that I found this site!
The times that I got good filters (good drag, vapor, throat hit, etc) made me realize that I'll have no problem giving up conventional cigs completely & just smoking E-cigs...but for now, because of poor quality of their product, I am still smoking regular cigs in between. When I come across a couple of good filters I'm able to smoke only E-cigs for that entire day & no conventional cigs at all. But, unfortunately that hasn't happened to often lately. I'm almost out of filters & I'm not ordering anymore at all from Liberty so I'm going to sort through all this info & place an order today.

Texasgranny & Tigerlily, thanks for the info about the e-liquids. I see what you mean about all the different vendors & flavors. There are all kinds of "Menthol's". Somewhere in this forum I read a post where someone said that one good company for buying E-liquids from is "Vaporbomb" so I went to the site to see what they offer. I figured they offered different sizes & different strengths but I thought there would be just one "Menthol"...boy was I wrong about that! Lol! There are all kinds of Menthol -Desert Ship, Shade Menthol, Virginia Menthol, just to name a few. So, like you said...I'll just have to try different ones & see what I like.

Here's another question that I just thought of: Can I save the used Filters/Cartridges & use the E-liquid that I buy in them? How many times can the Cartridges be re-used?

Thanks again,
Debbie

 

[debcos]

I was a 40 year pad Kool smoker. I found my sweet spot with the Joye eGo and VaporBomb Fire n Ice. Good luck!

Hi Mlinky,

Thank you so much for your reply. I also smoked Kools...for almost 20 years & then I switched to Marlboro Menthol because prices were starting to escalate & Marlboro was constantly giving out coupons. I smoked Marlboro Menthol for about 10 years and then 6 years ago I switched once more to a generic brand called "Seneca". Cigarettes were starting to get outrageously expensive here in Chicago (they are $9.00/pack for brand names & almost $8.00/pack for generics at the moment).
Anyway a co-worker told me about this Indian reservation in upstate NY & I have been ordering from them for the past 6 years. When their brand name prices started going up I asked them which generic brand was most similar to Marlboro Menthol or Kools & they said "Seneca" so I started smoking those...and they actually were very similar to Kools. Anyway earlier this past summer a new law went into effect - it basically states that tobacco products can't be shipped through the mail, UPS, FedEx, nothing. That was when I found out about e-cigs. The sales clerk at the indian Reservation where i ordered my regular cigs was actually the one who told me about Liberty Stix.

Anyway....since you were a Kool smoker and you are about the 3rd person to recommend Joye eGo I think that I just might try what you mention in your post - especially the "Fire n Ice" liquid. Instead of 24mg though, I think I'll try the 18mg liquid to start out.

Debbie

 

[HzG8rGrl]

Hello all,
I've been smoking E-cigs for a few weeks now but from what I have been reading & learning here there are much better brands out there. The ones I bought are awful. I get hardly any vapor. Sometimes a filter will start off seeming like it's going to be a good one giving me lots of vapor & that throat hit but after about 4 or 5 puffs/drags it just goes sour & I suddenly get no more vapor.
The filler inside your cartridge holds the e-liquid. The e-liquid in the filler needs to wick towards the atomizer. As you vape it uses the e-liquid that is closest to your atomizer/cartridge opening. Holding the pv with the cart pointed up (in between vapes) will help the wicking process.
Not only that...in their advertisement they said that a Filter is equal to a pack of cigarettes...I smoked 1 to 1 & 1/2 packs a day so I figured that one filter would last me all day...no way! I've been averaging 2 Filters a day. I really wouldn't mind that if I got good vapor & that good throat hit.
No cartridge is a pack of cigarettes-it is just part of bad marketing. It could be if we only vaped a few times a day, but we don't.
They also said that the battery would last about a week...no way on that either! I have to charge it every day. But, again...I wouldn't mind if the quality of the e-cig was good.
That is just an out and out lie-sorry. The battery life is dependent on the mAh of your batteries. The higher the mAh the longer vaping time you will get with your pv. 650-900 mAh will get most of us through 6-12 hours, depending on how heavy you vape.
I've been reading this forum & trying to learn as much as I can. I've pretty much figured out what "PG" & "VG" are & the differences between them.
I also read in here somewhere that "dripping is the way to go"....can someone explain what "dripping" is?
Drippers do not use filler in their carts and drip e-liquid directly onto the mesh inside the atomizer. Take 4-6 hits off the pv and repeat that process. Most will replace the cartridge with a drip-tip. This tip snaps onto the atomizer as a mouthpiece and is hollow so that they may drip without removing the tip.
And I see that there are many different brands. Can anyone give me their opinion on a good brand...I smoked Full Flavor Menthol Cigarettes - 1 to 1 & 1/2 packs per day...so I want something pretty strong & Menthol Flavor of course.
I didn't know about the Liquid that we can buy until I read about it here. I figured out that I should probably start with the 18mg strength Menthol but can anyone recommend a good brand?
Hard to give advice on flavors-members have found that we do not like the same e-liquids that everyone else likes. I like mangos and hate mango e-liquid.
Also...how much liquid do you usually go through in a week or in a month?
120 ml a month is about right for a semi-heavy vapor. IMO
And, how long do the Filters last? In other words if I have an empty filter & fill it with the liquid Nicotine...how many times can I use that same filter before I need to switch to another filter?
Filler can be removed and cleaned with good hot water and dish liquid-rinsed really well and rolled in a paper towel to dry. When it fails to hold its shape and wick properly is when you should replace it.
Sorry for all the questions...I didn't realize there was so much to this. Oh yeah!....What is a "Cartomizer"?
Cartomizers are a cartridge and atomizer made into one unit. No changing out filler and can be refilled. You need to be able to know when they start to dry out as the sock that is wrapped around the element can get a burned taste. Carto (cartomizer) users learn this by using them and paying close attention to the taste when they vape. As soon as vapor starts to diminish they refill in order to not get that burnt taste.
And what is a USB Pass Thru?
This is a battery that can be used while plugged in to your computer usb port. I am not a big fan of plugging non computer related items into my usb ports. A lot of members love them and have no problems what so ever. Some say they have ruined their ports and a few have said it messed up the computer.
One last thing (for now...) I read that a model with a "Manual switch provides lots of vapor, good quality and a consistent throat hit"....what is this all about?
A manual e-cig has a button you push to activate the battery which starts the heating process of the coil in the atomizer or cartomizer. It gives you a bit more control. The automatics work by sensors. The action of pulling air through the cartridge or cartomizer will activate the sensor. Some will do this by vibration/sound. The sensors are in the batteries. Sometimes these can be set off without your knowledge and the batteries are not well liked by drippers. The batteries are not sealed (the sensors need to have this opening) and e-liquid is known to leak into the battery and produce an early death of the battery.
Thank You So Much
Debbie

I hope this helps you understand a bit more. I have a 15 minute vid on youtube about the ego-if you are interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4FSH6WQSX8

 

[debcos]

texasgranny,

For a "30 day newbie" you sure do know a lot more than I do. Thanks for the tip about looking for You Tube videos. I'm going to do that.
I work from home but I'm still going to make sure that I have at least 2 batteries or maybe even 3 like you have, so I can always have an extra battery charged & ready to go. I actually have 2 batteries now..from this "Liberty Stix" company that I ordered from...but I'll have to wait & see if the new cartridges that I'll be getting are going to fit on these batteries.
I see that you also mention 24mg liquid...you're the 2nd person to mention it. I was going to start off trying the 18mg but now I'll think about a little more. I think I'll buy a little bottle of each strength & see which I prefer. You sure are right about trying out small bottles of different Menthol flavors.
You gave me a lot of very useful info & I Thank You very much for that. Everyone on here is just so nice & helpful.
Debbie

 

[debcos]

texasgranny,
I work from home but I'm still going to make sure that I have at least 2 batteries or maybe even 3 like you have, so I can always have an extra battery charged & ready to go.

Texasgranny,
The "having at least 2 batteries" sentence was actually supposed to be in my reply to Tigerlily so please excuse me for placing it in the post I wrote to you. So, so sorry for that. It's "one of those days".

Debbie

 

[debcos]

HzG8rGrl,

Wow! Thank you so much for all the info you gave me & for answering every single question that I had. Your You Tube video was great and I have to say...I was amazed at the the amount of vapor that you got on each & every puff/drag that you took! I have never had that amount of vapor...not even when I thought I was getting good drags. If I can find a unit that gives the vapor that you had in your video I'll be a very happy camper!
I really loved your tip about buying the Aquarium Filter from a pet store to use in the carts.

In your video you said the product you were using was a 650 eGo kit from Puresmoke. I did a search & found puresmoke.com - is that their site address? Because if it is ...it doesn't mention a 650 eGo anywhere in the site...and I looked through the entire site. It doesn't mention the mah number or the name of the battery at all. Could I possibly be in the wrong website?

Another poster here in this thread who smoked Kools for 40 years (I also smoked Kools for quite a long time) recommended Joye eGo...do you know if that is similar to the 650 eGo that you mentioned?

I don't think the "drip" method is for me...but I do think that I'll like the "cartomizers" because if the cart & the atty are both in one piece there is no need to worry about the atomizer going dead since a new atty is being used every time the cart is changed. Right? You said that there is "no changing out the filler & can be refilled"...does "no changing out filler" mean that there is no need to buy that Aquarium Filter material? I know you said that the regular carts can be cleaned & re-used until they no longer hold their shape...how long can the "cartomizers" be re-used"? If you take them off & clean them then the filler material will be needed, right?

Thanks again
Debbie

 

[debcos]

HzG8rGrl

I just thought of a question that I forgot to ask you...when using a manual e-cig you said that pushing the button starts the process of heating the coil which pulls air through the cart, etc...do we still inhale or does pushing the button take the place of needing to inhale?

Debbie

 

[Caffusss]

deboc...that makes me very angery to about the carts....they say they last a pack of cigs...they last me about 5 min...about one cig lol!!!
Anyhow I dont use carts, anymore! I use a drip tip you can get them from many of this fourms suppilers. You just had a few drops of juice into the atty through it and vape....you have to readd about every 4 drags you take...but its worth it!
I also sometimes use cartomizers...when driving these last me about an hour before I have to refill...they say they last a day or more...but not for me!! lol
Hope this helps
Cathy

 

[texasgranny]

Deb
You are doing great and getting some good answers and help. As far a a 30 day noob and knowing so much....
Well, the 50-60-70 hours I have put in on research and learning has put me just a small step above, that's all.
(heck I put more time than that deciding what truck I wanted to buy)
I was/am just so committed that I wanted to stop smoking analogs. Then when I came here and saw all the signatures, stoped smoking counters, etc...I just decided that this ole ecig thing...., could be the miracle I had been looking for. Apparently it was working for so many....could it possibily work???

So I was commited to learn, to read, to watch. Then read some more, learn some more...

And sure nuff.....It was the miracle I was looking for!

16 days...no analogs
16 days...no real desires or problems
16 days...and I can breathe better already
16 days...and very little coughing left

Yea !! to all of us!!
Yea !! to ECF
Yea !! to you Deb....you go girl!

 

[Bozzlite]

And Debcos, if you hurry, Liberty-Flights (gotta have the dash) has the Riva 510 starter kit now for $34.95 I think it was. The Riva 510 is very similar to an Ego.

 

[mlinky]

Hey deb, if you're a Kool smoker, you probably need the "harshness" which translates into TH (throat hit) of a higher powered PV. The eGo is basically a 510 kit with a high powered battery, so it gives the hit I need. Also, if you decide to move onto something else later (ie: box mod, etc.) the pieces you have will probably be compatable. I started with 18 mg and had problems quitting until I moved up to 24 mg, but a lot of it depends on your vaping style. So my advice is to get a few different strengths. That said, VaporBomb ships so quickly, if you need something different, you'd have it within 2 days (thank goodness for that). Good luck and enjoy! Hope you find your sweet spot soon.

Hi Mlinky,

Thank you so much for your reply. I also smoked Kools...for almost 20 years & then I switched to Marlboro Menthol because prices were starting to escalate & Marlboro was constantly giving out coupons. I smoked Marlboro Menthol for about 10 years and then 6 years ago I switched once more to a generic brand called "Seneca". Cigarettes were starting to get outrageously expensive here in Chicago (they are $9.00/pack for brand names & almost $8.00/pack for generics at the moment).
Anyway a co-worker told me about this Indian reservation in upstate NY & I have been ordering from them for the past 6 years. When their brand name prices started going up I asked them which generic brand was most similar to Marlboro Menthol or Kools & they said "Seneca" so I started smoking those...and they actually were very similar to Kools. Anyway earlier this past summer a new law went into effect - it basically states that tobacco products can't be shipped through the mail, UPS, FedEx, nothing. That was when I found out about e-cigs. The sales clerk at the indian Reservation where i ordered my regular cigs was actually the one who told me about Liberty Stix.

Anyway....since you were a Kool smoker and you are about the 3rd person to recommend Joye eGo I think that I just might try what you mention in your post - especially the "Fire n Ice" liquid. Instead of 24mg though, I think I'll try the 18mg liquid to start out.

Debbie

 

[mlinky]

Oh yeah, you hold the button down on the eGo while you take a long slow inhale. Also, the atomizers (attys) have to be "blown out" before you use them the first time or you'll start with really nasty packing oil. Cartomizers (cartos, a combination of atomizers and cartridges) do not have to be blown out.

Riva is an off-brand eGo. The parts are basically interchangeable. eGo 650 refers to the battery size, and the 650 is standard on the Joye eGo. I ordered my eGo from My Freedom Smokes for about $47 after the 40% off coupon code. It came with 2 complete eGos, charger, button covers and 5 prefilled nasty generic Marlboro cartridges.

 

[debcos]

Hi Tigerlily,

Thank you for your great information & for the fast reply. You gave me a lot of very useful info.
even though I do work from home I am still going to make sure that I have at least 2 batteries on hand (maybe even 3) so I always have one charged.
You mentioned that you have started using the eGo & at least 2 other people have recommended the eGo so i think I will try that. Is yours the "Joye" eGo? Or are there different companies that sell the eGo? If so are they all the same eGo?
So far I'm torn between the eGo & "ProVape". Texasgranny mentioned "ProVape" & I checked their website...& wow..they look like top quality E-cigs. They're quite a bit more expensive to get started but I wonder if they might just be worth the extra price. I'm going to try to get some more reviews on them. One thing I noticed in the ProVape site, though, is that all of their products seem to be the 510 & I remember reading here somewhere that the 510 is not as good as the higher numbers. Right? Does a 510 product still give off good vapor & a good throat hit?

I may try "dripping' sometime but I really don't think that it's for me. It sounds too messy & too inconvenient.

Now the "cartomizers" sound like something that I will really like...with both the cart & the atty in one piece there not much need to worry about the atomizer going dead since it gets changed each time the cart is changed. I like that.

I would like to try to find a "USB Pass Thru" because since I work from home it may come in handy at times. I haven't seen them offered in the websites I've been checking out (so far I've looked at ProVape & Vaporbomb).

By the way...Do you still inhale when using a manual battery?

And...you said that you went from a Joye 510 to a Joye eGo...can you explain to me what the difference is between them?

Thanks again,
Debbie

 

[debcos]

deboc...that makes me very angery to about the carts....they say they last a pack of cigs...they last me about 5 min...about one cig lol!!!
Cathy

Catherine Marie Duran,

I agree with you 100%!!!

Debbie