New Vaper

[Dionysusigma]

Hello! Forum FNG checking in.

I recently got into ecigs because of their far-less-harmfulness than real cigarettes. I bought the BluCig starter pack (because it was the cheapest and most all-encompassing) about a month ago, but even with them, I've still smoked regularly (though FAR less than before).

Being the poor college student I am, and my insatiable interest in all things smoking, modding, small component design, maintenance, and so forth, I began looking into what I could do to improve the... less-than-impressive experience ecigs have been so far. Before I go further, a brief list of the hardware I have:

1) 2 BluCig batteries
2) 2 BluCig atomizers
3) The Blu Pack
4) Single-battery USB charger
5) Wall charger
6) A few empty BluCig cartridges with the "long" reservoir
7) A few empty BluCig cartridges with the "short" reservoir
8) 1/2oz bottle of Johnson Creek Original reduced-PG med. strength (18)
9) 1/2oz bottle of Johnson Creek TN Cured reduced-PG med. strength (18)
10) Bag of Poly-Fil
11) A couple boxes of Lipton Pyramid tea
12) Everclear (95%)

My biggest gripes with vaping are that 1) Everything I've had so far tastes nothing like a true cigarette. Everything has a sweet flavor to it, which (for me) kinda ruins the taste. Granted, my experience is quite limited--is there any liquid that comes close? and 2) Keeping track of how much I actually vape is difficult. A real cigarette I've gotten used to--it gets shorter over a generally consistent amount of time, but the ecig is just there until the battery dies or the reservoir goes empty.

To keep my aftermarket options open, what is the generic model of ecig that I have? I'd like to get a USB pass-through, but I'm not sure what I need. Blu's prices on replacement parts seem fair enough, but as I said, I like open options.

I'm not sure how often I should clean my atomizers, so I've been doing it once every two weeks. I have a dropper filled with Everclear that I drip liberally into every orifice (until it's dripping) and then blow out. I then re-attach the battery onto the exposed atomizer, place the LED end into my mouth, and gently blow just enough to heat up the atomizer until it doesn't steam anymore. I also use a mixture of Everclear and water to clean and rinse out the empty carts and reservoirs. Not sure how well these methods are recommended, but it works for me.

Refilling carts, though, I think I've got nailed down pretty well. Poly-Fil works... kinda. The tea bags work pretty well so far, especially using my new technique: (see attachment)

Since the instructions didn't come out so well, here's the transcript:
1) Open bag by cutting along seams
2) Cut into equal thirds, lengthwise. Each should end up being a bit wider than a reservoir is deep; trim each so that the strip's width will not extend beyond the "mouth" of the reservoir
3) From the center of a long edge, make a short cut the length of the atomizer heating element. Make two more cuts extending from the base of the short cut to the corners of the strip. Crease in the middle (shown in blue originally, but now more of a faint gray from image compression).
4) Form a rigid wire (e.g. paperclip) into the shape shown. Slide the wicking into the prongs at the base, "facing up." Using your fingers, pinch the wicking and twirl the wire, forming the wicking into a cylindrical shape with a depression in the top (made by the cuts of step 3) facing the loop of the wire
5) Still holding the roll with your fingers, slide it into an empty, clean reservoir. Pull out the wire, allowing the wick to expand a bit inside the reservoir. Add liquid.

Step 2 takes some practice, and keeping the wicking aligned just right in step 4 does too, but I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now with results best described like the Maxwell slogan: Good To The Last Drop.

Anyhow, just thought I'd intro myself. And, if anyone has any input at all, please share. As new as I am, I'd like to hear anything anyone has to say that might help.

- D

 

[tarheeldan]

Welcome Dionysusigma! Bacchus would approve of indulgence in the wide selection of tasty flavors available to vapers and no longer (or ever) to cigarette smokers. You probably won't find one that tastes like tobacco smoke though...because of the nature of the process. That's not to say there aren't juices that people who prefer tobacco or menthol flavors will recommend to you as being satisfying.

You have yourself an l88b - and a pass through can be had from Volcano. Haven't looked into other suppliers for compatible parts, so that may just be a starting point. Glad you got the PTB to work with your unit, I tried myself and gave up when my order for a different model came in. May just have to try your method Happy vaping!

 

[dg99]

Hey man, another tech-loving college student here I commend your efforts getting that blu to perform, but I'm thinking a $35 cignot 510 kit will make a much better platform to start, and your modding efforts will give much greater rewards. I'm loving mine and am currently rounding up supplies to turn my carts into blue foam darts

 

[jace]

Welcome!

I will whole heartedly agree with dg99. The 510 in my experience is a far superior product. Since the cignot kit was mentioned, I would encourage you to also look in to the MadVapes kits and other vendors, if you prefer. The very same basic kit that cignot carries (which I did order, and have been very happy with) will cost you $35, plus $5 shipping, while the MadVapes kits will cost you $32.49 because they offer free shipping for orders of $25 or more. They also have a Mega battery kit with batteries that last quite a bit longer, for $43.99.

I am not recommending one over the other. Both are reputable companies, and I have done business with each of them. Each company offers great service before, during and after the sale, and quick shipping. I mention it because you said you were a college student, and naturally, you're poor!

The other benefit you get from moving to a product like the 510, is that replacement parts are abundantly available, and there are a lot of after market options and modifications that utilize the parts and pieces fromf these kits. Currently, I have given my 510 kit over to my wife, while I am using a 5 volt modification that was made for me by another forum member.

I also have parts being shipped right now that will allow me to enter the world of "mod" making. I will be making four 3.7 volt mods for friends. You can find discussion of many different mods in the modding forum, Battery mods sub-forum.

The reason I mentioned mods is that because they fulfill several roles for me:

1. If you like tinkering, this is THE thing to do.
2. Drastically improved battery life.
3. Subjectively better flavor from the exact same juices you are already using.
4. Does NOT even slightly resemble an analog cigarette, which I find has helped with breaking the habit, since the tactile feedback is defferent.
5. Cheaper than buying kits.

Lastly, I will tell you that I would recommend anyone away from the BluCigs product because they do not really hold up. My first Personal Vaporizer (PV) was a Blu, and it fell apart only two weeks in. Blu Cigs customer service is AWFUL. Additionally, their reservoirs for juice are dismally small. I am much happier now with the 5v mod PV I am using.

Yes, I do have a major bone to pick with Blu Cigs, so I am biased, but I freely and openly admit that. I am doing my best to warn anyone away from companies that knowingly sell sub-standard products. The PV industry is a fledgling industry, and under fire from many sides, so having companies that sell crap does no favor for all of us.

There are some, especially if you check the Blu Cigs forum here, that are really happy with their Blu. My observation has been, however, that these people are predominately light to extremely light smokers, people who NEED the tactile feedback of a CSO (cigarette shaped object), or people who have WAY toomuch disposable income, and don't mind spending money every week on replacement parts.