Newbie looking for advice

[Josh!]

First of all I'd like to say hi. I've been lurking for a few weeks now and found the wealth of information here incredibly helpful if not a bit overwhelming. I'm happy to finally be posting. I have a few things I'd like to clear up before diving into the e-cig world and I welcome any input you guys have.

I'm a social smoker - almost exclusively cigars and cigarellos, occasionally a pipe - and I'm looking to tip the scale either way on whether or not I should pick up e-cigs. Upon first discovering that these crazy things existed I was a little intrigued, but not enough to lay down $150 for the Gamucci (the first model I discovered). A few months later I stumbled upon some reviews for different models and was blown away when I found an article on dripping. I'm all for flavored smoke and seek out the sweetest cigars possible whenever I want a smoke. I'm also a fan of hookah, but I couldn't justify buying one unless I had house parties every weekend. It's also a problem that neither my girlfriend nor any of my friends smoke.

So sifting through the forums, I'm about 90% sure I want to go with the 510. It's small enough to carry with wherever I go, it seems to be pretty reliable and, of course, you can drip with it. Several times this week I've added the starter kit to my shopping cart at various sites and stopped dead at the order confirmation page.

My main issue is with the upkeep of all the parts. I think it's a great idea to pick up a 510 until I read about people buying batteries and attys in sets of 20, people getting DOA units, and problems with flavor and vapor production. Would a 510 starter kit with, say, 2 full units and a handful of cartridges be enough for a few weeks of light to moderate smoking?

Another thing that I'd like to learn more about is juice. Does the juice actually taste like what it's supposed to taste like? Is it similar to flavored shisha, or a whole different experience? I'm looking for a rich, sweet vanilla bean flavor that won't have my girlfriend feel like she's kissing an ashtray. Does this liquid exist yet?

I also have several family members who smoke (read: chain smoke) and would love to pick up some kits as Christmas gifts, but I want to get into it myself first.

So, in case you didn't feel like reading through all of that, here's a summary of my q's.

1. Is a 510 starter kit enough for a few weeks of light to moderate smoking?
2. Do liquids really taste like what they're supposed to taste like?
3. I want to inhale creme brulee - does this liquid exist yet?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[kno]

i think you should go for blu or luci - they are small 510's with a decent quality

i really recommend the blupack because it has a portable charging case and a terrific vanilla.

as for the juice - depends on the supplier

certain suppliers have certain flavors inherent in their blends - if you are a DIY juicemaker like me - you'll go nuts over how you can control the taste of the ecig

i made some chocolate banana vape yesterday and didnt take the damn thing out of my mouth - it was delish!

also - a 510 is good as long as you use it right

like i said i recommend the blu pack from blucigs.com
^ look around a bit if you like. i use the blu myself - it's a 510 and alot like a real cig. although they have some crappy carts to begin with (they dont last long - flavor is great though)

once i discovered dripping my blu and i were inseperable though..


hope this helped.

 

[Josh!]

I was actually going to order a Blu a few days ago until I read that they're on backorder because of exploding chargers. Yikes. Then I discovered Chinese sites that sell the same thing for half the price. I don't mind waiting a few extra days to get through customs. I have my Al Capone cigarellos to last me till then, haha.

And I'm really excited to make some DIY juice, but I'd like to find a ready mixed juice to start me off and help me decide it vaping is really for me. Chocolate banana sounds amazing.

Another question, how far does juice go? Say if I chain smoked, how long would a 15mg bottle of juice last?

Thanks for the input!

 

[Archer74]

I have the Volcano/Blu, 510, and the VaporKing... Tell you the truth, if you want flavor, get the VaporKing.

In the Pic:

Top: VaporKing
Middle: JoyE 510
Bottom: Volcano/Blu

The silver part is VaporKing's battery. As you can see, its longer than the 510.
I've used them both at the same time using the same ejuice. the 510 battery ran out while
the VK kept going.

 

[Josh!]

So jealous, haha. I have read the 510 gets hotter than other models and can kill the flavor. I'm not too worried if I can find some really pungent liquid. I'll check out some reviews of the VaporKing though. Might sway me the other way.

 

[kno]

lol the blu has a pack recall right now yeah, they told me not to use mine anymore because it can overcharge and become a fire hazard - i'll continue to use it till they send me my new one.

blu has awesome customer service though - and im sure shipping may be backed up due to the replacement recall - but if you can wait for it - it's worth it

i've never waited more than 3 days from the time of order to arrival - but that was before the recall

i dont think its all of the blupacks - it's like a slight fluke that they wanted to be safe about



the DIY juice is where it's at

i did alot fo trial and error until i got it right - and let me tell you - chocolate banana is heavenly!


here's how i do it


start with STRONG e-liquid (the stronger the original - the more u can stretch it)

Johnsons creek sends u dripper caps and 3ML dripper bottles with every bottle - you can get them from usplastics.com cheap too if u dont want to use JC juice - although they do have a good product - but no non-flavored juice


i found some 48MG (oh-*****-level nicotine) for 2oz (60ml) for about $38 shipped - i can cut this into 4oz of 12 mg or what i prefer 6oz of 8mg

i chain vape all day and use about 2-3ml of juice on my heaviest days

so one ounce of juice would last me about 10-12 days

so 6oz for 40 bucks once cut down lasts me about 2 months (not including the non-nicotine i vape which to me satisfies the urge via placebo most of the time)

i bought 16oz of PG off of ebay for 20.00 usd and 6oz bottle of glycerine for 3 bucks, as well as 10 loran flavors for 14.00

out of that 40 bucks i can likely smoke non-nicotine liquid for the next decade without having to buy more lol

the nicotine is the expensive stuff

i use a 3ml dripper bottle with my cig so i jsut mix inside of it

1ml 24mg - e juice, 1ml Propelyne glycol, and 1 ml of glycerine - plus 3-5 drops of flavoring - and it always comes out great (3 mls of 8mg juice - about a day or two of constant vaping) - just be careful how much nicotine u allow yourself...

non nicotine liquids i use about 60% pg and 40% VG for GREAT clouds of vapor. only 4-6 drops of lorann flavor are needed


its fun to do too - i feel like a chemist - like dexters lab almost lol - just becareful with nicotine it's VERY POISONOUS - 1ml of 48MG juice is deadly to a adult human, and thats only like 10 drops maybe - be CAREFUL and keep things put away safe.

right now i'm vaping some 0 nicotine strawberry kiwi juice

its quite nice.

 

[Snarkyone]

I don't think you want a Blu either. The 510 is a good heavy vapor producer that is a bit harsh though. I think you are going to be more of a taste man and I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that the m401 like the Dragon from Truesmoker.com or the Sidesho from ModernVapor.com would be the perfect E-cig for you. The 901 would be a better choice then the 510 for what you seem to look for and the fact that you are a real light smoker. I am a Blu and Luci affiliate and I am telling you this. I would be more than happy to take your money if you want a Blu or Lucci, a GreenSmokes or a couple of others but I don't think you would be getting what you want. Well, maybe with the Greensmokes but they are top dollar.

Going by what you said you look for and what you enjoy that is what I would try to steer you towards. I would think a m401 style, 901, a cartomizer style or the Sidesho would be much better suited for your needs and taste. The 510 is a great vapor producer, and gives a great heavy but a bit harsh throat hit. I prefer the way it taste and hits at the higher voltages but as a stand alone I don't think you would be too happy. One way to look at it is most of us end up with a couple of different models anyway so try not to stress too much over it.

 

[kno]

keep in mind that flavors change with the amount of liquid as wel - and yes 510's get hot because they are smaller - i havent experienced a loss of flavor though

but im even learning right now.

 

[gooney0]

Josh,

I have a 510 and am very happy with it. I have not tried the other models so I can't comment on those.

I've been using the 510 heavily for about 2 weeks. So far I haven't had any problems. I bought an extra battery, atty, and PCC just in case and to make traveling easier.

Yes flavors do generally taste as they are described. There are a lot of video reviews you can watch also. Lots of sweet and fruity flavors to choose from.

If you order an e-cig be sure to get extra juice. The pre-filled carts don't last very long at all.

I found the attys become "stained" with flavor. I like to use a cart and atty per flavor and I don't mix the equipment except for the batteries. 3 atomizers means 3 different flavors.

When I'm done with a flavor I soak the atty in vodka then hot water and dry. The cart material can be rinsed and dried as well. This will remove the left over flavor residue.

Good luck with whatever you get. I think you'll enjoy it.

-Gooney0

P.S. There are a lot of bad reviews about the "Blu Cigs" brand on this forum.

 

[Josh!]

Snarky, I'm probably going to get a 901 or m401 as my second unit. I'm living on ramen now so I'm just looking for a good rounded starter unit at a bargain price. I usually inhale with cigars (horrible, I know) so I'm used to a throat hit like a freight train. The Dragon looks like a beauty - definitely bookmarking that for when I have some more money.

And kno, you got me even more excited to mix my own juices now.

 

[kno]

im about to make a new bottle now (almost no straw kiwi leeft)

any flavor suggestions? im thinkign mango bubblegum lol

im telling you DIY juice is probably the most fun part of this whole habit for me... haha sad i know

i'll mail you some of the next chocolate banana batch if u like

 

[jvapor]

I currently own the 401, 510, 901, 801, 601 pipe, and the vapor king (808). If you like a throat hit and still want good flavor I would recommend the 901. It maintains flavor as better than the 510 but still produces about the same amount of vapor. 1 pack of carts will not last three weeks. You will want to buy extra juice to refill your carts. The 901 also has slightly better battery life than the 510 and is available with manual batteries in the starter kit. I recommend buying a starter kit from Arno at eCigarettes and eLiquid from Awesome Vapor . The kit is 46.00 and comes with 1 atomizer, 2 batteries, 1 pack of 5 carts, charger, 1 10ml bottle of E-liquid of your choice and strength and a 3ml 18mg sample flavor of your choice. Extra atomizers are $10.00 and extra carts are $5.00. He also sells passthoughs and car chargers. I suggest you go with manual batteries because they are more reliable. If you want manual batteries just send him an email when you order and he will give you manual batts in your kit. He is the best IMO with customer service and he will take care of you. If you have a DOA he will send you out a replacement the next day and usually sends a free bottle of juice for the trouble. Hope this helps

 

[Josh!]

Haha, I totally feel you though. I'm obsessive with tinkering and customizing things so I'm sure I'll eventually have a notebook full of juice recipes. I might take you up on the chocolate banana too. I'll let you know when I receive my first e-cig in the mail and test it out.

You guys have any suggestions on affordable and reliable juice suppliers?

 

[jvapor]

The E-Liquid Experts - E-Liquid and E-Cigarettes Supplies by Esmoker Online! | E-Liquid | E-Cigarettes has good juce at a good price. They are in Florida and are 8.99 for 15ml bottles. Also if you use discount code technosmoke you will get 10% of your order. I do not work for them or get any kick back. I have reviewed several of their flavors and I enjoy them a lot. You can see my reviews at Technosmoke - Technosmoke

 

[RKayne]

Hey there and welcome Anyways, we have full 501 sets with PCC's. I read, I got us extra sets of atties and batteries. We didn't need them. These work GREAT! I sold the 3rd PCC and a starter set for to a friend for cheap because they needed it! (they had a smokeanywhere ).

These have been great for us all the way around, we have not seen a short battery life or PCC probs. Gone out for full nights out on the town, no prob.

You, or anyone you know, will get over a manual battery fast so don't even consider elsewise. Seriously, that may be why we have no problems.

I have a pointy pair of tweezers, they give me the opportunity to restuff my carts easy. I have been using Fluval (do a search, cheap, easy to find, nothing says it is not safe *yet*). Easy to use, cut and stuff.

Niquid? I have been getting a couple but my person will be Dawn Marie of DIYFlavourshack.com.

I got some RY4, tobacco, vanilla and unflavoured all in 48 mg. She added a caramel from Lorann's. Told me that caramel and the RY4 would be pals and oh she was SO right. So, the other night, out of curiosity, I decided to add some vanilla to the tobacco. I added some VG for 'visual', lol, and yes. This is our fave of the week.

Mixing your own? I am so going to just mix my own

 

[Kent C]

So sifting through the forums, I'm about 90% sure I want to go with the 510. It's small enough to carry with wherever I go, it seems to be pretty reliable and, of course, you can drip with it. Several times this week I've added the starter kit to my shopping cart at various sites and stopped dead at the order confirmation page.

Go here:

Joye Tech 510 Starter KIT

... get the pralines and cream high voltage and the Virginia (which is a pipe tobacco taste) or the vanilla in high voltage and ....

....pull the trigger.

 

[kno]

johnson creek and totally wicked are probably the two most popular - i really like some of JC's flavors

Johnson Creek Original Smoke Juice - The Best E-Liquid in the World - Made Right Here in America

also

Electronic Cigarettes and eLiquid / Totally Wicked eLiquid / Electronic Cigarette eLiquid Store

i found totally wicked to be a bit expensive. but a good product



if you're lookign for budget liquids heres the deals ive found

Welcome to MY FREEDOM SMOKES - 48MG (the oh-***** potency)

and a really good price was found here

http://www.mist-stix.com/category_s/64.htm - 30ml bottles up to 24mg for 17.50 shipped


i recommend Johnson's creek for a good smoke juice but they dont offer unflavored (which would make my life complete) so they aren't ideal for DIY - but i keep a couple bottles of peach to mix in with my fruity flavors - JC has a great taste

 

[Josh!]

Kent, loaded up my cart with the kit incl. raspberries & cream and pralines & cream. How's their shipping?

 

[kno]

bubblegum is the new flavor... surprisingly tasteeeee are you stocking up on flavored liquids? you'll want some non flavored for the DIY

 

[Josh!]

Just ordered a 510 kit with 2 manual batts, 1 atty, wall charger, carrying case, 5 empty carts, 6ml black raspberry and 6ml pralines & cream for 52 bucks including shipping. Apparently it'll all be sitting at my door within three days too. I think I got a hell of a deal.

If I end up sucking up my 12ml of sample juice I'll be loading up on flavors and DIY equipment next week. Who needs to eat when you can smoke a cheesecake? I'm so excited.

Kno, do you vape tobacco flavor as well? If so, any recommendations on menthol?

I used to smoke Marlboro Menthols years ago and I've been seriously dying for a drag ever since I quit. I swore to never smoke another cigarette though because every time I quit and try social smoking with cigs, it ends up in chain smoking. Cigars don't seem to trigger it though. Go figure.