Newest of the New

[C2DR]

As in literally I just signed up 10 seconds ago and this is my first post. Thanks to all those who have obviously spent a considerable amount of time in trying to inform the likes of me.

I've been trolling around this forum for several days now ever since stumbling upon a review for e-cigs on a blog. Having been a cigarette smoker for the last 16 years I'm becoming very aware of the effects it has had on my health. Having tried to quit several times I found the concept of a device that mimics the same tactile and oral sensations; quench my incorrigible desire for nicotine; prevent the soot, ash, and carcinogenic residue of burning tobacco leaves from regularly entering my lungs; and not stink up my house and clothing very intriguing.

The sticky posts in this section have been a huge help in deciding whether or not I even want to try this new toy and how to go about doing so.

So, after what I consider a fair amount of research I am officially considering the following:

1. DSE901 Starter kit in glossy black that includes 2 batteries, 2 attys, and 5 prefilled carts of varying flavors (all 18mg nic) from Vapor Kings at $45.95 + $4.95 s+h.

2. 5 extra empty cartridges for $2.95 also from Vapor Kings.

3. 3 x 10mL bottles of e-liquid, 18mg nic, 1 Menthol (what I normally smoke), 1 Cherry (a non tobacco experience), and 1 RY4 (wtf??? My understanding is it is a sort of tobacco/non-tobacco hybrid of sorts) from Rocky Mountain Vapor at $6 each + free shipping.

Before I pull the trigger, I was hoping to get a few questions answered...

First, approximately how long can I expect these batteries and atomizers to last given that I am NOT a heavy smoker (down to about 5-6 a day)?

How much actual vaping can I realistically expect from a full cartridge?

How many times will a 10 mL vial of e-liquid fill the cart?

In terms of vendors and pricing...are my choices sound and of good value?

What am I invariably forgetting?

Thank you very much for any input you can provide!

C2DR

 

[Kattdaddy]

As in literally I just signed up 10 seconds ago and this is my first post. Thanks to all those who have obviously spent a considerable amount of time in trying to inform the likes of me.

I've been trolling around this forum for several days now ever since stumbling upon a review for e-cigs on a blog. Having been a cigarette smoker for the last 16 years I'm becoming very aware of the effects it has had on my health. Having tried to quit several times I found the concept of a device that mimics the same tactile and oral sensations; quench my incorrigible desire for nicotine; prevent the soot, ash, and carcinogenic residue of burning tobacco leaves from regularly entering my lungs; and not stink up my house and clothing very intriguing.

The sticky posts in this section have been a huge help in deciding whether or not I even want to try this new toy and how to go about doing so.

So, after what I consider a fair amount of research I am officially considering the following:

1. DSE901 Starter kit in glossy black that includes 2 batteries, 2 attys, and 5 prefilled carts of varying flavors (all 18mg nic) from Vapor Kings at $45.95 + $4.95 s+h.

2. 5 extra empty cartridges for $2.95 also from Vapor Kings.

3. 3 x 10mL bottles of e-liquid, 18mg nic, 1 Menthol (what I normally smoke), 1 Cherry (a non tobacco experience), and 1 RY4 (wtf??? My understanding is it is a sort of tobacco/non-tobacco hybrid of sorts) from Rocky Mountain Vapor at $6 each + free shipping.

Before I pull the trigger, I was hoping to get a few questions answered...

First, approximately how long can I expect these batteries and atomizers to last given that I am NOT a heavy smoker (down to about 5-6 a day)?
This is different for everyone because we all drag on a cigarette using different method(concerning length of time) and use our devices in different methods. Typically I am a heavy vaper and was a chainsmoker... so, I tend to go through the regular 510 battery every 45 minutes to an hour. Secondly, atomizer lifespan is dependent on how you treat your atomizer. Just a few pointers.. always start off by priming your atty with a couple drops of the juice you are vaping directly on the bridge in the center of the atty. You always want to make sure to keep your atty wet to ensure lengthy life span. If you ever hear a gurgling sound when you vape.. take the atty off the battery and blow the atty out through the threaded side by mouth just to clear it out from excess fluid and you may want to do this over or into a papertowel to collect the excess juice. This happens when you have flooded your atty and you want to try to stay away from this. The best thing to hear is a slightly crackling sound which means just enough juice is being heated in the atty to vaporize.
How much actual vaping can I realistically expect from a full cartridge?
Most 510 cartridges hold about ten to twelve drops of juice... some more , some less.... Relatively, 20 drops equals 1 ml of juice. When you talk about juice being 24 mg.. that is 24mg/ml. So, in those terms you are going through 24 mgs of nic everytime you consume a ml of juice. In time, it will really depend on your rate of consumption but I think to put it on average.... One cart is basically the same as the time it takes to smoke two maybe three cigarettes.

How many times will a 10 mL vial of e-liquid fill the cart? That is pretty much explained by the 20 drops per ml. Based on ten drops per cart... This would lead to 20 carts filled.

In terms of vendors and pricing...are my choices sound and of good value?
Based on my experience.. and your choices may be fine for you since you do not really smoke that much.... But, I would recommend going to the 510 mega kit which offers longer battery life. I will be upgrading when these regular batteries of mine go out... but most that have the mega state that their batteries have lasted six to seven hours. I vape pretty heavy .. so I am anticipating four hours with those but I still consider that a vast improvment over having to change batteries every 40 minutes or so. I am not sure if VK offers the Mega yet and TW is the only place I know of... You might want to check that out.

What am I invariably forgetting?

Thank you very much for any input you can provide!

C2DR

I hope my remarks above help you out and they are only my opinions!!

 

[Dogsbody]

You didnt list a battery charger, but seeing as it is a starter kit, I will assume it is there(ac or usb), and/or a PCC (personal charging case) may be a good idea if one is not included.
The menthol/ru4/cherry selections will give you a good idea of the flavors.

If you are a lightish type smoker, you may just want to watch the nic levels when you first start, the novelty factor may encourage you to indulge in a heavy session leaving you feeling a bit woozy. (I did) So on my next order I ordered some lower level juice with high level no-flavor juice, so I can beef it up if need be, but now when having a heavy drinking session with my smoker buddies, I can keep up without turning green.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

I think it is a very sound choice. Not the only good choice, but one of them (and you have no way of knowing yet what might be your ideal). And those are two very good, cost-effective suppliers; I've dealt with both successfully.

Just don't expect it to be your last choice. You're going to need to do a lot of experimenting, finding your favorite e-liquids, atomizers, and batteries. So don't order much more at this stage. If you find that the 901 is not all you hoped it would be, you wouldn't want to be too vested in it.

Enjoy your adventure, C2DR!

 

[pianoguy]

You may find that you'll want to keep separate atty's for families of flavors. For example, I vaped some Atomic Fireball in one and everything tasted like Atomic Fireball after that for a while, even after rinsing it out. Menthol and mint are other flavors that tend to hang around.

 

[C2DR]

Thanks for all the responses so far!

Kattdaddy: Based on 20 drops/mL x 10 mL/bottle x 1 cart/10 drops x 2-3 cigs/cart = 40-60 cigs/bottle. Does that sound right? One 10 mL bottle of liquid is about 2-3 packs of cigarettes worth of vaping? I understand we're trying to relate two different activities, so what I'm thinking is that one cigarette is about 5 minutes worth of smoking, so a pack is about 100 minutes. Is it fair to say that I can expect about 200-300 minutes worth of vaping out of a 10 mL bottle of e-liquid?

Dogsbody: Yes, a charger comes with the kit. I considered a PCC kit just because I like the concept of portability but decided that the Vapor King kit w/ 2 batts and 2 attys was a more prudent choice to start with. The only PCC kit I could find for the 901 only included 1 batt and 1 atty. Provided I find myself enjoying vaping a PCC will definitely be on my to-do list.

DonDaBoomVape: Thanks for the reply. My choices were due in large part to your Illustrated Guide. If you have any other recommendations, then I'd love to hear them.

Pianoguy: Thanks for the tip! I'm starting off with two, so I can have one for my menthol and one for everything else I guess.

Thanks again and please let me know if you think of anything else.

C2DR

 

[Kurt]

Sounds like you've made a good first choice! You may find that 18 mg is too high, depending on the juice. It might be ok for you, but you will probably find you don't vape like you smoke, meaning how often and how much. What important is you made a good first choice, now get your feet wet, play with your stuff for a while, and then see what you might need additionally based on your daily routine. I don't think you mentioned a PCC, but that would be a good thing to keep the batts fresh on the go. You may want to get some VG from CVS, or I use Whole Foods' Heritage brand, to cut the juice if the nic is too high.

Only after you start playing with the stuff will you know what more you will need. Its all quite the learning curve, so be patient with yourself, don't expect to 100% quit analogs right away, and most importantly have fun with it!

Welcome, and best of luck!

 

[MastiffMike]

My first (and at this point only) e-cig is the 901. I can't complain and like you I researched a LOT before deciding on it. I'm a pack/day smoker so I'm now in the market for something with a little more power (5v mod of some sort). But as a more casual smoker it'll probably be just perfect for you (at least until you get the itch for the next wiz-bang latest-and-greatest thinga-ma-jig!)

The only thing I think you're missing and should consider is a usb pass-thru. If you're at a desk for any length of time the pass-thru allows you to run the e-cig off the usb port and not a battery. This would save your batteries for when you're not near a computer. If you drive a lot and want to use a pass-thru in your car that can be done as well with a car-to-usb adapter.

Just my $.01

 

[C2DR]

Thanks Kurt!

My understanding is that 18mg is kind of "middle of the road" in terms of strength. I don't smoke a huge number of cigarettes during the day, but I will smoke either menthol lights or menthol full flavored cigarettes (whichever is on sale). Do you think 18mg is a good starting point?

 

[C2DR]

My initial reaction to USB passthroughs was that I hated the idea of "smoking my computer"...it just seemed, well, completely redonkulous. I understand the benefits of consistent power supply = consistent vapor production and extending battery life, so I haven't ruled it out completely, but it just seems so damn weird!!!

 

[C2DR]

Oh...and Norman...everything's better when your nekkid!

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

..DonDaBoomVape: Thanks for the reply. My choices were due in large part to your Illustrated Guide. If you have any other recommendations, then I'd love to hear them...

Don't drive yourself crazy trying to make the ultimate perfect decision for your first kit. As long as you stay away from those grossly overpriced mass-marketed ones, you'll have no regret. These things don't last forever, you know. The charger is the only thing I have left of my first kit. The replacement parts you order later can be of other models if you choose.

And, with or without adapters, most models are cross compatible. For example, at the moment, I'm vaping a Joye302 (penstyle) atomizer with adapter on a Kr8 passthrough. Even without an (inexpensive) adapter, your 901 attys will work on Kr8 batteries and most mods ... and Kr8 cartomizers will work on your 901 batteries.

So relax ... place your order ... and vape!

 

[C2DR]

Thanks Don!

Now that you mention it...how long DO these things tend to last?

 

[C2DR]

OK...I did it! I placed my first order! The DSE901 kit, extra carts, and 3 bottles of juice as described in the OP. The only change I made was to add a carrying case which qualified me for the 10% coupon code, so it was a no-brainer.

I'm looking forward to playing with my new "toy", but more so to quitting tobacco analogs once and for all.

FYI, Rob at Vapor Kings was outstanding in customer service. He answered all of my questions quickly and professionally. His prices are very reasonable (from what I can tell)...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Thanks to all of those who chimed in to help...and a special thanks needs to go to DonDaBoomVape for his "Wonderful World of Vaping..." article. Excellent information to get started.

C2DR

 

[Kurt]

Thanks Kurt!

My understanding is that 18mg is kind of "middle of the road" in terms of strength. I don't smoke a huge number of cigarettes during the day, but I will smoke either menthol lights or menthol full flavored cigarettes (whichever is on sale). Do you think 18mg is a good starting point?

Sure, but expect to change it either up or down depending on how it does, and how it does is not often immediately known. Menthol also evidently has the effect of somehow enhancing the nic effect due to interactions with certain metabolism enzymes, so you may benefit from a menthol vape too. Be patient, getting the juice right takes time, and sometimes even then you want more or less nic than usual. It really is quite different than smoking analogs.

Best to get in there, get your feet and atty wet, and see and learn. Your body will know what it wants.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

...Thanks to all of those who chimed in to help...and a special thanks needs to go to DonDaBoomVape for his "Wonderful World of Vaping..." article. Excellent information to get started.

Thanks, C2DR! Words of praise make my day.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

Thanks Don!

Now that you mention it...how long DO these things tend to last?

That varies considerably, depending on how heavily you vape, whether you constantly keep the atomizer wet, and limited Chinese quality control, i.e., some of my attys (of the same model) have been DOA, some lasted a couple days, some several weeks. Batteries usually last 2+ months.

OK...I did it! I placed my first order! The DSE901 kit, extra carts, and 3 bottles of juice as described in the OP. The only change I made was to add a carrying case which qualified me for the 10% coupon code, so it was a no-brainer...

Congratulations for taking the plunge ... and taking advantage of the coupon code!

 

[jcamacho]

I just received a DSE 901 kit and frankly was a little confused on how to use since I've gotten used to KR808's. It seems like the carts were empty and I was looking all over the place , I charged the batterries and tried to inhale-no vape just air. This was the cart that came attached to the atomizer so I figured it was just for show. I opened up the package that came as a freebie with the kit and I looked at one of the carts, again it looks empty but attached it anyway and vaped. Horrible tobacco taste if you can call it that. I tried but had to stop because of taste but I noticed that vapor seems different somehow than when I smoke KR8's, I am not too impressed so far but I wondered what the 901's were since there's alot of talk here about them. Am I missing something? Maybe I got spoiled to KR8's or I'm not doing something right since I'm a noob. Nlow I hear in this thread that you can vape KR8 carts off a 901, learning something everyday and I will try this evening when I get home. Hope to have better results.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

I just received a DSE 901 kit and frankly was a little confused on how to use since I've gotten used to KR808's. It seems like the carts were empty and I was looking all over the place , I charged the batterries and tried to inhale-no vape just air. This was the cart that came attached to the atomizer so I figured it was just for show. I opened up the package that came as a freebie with the kit and I looked at one of the carts, again it looks empty but attached it anyway and vaped. Horrible tobacco taste if you can call it that. I tried but had to stop because of taste but I noticed that vapor seems different somehow than when I smoke KR8's, I am not too impressed so far but I wondered what the 901's were since there's alot of talk here about them. Am I missing something? Maybe I got spoiled to KR8's or I'm not doing something right since I'm a noob. Nlow I hear in this thread that you can vape KR8 carts off a 901, learning something everyday and I will try this evening when I get home. Hope to have better results.

Man, you gotta buy some juice! For example, see Part 3 of my WWV Illustrated Guide.

 

[C2DR]

Yeah, man...juice...that's the stuff. I got Menthol, Cherry, and something called RY4. All of them are quite good.