Novice Vaping Question... The "bad hits"

[Vwls]

OK so I have not upgraded yet (waiting till I get paid obv) and am still vaping from a little eGo style kit I bought at a local smoke shop. It's served its purpose, which was to keep me from running into the Circle K and buying another pack of analogs. But it does suck.

With that in mind, and understanding that the amount of vapor being produced is pretty crappy, and the e-liquid not at all what I will eventually end up with... what are the "bad hits" about??

Every 5th toke or so I get a hit that has very little vapor, but a lot of what feels like 'chemical throat hit.' I blow out just a touch of visible vapor but my throat feels yucky and I feel like I inhaled a bunch of invisible chemicals. Can anyone explain what that is and will it go away when I upgrade?

Thanks!

Liquid: 4EverEJuice Menthol 16 mg. Here is the kit I am using (just till Friday):

 

[fatttymagoo]

My guess is that your wick isn't saturated enough and your not burning juice. Happened to me quite a bit when I used clearos like that one. Just turn your ego on its side and rotate to re wet the wicks. Not sure about the juice but don't think that would be the problem

 

[Baditude]

I agree with fatty (no pun intended)

I couldn't make out the clearo device you have, but I imagine it is a top coil/top fed type of clearomizer. These wicks need to stay saturated with juice to prevent a dry hit. If not, you will just get the taste of the coil heating up the silica wick. Tilt or swirl your device frequently to keep the wicks wet, especially when the juice level becomes low in the tank.

This issue is less of a problem with the bottom coil/bottom fed clearomizers like the Evod and ProTank as gravity keeps their wicks naturally wet.

 

[Vwls]

The wicks look pretty wet... also, I don't turn this on it's side because it makes the next draw "gurgle."

 

[dwc2134]

I would step up your tanks. I use Kanger T3s on my eGo style batteries and have never had a bad or dry puff. What you are probably experiencing is the wick not being able to supply enough juice to the coil. Have you noticed this becoming more pronounced when the tank is low or the device is at a specific angle?

 

[Baditude]

The wicks look pretty wet... also, I don't turn this on it's side because it makes the next draw "gurgle."

Dry hits is a juice delivery device issue, not dependent upon the battery device. An upgrade in battery will not solve this issue.

You might have better luck with a Kanger Evod or ProTank clearomizer, as I said their performance is not dependent upon position to keep the wicks wet.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtqakeg3z4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRK81n1u9Cw

 

[Vwls]

I agree with fatty (no pun intended)

I couldn't make out the clearo device you have, but I imagine it is a top coil/top fed type of clearomizer. These wicks need to stay saturated with juice to prevent a dry hit. If not, you will just get the taste of the coil heating up the silica wick. Tilt or swirl your device frequently to keep the wicks wet, especially when the juice level becomes low in the tank.

This issue is less of a problem with the bottom coil/bottom fed clearomizers like the Evod and ProTank as gravity keeps their wicks naturally wet.

Here are better shots of the substandard unit I am using ;o) including the wick and it's approximate submersion in liquid at this time.

 

[Vwls]

My guess is that your wick isn't saturated enough and your not burning juice. Happened to me quite a bit when I used clearos like that one. Just turn your ego on its side and rotate to re wet the wicks. Not sure about the juice but don't think that would be the problem

You are right - if I tilt it ever so slightly each way and get the wicks saturated, it hits fine.

When I upgrade I plan to use a Protank so I guess that will solve it.

 

[Baditude]

You are right - if I tilt it ever so slightly each way and get the wicks saturated, it hits fine.

When I upgrade I plan to use a Protank so I guess that will solve it.

Good to hear. PBusardo did a nice review of the Kanger Protank, and improved its performance by removing one of the three wicks (shown in the video).

 

[hvac999]

You won't have a problem with a Kanger evod or ProTank. I primarily use a Vamo with a ProTank but ALWAYS have an ego Twist or Spinner with an evod on it.

 

[Vwls]

Good to hear. PBusardo did a nice review of the Kanger Protank, and improved its performance by removing one of the three wicks

I noticed that and was hoping for others to chime in... should I remove that top wick?

 

[IMFire3605]

That an iClear16?? Or a CE4? Also remember, even though the wicks look wet, thickness of your juice will affect wicking, even on a top coil, thicker the juice, longer it takes wicks to pull liquid to the coil itself. Also remember if you are chain vaping, tilt and twirl that tank after every hit or 2nd hit dependin on your PG to VG ratio. Other options to the protank would be the Evod, iSmoka/Vapeonly BCC, Kanger T3 and couple others, though if you like the top coils, Vivi Nova and Mini Vivi Nova are excellent options as well and are tried and tested true to perfom consistently.

 

[ShariR]

Hi. I am new at this also. I have both the ProTank and the Evod. I use the ProTank with cinnamon type or citrusy type juices and I pretty much have the Evod on the rest of the time. I have not had one hiccup with the Evod for a full week. Just rinse, fill and go. I am not a tinkerer so the Evod makes it simple for me. And I have read that the Evod replacement coils also fit the ProTank, so a win-win for me.

Go Eskies!

 

[Vwls]

That an iClear16?? Or a CE4? Also remember, even though the wicks look wet, thickness of your juice will affect wicking, even on a top coil, thicker the juice, longer it takes wicks to pull liquid to the coil itself. Also remember if you are chain vaping, tilt and twirl that tank after every hit or 2nd hit dependin on your PG to VG ratio. Other options to the protank would be the Evod, iSmoka/Vapeonly BCC, Kanger T3 and couple others, though if you like the top coils, Vivi Nova and Mini Vivi Nova are excellent options as well and are tried and tested true to perfom consistently.

It's a CE4... I'm definitely not a chain vaper. I just have substandard equipment. Juice is not very thick. I get the "bad hits" every 5th hit or so no matter what I do with this set up - even when the tank is full and wicks are fully submerged.

 

[Baditude]

I noticed that and was hoping for others to chime in... should I remove that top wick?

I've had my two ProTanks for about a month, and I haven't seen the need to remove the top wick yet.

Occassionally I will attempt a vape and get absolutely nothing in vapor. Increasing the voltage about one volt and doing a couple of dry burns (power on without inhaling), then return it to the voltage I was at, and it returns to normal and vapes fine. I assume there's old juice buildup on the coil preventing it to heat up; doing the dry burn burns the gunk off.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

I wouldn't remove wicks on the clearo you have now or it will leak & flood for sure.

I suggest you experiment with various juice delivery devices before worrying too much about a power device upgrade as long as the battery life is sufficient.


T3s, T3, Tabac bcc, evod, vapeonly bcc and vape only mini bcc & protank are all bottom coil design, all work well, all have little quirks.

 

[Glen Snyder]

I noticed that and was hoping for others to chime in... should I remove that top wick?

Best advice I can give on the kanger bcc's is wash them out with hot water and dry before using then try them stock as they were designed FIRST. If you're not satisfied with the vape , THEN you can start making modifications.

Also, I wouldn't classify eGo fixed voltage batteries and CE 4 clearos as substandard. They just need to be used in a different way than bcc's. You're on the right track to be able to get the useful life out of the CE4's you own now.

 

[Vwls]

I wouldn't remove wicks on the clearo you have now or it will leak & flood for sure.

I suggest you experiment with various juice delivery devices before worrying too much about a power device upgrade as long as the battery life is sufficient.

T3s, T3, Tabac bcc, evod, vapeonly bcc and vape only mini bcc & protank are all bottom coil design, all work well, all have little quirks.

Right - it may have been unclear from the flow of the thread, but the conversation about removing the top wick referred to a Protank. In regard to my current setup, I am not planning on doing any modifications - just replacement.

 

[IMFire3605]

It's a CE4... I'm definitely not a chain vaper. I just have substandard equipment. Juice is not very thick. I get the "bad hits" every 5th hit or so no matter what I do with this set up - even when the tank is full and wicks are fully submerged.

Hmm, being an AZ local myself, you get that at Zikwid or other Vape shop here? If the bottom unscrews off that CE4, then you can look at replacing just the coil head, as that would mean it is the upgraded version of the CE4, if not, which Zikwid are notorious for selling to new vapers is the older CE4's which were use till dead, then toss them. Let me know, I can try to direct you to a couple of other Vape Shops here in the valley within your area.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

It's a Stardust aka CE4 and is non rebuildable. Try this until you get another clearo:
Remove drip tip.
Using tweezers lift the silicon cap up slightly.
Replace drip tip but don't screw it down all the way.
Realize with the above you cannot lay your PV down horizontally= leakage.
Sometimes the silicon cap is pushing down too much on the wicks and not allowing proper wicking. Drip tip also pushes the silicon cap down.
Far better juice delivery systems out there. The CE4/ Stardust was the very first clearo released and there's been many releases/ versions.