Question on 510 consistancy?

[crazygirll22]

Hi everyone, I'm still fairly new to the forum & to vaping, but I appreciate all of the wonderful information I have found here. I can't seem to get consistancey with my pv? For example one day it will work great, good taste, throat hit, & vapor. Then the next day it doesn't taste as good, it's hard to explain but it's just not good. When it's working great I love my pv and feel like I could just never smoke analogues again. But when it's not working the way I know it should, I'm not so sure? I don't do anything different on those days, I fill it the same, use the same liquid, etc. Does anyone else have this issue or is it just me? Any ideas/suggestions? If I can get this to work the same all the time, I know I could finally stop the 1-2 analogues I'm still smoking? Thanks in advance!

 

[poytim]

I know what you mean...direct dripping helped me, but sometimes still I feel like it's not quite working right - then I try a new atomizer, or cleaning it, or something. Still struggling with it a bit to be honest, but I havent been too tempted yet to go for an analog. I'm starting to accept that, in terms of reliability/consistency, it's never going to be quite like analogs were...and that's the price of its benefits!

 

[martha1014]

I also have this problem. I try everything people suggest and some of them just are not consistent. No matter what people say this just happens. Sometimes if you change the atomizer out and use a fresh batteries this will help but it will always happen. My thing is to have around 20 - 510s at all times. That way if one doesn't work I just use another one. I know this is not possible for everybody but the more you have working at any time will definitely help.

 

[Christie]

I also have noticed this. Usually I'll just do a dry burn and that seems to fix the problem for a day or so.

 

[crazygirll22]

Wow, Thanks for all of the quick replies! I'm glad i'm not alone, I was beginning to wonder if I'm really doing something wrong. I actually did hook up a new pv, and now I'm trying to break it in so it will work good. But I still notice that funky taste now 7 then. I haven't tried any of the different cart fillers yet, do you think that will make a difference? It's just so strange that some days it tastes soooo good, and some not so much! It's almost like burnt something, but when I pull off the cart it's still really full. I guess this is something that just happens & I'll just have to have lots of pv's to rotate.lol Do you know if this happens with other models as well as the 510?

 

[crazygirll22]

I also have noticed this. Usually I'll just do a dry burn and that seems to fix the problem for a day or so.

Hi Christie, I've been afraid to try a dry burn, mostly bc I dont' want to trash my atty. Can you explain how you do it? How long do you hold the button down, how many times do you do it, & how do you know it's all set? Thanks!

 

[7thCabal]

If you've been using the same cart w/ original filler material over & over again it could be that the filler material needs to be changed out. I've had some experiences where the cart is definitely full but the polyfil just refused to wick anymore. Try pulling the polyfil out & flipping it around, should wick better... or better yet replace it altogether w/ some kinda cart mod.

 

[candre23]

I've been afraid to try a dry burn, mostly bc I dont' want to trash my atty. Can you explain how you do it?

I've used the Highping method and it has worked in the past. I haven't burned out an atty with it yet, but that might just be luck. I look at it this way - If an atty is performing poorly or tastes bad, it's not usable, so what do you have to lose? Even if it pops, all you lost was a bad atty. If it works, you revived a bad atty for free.

I also agree with 7thCabal that you might want to clean or replace your filler material. Try dripping to see if the filler or the atty is really the issue.

 

[M76]

I know what you mean!

I had my last analog on Friday morning, I've been 100% vape / analog free for 4 days now. I agree with the other posters in that e-cigs will never be as "reliable" as analogs.

What I find helps is to clean my atomizers often. I first blow out any left over juice. Next, I use a blunt-needled syringe and drip a few drops of vodka on the atty. I activate the 510 and puff directly on the atty, repeating this until there is literally no taste. Once that's done I blow out any vodka remnants and keep vaping.

I've had a hard time finding the right juice too. Most I find are too weak in flavour. The ones that do have flavour tend to be the of the fruity variety (red bull, very berry, etc..). I love them for the first few drags but I find they get sickly-sweet.

Right now my "daily vapes" are Marlboro 24mg and Virginia 24mg from Madvapes. I find the Marlboro has a good (but weak) flavour. The virgina tastes stronger and has a better throat his, but I don't like the flavour as much.

I just received vapables.com's "Do More Eh" flavour, a take on the canadian cigarette brand DuMaurier. I have to say it's probably my favorite thus far, but it was quite expensive ($30 / 30ml, 18mg).

I now have a shelf full of flavours that I really don't like - not sure what I'll do with them!

 

[crazygirll22]

Thanks again to everyone for the replies.
7thcabal--you may be right, I have been using the same cart for a few days now, so maybe I just need to change it or rotate the filler. How long do you usually use a cart before you need to change or clean the filler?

Candre23--Thanks for the link for the highping method, I'll have to check it out. I did try to dry burn yesterday without any instructions, & I'm not sure if I did it correctly but it defenately helped a little. I want to try one of the cart mods, but it's so hard to choose which one. I'm thinking of either the straw mod or PTb mod to start with, only problem is I check my local Walmart last night and couldn't find any pyramid tea bags. Can I try this with a regular tea bag?

M76 --I know what you mean too about the flavor's, I also have a bunch of different flavors that I don't even use. But I'm hanging onto them just in case once my taste buds start to recover, I may give them a try again to see if I like them better.

 

[Belhade]

Some things I've had to do to keep my 510s working properly...

Clean and rotate your attys. If you have the standard 2-cig kit, wash one out while you're using the other and swap em every week or so (unless you're using them for different flavors regularly).

If you start getting bad draws, gurgling, little vapor, the atty may be flooded. Blow out the atty by putting a paper napkin around the battery-side threads and blow through the cart side. You may need to re-prime by dripping a drop or two (don't flood it again!) and it should hit smoother.

Also, obviously, make sure your battery is freshly charged. Sometimes I'll be puffing away and start losing quality, take apart the atty, check the cart, scratch my head, try hitting it again just to see the LED blink. Duh!

 

[shanobi187]

I would reccomend the PTB mod, I don't know where you'll find them in your area but It's the only mod I use, it's easy to do, and it works great for me. just my 2 cents.

 

[DC2]

Candre23--Thanks for the link for the highping method, I'll have to check it out. I did try to dry burn yesterday without any instructions, & I'm not sure if I did it correctly but it defenately helped a little. I want to try one of the cart mods, but it's so hard to choose which one. I'm thinking of either the straw mod or PTb mod to start with, only problem is I check my local Walmart last night and couldn't find any pyramid tea bags. Can I try this with a regular tea bag?

The Highping method is excellent, and everyone should be doing it.

The PTB mod is a bit difficult to work with, and no you can not use a regular tea bag.
I would go with the Aquaclear filter, blue foam, or some variation on the ADM mod.

M76 --I know what you mean too about the flavor's, I also have a bunch of different flavors that I don't even use. But I'm hanging onto them just in case once my taste buds start to recover, I may give them a try again to see if I like them better.

Or you can always check out The Flavor Exchange in the social groups section.
It is a place to exchange flavors with others, and I just started it yesterday.

It will either take off or it won't, but it's a great idea and I figured it was worth a shot.

 

[Cicatrize]

Mark me down for a vote for the "highping method".

I've been doing it since I started vaping and it works great. If the atty is REALLY flooded and old though, extreme measures may be necessary.

 

[crazygirll22]

Some things I've had to do to keep my 510s working properly...

Clean and rotate your attys. If you have the standard 2-cig kit, wash one out while you're using the other and swap em every week or so (unless you're using them for different flavors regularly).

If you start getting bad draws, gurgling, little vapor, the atty may be flooded. Blow out the atty by putting a paper napkin around the battery-side threads and blow through the cart side. You may need to re-prime by dripping a drop or two (don't flood it again!) and it should hit smoother.

Also, obviously, make sure your battery is freshly charged. Sometimes I'll be puffing away and start losing quality, take apart the atty, check the cart, scratch my head, try hitting it again just to see the LED blink. Duh!

Wow I think I had a DUH moment! LOL! I've been trying to blow out my atty, but I usually blow from the battery end. I never even thought to try it the opposite way. Thanks for that info I will def try it!
I will also try the Highping method for dry burining, & also start cleaning and rotating my atty's. I actually do have a few spare atty's, so I'll have to start switching every week and cleaning them weekly too.
I will keep looking into the cart mods. I did buy some blue foam from one of the vendors, but I'm not sure if I need to wash it out before I use it. Does anyone know if I need to clean it first and what the best way to do that is?

 

[DC2]

Does anyone know if I need to clean it first and what the best way to do that is?

You will probably get a funny taste if you don't rinse it first.

I rinse mine by running it under really hot tap water, squeezing it out every few seconds as I go.
I cut a square big enough to make a few cartridges and rinse it off before cutting it down further.

This works perfectly fine for me, and I don't get any funny taste.

 

[lxconv91]

I just rinse with water in my fingers for a but and then dry off. I use a paper towel and smash it until there is no more water.

 

[CaptJay]

I abandoned carts and went to direct dripping - I get much more consistency this way. My attys have been going strong for 4 months - though they are starting to die now - I also find heavy use of a PT (so heavy I think I either broke my 3.7v one or its just a dead battery) helps a lot. Manual (as in non PT) batteries lose their charge so fast and I think that's more of an issue than we realise at times.
I don't clean my attys - just blow them out and re-drip frequently. Even a slightly dry 510 bridge can be an issue; its a fine line between 'too dry' and 'flooded' which you have to balance. There's no 'magic number of drips' either alas - it varies between liquid viscosity and drip size (not standard due to aforementioned viscosity and bottle tip sizes) - and you have to experiment.
I find this is pretty much the same deal with 901 attys as well though - I just think 'in general' attys are fussy things.
I never got a cart filler to perform 'perfectly' for ME - I just gave up in annoyance really and find direct drippping takes a lot of the headaches away lol.
If however I do use a cart, I rinse the filler in hot water, squeeze it dry, fluff it up and leave it to dry in the air for a few hours. I also have the blue foam stuff which I find 'better' but only slightly (which is why i stick to dripping unless I'm in a situation where its impossible)

 

[Greg558]

this is not confirmed, just merely a thought... but is it possible that for someone that consistently using the same model and same juice, for their taste buds just got bored with the same thing constant, and that it might seem as though the Pv isn't working correctly. because iv only every used my 510 and only my 510 and i only have used menthol type flavored juice, and i get occasion days where i feel this way.. but i let my wife try it.. and she says it tastes like any-other time she has done it... so i don't know... im guessing it may be that your/our taste budds takes a day off from the repetitiveness of the same routine... then is back the next day.. maybe? that's at least how im looking at it.. because on those days.. i have 5 different att 5 batts and iv switched them all every which of a way and still have the same feeling... and the odds of all 5 e-cig sets have the same non flavor taste is very remote... that's my opinion...

Anyone think this might be the case?

 

[crazygirll22]

Greg - you may be right, but i tend to use the same cart for at least a week & the same atty without switching or cleaning it(other than blowing it out every other day). So I am going to try a cart mod, cleaning the atty's and rotating them out every few days to see if that helps. Maybe our taste buds just haven't fully recovered yet and that's what is causing it?
CaptJay - I may try dripping sometimes, I actually emptied the cart yesterday, gave my atty a little dry burn(not sure if i did it right or not), & then dripped a few drops on the atty after. WOW it def was a big difference in flavor with the juice right on the atty!

I'm going to keep trying everyones suggestions until I finally find what works for me. I am determined to make this work and not smoke anymore!
Thanks again to everyone for your help.