Roller Coaster frustration

[DeaninSJ]

I just need to vent again, because I do NOT want to go back to analogs.

I really thought I was doing well. Getting a good vape, trying out various cart mods, etc. Now, for some reason, everything I do seems to be wrong. Can't refill my carts right...I either get a hot burnt vapor or flood the atty. Hardly any flavor from the times I actually get a decent hit or two.

I'm really frustrated. I am NOT giving up but what truly sucks is I thought I was doing pretty well. I was kinda proud that this newbie was trying cart mods successfully (or so I thought), was making those sanitizer bottle cases...just overall getting into it without spending gobs of money.

But, I'm just going to go back to square one. Reread everything, watch the basic refill videos...everything like it's day one.

I know I can come across here like I'm bipolar, high on vaping one day, ready to chuck it the next. I'm not bipolar in real life (at least not officially diagnosed...hee hee) but, as I said to Richie G, there is an element of OCD to all addictions, and addiction to nicotine is no exception.

Just needed to vent that. I'm sure someone else has been there or may be there today.

Gray day here in South Jersey...good opp'y to just sit and reread the forum.

Thanks all!
Dean

 

[skeetr]

A little advice from someone that has been down the same road as you. Drip. Cart technology is catching up and there is sure to be several great options soon on the market. Dripping also allows the user to guage nic intake like no cart mod out there and your juice is always vaped fresh. Keep the process simple as you go through the wave of change on becoming an ex-smoker. I found that all the messing with stuff caused me to vape more and get impatient. A passthru and 510 atty is a great combo for a pleasant vape experience. Just go 2 drops at a time have a few back up attys and vape on. Good luck.

 

[Fritchard]

I've only been vaping a few weeks but have given up on filling carts entirely. Dripping is always consistent.

 

[wanderlust]

I must agree with skeetr. When the frustration overwhelms then just drip for a time and keep it simple. The learning curve never really goes away, it just ebbs after awhile.

 

[Boredwalk]

I too have been in the same boat. I tried several cart mods and I would either get leaks like crazy or no juice at all. Well like skeetr said drip is the answer., I resisted dripping because it sounded like it was a real PIA but it really isn't.

This blog has some great info - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/quasimod/504-noobs-guide-direct-dripping.html

I also use cartomizers at certain times like when I'm driving and have had excellent luck with those also.

Good luck

 

[wanderlust]

I have been really impressed with the cartomizers, even at high volts that would blow the regular 510 in a matter of days. These little things are cheap, effective and convenient when dripping just won't do.

 

[LostInDaJungle]

You might just need to blow out/clean your atty. Leftover crud from juice gets into the wick and clogs it so that the atty no longer wicks.

I need to do it about once a week depending on the juice I'm using.

 

[martha1014]

I tried all the filling techniques and this was time consuming and messy. They never really worked very good or for very long. IMO with carts you don't get a good throat hit or vapor. You waste a lot more eliquid refilling cart. I also went to dripping. A couple of drops and you are ready to go. The only drawback it having to drip after several puffs. Of course you can get a t-tip or make one with ink pens(instructions on the forum). Not having to take the cap on and off makes it much easier.

 

[DeaninSJ]

My "mentor" here is a dripper as well. I've tried it, find it can work for my first hit or two and that's all I get.
I've tried to slow my drags down, followed the ton of advice here (much of which, as we all know, is contradictory).
What pisses me off the most is that I was doing really well. I was quite proud of being able to vape a nice TH vapor with good flavor. Now, it seems no matter what I do, I get a hot, throat burning, tasteless steaming pile of cr@p.
I am beginning to wonder if I just don't have the patience to get it right. I mean, do people ever really get it right? Reading the forum, it seems people are always trying new mods, upgrading to the perfect new_______ (fill in the blank).
Again, I'm just frustrated. I am jealous of those who are doing this without issue. I totally don't want to go back to analogs. That's why I'm still posting...
*sigh*
Dean

 

[DeaninSJ]

Okay, so I filled a cart poly fill, the same way I've been doing it, used the same liquids I have (which aren't that many), same PT---suddenly I'm getting a decent vape. Still no strong flavor like I was getting b4, but lots of vapor and a decent throat hit with no burn...I'll take 2 ouf 3.
Am I just crazy here or is there something I could be doing differently and just not recognizing it?
(And yes, the Am I just crazy question, could possibly be answered "yes", but I don't think it affects how I'm vaping...)

 

[Cicatrize]

Some people may not agree with me on this, but I think carts are the NUMBER ONE bottle neck of e-cigs. Sure, other parts can go bad, but if you have a cart that wasn't poly-filled correctly from manufacturing, you're doomed before you even fill it with juice.

Right now, I just use blue foam and I'm not ecstatic about it, but it definitely controls better than the poly. I used to buy blank carts all the time. One cart would be great, while the next would would cause flooding, and the next wouldn't wick at all once the stuff at the bottom was vaped.

 

[Cicatrize]

You might just need to blow out/clean your atty. Leftover crud from juice gets into the wick and clogs it so that the atty no longer wicks.

I need to do it about once a week depending on the juice I'm using.

Whoa, did you start vaping the same day I did and used to smoke a pack a day? Our sigs are almost identical, with the exception of money saved. lol

 

[moosewvu]

I must agree with those who say drip. I used two carts. Then I dripped. Never looked back. Using a T-Tip and dripping and vaping away! Hang in there, and good luck

 

[LostInDaJungle]

Dean,

If it makes you feel any better, I've gotten to the place where I know my equipment now. I use the PTB mod for my carts since the fill NEVER wears out, and I got a big battery mod instead of constantly buying Joye batteries that get weak and are expensive.

If I stop getting Vapor:
1) Is the cart full?
2) Is the battery charged?
3) Is the atty clean and working?

If you've checked the first two, take your atty off, and from the cart end blow HARD into a napkin. Keep at it until very little gunk comes out. Clean up the threads on the atty and battery. (A good way to get the battery threads is to screw on the atty with a napkin in between.)

If you draw and hear a gurgling sound, you've flooded the atty and will not get good vapor. Blow out the excess juice.

If that doesn't work, try a dry burn. Take off the cart. Blow out the atty and then attach to the battery and run for 4-5 seconds. You should see the atty coil glow red and hear some popping/sizzling. As soon as the coil turns red, stop. Reassemble and vape.

In this doesn't work, your atty might be going bad. There are plenty of threads on how to check your atty with a multimeter.

Anyway, I'm 9 months on one atty, and that's what works for me. YMMV.

 

[curiousJan]

Okay, so I filled a cart poly fill, the same way I've been doing it, used the same liquids I have (which aren't that many), same PT---suddenly I'm getting a decent vape. Still no strong flavor like I was getting b4, but lots of vapor and a decent throat hit with no burn...I'll take 2 ouf 3.
Am I just crazy here or is there something I could be doing differently and just not recognizing it?
(And yes, the Am I just crazy question, could possibly be answered "yes", but I don't think it affects how I'm vaping...)

That happens to me when I'm hitting it too fast ... when my atty is hot I also get that hot, burnt taste and little vapor (in addition to when I've run the cart too dry.)

Jan

 

[LostInDaJungle]

Whoa, did you start vaping the same day I did and used to smoke a pack a day? Our sigs are almost identical, with the exception of money saved. lol

I think the difference in money saved comes from me being in VA. Cigs are $3.87 a pack at the local drug store.

But yeah, I think we're quit buddies. Nice to meet ya.

 

[Hoosier]

Don't know if this is of any value to you.

I have an atty that is only good for really strong flavors and adds TH. It makes most flavors cruddy, hit hard and dry, and just generally stink. But with really strong flavors it's great.

I have another atty that is the exact opposite. Put a strong flavor in it and you'll get diddly, but softer fruit flavors are great out of it.

I have another atty that I cannot leave a cart on for longer than 2 hours or it will leak.

I usually have 5 attys and I have my odd ones marked with scratches. Yep, darn annoying. I try to keep the odd ones aside and keep them reserved for dripping or testing, but I always seem to get them mixed up in the dark every few days.

Took me awhile to isolate the issues I was having.

 

[DeaninSJ]

If that doesn't work, try a dry burn.

I finally tried a dry burn, after reading the pros and cons.
It produced a thick white vapor cloud in the atty before it glowed.
I'm trying it right now to see how well it will work.
Thanks.
Dean

 

[Cicatrize]

I think the difference in money saved comes from me being in VA. Cigs are $3.87 a pack at the local drug store.

But yeah, I think we're quit buddies. Nice to meet ya.

Awesome, lol. 7/21/09 was a good day to quit.

 

[scheherezade]

Don't know if this is of any value to you.

I have an atty that is only good for really strong flavors and adds TH. It makes most flavors cruddy, hit hard and dry, and just generally stink. But with really strong flavors it's great.

I have another atty that is the exact opposite. Put a strong flavor in it and you'll get diddly, but softer fruit flavors are great out of it.

I have another atty that I cannot leave a cart on for longer than 2 hours or it will leak.

I usually have 5 attys and I have my odd ones marked with scratches. Yep, darn annoying. I try to keep the odd ones aside and keep them reserved for dripping or testing, but I always seem to get them mixed up in the dark every few days.

Took me awhile to isolate the issues I was having.

All of this and you will have days when you just can't taste anything even if you're doing everything right. When that happens, switch to a strong flavor for a bit, good advice from these forums. Think about it, do you actually remember tasting every analog you ever smoked? Ususlly if I do the strong juice thing my taste comes back. When it doesn't, I just use one of my juices I'm not crazy about. It's always back within a day.