Settling for less

[AndriaD]

It sounds like I need to thank god for a supportive spouse. He complains about neither the money I spend on vaping, nor the mess all my vapegear has made of my kitchen counter -- in fact he laughs about the latter, says I'm turning our kitchen into a chemistry lab. He doesn't say a word about the money I spend on it, because a) *I* am the budget-handler/bill-payer and he knows I handle all that BEFORE I buy anything other than my usual e-juice, and b) he's gotten to go back to his own coin-collecting hobby since I quit smoking and started vaping, so it's very clear that my vaping is not spending anything like as much as the cigarettes cost.

I always used to hate being a woman, wished I'd been born male, but I have to say, if I was married to one of these non-supportive women, I'd have to either kill her or divorce her. I don't get that lack of support at all, when someone has quit something that's 100 times more dangerous and 3 or 4 times as costly as vaping. These women seriously need to get a grip and some perspective, and realize the entire world does NOT revolve around them, that their spouses may have needs other than spending money on THEM.

But maybe it's because although my husband always kinda hoped I'd quit smoking, he never really thought I would -- for that, he is so grateful I could probably spend twice what I have been, and get no static.

Andria

 

[twizted]

Any ideas for a good coil build to *decrease* throat hit? I finally got a "real" RDA, a Smoktech Caterpillar, and it's a breeze to build coils for, but it seems that every hit I take, the throat hit is so intense it brings on an asthma attack. I'm not a cloud chaser at all, I prefer my coils about 2 Ω, but it would be nice if I could use this thing for the reason I bought it -- easier tasting -- without having a 10 minute coughing fit and running for the inhaler.

Andria

What voltage are you at. Have you tried lowering it?

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[Nikkel]

Do you find it hard to "settle" for lesser vapes after trying something better?

After reading about the nasty chemicals that can result from vaping high temps, I throttled back to 5 watts. Not as thrilling as higher wattage, but not too bad. I plan to quit vaping someday. Maybe stepping down gradually on the thrilling aspects of it will help me do that.

 

[AndriaD]

Well I don't set the voltage, I set the wattage, to allow me to use any resistance coil without having a math nervous breakdown. When I was fooling around last with the Caterpillar, I had it at 7w, and a really long driptip, trying to lessen the throat hit (I typically vape my kayfun between 8w-9w). I got it to the point, with the 7w and long driptip, that I could take very small, shallow hits without having a coughing fit, but I would still feel that "grab" in my throat, that *almost* cough-reflex.

When I got the kayfun, I had to modify my ejuice a little; with the T3S and protanks, I had been using ejuice that was about 85% PG, just to get a good throat hit; when I got the kayfun, I had to bring down the PG level a little, just so that the kayfun wouldn't give the coughing fits, so now my juice is about 67PG/33VG. However I didn't get the dripper for my regular juice, but so that I could taste new ones more easily than futzing around with a tank, so I really need to be able to use it at *any* PG/VG proportion. I keep thinking that maybe if I built the coil differently, it would help, but I'm not sure how that would be. the caterpillar has 3 posts, so it could be used for duals, but I dislike dual coil intensely, it's just too hot, so I've been just building a single coil for it, somewhere between 1.8Ω and 2.1Ω. I guess I could try an even higher resistance, I do have some 32ga that I used in my T3S/protank coils.

Andria

 

[twizted]

Well I don't set the voltage, I set the wattage, to allow me to use any resistance coil without having a math nervous breakdown. When I was fooling around last with the Caterpillar, I had it at 7w, and a really long driptip, trying to lessen the throat hit (I typically vape my kayfun between 8w-9w). I got it to the point, with the 7w and long driptip, that I could take very small, shallow hits without having a coughing fit, but I would still feel that "grab" in my throat, that *almost* cough-reflex.

When I got the kayfun, I had to modify my ejuice a little; with the T3S and protanks, I had been using ejuice that was about 85% PG, just to get a good throat hit; when I got the kayfun, I had to bring down the PG level a little, just so that the kayfun wouldn't give the coughing fits, so now my juice is about 67PG/33VG. However I didn't get the dripper for my regular juice, but so that I could taste new ones more easily than futzing around with a tank, so I really need to be able to use it at *any* PG/VG proportion. I keep thinking that maybe if I built the coil differently, it would help, but I'm not sure how that would be. the caterpillar has 3 posts, so it could be used for duals, but I dislike dual coil intensely, it's just too hot, so I've been just building a single coil for it, somewhere between 1.8Ω and 2.1Ω. I guess I could try an even higher resistance, I do have some 32ga that I used in my T3S/protank coils.

Andria

Only two things I can think of right off hand is either your nic is too high or your wick isn't wicking to the coil good/fast enough. A 2 ohm coil @ 7 watts is roughly 3.74 volts so you should be good at that wattage.

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[dannyrl]

I haven't fired my MVP ever since I got my mech. I basically only use it as a big ohms reader now and an occasional backup battery to my phone.

As much as I loved my Kayfun, it's been collecting dust since I got my dripper. The flavor and cloud production is so much better from my dripper (in my opinion) that if I have to leave the house, I either won't bring my e-cig at all, or I'll go through the troubles of dripping on the go. I don't want to use up any e-liquid if it isn't being vaped at above 20W

 

[ForeverDiving]

That sounds terrific except it sounds like they have everything but the brushed stainless finish -- the only one I'd want. I had to really hunt around to find a good price on this Tobeco in brushed finished! Neither the polished nor the "matte" "satin" would look good with my brushed stainless Sigelei.

Sounds like a reverse budget situation, too; when I'm ordering all this crap, I feel guilty if my husband can't also order some coins for his collection -- he was deprived of his hobby for years when the economy went into the toilet, but he kept buying me cigarettes. Now we don't have that godawful expense, it only seems to fair to not hog *all* the money from it, for myself! At least the stuff he buys is actually legal tender, even if it does get stuck in a book instead of the bank acct -- in hard times, even that kind of money is spendable -- unlike jewelry.

Andria

Twin souls! You're talking to one who reborn from the ashes after Mexico hughe crash in1995. In fact, I'm gratuitously badmouthing my wife, who is nothing if not the most considerate and prudent person I know. I'm the shopaholic!

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[ForeverDiving]

PS, you can get a truly good brushed one at FT for $24.xx! Lucky girl...

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[AndriaD]

Only two things I can think of right off hand is either your nic is too high or your wick isn't wicking to the coil good/fast enough. A 2 ohm coil @ 7 watts is roughly 3.74 volts so you should be good at that wattage.

Well, I knew that nic level might be an issue, so I didn't use my 9mg, I used the 6mg that I use at night, when I was trying the dripper.

The wick *might* be an issue; I'm still so new to building coils that my wicks are kinda hit or miss; sometimes they're perfect, sometimes much less so. So I'll just keep pounding away at it, see if I can get a vape that doesn't drive me immediately to the inhaler. I'm really most afraid that maybe dripping just isn't for me, with my asthma; it may just be more of a vape than I can physically deal with.

thx
Andria

 

[twizted]

Well, I knew that nic level might be an issue, so I didn't use my 9mg, I used the 6mg that I use at night, when I was trying the dripper.

The wick *might* be an issue; I'm still so new to building coils that my wicks are kinda hit or miss; sometimes they're perfect, sometimes much less so. So I'll just keep pounding away at it, see if I can get a vape that doesn't drive me immediately to the inhaler. I'm really most afraid that maybe dripping just isn't for me, with my asthma; it may just be more of a vape than I can physically deal with.

thx
Andria

Have you tried wicking with cotton? I find for me that cotton gives a more smooth vape than silica does.

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[ForeverDiving]

Well I don't set the voltage, I set the wattage, to allow me to use any resistance coil without having a math nervous breakdown. When I was fooling around last with the Caterpillar, I had it at 7w, and a really long driptip, trying to lessen the throat hit (I typically vape my kayfun between 8w-9w). I got it to the point, with the 7w and long driptip, that I could take very small, shallow hits without having a coughing fit, but I would still feel that "grab" in my throat, that *almost* cough-reflex.

When I got the kayfun, I had to modify my ejuice a little; with the T3S and protanks, I had been using ejuice that was about 85% PG, just to get a good throat hit; when I got the kayfun, I had to bring down the PG level a little, just so that the kayfun wouldn't give the coughing fits, so now my juice is about 67PG/33VG. However I didn't get the dripper for my regular juice, but so that I could taste new ones more easily than futzing around with a tank, so I really need to be able to use it at *any* PG/VG proportion. I keep thinking that maybe if I built the coil differently, it would help, but I'm not sure how that would be. the caterpillar has 3 posts, so it could be used for duals, but I dislike dual coil intensely, it's just too hot, so I've been just building a single coil for it, somewhere between 1.8Ω and 2.1Ω. I guess I could try an even higher resistance, I do have some 32ga that I used in my T3S/protank coils.

Andria

Andria, don't do that. Try a slow build (twin). Large bore, many wraps, thick wire... That way you have control. That way even 1.2 ohm can be managed for a gentle, unagressive draw.

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[AndriaD]

PS, you can get a truly good brushed one at FT for $24.xx! Lucky girl...

Yeah I've seen that one, and I'm strongly considering it, since I do already have a kayfun; that was the first one I looked at, in fact, but I knew I'd never be able to contain myself, waiting that long for something that everyone hollers hallelujah about, but since I already have one, that may be less of an issue.

I'm not really a shopaholic, too miserly for that (I swear in a previous life I was Scrooge McDuck!), but I've really been enjoying all the vapegear acquisition. However I'm discovering that it's like shopping online for anything else -- some stuff you get, you absolutely love, and some stuff... well it's a good thing there's a classifieds section here.

Actually I think my husband may secretly be enjoying the fact that I've gotten so wild about shopping online, buying all this stuff; he's far more a spendthrift than I'll EVER be, and me buying all this probably makes him feel more justified about buying things for himself. And now that we're not spending a fortune on cigarettes, there's actually money for BOTH of us to buy things. It's a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN all the way around!

Andria

 

[TheColdHandedVG]

My provari & black edition kayfun clone v3 are, to me, the cream of the crop. Nothing else compares.

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I never really understood the whole provari thing, but I guess that is because I never owned one. I just don't see what's so great besides it's apparent durability. All it does is VV, and it goes up to 6V so it's not like that is even that special.

Don't get me wrong here, I am not bashing the provari. I just never understood, and still don't understand, the hype with them. Quality is always a great thing, but I guess I am just more of a features type of guy. The provari just never seemed that special to me.

I will probably buy one some day just to see what all the hype is about.

 

[AndriaD]

Andria, don't do that. Try a slow build (twin). Large bore, many wraps, thick wire... That way you have control. That way even 1.2 ohm can be managed for a gentle, unagressive draw.

Ok, I'll definitely try that! I just got some 28ga, so I'll see what I can come up with. And I know just the e-juice I can try it out on; got some French Vanilla from MyFreedomSmokes about 3 wks ago, and although it smells good, it gave a weird aftertaste, so I just stuck it in the drawer to let it age a little. It's a 6mg juice, so that one should do nicely, and with the dripper I should be able to get a really *true* taste of it.

Thx!
Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Have you tried wicking with cotton? I find for me that cotton gives a more smooth vape than silica does.

Since getting the organic cotton balls to use with my kayfun, I won't use anything else -- it even makes the little t3s/protanks better! I thought the "organic" business was a big hype to get stupid people to pay more, but it turns out to make a huge difference in vaping!

Andria

 

[DancingHeretik]

I've heard the the harshness/throat hit is largely dependent on the coils relationship to the airhole. Is it harsher higher than the airhole or lower than?

 

[novamatt]

Andria, don't do that. Try a slow build (twin). Large bore, many wraps, thick wire... That way you have control. That way even 1.2 ohm can be managed for a gentle, unagressive draw.

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This is really good advice.

Another thing to check is how your air holes are aligned. You want them to be right in line with the coil - like you can look through the hole and all you see is the coil or you can poke a pin through it and it will hit the coil. If your air is misaligned, that can give you a harsh throat hit.

 

[AndriaD]

Andria, don't do that. Try a slow build (twin). Large bore, many wraps, thick wire... That way you have control. That way even 1.2 ohm can be managed for a gentle, unagressive draw.

I have to say, I don't think I'm going to be able to do the dual coil thing anytime soon; I'm just not good enough at making coils to get two to come out exactly the same resistance, even when physically -- number of wraps on same-size drill-bit -- they're nearly identical. I've got one that tests to 3.0 ohms, and one that tests to 3.2 ohms, even though they're wrapped exactly alike. *sigh* And I had to use 30ga rather than 28ga, since 14 wraps per coil seems a bit extravagant. So I guess I'll go back to trying to make 2 ohm coils with the 28ga, and see how that does. Slowly, probably; it seems to take forever for it to fire up all the way to try and compress it.

Maybe when I'm more experienced with coil wrapping I'll be able to wrap 2 that are identical in resistance.

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Well, I managed a decent 2.2 Ω coil with 28ga, yeah it's a lot of wraps, but maybe the slowness is what makes it tolerable for me. I tried out that French Vanilla with it, and I don't know if it's because it's been sitting in the drawer for 3 wks, or because I can taste it more clearly with a dripper than with a tank, but it's not bad at all. Being a sweet, there's almost no throat hit, and that also helps considerably, with the dripper. So I guess now I've found a sweet I can vape at night, without having to invest a whole tankful of something I may not want to vape for a long time -- and I know I won't want to vape it for a long time, because what I've found is that if it's not my regular Virginia, with the taste I'm so used to and good TH, I'm just not very satisfied -- it's a novelty, an entertainment, but not my real substitute for smoking.

Now maybe I can finally get some taste out of this Belgian Cocoa; I've tried it several times now, but always with a tank, and what I would get was great smell and almost no taste at all. Maybe the dripper will fix that, it did a good job with the Vanilla. And the Vanilla will probably make a good mix with the Apricot.

When I'm better at making coils, I'll give the dual another shot, but right now I'm just too much of a novice, I guess; I do the number of wraps as determined by the Steam Engine calculator, for a given diameter, but it almost never comes out exactly as anticipated.

Andria

 

[ForeverDiving]

Yeah I've seen that one, and I'm strongly considering it, since I do already have a kayfun; that was the first one I looked at, in fact, but I knew I'd never be able to contain myself, waiting that long for something that everyone hollers hallelujah about, but since I already have one, that may be less of an issue.

Just finished an order at KP. They have a (slightly more expensive) Kf 3.1 from HCigar that looks great! Polished or brushed. Don't know if it's the same one FT has tho; it might. In any case, for someone in the States and not wanting to wait five weeks, that's the deal! Almost fell for it but ended just ordering some replacement odds & ends like insulators and supplies. :/