Simple Hints, Tips, and Tricks for Vapers [To Save Time And Money]

[geofxc]

For using a multimeter on coils:

Before I had the VAMO and had to use a regular multimeter, I found that trying to hold the tips of the red and black connectors to the ends of the coil to be a fruitless endeavor. What I found worked instead was quite simple. Just install the coil, and use the posts where the wires attach to measure resistance. Quick and accurate every time.

 

[OnTheFidele]

Thanks, geofxc. For the life of me I don't know why I haven't tried this yet! This would definitely save people from buying a bulky dedicated ohm reader or an APV just to measure ohms (for those who want to stay with mechanical mods).

Speaking of mechanical mods, if you're buying batteries for a mechanical for the first time, ALWAYS go with IMR (Li-Mn) batteries first! Most of us who have been on mechanicals for a while will agree that the IMRs give the best and most consisent vape, not to mention the inherent safety of their chemistry.

For those of you who have not researched the nuances of battery discharge yet: mAh's are not the end all be all of a good, longlasting vape. If you don't believe me, do some research on battery chemistries and look at some discharge graphs.

 

[geofxc]

Yeah, I looked into some of the special dedicated ohm-meters that you screw your atty into. It just seems like a hassle to screw it in and JUST to find out the resistance. Believe me though, when I first tried measuring ohms directly from the wire ends of the coil, and it didn't work, I was so disheartened. I thought for sure I was going to blow up a battery or something. The next day I tried using the posts, and it worked! I was building 1.8 ohm coils for my eGo battery back then, which was a very satisfactory vape.

Another tip for letting friends try your APV:

Crank the volts/watts waaaay down. Every time I've let a smoker-friend try my pv they cough. Like, really cough! I don't remember coughing that much when I switched, but I do remember that for the first couple of hours it there was this "extra throat hit." I think its from getting used to PG of VG instead of smoke. Anyway, I turned my device down to 4 watts and my friend was blow away by how good it tasted!

 

[OnTheFidele]

geofxc, hehehe, my friends definitely learned that the hard way! Since I'm always on a mechanical, I always make sure to keep my backup Twist/Eternity handy when I'm out and about.

 

[OnTheFidele]

Quick tip for those not in the know:

Stealth vaping is very possible! Once you get the vapor into your mouth, inhale deeply and hold a few seconds.

I've stealth vaped on airplanes and movie theaters so far. No vapor, no problem!

 

[geofxc]

Stealth Vaping is awesome. I conceal my device and blow vapor into my sleeve, it works everywhere! Never tried to take one on an airplane before though. I'd probably get a cigalike and put it with some pens in my carry-on.

 

[FACE MEAT]

Does TSA allow passengers to carry-on larger mods like the ProVari?

 

[Kropotkin]

Fabulous thread idea.



1.) Wee rubber bands are also available at Tractor Supply or any other store that sells horse care products. (They're used for braiding manes for shows, and cost about 2 bucks a pack.)

2.) I totally agree that anybody can rebuild stuff, and that it's very satisfying as well as money-saving. I'm quite surprised that's it's mostly men who do this, too, since so many traditional women's skills come in handy here. If you can do embroidery, knitting or hand sewing, you're way ahead of the game. Small hands also help.

3.) Buying cheap crap is always poor economy at the end of the day. Buy a good quality thing once and you're set; buy something dodgy to save a buck and you'll end up having to buy it over and over and over again. (My mother - the c̶h̶e̶a̶p̶e̶s̶t̶ most frugal of penny-pinching Yankees - taught me this when I was ten, and she's not been proven wrong yet.)

 

[juicejunky]

Does TSA allow passengers to carry-on larger mods like the ProVari?

Yes, no rules about carrying on ecigs, just using them. I've taken up to 3 REOs on and had one examined in a jacket pocket. Once you tell them what it is, no problem. Ejuice must be kept within liquid limits. I've put 10-12 30ml bottles in a 1 quart bag and forgo the things like shampoo and never even had them looked at. The bag came with some luggage and says 1 quart on it, they don't really care about liquids.

Vaping in the bathroom while a bit gross works well on a long full flight. Jack up the sink plug, have a seat, and the suction pulls vapor out of the room. Do not blow vape right at the detector and more PG than VG is stealthier. Please be considerate of other passengers if there is a line. If you don't share your 3 seat row section with strangers, the stealth at the seat method works by exhaling into sleeve, coffee cup, or that huge Big Gulp cup you brought on board.

 

[Koman]

Quick tip for those not in the know:

Stealth vaping is very possible! Once you get the vapor into your mouth, inhale deeply and hold a few seconds.

I've stealth vaped on airplanes and movie theaters so far. No vapor, no problem!

Good stuff, thanks for informing!

 

[Kelly Mo2B]

Along with building coils & wick, DIY liquid will save you a fortune.

I would probably do this if I could figure out how to remake AVE's Boba. lol

 

[OnTheFidele]

geofxc, that sleeve trick is ingenious. Thanks for that.

Kropotkin, I agree with point 2 enough to want to reiterate it. ANYONE can build a coil. Even after a couple of times you'll get the hang of "freehanding" a coil without any kind of ohm reader; you'll just know what kind of coil is right for your RBA/mod. It's a piece of cake, especially with a VV/VW mod!

 

[DuffyA2Z]

For using a multimeter on coils:

Before I had the VAMO and had to use a regular multimeter, I found that trying to hold the tips of the red and black connectors to the ends of the coil to be a fruitless endeavor. What I found worked instead was quite simple. Just install the coil, and use the posts where the wires attach to measure resistance. Quick and accurate every time.

If anyone is having a problem measuring resistance you can buy alligator test leads very cheaply. Click Link

 

[OnTheFidele]

Thanks DuffyA2Z, great tip for those of us who don't believe in buying a dedicated ohm reader.

This one isn't a tip per say, but will soothe some frustrated vapers:
On mechanical mods (without a Kick or Crown and a single battery) with atomizers (cartos, RBAs, etc.) of ~1.5 ohms or more, it will take a few seconds to heat up the coil enough to get that "snap crackle pop" that precedes a solid vape. For those who don't understand the rationale of "super low resistance coils", this is why. *Thanks to Mitey F and dwcraig1 for this information*

Now let's have us some more useful hints, tips, and tricks!

 

[OnTheFidele]

Hey guys, an ECF member by the handle of anavidfan just gave me some great advice about gunked up coils and would like to distill it and share it here, along with a few possible modifications:

Thick juices like tobaccos can gunk up a coil setup with just one tank. Light, fruity flavors not so much. If you don't want to rebuild a coil for each tank, you can take apart your RBA and run it through hot water, soak it in hot water, or (possibly, but not tested yet) soak it in a safe grain spirit like vodka. Now wipe off the excess water (or vodka), carefully clean a little of the gunk off (not necessary but will speed up the process, and dry burn your wick with 5 second pulses. During the pulses, the water (or vodka) will evaporate off and then the gunk will begin to burn off. Between pulses blow off the burnt gunk. Soon your coil will be ready for action. If not, rinse and repeat.

Once again, thanks to anavidfan who posted advice for me on the Terminator thread!

 

[OnTheFidele]

Hey guys, I tested the alcohol method of cleaning the coil and it works much better than hot water, imo. Everything dissolves and evaporates quicker. After a few pulses I got rid of literally all of the gunk that was on my coil! Quick note: everything goes by quicker if you keep dabbing the wicks and coil with a cloth every now and then. Also, when dry-burning the coils, you can use some sort of pointed metal object to get the gunk out between the coils quicker.

Cheers, and let's see some more tips!

 

[rdean2954]

Well if you can't find rubberbands, try those shops that sell all the girly accessory stuff. You should be able to find hair ties in a wide variety of different colors and sparkles and all sorts of crazy stuff. Should be able to pick up quite a few for pretty dirt cheap. They're just elastic and cotton mostly.

This. I got a billion pack of colored rubber bands from the little girls hair section at family dollar.

 

[OnTheFidele]

Good call, rdean2954! Most people who haven't been to any would be surprised at what they could get at dollar stores for the prices!

 

[WattWick]

Something I found last night after some cursing... when working with silica wicks, wrap the edges with a couple wraps of plumbers tape. Keeps it from fraying, you can make clean cuts with a scissor straight through it, makes wick easy to thread through holes, aaand peals off easily.

 

[OnTheFidele]

Good call, WattWick. For those not "in the know", plumber's tape is another name for Teflon tape, which is that soft white tapey stuff in those small, blue and white plastic case that is used to seal threads on pipes.