SUCCESS, finnally! (well.. sort of. Still have Questions. HELP)

[MikeB]

My story so far:
I wasn't happy at all with my vapeing experience (this thread), and I got a lot of good suggestions. The new stuff had a bit of kinks to work out (some in this thread), but now I am actually happily vaping!!!! For anyone new or still struggling, know that for me this hasn't been easy and still isn't easy. I'm still smoking analogues, but the difference is that now vaping doesn't just feel like a diet I don't want to be on... now I actually enjoy it, and I am reaching for the ecig over the analogues more and more. I believe with this current setup I can actually make the switch. It's going to be hard, and take time (because I still love a real cig), but I'm not worried about that. At least vaping is now really enjoyable. And I mean that in the sense that often a good vape gives me that "Ahhhhhhhh" feeling... if that makes sense.

What finally worked:
-Boge 510 cartomizer
-Dekang DK-TAB
-510 automatic battery.

The Boge cartos took a bit of getting used to. They didn't produce as much flavor or vapor with the liquids I had on hand, but they are so much easier than attys+carts, and once the DK-TAB came in... WOW... this setup rocks. DK-TAB rocks. Great, complex flavor without the sweetness of my other liquids. I have to admit, I have tried other Dekang liquids, and this Chinese company knows what it is doing! The real surprise for me was the auto battery. Everyone seems to say not to use them, but I ordered one on a whim anyway. I'm glad I did! I don't understand it, but it made a big difference for me. It's just so easy. No rotating it to find the button, or holding it down during a drag -- just hold it like an analogue, bring the the lips, and inhale. It just feels so natural to me.

Problems / Questions:
-Auto battery has developed problems
-The boge cartos leak
-The carto tip vs driptips

My first auto battery was a dream for the first week. Now though it has developed a weird problem. It shuts off quick, like after one second. It didn't do this at first, and my new auto battery is working great. 3-5 second drags before auto-shutoff, and if I keep dragging it just comes right back on. Its like there is no auto-shut off. Why did the old battery go bad? Was it liquid from the carto? I dropped it once... could that be it? Can I fix it somehow? Any suggestions?

The cartos leak. Its not a big deal, but I always have to clean them when switching batteries. I don't believe I am over filling, because I did a test, and one leaked with only 4 drops. I think the 100% pg is just so runny. My concern is that this may be bad for the auto battery. Otherwise its not a big issue. Still, any tips or tricks?

Refilling the cartos is really easy, but tedious. I just stick a toothpick into the tip, pop it out, drip, and pop the tip back in. If I could eliminate the tooth pick, I'd be happier, but so far I don't like drip tips. I have like 12, and my favorite is the Type C Delrin Drip Tip for 510/901 (here), but it still adds too much length to the ecig for me, and it's black. I don't like needing a tool, but I don't like how much length the drip tips add, or how hard they are in the mouth/teeth. I know, its shameful, but I want my ecig to look like an analogue too, and the drip tips don't work with that either. They're not white (often), they're too long, they're hard, and all have contours. I just want something like the carto tip, but one I can get out with my fingers. Any suggestions?

 

[Zurd]

Back when I was using cartomizers, I used to pop the top, throw it in the garbage and just vape on it. Worked great. My cartomizers were covered with a kind of plastic thing so it was great for the lips and teeth, it was not like metal. That way I could fill it with just a few drops whenever I wanted to without using any kind of tool.

 

[jp1000]

If your carto is leaking, that spells doom for auto batteries. Don't know if you can bring it back or not. You can try threading a tightly rolled kleenex in the battery hole and see if you get liquid. You know not to fill while on the battery I am guessing. If you really want an auto battery ecig looking PV - have you considered a volt/bloog 808 type. The auto batteries work great and the horz coil cartos work like a champ too. Good flavor & TH. Also the carto ends on bloog at least, come off with just fingertips.)

 

[wv2win]

Most on ECF do not use or recommend "auto" batteries due to the inconsistent, poor performance and the leaking into the battery compartment and killing it.

Rule of Thumb: the more it looks like the real thing, the worse the performance.

 

[dormouse]

Auto batteries suck for getting damaged by carto leaks, especially since you are using a very thing 100% PG juice
Why auto batteries? 510 manuals are awesome and totally sealed metal on the threaded end

Boge cartos are the best.. BTW slim 510 can only use the standard resistance. If you use LR stuff on slim batteries then you may as well buy a bunch of backup batteries because you will damage the batteries.

Leaks - thin liquid may leak, over-filled cartos leak or freshly fileld ones that were no cleaned up may leak. Are you filling them as intended - dripping into the stuffing (18+ drops) and I hole a tissue against the threaded end hole while I do that. Then I clean it up so I won't get avoidable leaks. I clean the threaded end. I blow into the threaded end with the open end titled down into a tissue to clear the air channel - I want to see light through that. And I sop up any loose juice above the stuffing. If it's a fresh fill of a blank I then let the carto lay on different sides for 15-20 minutes (for thin juices. thick juices may need a lot longer)

I use a plastic or delrin drip tip on the end as a mouthpiece. I just like the feel better on my lips. You make prefer the concentrated thin stream of vapor hitting your tongue through a white cap.

 

[Bozzlite]

+1 for manual batteries. Better vape control and less mechanical problems.

 

[bstedh]

I would recommend 808 if you want auto batteries. They have better life unless you get a 510 mega battery. I think the auto circuit may be a little more robust. I have gotten juice down in mine a couple of times but was able to just blow them out from the LED end and they worked great again.

The 808's I have are from LeCig. They are a little more expensive than most others and I don't know if they are made different in any way but they have been rock solid for a month and a half. I also like the Auto for when I am doing stuff as it can dangle from my lips like an analog...

I think that once you make the complete transition to vapping the cig style will become less important and you may start looking at other things at that point but the cig feel can be fairly important starting out. Once you are off analogs try a Variable voltage and you will never look back.

For the ease of filling try just putting a carto condom with a hole in the end of it on instead of the white plug... It cushions the end of the carto and comes off easy for filling.

Edit: Also the 4.2V of a freshly charged 808 first thing in the morning is a wonderful thing to help curb those cravings.

 

[MikeB]

Zurd:
Tried it just a few minutes ago. Leaving the cap off is interesting. I don't like how it looks, it just looks so naked, but I can't really tell a difference during use. The Boge cartos are covered in that nice soft rubber like material -- very comfortable. I'd still rather have a nice cap that I could remove with my fingers, but this is a good option for now.

jp1000:
I clean the batteries and cartos after every switch, but no matter what I do some liquid gets down onto that little pinhole on the battery. I'm more careful with my new auto batt, and it seems to be lasting just fine, but we'll see. Why don't they just seal them somehow? ... I've watched some reviews of the Bloog. Looks nice, and I really like how you can have an assembled ecig in the pcc, and I did see how the tips come out with the fingers! So cool. Made me wish I'd seen that before I got my 510. Has anyone had both (510 & Bloog)? I'd love to see a comparison thread.

wv2win (& dormouse, & Bozzlite):
Yeah, I know, and I totally get it. A cigarette looks how it looks because that was the most efficient design tobacco use evolved into. The most efficient ecig likely looks and functions totally different than an analogue cigarette. Trying to make the latter into the former really makes no sense. Still, I guess because I am in the process of switching, right now being like an analogue just makes it feel more natural and I get a better experience. With an auto battery, I just think about it less and enjoy it more.

dormouse:
Why auto batteries? Its hard to define. See my answer to wv2win above. ... Yes, Boge cartos rock, and thanks for suggesting them to me. Seriously, thanks! I'm not sure if I'd still be vaping if it weren't for you and the others that have helped. I have a quesiton, even though they are a higher capacity, I still seem to burn through the liquid in one pretty quickly. How long do they last you? Do you keep more than one "ready to go" with the same liquid? I'm thinking about keeping one in backup so I don't have to wait. As for the leaking, yes, I follow your method exactly. Leaks have gotten better as I've gotten used to using the cartos and perfecting my filling/cleaning technique, but with such thin liquid I'm starting to think a little bit of leakage is going to be unavoidable. ... The delrin tips are just so hard and add so much length. Again, I like how my 510 looks and feels like an analogue (especially with the Boge's on there). Doesn't anyone make a soft tip I can get off with my fingers? Speaking of, have you used a Bloog?

bstedh:
I'm totally unfamiliar with the 808. Once I learned that most people liked the 510, that was pretty much all I researched until now. I really like the auto battery, and I'm glad to see you understand. ... I already thought of using a carto condom, and tried it. Didn't like how it increased the diameter, or how it made it look. Was worth a try though. ... Different voltages are fascinating. I'm starting to watch a lot of reviews on mods and such, and it is a wide wide world out there in vaping. I'm learning, but the more I learn, the more I realize how much there is to learn. It's kind of overwhelming at times, but it is fascinating though.

 

[bstedh]

I learned that most people liked the 510, that was pretty much all I researched until now.

They make adapters for almost everything so research them all. I use my 808 cartos on my 510 and 510 cartos on my 808 depending on if I want to use a clearomizer, Vortex, LR carto and wether I want the auto or manual battery...

Adapters open your world wide for unlimited options.