Total noob, please help!

[LaDiablo]

So as you all know, this is a frustrating process when you first start. I swear I'm not trying to be lazy, but I don't understand half of what I read, likely because I've not so much as seen an eCig, so I'd appreciate some input :].

I'm thinking of buying a Joye 510 -- mainly because it seems to be a very popular choice, and manuals sound more durable than automatics.
Cost is a big factor for me (broke college kid -- my campus goes nonsmoking in August and I'll be pulling 8 hour shifts there at the time x__x), so I'd like something that has cheap maintenance :]. I'll sacrifice a bit of quality for the sake of money, but I'd like something that I want to smoke, and if it's going to be too burdensome or pricey I'll just stick with regular cigs :3. Which I don't want to do, hence decent quality. I also saw a Joye starter kit for $35, which looked nice :].

So! If I buy the "Copper JOYE510 starter kit (manual)" from Healhcabin.net, what then? What do I need to know, both about the provider and the eCig? What else should I buy alongside the starter kit?
I think I heard healthcabin is pretty decent -- would you agree? Is this the same 510 everyone seems so happy with? What else will I need to buy with it? What will I need to buy to keep me smoking for about a month with this? I'm hearing a lot about replacement batteries/cartridges/atomizers and need to know what the initial investment will be like to get everything I need :3.

I currently smoke about 10-15 cigs a day -- not bad, but pricey. Marlboro or Camel menthols, sometimes camel menthol wides, but they make my throat hurt =/. I'm particularly interested in the different flavors of vapors, which I heard the 510 wasn't particularly great for, but how much of a problem is that? For instance, I want to try fruity flavors and coffee flavors and probably more menthols; will I be happy with a 510? If not, what else should I go for?
How much liquid should I buy at a time?
How often will I need to charge the battery, and how often will I need a new one?
How do I refill my own cartridges?
Who should I buy replacement stuff from?
x___x
I've been browsing these forums for ages and still feel pretty lost. You guys have some wonderful guides... but boy are they time consuming to sort through . And with so many forums, where to begin is difficult... and not knowing anything of eCigs, half of it's in one ear and out the other X].
So I'd really appreciate a bit of help, if you can offer it :]. Thanks ^___^.


TL;DR version: I'm thinking of buying a Joy 510 from healthcabin.net and need to know what I should consider and what I need to start :].

 

[igetcha]

hi mate,

healthcabin are a well known supplier and ive never seen any negative comments about their business or products.........so you should be able to purchase from them with confidence

i would probably recommend getting the following:-

1. 510 starter kit (which i believe comes with 2 batteries and 1 atomiser)

2. spare atomiser

3. 30ml bottle of e-liquid


that should be more than enough to get you started without having to spend too much on initial outlay (just in case of the unlikely event that vaping is not for you)


the carts that come with the kit can be easily refilled with the e-liquid.........and e-liquid is far more cost effective than purchasing more cartridges.

a 30ml bottle of e-liquid should be enough for "around" 240 cigarettes worth of vaping


hope that helps!

cheers,

scott

 

[schaedj]

510 is a good starting choice. Healthcabin is in China, so be prepared for a longer wait for your supplies. There are some decent 510 disposable kits out there, if you are looking to get your toes wet first. Also, if you are looking to save $$, you could haunt the classifieds. Quite frequently, people who have quit smoking and vaping altogether sell their kit through the classifieds. It all depends on your patience.
Recommendations: 510 Kit, spare atty, USB passthrough, juice (In that order, IMO). Buying juice is signficantly cheaper than buying carts, but don't go overboard on any one flavor. Even if you like it, your tastes may change over time. That's another thing to hunt in the classifieds for. People try juice and then move on, and will post things up for cheap.

Juice recommendations: Buy a sampler kit (~5ml bottles) from different vendors. Lets you try flavors without a big investment. I would shoot for having about 50ml total. In sampler sizes, it'll run about .75/ml, so you're looking at $35 bucks.
If you don't have a USB p/t, you will probably be rotating your batteries every couple of hours. I can't help on the life expectancy of the 510 batt, I haven't used one. If you have a USB p/t, you won't change nearly as often, and your batteries will last longer.
Different people swear by different suppliers in this forum. Most of them are really good. Some try harder than others. Key factors are stock levels, price and customer service. I would start by comparing prices of a few in your region (on the suppliers forum section, the region is listed next to the suppliers' name). They will have the fastest ship time, so when you run low on supplies you can get them quicker without paying premium freight.
Filling cartridges is easy, there's several threads explaining "How To". For the 510, I would recommend buying some syringes and 18 gauge needles to fill, as filling with a syringe is neater and avoids air bubbles trapped in the cart. Search for a thread called "Needles and Syringes for 4 cents" There's a pet supply place out there that sells syringes and needles with free shipping, and you can get a $5 discount off a $5 purchase with the right code (Yes, it actually only costs .04) I got a larger needle and paid .84 cents for 11 needles and 11 syringes.

Good luck.

 

[LaDiablo]

Vunderful news . I'm willing to bet eCigs are for me, but I'm sort of the rebellious and stubborn sort with new ideas, so we'll see jaja. Every time I pull out a cigarette lately I can't help but wish I had an eCig X]. I'm so easily swayed.

Good to hear about healthcabin -- guess I lucked out with that find :]. Is $35 pretty average? It's about the cheapest I've seen, so I had to wonder about the quality :3. And the supplier seems to be based in China -- am I going to have any Customs issues, or is that just the countries they warned about (Canada, Belgium, and a few others)?

With a 510, what flavors work best (I guess they differ depending on the type of cig?) and where should I buy them from?

Ahh, and with a nicotine habit of about 1/2 pack a day, what strength do you recommend?

Sorry to be difficult :3. So much thanks for your post!

 

[LaDiablo]

510 is a good starting choice. Healthcabin is in China, so be prepared for a longer wait for your supplies. There are some decent 510 disposable kits out there, if you are looking to get your toes wet first. Also, if you are looking to save $$, you could haunt the classifieds. Quite frequently, people who have quit smoking and vaping altogether sell their kit through the classifieds. It all depends on your patience.

Try Craigslist first then? I don't think vaping has really caught on in Missouri yet, but someone around here has tried it, I'm sure X]

Recommendations: 510 Kit, spare atty, USB passthrough, juice (In that order, IMO). Buying juice is signficantly cheaper than buying carts, but don't go overboard on any one flavor. Even if you like it, your tastes may change over time. That's another thing to hunt in the classifieds for. People try juice and then move on, and will post things up for cheap.

I just read in a noob thread something about how passthroughs aren't really necessary if I'm around a power source much of the time? But that might have been something else, there were two with similar names *__*. Is the passthrough the battery charger, or the direct battery-surpassing one?

Juice recommendations: Buy a sampler kit (~5ml bottles) from different vendors. Lets you try flavors without a big investment. I would shoot for having about 50ml total. In sampler sizes, it'll run about .75/ml, so you're looking at $35 bucks.

Healthcabin has 10 ml bottles for $3.50 a piece -- is this too much to pay? Their flavors look delightful :3. I guess that's if I don't find any good deals on Craigslist though :3.

If you don't have a USB p/t, you will probably be rotating your batteries every couple of hours. I can't help on the life expectancy of the 510 batt, I haven't used one. If you have a USB p/t, you won't change nearly as often, and your batteries will last longer.
Different people swear by different suppliers in this forum. Most of them are really good. Some try harder than others. Key factors are stock levels, price and customer service. I would start by comparing prices of a few in your region (on the suppliers forum section, the region is listed next to the suppliers' name). They will have the fastest ship time, so when you run low on supplies you can get them quicker without paying premium freight.
Filling cartridges is easy, there's several threads explaining "How To". For the 510, I would recommend buying some syringes and 18 gauge needles to fill, as filling with a syringe is neater and avoids air bubbles trapped in the cart. Search for a thread called "Needles and Syringes for 4 cents" There's a pet supply place out there that sells syringes and needles with free shipping, and you can get a $5 discount off a $5 purchase with the right code (Yes, it actually only costs .04) I got a larger needle and paid .84 cents for 11 needles and 11 syringes.

Good luck.

Oh sveet. Very good to know :]. Thank you so much!

 

[mistinthewoods]

You don't need a passthrough. They're nice if you sit in front of a computer all day but otherwise they are not really a necessity. If you do though you can probably find one for $15.00 to $18.00.

 

[lightinup]

Vunderful news . I'm willing to bet eCigs are for me, but I'm sort of the rebellious and stubborn sort with new ideas, so we'll see jaja. Every time I pull out a cigarette lately I can't help but wish I had an eCig X]. I'm so easily swayed.

Good to hear about healthcabin -- guess I lucked out with that find :]. Is $35 pretty average? It's about the cheapest I've seen, so I had to wonder about the quality :3. And the supplier seems to be based in China -- am I going to have any Customs issues, or is that just the countries they warned about (Canada, Belgium, and a few others)?

With a 510, what flavors work best (I guess they differ depending on the type of cig?) and where should I buy them from?

Ahh, and with a nicotine habit of about 1/2 pack a day, what strength do you recommend?

Sorry to be difficult :3. So much thanks for your post!

First, Welcome to the Forum! Secondly, IMHO, I would purchase my Joye510 from Cignot Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store.. They are located in Chicago if I remember correctly. The ladies there are the best. You can get a kit for $35 which contains 2 batteries, 2 atomizers and a charger. The customer service is great and they usually ship out within hours of placing your order. As far as flavors and nicotine strength goes, well, taste is subjective. I would certainly order several small bottles in different flavors and different strengths. I would recommend starting around the 12mg - 18mg. And if you can afford it, try at least one bottle that is VG based. PG sometimes disagrees with individuals and it is best to have something of each when starting out instead of having to wait for another order. Once you can afford it, I would certainly recommend a PCC and more atomizers. Good Luck and Happy Vaping!

 

[Shortstuff116]

Welcome Aboard and you've already received great information so far, I can however highly recommend Cignot.com. $35 for the Joye 510 starter kit, a great selection of juices, shipping only $5 (free if order is over $59) and you'll get it fast.

Good Luck!

 

[PaulCincy]

Welcome, and yes try Cignots first...I bought one for my wife and she loves it...White of course....As far as nic strength,,,My wife used about 1/2 to a pack of analogs a day...She tried my 14-16 mg of nic and it was too much for her...She is using 6 mg of nic juice and likes it...and more importantly,,,,it keeps her off the analogs...Again, Welcome and remember there is most likely an answer to any question you might have concerning vaping on this Forum...The best forum around...bar none...Welcome

 

[bwood12043]

LaDiable,

First, Welcome to the World of Vaping and to this forum ! And good luck in your journey, we are all pioneers in a world of wonderful products and there is a wealth of information being shared here.

One thing, I think when the previous poster was referring to the "classifieds", they were referring to the classified section here on the forum. There are often very good deals listed for sale or trade by other users in the classified section.

As far as your regional vapers goes, there does not seem to be a Missouri forum started yet, but perhaps after you have enough posts to qualify, you could start one ! Then other vapers in your state or area could communicate with each other. Several states have forums and even some other groups who commune with each other and trade info/ideas.

As far as choice of devices and supplies and juice goes, well it seems you are getting lots of suggestions and all of them are good. Be prepared for pleasant surprises and the rare glitch. Most of us here will agree that we were hesitant at first, then once we dove in, we found the wonderful world of vaping and now it's a part of life that we treasure.

Again, good luck and feel free to communicate any and all questions here on the forum.

 

[LaDiablo]

I jumped the gun and sprung for the healthcabin one the same night I posted this... Shame I'm missing out on the Cignot offer, but all's well, I guess :]. Three bottles of juice, too - clove, blueberry, mocha - but I've been hearing some pretty mediocre things about Dekang, so I perused Ms.T's site and ordered three more <___<. Definitely getting the noob nerves jaja.

I ordered some 18-24 strengths, but comments like PaulCindy's are making me wonder if I won't need to cut them down... I only smoke 10-15 a day (marlboro menthol full flavors) at the moment. Can anyone link me a good guide for cutting with VG? Or do I just kinda... dump them together in the right ratio... :3 [/noobtastic]

I noticed there wasn't a Missouri forum either... But I might just hop in with the Okies for the meanwhile . Good to know about the classifieds sub -- I've been browsing craigslist with rather negative results :3.

Thanks for all the welcomes!

 

[Rosa]

cignot probably would have been faster, but alls well that ends well, right? and healthcabin is good too. I smoked about the same as you (10-15 Camel Filters/day)and went with 24mg - it satisfies my cravings perfectly so you might be just fine with what you have. Have fun!

 

[jerrydon10]

I jumped the gun and sprung for the healthcabin one the same night I posted this... Shame I'm missing out on the Cignot offer, but all's well, I guess :]. Three bottles of juice, too - clove, blueberry, mocha - but I've been hearing some pretty mediocre things about Dekang, so I perused Ms.T's site and ordered three more <___<. Definitely getting the noob nerves jaja.

I ordered some 18-24 strengths, but comments like PaulCindy's are making me wonder if I won't need to cut them down... I only smoke 10-15 a day (marlboro menthol full flavors) at the moment. Can anyone link me a good guide for cutting with VG? Or do I just kinda... dump them together in the right ratio... :3 [/noobtastic]

I noticed there wasn't a Missouri forum either... But I might just hop in with the Okies for the meanwhile . Good to know about the classifieds sub -- I've been browsing craigslist with rather negative results :3.

Thanks for all the welcomes!

Well, we KIND OF have a Missouri forum:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/groups/show-me-vapers.html

 

[cliff5550]

If you didn't get the faster shipping from Health Cabin be prepared to wait for about 2-3 weeks for delivery. I used the faster shipping on two orders and received them in less than a week. Last order was with "normal" shipping and they tell me it could be a minimum of 20 days.
If you decide later on more supplies, Cignot would probably be delivered within 2-3 days. The ladies there are fast.

 

[LaDiablo]

I did spring for the express, actually, so it should be here between Wednesday and Friday. Can't believe I only ordered it Friday, feels like it's taking ages :3. But I'll probably go Cignot in the future -- I'm already looking at a PCC and/or USB passthru! Just have to wait for my next payday XD.

Perused the Missouri group -- Vapefest in STL? Sounds like a delightful idea to me :3.

Rosa - hope you're right! I've been doing Camels a lot more lately (the menthols are just so tasty...), so I guess it just depends how the Joye hits me .

 

[AppleJack]

Good Luck, LaDiablo. This is a fun place to be and a fun new hobby. Welcome.

 

[Ragamuffin]

If it helps any, when I first started I was vaping so much, testing and trying out new flavors, models and mixes of my own, that I had to lower the nicotine levels in my mixes and premade juices that I order. I was getting too much by the end of the day, as opposed to the number of cigs I was smoking. I finally gave up on all cigs, and still have a half pack of very stale ones in the glove box! Can't seem to throw them out...

Anyway, good luck. You'll love this stuff.
Rags

 

[Saint Canna]

I did spring for the express, actually, so it should be here between Wednesday and Friday. Can't believe I only ordered it Friday, feels like it's taking ages :3. But I'll probably go Cignot in the future -- I'm already looking at a PCC and/or USB passthru! Just have to wait for my next payday XD.

Perused the Missouri group -- Vapefest in STL? Sounds like a delightful idea to me :3.

Rosa - hope you're right! I've been doing Camels a lot more lately (the menthols are just so tasty...), so I guess it just depends how the Joye hits me .

I ordered my 510 from health cabin... $35 w/free shipping is quite deal for retail. my order took a little over a week to arrive so not too bad. Of course i haven't been a 'smoker' since 2001 but i used to smoke camel menthol too. The carts that come with the 510 hit pretty good and all my smoker-friends i've let try it say they are impressed at how much it hits like a 'real' cigarette. The MB flavor is nice too and my boss, who smoke MB reds, said it tastes like a Marlboro just a little sweeter (VG based) which he likes. My wife likes it and she has never been a smoker!
BTW i've heard that the Blu pcc is compatable with the 510 batteries which is nice as it is much less expensive than the 510 pcc.

 

[Sushikune]

I ordered my first 510 from healthcabin as well. It took a little longer for mine to come as I didn't pay for the express shipping. I guess it was about 3 weeks.

...sort of like a slow form of torture. Every drag on an analog I would curse the Chinese postal system. And you can't even track the packages!! (oh it says you can... but all it tells you is that it's "posting".)

That didn't turn me off from healthcabin though. The prices are great and they make no bones about the timing of the shipping. I've place a couple more orders through them.

Hope you get your stuff soon LaDiablo!

 

[St_Francisco]

I completely understand your position, because I was in the same boat...so I'll do my best to help you out here. I haven't read any of the replies, so this may have already been suggested...but I always recommend the Janty eGo for beginners at Janty USA - USA SHOP || Shipping only to N. America. It's a little larger than your standard 510, looks more like a cigarello. But it's a really sleek design, it's durable, and it provides far superior battery life and durability over a Joye 510. If you're looking for the best value, this is it...it's 80 bucks, comes with two batteries, an atomizer that has a six month warranty, a charger, and five pre-filled carts. The eGo is how I started out before I made the move to a high voltage mod, and I was extremely pleased with it. You can search youtube or the reviews section here for more info on it.

What will I need to buy to keep me smoking for about a month with this? I'm hearing a lot about replacement batteries/cartridges/atomizers and need to know what the initial investment will be like to get everything I need :3.

I typically tell non-vapers that they should be looking at an initial investment of about $150 to get set up for the first month or two, but after that the costs drop significantly (as long as you don't go mod crazy like most people, and buy several different devices). With the eGo, you could get away with an initial investment of $120 or so.

I currently smoke about 10-15 cigs a day -- not bad, but pricey. Marlboro or Camel menthols, sometimes camel menthol wides, but they make my throat hurt =/.

You're a menthol fan...me too. I'm gonna classify you as a pack a day smoker, so what I would suggest is an 18mg nicotine liquid to get you started. After you get started, you can step down your nicotine if you want to 12mg. There are plenty of great sites for menthol liquids...me personally, I only buy USA made liquid, because I trust the quality of their ingredients. For good menthol flavors, I would try halocigs.com, electronicstix.com, and nhaler.com. Janty has a Polar Mint flavor that is my ultimate favorite, but be warned...it's not menthol, it's mint. Tastes like a very strong minty gum. But I love that flavor.

I'm particularly interested in the different flavors of vapors, which I heard the 510 wasn't particularly great for, but how much of a problem is that? For instance, I want to try fruity flavors and coffee flavors and probably more menthols; will I be happy with a 510?

Yes, you'll be happy with a 510...it's widely regarded as the best atomizer to simulate the actual smoking experience. You'll still get flavor...but other atomizer types might give you more flavor, but drop in the areas of throat hit and vapor production. If you start with 510s and don't really care for them, try the 306 atomizer. It's shorter than a 510, so it clashes a little on the eGo with it's cone, but the 306 atty is all I use now...it's great. It has the same 510 threads, so you won't need an adapter. You can get 306 attys from electronicstix.com.

How much liquid should I buy at a time?

This is going to totally depend on you, and how many ml you use a day. But a good base to start with is to assume that you are a pack a day smoker, and a ml of liquid equals one pack of cigarettes. So if you want to get set up for a month, buy 30ml of liquid.

How often will I need to charge the battery, and how often will I need a new one?

With the eGo, your batteries will last 8-10 hours on average (mine consistently lasted 1.5 days). On a Joye 510, it will only be a few hours (2-4) before you need a new battery. eGo batteries come with a 3 month warranty, and are rated for 200 charges each...so you're two pack of eGo batteries will last roughly 400 days if you charge once a night like I did. eGo batteries are a little more expensive (think they're 25 bucks), but for the battery life and durability, it's worth it.

How do I refill my own cartridges?

It really is simple, and you'll have no problems once you get your e-cig. The cartridges are filled with a filler material. Just remove the cart from the atty, and drip liquid into the filler material until the liquid is no longer absorbing into the material. As you begin your e-cig journey, you'll find out about dripping, which I do. Drippers remove the filler from their cartridges, and simply drip 2-3 drops of liquid directly on their atomizer. This is because the cartridge filler material is crap, and usually gets all gunked up after a few weeks of using it. It'll start retaining liquid, so you'll essentially have have a cartridge full of liquid that won't go to your atty. With dripping, you get about 5-7 hits off two drops, and then you drip again. It's a little more time consuming, but the pay off is definitely worth it. You won't be wasting any liquid this way. If you decide to go this route, watch out for flooding your atty...which is putting too much liquid in the atomizer. This can be identified by hearing a gurgling sound when you activate the battery. If you hear that, there's too much liquid. Remove the atty, blow out the excess liquid, and go on with your bad self.

Who should I buy replacement stuff from

Janty USA - USA SHOP || Shipping only to N. America sells all the eGo stuff. Also Home (Totally Wicked!) sells the eGo rebranded as the TW Tornado, but the eGo is the original. As far as attys and liquid, pretty much every site will carry those, including the sites I gave you earlier for liquid. You'll notice that Janty sells two different type of 510 attys, which they call a Janty DURA atomizer. One if $17.95, then they sell a TAWA for 9 bucks or something like that. The 18 dollar one has the six month warranty, the TAWA (throwaway) has no warranty, but is half the price.

Hope this helps, and good luck.