Totally lost Vape newbie ..

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OK, i live in canada , so already we have a problem. Now, I got a hold of an e-cig starter kit here called BLU, but it has 0% nicotine.
Now I'm out $175 for this kit and 3 packs of thing a ma bobs that screw in.:facepalm:

I've been watching youtube vids on making my own juices and mixing and all kids of stuff, now I'm lost.:(

I've noticed alot of people using these bigger ones that look like hooka's almost and talking about atomizers and cartomizers and then my brain starts to shut down again ... Is there any place that I can get a beginners view to find out about what these things all are in pictures and video's so we can see what it is we are supposed to be actually looking for.

One thing that seems to be good is whats called a protank, every review i see is very good, but what do I do with it? What does it fit on? I doubt i can slam it on my BLU battery and vape away ...

So basically , i need a starting point to start searching for what I am actually looking for and places to go for the best supplies ..

Any help would be welcome.
 

yerdreamsrequiem

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May 5, 2013
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Oh, blu... Ouch. I got burned by that brand myself. The flavor is good, but the battery and nic is pretty dismal...

A wonderful place to start with things that are easy to use are egos and the like. As a matter of fact, I am using my ego variable voltage with one of my old blu carts right now. It's a lot better on the ego (albeit mine has nicotine).

Apparently, after doing a google search, it appears that Apollo DOES deliver to canada, which is good for you. There are all sorts of options as far as what to get there, and most of the time, the chat staff is online and is very helpful. They spent 3 hours with me discussing everything I wanted from my big boy ecig, and making recommendations. Add the lifetime warranty on all non consumable parts (like the ego vv itself) and you've got a pretty good deal. They also sell their own juice, which I have yet to try. But if you ask the chat staff they usually give you a coupon to try out a disposable cigarette, so you can get a taste of one of their flavors for free.

All in all, come Tuesday (after the holiday weekend), I would encourage you to give their chat a good, long talking to. Even if you go with another site to make a purchase, you can at least have a LOT more knowledge from a knowledgeable employee.
 

yerdreamsrequiem

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May 5, 2013
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All in all, come Tuesday (after the holiday weekend), I would encourage you to give their chat a good, long talking to. Even if you go with another site to make a purchase, you can at least have a LOT more knowledge from a knowledgeable employee.

Scratch that. Their chat staff is online right now! Go give them a talking to! They talked me out of the VTube (a $99 purchase), because the eGo vv ($35 purchase) fit what I needed better
 

dizzylizzy

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Hey cerebus, the Library here on this forum has a tin of info. I'm posting on my phone and can't figure out how to put a link in here, but is just down from this new member section. Read The Wonderful World of Vaping and you will have a lot of questions answered, and likely some new ones, lol. Hi and welcome in!
 

AgentAnia

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Hi cerabus, and welcome to the forum. You'll want to check out the Canada forum here on ECF to contact fellow Canadian vapers. They'll probably be able to help you with ordering from outside the country (I believe there are some restrictions on importing nicotine-containing juice) and also with local vendors. Also, check out ECF's InfoZone on general ecig information, very helpful to newbies (been there, done that!).

I also highly recommend Phil Busardo's video on YouTube, "Beginners Guide to E-Cigs and E-Cig Tech":

A PBusardo Video - Beginners Guide to E-Cigs and E-Cig Tech - YouTube

Busardo has a whole library of video reviews of hardware and e-juices, so when you hear or read about a particular device, search YouTube for "pbusardo [device name]" and chances are good he's reviewed it. This will give you a good overview.
 

Leoleoleo

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Mar 6, 2013
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Welcome cerebus. Sorry you got stung with the blu kit. All is not lost. You just need some e-liquid with nicotine to re-fill the thing a ma bobs (these are the cartomizers).

Fortunately, and contrary to anything you may have heard, you can buy nicotine e-liquid legally in Canada and there are many sites that sell it. I do not recommend buying your e-liquid from the US unless you want something you can't get here. Not all shipments make it over the border.

Check out the Canada section of this forum. Post here four more times and you should be able to post there. If you ask for it, I understand there is a list of Canadian vendors that someone will send you via private message.

So, 4 posts to go. Why not hit us up with some more questions about these things that are confusing you?
 
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Baditude

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I've noticed alot of people using these bigger ones that look like hooka's almost and talking about atomizers and cartomizers and then my brain starts to shut down again ... Is there any place that I can get a beginners view to find out about what these things all are in pictures and video's so we can see what it is we are supposed to be actually looking for.
What you are describing sounds like what you viewed were APV (advanced personal vaporizers) or "mods" as we call them. Basically they are large battery holders which use replaceable, rechargeable batteries and are able to have larger juice delivery devices called tanks attached to them. These are a more "high end" e-cigarette device.

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Two Provari mods with rebuildable atomizer tanks.

The advantage of using something like the above is longer battery time (up to 22 hours), longer periods of time before needing to add more juice to the tank, the option to change the voltage output to the heating coils to fine tune the vapor for each individual flavor used, and being able to just change out the smaller batteries in the mod instead of needing to switch over to an entire different device when the battery dies, like you would with an e-cig or eGo battery.

One thing that seems to be good is whats called a protank, every review i see is very good, but what do I do with it? What does it fit on? I doubt i can slam it on my BLU battery and vape away ...

So basically , i need a starting point to start searching for what I am actually looking for and places to go for the best supplies ..

I made a Picture Dictionary of sorts on the most common juice delivery devices. These are the devices that fit on top of a battery device and hold the e-liquid. They have heating coils within them that turn the liquid into vapor. I've included a description, pictures of what they look like, and a video on how they are filled. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3230-1-proper-terminology-carto-tank-what-primer-juice-delivery-attachments.html

The Kanger ProTank is a clearomizer, one of the juice delivery devices mentioned in the above article. All of these delivery devices are made a little differently, and provide a little different vaping experience. Everyone will like one over another for different reasons. It's good to get a couple of different ones with your first setup to get an idea of which one you will like. I'm not sure that a Protank would work on your Blu e-cig; for one thing it would look extremely large and be top-heavy on a Blue stick battery. About the only thing to use on a Blu would be a cartomizer or a Nano clearomizer; but you would have to confirm that the "connector pins" are compatible with the Blu.

You don't need a mod that looks like a hookah for your first setup. Most here would recommend an eGo Spinner or Twist battery beginner's setup like this one. This next article has everything you'd need to start up. At the bottom is a video tutorial on how to use the variable voltage on an eGo Spinner or Twist battey: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3706-4-good-starters-setup-beginning-vapor.html
 
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tagster

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Unfortunately this is something we all have had to go through, and continue to go through. What will be the ideal setup for you is something only you can answer. It will change over time too. I have had purchases that today I wouldn't do again, but in the end it was all good since it was better than smoking. Right now the best beginner rig is probably an Ego style variable voltage battery and an Evod Clearomizer or Kanger Pro Tank. IMO. This should be more than adequate while you study up. It took me weeks of constant reading before I had a good understanding of the different aspects of vaping. I am still studying, discovering, and refining everyday. On top of that, there is always something new popping up. That is a good thing. It can seem daunting, but all it takes is time (the difference between a beginner and a veteran). Be patient. Before you know it you will be a pro happily vaping away.
 
Congrats on getting away from smoking, and thank Blu that it was a step away from it and introduced you to e-cigs and that there is an alternative that won't drive you up a wall. That said Blu is a great introduction but in my experience it won't just be that satisfying.

The way I understand it is although 9 as previous poster said) you can get e-juice in canada with nicotine in it Blu can't import it so you get stuck with the 0 mgs, which for a smoker is not and exciting alternative. Blui is not a total loss for you, maybe in the short run but later on when you are less confused by what is this and what is that you will find was to adapt it to your way of vaping.

To be every honest, and I am sorry that it cost you so much but while Blu is a great introduction to e-cigs it can be expensive keeping it in refills (of course you can learn to refill your own but probably not on day 1), not as versatile as other PV's (personal vaporizers) and may be far from as satisfying as you need to really make the alternative switch to vaping, not get feed up with vaping and go back to the analog.

There is not usually any problem with getting PV's purchased from the US or China or the UK even if you live in Canada.. e-juice is iffy but its available in Canada and there are one or two companies in the US that can legally sell in Canada.

I would advise you to take some few minutes to surf You Tube videos about the Blu and things called cartomizers (the prefilled thinygs) and how that all works, and even how you can re-use those cartomizers with your e-juice which would be. You can also buy some that are made to be refillable and come to you empty to use your own e-juice with.

Go to the info zone here and read some of the facts and the definitions of some of the terms thrown around - so you can put a name to these thingys.

Then spend sometime looking at these videos to get an idea of what seems 'better' then where you were at. When I first approached e-cigs I was 'it has to look like a cigarette and not like I am sucking on a flashlight - I quickly did not care but many people do so thats one personal choice... basically the shape of your battery. Size,shape, whether it activates when you draw or you push a button to atomizer the juice and many other factors are things to think about when watching these videos.

Most of the reviewer are good about discussing those things, showing you how the product works and so on. Some people like the dripping of fluid on the hot coil of the atomizer to get the vapor, while others like the cartomizers like you have with the blu which hold the juice and let it seep or drip down on the atomizer., while others like clearomizers that wick up the juice to be vaporized by the atomizer. Usually with cartomizers they fit into the part that contains the atomizer (the coil that heats up and makes vapor out of the juice) while the clearomizers are essentially a tank around the atomizer in one piece. That is a very uncomplicated explanation but the videos and reading info will explain more. Plus, most reviewers will vape with the PV's they are reviewing and you can see jsut how much vapor is produced. Some people like lots while others don't need clouds of it ;)

So for basic starts you want to decide, in my on just a couple of things:. How you want to do the mechanical aspects - like whether you want to drip a few drops each time or tank up 3 ml for hours of uninterrupted vapes (listen to reviewers because its more then that - many people thnk dripping - while it can get tedious gives a truer flavor experience and so on). The look and feel of your vaporizer - if your only comfortable holding a cigarette look alike or an ego like battery is fine. You may even decide on both - home with the 'big' battery and driving around with the cigarette looking one.

Once you settle , as for now you can change and adjust as much as you want the more knowledge you acquire and the more experienced you get with all the vape stuff, then start looking at reviews for more specific starter kits and so on. Usually a starter kit is available that has everything you need but may not have the configuration you want. Starter kits are just that - for the starter who does not quite get how all the parts interact. It usually comes with a battery, an atomizer and cartomizer or a clearomizer (where the atomizer is part of the container that holds the e-juice), and a charger in a nice presentation box - sometimes with a case. I have seen these run from $25 US to and average of $75 US.

After a bit of reading here and video research you might decide that instead of getting a kit say that has a battery and clearomizer and a charger you have decided you would rather use a carto - ten save money and buy the battery you want and the accessories you want - they can pretty much mix and match.

Unless you are 100% sure after you look at stuff for a bit that you know exactly what is the perfect set up for you and you won't ever change your mind and any future purchase will only be when one where out - don't go highest end or the most expensive (most expensive is very often not the best). A good basic ego battery with accessories is a good start, and as you get used to real e-cigs you can then make determinations about what else you want to spend money on.

The first rule of vaping is always have a back up for yur backup for your backup so that regular cigarettes are not your backup. Your Blu, especially once you learn to refill it yourself with e-juice you want - would be a good backup but a good basic battery is great to start with and if you move up then it can be there as your backup and what you use when charging the other and so on.

There are some good Canadian vendors online and I think many are listed in a Canadian forum and a friend of mine that buys in CA suggested you look here Our Most Popular Kits as the site is not overwhelming with stuff and prices are good, and they have starter kits you can configure yourself with the piece you want.
 

Kagey K

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Jan 17, 2013
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OK, i live in canada , so already we have a problem. Now, I got a hold of an e-cig starter kit here called BLU, but it has 0% nicotine.
Now I'm out $175 for this kit and 3 packs of thing a ma bobs that screw in.:facepalm:

I've been watching youtube vids on making my own juices and mixing and all kids of stuff, now I'm lost.:(

I've noticed alot of people using these bigger ones that look like hooka's almost and talking about atomizers and cartomizers and then my brain starts to shut down again ... Is there any place that I can get a beginners view to find out about what these things all are in pictures and video's so we can see what it is we are supposed to be actually looking for.

One thing that seems to be good is whats called a protank, every review i see is very good, but what do I do with it? What does it fit on? I doubt i can slam it on my BLU battery and vape away ...

So basically , i need a starting point to start searching for what I am actually looking for and places to go for the best supplies ..

Any help would be welcome.

Ouch man! That is a very hard lesson learned. You should have come here before you jumped in. I started with this. https://www.canvape.com/product-p/ultwistkit.htm

The eGo has a 510 and ego thread and they are the most universally used adapter threads. That kit also containds a few of the more popular tank types for you to try and see what you like.

After you get 5 posts go to the Canada forum and request the vendors with nicotine juice list.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...e-w-nic-supplier-list-via-pm-only-part-2-a.ht
 
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SASmith

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Mar 31, 2013
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Hi, I am a fellow Canadian, you absolutely can get nic juice in Canada, I'm one month into Vaping and am using an ego C twist battery system with a viva nova or Kanger T2 clearos. When you go to most of the Canadian suppliers, you have to register and wait a bit or at least log off and then back on and then you will see their nicotine juice. I can PM you a couple of Canadian Suppliers if you like.
 
great , its a starting place ...

Kagey K, yes a hard lesson, but i didnt know anything about this place before i got my kit and jumped into the deep waters. Didn't know what Vaping was, never heard of it before my Blu. After i got the kit home and started looking into vid's on blu i was twisted around on Youtube to other vids and started seeing the different things i was missing. 20 hours later of watching vids and reading I'm starting to see my lil blu isn't quite what i want, although its cute and I'll frame it i think, stick it on my cave wall as a lesson learned on my way to bigger and better things .... baby steps first kinda deal.

The kit looks like a good idea, one (?) question .. whats the difference in 650mAh and the 1000mAh , besides the battery size? What i mean, does it change the way it vaporizes my ejuice and what about how it burns out atomizers? Is this a concern or do they just burn out on a regular basis and need to be replaced regularly?


SASmith, if you could, I would like the list of any Canadian suppliers.

Thanks
 
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Stormwench, thank you so much.

This makes things so much clearer. I'm thinking your right, a big daddy for home and refill the blu's for when i work and go out maybe is the way I want to go. Since i now have 20 cartomizers already here all with 0% nicotine, i can just clean them out and top them off with ejuice again.

One question, I see people talking about soaking things in vodka to clean them. Can i just soak my cartomizers in vodka to clean the old Blu liquid out and them refill them after they dry with ejuice i have coming ?
 

SASmith

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Mar 31, 2013
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Hi Cerabus, I did send a message on your profile page with a couple of sites, this is my first forum, so a little unsure with my navigation etc. If you did not get it please let me know. I'm being careful, because of the rules for the forum, I'm a little unsure of what I can post and cannot. I think I read the rule is about an hour per 100mah, so the more mah's the longer the battery will hold a charge for, depending on your personal usage. I bought the 1000mah ego twist and I vape at about 4 volts, I'm a pretty steady vaper, because I'm quitting smoking and I work from home and I get at least a full day from it, I did get two to start with 1 to charge while I'm using the other. Don't feel too bad about the blu kit, I spent a couple of hundred on a cigalike, as well but unlike you, it was way worse than I think the blu probably is and then I didn't go back to vaping for a couple of years, at least your hanging in!
 

MartiP

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As another newbie, I agree it can be daunting. I'm not a tinkerer, I just want a good vape! It honestly does get less confusing after a bit, though, once you figure out the various terminology, tank types, battery types, etc. Nothing really to add to the resources you've already been given. Good luck, and happy vaping.
 
I wanted to thank everybody for helping me out ...
this is what i settled for :from Happy Vaper
eGo Crystal Cartomizer:Standard Resistance (2.4-2.6 ohm) - 1.8ml - Red][First Battery:Twist (Variable Voltage) - Blue (1000mah, 10+ hours) - Manual][Second Battery (optional):Twist (Variable Voltage) - Blue (1000mah, 10+ hours)

I also went to canada eJuice and bought a bunch of flavours ...

Just sparked it up for the first time and wow what a difference .. totally a happy vaper now ... this is awesome ...

Thanks again for all the advice and pm's with places to go.
This forum is a life saver , as well as a major money saver for newbies.
 
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