Using a "smoke relief", need to upgrade. new user

[Lance_Wallen]

So,

I've been smoking either cigarettes, a pipe, or cigars since I was 12 and I'm 31 now. I decided rather than die I should try to quit. During my searches I came across the whole E-cig thing and it intrigued me.

I bought one from a smoke shop and tried it out. it was horrible. I don't remember the brand but it was just bad, tasted like burned hair, had hardly any vapor and was real harsh on the throat and that's coming from some one who has recently been smoking unfiltered cigarellos as his primary habit.

So I went back to the cigars and continued to do some research. I picked up a "smoke relief" that uses cartomizers and I'm decently impressed with it, when the carto is fresh it has a nice feel on the inhale, decent flavor (doesn't taste like a cigarette it's a little sweet) and a moderate amount of vapor. not quite like smoking but a decent substitute.

The problem I'm having is the maintenance. I'm burning through two batteries a day and it has a little charger case which is nice but still a little annoying and the cartos last maybe a day and a half to two days at the most before they start to taste really bad and produce little to no vapor (I'm assuming because they start to dry up). I picked up some juice from the shop I bought this at and dripped a little into a cleaned out carto and it tasted HORRIBLE. was supposed to be 'camel' flavor. tasted like burned urine to me.

What I'm really after and what i really enjoy about smoking is thick smoke... not harsh smoke, I like the feeling of inhaling a thick plume of smoke, the density not the heat or harshness. I'm not sure if the harsh hit is the 'throat hit' i read about on here or not but I'm after that density. I like a little resistance on my draw and I used the tape mod on my e-cig to make it draw a little harder. I can take long slow draws on it and get a nice puff.

I also want good flavor. I'm slowing cutting back the nicotine levels on my cartos until I'm going nic free but I don't want to give up the act of smoking so I figure a nicotine free juice and vaping will give me the habit without the chemicals.

What I'm looking for is advice on a system to use. I don't know what any of the terminology is really. I hear about atomizers and cartomizers and batteries, etc. I think the atomizer is the part that heats up and vaporizes the juice with some sort of element. A cartomizer I'm assuming is when the atomizer is in a self contained unit with some sort of medium to hold juice, and batteries are just that, batteries.

I don't really care if the unit looks like a cigarette, hell I'd love it if it looked like a pipe but at the end of the day performance is what i want and I want the world.

I'd like good flavored thick vapor, either the ability to juice it myself or have relatively inexpensive carts for it, and either a battery that has a long life or that is inexpensive enough that I can keep a few in my bag for when they die. If I'm out fishing or running around all day I don't want to be looking for an outlet or USB port everytime I pause somewhere.

i'd also liek the device to be pocketable, doesn't have to be tiny but at least small enough to fit in my pocket without making an unseemly bulge.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, the primary desire here is a good system I can maintain and perferably fill that produces a good, thick vapor that doesn't read as 'harsh' on the back of the throat.

 

[Coil]

I was in your exact same shoes about a month ago. Going from crappy smoke shop e-cigs, to Big Name advertised online E-cigs that looked like an actual cig. then finally to what I consider to be a well rounded beginners PV. I would recommend you check out Liberty Flights or anywhere online and purchase an EGO or a RIVA. Great Battery Life, Cheap, Pretty easy maintenance etc.

You can get carrying cases for like $12 and Liberty Flights USA offers 20% off all orders. Carts are a hassle IMO. I drip personally and absolutely love it! Drip Tips are cheap and take little skill to master quickly. As far as juices go it's really a matter of preference. There's so many awesome vendors on here to choose from. Pre filled carts are not really that great though so search the forums and see what others recommend. Welcome to the forums Lance!

 

[Anima]

Backing the advice to check out Liberty-Flights (discount code "ecf" for 20% off). I went from a crappy N Joy from a mini-mart to a Riva 510 kit (that actually cost less), and I'm in heaven.

If you like a lot of thick vapor, then you probably want to use liquids with a high percentage of VG, so cartos may not be the best thing for you, because too much VG doesn't work well with them.

 

[BardicDruid]

Well if you read through "The Wonderful World of Vaping" it'll explain the differences between the e-cigs and e-liquids, then you'll be able to better understand what's said on here and make a more informed choice when getting a better PV.

 

[Michael Curry]

There are PV's available that look like a pipe, so if that's what you want, you're in luck - it exists.

I see a lot of talk on here about different equipment and what makes more flavor and vapor, etc... The thing is - you have to remember, nearly everyone here was a cigartette smoker. You've smoked cigs and pipes both. Do you smoke them the same? Not even close. If you smoked a pipe like a cig, you would probably never keep it lit - and when it is lit, you would be getting an effect about like warming your tongue with a flamethrower.

You can get more vape by forgetting that it looks like a cigarette and use it like a pipe. The lighter the draw the better. With a cigarette, if you want more, you hit it harder. Try the opposite. You will find a sweet spot and will be rewarded with vapor so thick you may be tempted to chew it.

That should hold you while you shop for new gear. And the common trend is to only look at online sources. I would suggest first looking to see if there is a store in your area that sells something other than the gas station quality stuff. Yes, they will probably charge a few bucks more than the internet source, but the added benefits of a good retailer far exceed a bit of extra cost. I mean, how many of the online sources can let you actually hold a PV in your hand to see if it feels right? And when it comes to juices - there is no competition at all. "Try before you buy" does not mean buy a sample.

If you decide to not go with a pipe look - an eGo is a nice option. Thats what I chose because the pipes really didn't do it for me - too unlike my regular pipes I suppose. But we all have different tastes in briar too, don't we?

 

[Lance_Wallen]

thanks for the info so far. Could some one explain the "drip tip" thing? I've looked at how you can put e-juice in a carto but my experience with it has been poor. Also trying to figure out what a 'tank' system is. I'll check out liberty flights.

With the VG stuff, is it hotter, thicker, how does it taste on its own? etc..

 

[dormouse]

Take a look at the cartopipe

Jazz cartopipe the first Cartomizer Pipe

because atomizers and cartridges suck. I would not want to vape anything that can't use cartomizers.

And re cartomizers - they are wonderful but you need to have decent soft-cap cartos designed for refilling. Then if you keep the carto damp with suitably thin juice, you can get 4-7 days use or more out of each carto.

 

[Boodle]

I'd suggest you back-burner the tank option for now. Your frustration level is already high. Tanks are notorious for leaking issues whatever the 'fat batt' brand. Could be wonderful down the road when you're excited to tinker with it.

There are gorgeous custom pipe mods on the market that might be a fit for you. You got good advice going with a 'fat batt' like Ego/Riva to start. I like Kgo (same thing, longer lasting battery and a bit more voltage, easier on the wallet). Liberty-flights (.com) and many others sell Egos and Rivas. HoosierEcigSupply (.com) and BreezeSmokes (.com) sell Kgos. You'll want to get a couple of boxes of cartomizers. The LR (low resistance) cartomizers are a good option for the fat batts. You get a mod-like experience with that combo. And of course juice samples. The smaller the better. Good luck to you!

 

[Michael Curry]

thanks for the info so far. Could some one explain the "drip tip" thing? I've looked at how you can put e-juice in a carto but my experience with it has been poor. Also trying to figure out what a 'tank' system is. I'll check out liberty flights.

With the VG stuff, is it hotter, thicker, how does it taste on its own? etc..

A drip tip is just a tip that is put into the end of an atomizer. It's basically a hollow tube. You do't have any fiber fill type material inside, it's a straight chimney down to the coil. With the drip tip, you simply drip a few drops of juice straight onto the coil and vape it. It's an ongoing thing, drip some, vape some, lather, rinse, repeat.

A tank is actually quite like dripping in some respects. It uses the same atomizer screwed on to the battery as you would use for dripping. But instead of manually dripping the juice, there is a mouthpiece with an integral tank that does it for you. It is used in place of the drip tip. In reality, it's wicked out of the tank so there is a difference - but that's splitting hairs a bit for a discussion at this level.

VG is thicker and sweeter actually. What mix to use depends on a number of factors, not the least of which is your chosen delivery method. With cartomizers, you are trying to wick through a fiber type material, so the higher viscosity of VG may inhibit efficiency a bit. PG is thinner and will flow a bit easier. VG also tends to be a bit tamer - it will reduce throat hit if you add enough.

I am using a 70/30 mix of PG to VG in my tanks. Because of the tank design, a bit of added viscosity helps to prevent leaks.

(And of course different people have different opinions on tanks. Personally, I love mine. If the wicking hole gets worn to where one leaks, I'll pitch it and get on with it. At around a dollar each, they're pretty much an expendable component. Some people love cartos. I threw mine away. Hated them. Different strokes and all that.)

 

[dormouse]

I agree - you could try a Riva 510 for under $30 for a kit of 2 complete Riva 510

Go to Liberty-Flights.com, press the 20% off upper left front page, then shop. Riva 510 Lite Bundle is under $30. They sometimes have a cartomizer version with a case - that's nice if you want the case, but you still need at least one atomizer and a drip tip to test juices one. And cartridges if you are a masochist and want to try atomizer with cartridges. A real Joye Ego only costs about $10 more. The only benefit of the Ego-T IMO is it has batteries that can be disabled with 5 quick clicks so that would make it safe to pocket. But I would use it with a normal non-tank atomizer + drip tip to test juices and with cartomizers (BOGE) for my main vaping.

With 510-threaded devices you would generally be buying blank cartomizers and filling/refilling them yourself. I add juice when I think the carto is about 1/2 empty. You learn to sense this and it's good to practice on standard resistance cartos rather than the hotter 2.0 ones that use battery charge faster.

If you want prefilled cartomizers, then there is a small selection for 510 threading, or you can use a 510 to 808 adapter and use prefilled and blank KR808D-1 cartos (Vapor4Life, SmokelesImage Volt, Bloogplanet Maxxfusion, Halocigs G6)

And if you do not want a fat battery model at this time, then I recommend the standard aka 78mm size of those KR808D-1 models I listed above (Vapor4Life etc) and I recommend manual batteries. Those will provide 60-70% more charge than what you are currently using.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

I'd rather be refilling cartos I think. Seems like it's overall easier to deal with a carto than an atomizer and cart separately. I mean.. a carto is really just a disposable atomizer with a cart on it already right? They have a fiber fill or some sort to hold the juice and that's it?

Also, sounds like if I get a 510 set up, i can get cartos, atty/carts or convert it to a tank or drip tip anytime I like correct? To me that seems worthwhile, I could get the 510 with some cartomizers so I can have them pre-filled to take with me places and have atty/drip tips for playing around at the house or messing with different flavors. I think I'm understanding all this right.

The Riva510 is the longer lasting battery from what i'm reading and starting with cartomizers is probably the 'easier' way to go about it, so I suppose I'll go with that.

The main thing I want is a good amount of vapor. I'd love to be spewing clouds. I don't get a lot of vapor out of this little smoke relief compared to what I'm seeing in videos online.

 

[Michael Curry]

I'd rather be refilling cartos I think. Seems like it's overall easier to deal with a carto than an atomizer and cart separately. I mean.. a carto is really just a disposable atomizer with a cart on it already right? They have a fiber fill or some sort to hold the juice and that's it?

Doesn't really make a lot of difference there, really. But yeah - basically, you got it. With a carto you refill it till it doesn't work any more, with the atty/cart you can clean the atty and hopefully extend the life if it.

Also, sounds like if I get a 510 set up, i can get cartos, atty/carts or convert it to a tank or drip tip anytime I like correct? To me that seems worthwhile, I could get the 510 with some cartomizers so I can have them pre-filled to take with me places and have atty/drip tips for playing around at the house or messing with different flavors. I think I'm understanding all this right.

Sounds pretty good there.

The main thing I want is a good amount of vapor. I'd love to be spewing clouds. I don't get a lot of vapor out of this little smoke relief compared to what I'm seeing in videos online.

One major thing when it comes to volume of vapor - technique plays a big role in that. Those people in the videos are using good technique combined with optimum lighting and camera angles.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

looks like liberty flight is out of the 'kits' with cartomizers ><

 

[Michael Curry]

If you're intent on buying from there - just get what they do have and order some carto's too maybe?

 

[Lance_Wallen]

just ordered a couple batteries, a cone, a 5 pack of cartomizers, a single LR atomizer, a drip tip, charger, and a few 0mg flavors. I'm tryin to cut the nicotine out but I enjoy the smoking process so I'm going to try some 0mg flavors and see how it goes. I got the "premium blend" flavors that are 90/10 pg/vg so we'll see how that works out. I'll probably order some pure vg stuff and a pure pg flavor next to try em out.

the nicotine content doesn't effect the vapor production does it?

 

[Michael Curry]

the nicotine content doesn't effect the vapor production does it?

No - It doesn't.

You got 0 nic? Have you already quit analogs?

90/10 shold do fine - but if you want more vapor, you would get better results with a higher VG level. 80/20 or 70/30 are popular.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

I'm cutting back still on the nicotine. I quit analog "cold turkey" if you don't count the little smoke relief ecig I'm using now. I'm using the 18mg cartos that come with it. I've been cutting back on them as well so I'm working towards 0 nicotine still. I don't "hate" the smoke rleief thing I'm using and I can get the cartos at a local shop so I'm going to use both for a while and try to keep weening myself off the nicotine until I'm just using the 0mg stuff on the nicer stick.

I'm gettin sort of excited about this whole thing too, already looking at my old pipes tryin to figure out how I could modify one to put a battery and atomizer in one.

I kept doing some searching and I saw something about "greensmoke" being the top vapor producer, is that just hype or is there something special about the greensmoke?

 

[VapingRulz]

The Greensmoke is definitely NOT the top vapor producer! For more vapor, the ratio of PG to VG should be 80/20 or 70/30. I think some people even do 50/50 but I don't know how well that works.

 

[MTV]

I use 50/50 mostly now because of the vapor production...on high volt mod it produces a room full of vapor

I have a greensmoke...don't waste your money...you can get a decent mod for the price.

 

[chillinwatook]

you can get a decent mod for the price.

I don't care for much of their other products but look at madvapes.com 's Mod's. They are simple in idea. You can even get a really good price if you are willing to put one together yourself or have someone you know do it for you. Don't go crazy at the beginning with the price and set yourself up to not be flexable. I started out with the standard 510 model, went to the 3.7 v madvapes box mod. After a few mods to the atty, I really wish to have the "juice feeder" box mod. It would save me from having to hall around liquid.

As far as the "thicker" vapor, the VG has the most vapor production. The problem with VG is that it covers your atty in crud really quick. I started out getting higher VG and had atty problem frequently. I have switch to more PG lately. After learning to de-bridge and properly clean my atty, I think I'm at stage to start using more VG in my liquids.

The biggest problem you are looking at having is the VG in carts. The juice won't flow as nicely and you may not even make it to have in to the cart before the atty is covered in junk and unable to produce vapor.