what do i need to know about vapes?
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there are so many different varieties of vape equipment its astounding... with the thousands of different combinations of mod/atty one can custom "design" a vape for their own needs....
the difficult part is deciding what you are looking for from your vape.... once you know that you can choose the hardware needed to create that condition...
the difficult part is deciding what you are looking for from your vape.... once you know that you can choose the hardware needed to create that condition...
No, you cannot just mix and match anything, but there is also so much that can be mixed and matched. Do you have a vape shop near you? If you could go in and physically see some set ups, hold them, ask questions about them and such that would be great. If not then there are so many blogs on ECF that can teach you the basic terminology about what parts are what. Another thing that may help is to just looking at some different pics of different set ups and asking when you see something you like if it would be good for a beginner or not. You will probably get a variety of answers to what to start out with but I am in the school of thought that a beginner should try out a low cost, regulated device (for safety), and a basic tank to start. Like a vision spinner, or if you want a box an MVP, with a basic clearomizer (tank) using stock heads (coils) to get a feel for if you like vaping. Read the stickies up above and do a bit of research here. If you dive into the deep end without learning how to swim first you may find yourself over your head. Don't get overwhelmed just take it one step at a time. And Welcome to this wonderful forum and the world of Vape. 
Here is some info from our resident expert Baditude.
(10) Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods | E-Cigarette Forum
Here is even more info.
(18) Baditude's Blogs | E-Cigarette Forum
(10) Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods | E-Cigarette Forum
Here is even more info.
(18) Baditude's Blogs | E-Cigarette Forum
Oky dokes chiming in this year 2nd without smokes..
Current all good gear for me for my daily nicotine addiction with hassle free maintenance.
Is Cloupor Mini and a genie /kangatech protank replacable coils
as for juice I have mixed my own from day one.. a little this a little that ok this will do for a while
then change it up bit by bit till it's all good again..
Im a fan of old havana and a bit of cappachino, so I can have puff break with coffee works all day long...
had at least one of everything over the past 2 years and this little guy rocks all day long.
there 's nothing more to do or to buy just live my life smoke free and enjoy.
Current all good gear for me for my daily nicotine addiction with hassle free maintenance.
Is Cloupor Mini and a genie /kangatech protank replacable coils
as for juice I have mixed my own from day one.. a little this a little that ok this will do for a while
then change it up bit by bit till it's all good again..
Im a fan of old havana and a bit of cappachino, so I can have puff break with coffee works all day long...
had at least one of everything over the past 2 years and this little guy rocks all day long.
there 's nothing more to do or to buy just live my life smoke free and enjoy.
Your top question is very broad. The only answer is, just how deep in this do you want to go? I find it absorbing, and like it for a hobby. Others just want a solid vape to keep them off the killer sticks and don't want to spend any time worrying or fooling with it. Figuring out where you fit on that spectrum is part of the journey. Your second is much simpler: no, not all of the stuff is going to work together and some of it can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If you take a 650mAh eGo battery-- the kind that comes in the $20 all-in-one kit, just add juice and start vaping-- put a 510 adapter on if it and then top it with a .05 Ohm cloud blowing dripper, when you push the button that battery will be glowing red hot in about 2 seconds and on fire in twice the time. You really don't want to go there. Another big question is just what kind of vape do you like; a thing you can only answer through experience and trying different styles. Some folks want a vape that makes huge clouds and blows them up like a balloon when they push the button. Others prefer it smaller and cooler and less noticeable when they exhale. There's no such thing as a "right answer" to this. It's about what you like, and why you vape. Budget is still a further question. I, for example, DIY my own juice and am not into complex flavors and chasing down the last subtle nuance of ethereal flavor like an oenophile. I make my own juice for less than 5 cents a ml, and once I get a flavor I like usually churn it out in 4oz bottles. Other folks will pay 50 bucks for a tiny, tiny bottle of gourmet juice or slave for days over the DIY kit, getting the just-exactly-right flavor they're looking for in their world famous Double Chocolate Mocha/Gooseberry/Mint/Creme Brulee/Wild Raspberry with Chicken and Waffles flavor they're working on. And none of that even considers equipment.
Assuming you're just starting out, and your real purpose is quitting smoking, here's some hints:
1) Good juice is important. Very important. I don't mean expensive; I mean it has to be a flavor you like well enough you'll be willing to take it rather than a smoke, and it has to deliver a vape, with the equipment you're using it in, that both satisfies your psychological need for the hand-to-mouth motion and deliver sufficient nicotine your body isn't either in withdrawal or overload. You need to be able to vape as often as you feel the need to reach for the machine instead of a cig, and get the right amount of nic when you do. That's how it helps you quit. There's no way to get there but try them, a thing most vape shops are set up to do. Finding a local juice brewer with flavors you like is a thing of beauty: they might let you buy in bulk to save money and, if you do, they'll tweak the formula a bit to suit you. Many online juice outfits will offer various combinations of PG/VG and different nic strengths in the same flavor, and also offer an extra flavor shot for a fee. Lots of people buy their favorite flavor with 3 times the nic strength they want and a triple flavor shot, then dilute it 2x the volume with a PG/VG base they make themselves to save money. Most of the online outfits, and many vape shops, also offer flavor sampler packs; 5 different fruit flavors, maybe, each in a tiny bottle, just so you can try.
2) Expect to try several different types of gear. Really, trying different vape styles is the only way to settle on which you like. I was chatting yesterday with a lady who likes a 9 watt vape in a 3 Ohm disposable cartomizer. And with a guy who's looking for 150 watts to blow huge clouds from a .2 watt RDA. You're not going to know which you like better until you try them both. A good vape shop will let you try them out before you buy, and many vapers will let you use their gear for a puff or two-- you just take the drip tip off whatever you're using and pop it on their gear to not spread germs-- to get a hint. Get out there and mingle
3) For a beginner who's ready to move on from the tiny eGo batteries and disposable cartos to some better gear, I recommend a medium power-- 20 to 50 watts-- regulated Variable Voltage/Variable Wattage mod (battery)-- and a popular tank with a variety of different Ohm replaceable coil heads. That way you can put different coils in the tank and, using the same juice, run the power up and down on the battery to see where you hit the sweet spot on the vape. A common choice is and eLeaf iStick in either the 30 ($30ish) or 50 ($45ish) watt model. The 30 is fairly well thought of across the board; the 50 has some quality control probs-- supposed to be corrected by now-- and some love it while others hate it. As opposed to this, I recommend Innokin's iTaste MVP mods. Innokin is a solid brand name and has been in business for a while. A bit more expensive, but no real complaints from much of anybody. Their gear works well and lasts a while. The iTaste MVP 2.0 is a 20 watt mod and can be had for less than $40 if you look around; the MVP 3.0 is a 30 watt mod in the $50-60 range depending on the sales; and the MVP 3.0 Pro is a 60 watt mod in the 64-80 dollar range online. Any of these (including the iSticks) can be bought as "starter kits," bundled with a decent tank. Depending on which mod and tank you want, these kits will run $50-$100 or so.
4) For tanks, probably the most recommended is the Kanger Sub-Tank or Mini Sub-tank. I don't have one, but these are good tanks, and Kanger is a good brand name. This tank offers 1.2 Ohm and .5 Ohm coil heads, wicked with organic cotton, a big improvement on the normal silica (fiberglass) wicks most other pre-made coils use. It also has the ability to use a rebuildable screw-in deck so you can wrap your own coils and wick them how you like, a thing no other tank in its class can do. This tank can be bought online all day south of 30 bucks; a 5-pack of the coils is $15 to $20. Other good choices for a beginner are the Aspire Nautilus, the Aspire Atlantis, and-- I like Innokin gear, I told you-- any of several Innokin tanks.
5) So look around. Ask questions here (expect contradictory opinions, too). When you settle on a good rig you'd like to try, there's a good shot you can buy the mod/tank you want as a bundle, which is the way you want to go for the best price. I don't recommend a beginner get into mechanical mods, or super high power, or rebuildable atomizers right away (an exception would be a decent rebuildable dripper clone. The vape shop will put a coil in it for you for a few bucks and, with a $3 bag of organic cotton balls from the drug store, it's real easy to wash and re-wick yourself so you can try different juice flavors easily.) You can move on into those things later-- like everything, there are advantages and disadvantages of doing so-- if you are of a mind to try.
Good luck, and sorry I got so long winded. Feel free to ask more questions. Remember, the idea is to avoid the cancer sticks. How you do that is your business.
Assuming you're just starting out, and your real purpose is quitting smoking, here's some hints:
1) Good juice is important. Very important. I don't mean expensive; I mean it has to be a flavor you like well enough you'll be willing to take it rather than a smoke, and it has to deliver a vape, with the equipment you're using it in, that both satisfies your psychological need for the hand-to-mouth motion and deliver sufficient nicotine your body isn't either in withdrawal or overload. You need to be able to vape as often as you feel the need to reach for the machine instead of a cig, and get the right amount of nic when you do. That's how it helps you quit. There's no way to get there but try them, a thing most vape shops are set up to do. Finding a local juice brewer with flavors you like is a thing of beauty: they might let you buy in bulk to save money and, if you do, they'll tweak the formula a bit to suit you. Many online juice outfits will offer various combinations of PG/VG and different nic strengths in the same flavor, and also offer an extra flavor shot for a fee. Lots of people buy their favorite flavor with 3 times the nic strength they want and a triple flavor shot, then dilute it 2x the volume with a PG/VG base they make themselves to save money. Most of the online outfits, and many vape shops, also offer flavor sampler packs; 5 different fruit flavors, maybe, each in a tiny bottle, just so you can try.
2) Expect to try several different types of gear. Really, trying different vape styles is the only way to settle on which you like. I was chatting yesterday with a lady who likes a 9 watt vape in a 3 Ohm disposable cartomizer. And with a guy who's looking for 150 watts to blow huge clouds from a .2 watt RDA. You're not going to know which you like better until you try them both. A good vape shop will let you try them out before you buy, and many vapers will let you use their gear for a puff or two-- you just take the drip tip off whatever you're using and pop it on their gear to not spread germs-- to get a hint. Get out there and mingle
3) For a beginner who's ready to move on from the tiny eGo batteries and disposable cartos to some better gear, I recommend a medium power-- 20 to 50 watts-- regulated Variable Voltage/Variable Wattage mod (battery)-- and a popular tank with a variety of different Ohm replaceable coil heads. That way you can put different coils in the tank and, using the same juice, run the power up and down on the battery to see where you hit the sweet spot on the vape. A common choice is and eLeaf iStick in either the 30 ($30ish) or 50 ($45ish) watt model. The 30 is fairly well thought of across the board; the 50 has some quality control probs-- supposed to be corrected by now-- and some love it while others hate it. As opposed to this, I recommend Innokin's iTaste MVP mods. Innokin is a solid brand name and has been in business for a while. A bit more expensive, but no real complaints from much of anybody. Their gear works well and lasts a while. The iTaste MVP 2.0 is a 20 watt mod and can be had for less than $40 if you look around; the MVP 3.0 is a 30 watt mod in the $50-60 range depending on the sales; and the MVP 3.0 Pro is a 60 watt mod in the 64-80 dollar range online. Any of these (including the iSticks) can be bought as "starter kits," bundled with a decent tank. Depending on which mod and tank you want, these kits will run $50-$100 or so.
4) For tanks, probably the most recommended is the Kanger Sub-Tank or Mini Sub-tank. I don't have one, but these are good tanks, and Kanger is a good brand name. This tank offers 1.2 Ohm and .5 Ohm coil heads, wicked with organic cotton, a big improvement on the normal silica (fiberglass) wicks most other pre-made coils use. It also has the ability to use a rebuildable screw-in deck so you can wrap your own coils and wick them how you like, a thing no other tank in its class can do. This tank can be bought online all day south of 30 bucks; a 5-pack of the coils is $15 to $20. Other good choices for a beginner are the Aspire Nautilus, the Aspire Atlantis, and-- I like Innokin gear, I told you-- any of several Innokin tanks.
5) So look around. Ask questions here (expect contradictory opinions, too). When you settle on a good rig you'd like to try, there's a good shot you can buy the mod/tank you want as a bundle, which is the way you want to go for the best price. I don't recommend a beginner get into mechanical mods, or super high power, or rebuildable atomizers right away (an exception would be a decent rebuildable dripper clone. The vape shop will put a coil in it for you for a few bucks and, with a $3 bag of organic cotton balls from the drug store, it's real easy to wash and re-wick yourself so you can try different juice flavors easily.) You can move on into those things later-- like everything, there are advantages and disadvantages of doing so-- if you are of a mind to try.
Good luck, and sorry I got so long winded. Feel free to ask more questions. Remember, the idea is to avoid the cancer sticks. How you do that is your business.
Short answer, more power and lower ohm coils. The juice PG/VG mix makes a difference too.
i really appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me. but i'm wondering for a beginner maybe would it be good if i start out with the eleaf istick 30w with a kangertech tank? if so what type of tanks are there? and what does the power and resistance do? i dont get this part.
for a new vapor, I would have to recommend the Istick 50 and a Aspire nautilus or Atlantis with a 1.8 or 1.6ohm coil. Adjustable for a tight or fairly open draw. Plenty of flavor and not an annoying cloud maker (that comes later), though it's decent. Combo can be cheap depending on where you go.
i heard that we have to change these tanks? what is it tht we really need to change? the whole tank? or just the coil and cotton?
As mentioned above there are so many combos of devices and tanks I would suggest buying something in a kit to make things easier. I would suggest something like the egrip if you want something small and compact or something like the Kanger subox kit for something bigger and more powerful. I would stay away from any of the pen style kits as most people almost immediately upgrade to something better.
Just the coil heads themselves, which is the cotton and coil in one, they screw right out. Do it with the tank upside down and keep the juice in your tank. The thing to always remember with a bottom feed cotton coil. Prime the new coil before u start it.
There are some tanks that have replaceable coil heads, such as the Aspire stuff mentioned. Its basically a packaged enclosure with a tiny coil and tiny wick in there. You also have to fill it with juice.
There are cartomizers that you don't need to change anything... you just buy a whole new device after it is used.
And there are rebuildables where you do your own coils and own wicking. Some of them don't even have a tank, you just drip the juice right onto the wick. This is where you can start experimenting with huge vapor and huge in-your-face flavor. But most beginners aren't really interested in this.
Thanks everyone for the explanation and recommendations. It really help me to understand more...
The iStick 30w does make an excellent starter unit, with flexibility and ability to grow upon. A Kanger Protank version 2 or version 3, or AeroTank (Protank 3 upgraded with an airflow regulation ring to tighten or loosen the draw) would be good starter tanks, same class of tank and a little more available and reliable are the Aspire Nautilus and Nautilus Mini are equivalent if not better performers than the Protank 3/AeroTank, dual coil or single coil vertical heads are availabe, and offer an airflow controller as well. A step up from those are the Kanger Sub-Tanks and Atlantis class tanks, the Sub-Tank as stated above is a bit more flexible with its premade coil heads in the 0.5ohm and 1.2ohm flavors along with its rebuildable deck for more advanced level when or if you decide to follow that avenue, makes for a flexible, inexpensive long running unit combination.
Power and resistance are 2 variables of electricity, calculated out by "Ohm's Law" which includes the variables of Voltage, Wattage (Power output), Ohms (Resistance), and Amperes (Current), change any of the 4, the other 3 alter and change as well.
Electricity can be seen similar to water.
Volts = Force and source of the water
Ohm's or Resistance = amount of restriction placed upon the flow, example going from a 2 inch pipe reducing to a 1 inch pipe, slows water behind the restriction down while pressurizing water after the restriction out harder and faster
Current or Amps = the force behind the flow
Watts or Power = is the amount of work that pressure can do, higher this rating the more liquid can be vaporized, thus giving higher flavor, throat hit, and vapor production.
The three biggest to worry about are Ohm's (higher this is more voltage is needed to push out more wattage but decreases amp drain on a battery), wattage which is the ending working result increases or decreases heat generation, and amperage more amps you pull from a battery can potentially destabilize its chemistry, go over its rated continuous discharge rate can cause it to get to hot, boil, then either rupture, explode, or vent violently which is a safety issue. Most regulated mods like the iStict 30w have a control board that will not let a coil fire if it is below a certain Ohm to protect itself and the battery from catostrophic failure and passively this protects you. On a variable device like the iStick, coil resistance is not a major factor if it is in the operating range, the 30w is 0.5 to almost 3ohms, 3ohms though will be a little weak unless adjusted all the way to 30watts, and even then the iStick won't give a full 30watts, as that would be above its voltage output range, but 0.5 to about 1.8ohms, even 2ohms are the optimal median ranges you would need.
I think for a new vapor, the Kanger subox combo maybe to much at the start. Start with something not subohm (above 1.0ohms). You should really learn the importance of battery safety and ohm's law first. That's why I say anything 1.5ohm or higher is a great place to start.
But...you should still learn battery safety before starting with any rechargeable mod setup.
But...you should still learn battery safety before starting with any rechargeable mod setup.
You're welcome. Helping out the n00bs is why I do this, so thank you for appreciating it. The iStick 30 is a decent choice and not expensive. If you find a 30 watt mod is all you need, you'll be able to use it until it dies of old age. Kanger makes good tanks. Their Sub-Tank is all the rage right now and not a bad choice, even for a beginner. The available coils for the tank run 1.2 Ohms, or .5 Ohms, and it also has a rebuildable deck so custom coils and wicks can be installed. Further, the Kanger pre-made coil heads for this tank are wicked with organic cotton-- they call them OCC coils, for Organic Cotton Coils-- which is a big step up. One of the big reasons a lot of people move into rebuildable tanks is to get rid of the standard silica wicking everybody else uses. One caveat: the coils are a bit more expensive. Not a lot, really, but some. You can find that mod and tank bundled together as a starter kit all over the internet, or your local B&M vape shop might do it for you. Buying them as a bundle should save you a few bucks. That's a really good choice, and I can recommend it. That said, I still like the Innokin iTaste MVP mod better than the iStick, but it's your money and your vape so you make the call.
The power and resistance thing is complex. Without getting too deep in the weeds about it, what a beginning vaper needs to know is more power and lower resistance makes more vapor. How and why it does this is the complex part. If you're interested, you've come to the right place. This board is populated by people who understand it and will be happy to explain. But you don't need to know those things to be safe or have an enjoyable vape.The reason I recommend VV/VW (sorry, that's Variable Voltage/Variable Wattage) mods to beginners is the safety issue is not a problem (another big reason I recommend spending the extra for the Innokin mods is I think they're better built, more reliable and therefore a tiny bit safer). If your combo isn't safe, a mod like that won't fire it. My suggestion to you is buy the gear we've talked about. The Sub Tank has two different resistance coils, 1.2 and .5 Ohms. Get some of each. Then, using the same juice to keep the flavor, install one coil and vape it, running the power up and down on the mod. Then try the same thing with the other coil. Eventually, you'll find a sweet spot on the vape. Not too thin, not too cloudy, good flavor production, not too hot, not too cold. Perhaps you'll decide 1.2 is too cold/not cloudy enough, but .5 is too hot/too cloudy. That's where the Sub Tank shines: take the rebuildable deck down to the local vape shop and pay them to show you how to build, say, a .8 resistance coil in it and give that one a try. But the cloud factor/temperature/density stuff is subjective, so I can't help you with finding it. My vape is mine; you have to find your own. Me, I rebuild, and I set my coil resistance and wicking to compliment the juice I intend to vape in that tank. Perhaps you will one day go there. Or maybe not.
The juice you choose is also important. A PV/VG ratio leaning toward PG gives a stronger throat hit and had better flavor production. A mix leaning to VG makes denser vapor. You can get a small bottle (like 4oz) of PG and VG online for a few bucks each. You can add a few drops of either to your juice bottle and shift the ratio around a bit (understanding this dilutes it, therefore resulting in less nic and flavor per tankful.) That can help you make the final tweaks to find the elusive "perfect vape." I also spoke earlier about the right nic level and the right flavor(s). That's important too, to help keep you off cigs, but not so much in this area.
Good luck. And keep asking questions. I, and many others, are here to help.
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