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NegativeCreep

Full Member
Aug 18, 2013
23
2
Tulsa, OK
Thanks, Rick. I'll check them out further. He's now concerned about ordering online and not sure what he wants to get. I think he's going to drag me into the store in a few days. We have to drive into the city for party supplies for my kid, so we will be right there, anyways. It might be for the best, so we can get our hands on things and really get a feel for what we are looking at/for.
 

Hitmetwice

Ultra Member
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Jan 18, 2012
2,585
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Yes, that'd be the one I've been looking at. We aren't actually IN Tulsa, but near enough that we go every week or two. They have a storefront right by the Sam's Club we hit for groceries, so it's not out of the way. I am just afraid that I'll drag my SO in there, and I'll come out of there a whole lot poorer than I went in. I know it's for the best to buy things for the long term, but the initial investment sure hurts!

You will pay a premium for personalized service and it may be for the best at the start. You may also increase your chances of getting what will work best for you both from the get-go but not guaranteed. It depends on the salesperson, how easily you are persuaded to pay more for "better" (up selling). Try what you want to buy and what they "want" to sell you if you can so you can choose what suits you and your budgets best. Best to research all you can on the items you want before you go, that way if the salesperson starts giving you the snow job you'll see through it and save some of your hard earned cash. Newbs can be taken advantage of either by underselling or overselling to them. A good salesperson should listen and match you with a good set-up for YOU.

Two people should be able to get set-up adequately for at least a month for around 100 dollars.(including some juice samplers) This may not be possible at a B&M though with their overhead and all.
After that(a month or 2 in) it should be only 10 or 20 bucks for the devices or heads for them(evod/protank/clearos etc.) that you know you like.
And 30ml. bottles or larger of liquids that you know you like. ($4.00- $30.00/30ml. bottle)
If you both find liquids you like expect to be buying at least 60ml each per month more or less.
The juice will be the wild-card on cost after you're set-up with the hardware.
I easily maintain my habit for around 30-40 dollars/month(maybe less) but I mostly DIY my own juice.YMMV.
 

cat58

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May 30, 2013
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Hi and welcome! The veterans gave you great advice and I won't add anything (too new myself, really!) but I will say going to the store may be a really good idea. Since you have the info from all the wise peeps here, you kinda know what to be looking at already.

FWIW, when I bought my first setup it was at my local B&M. I now know, and I stress NOW, that I could have done it for probably $20 or more less to get up and running but I think it was a fair trade off. They showed me how to fill my clearomizers, change the coils/heads, care for my batteries and all the stuff I had no idea I needed to know. Also I was able to try a bunch of juices to find two that helped me get off the cigarettes. So if it's a good shop, it's worth the extra dollar or two, at least it was for me. Of course, now I'm down the rabbit hole but that's another issue. :)

Good luck - it'll be fun!
 

cvedrick

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May 13, 2013
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my 2 cents

get one of these each

$22.04 EVOD 6-in-1 Rechargeable 1300mAh Electronic Cigarettes Set - double e-cigarette / silver / 2.5

and

$6.78 Clearomizer Coil Heads For Kanger Protank (5-Pack) 5-pack - 1.8-1.9

(sometimes the atomizers come with bad heads, and I like the lower ohm coils on the protank heads [fit evod])

If you plan to use tank burning liquids, mints cinnamons, etc.

get either this

$15.41 Kanger Protank-II Clearomizer w/ Pyrex Glass Tank (2.5mL) - authentic Kangertech product / translucent / 2.5


Or wait a few weeks for the mini version to come out.


A knock off mini:

$7.61 KWX10 Mini Protank E-Cigarette Atomizer (1.5-2.0mL) - silver / 2.4


As far as liquids go, Best E Cigarette | Buy Electronic Cigarettes | E Cig Juice - MT Baker Vapor but keep in mind it may take a couple of weeks for them to steep properly, sorry just how it goes. If your local brick and morter lets you, try out some of theirs find several you like and pick up a couple of bottles to total about 30-50ml total, then get only 3 or 4 bottles online. Many many many people have bought literally hundreds of dollars worth of liquids that they have found unsatisfactory. If you are thnking about trying a new flavor, go to youtube and look for the manufacturer and the flavor before buying.
 

Rickajho

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Apr 23, 2011
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Thanks, Rick. I'll check them out further. He's now concerned about ordering online and not sure what he wants to get. I think he's going to drag me into the store in a few days. We have to drive into the city for party supplies for my kid, so we will be right there, anyways. It might be for the best, so we can get our hands on things and really get a feel for what we are looking at/for.

'kay - just keep that kit, what's in it, and the dollar amount in mind when you hit the store. If things seems to be getting out of hand $$$ wise just back out and give them a "I'm gonna think about it." Two things can happen when you hit the vape store: "kid in a candy shop" syndrome. And things will be a lot more expensive in general in a B&M store 'cause they have to cover that shop overhead.

The last thing to keep in mind is this is all new to you and there are good vape shops and... less than good vape shops. We have heard some real horror stories here on ECF about really REALLY bad or wrong advice being given out in some B&M's. At least on here, even if you don't understand a lot of what the heck those people are talking about, you can see if a majority of people are giving you the same or similar advice about what's good ideas and what's not. In a B&M it's just you and the person behind the encounter.

Let us know how you make out. And as with any other consumer decision you have the option to just run away!!! if you are feeling pressured or if it's just not making any sense.
 

tearose50

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Feb 2, 2011
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OMG! You are doing good to keep that overwhelm at bay!

I do think the "cigar size" is the way to go. Sorry, it just is. They are called "ego". The next step up is a bit more money but is called "ego twist". The lower the mAh rating (uh oh, but you'll have to get used to that word), the smaller/shorter the battery will be.

Shorter is fine and I wouldn't be surprised with your amount of use, you will get a full day's use before having to recharge.

I suggest getting a kit as a kit is will have everything in it you will need to get going except e-liquid.

If you look at the top of the page you will see "Forum Suppliers". There are enough vendors there to keep anyone busy shopping -- and though there is always something selling something for cheaper, sometimes cheaper isn't better. Go to a site, look in starter kits sections and pick one with the "cigar sized" battery.

Some of the "forum suppliers" are pretty much all purpose suppliers and also carry e-liquid. I'd suggest you buy a mint, a menthal and s some other interesting sounding flavor in small (5 or 10 ml) bottles. (Some vapors love their menthol and some don't -- so it's good to start off with a small selection of flavors.)

Also, you will need to know what level of nic to get. I suggest 12 mg. Some might suggest 6 mg.

Do not go for the low low price or what may appear to be the best deal for your first set up. Too much overwhelm trying to sort all that out. And, Forum Suppliers have better prices than other "Brand name" kits that advertise all over the internet.

After you get going a bit, read that first reference you were given to read, and it all makes a bit more sense, there will be plenty of people around to try and answer your next question.

Happy vaping.
 

Mattmancool34

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Aug 3, 2013
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Pittsburg, Ks, USA
The ego and ce4 or stardust type clearomizers is where I started. My only issue was I wasn't getting enough or a smoking simulation. Don't get me wrong it was enough to tide me over and allowed me to smoke inside but that was pretty much it. It wasn't until I got my first variable voltage device that I was able to quit all together. I bought a vamo ( a highly recommend cheap apv (advanced personal vaporizer) and it has worked great for me with excellent battery life.

However the more and more my friends and family get interested in switching to vaping I recommend to start with an ego twist. This battery will last you long after you have gotten into more advanced devices and maybe even mechanical devices where you build your own coil.

Its adjustable voltage in a small package. Although its quite a bit bigger than a cigarette style ecig like the blue or greensmoke its still not that awkward to use in public, and is a great vape on the go. I'd recommend looking at grimmgreens review of the ego twist as well.
THE EGO TWIST IS A GAME CHANGER - YouTube.

I would also recommend the smoktech aro pyrex tanks. They are bottom coil like the protank, evod and its clones but they are glass and resistant towards more corrosive e liquid flavors like cinnamon and coke. They also go with the lines of the ego style battery alot better making for a solid looking device.

Smoktech ARO Pyrex Glass BCC - Magenta
They come in other color as well to match your battery.
 

NegativeCreep

Full Member
Aug 18, 2013
23
2
Tulsa, OK
Thanks everyone. It's been busy, as we've been planning and executing a birthday party for the littlest minion. However, we stopped in the store in Tulsa and got all set up. Unfortunately, the store is 18+, so I had to hang out in the car with my kids while he went into the store. He bought us both an Ego? something or other, each a spare battery, and each a spare clearomizer. I think mine is already starting to burn up, though. I'm not sure if I've done something wrong or whatnot. I'm still pretty overwhelmed, but he hasn't had a cigarette since Thursday and I've had one a day since, while I finish my pack. I think I need to order some more clearomizers or something, but I'm not terribly sure if I know what I'm looking for. If anyone reads this and wants to give me a heads up... I think I've got a Vision(?) clearo. Stardust? If I don't get much more traffic here, I can start a new thread.
I really appreciate all the help. The VK store in Tulsa was really helpful and nice. I stopped in on Friday and picked out a flavor for myself. It's a very nice store, but since it was Friday, it was extra busy. Hopefully I will get a chance to look around more next time. It's a very nice place.
 

tearose50

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Looks like you are off to a great start. Thanks for the follow-up.

And, yes, it would be good to order in some replacement atomizing devices.

It sounds like you have a Vision Stardust Clearomizer. It was very very popular around here and now there are a bunch of models, brands and very similar atomizing devices on the market. Everyone seems to have a favorite one or two and prefers one minor change or look over another.

On the one you have, you unscrew the mouthpiece to re-fill. I prefer that. Many of the other models now fill from the bottom. Many people think they are better. Most now have a feature where one can replace the "coil head", a feature that the original Vision Stardust does not have.

Don't worry, you don't have to learn about how that works now. That feature does not change the ease of use, but it's nice to know that key part can be replaced.

If I were you, I'd re-read this thread -- pick out a couple of names and brands people talked about and go to Discount Vapers and see what they look like. Then I'd probably buy a couple, or a few, from him and continue to read up about the picks you made.
 

tearose50

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Yes, the Joye Ego-C battery is not only a good choice, it is compatible with many atomizing devices. The actual threads/treads are called 510 and there are many made that are configured so the "topper" fits attractively to the battery, like the one you have does. The "topper" will often be described as being ego style or some similar words.

Probably 95% of the products talked about on this forum are "510" threads. (Many cig-alike products use different and various threads on their products.)

I was actually referring back to this very thread, but now see that most of your referrals were to kits, not just the "toppers". Oops.

A quite popular model right now is the Kanger Evod & it has a nice look, IMHO. Innokin makes a few different styles that fit nicely on the Ego Battery and look very similar to what you now have & Innokin is becoming a well respected brand. Of course, Vision makes them too & I have no complaint about Vision products. There are LOTS of brands and non-branded models.

These types of atomizing systems have been traditionally called clearomizers and now some/many call them tanks. There are completely different systems that have been called tanks for years, so it gets confusing, even for me.

For example, the Kanger Protank is one popular clearomizer. I do not recommend it for your ego until the smaller version comes out......it is due out shortly. Plus, you might have to buy another part for it to look as sleek with your battery.

Google search and ECF search can be quite valuable when you want to learn more about a specific Named Name or Type.

Have fun. Keep asking questions. Happy vaping.
 
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NegativeCreep

Full Member
Aug 18, 2013
23
2
Tulsa, OK
OH! I see! That's good to know. My backup battery is an Ego-T, iirc, not that I really know the difference, just that one is longer, one is shorter and the one I've deemed my main battery is pretty :laugh:
Your last post was very informative, and cleared up some of my confusion. I'm still quite overwhelmed, but I'm getting there. I think my tank was just getting too low, rather than burning up already. A rookie mistake, I suppose. Kanger, Vision, Innokin are all available at the store we shopped at, which also has an online market - both awfully convenient for me. I wish I had more of a chance to talk to the folks at the store, but I randomly ran into a friend who I didn't realize was a vaper at the store. He gave me some advice on liquids, but his setup is far more expensive and fancy than I'm interested in at the moment lol.
I've definitely been searching around here and the rest of the web, but it's all still not clicking just yet. I think I will probably stick to what I know (heh, not much, apparently) and pick up a couple more clearomizers like I have now, until I become more comfortable branching out.
Thanks again. You, and everyone else, have been a great help.
 

tearose50

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Don't worry about a drip tip adapter. Your clearo has it's own mouthpiece that screws on. As people love to collect drip tips that don't screw on, come in many different looks, colors and styles, and fit on just about everything that doesn't have a built in or screw on mouthpiece, someone came up with a drip tip adapter that allows one to use other standard drip tips, instead of the screw on one.

Generally, resistance of the atomizing device has to do with the warmth of the vapor. Low resistance is warmer. Standard is simply standard as it is the way e-cig gear was first made, and it higher ohms. You will need to learn the term Ohms. We now frequently buy atomizing devices at various ohms resistances. We used to just get LR or SR or HR.......a lot has changed.

It is likely that your clearo is 1.8 ohms resistance (LR) or something like 2.5-2.8 ohms (SR). Does your receipt say? Learning how to check the ohms of what you have purchased is something you may want to learn later. There are gadgets that do so in addition to a hardware store all purpose multi-meter. Many bigger advanced vaping devices have an "ohms checker" built into the device.

Any vape store should be able to do check the ohms for you, so you can learn what you prefer.

I'm sure you have noticed that despite the different words printed on your batteries, the connection part looks the same. That's what is important right now. The name difference in this example is very insignificant. The height difference is only because one battery will last longer between charge times than the other. There are even short ones that are about 2" or less. I believe all ego's with that type of connection also can use the same charger.
 

NegativeCreep

Full Member
Aug 18, 2013
23
2
Tulsa, OK
Ah. I did some looking around, and I found a few videos and places talking ABOUT the drip tip/adapters, but never any clear reasoning for them for a clearo. ...as for the receipt. It probably did, but it also probably left for work an hour ago in the car with my SO. The salesperson knew we were brand new to this stuff, so she probably handed him the standard. Low resistance would deliver more vapor?

Being interchangeable sort of makes it fun. I'm happy with my blue ego, but I've seen some neat looking ones so far. I'm sure, eventually, I'll want something more exciting.
 
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