Relative newbie needing advice...

MaryK666

I got my first eCig back on the 12th of Feb and am delighted to say that, apart from one solitary cigarette in the first week, I have not smoked a single cigarette. Not bad for someone who smoked at least 40 rollies a day for over 20 years so I'm feeling very proud of myself.
I started with an eGo-W which I got on a special offer although I hated the cartos because they leaked and were messy to fill. I also got some nicotine liquid (24mg) which I hated. I also tried some fruit flavours but found them to taste more like chemicals than fruit.

Since then, I have moved on to using CE4 and CE5 clearo's with my eGo batteries and the Kanger T3 which I quite like.

I have also found that I really like vaping coffee/chocolate/caramel/cream flavours and usually mix the pre-mixed liquids of different strengths and flavours and am currently vaping a strength of about 18mgs. I have ordered some high strength nic liquid with some pg and vg to dilute it and some flavours that I think I might like as I want to try mixing my own.

My first question is - how much of the flavourings should I use to make a reasonably strong flavoured 10 ml bottle of eliquid? I have heard that some flavours are stronger than others and I have ordered coffee, chocolate and caramel flavours. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Another question is about vendors. I know from reading posts on here that some are better than others and I have found some very good sites based here in Ireland that I'm happy to buy from on a regular basis. But I placed an order from the joytech Ireland site and am still waiting for delivery of a spare charger for over three weeks and there has been no reply to any of the mails I sent to them. I'd love to know if anyone else has had a problem with this site or is it just because I placed such a small order?

I've been looking at some of your posts about vv mods on here and I'm curious to know whether any of you think there would be any milage in my trying them? I really only started vaping as a way to stop smoking but, seeing all the awesome looking mods out there, I'm considering trying something but the only problem is knowing where to start without spending a fortune. Again, any advice or pointers would be much appreciated.

grindle

MaryK666 wrote: »

My first question is - how much of the flavourings should I use to make a reasonably strong flavoured 10 ml bottle of eliquid? I have heard that some flavours are stronger than others and I have ordered coffee, chocolate and caramel flavours. Any advice would be much appreciated.

It's not just flavour-specific when it comes to percentages, each brand's version of that flavouring will be more or less concentrated than eachother, so it really depends what exact liquid you've bought.
American flavourings (Lorann, Bickfords) usually aren't too concentrated and might need 30% for some flavours, but then they have the Perfumer's Apprentice which is more middling and generally needs less flavouring - about 10-20%.
The European brands are usually super-concentrated so you'll find some flavours that only need 2%, others that are weak that need 20-30% and a load in between.
Most settle around the 10-15% mark for me, but I see a lot of people using 5% for the same flavours, so... Vice-versa on other flavours.
I haven't found a nice coffee concentrate yet, they've all tasted like over-roasted bad coffee (like Costa or Nosh&Coffee) as opposed to the thick, rich flavour coffee is supposed to give (like Badger & Dodo ...mmmohholyfuck... or Gloria Jeans on the lower end of that scale).
Google "<brand> <flavour> percentage" to get some rough estimates on what other people are doing with whatever liquid you've bought.

MaryK666 wrote: »

I've been looking at some of your posts about vv mods on here and I'm curious to know whether any of you think there would be any milage in my trying them? I really only started vaping as a way to stop smoking but, seeing all the awesome looking mods out there, I'm considering trying something but the only problem is knowing where to start without spending a fortune. Again, any advice or pointers would be much appreciated.

This yoke is great value for money. Just bought one for a friend and he loves it. Watch out though, it's very wand-like!
With his A7 on top it was 7.5inches long.

Thecageyone

My first device after the cig-a-like jobbies was an ego C. Still have it, but like you I hate those little carts. They leak like mad, no matter how careful you are with filling and inserting.

I too started buying clearo's, some Kanger MT3s and evods do the job better than the ego style atty and carts.

This led me on to looking for a more powerful VV battery. Got a twist, which is ok for casual use, but I then bought a Vamo SS [which I use in VW mode] and the ego stuff barely gets a look in now. Unless I'm heading out and want something more discreet - the Vamo would be a bit mad looking to use walking down the street

Got a vivi nova tank for it and the thing hasn't leaked or give a burny hit once in a few weeks! That's some going. The Kanger evods alo fit it nicely for your side flavours. But the MT3 types do not. Because of the knurled ring. You could swap that out and use evod coils, if you prefer the MT3 tank.

Anyway, well done staying off, I've not had a real cig since Jan 9th

MaryK666

Thanks for the reply Grindle. The flavouring I'll be using is this stuff so maybe I'll just try mixing very small amounts in drops and see how it works out. I've read that the self-mix juices need regular shaking to make sure they're properly mixed and that they need time to steep so it'll be a process of trial and error. I plan on making the mix about 60%vg/40%pg, including flavour so hopefully I'll be able to make a flavour I really like and save myself some money at the same time.

That vv battery looks kinda cool. I'm currently using an 1100mAh eGo style battery and a CE5 clearo so it'd probably be about the same size. It's a bit of a pain to take out socially but it's ideal for home or work. I use a lanyard on it to make sure I don't either drop it or forget where I left it. I work 12 hour shifts so I need a battery that'll last me through a shift and my current batteries do the job. But this is cheap and cheerful so I might give it a try. I love the look of the big mods and the glass tanks but I don't know if I'd have the time, the skill or the patience to rebuild wicks and I'd probably just end up dropping something expensive and making s*it of it.

grindle

MaryK666 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Grindle. The flavouring I'll be using is this stuff so maybe I'll just try mixing very small amounts in drops and see how it works out. I've read that the self-mix juices need regular shaking to make sure they're properly mixed and that they need time to steep so it'll be a process of trial and error. I plan on making the mix about 60%vg/40%pg, including flavour so hopefully I'll be able to make a flavour I really like and save myself some money at the same time.
...
I love the look of the big mods and the glass tanks but I don't know if I'd have the time, the skill or the patience to rebuild wicks and I'd probably just end up dropping something expensive and making s*it of it.

The percentages DKS recommend are on the low side, maybe some of them deserve it, but... They put the ideal mix at 1.5-3%, whereas I made a 5% mix of Mixed Berries my first time and it was a little weak. Started dripping some more until it was just right to me and it was 7.5%. Tell me how their coffee goes! I've been put off by everybody else's coffee, can't take the risk!
I really wish Highbrow Vapors sold concentrates of their liquids...

If you do want to dip into rebuildables just avoid mesh and get yourself an iGO-S/iGO-L, some .20 Kanthal and some silica or cotton make-up pads. Serious amount of flavour for the money and extremely simple to set up.
Great for testing flavours if you use the cotton, cos you can just pop the top off, take the cotton out leaving the coil intact, slip new cotton in and try the new flavour. With silica I'm sure you can rinse the wick and dry it with a lighter.
Barely a job, never mind a 1 minute job.

Stefan_Cork

Here is a handy document regarding flavour strengths:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkX4_hQ6Fu8HdEwwR2dLRUJlVjlabEN1NG1ucktuUVE&gid=0

grindle

Stefan_Cork wrote: »

Here is a handy document regarding flavour strengths:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkX4_hQ6Fu8HdEwwR2dLRUJlVjlabEN1NG1ucktuUVE&gid=0

That is BRILLIANT, thanks!

No DKS unfortunately... And some nutjob uses 4.5% Black Fire. Might as well burn the house down!

MaryK666

Thanks Stefan - that's helped point me in the right (ish) direction. I know I'm a newbie to the whole vaping scene but I've never even heard of some of those flavours. Still, I'm looking forward to getting my hands on my next delivery so I can start experimenting with flavours. I'd love to try a lemon/lime mix too but I've had no luck finding flavours - at least in Ireland. Has anyone tried a self-mix like this and, if so, where did you source your flavourings?

Has anyone had any dealings with the company I listed above earlier? I'm still at my wits end trying to get hold of them and all I want at this stage is to cancel my order and get my money back. The USB charger I got with my original eGo-W died a few weeks ago so I thought I'd order two replacements - just in case - but I've had to get them from another site and I'm glad I did or I'd be in deep doodoo if I'd waited and I'd probably be back on the dreaded rollies by now. I just don't understand how some of the companies I've dealt with can provide such a great service while others, like these other guys, are appalling. It's not exactly encouraging to newcomers.

Mr. Chrome

I was in that shop a while back but didnt buy anything, I can pm you their mobile if you want.

MaryK666

Yes, please, Mr. Chrome. That would be great. At least that way I'd have some chance of getting hold of them. I'd like to hear their excuse for having taken my cash and then ignoring me for the last three weeks or more.

damon5

Grindle,beside size what would be the differance between the iGO-S and the iGO-L and what mm silica would you use,cheers..

grindle

iGO-S would be a warmer vape because of the smaller chamber.

I don't use silica but my cotton wicks are 1.5-2mm in diameter, so I suppose I'd aim for that if I was using silica.
Digby and Green Hornet are probably better for silica advice.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i only use 1mm, double or qua...bled.... up to 2mm or 4mm

Green Hornet

I've used both at different times actually. I prefer the 1mm because I think you can make a more circular coil and cover more wick....

4 strands of 1mm or 2 strands of 2mm is generally what I use. The 2mm is beefier in the attie too so not really suitable for small atties I don't think. Easier to work with 1mm but don't wind it too tight or it'll strangle the wick.

Kinda just a personal preference though really. One thing to note for both is not to have the wick too long. Keep the tails pretty short.

Digby is an expert on this stuff!!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Green Hornet wrote: »

Digby is an expert on this stuff!!

*grins smugly as he vapes on the first decent coil he's made in 2 months*

Green Hornet

I go through that sometimes as well. I do find the A7 pretty forgiving that way though in fairness. The coil is always over the airhole in the base so one less variable to worry about. Gives a nice flavourful warm vape and doesn't leak.

If anybody is looking for a cheap SS RBA that doesn't leak, consider the A7.

damon5

Thanks lads ....so it seems like the 1m silica or home made cotton pad jobbies and 0.20mm AWG 32 kanthal wire NOT FLAT.
Could the same stuff be used to rebuild a V3 vivi nova as well

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

yeah I might pick one up in the future. im getting sick of running out of heads for the spiral and them being out of stock everywhere.

it's amazing the difference a good coil makes. I put 10 drops of tobacco praze into the RDA 2 hours ago and it's not empty yet.. i'm satisfied so I'm not vaping much. huge change from the last few days/weeks where I've been chain vaping, chasing that dragon and running out of all my favourite juices

--edit

yeah same stuff for a vivi or a kanger or any of those clearos that can be rebuilt

if you're using .20 kanthal use 4 strands of 1mm. even with six wraps of .20 i was getting 1.5-1.6ohms, anything less is kinda dodgy on an ego battery

Mr. Chrome

I find the a7 good but in oid form the mouthpiece gets way too hot for me and drys the hell out of my lips, dripping does my head in, and compared to the IGO L its pretty fiddly to set up.
Digby, how do you get 1.6 ohms with 6 wraps, would love to get that for coverage, I get about 1.4-1.5ohms with 4 wraps, and about 1.9ish ohms with 5 wraps, all with 2mm silica doubled up and .2 kanthal.

Green Hornet

I don't use the oid mouthpiece. I have a standard SS drip tip and it doesn't get too hot. You're right though, the oid mouthpiece does get too hot. And yes, it is fiddly compared to the Clockworks RDA or Bulli so I suppose the IGO-L would be easier too. No leakage is a real winner for me though.....

Mr. Chrome

Green Hornet wrote: »

I don't use the oid mouthpiece. I have a standard SS drip tip and it doesn't get too hot. You're right though, the oid mouthpiece does get too hot. And yes, it is fiddly compared to the Clockworks RDA or Bulli so I suppose the IGO-L would be easier too. No leakage is a real winner for me though.....

Yeah, its a pitty about the heat cause I really only got the a7 so I could use it in oid form, if they made the oid mouthpiece bigger it might dissipate the heat a bit better, as a dripper I find myself dripping every two or three minutes!

Green Hornet

I changed to using 1mm wick and its created more capacity in the well. The 2mm kind of fills up the whole thing but 4 strands of 1mm leaves a lot more room for juice. Easier to coil as well - getting that second leg into the hole in the post can be tricky enough without messing up the coil....

Mr. Chrome

Green Hornet wrote: »

I changed to using 1mm wick and its created more capacity in the well. The 2mm kind of fills up the whole thing but 4 strands of 1mm leaves a lot more room for juice. Easier to coil as well - getting that second leg into the hole in the post can be tricky enough without messing up the coil....

How many drops roughly would you get into the a7, as a dripper I only get 4 or 5, must get me some 1mm wick, got some of that blue stuff for filler from a freind, but havent used it yet because I dont really want to use the mouth piece anymore.

Green Hornet

I get 7 or 8 drops into it using the 1mm. I put the coil in the centre of the bow tie set up and the bottom of the loops on both sides dip into the well. Leaves a lot more room for juice I think.

Who the hell knows though!! Could all be in my head!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Mr. Chrome wrote: »

I find the a7 good but in oid form the mouthpiece gets way too hot for me and drys the hell out of my lips, dripping does my head in, and compared to the IGO L its pretty fiddly to set up.
Digby, how do you get 1.6 ohms with 6 wraps, would love to get that for coverage, I get about 1.4-1.5ohms with 4 wraps, and about 1.9ish ohms with 5 wraps, all with 2mm silica doubled up and .2 kanthal.

hrm

actually i was probably using .20 nichrome instead of kanthal at the time, kanthal is slightly higher resistance than nichrome so that would make sense

damon5

--edit

yeah same stuff for a vivi or a kanger or any of those clearos that can be rebuilt

if you're using .20 kanthal use 4 strands of 1mm. even with six wraps of .20 i was getting 1.5-1.6ohms, anything less is kinda dodgy on an ego battery

Thanks for that