{"id":1347,"date":"2010-11-03T22:42:48","date_gmt":"2010-11-04T02:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=1347"},"modified":"2011-08-02T20:50:58","modified_gmt":"2011-08-03T00:50:58","slug":"short-answers-to-some-other-frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/faq\/short-answers-to-some-other-frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Short answers to some other<\/em> frequently asked questions:"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You don\u2019t need<\/em> anything additional to drip. You can drip with any <\/strong>atomizer (not with cartomizers, however) just by removing the cartridge or cartridge filling from the mouthpiece. What makes dripping easier<\/em> is the drip tip<\/strong> (replacing the cartridge) that goes on the atty<\/acronym><\/span>.<\/p>\n

These days, most suppliers sell drip tips. There are all types: steel, aluminum, delrin, long, short, black, clear, colors, etc. Here are just three examples from outside <\/em>the middle of the pack:<\/p>\n

NHaler<\/a> probably has the largest selection … with the possible exception of SuperTManufacturing<\/a> (which created the first drip tip, is most expensive*<\/strong>, and, perhaps, highest quality). Good Prophets<\/a> has the lowest price.<\/p>\n

*<\/strong> SuperT also carries an in<\/em>expensive imported line of colored anodized aluminum tips, not of its design.<\/p>\n

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If you want a 5<\/strong>V passthrough, look at the ones from MadVapes<\/a> ($17) and ElectronicStix<\/a> ($13). And, indeed, you should use a 2 amp AC to USB adapter for those, such as that $9 one from MadVapes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[For a high<\/strong>-end passthrough, check out VaprLife’s $60 VP-PT<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

As you may know, such 5V PTs will deliver a more intense <\/em>vape … and should not <\/strong>be used with LR atomizers (which also deliver an intense vape).<\/p>\n

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The shortest <\/em>18650-based mod is the $159 Precious-L<\/a> (shown on the upper left) and the most slender <\/em>is the $160 Precise 18650<\/a> (on the lower right). Photos are approximately <\/em>to scale. [BTW, the same statements about shortest and most slender apply to the 14500 and 10440 versions of those two models.]<\/p>\n

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The Precious has a “touch sensor, senses your fingerprint not the push! (pocket safe).” The Precise has a “semi-recessed and shielded button to help prevent mis-fires.” [NOTE: The Precious-L is no longer being sold. It will be replaced by the Precious-L v2<\/a> with more features, available for preorder, but price not yet determined.]<\/p>\n

Other 18650-based mods are shown on ViZi’s list<\/a>, including less expensive 18650 mods, e.g., the $100 Omega<\/a> and $109 Saber Touch<\/a>. They may not be quite as small, but also are good choices. And there are larger size classics like the $80 Chuck<\/a> and $85 Silver Bullet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The favorite menthol of other vapers (including Eric or Don) may very well not be right for you.<\/p>\n

Virtually all vaping suppliers offer at least one menthol-flavored e-liquid. You may want to start by consulting e-Liquid-Database<\/a> \u2013 ViZi\u2019s outstanding compendium of juice (by continent of the creator). In each case, he provides basic facts about the offerings, e.g., bottle sizes, nicotine strengths offered, number of flavors (tobacco and other), PG and\/or VG, cost per ml, and supplier links. Although some brewers are missing, this is the most comprehensive listing I know of.<\/p>\n

You can read and view reviews*<\/strong> to narrow the field and buy small bottles from various suppliers \u2013 including different menthols from the same <\/em>supplier, e.g., Vapor4Life<\/a> has almost a dozen menthol flavors (none of which I have tried, so no thumbs up or<\/em> down from me on those).<\/p>\n

*<\/strong> AllAboutTheVapor<\/a>, Basilray<\/a>, GrimmGreen<\/a>, and smokie<\/a> are among the most prolific video reviewers of e-liquid. [NOTE: Many other great video reviewers concentrate primarily on hardware.]<\/p>\n

BTW, even reviews of non-menthol flavors might have some relevance for you. If a reviewer raves about several flavors from a supplier, praising the overall quality of their juice, it might be worth giving their menthol a try. For example (and it is only an example), I happen to enjoy Backwoods Brew<\/a> juices (doesn’t mean you would), but I’m not a menthol man, so I’ve never tried his Menthol Tobacco<\/a>. Pretending, for the moment, that I am a reviewer you like and trust, you could use my comment as incentive to track down more specific comments about his menthol <\/em>flavor (there happen to be two on his website plus ENIPuff’s<\/a> on ECF).<\/p>\n

Another approach is to use candre23\u2019s “E-Liquid Cost-per-ml<\/a>” list of e-liquid suppliers (with links to their sites), sortable by large-bottle cost, sample-bottle cost, or shipping cost. An invaluable tool for the thrifty juice shopper.<\/p>\n

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The DSE103 atomizer (discussed here<\/a>) is fully compatible with the RN4081 … and there are now 4081 cartomizers<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

I wish I could suggest a 4081 battery to 510 atomizer adapter, but I don’t know of any. The only 4081-related adapters I know of go the other way around (i.e., for using a 510 or 901 battery with the 4081 atty<\/acronym><\/span>).<\/p>\n

And then there is the Alexandrian Solution to that Gordian Knot: Forget <\/em>the couple RN4081 batteries that came with your kit … and buy an inexpensive 510 kit to try out. [This page<\/a> of the WWV lists some inexpensive sources. Or, for only $10, try the Q-cig 510 clone<\/a>.] If you like the 510 atty<\/acronym><\/span>, you can always upgrade to eGO batts later on.<\/p>\n

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You’ve lost that throat hit feeling,
\nWhoa, that throat hit feeling,
\nYou’ve lost that throat hit feeling,
\nNow it’s gone…gone…gone…wooooooh.<\/em><\/p>\n

[Sorry about that. I just re-watched Top Gun<\/em> on cable.]<\/p>\n

TH is impacted by nicotine level and other aspects of the e-liquid, by the model and resistance of the atomizer, by the battery voltage, and by personal idiosyncrasies.<\/p>\n

Starting with the last factor and using myself as an example: As the day goes on (especially if I’ve been vaping a lot), I get less and less TH. To a great extent, I think TH stems from the satisfying of nicotine deprivation. If my body is nicotine-satiated, there is little hit to experience.<\/p>\n

As for the e-liquid, you may want to try a higher nicotine level and\/or different flavors (e.g., Menthol or Atomic Cinnacide hits harder than many others) and\/or other brewers.<\/p>\n

Battery voltage and atomizer resistance go hand in hand to produce watts<\/strong>. “Watt’s that?” you ask. It’s the power or intensity of the vape. [I have attempted to simply and briefly explain this volts\/ohms\/watts stuff here<\/a> (bottom half of page).] You may want to consider upgrading to a “Fat Batt<\/a>” (e.g., eGO, Riva, Hello 016) in order to: get many more puff per battery charge and <\/strong>be able to use LR atomizers. Lower resistance (e.g., 1.5 or 2.0 ohms, instead of the standard 510 atty<\/acronym><\/span>‘s 2.3 ohms) will increase the intensity of the vape … as will a higher voltage battery, e.g., a 3.7V mod (instead of the 510 battery’s 3.2V). But don’t do both.<\/p>\n

The 510 atomizer is the most popular … but it is not the only atty<\/acronym><\/span> out there or necessarily the best for TH (at least for everyone). From what I’ve read, the compatible 306 (especially Cisco’s LR 306) hits harder. Personally, I get no TH from the 510. The 801 is the one for me.<\/p>\n

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We don\u2019t<\/strong> recommend cleaning atomizers (e.g., washing or dry burn). It doesn\u2019t do much to lengthen their lifespan \u2026 and can ruin them. [And LR attys<\/acronym><\/span> or regular ones used at 5 volts normally don’t need<\/em> cleaning, because they burn off residues more efficiently than stock attys<\/acronym><\/span> @ 3.7 volts.]<\/p>\n

We do think blowing out <\/strong>atomizers regularly (e.g., every other day) is helpful. [NOTE: Immediately afterward, drip two to four drops of your favorite e-liquid directly on the atomizer coil.]<\/p>\n

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On ECF, keyzygirl suggested<\/a>: \u201cI soak mine in a bowl of boiling water for a bit to loosen things up. Then I hold them under running water to flush them out, blow them out and repeat. Blow them out really good to dry them and let them sit to air dry for a while. I don\u2019t like to boil them in a pot; it seems to kill too many.\u201d<\/p>\n

My own answer is: Cartomizers are disposable<\/strong>. They are designed to be refilled a few times and then thrown away when they stop tasting good. Anything beyond that (gained by cleaning) is a bonus not to be expected.<\/p>\n

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Maintain a supply that could hold out for at least a week, i.e., the length of time it would take to receive replacement parts and e-liquid.<\/p>\n

I wouldn’t invest any further in 510 batteries. Unless you are in love with the small form factor of the basic 510 (and are willing to pay the frequent recharge price for it), you should give serious consideration to the “Fat Batts<\/a>” (as I call them), e.g., eGO\/Tornado, Riva, Hello 016. Otherwise, get a PCC<\/acronym> for those 510 batts.<\/p>\n

And, over time, check out other <\/em>atomizer models. The 510 atty<\/acronym><\/span> is the most popular, but it is not <\/em>the only one and not everyone’s favorite. For example, there is increasing buzz about the Joye 306 atomizer and it is compatible with your current batteries (and those fat batts).<\/p>\n

As for e-liquid, I recommend sampling many different ones in small bottles, sources for which are covered in the answer to this FAQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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For me<\/strong>, stocking up on vaping supplies is like building a bomb shelter in the 50’s and 60’s: the worst may <\/strong>happen, but I have neither the temperament nor the financial resources to prepare for every worst-case scenario. [But then, my wife says that I go through life with rose-colored glasses.]<\/p>\n

Also, I do not yet have the ultimate mod, atomizer, and e-liquid: I’m still exploring … and, of course, new ones are coming out almost every day.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: If vaping supplies are <\/em>banned in your state\/county\/city, please don’t chastise me for giving you bad advice.<\/p>\n

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Change the e-liquid<\/strong> you are using. If a supplier\u2019s website doesn’t say anything about their liquid being US (or UK)-made, I assume <\/em>that it is China-made and all PG: not known for generating lots of vapor. VG tends to produce more vapor than PG. Many of us prefer a mixture of the two (although some people need pure VG<\/acronym> because of allergy to PG<\/acronym>).<\/p>\n

Some <\/em>of the very good US-made e-liquid suppliers are Alien Visions, Backwoods Brew, Cignot\u2019s BASIC line, FreedomSmokeUSA [10% discount code: VGFSU10], Gourmet Vapor, Halo, NHaler, Tasty Vapor, Vapor Bomb, VapeRite, Vapor Station, and Viking Vapor. Two of the best UK-made e-liquids are ECOpure and Decadent Vapours. [See this page<\/a> for links to each supplier\/juice mentioned.]<\/p>\n

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Like any e-cig, the “510” is both an atomizer and a battery. The 510 atomizer <\/em>is unquestionably the most popular of all attys<\/acronym><\/span>. The 180 mAh 510 battery <\/em>seems to be following \u201cthe 901 going the way of the dodo,” as one ECF member put it.<\/p>\n

I do not <\/strong>recommend the 510 battery. Rather check out the 650 mAh eGO\/Tornado or other 510-based “Fat Batts”: 750 mAh Riva, 900 mAh Mega eGO battery, 1000 mAh Mega Tornado battery, 1300 mAh Hello 016. These are all described (with supplier links) on this page<\/a> of the WWV and on this page<\/a> of ViZi’s master database of mods. [That having been said, I do still enjoy taking a break from my mod to puff on my basic 510 (atty<\/acronym><\/span> & batt). Since I only use it occasionally, its low mAh doesn\u2019t get in my way.]<\/p>\n

The term “Mega” (or “XL”) also is used as a label for the longer 280 mAh 510 batteries, larger 510 attys<\/acronym><\/span> & carts, and <\/strong>for the new large capacity atomizers\/cartridges and cartomizers available for the eGO\/Tornado and Riva. Personally, I think the Mega eGO atomizer or Mega eGO cartomizer on the Mega eGO battery (shown in photo at top and center, respectively) are pretty neat-looking devices. [The standard eGO with 510 atty<\/acronym><\/span> and eGO cone is at the bottom of the photo.]<\/p>\n

\"attys<\/acronym> cartos” src=”http:\/\/www.jantyworld.com\/images\/clip_image013.jpg” alt=”” width=”450″ height=”247″ \/><\/p>\n

These are the new <\/strong>e-cigars (my <\/em>designation, not official).<\/p>\n

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Begin <\/strong>by reading Eric’s “DIY E-liquid \u2013 value and choice<\/a>” Vapor Trails<\/em> article. The most convenient way to proceed from there is with a DIY kit<\/strong>, e.g.,<\/p>\n