Where Atomizers Go To Die

[DarthVaper]

Hi all!

I've been vaping quite a while now and haven't touched an analog since I started, nearly two and a half years ago, but lately I've been in Atomizer Hell.

Atomizer Hell is where you finally feel like you've found something you really like in an atomizer, (you know, the right amount of vapor, the right amount of throat hit), and then suddenly every atomizer you buy as well as every atomizer you have in your personal emergency stock either dies on you after a day or two, gives really poor performance, or is just DOA, leaving you with nothing viable to vape. It's enough to make one go back to analogs. (Yes, I was tempted, but resisted breaking out my old cigarette stuffing machine and tobacco). In short, I seem to have really rotten luck with atomizers these days.

I've been an eGo user since shortly after they appeared on the market. (Before that I was using a pen style, remember those days?) I haven't been able to afford the snazzy battery mods out there, and yes I am a little envious. I'm happy with my battery setup, though. The eGo XL batteries are a good size for me. Most of the other battery mods look too large, and I don't want to draw attention to myself. Some of the box mods out there look like walkie-talkies to me!

So here's my request for help: I need to find an atomizer I can live with. I am open to suggestions on atomizer/battery combos too.

Here's the background:

• I've warmed up to LR 510 atomizers for the eGo.(pun intended). At first, using a very early version of the drip tip, (i.e. small), the LR atomizers actually burned the inside of my lips and the tip of my tongue. But using the supplied mouthpiece and taking shorter, less frequent vapes has gotten me past that. All in all, I've been very satisfied this past month using a Joye 510 LR atty with Boba's Bounty e-liquid. Big flavor, big throat hit. Hell, I'd almost like to call it "Lung Hit" if no one else has invented the term. I didn't want it to end, but all atomizers eventually just bite the dust. The Boge 510 LR atomizers have been a bust; one lasted me only 24 hours before dying, the second was DOA.
  
• Speaking of Boge, I do own a Boge Leo. While it has nice battery life, the vapor from this thing is so inconsistent. One minute you're vaping away, happy as a clam, the next it's like trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose and still not getting any vapor.
  
• I'm seeing that a lot of you are using cartomizers. I tried them when they first became available, and I must say I was not impressed. They were standard, not LR (those weren't available yet). They were a pain in the a** to fill, and they didn't wick the thicker liquids very well at all, and they only lasted a couple days. Now I'm seeing posts about "dual coil" and "mega" cartomizers, and I still don't understand what the f*#@ a clearomizer is. Help?
  
• I've tried the eGo-T atomizers and cartridges, and while I really liked the convenience of not direct dripping all day, the flavors were muted and every atty that wasn't DOA only lasted three maybe four days. With prices around ten to fifteen bucks a pop, that's just not sustainable. I might as well be buying analogs.
  
• I'm currently treading water with a regular old 510 atomizer. What I'm tired of (besides the completely unpredictable lifespan of these things) is having to take a five or six second draw each time I want a nic fix. That's what I used to have to do back in the days when I first started vaping on the DSE 901 and the penstyles. Haven't we come further than that by now?
  
• I'm seriously jealous of VT member JayH503 who recently posted this:
  
  
  

  With the 18650 battery and these huge eGo Mega dual coils, it's like vaping with a Black and Decker power tool!

  
  
  I would very much like to be in that club.
  
• 
  Reliability. Yes, I know, atomizers are meant to be disposable. But I need to get more than a week out of an atty if it's costing me ten bucks. So I'll sacrifice lifespan only if it means lower cost.
  

So that's my story, now I open it up to you, VaporTalkers. Help me get set up!

And thanks in advance for the advice!

[profbeard]

How much liquid (in mls) do you vape in a day?

[Christopher]

Diddo @ Pro beards comment.

I've probably asked this before, have you tried cartomizers? Like atomizers there is a bit of a learning curve but I find they tend to hold up much better if not for the simple fact that there is liquid surrounding the coil most of the time.

I remember trying to use LR atomizers and I honestly just never had much luck. More liquid would end up dripping out of them than ever ended up in vapor.

[DAYVAPE]

Couldn't have said it better, Chris.

[nana]

Good to hear from you again, Darth!

I tried the cartomizers and, like you, didn't like the regular ones, but the LR cartos are much better. My problem with them is they don't last very long for me. Maybe a day to a day and a half. The boge 510 LR cartos are very easy to fill though, I have to give them that. I always come back to my LR attys. The regular attys last me about four weeks, but just don't "do it" for me. The LR only last about two weeks for me, but I love them. I now buy the LR attys in bulk (at less than $5. each for 10) so the cost is much lower and that makes up for the shorter life span.

I've also been using the eGo since they came out and still love it (and yes I remember the days of the penstyle, too LOL). I did move on to bigger battery mods and settled with the Silver Bullet - which uses the 18650 battery. It is rather large and could draw attention, but when I am somewhere I don't want attention, I use my eGo instead. The battery lasts a day and a half for me and I really enjoy that. However, after a year of almost constant use, the button on my Silver Bullet quit working so I'm not using it right now. I'm going to try to get it fixed though, because I do love it. I also have some box mod bottom feeders (some that use 14500 batteries and one that uses the 18650) that I adore. So nice to not have to drip all the time. Since I have the bottom feeders and they work so well for me, I haven't tried the tank type atomizers. I also have the Provape, which uses the 14500 battery, and it works well, too. It's as good as the Silver Bullet, but much smaller - and of course the battery life isn't as long.

For me, I get what I need from the LR attys and that's what I use on everything. If I could get the LR cartos to last longer, I would probably use them more, but I've never been able to make them last long enough to satisfy me.

Edited August 30, 2011 by nana

[Uma]

I've had great luck using the Cisco LR 306 with my BF's. (bottom feeders)). I had one that lasted 3 months. I won't use a LR on a regular battery mod. (maybe a LR carto, but I still haven't tried that either because I prefer vapor over Th) I can and will suggest a bottom feeder device. I have an Old Goat and a Reo Grand. (Reosmods). When and if my Reo needs fixin, then I still have my OG. I'm fixed for life with mods that don't tear through my atties because the mods are squeeze and vapes.

Jay's eGo Mega Dual Carto sounds so sweet! I'll be picking up some of those EMDC's next month sometime for my Silver Bullet and of course eGo's.

I feel for you and wish you lots of luck.

[DarthVaper]

How much liquid (in mls) do you vape in a day?

ProfBeard & Chris: I think I vape around 2-3 mls per day.

Question: Can the new cartomizers, (LR, dual coil, mega and otherwise), handle the really thick e-liquids?

[Christopher]

ProfBeard & Chris: I think I vape around 2-3 mls per day.

Question: Can the new cartomizers, (LR, dual coil, mega and otherwise), handle the really thick e-liquids?

No. However there may be your solution. Though atomizers can take VG liquid - Ultimately they where never designed to be used with VG mixes let alone 100% VG mixes. If you are using really thick liquid, that is most likely what's causing you so many problems.

What ratio are you using?

[Brian]

I never like the LR attys either. When I was vaping at 6V is was getting about 2 weeks from a standard Joye 510. After getting a vv divice and starting to lower my voltage, the attys started lasting much longer. at 4.9V I was getting 4-6 weeks.

I believe Boba's Bounty is 100% VG, so that could be part of your problem. I vaped 100% VG and found it did clog up my atty much faster. That's just my experience... I know there are some who will say that's not true.

[Christopher]

I agree. While I'm not a VG user now, I did try VG a few times. I was quite surprised how thick it was. And I'm not in the least bit surprised that 100% VG gives users problems. Though, I can see why this would be a benefit to suppliers.

[DarthVaper]

Yep, the Boba's Bounty is 100% VG.

So am I just screwed if I want to keep using it? Is there anything atomizer-wise that can handle VG liquids?