An utter noob here.

[Abe_Katz]

Hello everyone. I'm not really good at posting introductions for myself or that sort of thing. I actually find it rather tedious. But it seems to be a requirement these days on almost all forums so here goes.

My name is Abraham, though y'all can and should call me Abe. Its what I go by most of the time and I prefer informality to formality. I'm 33 years old, live in Florida and have been a smoker now for about 20 years (give or take a month). I'm utterly new to e-smoking or vaping if you prefer. I do remember when e-cigs came out and I thought to myself "meh this is a fad it has to do with this e-everything craze thats been going on for about 10 years".

And while I don't consider myself a vaper now, and probably shouldn't be--I'm still sticking to my pipe for the time being. I did get exposed last week to the NJoy King disposable e-cig. I found it at a local Walgreens store. Needless to say I was somewhat impressed. It has its bad points and its good points, but I shan't get into them here because this really isn't a place for reviews, but it got me to thinking that perhaps vaping might be a safer alternative to smoking. I personally enjoy smoking, but I know its bad for me, so if I can reduce the harm I'm doing to myself (and still have the nicotine to which I'm addicted to, and actually enjoy) then I want to do that.

As I'm totally new and in fact actually have yet to purchase a real e-cig yet, I have my eye on the Volt by Smokeless Image (due to reviews here, and on Youtube) I'm thinking I really should at least try this before passing it off as a load of bunk. That said I'm currently a pipe smoker (who usually smokes about 1/2oz of tobacco a day) and I was more or less looking at advice about how to get started doing this the right way. I certainly don't want to waste a whole bunch of money and still end up inhaling all the tar and other nasty crap in tobacco.

So I'm open to advice, particularly from ex-pipe smokers. As a side note as far as pipe tobaccos go I like naturals and English varieties (and a touch of Pirique is nice too) I think I may be looking for similar types of smoke juices for e-cigs if (or when) I make a full switch.

 

[Baditude]

Hi, Abe, and welcome to ECF!

I don't have much knowledge of analog pipe tobacco flavors. There are a couple of specialty e-pipe sub-forums here:

DSE 601 *Pipe*

and here:

Mini Pipe

where you can inquiry direct questions on pipe e-liquid flavors available once you get the required minimum of 5 posts here to actively participate in other forums besides this New Members Forum.

I remember reading something about "pipe sauce" as either a brand or flavor, so try to find info on that.

Smokeless Image Volts are a popular line of e-cigs for beginners. They are what initially allowed to quit cigarettes, but after 3-4 weeks I was ready to advance to bigger and better devices. The smaller cigarette size batteries are just too small to put out enough power for a pratical amount of time.

I strongly recommend that you check out an eGo sized battery, which is roughly akin to a cigar in thickness and length. Here's a link to such a setup:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/378406-help-newbie-2.html#post8564538

Hope that helps some. -- Baditude

 

[malhaku]

Pipe Sauce is at ePipeMods.com
My sampler pack is currently in the mail, but apparently the Long Bottom Leaf is very pipe-esque.
I'd love to get one of their pipe mods purely for the awesome look. (Also, logo with Einstein... bonus points!)

 

[Abe_Katz]

Well the subject of analog pipe tobaccos can be complex. But just for everyone's edification they come in three basic classes: Natural (which contain no or few flavorings other than the cured tobacco), English (a natural which has Latakia added to it; Latakia is a smoke cured tobacco from either Syria or Cyprus), and Aromatics (cured tobaccos that have extra humicants and flavorings added). I personally don't care for aromatics, even if others think they smell better than other pipe tobaccos and definitely better than cigarettes.

I will have to check out the links provided. However, I'm thinking the volt would be a good thing to start with. The prices seem reasonable and I can justify spending 100 bucks to try something out. If it isn't for me, which I don't know yet--my only experience being the Njoy king so far--it is better to be out 100 bucks than much much more.

 

[Baditude]

I will have to check out the links provided. However, I'm thinking the volt would be a good thing to start with. The prices seem reasonable and I can justify spending 100 bucks to try something out. If it isn't for me, which I don't know yet--my only experience being the Njoy king so far--it is better to be out 100 bucks than much much more.

If you do get a starter's kit from Smokeless Image, I encourage you to get at least one of their X2 passthru batteries. They are an eGo size battery to allow you to experience the larger size battery compared to the cigalikes. I'm quite sure you will quickly learn to prefer it.

 

[DJ RyckRak]

Welcome Abe !
We perfer informal to formal too !
And I think most here call it vapping- not smoking.
I think you are doing yourself a great service by researching your options in vapping here.
You really don't need to go much further that Baditudes advice...he is always spot on !
Vaping is a little different that smoking, but not a lot different than Pipe tooting.
The only extra advice I offer is the you get enough of a vapor cloud to satisfy your needs....and you can do that with modern mid sized PV gear- such as eGo batteries or PV mods.
This should not be to much of a stretch for you.

Best to You !

 

[Disconnect]

FYI if you just want to get started inexpensively (with decent gear) you could do worse than something like the katana kit. You would want to add a spare battery, and its not very useful without some juice to put in it, but that would let you get started for under $25. (And it is upgradable - bigger/smaller batteries, different heads, etc.)

Although now I'm eyeing some of those pipe-a-likes. Pretty!

 

[ClippinWings]

(I have posted various verisons of this to new mebers a few times... but here it is specially customized for you)

Hi Abe!

I do Prefer the term 'Vaping' to 'e-smoking'... and the reason why, I believe is important for you to know...

1. An "eCig" will never be just like a Cigarette

2. The sooner you realize #1, the better off you will be.

The first big step is to think of yourself as a Vaper... you seem to understand what I am about to say, but here it is...

This is HUGE... the sooner you are "a Vaper who used to smoke", instead of "a smoker who is trying to quit"... the better. The right mentality certainly makes it easier to transition.

Seriously, this isn't a Ra Ra speech, this is just the simple fact... Vaping is Vaping... it's not "eSmoking" or any of the other silly terms I see around here... I am not a big fan of anything that associates it with smoking... it's not like smoking... THANK GOD

It's better.

Better for your health
Better for your friends and family
Better tasting
Better on your wallet

On to the advice:

No juice tastes like burning tobacco... but the vast majority taste far better (Pickle flavor scares me LOL)

There are ePipes! I would highly suggest looking into them... as it seems the obvious choice for you.

 

[Abe_Katz]

DJ Rychrak, I'm still getting used to the lingo. I've only really even considered trying this out for a week or two. Naturally of course this has lead me to geek out in researching everything. I'll be sure to refer to it as vaping, or vapping or however that is spelled. Of course it isn't really smoking--there isn't any smoke. That will make my SO very happy I'm sure.

With the Njoy king I noticed it was kinda in between smoking a cigarette and smoking a pipe, though the draw seemed tighter to me than either. There is probably a trick to it that one can only really learn by doing rather than hearing it described.

--

Malhaku, I'll definately check out the epipemods.com. Particularly if I find that I prefer vaping to smoking. I've always liked the pipe over cigarettes or cigars. Mostly because its held between the teeth, and there are many rituals with pipe smoking such as filling the bowl, lighting, tamping, fiddling with it. I like fiddling with the pipe most of all.

--

Badatude, I'll add an X2 to my list of things to get. At 20 bucks it won't stretch the budget too bad. That said I get confused with the mAh. I don't really understand what that measurement means so that makes it difficult for me to guess at the one I want.

 

[Sm0keyny]

my understanding (could be wrong) is mah is pretty much just a battery size rating that in real terms only refers to battery life

 

[Disconnect]

The draw varies by device. Friend of mine loves her CE5+ heads but to me it is like a wide soda straw. Doesn't feel like its working somehow. Conversely, she doesn't like the tight draw on my Nova, but to me it feels right..

I wouldn't judge flavors from N-Joy though. At least when I tried them (a year or so ago) they tasted like they were full of rocks and burnt dog hair.. Blu is much closer to the sorts of "standard" flavors you can get, but there are so many many options its crazy. (Today alone I've used menthol, reeces peanut butter cup, black cherry tobacco, mocha coffee and banana bread.. And that is just preloaded novas - and 1 CE4 - out of my carry case )

 

[Disconnect]

my understanding (could be wrong) is mah is pretty much just a battery size rating that in real terms only refers to battery life

Battery capacity the world over (regardless of technology or purpose) are always rated in mAh - how many milliAmp hours of power they provide. (From giant building power systems to watch batteries.. although larger ones are just amp-hours or kilo-amp hours..)

1000 mAh is enough power to run a 1 amp load for 1 hour. That isn't to say that a 1000 mAh battery can handle that much draw at once, just that it is what it contains..

 

[juggernautxtr]

not new to vaping, but being that i have not smoked in almost 2 years, i thank the genious minds that thought of it. i can now out run my kids again with out falling on the ground gasping for air.

 

[drobbyb]

There is definitely more fiddling with e-cigs than with analogs. The more you get into it, it seems the more fiddling you do, at least for me this is true. At first, I started with pre-filled cartridges, then I went to refilling my own cartirdges. After that I went to clearomizers which require more maintenance ie: cleaning and dry burning. Now I'm getting into building my own mods. Sometimes I mix my own flavors. So, it's kind of a hobby instead of an addiction.

 

[pkj]

Welcome to the forum, Abe. Is there a vape / e-cig shop in your area? A shop that sells e-cigs? You might want to pay them a visit. They are popping up all over the country and you might have one in your area. The reason I mention this is that most, not all, shops will allow you to try out various e-cigs and test various e-juices before you purchase.

No one says you have to purchase from a vape / e-cig shop. People 'window' shop all the time. But it would give you some hands on experience with various devices & juices and might help when it comes time to purchasing what is right for you. Just a thought. ymmv

Happy Vaping and welcome ~
Paula

 

[Baditude]

Baditude, I'll add an X2 to my list of things to get. At 20 bucks it won't stretch the budget too bad. That said I get confused with the mAh. I don't really understand what that measurement means so that makes it difficult for me to guess at the one I want.

Mah rating refers to the expected duration of a battery to function under a charge. 100 mah is equal to 1 hour average use. Therefore a 600 mah battery can on average be expected to function for 6 hours. A 1300 mah battery for 13 hours.

Glad to hear you are willing to try the larger X2 battery. Good luck on your quest.

Edit: In response to pkj's comments, I totally agree if you can find a nearby brick and mortar vape shop, best way to hands-on and try juice flavors out. However, most tobacco supply stores and mall kiosks sell inferior and overpriced stuff - stay far away from them.

 

[Abe_Katz]

ClippingWings, yes I apologize for that. As I said just previously I'm still getting the lingo down.

As for a "vaper who used to smoke" verses a "smoker who wants to quit" I'm not sure we're on the same page, or maybe we are. I'm not sure as to my state of mind on the matter now. I don't even have a PV yet-well not a real one anyway--I do have a couple of Njoys around the place though. So I think it would be inaccurate to say that I'm a "vaper who used to smoke". Rather I would say I'm a "smoker who wants to change."

Essentially what I'm trying to say is that I'm not doing this to "quit" per se. What I aim to do is reduce the harm of my habits. Smoking is deadly, we all know that. My grandmother had serious lung problems due to smoking for close to 50 years. Fortunately I don't have that problem yet, but I know if I continue doing what I'm doing, I will eventually. Having had to take care of her in her later years, being on oxygen therapy and a nebulizer is not desirable to me.

I'm unsure if I'm making sense or just rambling aimlessly now. But here is what I know from experience, quitting isn't going to work for me. I've tried cold turkey, the patch, the gum, and a few other things to stop smoking. None of those worked for longer than six months (tops). So if quitting isn't going to work, changing the habit itself may. I think its the habitual (almost ritualistic) practices with pipe smoking I enjoy more than the nicotine itself, though the nicotine is important too.

Yes I've heard that many people say that the 'juice' is better than any tobacco they've had. That actually sort of excites me. Though I'm unsure if I'd like a pickle flavor.

 

[Abe_Katz]

Hum that seems to be a good answer to what mAh is. Essentially from what it seems it is a measurement of capacity of a battery then, like MPG rating. But yes, I'm a dude so yeah "more power" always seems to attract me. I'll definitely give the X2 a shot along with the standards.

It is also good to hear that PVs take up even more fiddling. I like that sort of thing.

As to the b&m e-cig stores/kiosks in my area. I'm aware of only one, since I avoid the Mall on general principle, at the local flea market. I've not visted them yet but I do know that they are listed as a vendor for Ginger's E-Juice.

 

[ClippinWings]

ClippingWings, yes I apologize for that. As I said just previously I'm still getting the lingo down.

As for a "vaper who used to smoke" verses a "smoker who wants to quit" I'm not sure we're on the same page, or maybe we are. I'm not sure as to my state of mind on the matter now. I don't even have a PV yet-well not a real one anyway--I do have a couple of Njoys around the place though. So I think it would be inaccurate to say that I'm a "vaper who used to smoke". Rather I would say I'm a "smoker who wants to change."

Essentially what I'm trying to say is that I'm not doing this to "quit" per se. What I aim to do is reduce the harm of my habits. Smoking is deadly, we all know that. My grandmother had serious lung problems due to smoking for close to 50 years. Fortunately I don't have that problem yet, but I know if I continue doing what I'm doing, I will eventually. Having had to take care of her in her later years, being on oxygen therapy and a nebulizer is not desirable to me.

I'm unsure if I'm making sense or just rambling aimlessly now. But here is what I know from experience, quitting isn't going to work for me. I've tried cold turkey, the patch, the gum, and a few other things to stop smoking. None of those worked for longer than six months (tops). So if quitting isn't going to work, changing the habit itself may. I think its the habitual (almost ritualistic) practices with pipe smoking I enjoy more than the nicotine itself, though the nicotine is important too.

Yes I've heard that many people say that the 'juice' is better than any tobacco they've had. That actually sort of excites me. Though I'm unsure if I'd like a pickle flavor.

Ah, and there in lies the catch....

Once you get a real PV(not a cig-a-like disposible) and you are a Vaper, even if that's a Vaper who still smokes on occasion... you'll understand...

At this point, a year in, I wonder why I ever smoked and wish Vaping would have existed sooner... could have saved my body 20 years of damage.

I, like you, tired cold turkey, tried the patch, gum, lozenges, tried to cut down to ultra lights, etc....

I then (in 2010) tried an (overpriced) cig-a-like and failed after a couple weeks...

I eventually tried larger Batteries and cartomizers that held more juice and produced more vapor (Christmas 2011) and was immediately a non-smoker, not because I knew I wouldn't smoke again... but because smoking had nothing to offer me... that was over a year ago... I haven't had the desire to smoke since.

MANY members here have "quit smoking by accident".... Once they got a decent vaping setup, smoking just becomes something they forgot to do... Because frankly... Vaping is actually superior.

 

[malhaku]

Malhaku, I'll definately check out the epipemods.com. Particularly if I find that I prefer vaping to smoking. I've always liked the pipe over cigarettes or cigars. Mostly because its held between the teeth, and there are many rituals with pipe smoking such as filling the bowl, lighting, tamping, fiddling with it. I like fiddling with the pipe most of all.

Definitely not the same, but there is a level of ritual in aspects of vaping. Cleaning parts, refilling, etc. It's been a while since I smoked a pipe, but I would recommend that you get something with variable voltage. Changing the voltage to modify your pull is the vaping equivalent of tamping and fiddling.