Are you done stocking up?

AXIOM_1

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    I am not sure about mods as I have never worked on mods..... Televisions and radios I could tell you about but not mods... You probably could order them directly from whatever manufacturer makes your mod, that is if they sell them.

    The problem is the expense... It would be just as cheap to replace the entire mod with a new one as it would be to try and replace a board.
     

    BillW50

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    But I decided it simply wasn't worth the hassle because for me personally, the vape from a mechanical device is just as good, and mechanical devices don't tend to fail for no apparent reason.
    But you're stuck with builds that work at 3.7v and that is it. Also mech mods generally lack protection. Like insulators don't last forever and with age they will crack, melt, etc. and now you have a bomb on your hands. And the fire buttons have been known to stick and now your atomizer is running continuous until you notice it and remove the battery.

    Plus you have no gauges whatsoever. I love gauges. They generally tell you of apending problems. Even the real wattage reading is handy. On a mech mod, you might not notice that your battery has increasing internal resistance, especially since this usually happens slowly overtime. But on most regulated mods, they will either just turn off when you push the fire button, lower your wattage setting automatically to where your weak battery can handle, or report weak battery.

    Of course, with a mech mod and you suddenly realize that your power is fluctuating. Well it could be your battery, your battery contacts, the switch, the wiring, the atomizer, or even the coil. Sure you could check visually. But that might not show what the problem is. You may need external test equipment to see where the problem is. Oh yeah, that stuff is at home. :(

    On a regulated mod, you have gauges. If it is the battery, contacts, or wiring to the board will usually show up as a weak battery. If the problem is on the other end, you will see fluctuations in your readings for amps, voltage, resistance, and possibly wattage. And in the worst cases, it will show either atomizer short or no atomizer and refuse to fire if things become unsafe.

    Plus the vast majority of mech mods are single cell mods. Now you are limited by power and battery capacity. Sure capacity can be overcome by carrying spare cells with you. Power? Well you might need a rare series mech mod and now need to build for 7.4v or more.

    Sure with a mech you have simplicity. And with it, you give up variable wattage, TC, added protection, wide range of builds available, power, capacity, and gauges (and I am sure I missed some others right now). But for a few bucks more, you have so much more available to you. Well for the latter, sign me up. ;)
     

    AXIOM_1

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    She doesn't own evolve products... Why bother getting a board for her product when replacement with a new mod is the easiest and most sensible route? She would not only have to learn how to tear her unit apart and install a new board but she could mess things up and do a faulty job... Not only that but it wouldn't be much more in cost just to purchase an entire new mod and all without the hassle of having to work on something.
     

    bnrkwest

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    She doesn't own evolve products... Why bother getting a board for her product when replacement with a new mod is the easiest and most sensible route? She would not only have to learn how to tear her unit apart and install a new board but she could mess things up and do a faulty job... Not only that but it wouldn't be much more in cost just to purchase an entire new mod and all without the hassle of having to work on something.
    There is a build a DNA mod kit on eBay cheap, I think it costs about $13 with shipping. Since I have a DNA board I could build one if I had too :) I have one just in case.
     

    Katdarling

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    Hold on to your vape hat. Major multi-quote ahead.

    It is at this stage of the thought experiment that I start to tire. There's no certainty vaping is going to be banned. Do I really want to load up on a lot of hardware when there's every chance it will continue to be available--and improved--in the coming years? Do I want to devote valuable freezer space to liquid nicotine for decades? It all becomes exhausting and I start to want to leave it in the hands of the gods and deal with what comes when it comes.

    And here I am, once again, back where I started. I wonder how long I'll stay on this hamster wheel.

    Zazie, you're experiencing what prolly a good percentage of us are, or have done. When we first decided (some 4 years ago) that stocking was the name of the game, it was the old Scout adage of being prepped and ready.

    From the visuals, vape is once again in the process of POSSIBLY being stripped from us. Perhaps not. In either case, I'd rather be one with more toys. Better to have more than enuf than.... ? The less than enuf is simply not an option for me. I've no intent to stop vaping and I know myself well enuf to know that if I did stop (by the will, or "won't" of the FDA), I'd be the first at the store to buy those awful smelling combustible sticks. Sadly, yes, but it's best that I protect myself with as much insurance as I can do.


    Seems like people are just planning for the worst so far.

    “Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.”


    For me I do not trust the FDA at all. Seeing things seized by them years ago when they tried to stop vaping in it's tracks, then the deeming regs and PMTA put in place, I think we are on borrowed time. We have no idea at this point what will pass PMTA, if anything. I am not taking any chances, I am stocked up as best I can with regulated and several mech mods, toppers, and DIY. Vaping has been a miracle for me to quit smoking and I am not having the gov't mess with me over what is or isn't available. Too many have gone out of business already because of their meddling. I do not trust them. I am going thru my stock and weeding out things I don't need, but getting more of what I will need :)


    I'm with you, Madame West. We've both been around here for many moons and seen so much. I agree with every sentiment, sweetie.


    I wouldn't be surprised if they told us to just go have a cigarette.

    Ergo, the final chapter. ;)


    Boy I really sound cynical about FDA LOL but after vaping for 7 yrs you kind of get that way :)


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    corn flakes

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    My hope is that all my Provari's last for a very long time :) But I have backs ups for back ups LOL


    I hope so too.

    I did build my stockpile to be able to scrap a mod and tank every 3 months for the next 30 years.
     

    Rossum

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    It would not be far-fetched to think that a board may last for 100 years. That is easily feasible with todays design and manufacturing techniques.
    But there are also many quality boards out there too that I wouldn't be surprised if a good number of them may even last up to 100 years or more.
    A board itself, and quite a few of the components on it, possibly. But there are two things that likely won't:
    • The flash memory in the micro-controller. The chip itself may still be functional in 100 years, but chances are it won't retain data anywhere near that long.
    • The displays. These tend to be OLEDs that do degrade over time.

    But in case I am wrong, I also have a plentiful stock of spare boards too.
    Unfortunately, the above-mentioned issues aren't really a function of use, but simply of age.

    But that's a lot like carrying the toolbox in my automobile. If I have it with me, I never seem to need it. The day I don't, then I need it. :(
    Having changed out alternators and even timing belts on the side of the road some decades ago, I know exactly what you mean.
     

    DancingHeretik

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    Vaping will change for real. God only knows what vaping will look like in 10 years but I do believe it will stay, and the government won't be able to do anything about that. Vaping as an industry is here to stay.
    I believe you're right. I'm just not willing to bet on it.
    Opinionated said:
    There is a window of time right now for me to stock pile enough to keep vaping costs way low for a very very long time, exactly the way I enjoy to vape and I'm taking advantage of that window.
    Me too!
    Truth be told, I'm hoping they really do come after diy last, if at all (insert wishful thinking emoji here). On any equipment, I'd hate to have to vape commercial juices even today, before government tells us what they should be.
    Agreed. I DIY for the flavor above all. I don't like most premade eliquid.
    I never went through the seizure before as I wasn't vaping back then..(that was 2012 wasn't it? I didn't start vaping til 2014) so I don't have that in my head..
    I believe it was around 2009-2010.
    Opinionated said:
    Stock up because your favorite things may disappear, not because vaping will..
    I've been doing that for a while, as I noticed some of my favorite things start to disappear.
    I'd rather be one with more toys. Better to have more than enuf than.... ? The less than enuf is simply not an option for me. I've no intent to stop vaping and I know myself well enuf to know that if I did stop (by the will, or "won't" of the FDA), I'd be the first at the store to buy those awful smelling combustible sticks. Sadly, yes, but it's best that I protect myself with as much insurance as I can do.
    I would hope it would be different. But, I'ld probably be fighting you for first place in line.

    As far as I'm concerned, my life depends on it. I have and will continue to stock as long as I can. Luckily, it's only a trickle nowadays.
     

    Opinionated

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    As far as I'm concerned, my life depends on it. I have and will continue to stock as long as I can. Luckily, it's only a trickle nowadays.

    My overall point was about being careful not to go so far in our concerns that we find ourselves encouraging people to spend money when they don't have it..

    For all we know we will be throwing half this stuff away someday.. we are hedging our bets with what we can afford, not with what we can't.

    The person I was speaking to originally was not needing to vape to keep her off smokes, and didn't have much money..

    I'm absolutely unwilling to encourage people to subsist on rice and beans for something they may not even need..
     
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    BillW50

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    A board itself, and quite a few of the components on it, possibly. But there are two things that likely won't:
    • The flash memory in the micro-controller. The chip itself may still be functional in 100 years, but chances are it won't retain data anywhere near that long.
    • The displays. These tend to be OLEDs that do degrade over time.
    I sure like to met these people who makes these predictions. As I too have heard these claims and yet we also know that there are no 100 year old flash memory to research. Same is true for OLEDs screens. Because I often find their predictions doesn't end up true anyway. Like I heard electrolytic capacitors are only going to last about 10 years before they dry out and that's about it. Yet I have some that are over 50 years old and are still working just fine.

    I heard that my Epson PX8 Geneva 1984 laptop with that tiny 80x8 character LCD screen will just fade away after 10 years. Now it's 34 years later and the display looks the same to me as it did brand new. And believe it or not, that laptop still works. Although the NiCad batteries are toast, but that is minor.

    I also heard flash memory only holds its data for 10 years and then forgets. That is strange since I threw on MS-DOS on a 32MB flash drive what like 15+ years ago and only wrote on it once back then, so no renewing data and it is still reading fine.

    4½ years ago I threw in a 256GB flash drive into this laptop I am on right now which this MLC flash memory can only be written to like 10,000 times before they can't write anything anymore. And the Smart Data log reports it has 13356 hrs 11 mins on it and has written 12,364GB worth of data. Yet it also reports lifetime remaining is still 98%. Why worry about limiting your writes to make it last longer if it will probably outlive you easily? Besides it will long be obsolete before it ever quits anyway. Like that 32MB flash drive I have. What can you use a 32MB flash drive for nowadays? I've seen a single webpage larger than this. :lol:
     

    440BB

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    I think one can stock up while being pretty frugal. I did so over a period of time when funds were very low by hunting down things that fit my style of vaping as they were being discontinued. A few hundred bucks over a year or so can be enough for a former smoker like me to insure they'll keep off the smokes for years.

    Worst case, I'll dabble with new things for fun going forward while not really needing to buy anything but PG and VG for a couple decades. I expect the ProVaris with LCD displays to be the last regulateds standing, then some sweet mechs that are waiting in the wings.

    This depends, of course, on bucking the trend to acquire every new device and feature. The same applies to most of our possessions, separating needs from wants. What I really need is to stay off cigarettes. Stocking up in uncertain times with changing product lineups fulfills that need, so I end up with what I want - peace of mind.
     

    NolaMel

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    I grabbed a broadside admiral and a Dreamer. My Christmas shopping is done, and they’re on sale. Mark that off my list.

    I don’t think anyone should buy ANYTHING if it means bills, food, gas etc won’t happen. There’s plenty of inexpensive stuff out there, or ask around here. Many of us have stuff to share for nothing if someone really needs it.
     

    bnrkwest

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    I grabbed a broadside admiral and a Dreamer. My Christmas shopping is done, and they’re on sale. Mark that off my list.

    I don’t think anyone should buy ANYTHING if it means bills, food, gas etc won’t happen. There’s plenty of inexpensive stuff out there, or ask around here. Many of us have stuff to share for nothing if someone really needs it.
    Yes and lots of good sales, I think everything I bought lately was on sale except the one Orion and Dicodes. But then I did sell extra things to make up for it :)
     

    DancingHeretik

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    My overall point was about being careful not to go so far in our concerns that we find ourselves encouraging people to spend money when they don't have it..

    For all we know we will be throwing half this stuff away someday.. we are hedging our bets with what we can afford, not with what we can't.

    The person I was speaking to originally was not needing to vape to keep her off smokes, and didn't have much money..

    I'm absolutely unwilling to encourage people to subsist on rice and beans for something they may not even need..
    It all depends on where a person is at in their vaping journey. I certainly didn't mean that person should over spend. That wouldn't make sense.

    If I were in that position, I would only buy a small amount of my favorite stuff. And, only if I could easily afford. it.

    I was speaking for MY position. Someone who's been stocking for years and just adds a tiny bit here and there for my own feelings of comfort and security.
     

    Opinionated

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    It all depends on where a person is at in their vaping journey. I certainly didn't mean that person should over spend. That wouldn't make sense.

    If I were in that position, I would only buy a small amount of my favorite stuff. And, only if I could easily afford. it.

    I was speaking for MY position. Someone who's been stocking for years and just adds a tiny bit here and there for my own feelings of comfort and security.

    And that is fine.. it's what we all do.

    I was just pointing out the positive for benefit of others who need to hear it.
     
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    bnrkwest

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    I think one big thing is to concentrate on the basics- nic, removable batt mods and rebuild-able toppers. If people can stock up on the basics and buy sale items, one can do it fairly reasonable. All the nic suppliers will have Xmas sales and I get sales everyday posted in my mail box for tanks and mods, all on sale things. I think stocking up is not to buy the most shiny pretty things, but tried and true items that work and last. I have a lot of Provari's I bought on sale and tons of Kayfuns and parts so I know I can vape for a very long time. I have others too I have bought as back ups or something new I wanted to try, but they were also sale items. But we all need something to vape- DIY juice is very cheap, something to put the juice in, tanks or drippers, etc, something to power it, a mod with replaceable batts are best.
     

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