Do's and Dont's for First Timers...from a Newbie

[yardbyrd]

Get ready! It's that time again!! That's right!

Its time to give a big shout out to PaporPlas!

Yahoooo-a-wooo-ooo-ooey-ha-ha-yowzer yaya!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and will have a prosperous, profitable, healthy, and happy 2013!

Lots has happened lately. I guess you saw my post; if not I got an SSGGTS in December from the classifieds. I had some issues with it until on about the 20th time I dissassemble and cleaned I found some heavy goop on the button switch and Voila!
It vapes great and is fantastic.

I was so down and out because of how long I had it before I could use it properly Santa Claus took pity on my and brought me a new L-Rider! Darn I am in vaping Shangri La!

I certainly didn't underspend but have to say....both of these mods were worth every cent paid for them.

Take care and I'll flyby, when you least expect it, to give you a shout out.

 

[nikkysikk]

I wish I had found this forum sooner in my vaping life. I smoked about a half pack or more a day and my friend showed me a disposable Square 82 and I liked the taste. I bought the cheapy disposables till the same friend got a Blu and i realized how much money I'd be saving if I bought a kit of some kind. I googled a bit and was settling on a V2 until I went out with my friend to a new tobacco store so he could buy some juices. While he looked around I noticed the price on the Joye 510-T and figured why not? I loved it immidiately and my friend was so impressed we went back less than an hour later and he bought the same thing. I have since upgraded to a V-nano clearomizer for the 510 battery and sometime this month I hope to buy either and Ego-c or something close. This forum, and this thread in particular, have helped me gain more knowledge than I knew existed on vaping and the whole community. Thanks for the ability to rant!

 

[Myrany]

I just started 2 weeks ago with an Ego-C kit (2 batteries) some extra ego-c tanks and juice.

@ weeks in after having spent WAY more time than probably is sane I am seriously looking at getting a vamo, a dripping atomizer, and some sort of tanks system. Here is why.

The Vamo: I am liking the concept of Variable wattage and this is a fair inexpensive way to get into it with a big battery mod. Why a big battery mod. I live on the gulf coast. Hurricanes are a reality of life and the associated power outages are part of that. With a big Battery mod I can get myself half a dozen batterys and make sure they are charged before the storm. Where we are the power rarely goes out for more than 3 or 4 days. I won't find myself without a working battery that way. Odd consideration but it is a reality down here.

Why a tank? The ego-C tanks are just too small and I am tired of fighting with that nasty bottom cap and refilling them multiple times a day.

Why a drip atomizer? I am thinking about doing DIY liquid for cost and availability reasons. I really am in the middle of nowhere so I would rather order supplies in bulk then just mix up stuff as I need it. With the ability to drip I can taste as I mix and be more likely to get something doable before I make a big batch.

I am a perfect example of learning curve in action.

 

[jfalbanese]

Do Vape. Do Not Smoke.

 

[bayjay]

If i could do it all over again i'd start with a mechanical mod and a nice carto/tank setup. Ive gone from a starter Ego kit with a clearo to a variable spinner with a low ohm cart and tank setup. Spend the money and do it right the first time. Research research research. And lastly, dont get ripped off by crappy vape shops that take advantage of the new craze and value profit more than the community.

 

[John Castle]

Here's my two jingly copper coins, coming from a guy who is by no means a Phil Busardo or a GrimmGreen:

PaporPlas has exactly the right idea, but one thing he didn't really emphasize sufficiently, and I would have in his shoes (and am mentioning now) is this:

Do your research first. Here's how I started vaping, and like with the OP, it didn't work. At all.

I started with a Red Dragon e-cig. I'm guessing it was a KR-808 system, maybe a 510. But the problem was, it came with one pre-filled carto. That was it. And that one pre-filled carto? Lasted for about 20 minutes of vaping. Thing was crap.

Skip ahead 2 years, during which I had naturally gone back to analogs that whole time.

My roommate insists I quit smoking. Insists. Is that obnoxious quasi-religious frothing-at-the-mouth insistent about it, and as I'm sure many of you can relate, that doesn't work with smokers. In fact, with a lot of us, and I was this way, it sets off an instant, "You couldn't make me with a gun to my head, you obnoxious, crusading punk!" resistance to quitting. You just cannot make somebody quit. He or she has to be ready, and you have to offer them something at least as good to replace the habit they've had for years.

Well, the roommate got a $15 e-cig from the corner gas station. That was a non-starter. For one thing, the juice tasted like an old lady's perfumed had been filtered through a rancid gym sock. For another, the battery had a life of about 5 minutes between 45 minute charge cycles.

So another 2 years goes by. I find snus. I like snus -- I'm speaking here of real snus, from Sweden, the not-sugary-candy-sweet kind that actually delivers on the nicotine. But snus doesn't satisfy the manual and oral habits. So snus cuts back on the analogs but doesn't entirely kill the habit.

Then the apartment complex I live at goes smoke-free. Crap. Oh, well, been trying to quit anyway, now's as good a time as any. Snus isn't quite doing it, though, so let's try e-cigs again.

This time I get a Blu starter kit. And it almost works. This time, I actually have a sense of the potential for this to get the job done. In fact... that Blu starter kit was the tipping point. As much as I've badmouthed Blu for their battery life, their shoddy quality-control on cartos (about 2 out of every 5 I ever bought was a straight dud, just DOA) and how expensive their carts are... they're the ones that the thing was almost solid, to the point where I said, "Well, what if I buy just the juice from somebody and refill these things?" instead of, "Nope, ....... this, I'll just break the rules and keep smoking anyway." So as much as I have bagged on Blu for their product's performance, and will probably do so again in the future... I have to thank them for pushing me over the tipping point.

The Blu was replaced by a Halo-cigs G6, which was replaced by a Joyetech eGo-C passthrough with Kanger T3 Clearo, alternated with a 510 atty for straight dripping, with that setup being replaced by an Innokin iTaste variable-voltage battery and HH.357 atty, alternated with Kanger M3 mini-clearomizers, which has recently been supplemented by another Halo G6 with mini-tanks for going out on the town.

But back to my main point: Through all of that, what has driven me to better and better gear and juices has been research. Hit YouTube. Look up the phrase "ecig review". Instantly, you will have a catalog of gear that is reviewed and demonstrated for you, right there on camera.

That's how I found Halo. It's how I decided to pull the trigger on the eGo. It's how I found the iTaste. There is no substitute for reviews when it comes to choosing new gear, and no excuse not to use that tool to make a decision that could save your life and even the lives of your friends. Since I started vaping, I've managed to get over a dozen of my friends to make the switch as well.

Not by preaching at 'em about it -- by letting them try it. Trust me, you can preach at a smoker 'til you're blue in the face and it'll just make them dig their heels in and never give up the coffin nails. But you give your pack a day pal a puff on Halo Prime 15 out of a powerful performer of an e-cig? He'll be asking you where you got that stuff. People will give up the habit -- they need a reason.

So do your homework -- get the best gear you can afford. Get the best juice you can afford. Do it for you and do it to save lives.

 

[Megabyt]

Great thread. Only wish I had read it a few weeks sooner!

 

[yardbyrd]

Wowee! It is THAT time once again! It's time to give a humongous shout out to Papor Plas.....Yah-wah hoo-oo-ooey oo ahh ooo!

I took the time, earlier today, to revisit all my posts to this thread. It definitely is a recording of my venture into vaping. I've come a long way and a lot of it is due to the information, attitude, and existence of this thread. This is still one of my favorite threads and I refer others as often as possible.

On the home front: Just loving my SSGGTS! I was also fortunate enough to have won two big prizes this year: 1.) A ProVari starter kit. 2.) an Ithaka RBA!

My DIY efforts continue to be rewarded. I have developed three tobacco flavors that I enjoy and save me tons of $.

I also bought an AGA T2 and continue to thoroughly enjoy vaping and, in particular, NOT smoking! I think RBAs fit well into the concerns of this thread.

Great thread Papor Plas. Who knows just how many people you have helped by establishing it? Who knows when some odd, Realm traveling Byrd, with an odd sense of humor, and excellent taste in threads D) will just pop in out of nowhere to give you a shout.

Take care and I'll post again...probably when you least expect it...................CAW!

 

[Hendrich]

Thanks for the info.

On my 2nd full day here using an eGo-T. Not sure how good it is, but its working for now until I get my new one

 

[yardbyrd]

Thanks for the info.

On my 2nd full day here using an eGo-T. Not sure how good it is, but its working for now until I get my new one

Welcome and Way to go Hendrich! An excellent starting choice and if it is working well for you that's all that counts! I never thought I would ever be able to ditch tobacco but am now over one year free of its yoke! Remember: It's not what you smoke it's what you DON'T smoke! Hang in there!

 

[JR 137]

Great thread. I just ordered a Halo Tank starter kit and several 7ml juices as my first real foray into vaping. I've been using Blu disposables at work this past week. The Blus are good enough to hold me over, but not cutting it as a permanent/all day solution.

Did a lot of research here at ECF. I was going to order a Blu 100 starter pack, even after reading about other stuff here simply because I though what if I run out of juice? At least I can get refills at Wallgreen's. then it dawned on me, I can get disposables until I re-up on juice if I absolutely need to.

I've got high hopes and expectations for this Halo system.

 

[sawalke4]

I agree with the underspending. i wasted around $200 on disposables, auto 510 kits, finding the tobacco juice that tased like my benson and hedges gold. Then I got a basic ego CE4 setup and moved on from there. I thought I didnt need all that at first. Now saving up for Provari.

 

[Bekinder]

One of the biggest things that happens in vaping is wanting something to "look like a cigarette". I spent hundreds on units and juices (many of juices which have been put down the drain as unvapable) before I realized that mods where they way to go; at least for me. sawalke4 you will not go wrong with the Provari. I have one along with many other mods. Mine is the mini VV and just got around to purchasing that one recently. I am a 3 & 1/2 year vapor, and have used many of the well known mods.

 

[shawnavonsr]

Thanks to the OP as this was right on. My first time trying ecigs was cig size cart kits. Those left alot to be desired in flavor as well as nic. But I have been guided to the high road. This past week purchased my first 2-eGo-T with 3 clearomizer tanks and 3 bottles of 10mL juice. Great starter pack I have to admit.
I also agree with the not being cheap on the PV you decide on. For now I am using the eGo-T and found a good deal on a eGo twist to try out. This while I research bigger battery mods and other tanks.
The juice is the thing I am most excited about though. Being a smoker for more years than I care to tell, the flavors so far are pretty good and hope they get better as my taste comes alive.
For now I will continue to research and try to find that perfect vape lol

 

[John Castle]

I agree with the underspending. i wasted around $200 on disposables, auto 510 kits, finding the tobacco juice that tased like my benson and hedges gold. Then I got a basic ego CE4 setup and moved on from there. I thought I didnt need all that at first. Now saving up for Provari.

What you're going to find is that nothing is going to taste exactly like a traditional cigarette. Now don't get discouraged reading that -- I think it's a little adjustment period everybody goes through when they make the switch. I know I did. You get the "Tobacco" flavor hoping that it's going to taste like your beloved Marlboro or Camel or, in your case, Benson & Hedges -- and it won't. That's just because part of the "flavor" of your favorite brand of analog isn't the tobacco, it's the combustion. It's the cocktail of carbon monoxide, ammonia, tar and tobacco. Vaping leaves out the poisons and all you're getting is the tobacco.

That said, when you've come through that adjustment, it's just the tobacco flavor you're looking for, and that's when the exploration of flavor really begins and you realize that there are tobacco flavors out there that taste better than "my brand" (or "your brand") ever did.

A Marlboro Virginia Blend? No thanks, I've got my mini-tank full of Prime 15.

 

[Slummy]

Vaping is quite a steep learning curve from the beginning. in the beginning the commitment does not have to be to quit smoking... the commitment should be to learn all vaping has to offer and realizing how enjoyable it is as a hbby that will eventually put you off smoking altogether as you realize you dont need to smoke anymore.

starting at the bottom end of the vape gear is all a part of the learning curve and fun of it. much of the stuff people buy in their early days they will use now and again later for experimentation or just for fun. i certainly dont recommend any newb jumping straight into buying premium gear.

one of the largest deterrent for newbs is likely the juices or flavours they start off with, may be bad quality or not to their liking, so they have to stick with it, buy lots of cheap 5ml samples and get an idea of what flavour matches their tolerance and enjoyment. Vaping is not smoking. when i quit smoking to start vaping straight out, i ordered tobacco flavour and i hated it. the fruity flavours were nice but a bit sickly after a while, but my main flavours i love and vape all day long are mint and menthol flavours. and i never was a menthol smoker. so everybody has their preference

 

[Beardy]

Just wanted to pop in to say that this thread really helped me get over the initial sticker shock. There's a lot of perspective here. I still made some minor trial an error mistakes, but I felt so much more comfortable jumping in after perusing this thread. Thanks.

 

[ProViking]

Great post. When I started I bought a lot of things that I would have not bought today. Most important "you get what you pay for".

 

[John Castle]

Great post. When I started I bought a lot of things that I would have not bought today. Most important "you get what you pay for".

That is a fact. Sure, you can get the cheapies down at the corner store, but when the choice is between a $60 or $70 808 starter kit and a $15 starter kit from 7-Eleven, it only looks like $15 versus $70. What you have to really factor in is that if that $15 kit doesn't do the job, it's really a choice between investing $70 and throwing $15 in the trash.

 

[steveo4iu]

I started out with the Metro starter kit..I found myself puffing the battery dead after a few hours. I bought a few more battery's and still not lasting all day and was stopping at the store for a pack of smokes to get me thou rest of the day..Im a big believer in, Go big or go home lol. So I ordered a variable volt mod and I love it.