From cig to vape

[Odaat777]

Hi everyone! I am learning to vape instead of smoking carcinogens (cigarettes). Any experience strength and hope will be much appreciated! I have smoked for 30 + years and I want to be free, healthier and loving life even more

 

[gingertalk196]

I was a light smoker for 40+ years, it stopped me. Took a couple of months but now about three years into it. Don't miss smoking at all. Because I was a light smoker, I only started at 6 mg. nicotine. I went to 0 but then heard that nicotine has some cognitive advantages so I'm staying with 3 mg. There is a chart on this website that suggests the nicotine strength depending on how much you smoke. Do a general search of "nicotine strength" on all the forums and it should come up. Also, one of our members, Brother Bob, has listed some very valuable tips regarding equipment, terminology, etc. Do a search for Brother Bob and beginner equipment.
Best of luck, it's a good journey!

 

[Baditude]

Any experience strength and hope will be much appreciated! I have smoked for 30 + years and I want to be free, healthier and loving life even more

For e-liquid, the typical nicotine recommendations are as follows:

1/2 pack per day or less = 6 mg nicotine
1 ppd = 12 mg
1 1/2 ppd = 18 mg
2 ppd = 24 mg​

Figure on consuming at least 3 -5 ml of liquid daily. Bottles are usually 10, 20, 30, or 60 ml volume.

PG and VG are often used together in different ratios in e-liquid. For example, a 50/50 PG/VG ratio. Many juice vendors offer a range of different ratios as far as PG/VG.
E-liquid generally has concentrated nicotine, propylene glycol (Pg), vegetable glycerin (Vg) and flavoring extracts.
The ratio of Pg to Vg is known as the pg/vg ratio, and a 50/50 blend is common.

PG = Propylene Glycol - the "flavor carrier" of e-liquid. A secondary source of "throat hit", but not as strong as the nicotine concentration. Some people have a sensitivity or even an allergy to PG. It's very thin in consistancy.

VG = Vegetable Glycerin - the "vapor maker" of e-liquid. Used as a sweeter in many food sources, and also as a skin emollient. It's very thick in consistancy.

Finding a "flavor" that you like is probably more important than the gear that you use. Most people start with a "tobacco" flavor, but truth is you probably won't find one that tastes like a cigarette. My advice: find a fruit, candy, desert, or coffee flavor that you like and don't waste your time on tobacco flavors. Tips for Novices Seeking Tobacco/Cigarette Flavors

Good Starter Setups for a Beginner Vaper

• Typical starter setups recommended for a new vaper. Includes a video on the use of an eGo variable voltage battery/clearomizer and of the iStick and MVP mods.

Proper Terminology: Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A Guide to Juice Delivery Devices

• A picture dictionary for beginners with descriptions of clearomizers, nano's, drip atomizers, bottom feeding mods, cartomizers, cartotanks, and RBA's (rebuildable atomizers). Includes video demos/reviews of all devices.

Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder

• From cigalike batteries, to eGo's, to mods. Another picture dictionary of terminology and form factors for beginning vapers. Includes videos.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck quitting the smokes.

I was a pack a day smoker for over 30 years. I loved smoking, but hated the bad health effects and the cost. I wanted to quit but the nicotine patch/gum, prescription drugs, and hypnosis didn't help. I didn't think I'd ever be able to quit.

My first e-cigarette was a disposable NJOY. It wasn't that great, but I could realize the potential. I did research online and found this website and learned a lot from the veterans. I bought a starter kit.

I knew that I'd have cravings initially even with the vape kit. I would vape more if I got a craving. If that didn't help the craving, I allowed myself HALF of a cigarette, and saved the second half for the next time. I probably smoked just four cigarettes a day that first week. Those half smoked butts tasted pretty nasty, but that actually helped me to quit. Before the week was up, I began preferring the vape over the cigarettes. When my last pack was gone, I didn't buy another. I haven't touched or wanted a cigarette since. I've been smoke-free for 5 years now.

 

[FishingBuffalo]

Be patient and take your time. Get a Innokin T18 or Joyetech AIO, both inexpensive and work really well and are simple to use. Also go by Baditude's nicotine recommendations. Pick up your device first and use it when you want a cig, won't work looking at it. Give yourself a couple of weeks to get used to your ecig, but if you have to smoke a real cig do, do not cut off too soon, but also give the e cig every opportunity. It will be a different experience, but in time a better one. I was 2 PAD for 35 years. I like vaping over smoking for sure. Good luck!

 

[Ariben]

Hi everyone! I am learning to vape instead of smoking carcinogens (cigarettes). Any experience strength and hope will be much appreciated! I have smoked for 30 + years and I want to be free, healthier and loving life even more

Hi welcome ! What worked for me to switch to vape was start with cig a likes and then graduate to ego style. For myself, that meant starting with Halo G6 and then going to their Triton. I also like White Cloud and V2. But everyone has a different experience. Listen on here for eve

 

[Ariben]

Hi again. I cut myself off. I was going to add...listen to everyone's input. This is a great place !

 

[BrotherBob]

Welcome and glad you joined.
Might like to read:
Beginner | Guide To Vaping
ECigarette Academy: Essential Need to Know for New Vapers
One Stop Reference Shop For New and Experienced Vapers
Learn About Vaping Here - Everything Ecigs - From Beginner To Advanced
Ch. 4 E Cig Battery Basics: Cig-a-Likes, Egos, and Mods – Vapex

 

[Riordan]

Odaat - Similar boat; smoked for 13 years. Never tried to quit before. Got a vape pen on a whim.

First week smoked 10 cigarettes instead of my usual 140, and without any real effort or will power. If I wanted a smoke, I had one. Just found long as I've nic' in me and sommet to hold / draw on to get it, don't miss smokes.

Hit 18mg that first week. But then, wondered if I really needed it (was getting a lil' dizzy etc) so went down to 12mg after a few days. Mixing 12mg with 6mg already. Ain't been three weeks yet.

Just about experimenting, eh? If you were on 10+ daily, I'd say give 12mg, not 18mg a go. Think there's prolly' a fair few people out there (like I did) starting out higher outa' fear of w/ds with no need for it.

Maybe grab a 18mg, 12mg and 6mg bottle of the same juice so you can mix 'em up and see what works for you...

High five to kicking the cancer sticks

 

[memeticengineone]

Hi everyone! I am learning to vape instead of smoking carcinogens (cigarettes). Any experience strength and hope will be much appreciated! I have smoked for 30 + years and I want to be free, healthier and loving life even more

How hard do you draw on your cigs? Do you like to puff slowly, or draw hard? If you like to puff slowly you should start vaping with what's known as a "mouth to lung" (MTL) atomizer like an Aspire Nautilus which is usually sold stand alone. There are good starter kit tank+battery combos that come with mouth to lung tanks as well. If you draw harder on cigarettes you might like to start with a "direct lung" (DL) style device that produces more vapor at once. Most atomizers coming out now usually offer options for premade coils that are best for either style. For example the Joyetech Ego AIO someone mentioned can fit both a 1.5 ohm MTL coil and a 0.5ohm DL coil.


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[BrotherBob]

Hit 18mg that first week. But then, wondered if I really needed it (was getting a lil' dizzy etc) so went down to 12mg after a few days. Mixing 12mg with 6mg already. Ain't been three weeks yet.

I'm at zero nic and don't miss the dependency "hooked" feeling. I believe you can get most liquid down to 3 mg. You could purchase 3 mg and mix zero mg which would produce 1.5 mg, then hide/remove the labels and grab any juice. Before long you will become nic free. Great way to save money.
Could check out:
Tips for Beginners – DIY OR DIE VAPING
Could read the stickies in this forum:
DIY E-Liquid

 

[Train2]

 

[Riordan]

BrotherBob - Didn't mean to quit. Happy accident. Being nic' free...man, end of a 13 year itch that'll be. Dreams. Can't imagine what it'd be like after 30 years...but it's gotta' be worth finding out, huh?

P.s. ta for the links. Hope Odaat finds 'em as useful too.

P.p.s. Train2......