Goodbye, analog cigarettes

[Mindfield]

I've been a smoker for 21 years, and despaired that I'd ever be able to quit -- even though I really should at some point because the health problems were catching up to me. (Smoker's cough, diminishing lung capacity, etc.)

Not long ago I started researching eCigs. I only found one place at the time. It was BluCigs in the US, but they wouldn't ship to Canada. More recently however my wife stumbled across this forum, and in particular a list of vendors, including some in Canada. Needless to say, I was stoked. I started bookmarking dozens of vendors, researching products, gathering information, reading reviews, experiences, and so on, and finally took the plunge this past week. Our Joye eGo kits arrived yesterday from happyvaper.com, along with some standard tobacco-flavoured eLiquid from vapables.com, and I've been vaping now for almost a day.

Wow.

I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was incredibly pleased to note that the experience was extremely similar to smoking a tobacco cigarette. The throat hit was there, the nicotine was there -- it was everything I needed out of a smoke and nothing I didn't. Making the switch to vaping has been completely painless. I have half a pack of tobacco cigarettes sitting in front of me unfinished since yesterday because I simply didn't need them; vaping immediately took over.

It's taking a bit to get used to the somewhat sweet taste of the liquid and the dusty smell of the propylene glycol, but I'm already acclimating to it and starting to really enjoy it. No lighting up, no ashes, no smoke, no ash tray. Wonderful. I've even noticed that I'm already not coughing periodically like I did with cigarettes; the smoker's cough is already disappearing. That alone makes this a winner, and the fact that it's only going to get better makes me excited to continue.

So I finally decided to join this forum after reading some threads on cart mods and such. I tried the "simple" mod of cutting the batting down, filling the cart and placing a little plug on top. It worked better than the regular carts, but I found the poly was still getting pushed a little too far, so I tried a little hybrid experiment putting a piece of a straw down in the cart and then putting the poly plug on top. So far this is working much better as it keeps the poly soaked and pressed comfortably against the atty, providing a nice smooth vape with a good throat hit every time.

For now I'm going to go browse the other sections and see what I can learn, but I just wanted to drop in here and say hi.

So ... hi!

 

[lujin4]

Welcome to the group. Lots of good info here, so don't be afraid to ask. Sounds like you are well on your way. Happy vaping.

 

[QueenVictoria]

Good for you. I have a similar story. This is a great place to learn stuff.

 

[jetracer06]

wuuuttt uppppp....
glad your enjoying ur e-cig experience.. Two months analog free for me..

 

[petem]

Welcome! You made a good choice in the ego for your first equipment. Now the real challenge starts in finding your perfect juice. But it's a fun challenge!

 

[Plantgirl]

The eGo is probably the best kit you couldve picked! I wish I had. I started with a 510 kit which wasnt bad but not 1/4 the battery life of the eGo. I never looked back either. Good job!!

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Welcome Mindfield! I'm right there with ya! My eGo kit just got here and I'm charging the batts now. I'm looking into juice-box mods now. I haven't even started vaping, yet!

There is a forum member here called Kaji that crafts some very impressive juice-boxes called the "Journeyman" and a new one called the "Ali'i". The reason I point this out is, that this is a bottom fed vape. There are no carts to refill: Check it out:
Ah, I can't post links yet. I will post the link in a few moments.

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Here we go: Welcome to R&R Manufacturing - Handcrafted Battery Box Mods

 

[Mindfield]

Welcome to the group. Lots of good info here, so don't be afraid to ask. Sounds like you are well on your way. Happy vaping.

Good for you. I have a similar story. This is a great place to learn stuff.

wuuuttt uppppp....
glad your enjoying ur e-cig experience.. Two months analog free for me..

Thanks! Congrats on two months. I fully expect to get there and beyond. Right now is just the adustment period as I figure out a kind of vaping "routine" (which just seems to be ad hoc right now), juice consumption rates, refill rates, and working out some sort of mod that wicks well and doesn't dry out too quickly. (Still playing with variations on current themes.)

Welcome! You made a good choice in the ego for your first equipment. Now the real challenge starts in finding your perfect juice. But it's a fun challenge!

The eGo is probably the best kit you couldve picked! I wish I had. I started with a 510 kit which wasnt bad but not 1/4 the battery life of the eGo. I never looked back either. Good job!!

Thanks! I'm quite happy with the eGo. I charged it last night and I'm still going. I was definitely concerned with battery life as I was doing my research, and the eGo seemed to be the perfect compromise between size/comfort and long periods of vaping. Even so I bought an extra USB charger to bring to work just in case. Picking the right juice is going to be a bit of an adventure but you're right, that's part of the fun. There's a ton to choose from, both in flavours and mixtures, with existing brands and home-cooked brews, so I'm probably going to be trying all sorts of juices from all sorts of vendors until I find a few I like. First I'd like to find my all-day vape, but I'd like some more exotic stuff for dripping fun.

Here we go: Welcome to R&R Manufacturing - Handcrafted Battery Box Mods

That's certainly unusual. Sort of looks like the "stick style" eCigs I've seen, but hand-crafted wood. Bottom-fed definitely sounds interesting though. Might be something to think about down the road, once I'm more comfortable with the experience and have explored various mods and stuff. I'm still taking it all in really, so I'm going to take it one step at a time. Thanks for the link though!

And thanks everyone for the welcome. I'm looking forward to digging in and seeing what's what. Once my post count gets there anyway.

 

[royalProletariat]

I just started vaping yesterday when my kit arrived. I also researched for about 2 months or more before making my first purchase, almost went with the Blu, but after finding this forum and Google(the wonders of googling knowledge! lol) I decided to go with the 902 kit from modern vapor and went ahead and picked up an extra atty an battery.
Was even able to get all manuals just had to ask for it in comment section on order. I drove those poor people crazy over at ModernVapor, they were all of great help, Tony even recommended for me to switch the flavor I was picking and did that with no problems or added fees. they made it rite! I hate to sound like an ad but I'm just so excited about my new PV! ..and customer service that I thought didn't exist anymore..
I haven't had an analog since my 902 arrived, nor have I even craved one, well I've had cravings but take a couple puffs off my PV and no more cravings! I was kinda reluctant to believe it would get rid of all my cravings but it has! I went from a pack to a pack an a half a day, to absolutely zero!
I understand why they can't be advertised as a cessation product, but it is for me!
Now I'm gonna vape for a while, but thats no where near as bad as analogs! I'll still be vaping even when I get off nicotine completely, but it'll be a good while before that happens as it is calming for me..
Man, I love this thing! I'm vaping "Energy Cow" from M.V.. Tastes just like Red Bull! mmm yummy! haha hope everyone keeps vaping and signs every petition to keep our rights to vape anywhere! I have! ..and if theres anything I may have missed by all means let me know and I'll sign that too!..or provide feedback, anything that helps keep these things going in the right direction.
I feel like they saved my life as I was also having all the negative aspects of smoking effecting me, being a smoker since a young age and smoking for nearly a decade and a half...but NO MORE!!!

Easily the best purchase I've made! ...no doubts bout that!

 

[rosesense]

Welcome to the newbies!

 

[Mindfield]

I hate to sound like an ad but I'm just so excited about my new PV! ..and customer service that I thought didn't exist anymore..

There's one thing I've noticed so far with a lot of eCig vendors: Customer service is often above and beyond. I contacted a number of them in my search for one, and to a person they were all incredibly friendly, helpful, and more than willing to make suggestions and clarify some of the lingo. Perhaps it's because eCig vendors are often just a few people working from home or a small office, so most of the time you're talking to the people that run it rather than a CSR drone. Whatever the case I've been incredibly pleased with the service I've gotten from each of the vendors I've contacted.

I haven't had an analog since my 902 arrived, nor have I even craved one, well I've had cravings but take a couple puffs off my PV and no more cravings! I was kinda reluctant to believe it would get rid of all my cravings but it has! I went from a pack to a pack an a half a day, to absolutely zero!
I understand why they can't be advertised as a cessation product, but it is for me!

It's been the exact same for me. The last cigarette I had was followed by the first vape I took. I haven't looked back and have no desire to.

I feel like they saved my life as I was also having all the negative aspects of smoking effecting me, being a smoker since a young age and smoking for nearly a decade and a half...but NO MORE!!!

Easily the best purchase I've made! ...no doubts bout that!

This aaaaand this. Best purchase I've made in a very long time. I'm free of tobacco and couldn't be happier about it. The half pack of cigarettes on my desk right now I expect will become a symbol of what I finally managed to rid myself of literally overnight.

 

[Mindfield]

So it looks like my battery just ran dry. Not bad, charged it last night, just ran out now, so that's pretty good.

Just the same though I just ordered a 1000mAh eGo battery from greenhouseone (along with a spare atty) because the price was too good to resist. That definitely ought to last me all day and then some.