Heavy smoker needs help - Vaping not working so far

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Bullette the Cowdog

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Wow, 3 more replies as I was
Snip snip

Bullette - Yes, it is quite overwhelming. Do you think the ProVari is too much to start with? Is it because it's more expensive, or because it requires more knowledge to use

Wow you're getting lots of info here.
I don't have a ProVari nor do I have a Porsche. I am just a middle class Cowdog. Can't use a Porsche out on the ranch. It tends to bottom out over the ruts in the road. LOL
But if you're a city slicker, a ProVari is very nice.
However right now I think your goal is to get off cigarettes. So ya don't want to get too distracted from the goal and fiddling with fancy stuff just yet. Just get yourself a good battery & some good juice & you're on your way to a healthier happier life.
To directly answer your question:
NOTHING is too expensive if it gets you off cigs & yes I think ProVari might be too complicated right now. Cuz you need to know about battery safety, ohms, etc. Just vape now. Fancy stuff later.
BTW I'm old school. Still using cartomizers without a tank. Simple stuff. No leaks no cracking nor shorting of my battery. Just lots of vape!

Bullette says woof!
 

MiamiMom63

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I love Provari but I think it's too expensive for someone just starting out. You have to get the AW IMR batteries and a battery charger, etc. Plus I think it is too complicated to learn how to use it with the right items on it at the right voltage for people just starting out. I recommend the KGO, EGO or possibly the EGO Twists, but the Twists will cost a little bit more and are not necessary to get satisfaction. For that reason, I recommend the KGO to newbs and a starter kit with 2 e cigs, charger, and 2 atomizers is something like $43 to get started and on your feet.
 

Kopfstimmen

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Pwitte,
Welcome to ECF! I was a former 1.25 PAD smoker, and if it makes you feel better, I smoked and vaped at the same time for 6 months, although I was smoking less that .5 PAD for most of it. I finally went off the smokes a little under 2 months ago, and while it wasn't perfect, it was relatively easy. (I did it with a KGO, by the way.)
I'll let more knowledgeable people answer the other questions, but since I'm a menthol man, I'll answer #6. What did it for me was P38 by Aroma Ejuice. It's a WTA (Whole Tobacco Alkaloid) juice, and it's the closest thing I found to a menthol cig taste, although to be honest, I only tried about 4 or 5 different menthols. Here's the link to it: P-38 Menthol WTA E-Cigarette Refill infused with Whole Tobacco Alkaloid
I have that in 18mg, and had a 24mg juice for first thing in the morning (just to mix it up, my 24mg was Cherry Cola, and is now Dark Honey Tobacco. Now that I'm fairly confident that I'm done with cigs, I'm going to find some more non-WTA juices and stick to them.
Good luck!
Tim
PS. Don't knock the non-menthols - you will probably eventually branch out. One of my favorites is one that kind of tastes like strawberry ice cream. :)
 

Kopfstimmen

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Plus BOGE Cartridges, and some rebuildable clearomizer stuff... :)

I love Provari but I think it's too expensive for someone just starting out. You have to get the AW IMR batteries and a battery charger, etc. Plus I think it is too complicated to learn how to use it with the right items on it at the right voltage for people just starting out. I recommend the KGO, EGO or possibly the EGO Twists, but the Twists will cost a little bit more and are not necessary to get satisfaction. For that reason, I recommend the KGO to newbs and a starter kit with 2 e cigs, charger, and 2 atomizers is something like $43 to get started and on your feet.
 

Bullette the Cowdog

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Plus BOGE Cartridges, and some rebuildable clearomizer stuff... :)
@kopf
Do you mean Boge "cartomizers"?
I love my Boge LR 2.0 cartomizer. Im old school...dont use a tank. Use 'em with my Kgo 1100 mah battery. Vaping Johnson Creek Red Oak Tennessee Cured @ 24 mg nic. All day vape.
 

cigarbabe

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You cannot use a regular drip tip with a 306 atomizer.
You will need an drip tip that is made especially for the 306 and you'll want to either buy a "cannon type" " or an "306 XL drip tip" which can be had here Drip Tips - 306 Drip Tips - Avid Vaper.
You will also need a couple atomizer not just one, I would buy two of each because new users can sometimes burn them out without realizing it. I did lol!
Dual coil cartos suck your batteries dry very quickly and unless you want a hotter vape, I dislike a "hot vape" myself but you will see that all of this is subjective!
Also don't try using rebuildables unless you have mastered these first steps. They take the place of using cartos and atomizers but must be rebuilt by hand using a particular type of wire and cotton batting/wick of some kind. I use them and love them but don't recommend them for a new user still smoking or not.
eGo C has rebuildable heads or interchangeable one's but I understand they were going to be taken off the market,I could be wrong so stay with the eGo Twist.
I was surprised to see only one veteran vaper giving advice hmm.
If you have time tonight you may want to check in on one of the myriad vaping shows.
We can answer any questions you may come up with while on your quest to stop smoking!
"Naked in the Woods with Cigarbabe" Weds. 9:00pm EST
elixirtv3 | Stickam
Good Luck!
C.B.
 
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klynnn

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48 yrs 2+ pad habit here and it can be done. I am at almost 10 mos free of the stinkies. Get a bigger battery that lasts all day not those little stick things. The biggest problem is finding a juice you love and it takes some trial and error. If you have the funds get the provari and a good tank system to go with it. You will probably smoke a few cigs along the way- lots do just hang in there and one day they will seem so nasty you will be done with them.
 

cigarbabe

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I was a 3 pack a day smoker for 37 years and quit within 3 days of getting my eGo kit.
Like you I tried to find a juice comparable to my Kools ciggies but was always unable too there is no such animal in e juices!
Stay away from Apollo they are one of the worst companies by far and don't buy a (any) device from them either.
Just use your twists instead of having a drag and you should be golden!
You can send me a pm if you have any questions.
C.B.
 

asha23

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You are here. That's half the battle won. You want to quit.

I agree with other people here. Just get an Ego Twist (or 2) and some vision style clearomisers. Don't worry about mods or Provaris just yet. You'll get to this as you learn more about vaping. These days, these more expensive mods are more "want" than "need" in my opinion. You can get similar results with much cheaper kit.

Every cigarette you don't smoke is a step nearer to quitting completely. Don't beat yourself up if you smoke a cigarette. Just persevere with vaping, it really does work once you have the right kit.

I found the tough part finding flavours I liked. It took me a while to hit on the ones I really like, so just experiment with ones you like the sound of in 5ml sample sizes. I find that tobacco flavours don't really taste much like tobacco. Unless you go for the El Toro range by houseofliquid (These do!) ... The Halo Purity range isn't bad either. Plus they do a nice sample pack. This is the only thing that it's impossible to really help too much with as you may like something I don't and vice versa! I started with Menthol flavours and still vape menthol occasionally, but I tend to be really into fruity flavours these days!!! That's the beauty of it. Once you get away from cigarettes once and for all. The whole range of yummy flavours opens up to you.

Go for a high nicotine strength to start with 24mg or even 36mg. You can slowly reduce this as you replace smoking with vaping.

Keep at it! It's a learning curve to start with. There are loads of people on here to give you good advice. It's also worth having a look at pbusardo, igetcha69 and grimmgreen on Youtube. They give great reviews on pretty much every product available. Also, most vendors will be happy to point you in the right direction based on your needs. Don't be afraid to ask!

Good luck!!!

PS.What this guy said. He's 100% spot on with his suggestions for a starter kit. ;) Once you have this kit, you won't look back. Trust me. I have personally converted 8 of my friends with exactly this kit. All of them were heavy smokers... None of them smoke now... :)


1) vaping technique is a bit different to smoking technique. Take 3 slow vapes, enjoy flavor in mouth, inhale into lungs and breathe out. Think of it more like your grandad smoking his pipe in the garden on a sunday afternoon.

2) I think for 30 cigarettes a day you will need 24 mg nicotine for many of those "i NEED A SMOKE!!" moments. Also buy an 18 mg for home and maybe 12 for late evening so you don't go to sleep with a racing heart. You may well find you will vape all day, so I recommend the different levels.

EQUIPMENT: Buy these
1) eGo C Twist Variable Voltage Stainless (you need 2, 1 to charge, and 1 in use). Charge them up before first use.

2) Kanger T2 Rebuildable Clearomizer - Smoke (I'd suggest that you need 3-4 of these) Note that they are 2.3-2.6 "standard" or "regular" resistance. and they have replacement parts which are always nice to have on hand. If you get along with these, then buy the spares. But for now just get yourself 3-4. When received give them a "blow out" with tissue. Then put them on the battery. Press the power button on the battery for 2-3 seconds. repeat 2-3 times. Take a couple of pulls while holding the button down as above - but don't inhale This will clean any "primer" that may be in the atomizer (that's the bit that creates the vapor). And NOW you can fill your juice - only about 2/3 to 3/4 full or it will overflow into your battery and be messy and make you mad.

3) eGo/510 USB Rapid Charger - 420mAh Buy 2 - no point in starting vaping and you can't charge the batteries! I always recommend charging at the mains. Do not leave on charger after the light turns green (which indicates a full charge). Do not charge if not on premises, do not leave on overnight (that bit's just commonsense stuff really for handling a lithium battery).

That's your equipment. The battery has a dial on the bottom that allows you to turn the voltage up or down. Most people like the 3.8 - 4.0 voltage with a regular resistance clearomizer. The clearomizer is nice because it's a "fill n go". You can play with gadgets once you're really into vaping (and you will be eventually, don't worry!) Lastly you don't have to quit cold turkey. If you must have a smokey, then have one, but wean yourself off as you can and meanwhile count all the smokes you DIDN'T have.

JUICE: Hopefully someone can steer you to a good menthol but don't be shy about trying other flavors too. Whatever you like - coffee, fruit, tobacco flavors and so on. MOST IMPORTANT! Buy from a vendor on the forum like Rawr, Heathers Heavenly Vapes, Alice in Vapeland, Virgin Vapors. Buy quality sampler packs vs quantity in big bottles to start with. Most vendors offer sampler packs so you can try out several different flavors, and levels of nicotine to see what you like. Buy those first before committing to 30 ml bottles. Check vendors on forum for any coupon codes. I hope that's of help to you. We all love to hear about new vapers and I know there are many here who will be eager to help you on your exciting journey. Let us know how you get on.
 
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Boognish

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Debadoo

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Pwitte........I usually don't respond until I read all the posts in a thread.......but in this case, I did skim some of them only. I hope you haven't bought anything yet......because honestly......Please please please...... go find a brick and mortar store in your area and try some things!!

I see you're in LA.....there have to be several of them around there. There is absolutely no way to tell you what you're going to like and what will work for you. Prices will be higher there, but even if you buy higher priced stuff online cheaper at least you can try things, hold it, have someone explain how it works, get a feel for it........and usually try some juices. You may not be able to actually try juice devices other than cartos, not sure about that since I don't have one near me, but even just holding a mod and having someone show you how it works can help make you decisions. If they aren't completely willing to take a lot of time with you and go over stuff.......then go to another place!! Any vapers should be more than willing to help someone who is trying to quit smoking! If they're swamped busy then maybe no, but they should be WANTING to help, you can tell who wants to help and who just wants your money.

ETA:

Just wanted to add and maybe this was covered, decide first do you want to be able to replace batteries in a mod type device for around 8.00 or replace the entire device as in a kgo/twist/ etc for around 20.00-30.00 ALL Li-Ion batteries have only around 300-400 charging cycles til they wont' hold a charge anymore. Running down 1/2 way and recharging, the batt knows this and is considered 1/2 a charging cycle, not a whole one.
 
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Cyrene

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(1)



(6) I don't really want any sweet or fancy flavors, just regular menthol with nicotine like I smoke now. I seem to be ok with PV (no allergies), so if you could also steer me in the right direction for getting a good mix at a decent price, that would be appreciated. I don't think I'm ready to mix my own just yet, so a link to a good mix would be appreciated.

I have to tell you, I was a PAD + smoker for over 35 yrs, and I said the same thing. I wanted only
menthol, wasn't interested in anything else. But don't count out flavors - I placed an order to MadVapes,
and they send me a freebie of Blueberry flavor, and I mixed it with my menthol, and WHAM, it was out
of this world GOOD. And I don't even like blueberries - go figure. Now I like mixing my menthol with the
fruits - gives them an Ice-type flavor. The flavors are what finally knocked me off the analogs, because
they tasted so much better. :D
 

stevo9

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I smoked a pack and a half a day for 16 years, camel lights. I'm using 24mg juice and love it. I will eventually step down to lower levels, but for now I'm just trying to stay off the cigarettes! It's been 2 weeks and I haven't even wanted one! I am using ego twists with clearomisers at work, and a provari at home mostly with a drip tip. I love them both. I don't take the provari with me though because I'm afraid ill break it! Whatever you decide just stick with it! You should read this article, I recommend it to everyone getting started. I wish I would have seen it before I bought anything, I would have saved some cash!
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/shoganinja/2998-vapers-handbook.html
 

Hulamoon

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Hi PW - The "press button 5 times quickly" on the eGo Twist is just to turn your battery on, or off. It's a very handy safety feature, so that the button doesn't get depressed by accident when not in use, overheat and maybe cause a fire in your back pocket. :) Otherwise, you just depress the button while you take your 2-3 inhales at a time.

Your posts above have all been really helpful. Thanks for the links and suggestions. I am still hopeful that this may work for me and your replies give me new hope.
I will follow the instructions by HulaMoon to clean the Clearomizer. Do I need to do a similar cleaning with the atomizer and cartomizers? Also, I blow from the mouthpiece out towards the end into a tissue to start, right? Reading the instructions for the ego-c twist it says I have to press the button 5 times to turn it on. Is it after I turn it on that I should hold down the power button for 2-3 seconds while sucking in (but not inhaling) to clean it?
 

JENerationX

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You're here.... so you're doing well. I'd definitely say the 2 twist batteries is a significant step up. As far as juice it comes down to personal preference. I've gotten a lot of help here along my way and also frequent elixirtv. Having people right there in the chat in the evenings is great for getting answers from veteran vapers who have tried it all.
 

NancyR

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I fully agree with Debadoo, where you live there are going to be some B&M's even if you decide to order most of the stuff online go into a B&M, you will be able to see and feel what you are getting.

As to the menthol, you will find that a lot of the people who like menthol e-juices where not menthol smokers, and many of us who where can't find a menthol juice that we like. Best thing I can suggest is get some menthol drops and add a drop or 2 per tank.

It may not be that the disposable you got was bad, it might have just been too weak for you. Any of the cig look a likes do not work as well as an ego or something bigger. And the nic level you need really had little to do with what you use to smoke and more with your delivery system, juice and vaping habits.

This is a wonderful post on inhaling. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/85612-newbies-proper-inhalation-technique.html
 
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