Hi guys and gals! Just wanted to stop in and say hello and share my story so far (kind of a long read). This is my first post on the forum, but I've been vaping since the summer of 2011. 
I started smoking in college and proceeded to smoke about 1/2 to 1 pack a day (often more depending on my stress and/or boredom levels) off and on for about 10 years or so - more on than off, especially in grad school. Anywho, I was a closet smoker (conservative parents who fought off the smoking demon long ago - never wanted them to know I had picked up the habit, blah, blah, even though I was in my early 20's when I started - don't judge me) and originally picked up vaping as a way to "hide" my habit from family and co-workers to avoid the judgement and such (and of course get away from the toxins and awful smell) - and being able to grab a quick vape in the restroom at work or anywhere for that matter is AMAZING. I started with an online purchase of a cig-alike starter kit, and having been a dedicated menthol smoker, of course I started with menthol.
I am the type of person who when I find what I like, I stick with it without another thought. I eventually went from spending WAY too much money on pre-filled cartos to ordering empty refillables and using a basic full PG menthol juice I found online in 18mg, then eventually 12mg. This was my routine for a little over 2 years. It worked, tasted great, and was reliable. I was a happy, happy girl.
THEN, on a random trip to Florida this past June, I happened across an older couple (as in old enough to be someone's great grandparents!) standing outside the hotel vaping on something I'd never seen before - at the time, I thought "what the heck is that, why don't I know about it, and why are these older folks more hip than me!?" - and I wasn't in a position to stop and ask. Remember when I said that when I find what I like, I stick with it without another thought? Well, in my community and circle of people, e-cigs and vaping are still largely unheard of and the idea of smoking or inhaling anything is rather taboo. So I'd never given a thought to looking into anything past my trusty cig-alikes. Heck, I'd never even heard of it referred to as vaping!!! And here I thought I was so clever and knowledgeable. Nope. Not even close!!!!!! As it turns out, what I saw was an ego style battery with a tank on top - couldn't tell you what kind other than it was clear.
So, long story short, I did some research, found a local vape shop that just opened this past June (vape shop? I'd never heard of such!!), scoured YouTube (and may I just say I adore you to bits and pieces, Ruby Roo!!!!!! And Rip Trippers and IndoorSmokers - you guys crack me up!), and the rest is history. I have upgraded from my cig-alikes to two iTaste VV's, a handful of Kanger T3D's (my first tanks, bought because they were inexpensive), a Nautilus Mini, and some tasty new juices (Gemini Vapors - holy cow!). I am slowly venturing away from my trusty menthol, but I'm having difficulty...more on that in a bit. I also have on the way to me an MVP, another Nautilus Mini (the current love of my life, especially when filled with Phillip Rock Grand Reserve Creme de la Creme
), and some Kanger dual coil v1 heads as well as the BVC replacements for my Mini.
Wait....the old Kangers?? Why??? Weeeeeell, the new ones are better out of the box IMO (except when the flavor wicks float out and into the tank! Gross!!!), but a total PITA for me to take apart (I've broken a few in an effort to clean and dry burn), and I haven't found much online in the way of successful rebuilds yet. Yes! I said rebuild! I like to tinker and DIY is fun, so the idea of building coils appeals to me. With that said, my organic Japanese cotton came in yesterday (Labo from Amazon - Koh Gen Do is hard to find of course, unless you're willing to spend more on shipping than the box of cotton!!), and my 32 gauge kanthal arrives on Monday (ordered 32 gauge to rebuild my old atomizer heads - will probably order some 28 soon). I also have a Magma clone coming next week! So excited! After some research, I decided this one was a good bet for some simple single coil 1.5-2 ohms builds as an RBA newbie, and I will be purchasing a Kayfun clone in the near future (as in today). I'm not interested in the high watts and sub-ohms that you pros prefer, and I'm staying away from mechs for now - I will be using my MVP (I know, I know, better flavor, better vapor, etc., on something more stout than an MVP, but I'm just not ready....yet. I'm leaving the cloud chasing to the pros for now). And, yes, my new friends, I have done my research on battery safety, I know Ohm's Law and have all the formulas and understand the calculations for safety - I will be using a regulated device with higher resistance coils, so I feel pretty comfortable trying my first build. But thank you in advance to all the pros on here who are worried about an RBA newbie's safety. You guys are awesome!!!!!!
I mentioned some difficulty with non-menthol juices. Let me just say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the flavors I've got right now (Gemini Vapors: Koi, Adam & Eve, 100 Grand, Enter the Dragon, and a stockpile of the Creme de la Creme with more on the way - good lord that stuff is amazing!!!!!!! Yes, I'm hoarding it!). But, since I've started trying non-menthol flavors, rarely can I inhale anything but the menthol without having severe coughing attacks. Menthol? No problem - I can inhale that all day long with no problems. But as soon as a non-menthol hits my throat, WHAM, severe coughing attack. Now, let me reiterate that I am not new to vaping, so this isn't my body's reaction to quitting cigarettes. My original menthol juice, which I stuck with for over 2 years, was 100% PG and mostly 12mg with some 18mg and, gasp, even 24mg thrown in. I've got another menthol from my local B&M which is cold and delicious and is both PG and VG, 12 mg (not sure of the ratio, but I suspect it's somewhere around 50/50). And of course the juices from Gemini are all 50/50 (12mg) except for the Creme de la Creme, which is 80/20 (VG/PG - 6mg). It's almost like my throat can't handle the nicotine hit without being wrapped in the menthol. It's frustrating because the flavors are excellent....until the hacking begins. Anyone out there have any ideas or similar experiences?
Well, guys, that's enough from me. It was a long post, and I apologize, but thanks for reading!!!!! And thanks for all of the great information!!!!!!!!! What started out as a convenient and safer replacement for smoking cigarettes has turned into a hobby and obsession. This forum has been my #1 resource lately and I'm excited to be a member!
I started smoking in college and proceeded to smoke about 1/2 to 1 pack a day (often more depending on my stress and/or boredom levels) off and on for about 10 years or so - more on than off, especially in grad school. Anywho, I was a closet smoker (conservative parents who fought off the smoking demon long ago - never wanted them to know I had picked up the habit, blah, blah, even though I was in my early 20's when I started - don't judge me) and originally picked up vaping as a way to "hide" my habit from family and co-workers to avoid the judgement and such (and of course get away from the toxins and awful smell) - and being able to grab a quick vape in the restroom at work or anywhere for that matter is AMAZING. I started with an online purchase of a cig-alike starter kit, and having been a dedicated menthol smoker, of course I started with menthol. I am the type of person who when I find what I like, I stick with it without another thought. I eventually went from spending WAY too much money on pre-filled cartos to ordering empty refillables and using a basic full PG menthol juice I found online in 18mg, then eventually 12mg. This was my routine for a little over 2 years. It worked, tasted great, and was reliable. I was a happy, happy girl.
THEN, on a random trip to Florida this past June, I happened across an older couple (as in old enough to be someone's great grandparents!) standing outside the hotel vaping on something I'd never seen before - at the time, I thought "what the heck is that, why don't I know about it, and why are these older folks more hip than me!?" - and I wasn't in a position to stop and ask. Remember when I said that when I find what I like, I stick with it without another thought? Well, in my community and circle of people, e-cigs and vaping are still largely unheard of and the idea of smoking or inhaling anything is rather taboo. So I'd never given a thought to looking into anything past my trusty cig-alikes. Heck, I'd never even heard of it referred to as vaping!!! And here I thought I was so clever and knowledgeable. Nope. Not even close!!!!!! As it turns out, what I saw was an ego style battery with a tank on top - couldn't tell you what kind other than it was clear.
So, long story short, I did some research, found a local vape shop that just opened this past June (vape shop? I'd never heard of such!!), scoured YouTube (and may I just say I adore you to bits and pieces, Ruby Roo!!!!!! And Rip Trippers and IndoorSmokers - you guys crack me up!), and the rest is history. I have upgraded from my cig-alikes to two iTaste VV's, a handful of Kanger T3D's (my first tanks, bought because they were inexpensive), a Nautilus Mini, and some tasty new juices (Gemini Vapors - holy cow!). I am slowly venturing away from my trusty menthol, but I'm having difficulty...more on that in a bit. I also have on the way to me an MVP, another Nautilus Mini (the current love of my life, especially when filled with Phillip Rock Grand Reserve Creme de la Creme
), and some Kanger dual coil v1 heads as well as the BVC replacements for my Mini. Wait....the old Kangers?? Why??? Weeeeeell, the new ones are better out of the box IMO (except when the flavor wicks float out and into the tank! Gross!!!), but a total PITA for me to take apart (I've broken a few in an effort to clean and dry burn), and I haven't found much online in the way of successful rebuilds yet. Yes! I said rebuild! I like to tinker and DIY is fun, so the idea of building coils appeals to me. With that said, my organic Japanese cotton came in yesterday (Labo from Amazon - Koh Gen Do is hard to find of course, unless you're willing to spend more on shipping than the box of cotton!!), and my 32 gauge kanthal arrives on Monday (ordered 32 gauge to rebuild my old atomizer heads - will probably order some 28 soon). I also have a Magma clone coming next week! So excited! After some research, I decided this one was a good bet for some simple single coil 1.5-2 ohms builds as an RBA newbie, and I will be purchasing a Kayfun clone in the near future (as in today). I'm not interested in the high watts and sub-ohms that you pros prefer, and I'm staying away from mechs for now - I will be using my MVP (I know, I know, better flavor, better vapor, etc., on something more stout than an MVP, but I'm just not ready....yet. I'm leaving the cloud chasing to the pros for now). And, yes, my new friends, I have done my research on battery safety, I know Ohm's Law and have all the formulas and understand the calculations for safety - I will be using a regulated device with higher resistance coils, so I feel pretty comfortable trying my first build.
But thank you in advance to all the pros on here who are worried about an RBA newbie's safety. You guys are awesome!!!!!!I mentioned some difficulty with non-menthol juices. Let me just say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the flavors I've got right now (Gemini Vapors: Koi, Adam & Eve, 100 Grand, Enter the Dragon, and a stockpile of the Creme de la Creme with more on the way - good lord that stuff is amazing!!!!!!! Yes, I'm hoarding it!). But, since I've started trying non-menthol flavors, rarely can I inhale anything but the menthol without having severe coughing attacks. Menthol? No problem - I can inhale that all day long with no problems. But as soon as a non-menthol hits my throat, WHAM, severe coughing attack. Now, let me reiterate that I am not new to vaping, so this isn't my body's reaction to quitting cigarettes. My original menthol juice, which I stuck with for over 2 years, was 100% PG and mostly 12mg with some 18mg and, gasp, even 24mg thrown in. I've got another menthol from my local B&M which is cold and delicious and is both PG and VG, 12 mg (not sure of the ratio, but I suspect it's somewhere around 50/50). And of course the juices from Gemini are all 50/50 (12mg) except for the Creme de la Creme, which is 80/20 (VG/PG - 6mg). It's almost like my throat can't handle the nicotine hit without being wrapped in the menthol. It's frustrating because the flavors are excellent....until the hacking begins. Anyone out there have any ideas or similar experiences?
Well, guys, that's enough from me. It was a long post, and I apologize, but thanks for reading!!!!! And thanks for all of the great information!!!!!!!!! What started out as a convenient and safer replacement for smoking cigarettes has turned into a hobby and obsession. This forum has been my #1 resource lately and I'm excited to be a member!
I can't wait now to get the rest of my toys in!!!!! Thanks everyone!!!
