I love this forum. I had been tracking this forum for a while and I am happy to say that I finally joined y'all. Back in 2004 when the first of e-Cigs hit the US, I eagerly became an early adopter. I was a social smoker. The most I probably smoked was maybe a pack every 3 days. Naturally, when the first of e-Cigs hit the US, I tried to quit by becoming an early adopter of vaping. Unfortunately, it didn't work out and the craze had died thanks to US govt. threats on banning the device etc. 5 years later, I see the emergence of e-Cigs again in the market and in the last 6 months, I was amazed at the adoption rate of e-Cigs in the Houston area as a "fad". I consult part-time with the nightlife industry and was constantly amazed at how "use and throw" flavored e-Cigs were always sold out. By this time, thanks to the stress of multiple ventures, I had finally crossed the line and was doing a pack a day of cigarettes. I had gained weight; shortness of breath and barely crossing the 0.25 mi on the treadmill finally got me motivated to quit. So one fine day, 4 weeks ago, after reading reviews of a beginner vaping kit through this forum, I finally mustered the energy to order a TECS MSK-2000 and a Kanger ProTank BCC with some DeKang DK-TAB flavor(24mg Nic). I just couldn't resist the flashlight accessory. 
Fasttech shipped the Protank and the liquid first and 2 weeks into waiting for my TECS, I just couldn't wait any longer. While visiting a restaurant at a popular part of town, I drove across a "B&M called Create E-Cig". My luck - they had a sale on a Vamo V3 kit so for about $68 and a fully "charged" ProTank, I attempted my first vaping experience.
As a tech enthusiast, I hated reading manuals. So my first attempt to turn on the Vamo went like click-wait-click-wait-click-wait-click-wait-click. The LCD didn't light up. I walked back into the store accepting defeat and to my amazement, the friendly rep hit click-click-click-click-click and lo and behold, I felt a "Dunce" cap slowly settle on my head. Returning back to my car, I tried to vape only to suck out the DK-TAB liquid. The ProTank wouldn't sit flush, so my efforts at screwing it further down on the Vamo had caused a leak. Thanks to the fact that it was a BCC, I finally ended tightening up the ProTank parts and tried different twists until I ended up with healthy vapes.
A week into it and fiddling around with VV settings, I finally had a rig that would help me quit smoking. Shortly thereafter, I got my TECS rig and I have to say, that the VV settings on the Vamo gave me a totally different experience on the TECS rig. A variance of 0.6 V finally got me close to the vape experience on the TECS.
If you are a beginner getting into building your own rig, I strongly recommend the Vamo. I had multiple issues with ProTank but once I figured out the issues, I can confidently say that you should add that as part of your rig. On a 2200mAh Panasonic 18650, I can comfortably push about 2500 puffs before ending up for a recharge at 3.0 V on the Vamo. On the TECS, I can hit about 1700 puffs.
As for the TECS, I am not impressed with the rig comparing it with my Vamo. I will have to play around with more settings to see if I get a smooth puff like I do on the Vamo. Dekang DK-TAB liquid from Fasttech is good for everyday vaping. I ordered Watermelon and Blueberry a week ago and I am still waiting on them to be delivered.
Over all, you can't beat Fasttech prices and I am happy with their service so far.
Combined with me quitting drinking, I am happy to report, I haven't a touched a cigarette since the last 3 weeks except exactly one time when I ended up at a friend's birthday party and got peer pressured into having a birthday shot! I don't have the urge to smoke cigarettes anymore. I am not sure if the nicotine content on my DK-TAB had a role to play but I have been regularly working out and hit the 1.0mi barrier on the treadmill and every time I have the urge, I happily vape.
With the recent reports of vaping and e-cigarettes in the news, I can confidently say that I welcome regulation and it is definitely a "quit smoking" alternative. I had been on Chantix, patches etc. etc. Nothing had worked. Chantix completely affected my mood and personality so I had to quit using it. I am surprised that vaping finally got me to quit. I see myself 6 months down the road completely nicotine free but still vaping to counter any peer pressure
.
On another note, does anyone know where I can get the Vamo barrel laser etched with a custom design? I plan on buying a handful of those for christmas as gifts.
I hope this write up will help get those to quit smoking and get on the vaping world. I love how I don't smell like a chimney anymore and I love how I can finally start getting back into shape!
Once again, Thanks guys and please help in fighting against the politics and lobbying of banning vaping. I know the tobacco lobby beast is just waking up and shortly thereafter all the pharma companies who have invested millions into quit smoking products that cost twice or three times that of vaping with yet again "fine-print" side effects.
Also, for those naysayers, on an average, your investment on a $90 rig will pay off in about 15 days at $6.50/pack per day of regular Cigarettes and its well worth it since you are not smoking a million different chemicals and carcinogens into your system! For those doing a pack a day, I recommend starting off with a higher nicotine content liquid and then gradually decreasing it just like most quit smoking programs recommend using different mediums (patches, lozenges etc.).
Again, every recommendation and observation in the write up above regarding health issues is with good intention so be a responsible adult and if you have any doubts please always contact your doctor before adopting my recommendations.
Happy vaping folks!
Fasttech shipped the Protank and the liquid first and 2 weeks into waiting for my TECS, I just couldn't wait any longer. While visiting a restaurant at a popular part of town, I drove across a "B&M called Create E-Cig". My luck - they had a sale on a Vamo V3 kit so for about $68 and a fully "charged" ProTank, I attempted my first vaping experience. As a tech enthusiast, I hated reading manuals. So my first attempt to turn on the Vamo went like click-wait-click-wait-click-wait-click-wait-click. The LCD didn't light up. I walked back into the store accepting defeat and to my amazement, the friendly rep hit click-click-click-click-click and lo and behold, I felt a "Dunce" cap slowly settle on my head. Returning back to my car, I tried to vape only to suck out the DK-TAB liquid. The ProTank wouldn't sit flush, so my efforts at screwing it further down on the Vamo had caused a leak. Thanks to the fact that it was a BCC, I finally ended tightening up the ProTank parts and tried different twists until I ended up with healthy vapes.
A week into it and fiddling around with VV settings, I finally had a rig that would help me quit smoking. Shortly thereafter, I got my TECS rig and I have to say, that the VV settings on the Vamo gave me a totally different experience on the TECS rig. A variance of 0.6 V finally got me close to the vape experience on the TECS.
If you are a beginner getting into building your own rig, I strongly recommend the Vamo. I had multiple issues with ProTank but once I figured out the issues, I can confidently say that you should add that as part of your rig. On a 2200mAh Panasonic 18650, I can comfortably push about 2500 puffs before ending up for a recharge at 3.0 V on the Vamo. On the TECS, I can hit about 1700 puffs.
As for the TECS, I am not impressed with the rig comparing it with my Vamo. I will have to play around with more settings to see if I get a smooth puff like I do on the Vamo. Dekang DK-TAB liquid from Fasttech is good for everyday vaping. I ordered Watermelon and Blueberry a week ago and I am still waiting on them to be delivered.
Over all, you can't beat Fasttech prices and I am happy with their service so far.
Combined with me quitting drinking, I am happy to report, I haven't a touched a cigarette since the last 3 weeks except exactly one time when I ended up at a friend's birthday party and got peer pressured into having a birthday shot! I don't have the urge to smoke cigarettes anymore. I am not sure if the nicotine content on my DK-TAB had a role to play but I have been regularly working out and hit the 1.0mi barrier on the treadmill and every time I have the urge, I happily vape.
With the recent reports of vaping and e-cigarettes in the news, I can confidently say that I welcome regulation and it is definitely a "quit smoking" alternative. I had been on Chantix, patches etc. etc. Nothing had worked. Chantix completely affected my mood and personality so I had to quit using it. I am surprised that vaping finally got me to quit. I see myself 6 months down the road completely nicotine free but still vaping to counter any peer pressure
. On another note, does anyone know where I can get the Vamo barrel laser etched with a custom design? I plan on buying a handful of those for christmas as gifts.
I hope this write up will help get those to quit smoking and get on the vaping world. I love how I don't smell like a chimney anymore and I love how I can finally start getting back into shape!
Once again, Thanks guys and please help in fighting against the politics and lobbying of banning vaping. I know the tobacco lobby beast is just waking up and shortly thereafter all the pharma companies who have invested millions into quit smoking products that cost twice or three times that of vaping with yet again "fine-print" side effects.
Also, for those naysayers, on an average, your investment on a $90 rig will pay off in about 15 days at $6.50/pack per day of regular Cigarettes and its well worth it since you are not smoking a million different chemicals and carcinogens into your system! For those doing a pack a day, I recommend starting off with a higher nicotine content liquid and then gradually decreasing it just like most quit smoking programs recommend using different mediums (patches, lozenges etc.).
Again, every recommendation and observation in the write up above regarding health issues is with good intention so be a responsible adult and if you have any doubts please always contact your doctor before adopting my recommendations.
Happy vaping folks!
