Help - Where do I start?

[Sanatar]

I want to start vaping as a way to quit smoking. I came across this site yesterday and have read most everything in the noob section. While I feel I have learned alot - didn't know about the liquids and driping/dipping but I still don't know where to begin. There is alot of talk about different models (501, etc) but I have no idea who sells these, etc. I don't want to leave this site because you all seem legit and passionate. Hoping someone will give me the very basics.

I tried this at a State Fair 2 years ago, but wasn't ready to quit smoking and didn't want to buy something this expensive at a fair. Now I see these at kiosks at malls, but dont want to get a piece of garbage.

About me - I smoke 0.5 pack of Ultra Light Menthol cigs.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give me.

 

[Springbird]

There are many vendors registered with ECF. If you scroll way down on the start page you will find the vendors section. I can personally recommend an eGo from Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store. they have been great and I love my eGo. As for juices, I mix my own so I'm not much help there but others will chime in.

 

[cskent]

Hi and welcome to ECF. Don't buy an e-cig at a mall, they're ripoffs. Everyone has their opinions as to which model is the best so you'll get lots of recommendations. The popular starter models are the KR808, 510, and eGo/Riva. They all have advantages and disadvantages. It really depends on what you're after. The KR8 and 510 are small, a little larger than a cig, but the batteries don't last too long on a charge. The eGo and Riva are basically the same thing, just different brands. They're larger, about the size of a 40 ring cigar, but the battery lasts for many hours on a charge. Any of those will give decent results. If you want some suppliers here's a couple of good ones:
Electronic Cigarette Supplies & Electronic Cigarette Refills for Name-Brand Electronic Cigarettes! E-Cigs from LiteCigUSA
Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store.
E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings
If you haven't watched these videos yet I'd suggest you do, they're well worth your time http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/120044-i-made-videos-newbies-particular-broke-newbies.html
You'll probably get lots of people giving their opinions so stay tuned.

 

[KissMint]

Hi and welcome!

What are your expectations? Do you care what it looks like? Do you want a really good battery life or you prefer small one and don't mind charging every 3-4 hours?

I have 2 pv right now. Love them both.
eGo - bigger than traditional cig, battery about 8 hours. bought at Liberty Flights ~ $40/kit
Vapor King kr808 - slim, light, xtra long battery last about 6 hours. bought at Vapor 4 Life ~ $65/kit

E Cigarette Suppliers Forum vendor HQ (sales announcement etc)
Forum Suppliers vendor forum

As far as juices.. there are many great vendors Just gotta keep trying till you find the place/flavor you like.

 

[dormouse]

I've bought PV hardware from these places

Electronic Cigarette Supplies & Electronic Cigarette Refills for Name-Brand Electronic Cigarettes! E-Cigs from LiteCigUSA
E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings
http://www.mypvshop.com/ (a bit pricier but you can customize starter kits)
http://www.vapor4life.com/ (these are KR808D-1 models)

 

[JC Okie]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-videos-newbies-particular-broke-newbies.html

MistressNomad made videos for these very questions. Follow the link and watch her videos for newbies. They will help a lot.

 

[Sanatar]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

I have not watched the videos, but I plan to do that over the weekend - can't watch at work.
As far as batteries go - if I am at my desk most of the day and can charge there, how long does a charge take? I assume that a rechargable would be my preference.

But I guess my biggest question is where does the nicotine come into play? I don't want to go backwards after cutting down to 0.5 pack of ultra lights.

 

[cskent]

The charge time depends on the model you have. A standard 510 takes about an hour or so, a KR808 a little longer, and an eGo about 2 hours. It's hard to tell how much nic you need until you start vaping. I'd start with several bottles of different strengths and flavors. Try some at 12, 18, and 24 mg to see what works to kill the urge to smoke. If you're at a computer a lot (and assuming you can vape at your desk), consider getting a passthrough so you don't have to worry about charging batteries. They're cheap too at around $13.

 

[kellogg]

Hi Sanatar and welcome to ECF! I am still using my kr808d-1 that I got from goodprophets (vapor4life sells them as well).
I second the recommendation on a passthrough. They are great.

I smoked ultra lights as well but I smoked 2 pad. Starting with a nic level of 12 or 18 is probably a good idea.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Hi, Sanatar and welcome to ECF! If you only smoke a half a pack per day, then I think you'd be very happy with a KR808D-1. The battery is going to last slightly longer than a 510. I also agree with cskent on getting a PassThrough (PT) since you're in front of the computer a lot. I have a 510 PT and I love it. It's a geeky, gamer-girl's dream come true. It hooks into the USB on my computer and I can vape while my batteries charge without worry.

 

[bubba2u]

16 days on my eGo and i love vaping. currently im anjoying key lime pie.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

Nicotine is an issue only you can deal with, because everybody's body reacts differently, unpredictably to nicotine delivery via vaping; some light smokers need a 36mg juice to get anything out of it; some heavy smokers pass out on 12mg. Try 18mg, listen to your body and do what it tells you.

BTW, a great vendor considering your location would be this LA-based supplier: https://strictlyejuice.com/.

If you vape as lightly as you were smoking, battery life should be less an issue than most, but for a couple of other reasons an eGo/Riva type would be an excellent choice.

 

[pianoguy]

Greetings and welcome! If you haven't already, I would highly recommend reading the "Wonderful World of Vaping" articles in the ECF library section, including the newest one about "Mods" (mods are custom-made e-cigarettes, many of which look nothing like a cigarette).

The ECF Library

There have been many advances in e-cig technology just in the past year. Read reviews of the various models in the Reviews section. If you are not hung up about your device looking like a cigarette, have a look at juice-feed mods - I would give the REO Mini from REO's Mods | Home of the REO PV two thumbs-up. The juice-feed mods eliminate the need for dripping or refilling, and the Mini uses a 14500 rechargeable battery that has decent life, particularly for a fairly light smoker such as yourself. The Mini is all mechanical, so there is nothing to burn out or fail, and uses 510 (or 306) atomizers and a drip tip. The REO's are hard to come by - they are manufactured in fairly small quantities, and sell quickly - the first batch of 100 or so Grand models (larger than the Mini) sold out in 20 minutes. Your initial outlay for something like the Mini would be higher than with a commercial e-cigarette such as an Ego or a KR808D-1, but if you didn't like it, you could likely sell it here on the forum for what you paid for it - the few that come up for sale are snatched up quickly. Buying a mod such as the Mini is a little different than getting a traditional kit, as you would also need to buy a few batteries and a charger, and some spare atomizers. And then of course there is juice - there are many great suppliers to choose from - again, the Reviews section is a great resource.

There are a couple of threads to look at regarding the REO - this one is intended for product announcements, etc. - a new batch of Mini's should be available sometime in the near future:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-supplier-forum/134438-www-reosmods-com.html

And this thread will give you an idea how rabid folks are about the REO's - it has taken on a life of its own:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-suppliers-forum/95123-reo-grand-opening-sale.html

Best of luck - I hope you find just the right combination of equipment and flavors to suit your needs!

 

[Sanatar]

I decided to go with the Joye 510. I will let you know what I think next week when I try it out. Great forum - you have all been really helpful.