Need Help Starting dose, equipment, availability, etc

[Whytehorse]

Hi all, I'm looking for advice about what I need to get started. A little about me:
1. I smoke 1 pack of L&M lights per day. I can't find any info but a few web sites say they are 0.8mg nicotine. I don't know if that's each cig or each pack? Also, I like to lick the holes to get stronger drags. Any recommendations for dosages, flavorings, devices, etc?
2. Per day I spend $2 for smokes, it would be great if I can save money. What is the real cost per pack when vaping(for e-juice)?
3. I'm a teacher and a traveler so I need something discrete. Prefer not to be blowing giant clouds of vapor or harassed by customs.
4. I'm in Thailand for the next 2 months then off to US. If anyone knows a supplier in Thailand? Then off to US I presume I can just order online?

I'd also like to add my 2 cents to the apparently world-wide ban on these things. As a 20+ year smoker, I am shocked that the rich are able to control our government to the point that it will actually prevent us from saving our own lives and health. I feel so exploited and taken advantage of. First they made it very difficult to get tobacco. That didn't help me quit. Next they raised the prices with tax. That didn't help me quit. Then they raised prices again and again which didn't help me quit. Then they approved the gum, didn't help me quit. Then they approved the patch, didn't help me quit. Then they approved Wellbutrin, helped me quit for a year but now I'm back on. Finally they got a huge lawsuit which was supposed to be used for the health problems created by tobacco, I didn't get any help or medical anything.

I've finally decided that I'm on my own in this world and everyone and their brother is willing and able to exploit me because I have an addiction. I'm going to take control of it by vaping and getting set up to last for long periods without supply and cook my own if needed. I will no longer have to go out into the cold or feel ashamed about smoking; no longer have to pay exhorbatent prices for gum when I go on an airplane or pay 500% tax for a pack of smokes and travel all the way to a "convenience" store every day because it's impossible to buy cartons here and illegal to roll your own.

 

[StormFinch]

Hi Whytehorse and welcome to ECF.

Your post caught my eye because I used to smoke the same strength, brand and basic amount of cigarettes, so I thought I'd give you my experience.

I switched to e-cigs because I wasn't really looking to stop smoking, just get away from the other 3996 chemicals. After lots of research here at ECF I started with 18 milligram strength e-juice which worked for me for the most part and still does. Only rarely would I want something stronger and I kept a small supply of 24 mg for that, which I have since phased out. I vaped approximately 3 mls a day, or 30 milligrams every ten days from the beginning. It seems to be common among most vapers to vape more than they smoked because there isn't the burn out and put out factor that regular cigarettes have. Theory also says that we may not be getting the same amount of nicotine from vaping that we did from smoking.

As far as pricing goes, it really depends on how deep you end up getting into it as well as which suppliers you use and what equipment you buy. Some people suprise themselves and end up turning it into a hobby with collecting different types of e-cigs, while some stick with one type and DIY their own liquid, and then there are all of those in between. Initial startup costs can be a little high, but after that you can end up spending well below what you were on cigarettes. A starter kit can range anywhere from $35.00 and up, extra batteries are almost always required, juice for refills averages somewhere around 12.00 for a 30 ml bottle, but can of course be less or more... then there is the price of cartomizers and/or atomizers. Whether you end up spending more or less than you did on cigarettes though, in the long run you are saving a bundle on your health.

As for being discreet, you mentioned not wanting to blow big plumes of vapor. The trick to that is to hold the vapor in your lungs longer than you would with cigarette smoke. Long enough and there is practically no plume whatsoever. This is what we tend to call stealth vaping. When I initially went looking for discreet equipment, I ended up with the KR808D1 batteries which are just slightly bigger than a standard cigarette. I currently use the XL KR8s which are longer, but tend to pass for a pen if someone just glances your way. Some people prefer the 510 battery models and I'll let them describe those, since I haven't had much contact with them.

I have no idea what Thailand's laws are, so again I'll let someone else chime in about that and international travel, but yes, there are multiple choices for vendors on the net here in America.

I know all the different choices and options can be confusing at first, so the best advice I can give you is to do your homework, read as much as you can here on ECF, and don't be afraid to keep asking questions. As you probably know from being a teacher, the only dumb question is an unasked one. The second best advice is always buy more juice and cartos/atomizers than you think you'll need and order more long before you think you'll need them!

Good luck!

 

[Whytehorse]

Thanks for the advice. Here's what I'm thinking of doing... I'll wait until I get to the US($120 down the drain to analogs) and then drop $100 on a setup with the following:

1. Something with batteries that last all day. Maybe a 1300mAh or 900mAh like the Hello-016 or eGo or X-power? I'll get 2 batteries.
2. Something with a kit that has all the crap I need like chargers, refillable cartridges, etc.
3. A couple different juices.

According to your numbers, $12 for 10 days will get me $1.20/day and I'll be saving $.80/day. At that rate, the e-cig will pay for itself in 125 days. If I get a bulk discount like 1 liter of 100mg/ml for $366, I can cut it to 5 liters of 20mg/ml. That's about 166 bottles of 30ml, or $2.20 per bottle. I'm sure it will be more like $3/bottle after paying for the PG and flavor and by the time I add flavor it will be down to 18mg. So all tolled, it sounds like it will cost $0.30/day, saving me $1.70/day and will pay for itself in 58 days.

I'm assuming cigs are $2/pack when I get back to the US but it could be $4 now for all I know. Also, I'll be saving $100/month on health insurance because I can honestly claim I don't use tobacco so it will actually pay itself off in a month.

 

[Springbird]

Make sure to check out the DIY forum on ECF before you start making your own juice. They are a great bunch of peps and have collected so much information that is so helpful. Also you need to be VERY careful with that 100mg/mL nic.

 

[Java_Az]

If i had to do it over i would for sure start out with the eGo kit. I got a volcano magma kit and it is a pain keeping the batteries charged. I can drain one in a hour no problem at all. Thats alot of juice you plan on getting there but for sure a nice savings. Might have to look into that. Not sure what the self life on it is though. I know some people have said there juice starts to not taste right after a month. But maybe thats cause it is mixed with flavor.

Only thing i can suggest to you is if you get your kit an like Vaping. Pick you up a 5 pack of atomizers. Some people have really good luck with them but i seem to go threw them like crazy.

Not sure where in the US you can get a pack for $2 bucks. They are $6 bucks a pack here in Arizona for name brand $5 for generic. I made my own for awhile with cans of tobacco and filter tubes. That cost me right at $3 bucks a pack. Maybe you been out of the country since we got the big old fat Obama Tax.

 

[erinprime]

Where are cigarettes $2 a pack in the US? I am in MA and they are around $9 a pack. I know they are cheaper in other areas but $2?!

 

[BlueMoods]

Try 5.00 and up a pack here. Little Cigars you MIGHT get for around 2.50 if you happen to be in the south central states (Tx, Ar, LA, OK, MS.)

 

[StormFinch]

$4.00 a pack for L&Ms here in AR. At least they were 5 months ago... I wouldn't know now. OP is currently paying Thai prices.

I DIY with 60 mg base, not quite sure I want to deal with the full 100 mg strength. I mix mine fresh in a 30 ml bottle a day or two before I know I'm going to need it. The rest I keep in the fridge since my air conditioning is struggling to keep the house below 80 this summer. Cooled or not, the juice is said to have a 2 year life span and will slowly start to lose it's potency after that.

@Whytehorse; Looks like you've got a good plan. Just shop around for your juice base when you get started. I've seen it cheaper than the $366 as long as you don't mind buying in multiple containers. And, like Java said, make sure you stock up on extra atomizers or cartomizers.

 

[KayleePup]

2. Per day I spend $2 for smokes, it would be great if I can save money. What is the real cost per pack when vaping(for e-juice)?

You didn't say where you were going in the US, but there was a thread regarding current cigarette prices here. In the SW US you might be able to find a pack for $5 (reservation prices are sometimes that low). But typically a branded pack runs $7 or more.

Just an FYI as you may run into sticker shock!

KayleePup