New Here-Few Questions

[Sidney082011]

Hi,
I smoked cigs for 33 years. In December, 2015 I started using NicMaxx E-Cigs, and quit the cigarettes from day one. Amazing! I've used the NicMaxx E-Cigs exclusively until May 14th of this year (2017), at which time I decided I wanted to get a vape. I went with my son to a local vape shop and bought an iStick Pico, and an Aspire Clieto sub-ohm tank, and Cleito coils. It's been 2 weeks now since I've made the switch, and I love it!
I've been doing some research and learning about vaping, although I would be hesitant to invest too much money in anymore new devices because of the new regulations that are likely to take effect. That whole thing just makes me totally sick! I'd hate to think that in a little over a year my right to vape will be gone! I'm so incredibly angry!
I'm still learning, and am on my 3rd new coil in less than two weeks. I wasn't aware I wasn't supposed to let the juice in the tank get to the point that it was empty- and as a matter of fact, I purposely let the juice run out every time before re-filling it! I quickly learned not to do that. Then, I thought the juice didn't taste right, so I replaced the second coil after only 4 days of use, only to discover it didn't affect the taste at all. It must have just been that my tastebuds were off. I'm now wondering whether I can save that coil & use if as a replacement the next time I need to replace it. Can I rinse it out and re-use? Does anyone know? Will it hurt anything?
I'm currently looking for some high VG juice, and noticed that everything is less than half price online than it is at my local vape shop. Is there anything I need to watch out for buying online? Any tips?
I feel bad because I know our local vape shops need our support, but I also just can't see throwing money away, either.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Continuity]

Don't rinse it out - just use it as you would a new coil - if using a different flavour, the old taste will only last a few pulls.

 

[madstabber]

I would rinse out the coil and re use it when your ready. I use everclear to clean my stuff but warm water will work also.

 

[Bonskibon]

I would be hesitant to invest too much money in anymore new devices because of the new regulations that are likely to take effect. That whole thing just makes me totally sick! I'd hate to think that in a little over a year my right to vape will be gone! I'm so incredibly angry!

We feel the same and many of us have been stocking up for this very reason. If you like to vape and want to continue in a manner you like, than getting stocked with items may be a good option. It really isn't that much to invest when we think of how much we spent on smoking and would have to continue to spend.

 

[djsvapour]

I checked out NicMaxx. Years of scientific research, the best performance on the market and free shipping if you spend only $75. Wow! Impressive stuff.
A refillable ecig will cost much less in the long run of course so you made a wise choice. Should you buy more components? Yes, yes and again yes.
Why? Because if you intend to vape past the zombie apocalypse you can build enough hardware and eliquid ingredients to bypass the need to ever purchase any controversial products ever again. That's what many thousands of Europeans have done. I could vape now for 15 years. It's a reassuring thought but it's taken almost a year to prepare.
Good luck.

 

[BlueMoods]

Like you, I want to support local vape shops and, I do to a point. I buy hardware from them and, one of their 5.00 juice grab bags (5 random 10 mil bottles.)

I do mix my own juice mostly, but have a few favorites I buy online (as well as DIY supplies) That is les costly online. So is hardware but, I only order online hardware if it's going to be a gift. I buy my personal hardware locally. Yes it costs more but, I also have a local shop I can go to if there is a problem I can't solve and, they have been very good to me on servicing what they sell. That is worth something.

As for that grab bag juice, I vape a bottle or two out of each bag, the rest is give away juice. Either not my nic content or, not a flavor I want to vape.

Of late, I've taken to ordering form Vape Wild because the prices are great and, the juices are pretty good, assuming you steep them before using them and, they send one "Vape it Forward" 10 mil bottle with each order - a random juice that I could vape or, as I like to do, give it away.

I also have some pens, eGo/510 style, tanks and attys for them that are all in good shape, most used less than a month. Someone will need one sometime and, I've got one for them. (attys new in box still)

 

[r77r7r]

Welcome. Try channeling that anger into action. There are many ways to be active in the fight for vaping, if you are interested.

Vapers will never give up.

 

[Sidney082011]

Thank you everyone for such quick responses! It's great having a community like this.
I'm very interested in learning more about stocking up. Is it stocking up on e-juice? Or stocking up on items to make my own going forward? My budget is limited, so as much as I'd love to, I don't know that I would be able to buy enough ready made juice to just stockpile for years & years worth of vaping. What, exactly, would I need to purchase to make my own e-juice? If I could do that, then I would invest now in the necessary hardware.
I will still support my local vape shop by going in and purchasing at least a few items from them from time to time. I enjoy going there & hanging out, I enjoy the conversation and trying new flavors. The owners are wonderful and helpful- that's how I learned what I was doing wrong by letting my tank empty out before refilling. Having them there is most definitely worth something, and would hate to see a day when there are no local shops. My son is knowledgeable- but lives in a different state, so he's not here to help me out on a daily basis. He was here visiting when we went and got my first vape together- after using his all weekend I knew I had to have one of my own.
The owners of the shop are very active in fighting all of this proposed legislation. They told me that I could write letters to local representatives, but also said that they don't care about the handful of people who write to them, and that they'll vote with the greater majority. Other than writing letters, how else could I get involved in fighting all of this crap?
r77r7r- I see you live in PA, the land of taxes- I do too. How are you involved?
Earlier I said I want to find some high VG e-juice, but what I meant is PG- the one that allows a greater throat hit & less clouds. I currently have Frosted by Tally Ho Vapor and Hotcakes Strawberry Shortstack by Ruthless. I'm not sure how much PG/VG they are, as I didn't know about that yet when I bought these, and wasn't able to find out online. These are the kinds of flavors I like, though, and I want to try some fruit and other sweet flavors.

 

[djsvapour]

I can't say what will happen in the U.S. but it was always going to be about the Nicotine base liquid. Now the regulations are here in Europe DIY is much harder and far more expensive. Flavors and dilutents (vg pg) are unaffected for now.

 

[Carl2]

Nice to see you went to the Pico, I have one I use with the mello tank. Good flavor and vapor. I'm thinking of buying the Pico 25 to use with the Smok Big Baby Beast.
I'm into making my own e liquid, DIY, and I like Rebuildable tanks so I can make my own coils. For me the DYI gives better flavor and costs less.

 

[BrotherBob]

Welcome and glad you joined.

I'm very interested in learning more about stocking up. Is it stocking up on e-juice?

Might want to hold off stocking up on anything at this time. You are still learning vaping and your tastes may change.
Some E-liquid will be grandfathered and should always be available at a price. If you eventually DIY, you are talking around $0.30/10Ml. without the nic.
Re: Making my own e juice

The owners of the shop are very active in fighting all of this proposed legislation. They told me that I could write letters to local representatives, but also said that they don't care about the handful of people who write to them, and that they'll vote with the greater majority. Other than writing letters, how else could I get involved in fighting all of this crap?

Other than supporting your local vape shops, I find that by joining (no cost) CASAA is one the best options. CASAA's strives to keep every member in the loop and advises the best courses of action.
Since you are using liquid at a sub ohm volume, might want to learn DIY as soon as possible.
Here is a quick/simple look into DIY, might like to visit:
Getting Started: DIY 101 – Mixing Your Own eLiquid
http://diyordievaping.com/category/latestnews/beginnertips/
DIYorDIE Concentrates
DIY E-Juice Resources: Over 100+ DIY E-Juice Resources – E Juice Makers
Could read the stickies in this forum:
DIY E-Liquid

 

[Sidney082011]

I don't think I'm ready right at this moment to start making my own, but it's something I'm definitely going to consider a little bit down the road. I'll certainly check out at all of the links above. Thanks to those who provided them.
I did join CASSA earlier this morning. I'm in the process of typing out my quitting cigarettes story.
The owner of the vape shop says all this really has nothing at all to do with the safety of the people, and that we're really fighting "Big Tobacco", who wants vaping gone, and the former smokers to return to tobacco cigarettes. Makes sense to me, because if it were really about safety, this wouldn't be such an issue. It's quite obvious vaping is at the VERY LEAST much safer. I had pneumonia with an abscess in my lung 4 years ago, and was a smoker at the time. I was in the hospital for a week. Certainly I didn't smoke or even consider smoking during that time, but after my release I still had six weeks of "healing", and they put me out of work. Even though I wasn't a regular user of e-cigs, I had tried them, and asked my doctors if it would be okay if I at least used them for the next 6 weeks-honestly not expecting them to say it would. To my surprise, although they didn't condone
it, they did say that it would be okay for me to use e-cigs! I couldn't believe it! Unless they just figured I'd probably end up smoking if I didn't at least use the e-cigs- I don't know. But, either way, they can't be that bad! Unfortunately, the ones I used were crappy, and I did return to smoking cigarettes. I wasn't familiar with vaping back then. I don't know if I'd even been aware of it or not.
When you say some e-liquid will be "grandfathered", what does that mean? That some will still be available at the prices they are now? If all of these regulations go through, do you think ordering online will still be an option? People can't order cigarettes online, (not as far as I know, anyway. Maybe they can?) but if the regulations pass, I would tend to think the same rules that apply to tobacco would apply to vaping products.
I have another question. When my iStick indicates my battery needs to be charged, I take it out & put it on the charger, and when I do, it always says it's at 38%-43%. Why does it say that when my device says it needs to be re-charged? I have a Nitecore -2 battery charger. I have 3 batteries, so I'm never out, and I rotate them. How long should batteries generally last before needing to be charged? I realize there are many variables to take into consideration, but for example- when I'm home & vaping more, I tend to have to change the batteries at least once- if not twice per day. Work days they last all day. Does this sound right?

 

[Smoke_too_much]

Just rinse your coils under running water for a few seconds. You can use them right away, they don't have to dry out first if you don't mind a bit of steam on the first draw or two. Water dosen't hurt them at all and there really is no need to use anything else.

DIY is the way you want to go if you want to save money. It costs about 1/10 of what store bought juice costs however the best part is how much better it is. Once I went with DIY I basically threw out all my store bought because it no longer tasted good. The store bought stuff is way too sweet and usually too strong a flavor. Juice really is quite simple to make.