New Member Needs Advice about ecigs and VAping-For Real!

[edyle]

Hello

While I am prescribed Nicotrol Inhalers, I supplement with FIN ecigs-made by Victory and owned by Texas Fields.

I use the simple but expensive type where I buy these things that look like cigarettes and you electrically charge these and screw on these things that look like cig filters which contain the strength. flavor, etc. (I use strong tobacco flavor). I enjoy using these and they give me less deliverd Nicotine than Nicotrol Inhalers.

However I hear vaping is much cheaper. But I have no idea to where to start with vaping. what should I buy? where can I buy it and what do I do once I have what I need? I use to cast my own bullets when I was a teen and in the distribution business of a product recently made legal in the District of Columbia (which I have had nothing to do with for 40 years). From what I hear about vaping it sounds like there are multiple steps to go thru but if the cost savings are there I am willing to do the work.

Today a set of 5 refills costs me $16 at Wal-Mart or Wal-Greens (and they never have the potency (2.5 mg of nicotine) I am looking for). They call this $15 refill a carton but it lasts 2 days. A carton of real cigarettes would last me a week. A real recharging kit costs $25 to $40 and sometimes these just stop working after only a few weeks. In fact every one cig-pack of FINs I have bought has failed to work at all. Plus they sell a thing they call a recharging kit for $15 that does not even provide you with what you need to use the fake cigarettes and cartomizer provided in the kit....TRUTH!

So if you can give me some guidance I would surely appreciate it and I will ask for a blessing for you.

Brian

1: eliquid
You can cut costs by mixing your own eliquid; either full blown do-it-yourself, or the easy way like I do, partial by buying 24mg eliquid and diluting it 10 to 1 with glycerine and 10% water
2: rebuildable
a rebuildable will cut down the replacement coils cost;
The kanger subtank mini gives you the option to start off with replacement coils you can purchase, but it comes with a rebuildable coil also, so you have to ability to learn rebuilding your coils.
3: 18650 replaceable battery mods;
when starting out, nowadays, an istick30 or an mvp3 and a few other fixed battery mods are a good thing to use, however, they will eventually die out because the battery will die. So people eventually move on to 18650 replaceable battery mods

 

[Chris Arnot]

I started with apollo and haven't switched yet. Great customer service and great products with warranties.

 

[evan le'garde]

.............

 

[Brian r Muldoon]

Hi Brian.

The long story about these brands (Fin etc.) is so long I'd still be typing in an hour, maybe two.

An e-cig is an e-cig whether it's a plastic cig-a-like or a huge personal vaporizer. Running costs vary from $1 a day to $1,000 + for a year if you start buying lots of hardware and liquid.

The "top" UK cig-a-like would cost me $4,000 at least in refills and spare batteries per year. I vape using the latest (and sometimes greatest) tanks and mods for about 1/4 of that cost.

The company that owns Fin and another 5 (?) brands trades on the NYSE. Their share price has gone from $25 to 27 cents over the last 2 years. They are trying to salvage the business, but to be honest, these products are becoming the extinct generation of e-cigs. Poor performance, questionable efficacy and extortionate running costs.

I wish you luck.

Hi Brian.
Dear DJS Vapour

I have read that tobacco companies are getting into the act. They know cigarettes will be illegal. Once pot is legal who has the capital to move, manufacture and distribute, tobaco and liquuor naturally. Has anyone tried to estimate how many users of fake smoking there are? I stopped with Wellbutrin on Sept 22, 2001 but 2 years later in coastal NC the urge got too strong so I called my Doctor who prescribed me Nicotrol Inhalers. Luckily I have insurance . Did not try an e-cig until about 2 months ago when my insurance company Aetna (they mess up all my precriptions but the Chairman goes on C-Span and says they are a progrssive company interested in Universal health care) messed up my Nicotrol inhaler. Did not realize FIN was in such bad shape. What about Blu?

 

[Brian r Muldoon]

It's showing that the last time he was on was 11:32, the same time as his post. I've replied to a lot of threads that just died, but if he comes back and reads these suggestions and then gets anything out of it, I'm happy.

I am at work and it is tough with boss walking around

 

[evan le'garde]

Bri, just buy yourself a high powered box mod mate. It'll cover any kind of vaping you might progress to, high wattage, low wattage etc. Just research some decent batteries such as sony vtc4's. A box mod usually requires a couple of batteries and you should buy in pairs, and marry them for life and always charge them together. So you'll need a good charger. An Xtar dual bay charger would be a good start.
There's a whole world of tanks you could choose and can be quite cheap. Maybe someone else could advise you about that.

 

[Moaufan]

Hello Brian and welcome to the ECF gang. You have come to the right place for good advice but sometimes you get more mouth than you need. With things changing the way they do in this industry it's hard to keep up with what is tagged the latest and greatest and everybody's opinion differs. I will say that the opinion I value the most here is Baditude's. He is extremely knowledgeable and a super guy. Vaping has been a great journey for me. 18 months ago I stopped a 36 year 3 pack a day habit over night. I hope you have fun and great success on your journey.

 

[yuseffuhler]

I am at work and it is tough with boss walking around

I feel your pain. Let us know this evening how you feel about the suggestions, and we can figure out what you'd like.

 

[djsvapour]

Did not realize FIN was in such bad shape. What about Blu?

Blu are doing well. They are an evil tobacco company too.
I can't speak for the US, but in the UK and Europe Blu are supporting the "Tobacco products directive" which will remove <99% of products from the market in 2016.
Then, they will have won the battle and we will have lost.
They want to sell us plastic sticks with $8 refills. They have also muscled lots of e-cig companies off the shelves of our grocery stores.

it's another long story, but the marketing machine is astonishing. They used a consumer research company to ascertain if grocery shoppers thought Blu was the best e-cig for sale from the grocery store kiosks. Then, with a whole 176 votes (in a Nation of 60 million people) declared themselves a UK "Product of the Year 2015"

You can't make this stuff up.

 

[djsvapour]

I started with apollo and haven't switched yet. Great customer service and great products with warranties.

I would not recommend Apollo to anybody, ever. Distinctly low-tech products you can buy elsewhere for much less money.

 

[yuseffuhler]

I would not recommend Apollo to anybody, ever. Distinctly low-tech products you can buy elsewhere for much less money.

But they charge extra money. That cements them as being better than the average in many people's minds. Customer service does have something to do with price.... sometimes.

 

[Brian r Muldoon]

Bri, just buy yourself a high powered box mod mate. It'll cover any kind of vaping you might progress to, high wattage, low wattage etc. Just research some decent batteries such as sony vtc4's. A box mod usually requires a couple of batteries and you should buy in pairs, and marry them for life and always charge them together. So you'll need a good charger. An Xtar dual bay charger would be a good start.
There's a whole world of tanks you could choose and can be quite cheap. Maybe someone else could advise you about that.

Bri, just buy yourself a high powered box mod mate. It'll cover any kind of vaping you might progress to, high wattage, low wattage etc. Just research some decent batteries such as sony vtc4's. A box mod usually requires a couple of batteries and you should buy in pairs, and marry them for life and always charge them together. So you'll need a good charger. An Xtar dual bay charger would be a good start.
There's a whole world of tanks you could choose and can be quite cheap. Maybe someone else could advise you about that.

My friend I am 61 years old. I do not understand what you are telling me though you sound like you know what you are talking about. Please explain it to me like you are speaking with a 5 year old. Yes I use computers at work and understand a lot of the basic new terminology but even at work with guys my sons' ages I often need translations. I have not had a cigarette since Sept 2001 but have always found the "hand to mouth" fixation tough. I stopped by trusting Wellbutirin anti-depressant and 5 lb bags of small carrots. However two years later on Hatteras Island in NC (tobacco cheap) I was ready to start smoking again (tobacco everywhere). I called my doctor who prescribed me the Nicotrol inhalers (plastic tubes you insert nicotine capsules into-no smoke or steam). I often use these long after the nicotine has dried out because of the mental/habitual behavior thing. Nicotine not hard to kick but the psychological stuff for me is the bear. Puffing on fake cigs seems to give me a lot of pleasure and meets my insane compulsive fixation. I really want to learn how to vape that everyone talks about. However I would not even know what to buy and where to buy it. WalMart had limited stuff and the store doesn't let you near it. It is in a plastic case behind the cashier at the tobacco check-out (what a mistake that is....general public associates vaping with smoking tobacco). Vaping stuff should be in the pharmacy near the Nicotine gum.

If you do not have patience to splain me then perhaps you would refer me to something or somewhere I can read?

Thanx Much

 

[Maytwin]

Welcome to the forum Brian.

If you go back to the 1st page of this thread, at Post #3 @Baditude included some links to his blogs which are really useful reading for newcomers and will help explain things much, much better than I could !

As to where to buy, the best place would be either a dedicated vape shop where you should be able to try things out before you buy or there are masses of online vendors (just Google something like e-cig starter kit or any of the named models in Baditude's blog). I'm in Europe so can't recommend sites in the States but I'm sure someone here can.

I do hope you can go forward with this and good luck !

 

[gandymarsh]

Hello Brian,

From your posts, I gather that you live in the US, although you never really said so.

Ordinarily, I would recommend the iStick 30w + Aspire Nautilus mini for someone trying to quit smoking. It seems that you primarily want the hand to mouth but with some nicotine. You will probably be satisfied with an Ego style battery and clearomizer.

Myfreedomsmokes has an inexpensive blister pack that includes everything you need to get started except e-liquid which they sell separately. The battery also has variable voltage so you can fine tune it to different flavors. If this looks good to you, I would suggest buying two so you have a backup. A pack of extra coil heads (there is a link in the description) and some small bottles of various juices.

EVOD 650mAh Variable Voltage Blister Pack | Cheap Ecig Starter Kit | High Quality - MyFreedomSmokes

 

[jseah]

Hello Brian,

From your posts, I gather that you live in the US, although you never really said so.

Ordinarily, I would recommend the iStick 30w + Aspire Nautilus mini for someone trying to quit smoking. It seems that you primarily want the hand to mouth but with some nicotine. You will probably be satisfied with an Ego style battery and clearomizer.

Myfreedomsmokes has an inexpensive blister pack that includes everything you need to get started except e-liquid which they sell separately. The battery also has variable voltage so you can fine tune it to different flavors. If this looks good to you, I would suggest buying two so you have a backup. A pack of extra coil heads (there is a link in the description) and some small bottles of various juices.

EVOD 650mAh Variable Voltage Blister Pack | Cheap Ecig Starter Kit | High Quality - MyFreedomSmokes

Myfreedomsmokes also has quite a few bundles that are on sale for $20 for the Fourth of July holiday. The bundles includes one Vision Spinner variable voltage battery and two or more tanks (two for the better tanks up to five cheaper ones).

 

[evan le'garde]

My friend I am 61 years old. I do not understand what you are telling me though you sound like you know what you are talking about. Please explain it to me like you are speaking with a 5 year old. Yes I use computers at work and understand a lot of the basic new terminology but even at work with guys my sons' ages I often need translations. I have not had a cigarette since Sept 2001 but have always found the "hand to mouth" fixation tough. I stopped by trusting Wellbutirin anti-depressant and 5 lb bags of small carrots. However two years later on Hatteras Island in NC (tobacco cheap) I was ready to start smoking again (tobacco everywhere). I called my doctor who prescribed me the Nicotrol inhalers (plastic tubes you insert nicotine capsules into-no smoke or steam). I often use these long after the nicotine has dried out because of the mental/habitual behavior thing. Nicotine not hard to kick but the psychological stuff for me is the bear. Puffing on fake cigs seems to give me a lot of pleasure and meets my insane compulsive fixation. I really want to learn how to vape that everyone talks about. However I would not even know what to buy and where to buy it. WalMart had limited stuff and the store doesn't let you near it. It is in a plastic case behind the cashier at the tobacco check-out (what a mistake that is....general public associates vaping with smoking tobacco). Vaping stuff should be in the pharmacy near the Nicotine gum.

If you do not have patience to splain me then perhaps you would refer me to something or somewhere I can read?

Thanx Much

PVs & Mods | Box Mods | VaporBeast
The main component.Device that provides the power that is used to vapourize your e liquid. Batteries come seperately but when used can be taken out and recharged in a battery charger.

Clearomizers & Tanks | Tanks & Accessories | VaporBeast
Devices which attach to your box mod that hold and vapourize your e liquid.

E-Liquids | Vapor Beast Supplies
Various e liquids

Accessories | Chargers | VaporBeast
Chargers for your box mod batteries

Accessories | Sony 18650 VTC4 Battery 2000 mAh 30A | VaporBeast
Best batteries on the market. Always buy in pairs, always keep them paired with each other, charge them together, use them together. Best to label them as a pair.



All you'll ever need !.

Forget the devices you'll find at your local walmart. A waste of money and they simply don't work very well, they lack power, heck !, they lack everything. A few weeks with them and you'll be looking for something bigger and better.
Commitment !, commit a couple of hundred dollars of your hard earned money and buy something that will work how you expect it to. A few weeks with all this stuff and you'll be as clued up as anyone else.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Hello

While I am prescribed Nicotrol Inhalers, I supplement with FIN ecigs-made by Victory and owned by Texas Fields.

I use the simple but expensive type where I buy these things that look like cigarettes and you electrically charge these and screw on these things that look like cig filters which contain the strength. flavor, etc. (I use strong tobacco flavor). I enjoy using these and they give me less deliverd Nicotine than Nicotrol Inhalers.

However I hear vaping is much cheaper. But I have no idea to where to start with vaping. what should I buy? where can I buy it and what do I do once I have what I need? I use to cast my own bullets when I was a teen and in the distribution business of a product recently made legal in the District of Columbia (which I have had nothing to do with for 40 years). From what I hear about vaping it sounds like there are multiple steps to go thru but if the cost savings are there I am willing to do the work.

Today a set of 5 refills costs me $16 at Wal-Mart or Wal-Greens (and they never have the potency (2.5 mg of nicotine) I am looking for). They call this $15 refill a carton but it lasts 2 days. A carton of real cigarettes would last me a week. A real recharging kit costs $25 to $40 and sometimes these just stop working after only a few weeks. In fact every one cig-pack of FINs I have bought has failed to work at all. Plus they sell a thing they call a recharging kit for $15 that does not even provide you with what you need to use the fake cigarettes and cartomizer provided in the kit....TRUTH!

So if you can give me some guidance I would surely appreciate it and I will ask for a blessing for you.

Brian

Brian, it is very difficult to advise on vaping equipment - too many choices, too different preferences. But I think two things could suit you better (but it's you who should make a choice).
If you are unsure what you need right now and want just to try things, or you are a bit tight with money, then follow recommendation of gandymarsh. Super cheap but nevertheless it allow you to have such important things like regulated voltage output and refillable tank with replacable coil. If in future you decide you want something with higher vapor output you can keep it as a backup (and vapers do need backups).

Hello Brian,

From your posts, I gather that you live in the US, although you never really said so.

Ordinarily, I would recommend the iStick 30w + Aspire Nautilus mini for someone trying to quit smoking. It seems that you primarily want the hand to mouth but with some nicotine. You will probably be satisfied with an Ego style battery and clearomizer.

Myfreedomsmokes has an inexpensive blister pack that includes everything you need to get started except e-liquid which they sell separately. The battery also has variable voltage so you can fine tune it to different flavors. If this looks good to you, I would suggest buying two so you have a backup. A pack of extra coil heads (there is a link in the description) and some small bottles of various juices.
EVOD 650mAh Variable Voltage Blister Pack | Cheap Ecig Starter Kit | High Quality - MyFreedomSmokes

If you are sure you like vaping, then go with yuseffuhler. It is one of the most popular setups.

A lot of us started out on cigarette look a likes just like you described. For me personally, I didn't find them very satisfying and they weren't reliable at all. I went back to smoking shortly after dropping some serious cash on em. That was back in 2012. I tried again in October of last year and quit for good, using slightly larger stick batteries and tanks. For you, I'd recommend an istick 30w and a nautilus mini. Not too pricy, all you have to replace is the coil (heating element) in the tank when it wears out. Super economical.

Short version: vaping has come a long way. Cigalikes are not great and terribly expensive in the long run. A small tank and battery would probably give you the best experience and cost.
Eleaf iSmoka iStick 30W Box Mod Kit
Eigate Aspire Nautilus Mini - 2ml
Atomizer head for Aspire Nautilus BVC (V2)

Both of these setups use USB charger, they do not need separate chargers and batteries.

 

[Rathamar]

Just go with this advice, you're new here so you don't know, but this guy is a legend here and has helped countless others(including me) make our way up to where we are now.

And HE ALWAYS BEATS ME TO THE ANSWER on these types of posts!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree Completely. Baditude has great advice