New member, ready to give up before I even started

[xiotaki]

Hello all.

I have read alot of topics under here, and I really appreciate the existence of this community...really gives me hope!

I'm 34 years old and I have been smoking "analogs" for about 15 years now. Apparently I must have an addictive personality cause at this point I am smoking two packs a day. I have been ignoring the obvious issue since I depend on the relaxing effect that I get from smoking. I have tried to quit before but the urge feels hopeless to resist.

I have made half a**ed attempts to try patches and nicotine gums but nothing came of it. The problem is my job is stressful and these are especially the times when not having a cigarette is almost unimaginable to me.

I started noticing people using e-cigs as an alternative, and I really want to give this an honest try. I've had about enough of the money cost, health and repulsive attributes of smoking, and I really hope that this will be a way around my weaknesses (for lack of a better cause explanation).

I just picked up a disposable to give it a try (its called "square cigarette") it's about the size of a pen and it is 18mg based. Aaaaaand I'm in trouble. It just doesn't do it for me... at its best it can limit the amount of cigarettes that I crave, but when it comes to completely replacing analogs, as of right now it seems an impossibility.

My last and only attempt is the hope that with a better e-cig product with better vapor and throat hit (as well as 24mg strength ) I still stand a chance of making it work. I guess this thread is about me hopelessly looking for advice on a better product out there for someone who is first and foremost trying to get the closest feel of an analog, in order to be able to make that transition. Taste, looks, gadgets are of no importance to me at this point unless they are an integral part of replicating the sensations a cigarettes provides. I'm totally prepared to spend some money in order to achieve this goal, and I would appreciate any input. I have read lots of info on here so don't assume that I am looking for someone to do the homework for me. I have become familiar with the lingo and the overall basic options of hardware out there, so you can speak to me as one step above a complete noob It seems that the 510's are popular but most lengthy threads about it, are a few months outdated, and I notice that there is a thing called the 510T which is supposed to be new and improved? Basically without any further input I would be prone to trying this one out, over any other alternative.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, and if nothing more, that single gesture alone demands gratitude towards each an every one of you!

 

[Taniger1]

Hey hey, welcome to the ECF. First off, most of us did not "just put down those nasty analogs" the first time we picked up an e-cig. I know sometimes we on the board give that impression. I myself, did not, it took me almost 3 months. Heck on rare occasions I STILL will start to smoke a cig, I rarly smoke the entire thing cause it's NASTY but hey ;0). My point being, don't EXPECT to stop analogs completely the second you pick up an e-cig. That type of of unrealistic thought process will have you smoking MORE!

Do NOT beat yourself up!! I never planned on quitting smoking myself. I just wanted to cut DOWN on the money I was giving the gov. Imagine my surprise at the end of three months when I had about 2/3's of a carton of cig's in my fridge that one of my daughters friends smoked, and I never even NOTICED. I didn't set out to quit, frankly it just kinda HAPPENED.

My SUGGESTION would be to figure out when you smoke the most. If you've read pretty extensivly on this board, then you'll know nicotine from E-Cig's is in fact taken up differently than smoking analogs by your body. DEFINATLY play with the different MG's. In fact keeping several levels of nic juice around is probably a GOOD thing :0), take your time. Let your body AND your brain help you. If your reaching for an analog in a sticky sitation, put your analogs in a place you have to THINK about, put them in a place where you have to activly get up and go GET them. Put your e-cig in an easy place to grab. It takes PRACTICE, practice and MORE practice. But heck, you didn't learn to smoke in 20 minutes either!!!

REMEMBER, nicotine is not the only drug in analogs you are addicted to. It's just the most benign one. You WILL go through withdrawls from the OTHER 3500 chemicals. Sucks but there is.

The last perfect person born died 2000 years ago. You ARE allowed to not get it right the first time, or the second time, or hell even the third. Stick with it :0) you'll be glad you did.

Again, welcome to the wonderful, crazy, sometimes confusing as all get out world of the ECF. NEVER ever be afraid to come and vent, ask a question or just hang out. We are here for each other, we welcome you to our ever growing and VERY weird family!!!

 

[daggit2005]

check this kit out its a good one to try a real e-cig out without a large cost and its what i use.
myPVshop Electronic Cigarettes - The Joye510 Electronic Cigarette

also check out madvapes for juice. you can get many different flavors, sizes, strengths for a cheep price

dont worry. i have ben vaping 24mg juice for about 5 months now and i still have a analog in the morning and a couple thru the day, no more than 4 tho. i cut myself off there.

 

[couch magnet]

Hi and welcome to ecf. I to started with the square disposable @ the local smoke shop. I am thirty five and have been smoking 20 years. But i have been smoke free for 50 days or so. I hate to tell you this but i have tried the nic gum the patch and several other methods several times over and was unable to quite. When i picked up the square even though it leaked didnt put out a ton of vapor didnt taste that great something inside me said (hey i can do this). I think you really have to be at your wits end with cigs to be able to quite although for me vapen gave me relief and i didn't feel like i was depriving myself. So i bought the V2 ultimate kit with coupon it ran me about a 130 with shipping iv'e been very happy ever since but i now buy seperate e liquid. However it sounds like you may need something a bit bigger. Wich ever company you go with i advise you buy several batteries and several cartimizers or cartridges and plenty of e juice to get you threw it. I know if i had started with just one battery and a couple of cartos it probly would have not worked because i smoke alot. Good luck, i'm sure you will get alot of suggestions on different options of e cigs from the vets here!

 

[couch magnet]

sigh great responce taniger, how do i delete my post lol

 

[zacxzac]

Hey man,

Good job on posting. It can be pretty lonely with e-cigs in this world - none of my friends really vape.

I started with the 510 after a friend at University had one. It worked pretty well, but didn't manage to be a replacement for me. Then my batteries died and I dropped off a bit.

I've recently purchased the 510T as a comeback - and it was pretty good! I really enjoyed having it with me, and with the 24mg liquid I was able to avoid a lot of cigs.

But again, my batteries died. Not sure what happened there, but within a month both of my batteries for the 510T just lost all charge and couldn't produce the vapour I was looking for.

So I bought an eGo USB passthrough, and some Giantomizers. First impressions were "Wow. I didn't realise what I had been missing!".

The vapour that thing produced absolutely trashed the 510T. It worked for about 2 days until there was a problem with my Giantomizer and its wicking. Still working that problem out.

If I had to recommend, I would say skip the 510. It's nice because it is so small, but the size really does limit how well it can perform. Try the eGo, I buy from Healthcabin.net just because its where I've been shopping since day 1. Quick and good prices.

Good luck man.

 

[mafig]

hi xiotaki & welcome to ECF..like U i smoked 1/2 my life..only difference is i am 60..we all have excuses when we started on our 1st analog..but looking back it started as a harmless habit to begin..but soon as years pass by..it was difficult to give up..it is proven beyond smokers are addicted to nicotine and the craving is forever remain with us.

saying that now we have a device that can deliver nicotine without the 4000 impurities associated with analogs..that device is the electronic cigarette,just amazing as like U i tried many cures to weened away from using analogs..but none could,even cold turkey and abstaining from analog for months...and just from a social smoke..i am hooked again..so this e-cig(510T & EGO-T) i use gives me the right feeling for my habitual lighting up on analogs..and has replaced the need for analog..i am so surprise i was able to give up after such a short period using e-cig..if e-cig not available i still be using analog.

my 60 years i seen members of my families and friends succumbed to the big C ..this year alone i attended 3 funerals and 1 wedding..hope U still can ween away from analogs and do try e-cig as this device i cannot praise enough and with the members & veterans here,always helpful with encouragement and U only have to ask if U in doubt..regards mafig

 

[Baldr]

I started smoking when I was 17 or 18. I'm 50 now, still smoking. But over the past month or so, when I bought an eGo T, I've gone from smoking 3+ packs a day to around 10 cigs a day. I'm not stressed about it, not going through withdrawal. Mostly after eating, I get cravings for a real cig, and I smoke one. The majority of the time, vaping does just fine. I went out drinking and dancing earlier tonight, 5 hours in a bar, around smokers, drinking, etc, and I smoked 2 cigs while I was there.

I think the results are amazing. And I hardly work at it. Like I said, when I really want a cig, I smoke one. Other than keeping the PV close by and ready, about the only thing I've done to really work at it is to keep my cigs far enough away that I don't light one up out of habit, without thinking about it.

I haven't stopped smoking, but I think it's inevitable that I will.

I've also bought a lot of stuff. Fluids, cartomizers, ego T tanks and atomizers, batteries for a mod I plan to buy but haven't ordered yet. I've spent $299.63. I've saved more than that on cigs, since I was buying a minimum of 2 cartons a week. I have extras of everything, and I could certainly have spent less. But if I wasn't vaping, I'd have spent that money (and more) on cigarettes.

I don't have much faith in the cheap e-cig things that are designed to look like an analog and are the size of an analog. I'm pretty sure if I was using something like that, I wouldn't be using it. I've tried those a time or two, a puff off of a friends, that sort of thing.

I recommend doing what I did. Get an eGo-T starter kit, with 1000 mah batteries. Buy at least one or two cartomizers to try them (I don't like them myself, but many do). The kit will have an atomizer/tank, so you can try that system. And try an EMDCC - Ego Mega Dual Coil Cartomizer. The EMDCC's are are what I'm using now, the best of the bunch, IMO. However, different people like different things. None of these are particularly expensive, so you can try out the different systems, and then decide which you like best.

I was a heavy addict. I smoked a lot, and I did it for over 30 years. When I bought my kit, I didn't really expect it to help. I've tried quitting before, several times, several ways, and got nowhere. Almost overnight, as soon as I got it, I was smoking a pack to a pack and a half a day, down from 3 or more. After the first few weeks, I started noticing that I would often light a cig out of habit, without thinking about it, so I started keeping my cigs far enough away that I have to think about it to light one. I still enjoy smoking, and I still smoke - but I'm well on my way to getting off the cigs, and I'm convinced that I will. It's an amazing feeling.

If it'll work for me, it'll work for anyone who is willing to put in some time and effort. There is a learning curve, and you do have to spend some money. The money shouldn't be an issue - if you've been smoking 2 packs a day, the savings when you stop buying so many cigs will easily cover the cost.

And for the learning curve, just ask questions here. The people here are great. You'll always get a helpful answer, and it doesn't usually take long to get it.

 

[hairball]

For hardware I suggest the following from liberty-flights.com: riva 510 kit or and ego kit, a drip tip, a box of low resistance Boge cartomizers. Coupon code is october20 for 20% off your total order.

For juice..start here and work your way through. These vendors offer samples.

Goodejuice.com

Velvet Vapors - Sampler Packs

Six Pack Sampler - Vermillion River

Want2Vape

Vaporsetc.com

vaperite.com

juicyvapor.com

voidmist.com

goodprophets.com

grvapors.com

bombayvaping.com

ttteliquids.com

pinkspotvapors.com

strictlyejuice.com

mister-e-liquid.com - 5ml for $3.75

freedomsmokeusa.com

vermillionriverejuice.com

honeyvillevapor.com

Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarettes | Organic Electronic Cigarette eLiquid

nitelitevapor.com

quicknicjuice.com

liberty-flights.com

purevapes.com

bluemistvaping.com

thevaporroom.net

Southern Ambrosia

Grand River Vapors

Vermont Vapor

Vividsmoke.com

aromaejuice.com

Johnson Creek

aresecig.com

Alien Visions E-Juice

Backwoods Brew

Ms T's Bakery Essentials

http://www.diyflavorshack.com/default.asp

Tasty Vapor.com

Nhaler

Puresmoker

 

[washvap]

EDIT:

Hairball has given you some EXCELLENT advice and suggestions.

 

[Pepsifreak]

Hey I'm another one that has almost same story, smoked almost 2 PAD for about 20 yrs. I tried the cheap one to start with also, didn't work so well. I also have a very stressful job at times. My advise to you in your purchase is at least get one with a decent size battery. I bought a 510 but found batt just didn't last long enough. About a day after I received it I ordered a Tornado (same cig as an EGO, just thru Totallywicked vs Joye) since it also uses the 510 attys etc. Been much happier with it. Yes its a little bulkier than a standard 510 but not too overly large, bout size of a medium cigar yet shorter. When your order your juice you may want to get some in 24 mg nicotine as well as a few 36mg nicotine, don't limit yourself. You may find you need the extra nic to get going, if you don't you can always buy some straight vg and dilute it later. Just puff away.

You may find that, like me, sitting there puffing on it for a couple of hours your still wanting a analog. Like others have said this is normal, but think of how many you didn't smoke while puffing on your e cig. The next time it may take 3-4 hours before your wanting one. Even tho I'm still smoking 4-5 cigs a day I still am feeling much better than I was, and the cravings are getting less and less daily. Unless your one of the lucky ones that get their e cig and ok with never touching analogs again its going to be a process. Just keep at it, try new things. One person said to keep their cigs further away. I carry them with me but have found not carrying a lighter helps. I've also bought a coworker a pack of whatever he smokes just to bum some from him, that helped also.

You just gotta find what works for you. Everybody is different. You've found a great first step in finding these forums tho, they've helped me a lot. Best of luck.

 

[OttoBahn]

Lot of good advice - my only contribution might be:

To do it right (IMO/for me) vaping won't look like a cigarette i.e, white tube w/brown end (especially if you're a heavy smoker). Kind of like, most smokers don't care what their lighter looks like, as long as it works.

 

[Kilroy]

At first "limiting the amount of cigarettes" I smoked was the best that I could do. I kept cutting back and in 12 days I was smoke free. Just switching over doesn't work for everyone. Take your time.

 

[Vchick]

Welcome!

I second the good advice from Hairball

I purchased several of the Riva 510 kits from Liberty flights back in November and the batteries are still going strong! I initially used the atty's, but have switched over to cartomizers for ease of use. I used to moke menthol, so that's my preference with e-cigs now. Now that I've found a system that works, I tweak my liquids, either pre-made or diy with Koolada or menthol crystals to give that TH that I needed, HTH and good luck!

 

[BardicDruid]

Go to either Liberty Flights or Good Prophets and check out an eGo or Riva starter kit, get some 24mg e-liquid and you'll be ready to get started. I used the 24mg 555 flavor when I first started, it's kind of a nutty tobacco flavor but you'll have to find what fits you the best, good luck.

 

[Carlos1787]

I smoked a pack + per day for 29 years with only 1 break of about 6 months. I too got tired of the smell and cost. I had a friend that was using an e-cig and he said that he had not smoked for 3 months. He was using an 808 with carto's that he bought from a local supplier. Your equipment will make a big difference. When I started vaping 6 weeks ago I found myself sucking on a KD808 (pencil style automatic) almost constantly. There were 2 major problems:
1: the Nic level was too low (16 MG)
2: The batteries had such a low capacity that vapor production was low and I would go through 4 to 5 batteries per day.

I bought a couple higher capacity batteries (380 ma) with manual switches, the batteries did last longer, but I would still use 2 or 3 per day. Vapor production was a bit improved using the same carts.

I got some higher level NIC juice (24 MG) and that produced a bit better throat hit.

Then I bought a Mega T-tex. Its a 510 with a 1000 ma battery, manual switch. the vapor production I get with this battery using the same carts is much better and 1 battery lasts the whole day. I tried dripping with this unit, but it gave me a metallic taste. I am not sure if it's a characteristic of this device, or user error. I like Vortex carts at 2.4 ohm, or Fluxomizer's at 2.8 to 3.0 ohm. The Fluxomizer and other CE2's may require some "tweeking" depending on how thick your juice is.

Anyway, I hope this helps. My wife still smokes, so analogs are always around. Since I started vaping I have had a total of 6 analogs, my last one was about 4 weeks ago and I could not finish it! You will have to experiment a bit to find what works for you. I would suggest some thing with a high capacity battery (larger ma rating), and an assortment of different style carts. I found that the lower resistance cart's tend to burn wicks much faster.
Vape ON

 

[wv2win]

Rule of Thumb: the more it looks like the real thing, the worse the performance.

For a beginner, I would stay in the Riva/ego model category of personal vaporizers (PV's), as suggested by others. But a better model in that category is the E-Power. You will get the same or better peformance, BUT instead of paying $20 for batteries, the E-Power batteries cost $4-$5 each and last 5 times longer, lifetime wise. I would check it out:

e-Power

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - E-Power

 

[VapingRulz]

It sounds like you need a better big-battery model of e-cig and a higher nicotine level. Others have given loads of good suggestions for e-cigs but I wanted to tell you that I have tried vaping @ 18mg and it doesn't cut it for me, either - even as I approach the 2-year mark of vaping instead of smoking. Don't worry overmuch about your nicotine level right now. Worry about freeing yourself from analogs first, then worry about the nic level. I would suggest that you buy both 24mg and 36mg liquids. You can always dilute them later if you want to cut down. Good luck!

 

[rj1]

Dont give up! You just need to get a decent device and a good e-liqud!

 

[Mindfield]

Pretty well all of the good advice is covered, so by way of encouragement I'd just like to add that I was a PAD smoker for 21 years, tried several times to quit using various methods that all failed utterly. E-cigs were the only thing that worked for me. I started with a standard eGo at 18mg, but it really only became 100% satisfying after I started using dual coil cartomizers and upped my juice to 24mg. At that that point it was utterly perfect for me. I've lately had need of cutting my nicotine down considerably, which I am doing with little trouble and I'm still loving it -- I've upgraded to a variable voltage ProVari and am currently using Fluxomizer Deluxes that vape like mad (though aren't really for beginners due to the need to tweak them a bit before they work properly).

Point being, don't give up. That "Square Cig" was probably like most gas station/mall kiosk cigs in that it stinks. There is much, much better out there. It may take you a bit to find the combination of hardware and juice that works for you, but I can virtually guarantee, once you find it, you'll never want to go back to cigarettes. Heck, even if you get something that's not totally satisfying in the long term, you'll still probably find it better than analogs. Stick with it. Even factoring experimentation with different juices and hardware into account, it's still far cheaper than cigarettes, and once you do find your perfect combination (at least for the time being) it becomes far cheaper than cigarettes ever were.