Newb Alert

[GraceOnFire]

Greetings and salutations! After mastering the Newb Forum instructions, at least I think I have....
I'm delighted to announce I'm here.

I promised myself I would quit smoking BEFORE I reached the age of 50. Well...ahem....one day after my 50th birthday, I turned to e-cigs. What a difference!

I have to admit, I still crave an analog, but at each urge I pick up my new friend, Blu, and take a "drag". I did actually try a real, live cig about 36 hours after starting my vape experience and could only manage two drags before I had to put it out.

This is so very different from analog smoking. My friend, who got me to seriously consider vaping, did not clearly define all of the inherent parameters. But, I can honestly say, I am so glad I plowed through and made the change. I'm still trying to understand the lingo and I really had no idea there were so very many manufacturers of e-smokes.

I'll keep reading and keep my comments to myself for the most part. At least until I can form an educated and responsible rebuttal or comment.

Happy trails

 

[DuckysBooBoo]

Welcome Grace......A big congrats to you and good luck!!!!

 

[brock957]

Congrats. And keep up the good work. Vaping is the way to go. I went from cigs to cigars to nicotine lozenge. About to start vaping.

 

[szot]

I think U will find that if ya switch to a very simple E-Lquid type Ecig (Eliquid-Ego 1100 battery-clearomizer etc) with an inexpenisve CE4 or reusable CE5 or T3 clearomizer. that U will be much more satisfied with vaping and also save a ton of money compared to them Blu's..I too started with Blu's but switched 1 month later and found it so easy and so inexpensive compared to the Blu's...

1100A Ego battery-$15 (good for about 1 year)....CE4 clearomizer (good for 3-4 weeks) -$3.49..T3/CE5 Clearomizer (reusable , last forever) -$4.49...30 mil Eliquid (prolly 2 bottles a month)- $15....so basically maybe $15 a month plus a lil initial costs for battery, and clearomizer, and charger $5

Either way, congrats on the switch to ECigs...no matter which type ya use...best decision ya ever made..

 

[Reikoku]

Welcome Grace! These forums have been an invaluable aid in my venture into vaping, don't be shy to ask questions, I've really found this to be one of the nicest and most civilised forums I've ever joined. Vape on!

 

[GraceOnFire]

I think U will find that if ya switch to a very simple E-Lquid type Ecig (Eliquid-Ego 1100 battery-clearomizer etc) with an inexpenisve CE4 or reusable CE5 or T3 clearomizer. that U will be much more satisfied with vaping and also save a ton of money compared to them Blu's..I too started with Blu's but switched 1 month later and found it so easy and so inexpensive compared to the Blu's...

1100A Ego battery-$15 (good for about 1 year)....CE4 clearomizer (good for 3-4 weeks) -$3.49..T3/CE5 Clearomizer (reusable , last forever) -$4.49...30 mil Eliquid (prolly 2 bottles a month)- $15....so basically maybe $15 a month plus a lil initial costs for battery, and clearomizer, and charger $5

Either way, congrats on the switch to ECigs...no matter which type ya use...best decision ya ever made..

I do appreciate the information, and I will be reviewing all sorts of advice from here. I had hoped, fervently, to completely quit, even the vaping and not go beyond the Blu pack that I have purchased. I will, however, keep in mind your suggestions. As we all know, oh so well, quitting is not the easiest thing in the world to do.

 

[r77r7r]

I do appreciate the information, and I will be reviewing all sorts of advice from here. I had hoped, fervently, to completely quit, even the vaping and not go beyond the Blu pack that I have purchased. I will, however, keep in mind your suggestions. As we all know, oh so well, quitting is not the easiest thing in the world to do.

Nothing wrong with sticking with your plan of quitting both. I'm sure many have done it. Good luck.

 

[GraceOnFire]

All this talk about Blu is making me wonder now. I know all vape mechanisms are not created equal. But, now, I'm getting an urge to try something different. Blu is my first, and only experience vaping, to date. The goal was to stop smoking completely. Now, I find, after reading more, that I would actually like to try another brand.
Is it possible to buy the apparatus from one maker and use e-juice from several different makers? Is this what y'all are saying? I'm sorry, still trying to learn the lingo.

 

[r77r7r]

This place is probably the most popular around here-
Smokeless Image | The Best Electronic Cigarette

I believe there are also several vaping stores in Florida........

 

[GraceOnFire]

Thanks for the "tip". Sounds like a great reason for a shopping excursion.

 

[bridubois]

Congrats on quitting the real cigs! My wife started vaping last summer and I finally got on the bandwagon a few weeks ago. I haven't bought a pack of cigs in about 4 days and miss them less and less every day.

 

[GraceOnFire]

The real trick, it seems, is storage. I enjoy smoking while driving. I have dropped my e-cig once and the parts twice, trying to store them properly before going into a building, or into work. The pack that comes with the Blu starter kit holds the two batteries, but dayum if my fingers won't work and I often end up dropping something trying to fit it into a small black hole. It seems more the mechanics of this that I need to work on, rather than not smoking analogs. They were easy, put them out. What a waste! But, that's what I did. Now, I find it hard to grapple with the little atomizers and batteries. Not complaining here, just wondering if anyone else experiences vape-anxiety. LOL

 

[jdubba]

The real trick, it seems, is storage. I enjoy smoking while driving. I have dropped my e-cig once and the parts twice, trying to store them properly before going into a building, or into work. The pack that comes with the Blu starter kit holds the two batteries, but dayum if my fingers won't work and I often end up dropping something trying to fit it into a small black hole. It seems more the mechanics of this that I need to work on, rather than not smoking analogs. They were easy, put them out. What a waste! But, that's what I did. Now, I find it hard to grapple with the little atomizers and batteries. Not complaining here, just wondering if anyone else experiences vape-anxiety. LOL

Congrats on the switch. What finally got me to the quit point with analogs, was picking up some gear from a local B&M shop. Like you, I found fiddling with the Blu kit a little cumbersome, but couldn't figure out what I needed to get by ordering online. The guys and gals at my local shop walked me through everything step by step, so the upgrade was really easy. To me, it was worth the markup at the local store to be able to hold the gear, see how it worked and ask a ton of questions. Once you're familiar with everything, you can pick up any additional stuff online, and will know what you are looking for (or can easily get help here in the forums, these guys are great). If you upgrade to something else, you may find (depending on how much you vape), that you don't need to carry around a lot of extra stuff and fiddle with batteries and stuff constantly. Just stuff your device in your purse/pocket and go. Plus the equipment is generally larger than what you are using now, so it's easier to work with if you have fumble fingers like I do.

If you do decide to try out a B&M, just make sure you go to one where the employees generally know what they are doing and you should be fine. I'm not sure where, perhaps in the location specific forums, but I'm betting you can find a reputable B&M in your area (if they exist) by asking around. Or you can get some help going directly to online shopping as well. Either way, congrats again, and welcome to the world of vaping.

 

[DavidOck]

Hi Grace, welcome, and good luck!

I think most of us get hardware (batteries, clearomizers, tanks, etc) and juice from different places. I have my favorite juice vendor, and they pretty much don't sell any hardware. (Well, they have some, but their business focus is juice, so....)

Using anything other than proprietary "juice holders" (frequently called "delivery device", which is just as cumbersome a moniker, imo), you refill them as needed, and you can put in whatever you want that will vape.

I found that the key, for me, was to get the right level of nicotine in my juice to get off burning tobacco. Not knowing your old smoking habits, I won't make a recommendation on strength, but if you find yourself craving a "smoke", you may want to try going to a slightly higher concentration.

It's also important to have backups. Of everything. At least two batteries - so you can vape while the dead one is charging. Two chargers in case one fails. (Anything that's cheap and mass produced can fail, eh?) And multiple delivery devices, as coils do burn out or get so gunked they're unsatisfactory. (Many can be rebuilt cheaply, have replaceable heads, which is the business end of vaping) And it's nice to have several, so you can put different flavors in each and change up as desired.

Have fun!

 

[DavidOck]

Jdubba, you got in before me! Good advice!

Electric Cigarette|Eliquid|Supplies|Electronic Cigarette|Ejuice|Smokeless|Vapor Search USA is a good place to start in finding a local B&M. Many of them also have "vape bars" where you can try out different flavors. While they tend to be more expensive - higher overhead costs - they are usually very helpful. And the hands on is great.

 

[Arker]

Congratulations on quitting!

Definitely quitting the vapor too is a fine idea if it's comfortable. But if you do keep vaping...

I am pretty much a noob myself but I do have a little to share. The Blus are proprietary you buy what they give you at the prices they give you. If you just use one kit to get off analogs and then quit it all that's fine but if you are going to buy any more vapor I wouldnt buy it from them.

The most popular rigs seem to be the Ego types, they have longer battery life and a better range of accessories, and I will have to try one soon. But what I have been using is the standard 808 type and for me at least it works fine. The batteries are small but two of them will still last me all day, and a pass-through let's me vape with direct current at home. The cartomizers are cheap and readily available, and it's not difficult at all to refill them though it may take once or twice before you are really comfortable and doing them right.

The least expensive place to get good quality 808 gear that I have found is "myvaporstore" and I have had very good experience with them, even though I think their pre-filled carts taste horrible everything else is good, and those carts are still great after boiling and refilling with different juice.

Typically I have found that prices are much better mail ordering what you want rather than getting it at a store, but there are many exceptions to that rule! The least expensive carts I can find online still come out nearly $2 each after figuring shipping, I can get prefilled V2 carts for $6.15/5 at one particular store, well under the online price, so it is worth checking for those things. There is another smoke shop near me that sells disposable electronic cigars (which I have found I am fond of) for $11 when they go for ~$25 online as well. But everything else I save money on by mail ordering.

Remember that just about every online supplier posts coupon codes here that will save you a few percentage as well.

 

[daleron]

All this talk about Blu is making me wonder now. I know all vape mechanisms are not created equal. But, now, I'm getting an urge to try something different. Blu is my first, and only experience vaping, to date. The goal was to stop smoking completely. Now, I find, after reading more, that I would actually like to try another brand.
Is it possible to buy the apparatus from one maker and use e-juice from several different makers? Is this what y'all are saying? I'm sorry, still trying to learn the lingo.

I'm pretty sure we all do this

 

[Bar Room Hero]

congrats on quitting smoking.

 

[-iD]

The real trick, it seems, is storage...I have dropped my e-cig once and the parts twice, trying to store them properly before going into a building, or into work. The pack that comes with the Blu starter kit holds the two batteries, but dayum if my fingers won't work and I often end up dropping something trying to fit it into a small black hole. It seems more the mechanics of this that I need to work on, rather than not smoking analogs. They were easy, put them out. What a waste! But, that's what I did. Now, I find it hard to grapple with the little atomizers and batteries.

You might consider trying an eRoll. There's a sub forum for it here on ECF. Cigalike form factor, really good vaping experience, and it goes into its PCC whole, not disassembled. Refilling it is snapping a tank in and out, no threads at all.

tap'd on my Google Galaxy Nexus

 

[DavidOck]

I frequently go out and about with a 1300 Spinner and T3/Evod/Stardust/carto tank (whichever happens to be full of the flavor I want at the moment... ) on a lanyard. The device has enough juice to last a long time, no need to worry about changing batteries, and when I drop it, the lanyard saves everything.