Please Help Save my Dad- e-cig help

[silkyfurz]

I'm a former 3 PAD smoker (120s!), and also bought my elderly mother 2 e-cig starter kits for Christmas. I got her a 510, which is the usual starting place, and a Riva with a longer battery life. She likes the 510 better (so far), since it's more cig-size. The battery life is shorter than the Riva, but you get 2 with the starter kit, so you can vape one while the second is charging. They charge in about an hour. The Riva takes longer to charge, but lasts longer.

A lot of vendors have sample packs of e-liquid, so I got her a couple sets of samples. I just discovered a wonder menthol last week, Very menthol-y. It's from Vapor Renu. You get to pick the nicotine stength (I got 24 mg), and the stength of the throat hit. I personally don't like a strong throat hit, but I think there are 3 strengths to choose from. Their prices are great considering you get a 20 mL bottle. I don't know if they have sample kits, but probably do. Vapor Station has a good sample kit, I think 10 bottles for $20-25. Get him a selection of flavors, not necessarily tobacco or menthol. There are some good coffee flavors he might like.

The only other thing I bought my mom was a box of Fluval, an aquarium filter, from PetSmart, mabye $3. It's a fiber-type stuff that use to put in the cartridges, where you drip the e-liquid. The box of Fluval will last a lifetime!

You only have one dad, and I think he will enjoy trying this. Knowing that you gave it to him will let him know how much you love him and worry about his health. He may not quit smoking on the spot, but he will definitely cut down, and may eventually quit completely. I still smoke 2-3 cigarettes a day, but it beats 3 packs.

Keep us posted on how you and he are doing.

 

[hamburgerperle]

Many good recommendations! I would go for an eGo or eGo clone to see if he can handle the system. Then eventually upgrade to a real battery (i.e. Black Beauty, Silver Bullet, etc.) where the batteries last longer and can be easily charged and replaced. Those use regular 14500 or 18650 batteries, so you need a regular charger; but way better than replacing eGo batteries every 4-12 months.

Then either stick to some kind of pre-made atomizer, or if he is a fiddler and starts to gain an interest in the machinery, get him a Bulli A2 or a Ato-Miser.

Those are great for people who like a long-lasting system that they can fiddle with. If you are just a vape-instead-of-smoke type of person, cartomizers or TAWA atomizers are better; you just replace the parts from time to time, but don't fiddle with the equipment.

His current menthol cigarettes are especially dangerous, as the menthol delivers the toxic ingeredients in greater quantities deeper into the lungs. But it also means that he should be able to switch to menthol liquids more easily... I hate those myself, but I never liked menthol cigs either.

Wouldn't recommend the eGo-T, though. It has too many weak points right now. It usually starts to deteriorate in performance after just a couple of weeks, the hit isn't as good as in an eGo, and though ease of use is great, that only lasts for a while till it starts to give problems...

Just be aware that any system so far requires some sort of tinkering. Unfortunately, there is no fool-proof system yet. With the eGo, when I stuff the cartridge incorrectly, I get liquid in my mouth. Same when the battery is weak. When liquid runs dry, it suddenly has a disgusting taste. And there is something about cigarettes that delivers a more immediate hit than vaping.

That said, I went from 50 cigarettes a day to 0-4. Within seconds. I never forced myself to quit altogether, I still smoke a real one if I think I need it (and am disgusted by the taste), and just vape away on 10-18mg of juice quite happily. 2 eGo and 2 eGo-T sets mean I am switching liquids around all the time, never run out of batteries, and hardly ever miss the "real" thing.

Good luck to your dad! (Luckily, mine stopped smoking after his last stroke; if he ever was tempted to start again, I'd get him a set as well.)

 

[Allyn]

Snowman:
I've only been vaping since Thursday afternoon, so take this advise for what it is worth. I have the Joye 510. The one with the standard batteries not the longer ones. So far, battery life has not been a problem. For the past 30 years I have been a pack and a half to two pack a day smoker. I've not smoked a regular cig since I got my kit. I haven't even wanted one. The only reason I got my kit is my wife had been bugging me to get one for two years. I hate it when she's right. Unfortunately she is right more often than she is wrong. (Even though cigarettes were making me feel like crap, I didn't want to quit smoking. I like smoking. Fortunately, for me, this is just like smoking.)

My recomendation would be the Joye 510 with the standard manual batteries. I would make sure I had 4 batteries and enough chargers to charge three batteries at the same time. One of those chargers would be a PCC so the man is not chained to the house. I know he is disabled, but surely there are doctor visits and just general getting out of the house occasionaly. Changing batteries is not difficult. You just unscrew the dead one and screw on the fresh one. No problem. With the smaller battery, the device is easy to hold between your teeth when you are doing something with your hands. Believe me if he is smoking 3 or 4 packs per day he is used to holding that cigarette in his mouth while he uses his hands. You want to make the experience as much like smoking as you possibly can in the begining. Remember, you are not trying to get him to stop smoking. You are only giving him a new hobby. Something to futz around with and enjoy. This will only work if you are not the Smoking Nazi. Be sure to show him the suppliers listed on this message board. Like any good hobby, there are plenty of products to futz around with.

Best of luck

Allyn

 

[tigerlily]

You have been given some good advice here. My own personal suggestion is to go with the eGo or Riva and Boge 2.0 cartomizers. I base this on personal experience. I have found this to be the most hassle free method....no leaking, easy fill-ups, etc. The most difficult thing for you to do will be to find a flavor your dad likes. I wasn't a menthol smoker so I don't know what might be comparable. I will say that most folks start out wanting something that tastes like the cigarette they are used to smoking, but eventually migrate away to other flavors. Get some samples of various flavors for him to try. I'd bet he would like some of the mint flavors out there.

Also, point your dad in the direction of these forums. The information he will find here is invaluable.

You have seen other success stories mentioned here. I'm sure your dad will be skeptical about the success rate of e-cigs at first. I can tell you that I smoked 2 packs a day for 40 years. I originally became interested in e-cigs as a method of reducing the cost of my smoking habit. I had no intention of quitting altogether. Like your dad, I actually liked smoking. It was the one remaining vice I had left over from my youth. I was shocked to discover that I really preferred vaping over smoking. During my first month or so I still supplemented my vaping with smoking, but found myself only smoking about 3-5 cigarettes a day. This amount reduced over time until I finally quit analogs completely.

 

[debb]

i know this isn't the norm....but maybe a reo grand would be better for him....heavy smoker..(kools at that)...so the grand would provide a great hit, and battery life is great...just fill bottle and vape.... you don't want him to get discouraged from the beginning...jmo..

 

[GoneWiththeWind]

I startd vaping with an 808 (the kind of e-cig one can buy at a tobacco/cig shop) and have moved on to my current 515. Let me explain the difference and hopefully this helps. An 808 (usually looks a lot like a cigarette and has a "lit"
end on it. The bottom half houses a rechargable battery and a "cartomizer" screws on top of it. A cartomizer is a unit that can be filled with a liquid known as e-juice or can be already prefilled. A button is pushed on the battery, the contents inhaled and voila! welcome to the world of vaping.
What I currently have "moved on" to is a 515. It too houses a battery at one end but has 2 other "components". I won't get into all the particulars (feel free to do some "snooping around the New Members Forum), but, it can be a little more complicated than the unit mentioned above because there are more "variables" involved.
Of course, it can get really crazy with the many many type of e-cigs available, but start him out nice and easy.

I'd suggest using prefilled cartomizers at first because of ease of use. Remove from package, screw on and get inhaling. Some things you may want to keep in mind: Expect to plunk down a nice piece of change for a unit that comes with 2 batteries (this way he doesn't have to worry about a battery dying and not being able to "vape") and plenty of cartomizers.

I'd also suggest you consider purchasing his unit from one of the suppliers listed here at ECF. The vendors at shopping malls are notorious for charging WAY 2 MUCH!!

I used to live for my Newports and now the thought of them is totally yucky!! For real!

Grab a notebook, take a look around here on ECF, take some good notes and make an educated decision.

Bon chance!

 

[debb]

515?.......never heard of that...

 

[Yellow Snowman]

Wow, thanks for all the great advice. I'm taking it all in right now and researching every suggestion being made. I think I'm going to take a few days to make a decision to make sure this is the right move.

As far as budget, I dont want to go crazy until I know he will stick with it but I'm not gonna set a stupid budget. Afterall I really believe this is to save his life so needless to say an extra $50 is obviously worth it to me to keep him around even a minute longer on this earth.

My dad is disabled but he isn't immobile and he likes little project to stay busy. I dont think him fidgeting with an e-cig will be a problem as long as I show him what to do and show him the numerous youtube instructional videos. Hell my dad is so handy you might see him on here in a few months creating his own mod with his own 2 hands.

So this is what I'm thinking as of now:

Riva 510 - Lite Bundle from liberty-Flights $38
Cartomizer - 5 pack XL $15
drip tip - $2
e-liquid - $20???

Total will be roughly $80


Now I could go another route for more money and features but I wouldn't have the versatility, convenience, and ease of replacement parts for him. I want to keep it simple at first. If I go with this he can try all 3 methods of atomizer, cartomizer, and drip tip. He can experiment and try the method he wants. I can do it with low risk until I know he is committed.

what do people think of this and will those XL caromizers fit the Riva?

 

[swedishfish]

I'd get the boge cartomizers to start. They're very easy to refill. Don't know about the XL cartomizers.

You said he's disabled, correct? It's not like he's on the go and can't refill them so they need to last all day.

 

[Yellow Snowman]

I'd get the boge cartomizers to start. They're very easy to refill. Don't know about the XL cartomizers.

The only reason I wanted the XL was to give him more vapor and throat hit to give him as similar a feel to analogs as possible. I want to remove all excuses if I can from him. I could go with boge if they will give the same affect of menthol throat hit. Plus I think XL's hold more juice so less changing them out.

 

[swedishfish]

Even if he can cut down to a pack a day to start. I wouldn't bug him if he continues to smoke in the beginning.

I happened to take to the pv right away and so did my mother, but not everyone does. Some people need to slowly ease into it.

I think the biggest hurdle is finding a juice he likes. I smoked Newport (a menthol) and I love the Nuport juice at nhaler. But a newport and Kool are very different things.

 

[swedishfish]

The only reason I wanted the XL was to give him more vapor and throat hit to give him as similar a feel to analogs as possible. I want to remove all excuses if I can from him. I could go with boge if they will give the same affect of menthol throat hit.

I've never tried the xl but I don't know if it's true that you get more TH from them. I thought it was all about size.

With the Boge (the only cartomizer I'm familiar with) I can just pop off the end and pour a little juice in when it's low.

 

[swedishfish]

You can always get a couple of both. They only cost a couple dollars. Wait a week or two and see what he likes, then order more. Shipping at Liberty Flights fairly cheap.

 

[mlinky]

The only reason I wanted the XL was to give him more vapor and throat hit to give him as similar a feel to analogs as possible. I want to remove all excuses if I can from him. I could go with boge if they will give the same affect of menthol throat hit. Plus I think XL's hold more juice so less changing them out.

Throat hit is partly about resistance. The Boge 510 2ohm cartos are a low resistance carto, therefore more throat hit. The prices you are coming up with from liberty-flights do not show the 20% off. Go to the top of the liberty-flight page and click where it says 20% off.

 

[Yellow Snowman]

Thanks for the 20% off tip. Speaking of money, I can't wait to save my dad money as well. We aren't especially well off and now that he can't work it makes it even harder. Even if he goes to the reservation and buys analogs for $20 a carton he will save roughly $130 per month. If he buys them at the gas station he will probably save $600 per month with e-cigs.

 

[Mudflap]

Not chiming in to offer any more advice. Just tons of support and admiration for the Snowman.

You da man.

 

[P3rplexity]

I would highly recommend the nebula kit and menthol juice from Vapornine. I was a heavy menthol smoker before I found Ben's product, after my FIRST VAPE from the Nebula I have never touched another analog. After you get him to quit he may enjoy making his own menthol juice, it's extremely simple and cost effective. Message me if you'd like easy ways to do this, all you need are menthol crystals, nic juice (from xtreme vaping link in my sig) and PG. It's the cheapest way to vape and saved my life in one day.

Good luck, I really hope this works out for you and your father.

 

[Bradder]

Yellow -I have been following this thread since the moment you posted and it has been compelling to me. Probably because I grew up in South Florida (Ft. Laud) and I also was a 3PAD Kool smoker. My youngest is about your age, I am retired/disabled and I, too, really loved smoking and had no desire to quit. Did your dad ever try pipes? Just curious.

Most of people I have met that smoked heavily, loved the smell of tobacco (my favorite part was sniffing the analog before I lit it) and really loved the pipe. However, I really hated the hassle of preparing, smoking and cleaning a pipe so I quit. Generally I have found that people who love the smell of tobacco and loved a pipe but hated the hassle, usually adapt pretty well to the e-cig. Best of luck with this to you and your dad (I do miss those reservation prices !)

 

[Yellow Snowman]

I actually moved to South Florida for work but my Dad and the rest of my family live in Western New York. Oldest of 6 kids actually and 3 are still young enough to live at home. We're a very close old school family where family is always #1.

He never did the pipe thing. My dad excuse has always been "its the only bad thing I do." And to be honest he is right. the problem is its one of the worst bad things and its expensive. Cigs IMO are the only product sold legally that will kill you if you use them as they are intended.

Oh well, I just want to help him find a solution. He is a great guy and the truth is A.) he is addicted and cant stop if he wanted to and B.) he enjoys smoking.

Its funny how smokers have become a fraternity that stick together. Well its time I get him in the e-cig fraternity. One that can help save/extend his life instead of ruin it and the peoples around him.

 

[Yellow Snowman]

If I get the Riva 510 what Boge cartomizers do I get? 2ohm or 3ohm?

Thanks.