pulling hair out

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PuttySOT

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Oct 7, 2009
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I really want to start using e-cig but, I have no idea were to start with out getting what I don't want and to loose money from scams.

I smoke lights and even they make me cough my lungs out. I want to stop but I have no idea were to start and a good brand with good prices for the E-cig.

I have read some of the forums but I feel more lost.

Last month I ordered from Smoking Everywhere and after 2 weeks I told them not to send it. (to long for it to ship) I then ordered from club51 abd just noticed that club51 is really also Smoking Everywhere with a name change?

now I heard I could get them at a truck stop? uggg what do I do?

:confused:
 

SheerLuckHolmes

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Do a search on this forum or others on the 510 (also called dura), 901, 801 and Janty Stick.

At the bottom of the first page of this forum there are areas for posting directly to a great many suppliers. There you can read customer feedbacks, troubleshooting guides and more.

As you read and research you will find many people here on this forum have found the 510's to be very satisfying e-cigs. Each of the others I mentioned also have a large following of vapers.

My personal recomendation would be to investigate several of the suppliers for a 510 kit. Best e-cig for the entry level novice. Then you may find you would like to try others styles as you get more seasoned... or not. You may find that the 510 completely satisfies you as it has many others.

Do you research make a decision and give it a try. All you have to lose is under $100.00 against continuing to lose your health over the years.
 

ImArchimedes

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Sep 29, 2009
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First question is what is your end goal of switching to an E-cig? Are you looking primarily to save money or is it the coughing/general health issue you mentioned?

Second question, how much do you smoke a day?

As far as the truck stop e-cig? Well, my current is an Npro which is indeed the ones that are sold at gas stations. Ussually there is a display by the register. I have used it for a month now and it was an eye opener. I like the Npro but, a month in now, I know I want something slightly different so I'm shopping around. Still, it came down to taking the leap and I'm glad I did. The more you read on the forum about all of these, the more confused you will be. I say this from experience. Imho, the Npro is a perfect starter and, believe it or not, its about the same price at a gas station as it is online. Pick one up for $70 and give it a try. You'll have everything you need to find out what you think of e-cigs.

Once you smoked through the 5 cartrages they give you with the starter, you can take a step back and decide if e-smoking is for you. If it's not, you're only out $70 which, in NY is only a little over 10 packs of smokes. If you DO want to continue then you can either keep going with the Njoy or look into something else.

First things first though, if you get an Njoy at a gas station, they'll be selling carts as well implying they are disposable. Average smoker will smoke through carts fast and it will end up costing about as much as smoking regular cigs did. Solution is easy though. Don't throw out your cartridges when you are done with them. Keep the little rubber plug that comes with each one and, when it's kicked, replace it with a new one, put the rubber plug in the old and store it somewhere. Then just go online to any of the many e-juice vendors and buy yourself some liquid. It's about 15-20x cheaper and, depending on where you buy from, it may even taste better. Those cartridges you kept can be refilled easily. First few times you try to refill, you'll end up getting frustrated but on the third refill, you'll be a pro. Me? I like Janty's e-liquid. Cheap and tasty. You may care for something different.

Anyway, bottom line? The forums are good but, at a certain point, you just need to take the leap. Once you do, the forums will make so much more sense as you'll know what everyone is referring to. I hope this huge rant has helped.
 

Brachinus

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Sep 28, 2009
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Start cheap. Not only will you minimize your waste if you decide to go with something else (and you probably will), you'll also reduce your chances of getting scammed (the scams tend to charge $100-plus while the good basic outfits cost less than $50 for a starter kit).

Once you get your setup, take a look at what you like and don't like about it, and then look at the other options. Maybe you'll get lucky and find that you bought exactly what it turns out you want, but it's not a disaster if you blow $40 (a carton of cigs, if you live where they're cheap) on a learning experience about what works best for you.
 

martha1014

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Apr 8, 2009
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The first place I went was to a Pilot Truck Stop and bought an Nipro. I used this a while and started reading this forum and decided to get a 510. It was so much better than the Nipro. I have several Nipro that are longer used. I wish I had found this forum before I wasted so much money. You can buy E-liquid in various strength and flavors. Just read to find out what most people like. Myself I wanted a tobacco flavor like Marlboro. Most people seem to like sweeter flavor. There are several video you will want to watch to find out how to refill cartridges. You can just drip directly on the atomizer instead of refilling cartridges. I seem to get much more vapor and throat hit.

Just keep reading and learning. After 6 months of vaping I am still learning.

Good luck.
 

NaviRahu

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Sep 16, 2009
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I actually started "smoking" a little more with the e-cig. :oops: Though I think it's the novelty, and the want to break it in a little more.

I got a 510 starter from heaven-gifts.com. $34 for the kit, I believe, and then paid an extra $3.50 for a sampler of clove juice. Doesn't taste like the Djarum as it says, but I find I still enjoy it.

When I was smoking I probably got 5-6 puffs out of a cig, more or less depending on what I was doing or why I was smoking. With the 510, though it's a juice guzzler from what I've read on the forums, I'll top off the cart every so often with 2-3 drops of juice, and that lasts me for what would probably be the equivalent of 2-4 cigs, maybe more or less, but I'm not strictly counting my daily use. I usually just switch batteries each morning and I'm good to go. My husband and I go nearly everywhere together, so he uses it while I'm in class, or we just share while we're together, etc. One cart, one bottle of juice, one e-cig. I think I top off maybe 3-4 times on a "busy" day. I don't always top off when it shows signs of getting low, sometimes it's when we've been vaping for a while and I think it will start getting low soon, or if I haven't used it for a while.

Thus far, considering I only spent $3.50 on a 10mL bottle of the liquid, which was a sampler bottle, and I haven't even used a tenth of it, I would say this is a pretty good deal for me. We're probably going to buy some blank carts next (just kept topping of a Marlboro cart with the clove, not half bad) and some cherry or strawberry juice, no nic. That's around $9 for 30mL. That way we can enjoy the e-cig without vaping the nic quite as much.

I think considering our more casual use, it's going to last us a long time.
 

ImArchimedes

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Sep 29, 2009
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ImArchimedes, you stated to refill with the liquid... 2 drops? then how many cigs does this equal?

Shinkun posted a good formula for drops. And the 510's are supposed to be good. Really, though, the differences between the different types are going to mean nothing until you try one.

Example: I thought I would want an automatic. Negative. Turns out what I'm really looking for is a manual. I struggled over this before I bought mine and finally convinced myself that what I wanted was automatic. Went next door to the gas and go and picked up the Npro. Now, I don't mind automatic but its clear to me now that manual is my personal preference.

I'm sorry if I was pushing the Npro on you in my first post. The others here have listed some good ideas to get something even cheaper. For me, the Npro was the way to go if only that I wanted instant gratification. I was teetering back and forth about getting one and, when I decided I wanted to do it, I didn't want to give myself time to be convinced otherwise. You may be different that way but for me, it was very rewarding.

On to your first post back...

Two packs a day? Definitely recommend switching to E-smoking for money alone. You WILL save money, I promise you. Even if you bounce around and buy 5 different e-cigs before you settle down, you'll end up making all that money up and then some.

As far as health goes, I'll tell you how it has effected me. I'm 3 weeks in without an "analogue" smoke. Now, I'm not a doctor but these are the results I received in the 3 weeks it's been:

1. Sense of smell drastically changed. First and for most, I can smell smoke on others now. That was the initial change. I remember the first time I noticed. I went to a coworkers cubical to ask if they wanted to step out for a smoke and I didn't even need to ask because I could smell it on him and KNEW he had just gotten in from a smoking. Then I was paying attention to it and noticed I could smell dinner cooking downstairs again. Not just smell it, but I could tell exactly what we being cooked.

2. I don't huff and puff after my walk home from the bus. 15-20 min. walk from bus stop to my house and it was never to rough but when I got home, I would be be breathing hard for about 5 min. No more. Those are direct results.

3. I'm an avid indoor rock climber and, I have to tell you, my energy level has totally changed since the switch. I go climbing 3 times a week on a membership and usually could only get about 40 min in before my body called it quits. Now, after 3 weeks, I'm climbing for about an hour and 20 min to an hour and 30min.

These are not backed up by medical data. This is just my experience and my experience is make the switch. I'd say make the switch even if it cost MORE (which it does not). Your standard of living will increase and I can promise you that if your cough was indeed related to your smoking, it will at least dissipate but more likely go away all together.

No matter what you decide to do, though, keep us posted on the forums and let us know how it all works out for you. Everyone here will be supportive and I'm sure they, like myself, are very interested.
 

Valkerie

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Aug 4, 2009
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I smoke 2 packs a day

I would like to some day stop smoking

I cough from the smoke right now even though I LOVE TO SMOKE :p

I just looked at the 501 and they had great reviews but I now have a second question>>> they are refillable? so I just purchase the liquid?

I also want to save money

I smoked a pack and a half a day. I got my kit at a discount from Vapor Options, but I regularly order from Shawn at LiteCigUSA.net. Great customer service and really fast shipping.

I bought a M401 and have not had a cigarette since my extra batteries (and atomizers) arrived. While many complain about the size of the carts - 3 to 5 cigarettes per cart for the M401 - I refill all my carts at the same time, I have at least 50, so it is usually not an issue. (Someone sent me a mislabeled bottle and I'm too lazy to wash out all my carts to get rid of the cola taste.) When one is empty, I just pop on another refill.

I smoked lights and can tell you that you want at least 18mg of nic. Half of what you suck in, you blow out in the water vapor. There is a science thread by a chemist on the forum, proving this. However I figured that out when I had nic withdrawal using the 11mg that I thought would be appropriate. Withdrawal stopped when i went to 18mg cartridges. Of course if you also want to stop vaping eventuall, starting with 11mg will help.

Many suppliers are out of reasonably priced 510s. (I give new meaning to the word frugal.) I've checked because I wanted to get something with a bigger cart and to give some of my M401 supplies to my mother and BFF. I've been chain vaping and topping off instead of refilling because I've been playing with flavors. 901s and 801s are still available at good prices.

They are all refillable. Check the forum, you'll find YouTube videos on refilling and restuffing carts. Even people who buy cartomizers usually wind up refilling them.

A M401 cart, which is one of the smaller carts. takes 7 drops to start then another 2-3 to top off, once I stick the stuffing back in. You can top off a partially smoked cart with 2 drops, but 2 drops won't fill anything. Unless your cart is overstuffed. Way overstuffed.

Ejuice flavors are an acquired taste. Start with what's in your starter kit, usually Marlboro regular. I've never heard of anyone who sticks with these. As your taste buds come back, you'll start enjoying RY4, Camel, Chocolate, etc. They even make Kung Pao chicken flavored ejuice. Not going to try that anytime soon.

50ml of liquid can run you between 7.98 plus shipping (I think it was $5) from China at lightinthebox.com, which I'm still waiting for, to $22 from LitecigUSA. Already here and I'm a third of the way through the bottle. Juice prices are all over the place and many sites do not tell you the bottle size at a glance, you have to hunt for it.

I'd order at least one 20ml bottle of RY4 or Camel or Methol, if you smoke methol to get you started.

Once you decide electronic cigarettes are for you, (usually within the first 2 or 3 days,) order extra atomizers and extra batteries.
 

PuttySOT

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Oct 7, 2009
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Cleveland, Ohio
I will ImArchimedes....

I just made my order for the 510 starter at $54

I just hate to think I need to keep putting drops in it every time I need one (or as it seemed by the post) 2 or 3 drops per cig
_______________________________________________________________

Valkerie, I will also keep my eye on your sites... understanding the extra equipment also
 

ImArchimedes

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Sep 29, 2009
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I will ImArchimedes....

I just made my order for the 510 starter at $54

I just hate to think I need to keep putting drops in it every time I need one (or as it seemed by the post) 2 or 3 drops per cig
_______________________________________________________________

Valkerie, I will also keep my eye on your sites... understanding the extra equipment also

To EVERY problem there is a solution. Once you feel like you're committed, you can determine what you like and don't like about your smoke and fix whats wrong, often times without having to purchase a new set up. For instance, I am currently looking into fixing that top-off issue you're referring to. The mod section has some great suggestions and they would work on an 510. It basically involves buying foam from a pet shop, cutting it so it fits in your cartridge and, with a little trial and error, viola! Everyone is going to be different and chances are, no matter how much you read, there WILL be something about your first e-cig you don't like. Still, there will probably be far more things about e-smoking that you intermediately realize you DO like : )

I have to top off way too often as well because i like a really heavy hit of vap. Currently, I have a 10ml dropper and my Npro on me at all times (in a pocket). In my laptop back, I have a charger and extra battery. Both the Npro and 10ml are on my desk at all times at work. When ever I smoke and stop, I just pull off the end (cart), put it on the table face up, and just drip, drip drip. Then, leaving the cart standing there on the desk, slide the Npro back on. All that including uncapping and recapping the bottle for the juice takes no more than 20-30 sec.

No, its not ideal but its still GREAT! Having that bottle on me means I don't have to go to a gas station for a pack once a day. It means I can do it at my desk. It means I don't smell, I'm taking in very few carcinogens, and saving a bundle!... AND it taste like a pinacolata!

In all seriousness, if you end up liking it, the issue of topping off a lot will be almost completely overshadowed by the shear joy you experience at e-smoking.
 

arkangel

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Sep 30, 2009
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I've only been vaping a week or so, but have already explained to 3 friends what it's all about, so maybe this will help:
- I echo what was mentioned above: Definitely look through this forum as the others have suggested--it saved me from a $150 ripoff from Smoke 51. The Suppliers section here can help with finding reputable vendors for sure.

- For simplicity sake, search for KR808D-1 in the forum: they're a popular 2-piece design where the atomizer and the cartridge come in a single piece that can be disposed of when done or can be refilled if you've a mind to.

Screw the cartomizer onto a battery and vape away.

Other 2-piecers (which may be branded 808's...not always sure): Red Dragon, Vapor King/Greencig, E-Cig E9 and others.

- If you're into flavor exploration and maximum flexibility, the 3-piecers like the Joye510 mentioned above would be a good choice. The carts are separate and easier to fill or buy as blanks.

I think someone else mentioned it, but as long as you get off the analogs, you're heading in the right direction!
 

bassn99

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Sep 24, 2009
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Louisiana
I got scammed by the SE brand and then tried another that was not good until I finally found the one (right now) that works best for me. The 510, if you want to use the direct drip method, here is how I do it. I drop three drops on the atomizer (the arch) this gives me around 5 good drags that can keep me going for awhile. I want to vape what I feel a full analog was I repeat this once. About the time and puffs I would have normally hit an analog. I smoke menthol so I needed the good throat hit and enough vapor to give me the pleasurable sensation (withouth all the crap)
There is a plethora of knowledge on this forum and a lot of really good people eager to help out newbies. I was just at my Local Fish store and could have sold 2 units right there.
Good luck.......
 
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