So I am on day 6 of an all vape / zero analog life and it is going far better than I ever could have imagined. I had remembered ECF from my first try over a year ago and came back here when I decided to get more serious with my attempt to get healthy.
My first try at vaping didn't work out so well. I had heard such mixed things about cartos that I thought that the only way to go was dripping. I ended up doing so, but with all of my time on the road and just being out and about in general, dripping just didn't work for me. I didn't put the time into finding a better delivery system and basically just fell back into my habit like I always had. vaping didn't have much effect on my desire to smoke, and I think I just didn't want to put in the effort at the time, unfortunately.
I came into the new members area and inquired about PVs and juice systems that would better fit my lifestyle. I work in the oil field and am out for very long periods of time. I do a lot of driving and am in a lot of areas where smoking an analog, even in one's vehicle would not only be against the rules, but extremely dangerous for obvious reasons. Smoking out here is an absolute chore, as one typically has to go off location. While I would never bring my PV out next to a tank or something (anything that looks like smoke, no matter how safe, could send people running for the hills and would just generally be bad for business), I can vape as much as I want in my vehicle, and my non-smoking co-workers don't mind at all. In fact, they all seem to be intrigued. They have all seen e-cigs before, but very few have seen a good mod with a tank and a ming drip tip.
This time, I actually had planned to slowly ween myself off of analogs, like many people do using a PV. I wasn't in any rush to do so. As it happened, I smoked my last cigarette at around 7AM last Wednesday and just never finished the pack, nor opened the other one that I bought that morning because I was positive that vapor alone was not going to do the trick right off the bat based on my previous experience.
I started with much higher nic than I had previously, 36mg as opposed to 18mg, and I ordered some juices that I was already familiar with from Pink Spot. Based on the great advice that I got here from Baditude (thanks again, sir!) and others, I learned how to fill and prime my IBTank properly, which I got at the recommendation of other folks here. The results were amazing. Very portable, no leaking, and super reliable solid vapor. After seeing some good reviews of the Kanger Protank, I ordered one of those as well. From what I learned in the Protank thread that is running around 30 pages in the new members forum right now, I didn't even fill the tank until I had replaced the stock silica wick with a wick made from a cotton ball. Having never re-built anything related to vaping gear and looking for an easy intro into tinkering with this stuff, I was able to get the replacement wick running in about 5 minutes and it works like a champ.
So here is what I have learned in my crash course this week thanks to all of you folks who have chimed in and offered advice.
1. The Provari that I have been using for the last week is a wonderful device, and I would definitely recommend it. It's very durable, the interface is intuitive, and being able to dial in the voltage to taste is key. Plus, as a regulated device, it gives great results from the battery from the time it is charged all the way to when it is replaced. I am really glad I went with the Provari.
2. 36mg juice is just a bit too strong for me. The flavors are almost muted by the massive stinging throat hit. I have gone from the Pink Spot flavors, which I like, to some new Highbrow juices that have amazing flavor and no harshness whatsoever out of the Protank. I have some HHV juices on order in a higher VG percentage - 60/40 that I am looking forward to trying as well.
3. I am really digging both the carto tank and the Protank for ease of use and all-day usability without having to do anything but top off the juice from time to time. I am going to dig out some of my dual coil atomizers from back in the day for trying different juices, but the bulk delivery systems I just mentioned work so well for someone who is on the go that I can't see myself dripping regularly anytime soon.
...and most importantly
4. There is a bit of a learning curve to all of this stuff, and the amount of information out there is daunting, but even if you have tried before and failed, like I did, there IS hope. I know I am not out of the woods yet, by any means, but I have been so encouraged by the results that it's almost unbelievable. I have no desire to smoke an analog and I am already reaping the benefits of being an ex-smoker. My chest and lungs feel better, my morning cough has essentially disappeared, and the stink is gone. It's nuts. I was afraid I wouldn't see the day, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel and this time, it isn't a train.
Thanks to all of you for your continued encouragement and advice. This is a great place for people who want honest information about one of the most effective ways out there to rid ourselves of tobacco use.
My first try at vaping didn't work out so well. I had heard such mixed things about cartos that I thought that the only way to go was dripping. I ended up doing so, but with all of my time on the road and just being out and about in general, dripping just didn't work for me. I didn't put the time into finding a better delivery system and basically just fell back into my habit like I always had. vaping didn't have much effect on my desire to smoke, and I think I just didn't want to put in the effort at the time, unfortunately.
I came into the new members area and inquired about PVs and juice systems that would better fit my lifestyle. I work in the oil field and am out for very long periods of time. I do a lot of driving and am in a lot of areas where smoking an analog, even in one's vehicle would not only be against the rules, but extremely dangerous for obvious reasons. Smoking out here is an absolute chore, as one typically has to go off location. While I would never bring my PV out next to a tank or something (anything that looks like smoke, no matter how safe, could send people running for the hills and would just generally be bad for business), I can vape as much as I want in my vehicle, and my non-smoking co-workers don't mind at all. In fact, they all seem to be intrigued. They have all seen e-cigs before, but very few have seen a good mod with a tank and a ming drip tip.
This time, I actually had planned to slowly ween myself off of analogs, like many people do using a PV. I wasn't in any rush to do so. As it happened, I smoked my last cigarette at around 7AM last Wednesday and just never finished the pack, nor opened the other one that I bought that morning because I was positive that vapor alone was not going to do the trick right off the bat based on my previous experience.
I started with much higher nic than I had previously, 36mg as opposed to 18mg, and I ordered some juices that I was already familiar with from Pink Spot. Based on the great advice that I got here from Baditude (thanks again, sir!) and others, I learned how to fill and prime my IBTank properly, which I got at the recommendation of other folks here. The results were amazing. Very portable, no leaking, and super reliable solid vapor. After seeing some good reviews of the Kanger Protank, I ordered one of those as well. From what I learned in the Protank thread that is running around 30 pages in the new members forum right now, I didn't even fill the tank until I had replaced the stock silica wick with a wick made from a cotton ball. Having never re-built anything related to vaping gear and looking for an easy intro into tinkering with this stuff, I was able to get the replacement wick running in about 5 minutes and it works like a champ.
So here is what I have learned in my crash course this week thanks to all of you folks who have chimed in and offered advice.
1. The Provari that I have been using for the last week is a wonderful device, and I would definitely recommend it. It's very durable, the interface is intuitive, and being able to dial in the voltage to taste is key. Plus, as a regulated device, it gives great results from the battery from the time it is charged all the way to when it is replaced. I am really glad I went with the Provari.
2. 36mg juice is just a bit too strong for me. The flavors are almost muted by the massive stinging throat hit. I have gone from the Pink Spot flavors, which I like, to some new Highbrow juices that have amazing flavor and no harshness whatsoever out of the Protank. I have some HHV juices on order in a higher VG percentage - 60/40 that I am looking forward to trying as well.
3. I am really digging both the carto tank and the Protank for ease of use and all-day usability without having to do anything but top off the juice from time to time. I am going to dig out some of my dual coil atomizers from back in the day for trying different juices, but the bulk delivery systems I just mentioned work so well for someone who is on the go that I can't see myself dripping regularly anytime soon.
...and most importantly
4. There is a bit of a learning curve to all of this stuff, and the amount of information out there is daunting, but even if you have tried before and failed, like I did, there IS hope. I know I am not out of the woods yet, by any means, but I have been so encouraged by the results that it's almost unbelievable. I have no desire to smoke an analog and I am already reaping the benefits of being an ex-smoker. My chest and lungs feel better, my morning cough has essentially disappeared, and the stink is gone. It's nuts. I was afraid I wouldn't see the day, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel and this time, it isn't a train.
Thanks to all of you for your continued encouragement and advice. This is a great place for people who want honest information about one of the most effective ways out there to rid ourselves of tobacco use.
