Things you wish you had known when you started vaping.

[Nyte]

The title pretty much says it all... It could be about anything. PV Models, maintenance, trusted vendors...whatever.

What little things have you gleaned over your weeks, months or years of vaping that might have made it easier?

 

[mustang6611]

well its a hard question to really answer but trying to figure out what works best for you to get off analogs just keep trying new things flavor is probably the hardest to get right

 

[JohnnyR6356]

I wish I had known that I would quit tobacco immediately when I began vaping...of course this was strictly my own result (YMMV) but it might have made me switch a lot sooner!

J.R.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Hmmm...things I wish I'd known....

That Green Smokes were really just trash. The only good thing is that they led me here!
That the CE2's were going to suck so bad.
That juice can and will leak at inopportune times.
That I should've start with 24mg juice.

I'm sure I'll think of something else later.

 

[Phroge]

I wish I had known that all KR808s are not created equal. (D-1 vs. D-2). I have several batteries and cartos from each... but then again, I never touch them ever since I got my eGo-T.

 

[zoiDman]

To read more and use the Search Function of the ECF.
That a PAD smoker shouldn't get a PV that is the same size as an analog.
That it is more important to find Good Juice than it is to find Good Hardware.

 

[dormouse]

1. Almost always true - I should never have bought the smaller size batteries of slim ecigs. M40x - I bought M402 because the shop only had the M402 PCC. Bad idea. Ended up replacing with all M401 stuff (manuals of course) including a new PCC. And then ended up buying better ecigs 3 weeks later anyway. One was Vapor4Life KR808D-1 and dummy here bought the shorty manuals. Once I tried one standard manuals I decided the length was worth the extra charge time and bought more standards. 510 - started with standard short size (manuals) and then a mega xl (which I love) but in this case I stuck with the short ones only because of the PCC from NoSMokeVA. If there was a roomy PCC like that for the mega xl's I would be using mega xl manuals.

2. Not buy an ecig the same diameter as a cigarette. M40x got me off cigarettes bit the tiny recessed juice cup is a pain in the a. Sometimes I spent more time fighting with it than the amount of time I had left to vape.

3. I did not need more than one pack of carts for each ecig since I learned to make blue foam stuffing for them, and I was going to get tired of carts anyway.

4. When I lowered my nicotine I should have bought 0mg of the ones I already had and cut the higher nic juice down. If you are working on lowering your nic, 0nic nic is alway useful for cutting your old higher juices. And I should have started buying all 0nic sample sizes.

5. Cartos are not that hard to learn to fill. I was afraid of cartos, partly because I got some beta test CE2's for my first cartos and was totally daunted by them. Normal stuffing cartos with soft caps are not that hard.

 

[nocturn4l3030]

that i should of never messed with the "cigarette" looking PVs. i too was in the group of people that wanted that cigarette look...

i couldnt actually quit cigarettes till i moved on from that. nothing resembles an analog more than a 3.7v + lr 306 atomizer (im sure high voltage too, but havent been there yet)

for the new vapors:

1) two kinds of mods (to keep it simple anyway). 3.7volt or 5 volt battery size. 3.7 volt has small PV sizes out there..even as small as a "little sister" pv (search it). i highly reccomend a 3.7 device

2) you now need an atomizer which produces the vapor. i suggest low resistance atomizers as they produce warmer smokes and 306 model as they produce a draw just like an analog

good luck!

 

[unsure]

Save money and time by NOT getting every starter kit and upgrade I ever bought.

 

[robert shohet]

green nicotine is the biggest waste of money they are the ugly stepson of real ecigs that noone talks about and takes lotsa money to make work

 

[Animeguy]

I didn't need a whole DIY kit. All I need is empty bottles and 1 syringe.

 

[Walton]

I've been using my starter kit since last August. It immediately got me off the analogs, so I'm not complaining. Replacing, recharging batteries just got old.

However, I just received my new kit...a riva/echo kit. And for the past thirty minutes I've been feeling like I'm vaping for the first time. I'm in heaven right now. I sure do wish I would have known about this before now!....now back to vaping....

 

[ichrono21]

If I did some research first I wouldn't have bought a knock off e-cig from a mini mart of all places. The pre-filled cartos that came with it also made me feel nauseous. It was $60 I could've saved and bought some extra juice or batteries for my Bloog.

 

[Nyte]

All very good stuff, thank you! Especially on the topic of good ejuice > good hardware. I think I'm finally getting the hang of this! Hooray!

I have pretty much narrowed down what I'm going to purchase and from whom. Now on to the search for good juice!

(And thank you everyone for the advice. I was feeling wary about my first choice of PV's not looking at all like an analog...now I'm confident that I will adapt quite nicely.)

 

[MickeyRat]

When I started I really wish I'd known how much hitting on a dead battery every couple hours would frustrate me. I'm aware that there are some that must have those cigarette sized things but, I HATED them.

 

[NicLiq]

• That there is a learning curve and I would get much better at vaping.
• Not to buy so much juice at once, and experiment with different ratios of PG/VG.
• That I should have bought a few cartomizers with my first kit.
• That the side effects from quitting cigarettes are really weird.
• That I would be interested in bottom feeding juice box mods within a very short time.
• That I wouldn't like tobacco flavors after the first few days.
• That this forum is just as addicting as nicotine and was equally responsible for keeping me from smoking.

I got lucky and bought a Riva as my first real PV (tried a disposable first). I also bought from Liberty-Flights.com. Both were recommendations from this board and I feel like I saved myself and my husband two massive headaches from following that advice (not that other places aren't great too). I didn't follow the advice to order juice from somewhere other than Liberty-Flights, but thankfully I ordered from Vapor Bomb within a day or two of receiving my Riva.

 

[badkarmaiii]

To go with an eGo-T Type B. It's what I'm using now and is so much better than the 510...

 

[lildevil8200]

I just got a starter kit for the 510-T..I liked how it didn't look like a cigarette but the battery dying every five hours (or less depending on how often I puff) is kind of frustrating. However, I am getting into the hang of always having a charged battery ready to go. I think my next purchase (aside from juice) will be an extra battery just incase lol.

If I had known that when I placed my original order....I would have ordered it then. Otherwise I'm in heaven!

 

[Iffy]

-That vaping a PV is more like smoking a pipe with less of the 'ritual'.
-There is a PV learning curve that, when mastered, is truly an awesome experience.
-Double flavor does not necessarily mean 'double flavor'.
-In the beginning, only order sample 'packages'. In other words, don't buy 60 ml of someone's recommendation.
-When sampling flavors, if you find one that is unsavory, let it steep for at least two weeks. Retry, repeat. Ya might get a pleasant surprise.
-Don't be afraid to just add another flav on top of a recently tested one. Another possibility of pleasant surprises.
-If you're using a particular PV that has reduced or eliminated your tobacco habit and you're not quite satisfied, search the ECF for that PV's info/tips/tricks before 'moving up and away'.
-If you become an avid e-cig advocate (such as I am) and offer an enquirer a toke, make sure you ask their cig brand and consumption. (Just today I overloaded an acquaintance due to my assumption that he smoked daily as he does while imbibing in adult beverages; he won't be testing any more ecigs for a while... my major bad).
-The latest is not necessarily the greatest (I am somewhat skeptical of many 'cheer leader' posts).

In quitting my 45 year tobacco habit , I've learned that it takes patience and research to learn my eGo Mega idiosyncrasies. I now know when I need to top off (SECRET: one drop short of a 'slushie' ), clean my components, do a burn, etc).

Just like when I committed myself to my bride of 42 years, enduring the learning curve and working to make both of us comfortable can be a beautiful experience. Yeah, after two blissful weeks of matrimony and her 3 to 4 times a week spaghetti, I did have to let her know I dearly loved her and her 'ghetti, but I needed a BREAK!

I know I've missed some of my 'dos & don'ts', but just as in the case of my marriage, a mild reminder (don't NAG) just might shake some more hints from my two remaining synapses...

 

[BiffRocko]

That cigarette shaped PVs have terrible battery life
That I could have bought a box mod kit for the price of an eGo starter kit.
That carts don't wick fast enough and waste juice.
That cartos taste terrible to me.
That 306 atomizers fit 510 connectors.