Vaping on a Budget.....

[Tracie L Tackett-Penrod]

fyi..... I kept it out of my nose this time when filling the carto, but despite my efforts, I managed to get it in my mouth. I even wiped it off and put a piece of toilet paper over it before blowing out the air hole. How do I keep f'ing this up? By the end of it all, he'll stop smoking and I'll become the addict.

 

[cherrycakes]

I kept getting juice in my eye. I get it on my hands and then rub my eye >.>

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

fyi..... I kept it out of my nose this time when filling the carto, but despite my efforts, I managed to get it in my mouth. I even wiped it off and put a piece of toilet paper over it before blowing out the air hole. How do I keep f'ing this up? By the end of it all, he'll stop smoking and I'll become the addict.

LOLLLL that's the reason many of us switched to tanks- much less hassle. I found doing it very slowly helped. Also when I was using cartos I'd fill 3-5 of them and put the rubber caps back on to keep them fresh. Methinks Craig owes you a Dinner out

 

[cherrycakes]

yea I hate cartos so much

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

LOLLL actually someone asked about cartos a week ago and I couldn't hold back- vaping carto+ tank and the hit is nicer...have you received your Vamo yet?

 

[cherrycakes]

yea I have the vamo, waiting on the batteries and charger
I got a BIG vivi nova, lol
been using the minis on my egos
I have been looking at the kanger protank
and iclear 30 though, but I think I have to sell my soul or firstborn child to get one atm

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

yea I have the vamo, waiting on the batteries and charger
I got a BIG vivi nova, lol
been using the minis on my egos
I have been looking at the kanger protank
and iclear 30 though, but I think I have to sell my soul or firstborn child to get one atm

LOLLLLLL could be worse. Mines on a VERY slow boat from China

 

[DJ RyckRak]

I kept getting juice in my eye. I get it on my hands and then rub my eye >.>

Stop doing that !

 

[Tracie L Tackett-Penrod]

LOLLLL that's the reason many of us switched to tanks- much less hassle. I found doing it very slowly helped. Also when I was using cartos I'd fill 3-5 of them and put the rubber caps back on to keep them fresh. Methinks Craig owes you a Dinner out

I think after we go through this box we'll get a mini vivi nova (or 2) like Bad suggested. Hopefully by the time we make it to carto #2 I'll be a little less stupid.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

I think after we go through this box we'll get a mini vivi nova (or 2) like Bad suggested. Hopefully by the time we make it to carto #2 I'll be a little less stupid.

Actually Bad doesn't use them as he prefers cartos+ tank. A very small number have reported a "plastic taste" with the Vivis- just so you know. During the last Chinese New Year they were the first item to be sold out= popularity.
Edit: I'm the first to admit the carto does give a better vape IMHO.
I've been using them for 6+ months and no issues. Just be absolutely sure you buy the genuine Vision (brand) Mini Vivi Nova. The knockoffs are horrible- dry hits, leaks, etc. You'll really like them- no fuss, no muss and very economical. I believe the Vivi is the greatest vaping innovation in the last year. Of course they have to be maintained- my heads last 10 weeks and the only reason I change them is because the wick begin to disintegrate.
This vid is rather long but gives all the right information about maintenance of the Vivi. Realize he's using the larger 3.5 ml Vivi:

 

[patkin]

To each their own: I love cartos (no tank) and can't imagine fiddling with a tank or clearo. I think, when I was a noob, had I started with tanks/clearos I would have given up on vaping. Among other things about cartos, I love the freedom of not having to worry about what juice I want to try/use either solvent like flavorings or viscosity. But one huge, huge, factor for me was experiencing congestion and mucus reminiscent of my smoking days when I took some 100% VG advice. That let me know that what's in the vapor can affect me and I won't even microwave in plastic let alone heat it up with an atty going right into my lungs. But that's just me... like I said, to each their own.

Edit: the Billet Box may change my mind... I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[hausmouse]

I don't think the billet box is budget friendly lol but being that he's a maintenance man there's no doubt that if you showed it to him he'd own it if it was in the budget and available. It's quite the piece. Vivi's are definitely a nice way to go for simplicity. I think that could be a good option.

 

[Tracie L Tackett-Penrod]

Great info Vapoor... thank you so much! On a side note, vapor is coming out of the bottom of the carto now... did I maybe overfill it and it will calm down on its own or do I need to pitch it and use another carto?

*I blew out the carto (again) and a little more liquid came out. I also took a q-tip and ran it around the battery threads (some black crap came off on the q-tip). I replaced the carto, its still smoking out the bottom, but not as bad (doesn't seem to be affecting the hit). I guess we'll just roll with it for now, unless you think it could damage the battery.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Great info Vapoor... thank you so much! On a side note, vapor is coming out of the bottom of the carto now... did I maybe overfill it and it will calm down on its own or do I need to pitch it and use another carto?

You're always very welcome Tracie. It sounds like the airway may be plugged/ blocked with juice or gunk.

*I blew out the carto (again) and a little more liquid came out. I also took a q-tip and ran it around the battery threads (some black crap came off on the q-tip). I replaced the carto, its still smoking out the bottom, but not as bad (doesn't seem to be affecting the hit). I guess we'll just roll with it for now, unless you think it could damage the battery.

Yes part of the maintenance is to clean the threads once in a while- also the charger threads- Juice condensation happens.
Fortunately with manual push button batteries the batts are sealed and are "less" apt to be damaged. I've found eventually the cartomizer coil gets covered in juice gunk and causes poor heating of the coil and sometimes blocks the air way. I've found when the carto end is near it begins to get a tight draw with the "innards" swelling from the constant saturation and heat. Even if going thru 2 cartos per week still much cheaper than analogs. That's the benefit of the Vivi when it gets gunked up it can be disassembled and washed. The gunk on the coil can also be dry burned. When the head finally bites the dust you just screw another $2.00 head on it.
Hope this helps.

 

[PeteC2]

I hope he does get to that point. I'd love for him to get into it and start shopping for juice and accessories for himself.

Something that I have learned over the past several years is that black culture is very, very, *very* different from mine! lol Craig hangs out with mostly "old heads" as he calls them, 45-55 yr olds mostly. Most of the men are 6'6" 350+ HUGE and just loooooooove to look for a reason to raz others. I'm pretty sure he will remain a social smoker in that scene. I'm ok with that. I do see him starting to vape at work before too long, different crowd, so I would be very happy with him just going through a pack of cigs a week rather than in a day. And like everyone said, who knows, he may come to not like the taste anymore and stop completely and just not smoke period when out with the boys. Either way, I will be happy as long as he keeps up with vaping at home.

I am late to this thread...and I hope I don't rub folks wrong here, but I think my perspective on this still has some validity.

I am a 59 year old, U.S. Army retired guy. Smoked on and off...mostly on, all my adult life. I do get the "vaping as a hobby/activity" versus "vaping as in terms of just smoking". When younger, I was into pipe smoking...very "involved". I knew the makes and types, even mixed some of my own tobacco blends...I didn't just smoke 'em, I was into pipe smoking as a lot of folks here are into vaping...and not at all saying that this is a bad thing. Once I started smoking cigs, it was no-brainer-no process involvement thing. I grab a cigarette, and smoke it.

Now I am just an ex-smoker, who vapes. In other words, I vape as I smoked. No drip-trays, bottles of e-juice, voltage-adjustable egos, mods, etc., I just want to grab a "cig" and smoke...er, vape! I like an e-cig that pretty much feels like a cigarette, I prefer a cartomizer that fits my lips like a regular cigarette, and I like being able to vape in public without being overly conspicuos...although I do like a colored led to ally the non-smokers who may be nearby.

There are decent "cig-a-likes" out there that give decent battery life, and cartomizers that last a good amount of time. I use Green Smoke, and am not hyping for them...I get no money/goodies for writing this...but I find it to be easy to use, satisfies my nicotine urges, and gives me a very-close to cigarette experience. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely understand that there are superior vaping experiences out there, but they do no good if the user is not looking to make vaping an "activity". Based on your posts, your guy does not sound like someone who is likely to get enthralled by the "process"...that sounds more like you, and I mean nothing bad by that!

I would have recommended a fairly pared-down starter kit with a quality cig-a-like battery and good menthol cartomizers. Yes, he may well evolve into a person who is more "invested" in vaping, but at least for now, I think that a vaping experience that more mimics regular smoking would be far more likely to be something that he would use...and be far more likely to use in public and around his friends. If I only felt comfortable vaping at home, and not out and about, it probably would have slowed down, or even stopped me from quitting cigarettes.

I guess what I am suggesting is almost heresey around here (I hope not though!), but I think at least for many folks who are initially at least, just looking to replace their smokes, this can be the path of least resistance and greatest likelyhood of acceptance and success.

I can't speak for others, we are all different critters after all, but if I had to get all involved in PG/VG mixtures, filling tanks, cleaning atomizers, worrying about voltages and all that, I would probably have a brief infatuation and fling with it all...and then one day while running down to the casino with my buddy, I'd just say the heck with it, and grab a pack of Marlboros and fire 'em up. Aside of plugging in my batteries, I grab my e-cigs just like a pack of smokes, I'm out the door, and the "process" is no more complicated than when I was a smoker.

Sorry that this was so long, and I hope that no one takes this the wrong way, but to tell the truth I was a bit surprised that no one else mentioned a cig-a-like as possibly a path of lesser resistance.

Edit: PS - Who knows? I may one day want to explore vaping further, but I do know that I would never have gotten to this point if I started right off with a less-cigarette type experience and process.

 

[Tracie L Tackett-Penrod]

Now I am just an ex-smoker, who vapes. In other words, I vape as I smoked. No drip-trays, bottles of e-juice, voltage-adjustable egos, mods, etc., I just want to grab a "cig" and smoke...er, vape! I like an e-cig that pretty much feels like a cigarette, I prefer a cartomizer that fits my lips like a regular cigarette, and I like being able to vape in public without being overly conspicuos...although I do like a colored led to ally the non-smokers who may be nearby.

That might be a viable option for when he's at work or out with his buddies. I may have to look into that as an option for his away from home vaping. I just didn't want to start with a cig-alike because my son had tried one and didn't like it and my mother has been using one for over a year now and is still smoking analogs (even though *she* thinks she's sneaky enough that no one knows). I didn't want to set him up to fail from the start... I wanted him to get a good hit and sensation that curbed his cravings. I basically had one shot with him, he's a stubborn old fart, and I didn't want to blow it from the gate.

Thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely tell him about it and look into that.

 

[Tracie L Tackett-Penrod]

OH and Craig was off yesterday and I only saw him go outside to smoke an analog maybe 3 or 4 times all day and into the night!! WOW!

 

[eHuman]

Then it has already been a success! We all hope for the best, but don't let anyone discount the success. Every analog avoided is a success story, even if he never fully quits. It's hard (the exception) not to eventually quit though. Drop subtle complements. "Wow, since cutting back you smell better, you are breathing better, I am so proud of you..." etc.

A little atta-boy will go a long way to make him feel even better about himself for vaping over smoking. Nothing helps a man's resolve more than his woman standing by his side.

It's not manipulation if you really mean it

 

[PeteC2]

That might be a viable option for when he's at work or out with his buddies. I may have to look into that as an option for his away from home vaping. I just didn't want to start with a cig-alike because my son had tried one and didn't like it and my mother has been using one for over a year now and is still smoking analogs (even though *she* thinks she's sneaky enough that no one knows). I didn't want to set him up to fail from the start... I wanted him to get a good hit and sensation that curbed his cravings. I basically had one shot with him, he's a stubborn old fart, and I didn't want to blow it from the gate.

Thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely tell him about it and look into that.

You're welcome! Maybe if the money isn't a deal breaker both might be a solution. I agree with your concerns. There sadly are a lot of inadequate cig-a-like brands out there. My first attempt, as for many, was blu...and although it wasn't terrible, the inadequate battery strength and short-lived cartomizers fell short. Good flavor, but just not a strong enough hit and I was killing the tiny batteries (I swear I could hear 'em crying in pain from the effort). I also tried a couple other brands that were way worse, in fact, downright horrible! I was not a light smoker, 2 packs a day. The ecig that I am using now has cartomizers that actually last as they are rated, and I can take a freshly charged battery and carto with me the morning, and I'm good to go until at least late afternoon/early evening. I am talking about plenty of vapor, and a solid "hit" that satisfies.

In fact Tracie, I do not rule out that I may move on to a more powerful/flexible vaping experience...I can see the advantages, however, even if/when I do, I will still depend on my Green Smokes for taking to work and "out and about" with friends, as I am completely "smoke-free" and plan to stay that way.

Glad to hear it is going well so far, and hope your guy appreciates you looking out for him!

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

I have many converts/ friends that are doing just fine with the smaller cig sized PVs while I know others that have a need for a larger more powerful PV. I'm a tinkerer by nature so part of the allure of vaping is the challenge to always "build a better mousetrap". Also because I run a non profit vape prog I'm obligated to seek out new items that are more cost efficient. As for vaping being a hobby- nope for me it's strictly a smoking cessation program...if others wish to view vaping as a hobby that's okay too.
Bottom line as long as people are successfully staying off analogs that's great news and success.
As far as a cig sized PV best out there right now is the Volt. Gets rave reviews and is very reasonably priced.