vaping on the cheap
- Thread starter Tiffany Smeggin Peak
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Below is my take on how to vape frugally:
1. Skip Egos/Kgo/Spinner ("disposable" ecigs) and get a APV/mechanical mod + ViviNova
http://www.smokerevolt.com/TheBolt-GunMetal - $20
AND/OR
New product for 2013 lavatube electronic cigarete Provari VV Mod Vamo body only - Zainy - Electronic Cigarettes - $29
Vivi Nova Tank Clearomizer V3 (Exchangeable Long Wick) - $8.50 (clearo for convenience on the go)
AND/OR
Phonenix Rebuildable Atomizer (bully atomzier) - VaporBreak - $6.50 (atty for flavor)
**additional $20 for kanthal+wick material for rebuild**
IMR 18650, LiMn 2000mAh Battery, Flat Top - 2*$6
BR-103W Multi-Volt Charger -$5
2. Participate or host a Co-op; a Zmax v2 clone only costs ~$45-50 shipped to your door when purchasing in bulk
3. DIY your eliquid; ~$80 for start-up cost (PG/VG/nic/flavoring/supplies) + additional ~$50 in developing and fine tuning your eliquid recipes
4. If it's within your budget, get the Provari...sometimes being frugal means shelling out more $$$ upfront knowing you'll enjoy the savings down the road (better build quality, warranty, CS, etc.).
Just my
1. Skip Egos/Kgo/Spinner ("disposable" ecigs) and get a APV/mechanical mod + ViviNova
http://www.smokerevolt.com/TheBolt-GunMetal - $20
AND/OR
New product for 2013 lavatube electronic cigarete Provari VV Mod Vamo body only - Zainy - Electronic Cigarettes - $29
Vivi Nova Tank Clearomizer V3 (Exchangeable Long Wick) - $8.50 (clearo for convenience on the go)
AND/OR
Phonenix Rebuildable Atomizer (bully atomzier) - VaporBreak - $6.50 (atty for flavor)
**additional $20 for kanthal+wick material for rebuild**
IMR 18650, LiMn 2000mAh Battery, Flat Top - 2*$6
BR-103W Multi-Volt Charger -$5
2. Participate or host a Co-op; a Zmax v2 clone only costs ~$45-50 shipped to your door when purchasing in bulk
3. DIY your eliquid; ~$80 for start-up cost (PG/VG/nic/flavoring/supplies) + additional ~$50 in developing and fine tuning your eliquid recipes
4. If it's within your budget, get the Provari...sometimes being frugal means shelling out more $$$ upfront knowing you'll enjoy the savings down the road (better build quality, warranty, CS, etc.).
Just my
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LOL, the number is based on my spreadsheet:
Ebay Kanthal A1 wire $11.75 (200') - purchased back in Sep. before the venders raised their prices due to increased demand
Ebay Braided Square Cotton wick $4.69 - hated it due to having to unbraid to avoid flooding/dry hit
CVS Cotton ball $3.41
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Thanks for this, I've been looking for a company that ships quick ("normal" shipping time for me is 2 weeks!) I'm looking at their site right now, and they've got a pretty decent selection. Good stuff.
cedric, so you did get 200'...too funny!
framed, I had one order with them that I got in at 2:25PM and it shipped at 3:28PM the same day! Now that's fast!
framed, I had one order with them that I got in at 2:25PM and it shipped at 3:28PM the same day! Now that's fast!
I still buy pre-made fluids, but...
I started to buy unflavored fluid in small-bulk - 120ml of 36mg unflavored PG, which I then mix with VG at a ratio of 50/50 (end result: 18mg 50/50). I do this so I can dilute the flavored fluids a bit - more to save money, but I've also found that they usually taste just as good. Bonus: "flavor burn-out" and atty-clogging takes longer.
Even factoring in shipping costs, this yields 240ml of unflavored 18mg 50/50 for a little less than 7 cents per ml. I'm sure I could save more by buying in larger quantities, but I don't need so much fluid sitting around... turning dark...
I take this and mix it with the flavored fluids - usually around 30-50% flavored fluid, but sometimes only needing about 10-20% if they're really strong flavored.
I started to buy unflavored fluid in small-bulk - 120ml of 36mg unflavored PG, which I then mix with VG at a ratio of 50/50 (end result: 18mg 50/50). I do this so I can dilute the flavored fluids a bit - more to save money, but I've also found that they usually taste just as good. Bonus: "flavor burn-out" and atty-clogging takes longer.
Even factoring in shipping costs, this yields 240ml of unflavored 18mg 50/50 for a little less than 7 cents per ml. I'm sure I could save more by buying in larger quantities, but I don't need so much fluid sitting around... turning dark...
I take this and mix it with the flavored fluids - usually around 30-50% flavored fluid, but sometimes only needing about 10-20% if they're really strong flavored.
I've definitely got NO problems with vaping on the cheap... as I'm all about vaping on the cheap
However, I've found something that tastes just as good as dripping on a 510 atty.... however, you don't have to carry a bottle of juice around with you all day & 'literally' have to go to all that HASSLE of dripping on a 510 atty. I mean, how practical is it to have to do that every few minutes all day, every day, everywhere you go?
I'll give you the same recommendation I give everybody, because this is what worked for me...I'm a former 510 system user. (Well, I'm a former every vaping system available user....
My vaping tastes have evolved radically over the past few years but I've found the "GO-GO" Starter Kit a good bet for the following reasons;
IF you're SICK of messin' with inconsistent Atomizers and all the of tasteless 510 & eGo vapors, then this system WILL please you.
* Cost - $59.95 for complete two eCig starter kit with (five) pre-filled Cartos or (three) pre-filled Go-Tanks: GO-GO KIT
* Batteries last up to two days between charges (depending upon how heavily you vape)
* Go-Carts - (Go-Carts hold 3ml of Nic Juice & Go-Tanks can hold up to 2 ml. (I vape all day on 2-3 ml) - The Carts are really no muss, no fuss but once you've acclimated to vaping you should really switch to the Go-Tanks (GO GO PREMIUM TANKS) as the vapor, flavor and throat hit are unparalleled. I really do insist that in time you do this
Be sure to order the PRE-FILLED Go-Carts when you re-order. (Five pre-filled Cartos will come with your Kit but you'll need to specify the flavor and strength. I recommend 24 mg nic strength so you resist the urge to go back to analogs. I also recommend the flavor "EASY-BORO-USA Mix" as I personally believe this tastes most like regular Tobacco. I loved Menthol when I was smoker... hate it with vaping, so this natural Tobbacco flavor would most likely suit you. You can obtain that here: EASY LIQUID 10ML BOTTLES 24MG
Wishing you the best of Luck.... hope you find your Vaping Nirvana as I did
"If it ain't a Go-go, it's a no-go"
Smoking crow has a sale on dekang.not gonna be able to click on this without entering the "."
www smokincrow com/Chinese_E_Liquid_p/dk htm
+1 Rebuildables and DIY
It gets so dirt cheap it's ridiculous. I have gotten my juice cost down to 3.5 cents to 4.6 cents a ml, consistently vaping some of the best juice I've ever had. Even at the high end, 4.6 cents at 5 mls a day it's 23 cents a day or 7 bucks a month.
100 feet of Kanthal off ebay for I about 12 bucks, about 3 cents a coil. 500 SS mesh 3 wicks costing about 10 bucks, 3.33 a wick. A wick every 2 months and recoiling once a month, costly about 1.70 a month.
Juice and Atty monthly cost: $8.70
Device cost varies a lot, so it's a little hard to figure. Eventually I will end up with a mechanical mod, maybe Smoktech's telescope? 45 bucks and 3 AW IMR 18650 at 12 bucks a piece (I'm guesstimating high). Maybe 90 bucks with shipping?
Device monthly cost: $7.50
Analogs where I'm at being about 7 bucks a pack, or 212.92 a month.
$16.20 a month on vaping? Yeah, that'll do.
It gets so dirt cheap it's ridiculous. I have gotten my juice cost down to 3.5 cents to 4.6 cents a ml, consistently vaping some of the best juice I've ever had. Even at the high end, 4.6 cents at 5 mls a day it's 23 cents a day or 7 bucks a month.
100 feet of Kanthal off ebay for I about 12 bucks, about 3 cents a coil. 500 SS mesh 3 wicks costing about 10 bucks, 3.33 a wick. A wick every 2 months and recoiling once a month, costly about 1.70 a month.
Juice and Atty monthly cost: $8.70
Device cost varies a lot, so it's a little hard to figure. Eventually I will end up with a mechanical mod, maybe Smoktech's telescope? 45 bucks and 3 AW IMR 18650 at 12 bucks a piece (I'm guesstimating high). Maybe 90 bucks with shipping?
Device monthly cost: $7.50
Analogs where I'm at being about 7 bucks a pack, or 212.92 a month.
$16.20 a month on vaping? Yeah, that'll do.
Good choices, your setup would also work for me. Just 1 suggestion to your setup, along with your attys, add 1 cartomizer, just in case if an atty pops, while your out & about. Your right about dripping, it is the BEST way to manage & save juice. When it come to juice, this is were I save the most $ at, I make my own (DIY) ... check out the diy forum, it may just work for you.
I used a gas station 510-like for a month (may this year) before I got an ego 650 usb passthrough ($20) and smoktech dual coil cartos ($2 each). That single battery has done me just fine since then, I vape a lot but a lot of it's in the car or at my desk where I can be plugged in.
Month after getting the ego I started diy'ing 10 cent/ml juice and a month after that I switched to vision clearomizers (not a savings thing but taste better than cartos IMO)
edit: when I got the ego my wife got one too (with a smoktech DCT) and we were buying juice at the store 10ml @ $7, 3 bottles a week between us=$21 a week before we started DIY.
Month after getting the ego I started diy'ing 10 cent/ml juice and a month after that I switched to vision clearomizers (not a savings thing but taste better than cartos IMO)
edit: when I got the ego my wife got one too (with a smoktech DCT) and we were buying juice at the store 10ml @ $7, 3 bottles a week between us=$21 a week before we started DIY.
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A suggestion for the more fumble fingered - clearos with replaceable heads.
I use stardusts and vivi novas. Each head costs $2-3 and lasts me at least 2 months.
I use stardusts and vivi novas. Each head costs $2-3 and lasts me at least 2 months.
I get mine from Valley Vapor.
They have 60 flavors in the 10ml size bottles ($4.75) right now.
And they have 15 flavors in the 30ml size bottles ($10.75) right now.
And they don't try to screw you over on postage, which is why I really like them.
I don't do DIY but I'm big on waiting on sales. Subscribe to the Deals and Steals thread here on ECF and bookmark vaporjoes.com as well. Also check out classifieds and swap threads here on ECF - great way to get great deals or just swap stuff you don't like for the cost of shipping only. Also sign up for your fav site's newsletters. Become verified so you can trade and sell stuff in classifieds. Also enter lots and lots of contests for freebies.
Juice is so subjective, and important that the best advice I can think of is that juice selection is the absolute last place you want to scrimp.
I have a $2.20 PV that works great, and $1.45 cartos that work well, but the juice that I use in that little bugger costs $8.00 for 10ml.
Understandably that's an exterme example, and by no means the only thing I vape, but it makes the point.
Things have changed a bunch in the year & a half that I've been vaping, and I can only imagine what the 2008-9 folks think about the changes they've seen. There is now litterly a shoe for every foot out there, and all a guy has to do is find the one that fits them. I just dislike seeing folks paying big bucks for starter kits that are to limiting.
Here is one of many examples of a kit that offers so much more for less than what we paid just a year ago for some of the starter kits.
ElectronicStix.Com : Rider Robust
I have a $2.20 PV that works great, and $1.45 cartos that work well, but the juice that I use in that little bugger costs $8.00 for 10ml.
Understandably that's an exterme example, and by no means the only thing I vape, but it makes the point.
Things have changed a bunch in the year & a half that I've been vaping, and I can only imagine what the 2008-9 folks think about the changes they've seen. There is now litterly a shoe for every foot out there, and all a guy has to do is find the one that fits them. I just dislike seeing folks paying big bucks for starter kits that are to limiting.
Here is one of many examples of a kit that offers so much more for less than what we paid just a year ago for some of the starter kits.
ElectronicStix.Com : Rider Robust
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