What I have learned so far...

[Kamoch]

Good afternoon ECF!
My name is Ramon and thanks to E cigs I am now a former 30 year smoker. About a month ago i saw a coworker vaping & he was kind enough to point me to this forum. So after reading as much info as i could on various devices, mods, techniques, etc. I have several good setups and am getting the most out of my vaping experience. This would not have been possible without this forum and for that I say thank you to this vaping community. With that being said I would like to share what I have learned these past few months about my vaping experience.

1. Vaping is pricey at first, but is more affordable than analogs. Once I had all the basic gear (mods, batts, attys, mesh & wire) maintenance is super cheap & rebuilding is nice way to pass the time.

2. Most people I speak to don't quite get it. I had another coworker tell me that vaping is worse than analogs because of the carbon monoxide production! LOL, I still shake my head at that one. If people truly want to know about vaping I take the time to explain, to the others, I just tell them it is much safer than the lung scuds I used to smoke.

3. I don't care for tobacco flavored e-juice and that is ok. I read a thread here where the poster stated you will never get the same flavor of analog tobacco from e-juice. I did't belive at first but I believe it now. That being said, theee are plenty of wonderful flavors out there just waiting to be discovered!

4. There is mo reason to go back to analogs. This is the most important thing I have learned. I started with 24 nic and have weaned myself down to 12 nic. TH not so important to me than flavor(maybe because my taste buds are working again who knows?).

I'm starting to ramble so i'll stop for now. I would love to hear from others, noobs like me & veterans about what you all have learned so please feel free to post.

-Cheers!

 

[Baditude]

I agree with many of the points that you made. A fellow co-worker who saw my APV questioned me about it, and then proceeded to tell me, "you know that juice has the same chemical in it that radiator fluid has." I didn't know the exact chemical name that either the radiator fluid uses or what is in nic-liquid, but I said the names do look similar, but they are in fact very different chemically and nowhere the same. In fact, the one used in the nic-liquid is the same used in food products and in medical inhalers.

I smoked menthol analogs, and my first successful juice was Ice Menthol. I credit it to helping me get off of the analogs. I've only tried a couple of tobacco flavors, and they aren't my thing. I did drink coffee, but not a lot. But I have found that coffee flavors are my personal niche, and make up 75% of my flavor collection.

Since a few weeks into vaping I have had absolutely no desire to try another analog. The last one that I tried (during a nicotine fit after I realized all four of my cigalike batteries were drained: no batteries = no vaping) made me nauseous and I put it out after only a few drags. And, oh, it tasted absolutely terrible.

When I first started vaping, I vaped as frequently as I desired, and allowed myself 3-4 analogs during the first week. As the week progressed, I noticed that I was progressively becoming less satisfied with the analogs. When the last pack of analogs was finished, so was I.

 

[vapdivrr]

its funny that when i first started vaping about 6 months ago i was on a quest to find the closest juice in taste to analoges. i did find some that were close but not really. i then found a 555 juice from avid vapors that i really liked. so i then was on a quest to find another 555 that was better, i never did. i then tried a strawberry juice and then liked that better than the 555. so then was on a quest to find the best strawberry juice. then i tried a stawberry menthol and found that to be my favorite. i then proceeded to find the best strawberry menthol and found one from mister e- liquid. but now i am starting not to like it as much as i did before. now i just dont know! i still havent found that perfect juice. but using genesis rebuildables keeps me interested. its kind of like a hobby for me. will never go back to analoges.

 

[Thrasher]

"lung scuds" I think i just found my new term for cigs, like it!!.....
keep up the journey, its a big world for vapors now and getting better in terms of gear, I too smoked for 30+ years and cant believe how much better I feel (not to mention how much better I smell), so glad this came along and like you glad i found this place, it has taught me so much and made life so much more enjoyable again.

 

[heater]

I thought i would find a cigaret liquid. That only lasted about 2 tries and i gave that up and have pretty much concentrated on the coffee flavors also.
I have a dark roast turkish coffee that i put a few drops of kona velvet milkshake in that is my go to for now..
Green apple goes well with my wheat beer which is a bonus.

 

[Renolizzie]

I certainly agree with many of your points. I actually love tobacco flavors even if they don't really taste exactly like tobacco to me. I have had a pretty big outlay in costs. I'm going to say about $500 at this point since I bought numerous batteries, cart loads of CE3's, cartos and clearos, a PCC, a carrying case and a bunch of sample sized juices. I seem to be a really heavy vaper. I thought I would have plenty of juice to last me into November but I ended up buying 3 more 30ml bottles [they are coming in the mail soon!!!]. I decided at the rate I'm vaping I should try DIY so I spent another $50 on that so my total is now approaching $500 but....I have gotten down to a couple of cigs a day, I feel fantastic, I am pretty close to just giving up on smoking altogether and really think that giving up cigs won't be an issue. I think I just won't buy anymore when these are gone.

Savings, well, I was spending $160 to $200 a month on cigs. I'm coming up on 3 months. Zero spent on cigs in October. Savings at least $400. I probably will spend another $50 on DIY in November since I am now seeing all kinds of flavors I should have bought Iand I might need a few more supplies for the DIY. I'll have to see how it goes. I am definitely set to save lots of money at this point even if I spend quite a bit on new doo dads and juices and DIY.

I really didn't have to spend as much as I did but I sure had fun and it is wonderful to basically be a non-smoker.

 

[igobymatthew]

Propelyne Glycol is actually in antifreeze. The non-toxic kind. Its used for de-icing as well. As well as in foods and bath and body products. It's basically in everything. It's harmless. Atleast you know your eliquid wont freeze!

I agree with many of the points that you made. A fellow co-worker who saw my APV questioned me about it, and then proceeded to tell me, "you know that juice has the same chemical in it that radiator fluid has." I didn't know the exact chemical name that either the radiator fluid uses or what is in nic-liquid, but I said the names do look similar, but they are in fact very different chemically and nowhere the same. In fact, the one used in the nic-liquid is the same used in food products and in medical inhalers.

I smoked menthol analogs, and my first successful juice was Ice Menthol. I credit it to helping me get off of the analogs. I've only tried a couple of tobacco flavors, and they aren't my thing. I did drink coffee, but not a lot. But I have found that coffee flavors are my personal niche, and make up 75% of my flavor collection.

Since a few weeks into vaping I have had absolutely no desire to try another analog. The last one that I tried (during a nicotine fit after I realized all four of my cigalike batteries were drained: no batteries = no vaping) made me nauseous and I put it out after only a few drags. And, oh, it tasted absolutely terrible.

When I first started vaping, I vaped as frequently as I desired, and allowed myself 3-4 analogs during the first week. As the week progressed, I noticed that I was progressively becoming less satisfied with the analogs. When the last pack of analogs was finished, so was I.

 

[RPadTV]

Good afternoon ECF!

3. I don't care for tobacco flavored e-juice and that is ok. I read a thread here where the poster stated you will never get the same flavor of analog tobacco from e-juice. I did't belive at first but I believe it now. That being said, theee are plenty of wonderful flavors out there just waiting to be discovered!

Welcome Ramon! For the longest time, I couldn't find a tobacco-like flavor that I liked and went onto enjoy fruit/drink e-juices. Recently, I tried Ahlusion's Blue Grass Burley and was really impressed. It reminded me of complex Nat Sherman tobaccos I used to enjoy. While I would say that more juices that try to mimic popular cigarettes are varying degrees of "off the mark," there are a few that stand out. It really depends on what kind of cigarettes you used to enjoy.

 

[Kamoch]

Baditude, I has a similar situation at work when I dropped my mod & my carto shorted out or something. I went into panic mode since i still had a couple of hours to go. I left work and was about to stop & grab a pack of smoke for the ride home but instead gave myself a mental slap in the face with a "don't do it" for extra measure. Got home, switched cartos, and I was happy. On thing i didn't mention in my first post was vaping in public, even though it is water vapor I still go outside & hang with the smokers. It is a great way to introduce vaping and hope to get some to convert.

 

[AttyPops]

Welcome to the unappreciated former smoker group.
Welcome to the guinea pig group.
Welcome to a new "hobby".
Welcome to the "nobody understands it" group.
Welcome to trial and error.
Welcome to perseverance.
Welcome to not stinking.
Welcome to ECF!

 

[Baditude]

I really didn't have to spend as much as I did but I sure had fun and it is wonderful to basically be a non-smoker.

Because I found this place I was able to learn alot before I bought my starters kit. Despite what the experienced vapors said, I believed my first vaping gear needed to be analog sized. No regrets, they got me off of the cigarettes. But I had only been vaping for 3-4 weeks, and totally off cigarettes for 2-3, when I realized I wanted long battery time and larger juice capacity devices. I got my first mods in my second month of vaping.

I believe I made wise decisions in the quality and value of the devices that I bought. Absolutely no regrets. But along the way, this has turned into a sort of hobby as well. Although that has probably kept me from realizing any cost savings, it has probably also contributed to me staying off of the cigarettes.

For a peak at my new hobby, click on the link in my signature below.

 

[Big Mac]

Howdy folks,

Seems a lot of different folks went along the same path.

I learned, cig flavored juice is not my thing, surprisingly, right now, fruit flavors are.

I didn't know if I was ever gonna be able to quit smoking, got my gear on sept 18 th and haven't picked up a cig since then.

After getting a whiff of my neighbor after he finished a cig and came by the house, I was never fooling my wife with the "no, I haven't had but 1 cig and that was this morning" ploy. I feel like a real ... with that one.

This is a hobby as well as a way of life.

Big Mac

 

[Kamoch]

After getting a whiff of my neighbor after he finished a cig and came by the house, I was never fooling my wife with the "no, I haven't had but 1 cig and that was this morning" ploy.

LOL! I hear you brother! I got the "your not fooling anyone" speech many times while trying to quit analogs.

 

[Kamoch]

Love the pics of your setup Baditude, is that a Phiniac frog tank? I also started with a little 510 e-cig & quickly realized it was not going to cut it for me. I went to cartos & now have a decent Genesis style atty I also have a Vivi Nova V3 tank coming soon. You know, analogs were never as fun as this hobby is!

 

[Rickajho]

Back at ya Kamoch! From another ex 30 year smoker - congrats!

Yes, you have learned a lot. lol It still amazes me that despite all the "non necessaries" I have purchased in vaping land, I'm still way ahead of the game compared to what I used to spend on smoking. I think if I stopped right now, and didn't buy another 'anything' I could get through at least until... April 2013 at this point. (But The Vapor Room is having a one day Haloween sale and... oh crap... lol)

Doesn't it feel good to finally see, after 30 years and all those other quitting attempts, it's finally over?

 

[striderbeta]

I'm right there with pretty much everyone else in this thread. About 2-3 weeks in to vaping now and damn glad I found something that finally keeps me off the deathsticks! Started off with the Mistic cigalikes we sell at my Walmart and grew tired of them in barely a week. Followed the advice on these forums and picked up an ego twist tank kit and found I'm enjoying it more than I EVER enjoyed smoking analogs! Still working on finding my niche for flavors though. So far tried Blue Ice, Coffee Espresso, and Vanilla Cocoa Mint (yuck!) all from myvaporstore.com. Just made my first order from Highbrow and am eagerly waiting for those to come in. Here's to actually being able to taste my food again!!!

 

[Baditude]

Love the pics of your setup Baditude, is that a Phiniac frog tank?

Good guess, but wrong. It's a pyrex tank that High Desert Vapes sells that I had customized with my choice of colors.

The yellow-orange tank with the green eliquid in it is a Phiniac pyrex tube color-sandblasted with one of their designs, fitted with a Bella Elegance tank from Hoosier Vapes.

 

[elmattias]

ok guys we really need to get this info spread around more:

http://clearstream.flavourart.it/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CSA_Poster.pdf

http://clearstream.flavourart.it/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CSA_ItaEng.pdf

please bookmark those and email them to anyone that says vaping is more dangerous than smoking, they tend to stop spewing nonsense.

 

[Kamoch]

Great info Elmattias, nice to have the facts on hand for all the doubters.

 

[Kamoch]

Thanks to all for the replies. From this thread alone I now have some ideas on tobacco & fruit flavored juices I would like to try. (Asian pesr anyone?) Good night ECF!