With e-cigs, the less you spend, the better it gets?? Odd but often true!

Status
Not open for further replies.

HighlanderNorth

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 18, 2012
289
105
Mid Atlantic USA
*The point of this thread is NOT to disrespect disposable e-cigs or starter kits, as most of us start with them, its just to point out that with e-cigs, you can often get a better experience while spending less money once you become experienced with vaping.

With most things in life, the old adage "you get what you pay for" rings true most of the time. That may also hold true in some cases in the e-cig world, but if you make the right choices you can get a better overall experience while spending MUCH less money than many/most less educated vapers(ie. people who dont take part in this forum in any way).

What I mean by that is this. Most people will see a "Blu" commercial and they will go out and buy the disposable, single use e-cigs made by Blu or other companies. That will cost them at least $5-$7 per day if they only use 1 e-cig per day. It will cost more if they vape more than 1 per day. Now some of these people may also see the replaceable cartridge type e-cig found in some drug stores, also made by Blu, for $3-$4 per day.

Then there are the people who have found this site, including me. I started out with the E-go-T. it was a good starter kit, but after reading posts here, I ordered the Lava Tube equivalent just days after ordering the Ego-T, but I still started out with the Ego, then switched to the lava Tube(Torpedo VVV). The cost of these kits was $49.99 and $69.99 respectively. You make up the cost of these kits in just a week or so compared with cigarettes!

The cost to use either kit was running me about $35 a month in pre mixed e-liquid, plus the cost of replacement atomizers, cartomizers, clearos, etc. PLus if you factor in a new coil/head every 1-2 weeks, thats an additional $4.50-$7.50 per month. If factoring just the regular cost of e-liquid and coils, it brings the monthly total to about $39.50-$42.50 per month, which works out to $1.30 to $1.43 per day. Thats much cheaper than disposable e-cigs.

But recently, due to absolutely poor organization by a certain online vendor, my replacement clearo didnt show up, so after a google search, I discovered 2 brick/mortar vaping stores in Philly, and I drove up there to buy the necessary clearo. Once I got there, I started talking with them about 'other options'. I was thinking about buying a new variable watt/volt system, and I didnt know squat about mechanical mods, but just one hour later, I walked out of the store with a nice mechanical mod and a new Patriot double coil drip atomizer, after being given lessons for re-coiling it.

My Patriot was coiled to 1.0 ohm to run with my standard Panasonic 18650's, but I also bought an IMR 30amp high drain 18650. So I re-coiled the Atomizer's 2 coils to approx 1.2ohms each, or .6 ohms total, using 26 gauge wire and cotton, and my digital multimeter. I now get better hits than with any system or clearo/atty I have ever tried! I no longer must take 6-10 second long drags to get a decent hit! Because of the bigger hits, I dropped my nicotine level to 11mg/ml at first(at 1ohm), then down to approx. 6mg/ml now that its at .6ohm.

I am also switching to DIY e-liquid. So my DIY e-liquid cost is approx $2-$4 per month(6 cents to 12 cents per day). But I also dont have to buy replacement coils either, except for wire, which last almost indefinitely, and cotton, which is nearly free!

That gets me back to the point of the thread. You can spend $5-$7 a day for disposable e-cigs, or you can spend $1.30 - $1.50 per day for pre mixed e-liquid, or 6-12 cents per day for DIY and run a top notch mechanical mod, and you will end up with an overall better experience and spend a whole lot less. So it can be true that less money equals a better experience!

***Disclaimer: Only experienced vapers who own a decent multimeter or an ohm meter, and have learned how to properly use these systems should buy DIY atomizers and mechanical mods.***
 
Last edited:

Zealous

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 20, 2012
1,198
1,678
Texas
Sorry to be OT right away but the fact that you got the Patriot RDA (clone I assume) caught my eye. Please be careful with the ohms with that dripper. Other users have already posted that the insulator melts if it gets too hot so it's NOT great for sub ohms. Just an FYI :)

And back on topic, I also noticed that when it comes to vaping you can spend a lot less & have a great vape rather than spending a bunch of certain "starter kits" and having a mediocre vape. HST there is a place for starter kits & for many smokers the best purchase they can make is that first starter kit that gets them off cigs. My first starter kit was a Blu & yea it was mediocre. But it got me off smokes so it was worth the purchase.
 

HighlanderNorth

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 18, 2012
289
105
Mid Atlantic USA
Sorry to be OT right away but the fact that you got the Patriot RDA (clone I assume) caught my eye. Please be careful with the ohms with that dripper. Other users have already posted that the insulator melts if it gets too hot so it's NOT great for sub ohms. Just an FYI :)

And back on topic, I also noticed that when it comes to vaping you can spend a lot less & have a great vape rather than spending a bunch of certain "starter kits" and having a mediocre vape. HST there is a place for starter kits & for many smokers the best purchase they can make is that first starter kit that gets them off cigs. My first starter kit was a Blu & yea it was mediocre. But it got me off smokes so it was worth the purchase.


**Yeah, dont get me wrong. I am NOT dissing starter kits or disposeable e-cigs. Most people do start with them, including me, Plus, it would not be advisable to buy a mechanical mod as a starter kit obviously. But just as with anything, the more you learn or progress, you discover better options out there, and the whole point of this thread was that you dont necessarily have to spend a fortune to get a great vaping experience. In fact, you can spend less and get more in some circumstances....
 

SleeZy

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 3, 2014
1,340
1,334
Sweden
Well one month with my vision spinner + protank mini, gave me the urge to move into mechs quite fast.
I'vent bought anything yet but i will soon. And i've read about it ALOT. For the mere interest of it and for safety reasons.

And it's true what you're writting, but it's still not recommended for a newbie to get into mechs. Due the sheer amount of information you've to read about it first.

And not to forget, for most of us vaping turns into a hobby so it'll get expensive that way anyhow! :laugh:
But i rather turn my money into metal pieces that can be reused and that i'm enjoying than the analogs :)
Not to mention there's no price on your health!
 

Miata GT

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 28, 2013
1,563
1,191
Largo, FL
*The point of this thread is NOT to disrespect disposable e-cigs or starter kits, as most of us start with them, its just to point out that with e-cigs, you can often get a better experience while spending less money once you become experienced with vaping.

Man I hope this happens soon because this is costing me a fortune (of course it doesn't have to and it's my own fault)!
 

tj99959

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
  • Aug 13, 2011
    15,116
    39,600
    utah
    It's actually the hardware that's killing me...it's all so pretty...

    All my hardware has been paid for by what I didn't spend on liquids.

    (and I've got the good stuff)
    P1000808_zps18061732.jpg
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    Users who are viewing this thread