ddavelarsen

I quit vaping a few months ago because my workplace banned it - I vaped mostly at my desk, which greatly increased my productivity vs going outside to smoke every hour...but corporate America being as PC as it is, I work in a "drug free workplace" and vaping is verboten. I can't use nasal snuff at work either. Figure that out!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that the new site looks wonderful! Good job guys! It made me feel good to stop by again. I hope everyone is doing well, and all the newbies are still getting the excellent and polite help that I got when I started here. This is a special forum.

Everyone have a Happy New Year!
Dave

Edit - Ooops! I better ditch that banner in my sig, hadn't I? I'm not smoke free anymore, alas.

I have a theory that the most successful vapers were Lights or Ultra Lights smokers; that heavier smoke is harder to replace with vaping. As most of you know I was a non-filter smoker and vape high nic juice. I wonder whether the relatively low (to me) nic levels commonly found in juice are suitable because most people didn't get a great deal of nicotine from smoking. This poll is intended to test that theory.

Do you have a hypothesis along this line? I'm curious to hear it.

Thanks for your input. Vape on!

Below is the text from an email my brother received from TW. Hopefully some of you will have gotten it too, but I didn't want to wait to put this out here. I Strongly Advise that each and every one of us write the suggested letter. We are going to have to defend our chosen lifeway at every turn, and not just in the US - but worldwide. So let's keep this rolling. Thanks.


"This Legislation will not directly affect the USA market, it will however impact TOTALLY WICKED and all British and European Users. It will also strengthen if passed, the FDAS hand in the USA.



Below is the Newsletter sent to all UK customers. I urge you to act for your Fellow Vapers in the UK and do exactly the same..Let the MHRA know that you as a citizen of the world are horrified by their stance...Your help is appreciated.





Jason Cropper

AKA.Pillbox38







The E-NI/E.Cig Market is under direct threat from government legislation that would make the Selling of nicotine containing products illegal.







Please see the link for full details on the
MHRAs Public consultation Document (MLX 364): The regulation of nicotine containing products






HOW WILL THIS LEGISLATION, IF PASSED AFFECT YOU!





1. As from the 21st June 2010 all selling of un-licensed nicotine products (E.liquids, Pre Filled Cartridges Containing Nicotine) will be banned. Companies such as Totally Wicked and TECC would be shut down by Trading Standards.

2. It will leave you with no other option but to either start smoking again, go cold turkey or buy risky nicotine products from overseas.



WHAT YOU CAN DO?







There are a number of pro-active steps you AS AN INDIVIDUAL can take.. Please do not let apathy overtake you…We aren’t.






Write a full Testimony in long hand of how E-Nis/E.Cigs have helped you, The health benefits, the Emotional Benefits, Benefits to your family and friends, the cost savings. In this testimony highlight the effect this ban would have on YOUR life. Be accurate, forthright and rationale. Upload and then Email a signed and dated copy to accounts@theelectroniccigarette.co.uk Send a hardcopy via recorder delivery letter to Amanda Bryan, MHRA, Room 14-212, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5NQ Sign this online petition and add your comments. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-life-saving-electronic-cigarettes-available Respond directly to the MHRA via their response to MLX 364 online form Contact your MP and GP, let them know how this ban will impact your health and your life.


Remember your voice is important, we cannot allow this legislation to be passed. It is destructive and ill thought out.





ACT NOW AND DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS.





Disclaimer: “News articles published on our website are not necessarily the views of be Pillbox 38 (USA) Ltd and are not responsible for any actions taken from use of this information. These news articles are excerpts from news agencies around the world who have freely distributed this content throughout the Internet. We will supply the source of this information upon application and consider deletion upon request.”"

What a riot!

Smoking Man and Travis (and mcquinn, you had the right idea), thanks for being the grammar police; saved me having to be the hard guy.

Greetings. If someone has asked this before and I didn't find the thread, please forgive me. I'm looking for a source for quality 100mg liquid. My normal supplier does have it and I'll go with him if need be, but thought if there are others I might compare prices. Thanks for any ideas.

I have noticed that some flavors will encourage me to feel rather... frisky. If I vape them long enough, it will either go away, or I will end up having to ... yeah.

Glad the supplier is taking care of you.

However, I agree with mcquinn - the prices are pretty high. Since it looks like your kit only came with one battery and one atty, you will need to be looking for an upgrade soon. You always want to make sure you have extra batteries and atomizers on hand. You may want to check out some other suppliers and models.

Below is a link for Totally Wicked (UK based). That will give you a good idea of what other models are available and pricing.

http://www.totallywicked-eliquid.co.uk/

Don't kick yourself for smoking Michelle, and for sure no need to ditch your best support group for feeling guilty! Almost everyone here knows exactly what you're talking about. It's all good.

I too miss a lot of our former regulars. TSM, keenan, the list could go on. But like Chris said, that's the nature of forums. Someday I'll probably be gone too -- whenever I learn everything. One of the coolest things about VT is that our missing members are missed.

Um - nox, that's not just a ladies thing! I support kits too. That said, this thread has really helped me to understand the differences I've noted just pushing about in the dark. Thanks to all of you for a great thread.

Here are links to three very good threads that will get you on your way.

#1

#2

#3

These will give you lists of suppliers for nic and flavoring and supplies, tips and general mixing instructions.

I would suggest starting out with mixing the flavors at 20% and go from there. I usually use 30-35% myself, but everyone is different.

To get 24mg using 48mg nic as a base, use 5ml of nic, 2ml of flavoring and 3ml of PG or VG.

To get 24mg using 36mg nic as a base, use 6.7ml of nic, 2ml of flavoring and 1.3ml of PG or VG.

I think there's also links to a couple of different eliquid DIY calculators in those thread I posted. They are very helpful.

Stacy, we're throwing a lot of specialized language at you, aren't we? Here are a few definitions, which might help you make your decisions.

510 - This is a particular model of atomizer. The threads will fit any other 510-type device, including the eGo. No other atomizer models will work with a 510 battery. There are many model numbers, but all 510 parts are generally interchangeable.

Atomizer - The part that does the work of vaporizing the eliquid. An atomizer is often used with a cartridge, or with a drip tip for direct dripping. The atomizer is the part that screws onto the battery.

Cartridge - A fiber-filled mouthpiece for the atomizer. You fill the cart with your choice of liquid. I always recommend blank carts and ordering your own liquid. This is much less expensive than prefilled carts!

Cartomizer - A cartridge and atomizer combination. A carto will hold quite a bit more liquid than a cart will, and is simple to use since the atomizer and cartridge are all one piece. The downside is that they don't last very long. However, they're also very inexpensive. Cartos are probably the most convenient way to vape your favorite liquid.

Direct Dripping - This is removing the cartridge altogether and dripping your liquid - 2-3 drops - directly onto the bridge in the atomizer. If you use a Drip Tip, you don't have to remove the mouthpiece every time you drip, just drip directly through the drip tip. Direct dripping is a common method for most experienced vapers. The reason is that you get more consistent vapor and flavor by controlling how much liquid is on your atty.

Cone - this is a part that threads down over the atomizer, onto the eGo battery. It's esthetic, and some say improves the draw and flavor of the device.

LR - Low Resistance - A special kind of atomizer that produces much more throat hit and vapor than a standard atomizer. These are used for 3.7V batteries to give the experience of using 5V batteries. They're a very good alternative for an eGo if you want to feel the vapor more in your lungs. In my experience LR attys don't last as long as standard ones, but they can be very satisfying to vape.

You asked for recommendations what to order and you've gotten excellent advice. I think what you want to end up with two eGo batteries, and at least five atomizers; you might also wish to try a few cartomizers, which are very convenient. Order blank attys and cartos, and refill them with your own liquid. Brian's suggestion to try a sample pack with different strengths is an excellent idea. You may not really be sure yet what your best strength is, but based on what you say, I doubt you will need to go any higher than 16/18mg.

It's hard to say how much liquid you need to last two months since that completely depends on how much you vape. You will vape more at lower strength than at higher strength. I think a good rule of thumb is 2-3 ml per day, so 120 to 180 ml of liquid for your two-month window. I started out using at least 3 ml per day, and now I probably use half that much. There is some waste filling carts and cartos; less waste direct dripping.

I hope some of this helps. I know how overwhelming trying to sort all this out can be at first! We've all spent a ton of money trying to find the combination that works best for each of us, and it's different for everyone. I really don't think you can go wrong buying an eGo. If they'd had them when I started vaping I would probably have had a much less expensive route to get where I am! By the way, 555 is my everyday vape too; I love the stuff.

Good luck in your ordering. Happy vaping!

I dig threads like this because you can get so much information from them. Like many others I've used a ton of different devices and finally settled on the Saber from Vapor Moon. It's very similar in size to the Silver Bullet, but has a touch-sensitive switch rather than a mechanical one, and comes with a five year warranty. I've been using my Saber for a couple months now and have had no problems. I vape it at 6V with my own DIY liquid for a perfectly tailored vape. I get clouds of vaper, great TH and flavor; what's not to love? Anyone could do this with any 6V device, I just settled on the Saber (which was a very close run to the SB).

I'm definately a high voltage guy; 3.7 will never do it for me again, unless I'm running a LR atty and even then you have to live with the short useful life of the LRs. Nope, voltage rules in this household!

When she vapes, my wife uses the VP PT at 5V with a cartomizer and is very satisfied with that.

This is my review on the mako midi from electronicstix.com I love this thing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8s8H1aa0hE

As the title reads....i'm curious to hear some of your responses. For me? I think it was that first time i exhaled a huge amount of vapor from my 510, no better feeling. I knew that was the nail in the coffin for analogs!

Cheers,

Kodiak!

Wow Schizo, I wish I could give you +5 for that one brother. Amen.

Your nasty taste is either from a too-dry atty or an atty that's not broken in yet. My vote is for too dry. I totally recommend direct dripping; cartridges just taste nasty unless they're totally full and draining a lot of liquid onto the atty. Direct dripping gets around that; three or four drops should be good for seven or eight drags off your 510. Remove the cartridge filler, and drip liquid directly onto the silver bridge inside the atty. Replace the mouthpiece and you're ready to go.

Like Schizo said, there's a learning curve to vaping and break in can take a while, depending on your drags and the individual atomizer. I usually just "hot box" it the first couple of loads of liquid to break in a new atty, then start vaping it. I never, ever, use cartridges! Yuck.

Good luck and hang in there. You'll get it down. We all went through this.

I understand your frustration. There is a learning curve to e-cigs. You don't just pick it up and smoke it like a cigarette. It takes practice and patience to get it down. It is like learning to ride a bike. It is hard at first and easy later. Please don't give it away. If people gave them away then no one would be vaping because we have all been in your shoes.

Anyway, lets work on solving your problem. The most important thing is to NOT try to quit smoking. This isn't like the patch where you fight the urge to have a smoke and feel guilty every time you fail. If you need a smoke then get one. Moving to electronic cigarettes isn't an instant change but a transition. Be patient.

The logic you had to get a flavor that matched your smokes is the same logic we all had. We start out with the tobacco flavors but almost all of us start to prefer other flavors. You will not find an e-cig flavor that tastes like a cigarette because most of the flavor is from the combustion. If you put tobacco in a vaporizer(not an ecig) it would taste totally different than setting it on fire. The natural flavors of tobacco are not what you get from smoke. Therefore it is hard if not impossible to make an e-juice that tastes identical to smoke. This may sound like a bad thing. I thought it was but it isn't. It is a good thing. I recommend buying a few samples of other flavors you like(chocolate, cherry, coffee...). You will be surprised when you find out what your all day vape will be. It most likely won't be a tobacco flavor.

The breaking in time all depends. For me it is usually a few hours. Keep at it if it is the only flavor you have. It could be that it needs to break in, you might not be used to the flavor, the flavor could suck, or it could be something else. Can you describe the flavor and have you tried direct dripping onto the atty instead of using carts? It is strange that there is a smell. Does the cart look melted inside? What does it smell like?

That is it for now. I'll let others jump in. DON'T GIVE IT AWAY! This is the easiest way to give up smoking but it takes time, practice, and patience to get it down. This could be your only chance to quit smoking, have better health, and save money. Trust me. I bought a piece of crap e-cig from Smoking Everywhere about a year ago. I was frustrated but I didn't give up. I'm an ex-smoker today.

Excellent Kitsune! Another big +1 for you. I love this forum. Hedge, I partially answered this question a while back too, check post number 4 on Sensay's thread too if you're interested.

DIY is a wonderful, and addictive!, pastime and addition to your vaping repertoire. After the initial expense getting set up, you'll be able to mix liquids for as little as 25 cents per ml. No kidding. Well, that assumes buying large quantities of the more common cooking flavorings, but even so, it's far less expensive than buying commercial liquid. To me though the best part is being able to tweak your mixes to work best with your voltage and atty, and your personal tastes. I have a pretty unusual approach to liquid mixing because I vape high voltage, but it works for me and might for you if you're at 6V or more. (If not, if you're vaping 3.7V, then stick with the more traditional levels of up to 20% flavoring and mostly PG.)

For high voltage liquid, I use 100% VG base nic and as much as 48% flavoring, which can get very pricey (but still less than the cost of commercial liquid, assuming you've purchased large enough quantities of the basics kitsune mentioned). This should make more sense as you get into it more.

The only thing I would caution is using drops to measure. I say this because there are too many variables using drops. Different liquids with different viscosities have way different drop sizes, so you can't rely on the 30/ml rule of thumb very well. That's how I started too, and while it does kind of work for small batches (and that's how you'll want to test your mixes!), drops do not scale up accurately. If you're going to use drops for your testing, you have to measure how many drops in 1 ml for each of your inputs. For example, using a common disposable pipette, here are the number of drops per ml for each of my basic inputs:

100MG nic Base, 100% VG -- 16
100MG nic Base, 50% VG, 50% PG -- 26
100MG nic Base, 100% PG -- 31
VG, cut with 20% distilled water -- 15
PG -- 20
Average Flavoring -- 20

So you can see that there's a lot of variance depending on viscosity of the liquid you're inputing and each dropper is different. The 30 drops/ml assumption could get you weird results if you wanted to scale up, and you'll want to measure with each dropper you use.

Determining how many drops per input using your dropper is simple. Get an inexpensive graduated cylinder (the smaller the better for accuracy; mine is 10 ml and it's a bit too large for this purpose). Using your dropper, drip into the cylinder being very careful not to let any drops hit the side of the cylinder going down (if they do, they won't count properly), and count each drop until you get to the 1 ml line. You want to measure where the low part of the fluid comes right to the 1 ml line in the cylinder. Because of surface tension, the liquid will rise along the edge of the wall of the cylinder; don't measure the top of the edge, but the lower, flatter part of the surface. Hope that makes sense.

Rinse and dry your cylinder and dropper between each input you're testing, and try to do this at the common temperature that you'll be working with your materials. Temp can also affect viscosity of the liquids, and even 20 degrees difference could change your measurements. You can dry the inside of your cylinder with canned air -- or a paper towel and a coat hanger. Whatever works, but dry it out so drops of water remaining won't affect your count.

Don't forget to write down your count after each input! No need, probably, to ask why I mention this. You'll be able to pour most of the liquid you measured back into its container, so there isn't much waste doing this. It's really necessary for accurate record keeping.

I tried to upload my calculator but for whatever reason the uploads are failing this morning. If you'd like to see it I will be happy to email the file to anyone with basic instructions how to use it. It's very simple and direct, and lets you measure your inputs in both drops and milliliters.

That's all I have for now, hope it helps a little. Sorry to go off on the drops rant, but I've gotten in so much trouble with drops assumptions I wanted to get it off my chest. Have fun and as kitusne would say, Merry Mixing!

use the reply button at the bottom of the post to quote. Else use the one at the bottom of the page or the fast reply box and there's no quote. For your learning pleasure.

Models:
http://www.vapeatron.com/e-cigarette-models/

A beginner's guide I found, they talk about other products.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/5505-electronic-cigaretts-complete-beginners-guide.html

No problem keiko. Your post have been very subdued and don't rise to the level of being placed in the Mosh Pit lol. If you want to vent and get it off your chest feel free to post in the Mosh Pit and let the explicatives fly .

We know what you're going through. It's really rough when things don't work. I really hope the eGo works for you. It sure did for me and a lot of other people out there, but then I don't know of anyone else who has had this much trouble right off the bat. Try to hang in there. It really is worth it.

You already got some great advice, so I'll just ask a couple of questions here. Have you watched any of the "how to" videos on this site? One of the main things to vaping is that it is not exactly like smoking. You need to take longer, slower drags than you do with a cigarette. Filling your mouth with the vapor before inhaling also helps a lot. Are you doing it that way? It's possible you're trying too hard. I know I did in the beginning. Once I got that part figured out, the rest fell into place.

Please feel free to ask all the questions you need to ask. We don't mind answering. That's what we're here for. We'll do everything we can to help you out.

Hello, I'm sorry for you problems. I'm not sure the question, honestly, but I have a couple of my own that may help us with your problems. I'm not sure what devices you initially had trouble with, but since there's such a learning curve to this it might simply be that the units you're using are not the best. While it's true that defects happen, statistically having a run of bad luck like that is not likely. I think it's more likely that the units you're working with are not very powerful; I suspect your ego will go a long way toward satisfying you.

If you're looking for a more analog-like drag, you may want to use low resistance atomizers on your ego; that will give you better throat hit and more, though warmer, vapor. But they do make the ego more like a 5V device, which is - my opinion! - most desirable.

You may wish to contact PayPal to get your refund processed. They'll go through a whole bureaucratic process but ultimately you'll get your money back. Just be patient. These amounts of money are probably not worth hiring an attorney for; it'd cost more than the money you got back.

We do have a supplier review section, as well as a venting forum. Check out the supplier mosh pit -- you can vent all you like and people will commiserate with you all day. Believe me, many of us have had the same frustrations you're feeling, and someone may have really good advice for you. If nothing else, you'll sure feel better.

Just hang in there, ask your questions when you feel like you're having trouble with your devices. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing the way you use it; small changes can make all the difference in the world. Really. We're here to help you succeed. I wish you the best!

Oh - one other thing. I went through several devices until I found one that worked well for me -- and I'm still finding things that work better all the time. You could be going through that process too, just finding the combination that works for you. Vaping is a very personal thing and what works for one person may totally suck for the next. But we'll support you, just hang in there!

You surely came to the right place.

for supplies, I like this place:
http://www.ecigexpress.com/diy-supplies-c-3

They have all the syringes, gloves, and bottles you will need. They also carry some of the popular flavorings so it is good to get all in one place. They have a good price on vg/pg.

good quality liq-nic I get from here:

http://www.myfreedomsmokes.com/categories/DIY/

They also have good prices on pg/vg and the quality of their liq nic is very good. I have used the "premium" from Totally Wicked (platinum Ice) and this is every bit as good and at a fraction of the price. You can specify the strength and what it how it is diluted. This is the best price I can find for good quality, this is the only supplier I use for liq-nic.

Flavorings is probably the most disputed as there is a wide variety of "favorites". The first thing I want to mention is that you really do not want oil based, this is not good for your atomizers. Some of the popular artificial flavorings are; Loranns, Signature, Capellas and FlavorArt. All 4 of these are available at ecig express here:

http://www.ecigexpress.com/flavoring-c-16

Some people on these forums have had good luck with these but they are artificial flavors. the problem I have had is mixing a couple together for a more complex flavor. This is were I have issue and also it is my experience that if you do not get the ratio correct, it doesn't always taste right. This is my opinion and there are plenty of people that swear by them.

For me, I have had the most success with natural based flavorings. They seem to mix better when you are making them stronger/weaker and when you are blending several flavors together.

I get those at Totally Wicked site and they are here:
http://www.totallywicked-eliquid.com/products/e-liquid-flavourings/decadent-vapours-10ml-flavour-2-product.html

There is not any shortage of information or opinions on DIY. You will find there are very few "casual" DIYers. They are either disinterested after a few tries or are very passionate about that. Some of the most knowledgeable mixers can be found on these forums, i have learned a lot from them.

Have fun!

Okay - a little more simple, I hate to keep using wordup as an example but here is a decent list of PCC kits. No idea if they have LEDs, etc. More importantly, I have no idea of their performance except alot of us are fans of the 510.

http://www.wordupecig.com/PCC_Kits.html

I see a BE510 kit that looks nice at the end, you can email the site to make sure it takes regular 510s. Not sure any of the 510s would be auto though in the kits. I don't think wordup sells auto 510s. Spome of the others will be auto though as they are intended to replicate a cigarette.

I posted this earlier and its a decent list of e-cigs, and some people comment on them.
http://www.vapeatron.com/e-cigarette-models/

The manual button give more control over how long the atomizer stays lit but I believe there are tricks with an auto to get a longer/hotter hit off it, that's another drawback of auto. Start another thread if this one has become unmanageable for you.

If I find some cheap autos, I will post back to you as I am looking for one for a friend. My point about buying piecemeal was I would hate to see you get a whole PCC kit and then not like the ecig. This is a very personal experience thing and what's good for one is not for another.

DayVape--we all had to start at the beginning and work our way through the vaping experience( ok, maybe not all of us). In order for the experience to work, the brain has to be on board. the psychological aspect is huge.
I know I wouldn't have been happy with a larger Mod when I first started--the 510 was perfect for me at that point (not like I had a lot of choices) and I have worked my way up the chain.

We all agree, the ego has better battery life, but it is a bit bigger. I still use my 510's when I want something small and inconspicuous. I needed the light on the end--I just don't anymore.
When I was first starting I think I would have stuck with the 510 with the PCC--it worked wonderful for me for the first 6 months. Then I started looking at other options.

There isn't a right or wrong way--we just have our own preconceived ideas about how something should be--the only thing that matters is finding a place to jump from and being able to leave cigarettes behind. We really don't want to scare him away.....



ThirdFloor--let us know if we made this all too confusing or if the links FT provided were helpful--we really do want you to be able to quite smoking !!!!

Thanks, but I wasn't saying anything to "scare them away"... simply stating the facts and my opinions.
Is this not one of those places where we can freely do that? I must be in the wrong place today... my bad, I apologize for any misinformation I might have given you. I should never have said any of the stuff I said... how rude of me to try and save someone some money and headache.