nana

Hey Brandon, Joe2003 just posted in "Introduce Yourself" with an answer to your question.


Joe's been lurking but this was his first post - trying to help a fellow vaper. That's what makes VT so dang fine: The People.

Thanks Joe2003! And good luck Brandon.

Here's some more. I like this guy.

GlaxoSmithKline Given a Seat on FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee

This is nice to read... Dr who investigates -- and disses -- the FDA "study." And then follows up with some test facts. Nice! Hope this hasn't already been posted. If it has, my apology.

Comparison of Carcinogen Levels Shows that Electronic Cigarettes are Much Safer Than Conventional Ones

Why would you need two bodies? Teri, pay attention here, backups, backups, backups. You can never have enough backups.

As far as the battery life for the DSE905 goes, I don't think I'd believe the up to 2 days thing. Now I could be completely wrong, but I've been using those batteries in my VP2 since last November and I get an easy 12 to 16 hours of vaping time with them. That's not counting overnight hours when I'm not using them. From others have said 8 hours per battery is about average. I've had them last only about 10 hours for me, but that was with some pretty heavy or even chain vaping. Unless you are a very light vaper, I can't see the batteries lasting that long.

As far as the eGo batteries go, yes they are more expensive than regular 510 batteries are. They cost twice as much. But you get more than twice the time using them between charges, too. Regular 510 batteries last me about an hour to an hour and a half. My eGo batteries last me 5 to 6 hours of heavy vaping. I'm going to get a couple more batteries to be sure and have plenty of backups. If you were paying attention before, you know how I feel about backups. LOL If money is tight, you could buy an extra battery once a month until you had the backups you want. Or buy one when you have the money and then another in another month when you have money again. There are ways to get the backups without going broke all at once.

I absolutely love the look of the janty stick and was really right on the verge of buying one. But then I saw it used the 10440 batteries and those batteries did not work out for me. If it used the 14500 batteries, I would have one right now. And would probably like it even more than my eGo, but alas, I knew those batteries wouldn't work for me so I just have to enjoy looking at pictures of the janty stick. <sigh>

Like I said before, I've never owned the Screwdriver, so you'll have to listen to profbeard on that one. I am impressed that he's had his for a year now and had no problems. I've only been vaping for 5 months and haven't had anything last even that long yet.

Since you already have 901 attys, it probably makes more sense to get something you can use those with instead of switching to something like the eGo. I'm just a big 510 atty fan, so everything I consider has to at least be able to use the 510 atty. If you go with the DSE905 or Screwdriver, you can someday get an adapter and try the 510 atty with it, too, so that gives you another option.

Good luck on your decision Teri.

Ok guys---I just posted my first video--2 parts. Take a look at it and let me know what you think. Don't be too tough on me though.

edited to add the links---doh

http://www.vaportalk.com/forum/forum/index.php?/videos/view-155-noob/

http://www.vaportalk.com/forum/forum/index.php?/videos/view-156-noob-2/

I haven't much to add to what Brian and Chris said, except there really is a fairly steep learning curve. And it's very personal. If you find yourself looking for the occasional yucky, as Uma so succinctly put it D:, just do that. Some people want you to avoid analogs at any cost but for me at least, vaping is much more pleasant if I just leave it being pleasant. The couple times I've tried a yucky after I quit, I was quickly reminded how much more satisfying overall vaping is compared to smoking. Smoking really tastes like ... ash. Try to just relax, appreciate what's good about vaping, experiment. Different liquids is a good idea, and finding that one device that trips all your esthetic triggers is another good one. I like 5V personally but sometimes 3.7 is more relaxing. In any event, don't think you "have" to do anything in particular, even vape vs smoke. It's your choice. Vaping is not smoking. The more you vape in a confident and relaxed manner, the more you'll come to like it and find it satisfying. Anymore, I can't imagine my life without it. Have fun and vape on!

Welcome to Vapor Talk Ethan! You found a great place. We love answering questions around here.

I would definately disuade you from purchasing a blu. These units have a very hit-or-miss reputation - mostly miss. You will find that most experienced vapers will recommend a Joye 510 kit for your first experience. It's a quality device with a solid reputation. You'll get consistent results with plenty of battery life as you describe that. You can find these in the Suppliers section on Vapor Talk.

The cartomizers (the 'filter' unit that includes both atomizer and cartridge) like those used in the blu are okay, and for many they are desireable due to the reduced maintenance vs separate attys and carts. But with this convenience you sacrifice a Lot of affordability. You will find that refiling carts, or better, direct dripping onto the atty, is far more economical and provides a more consistent vaping experience.

Take a look at the video section in the forum. You'll find many product reviews and helpful instruction for newbies. Others will come along shortly to give you more and better advice than mine, so keep reading. The folks here all want to help you succeed in your new, healthy life. Good luck and have fun!

Yes it is a handfull because it is a 4 x AA box. It is, however, much more comfortable to use than the flashlight mod. As for making my own atty, it is still in the works. My brother and I are experimenting with different gage nichrome wire. There are alot of variables. We can make a 3.7v that vapes like a 5v or a 9v that vapes like a 3.7. Of course alot of carefull planning and testing need to be done. Now I Know why the Mazerati is taking so long, lol. I'm still using 510 attys; I have had 7 attys from the bigining and 6 still work fine, including the 2 slb attys. The one that died is because I drilled 2 more holes in it thinking I would get better air flow. It worked for a while before it died. Of course after that I had to disect it. I have been using all 6 attys for 2 1/2 months and really abusing them with high voltage. I am very surprised how tough they are. I'm gonna put my attention back to the juice. I've got some creations "brewing". I'm really happy about my mods and I'll share technical info about it soon. I just want everyone to realize that rapid discharge can result in an explosion and want to make sure what I have is safe. And when I come up with a super-juice I'll let you in on that too. Happy Vaping!

Not sure what this site is all about, but interesting vid. Mostly, notice the reaction of the "non-smoking" customer.

My link

I bought an adapter that screws onto the eGo and that will fit into the 510 charger. I got mine from Totally Wicked. It works great. I also have the usb charger to use at my computer or to plug into the adapter in the car.

Well, I discovered a bug in this this morning but I think it will work for most applications. Clearly though, there's still some development in order. <shrug> So it goes.

This is a zip file of a spreadsheet, so just uncompress it after download and open in Open Office or excel. Green numbers are inputs; output is in drops and milliliters. Naturally I welcome suggestions for improvement, both function and esthetics. Let me know what you think, okay? Thanks!
JuiceCalculator5.xls.zip
JuiceCalculator5.xls.zip

LMAO

FTJoe, I agree with what your trying to say, and I surely don't feel offended. Nor should you be, bud. I whole-heartedly agree that to err on the side of caution is very prudent. Your point is well argued, and well taken. I must admit that I may have pushed it a bit when I wrote that using the e-cig exclusively would cause one's health to improve in EXACTLY the same manner as if one quits all together. However, from the evidence being presented so far I can't find too much to be worried about. There is a lot of really bad press out there, Like this idiot, and the FDA sure isn't helping, either. It's good to be skeptical, but I'm convinced that when all the smoke clears the e-cigarette will be exonerated completely. But thats just my opinion....

If you haven't watched the Dr Baron's interview yet, you should. Here is the link again: Dr. Baron
Dr. Baron is the Chief of staff at UCLA Medical Center. The reason I advice you to watch his interview is because he is VERY reputable. I realize that he is being interviewed (and possibly paid) by an e-cig company, but what he says about nicotine sums up very well what science says about nicotine.


Other appropriate links: New Zealand Study Nicotine info UK research on e-cig carts Study done on PG

With regards to your comments on how long nicotine remains in the system, and insurance testing, let me say this....
I have found several varying results concerning nicotine's half-life. The most conservative estimate that I've found says that nicotine's half-life is 2 hours. The most liberal opinions state that nicotine has a 40 minute half-life. The reason for this discrepancy seems to involve the individual. Some people metabolize nicotine faster than others. Thats why some folks smoke a great deal more than others. I smoked about 2 packs a day, but a friend of mine only smoked half of that a day. She may have metabolized nicotine slower than I did. But my reason for bringing up the short half-life of nicotine was to help illustrate how difficult it would be to OD by smoking or vaping. Nicotine is metabolized very rapidly in our system. The symptoms you wrote about (increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, et al) are associated primarily with TOXIC quantities of nicotine. Yes, your pulse goes up a little while you smoke, but not to any harmful degree. Certainly not nearly as much as it does just climbing a flight of stairs. Testing for nicotine is done by measuring cotinine, which is the primary metabolite of nicotine, because nicotine goes through our system so quickly.

Look, most addictions are harmful to a person, I understand that. Alcohol or drug addictions can ruin a person's life. Gambling or even sex can become harmful addictions. If you want to argue that ANY addiction is harmful, well you certainly have a strong point. But what I'm saying is if nicotine, by itself, taken in normally low doses, is in fact "virtually" harmless (like caffeine), then why should we see it as potentially bad for us?

ddavelarsen Dave:

ok...I can see how higher amounts could help, I used to be a chain smoker myself and smoking one every 5 to 10 mins, and at times using my last cig to light my next one, bad, bad habit, I know, so I can kinda understand where you're coming from. For me, it was more the hand/mouth habit and the thick heavy smoke that I needed, especially when I was nervous or upset, I'd smoke like a freight train, lol.

I started at 36mg of nic, and found myself vaping constantly like phene, and at that time, there wasn't anything higher than that available, and I figured the reason I was doing that was I wasn't getting enough nic, Because when I vaped heavily like that, not ever putting the thing down, I started to notice that I got a buzz from it, and felt kinda spaced out, lol like I need any help in THAT department, lol I'm spaced out enough as it is, lol.

Anyways, So I decided to challenge myself, or test myself, if you will, to see if this was true, To see if it was the nicotine, or the smoking/hand to mouth bit, the thick smoke, or what. So I started slowly cutting down on my nic level, over the past 6 months time and increasing the vapor thickness with VG,instead. Mixing my own stuff, playing with lots of flavors. =)

At first, for the first several weeks or months, I just kept vaping and vaping, never able to put it down, but still kept slowly decreasing the nic level I was using a little more. Then after several more weeks, when I felt I could take it on, I'd decrease it still, a little more, and more. Then one day, I noticed I was starting to put my e-cig down, without thinking about it or craving it for awhile, So I kept it up, and noticed more and more that I was not only laying my pv down, I was going for longer and longer periods, before I actually picked it up to vape again.

Sooo, then I started purposely leaving it in the other room, so I'd have to get up to go get it, and pretty soon, I was noticing, I kept forgetting exactly "where" i'l left it at, and found myself searching room to room for it, lol. (Never would do THAT, with an analog, lol, I KNEW full well exactly where my cigs were, at ALL times, -they went everywhere I went, lol, kindof like my shadow, or my friendly little pet does, lol)

I worked my way down slowly, to 2mg doing this, ha, I really surprised myself!I started noticing just a couple of weeks ago, when I'd take my pv with me at night and left it next to the bed, (my little pacifier, lol) I'd get up the next morning, start my day, drink my coffee, answer e-mails, whatever, and a whole hour went by! I hadn't even thought of my e-cig, Then last week, I noticed it was almost noon time before I remembered it, or felt the need to use it, I couldn't believe it!

(I started vaping July 11th) Now here's the thing, the story gets even better, my husband just recently started vaping and uses 26mg. So, in the process of getting him started, priming atty's for him and getting his cart reading, fixing issues with the atty, e-liquid, etc, I was hitting on his 26mg occasionally, I figures, once it while, just a few hits wouldn't hurt anything,right?! Well, let me tell you something, I could not get over how good I felt after using high 26mg nic and I felt more alert/awake, more energetic, like I used to feel when I smoke analogs. It took several times of fixing his e-cig for him and hitting that higher nic, before I made the connections.

I mean, I didn't realize it was Nicotine that made me alert, and have this, like an over-all sense of well-being, and more energetic feeling. So then I did some research on the net, and learned, that yes, Nicotine has does have some good benefits and has been scientifically tested and proved to do those things.

Soooo...now, I'm just using 2mg during the day, like usual, and then use the higher nic only to give me that boost I'm looking for, by just adding some to my cart, and then go back to my favorite flavor, which is 2mg filled with plumes of VG vapor clouds. =)

I discovered that when you do high levels all the time, you don't really notice these things so much, and only want more of the same. It's like, once I separated myself from it, I could feel and appreciate the benefits of vaping nic, so much more. Since I know, our bodies tend to build up tolerances to things after awhile, and if demands aren't met, it throws a little fit, much like a spoiled child, saying "I want, I want, I need, i HAVE TO have" more, more MORE! weeeeeehooooo! lol least I did. lol

Now I've discovered, vaping is so much more rewarding and special, to have special treats for myself.

And to honest, if they had had a higher of nic than 36mg when I first started vaping, I most certainly would have bought it and been using it, and I'm not sure if ANY level amount would have EVER been enough to completely satisfy that need.

But now, I totally love & enjoy all the the thickness of the VG vapor, all the good flavors, And I also found out by doing this, it is far more pleasing, and now "I" am in charge of my vaping, not my e-cig, lol, I have the power bc I can now pick n' choose when, where and what I vape based on my mood or flavor cravings, and NOT for the nic only. lol. And THAT, is a huge victory for me! Which feels sooo much better than, all the panic and anxiety, and that ever-present "need" to "have to" vape/smoke.

I don't "have to" do anything! lol You can't tell me what to do, stupid nicotine habit, lol, I'm in charge now. lol Sounds silly, I know, but it's actually,....'sad but true'.

Anyways, I know this if off-topic you guys, for whoever else may read this, but I figured I'd share this, and maybe someone might benefit from my little test trial here, lol,

Least ways I hope so....

Anyways, I know you're happy with your nic level, if that's what does it for you in life, then, hey, enjoy it. Please lemme know when you get your flavors, hope you enjoy them!

peace.....

Michelle

Welcome vBear! You have found a good place. You'll see.
Ok, I heard about this electronic cigarette from a co-worker. However, I have yet to see one other than photos on the web. I started doing some research and found this forum, after viewing some youtube videos. I have been reading these forums for a few hours and have noticed that are a lot of good folks here willing to spend there time answering questions about this whole e-cig craze that seems to be getting started. I have to wonder why? Are you guys and gals selling this stuff? If you are just hanging around here answering questions and not making a profit off of selling this stuff then people are really jazzed about this whole concept.
The people posting here only care about helping new vapers find their way and getting their own learning curve reduced. We exchange a lot of experience which helps everyone to be more successful and happier in their new life. Several excellent and trustworthy suppliers frequent this forum. They are our friends, in that they also care about our success. Customer Service is generally unsurpassed anywhere compared to the suppliers at VT.

I have very intrigued and seriously considering getting into this. But first I have a few questions of my own. I am just going to lay them out there.

General Questions:
How long have electronic cigarettes been around?
Not sure exactly; 4-5 years? Gaining real traction in the last 2 or so years.
How safe is the vapor? (How easy is it to overdose on nicotine?)
Because there are no current scientific studies of the longterm effects of vaping, we say vaping is "far safer" than smoking analogs. The immediate health improvements that vapor realize is a good indication of that. Because I was a heavy smoker, the concept "overdose on nicotine" is a joke to me; I simply cannot imagine that. But I know that some people have in fact gotten too much nicotine for their comfort. My recommendation would be to start with a small amount of 18 or 24mg juice and adjust the strength based on your own experience.
Why does Firefox think vapor is not spelled correctly?! (well that one is a little off topic :/)
I had to teach my Mac how to spell our language. I'm still working on that occasionally.

How long have you been vaping?
Since November 1st.
Did you start vaping to quit smoking, or for just a "safer" switch?
Honestly, curiosity. Like everyone else I'd tried everything to quit. When my first not-quite-sufficient products actually did relieve some of the problems with not smoking, I got more curious and eventually found this forum. It's been all good since then.
Did it work?
Yes.
How long did it take you to quit?
About a month before I stopped buying analogs altogether, but my analog use tapered to near zero within two weeks after getting my VP2.
Can you give a good reason too start using an electronic cigarette other than health reasons?
1) Money. After the initial cost it's far less expensive than smoking, regardless your local tax structure. 2) If you're a gadget freak, you will be in hog heaven. 3) Vaping tastes so much better than smoking it will blow your mind; soon, smoking will be actively unpleasant compared to vaping.

Choice and Price:
In your experience, have you actually saved money by switching?
Not yet; I've only just begun. That part is more of a long-term issue. Keep in mind that our lifestyle choice is under attack by negative people and it seems prudent to "stock up" many of the consumable supplies.
Compared to cartons of cigarettes, what was your start-up cost?
I tell people it'll cost about $200 to get fully set up initially. Others don't stock up the way I have and will spend far less. Expect a minimum of $100.
What is the difference between a 510 and a pen-style? (Man I hope that's not the same thing)
Others have nailed this one better; essentially, size. Because it's larger, a penstyle (801/302) may dissipate heat better.
Is there a comparison chart for all the brands and/or models?
Yes, but I can't seem to locate it on my drive. I'm afraid you might find it as confusing and overwhelming as I did. Better, maybe, to just ask questions here.

Usage:
On average, how long does a bottle of juice last you?
I use about 15-20 ml per week.
On average, how long does a battery last before you have to buy a new one?
Dunno; haven't replaced any yet.
On average, how long does a vaporizer last before you have to buy a new one?
The standard answer is that an atomizer lasts a month. That is an average. Keep spares.
Compared to smoking a normal cigarette, do you have to reload (rejuice) your e-cig? If so, how many times?
I direct drip because I feel I get the most consistent vape that way. I drip 2-3 drops on the atty and get 3-4 good hits before dripping again. Don't drip and drive! Use a cart or have a friend drip for you when driving longer than a few hits will cover.
Compared to smoking a normal cigarette, is smoking an e-cig as satisfying?
Goes both ways. There is more than nicotine in analogs that we're addicted to, and vaping does not contain those potentially harmful substances. I've felt some dissatisfaction in that regard. This said, vaping feels and tastes so much better than smoke, and once you find a nic level and a device that provides the throat hit you like, you will never want to smoke again. There is a learning curve that includes adjustment to vaping in addition to finding what works for you.
Once the juice is loaded into the cartridges how long does it take to evaporate before it's unusable?
About a day. You may find that carts are not your favorite way to vape.

I smoke Pall Mall light 100's and smoke about a pack and a half a day. I smoke 4 or 5 before work, and one on the way to work in the car. I smoke one (sometimes 2) between morning and lunch, 2 or 3 on an hour lunch break, and 1 (sometimes 2) before I get off work. One on the way home, and about 10 to 15 in the afternoon. (Wow! I never wrote it all out like that before! I seriously smoke way too much!) I need something that I can take to work and not have to worry about fiddling with during the day. And I need a battery that will last all day. What would be the best "package" to start out with in a situation like this?
That's a tough one! This is where personal preference comes in. I'll describe myself and you can compare this to other's experiences. I smoked about 25+ Pall Mall non-filters a day; that wasn't enough to satisfy my nicotine urge but it was all the smoke I could tolerate. I loved the nicotine and the heavy throat hit. Today I find that 48mg juice and 5V of power lets me squeak by. I think this is about equivalent to normal "Full Flavor" analogs. I have not found the equivalent of non-filters. Many vapors were "Lights" smokers; vaping is more likely to work for them. Vaping can be a serious struggle for heavy smokers like me.

I hope at least one person is willing to spend the time to answer these questions. I feel like it's a lot to ask, but there does not seem to be any one place to get all of these questions answered. If you respond, thank you very much!
vBear, far more than one person here will be willing to help you! That is why we're here. Good luck in your investigation. I hope you choose to make that healthier choice for yourself and your loved ones. And I want to congratulate you on your excellent series of questions; they really got to the heart of the issue. I wish you all the best.

General Questions:
How long have electronic cigarettes been around? They've been gaining popularity over the last few years, not sure when they actually hit the market.
How safe is the vapor? (How easy is it to overdose on nicotine?) Vapor is pretty safe, using an e-juice 24mg strength or less makes it fairly difficult to really over do it and make yourself sick. That's not to say you couldn't do it, but you'd have to really be chain vaping and then you have no one to blame but yourself.
Why does Firefox think vapor is not spelled correctly?! (well that one is a little off topic :/) My Firefox is cool with it
How long have you been vaping? Been analog free for over 70 days now, but I had tried the e-cig before that, I just didn't by any spare atomizers, when my only one burned out I went back to analogs for a little bit, now I'm back on track, and I have plenty of spare atomizers at all times.
Did you start vaping to quit smoking, or for just a "safer" switch? I started vaping because I did want to quit smoking, and it worked well. now that I have made the initial investment I'm not in a hurry to quit. It's much less expensive, less damaging to my health, and I enjoy it immensely.
Did it work? Hells yes.
How long did it take you to quit? Took me maybe 24 hours, but took my wife a couple weeks to totally quit. A buddy of mine just quit after 2 days with his first e-cig ever.
Can you give a good reason too start using an electronic cigarette other than health reasons? You'll save money, smell better, and you can use them indoors (most places).


Choice and Price:
In your experience, have you actually saved money by switching? Definitely, and the savings continue to get better after you make the initial investment.
Compared to cartons of cigarettes, what was your start-up cost? You can get a good 510 starter kit for around $50, plus some extra juice, you're lookin' at about $80-$100
What is the difference between a 510 and a pen-style? (Man I hope that's not the same thing) They are just 2 different models of atomizers, 510 is more compact.
Is there a comparison chart for all the brands and/or models? ??? You'll find 510s and 801 penstyles are favorites here.


Usage:
On average, how long does a bottle of juice last you? When I'm at home using my 5V passthrough all day I can go through 3ml in a day. At 3.7V maybe 1.5ml-2ml
On average, how long does a battery last before you have to buy a new one? The manual batteries tend to hold up longer, but I'd recommend buying a mod unit that uses cheaper batteries.
On average, how long does a vaporizer last before you have to buy a new one? Most atomizers should last around 1 month, anything after that is a bonus in my mind. But with good care they can last much longer than 1 month.
Compared to smoking a normal cigarette, do you have to reload (rejuice) your e-cig? If so, how many times? When direct dripping I'd say it's pretty close to about 1/2-1 cig every time I add 3 drops, with a cartridge you get more time between fills.
Compared to smoking a normal cigarette, is smoking an e-cig as satisfying? For me it's more satisfying in many ways, but there is an adjustment phase.
Once the juice is loaded into the cartridges how long does it take to evaporate before it's unusable? Left open to the air I wouldn't leave it more than 24 hrs, but I really don't know, i prefer to direct drip myself and fill cartridges (if I'm using one) right before I use it.

Those are just my opinions and experiences, so keep asking around and you'll find all the answers you need. Welcome to the forum.

In Cali it looks like the republican primary is closed, so only registered republicans can vote to decide who the republican presidential candidate will be. The dem primary is simi-closed, so independents can vote in that one.

Wow - my 500th post.