Vaping

[BlackIceLSC]

Now many of you will scoff at this discussion...if you're a former smoker, you will understand...

I "vape". I started smoking cigarettes when I was 12 and liked it. I am 48 years old now. I didn't become an addicted smoker until junior year in high school because {get this}, the California public high school I attended ALLOWED smoking on campus....yes, in California!!! since I smoked, and all my friends did, and it was allowed, we did it. My parents and siblings do not smoke....

I always had cigarettes with me, and was a pack-a-day smoker...I LOVED it. But hated the cost, the smell on my clothes, I was respectful of others who didn't smoke, and eventually stopped smoking in my home and my cars. Then one day I decided I wanted to try to quit....lasted 3 weeks.
failed.

I was at a friends and some folks there had quit smoking cigarettes and were using e-cigarettes. They were quite expensive at the time for the whole "kit".
the e-cig itself, the juice, not knowing how they worked or if they would be a successful substitute for cigarettes...etc
it's a big risk to spend $75+ on a product that you dont know will work or not when you could spend that on cigarettes!

One friend let me try their e-cig...a few "puffs"....wow....that was nice. felt like a cigarette...I am not one who likes those giant plumes of vapor. I just needed something to get me off tobacco....and "drugs/grass/Mary-ja-wanna" isn't for me/never was.
If you smoke, you know that "mouth to lung" hit and that is what I needed.

The next day I went out and plunked down $95 for a rig. deciding on what "juice" was nearly impossible...I didn't like the "fruity" smelling crap...strawbrries and cream aint no substitute for this Marlboro man...

I settled on a tobacco-type flavor and officially quit cigarettes that day.

it's been 3 years. I still vape...I dont use it at work....I keep it in my car, and vape when I drive and when I'm home.

No more smell...I can breathe....I don't think about it every 5 minutes. I dont have to stand outside in the freezing temps to have a smoke...

so...that's me.... who else vapes?

what brand/style e-cig do you use? Juices?

I have an electronic cigarette store I use because of the customer service. They made me feel "not ignorant" when I walked in for the first time.

Digital Cigzz in Santa Rosa.

I have switched "styles" a few times and found a vegetable oil-based juice that I like so fewer chemicals, fewer "tank leaks" due to its thickness.

I currently prefer the all-in-one style tank and small tips for the better hit and less "cloud".

does anyone care to share their info?

I wont preach or defend my vaping...it works for me, there is no second-hand smoke, and I enjoy it. It helped me quit cigarettes. I've read both sides of the health studies and have concluded that the few risks of vaping are far less dangerous than the cigarettes I was nailing in to my coffin every day.

 

[soclose]

I, too, vape but don't use the 'kit' brands. I use 'smoke tips' which is a 2 piece unit. The 'tobacco' length is the battery part with a colored light at tip and the 'filter' end is the flavor piece which you can choose flavor you want. They screw together and come with charger(s) for battery. Can get flavors in different strength of nicotine or non-nicotine. I have a couple flavors (coffee & cinnamon) for those dessert times I crave. Otherwise I use the light tobacco flavor. It really helps, especially in places where smoking is not allowed. Although now a lot of places are banning the e-cigs. I do try to be considerate of others but some folks push this issue too much.
;'

 

[beerdog]

Smoking was allowed at my high school also. It was still very common in the 80's. Just had to be in the smoking area. I am the same age as you.

 

[steve]

Same in my high school, back then it was allowed in the outside courtyard area between the old and new building.

 

[Lvnmarks]

Tried both, Good stress reliever but never continued with them due to the cost.

Never had smoking aloud in school but I remember going to restaurants and having to choose a section, nowadays I couldn't even imagine someone lighting up inside a building.

 

[Lownslowlsc]

I smoked cigs since I was 15~ and have been vaping for 4 years, currently approaching mid 30's. I did plenty of research on the popular e-cig forum and made a $100 order full of stuff I thought I'd like. At this time it was hyped up and expensive stateside so I ordered from Fasttech. Used eGo type batteries, bottom coil clearomizers and Liqua juice.

The first two days after receiving the goods I had exactly one cig. Haven't smoked since. Started @ 18mg and quickly found out I needed much less, but it was nice for the first week while transitioning. Steadied out @ 12 and am currently at 10mg on low wattage.

Present day- I now make my own e-liquid. Liquid costs per year @ 2-3ml/day is about $75. That includes the VG, PG, NIC and flavorings. The initial measuring equipment was probably $30 and isn't a recurring cost. Use pre-made coils ($2 50qty) so that I can rebuild my own heads.

Currently own 3 1500+mah ego's, istick 100w, random 50w device and still use bottom coil clearomizers.


To date I've saved $3200, no longer cough up mysterious substances, no wheezing and have lowered my bp. Oh, and I don't smell either. I also enjoy not have ash all over my car or filmy windows.

 

[BlackIceLSC]

Wow...I thought this topic would get no replies, or same bashing.
It is amazing how much VAPING has come in to reality now.
I agree they are both bad for your health...inhaling ANYTHING besides air is bad for you, but with all the pharmaceutical companies out there making $trillions of $$$ off the public, lets face it, LIVING is DEADLY these days.

I find those who have never smoked, are turned off by "large clouds of fruity smoke"...they label all people who vape as "trendy hipsters" who do it to be cool.

Ummmm, that's how smoking by young people usually gets started. To me, Vaping is a substitute that has less side effects and is less harmful to others, it's more fulfilling to me, and they cost less than prescription medication that so many people are on.
between the chemicals in our food and water, the amount of drugs being produced/sold/consumed, and the state of ZOMBIE-LIKE behaviors of medicated people out there, puffing on a vaporized vegetable-oil based battery powered device that brings me pleasure sure is a better alternative.

Thanks for your feedback and candor people.

as for my "rigs"....I too use a e-go style battery, screw-in dual-coil atomizers and oil-based juices in 12mg nicotine strength, and steer clear of the fruity flavors....I use a tobacco or "spice" type e-liquid. I like the small "drip tips" for a better mouth-to-lung hit (those giant devices with large tip openings dont work for me). I've purchased 4 different style rigs and prefer the e-go style "pen like" vaporizer.

something like this:

I bought a Kanger-Tech mini like this, and although it works phenomenally, the mouth-to-lung hit is not my style...it would be if I smoked pot for that tip-to-lung straight inhale, but that's not how I vape:

the KangerTec mini:

It's pricey, but compared to the cost of cigarettes now, I spend more money on things that I enjoy instead of putting the tobacco company's executive's grand kids through college/law school/medical school.
Plus I can pretty much do everything without running out of breath.

Yea, cleaner cars, clothes, walls, windows, fingers, furniture and drapes is a nice perk too.

FWIW, and IMHO, the only smokers that I know who didn't like Vaping, are the smokers who didn't want to really quit in the first place. excuses as all they gave.
"I tried it but it leaked everywhere" or "I dont like the taste"...strangely, none of them even kept their e-cigs....who throws away something that works just to firm up their excuse?