Vaping - Kicking the Cigs!

[Webzcas]

Back at the beginning of October last year I finally kicked the cigarettes after having smoked for nigh on 25 years and going through over a packet a day. I have tried everything in the past, gum, patches, inhalators and even the dreaded Champix. Champix is seriously an awful drug and whilst it makes you give up, has some terrible side effects. However, my brother in law introduced me to vaping in October and I haven't looked back. Hence my new forum signature that I am proudly displaying.

Not only do I feel healthier and do not stink, but I also do not have the horrible morning smokers cough any more. But the downside or upside as I tend to look at it, is that vaping has become my new found 'hobby'.

Below is a pic of some of my vaping gear on one of the shelves in my new office at home. This is not all the equipment I have, as I have two small toolboxes with all the paraphernalia needed to build my own coils.

So besides me, are there any other vaping enthusiasts here at Casinomeister?

Show yourselves!

 

[secret2]

Congrats Webzcas!

It is a good thing to be off the cigs!

I quit September 13th, 2013.

When you say 'Vaping', do you mean the E-Cig? , or are they different?

I use an E-cig (Logic)....but am finding this is rough on my chest, also.

Good going!!

 

[chayton]

Good going for you! We've been vaping since last June. Ray's made more of a success of it as far as not smoking regular cigarettes, but I'm still smoking a bit. I've dropped way down though - instead of smoking a pack of 20/day, I'm at about a pack per week. I no longer smoke in the house or in the car, so that's made a huge difference.

We don't have much as far as equipment as you, just a few refillable tanks and extra burners etc, and we were able to find a little shop here in the city that sells all sorts of mods and juice from different suppliers.

 

[cncas123]

I quit a few months ago, because of a health scare, and i now use the e-cig if and when I want a nicotine buzz, which thankfully is only once every few days. My pal has moved to vaping full time from smoking, and has some good times experimenting with different blends that he makes up with the many flavours available, though I have to say the thought of Blueberry and Raspberry doesnt do it for me!!

 

[Webzcas]

Good going for you! We've been vaping since last June. Ray's made more of a success of it as far as not smoking regular cigarettes, but I'm still smoking a bit. I've dropped way down though - instead of smoking a pack of 20/day, I'm at about a pack per week. I no longer smoke in the house or in the car, so that's made a huge difference.

We don't have much as far as equipment as you, just a few refillable tanks and extra burners etc, and we were able to find a little shop here in the city that sells all sorts of mods and juice from different suppliers.

Most of the gear I have on my shelf and in my toolboxes has been bought online, including the juice. I use UK sellers mainly, but have bought a couple of good clone tanks and the stand in the pic from Fasttech.com who are based in China.

 

[Webzcas]

Congrats Webzcas!

It is a good thing to be off the cigs!

I quit September 13th, 2013.

When you say 'Vaping', do you mean the E-Cig? , or are they different?

I use an E-cig (Logic)....but am finding this is rough on my chest, also.

Good going!!

E-Cigs were the first generation. I moved quickly onto what you see in my pic which are known as advanced personal vapourisers. They are in all intents and purposes the same thing. But the APV's are a bit more techy, more powerful and produce better flavour and vapour.

The good thing is I have reduced my nicotine level to 6mg which is way lower than a cigarette and considerably lower than the 18mg which I started out on in October.

 

[Tirilej]

Well done Webzcas

I stopped too this time last year and I thought I would never smoke again.
I used an e-cig instead and it tasted just like a cigarette.

For some idiotic reason I started smoking again after just a few months, but I will give it another try soon.

So thanks for starting the thread. It does give me inspiration to try again.
I will stop. I have to!!

 

[chayton]

Most of the gear I have on my shelf and in my toolboxes has been bought online, including the juice. I use UK sellers mainly, but have bought a couple of good clone tanks and the stand in the pic from Fasttech.com who are based in China.

Here in Canada it's a little more difficult - they (THEY!!) are currently trying to ban or regulate vaping here. From "we don't know how dangerous it is" to "OMG kids are buying vaping gear to smoke weed" etc.

When those of us who smoke (or used to) know that it's all about $$$. When a pack of cigs costs between $10 and $14 and most of that is taxes, and doctors push medication like Champix (which isn't covered by health care, and - like you said - has masses of horrible side effects) bah...don't get me started.

Anyhow my point was that here at least it's more difficult to order online unless you're ordering from a Canadian company, and as far as I know, the only juice I can get here is made in Canada since nothing else can make it across the border. I suppose stands and stuff like that would be ok, but actual vaping stuff, not really.

It's ok though - I like to be able to try the flavors first anyhow, and they let us do that at this shop we go to. I smoke menthol cigs and right now I'm vaping a mix of spearmint gum and candy cane which is actually much better than it sounds.

 

[Webzcas]

Try an the second generation ecigs like the ones in my first post. I started with a cigalike but also had to wear a patch. I found the cigalikes did not produce enough vapour.

What is funny is now I cannot stand any of the tobacco flavour juices. I tend to vape fruit flavoured juices. At the moment though vaping mocca coffee. It is different class

There are also some great Youtube channels out there. For people struggling to kick the cigs, try IndoorSmokers. He reviews all the entry level kit which is a step up from the cigalikes.

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[Webzcas]

Here in Canada it's a little more difficult - they (THEY!!) are currently trying to ban or regulate vaping here. From "we don't know how dangerous it is" to "OMG kids are buying vaping gear to smoke weed" etc.

When those of us who smoke (or used to) know that it's all about $$$. When a pack of cigs costs between $10 and $14 and most of that is taxes, and doctors push medication like Champix (which isn't covered by health care, and - like you said - has masses of horrible side effects) bah...don't get me started.

Anyhow my point was that here at least it's more difficult to order online unless you're ordering from a Canadian company, and as far as I know, the only juice I can get here is made in Canada since nothing else can make it across the border. I suppose stands and stuff like that would be ok, but actual vaping stuff, not really.

It's ok though - I like to be able to try the flavors first anyhow, and they let us do that at this shop we go to. I smoke menthol cigs and right now I'm vaping a mix of spearmint gum and candy cane which is actually much better than it sounds.

Yeah, where there is money to be made along comes the govt - as we have seen with regards online gaming. They are doing something similar in Ohio at the moment too, trying to tax ejuice as they do tobacco products. All I know is from the research I have done is that vaping is far more healthier than smoking tobacco. Plus my kids don't moan about me stinking of cigs. Big Bonus!

 

[PaaskeDenmark]

Same here as Chayton. I did manage 3 or 4 months without touching the stinky fags. But have to admit do have couple each day still but none at weekends as don't smoke cigs at all at home

And then yeah once and awhile when drinking and been out with some mates I also do have more than a few ciggys. But yeah goal is to be 100% vaping again I have the Kangetech EMOW Mega which I am very happy about. Before this I just had some of the older kanger tanks. I don't really know if I wanna start messing with mods and building my own coils but might start this soon in couple of months me thinks

But what a massive difference now living in UK. I prob cost me around 20 quid MAX a month now vaping. Where before smoked 15-20 cigs benson hedges. They now cost over £9 a pack. You try do the calculating hehe.

So paying like £100 for a nice ecig mod is nothing compared to smelly fags just crazy how expensive it is in UK. But in one way only good.

 

[shannyls]

I tried the ecig (blu), but they made me cough. I moved on recently to a Kanger Tech mod pen with a Parmal eliquid 12-18mg of nicotine. I stopped smoking over a month and a half ago, and have no desire to start smoking again ever! They are trying to ban and regulate here in my state too... Seriously, I'll take my chances w/ 4 ingredients versus the 7000 chemicals created when smoking a cigarette, that are ACTUALLY known to cause all kinds of health problems. I don't do the sweet flavors, just cig flavors. I am so grateful because I've tried everything.

 

[Webzcas]

Don't buy BLU. They are owned by one of he big tobacco companies!

If you are in the UK, check out Myepack.co.uk - Best prices around and they sell everything from starter kits to mech mods.

 

[shannyls]

Yes no more money from me for the tobacco companies!! I'm in the US, and there are three shops within 10 minutes of me. I like the pens because you are in control of it all. The guys at one of the shops do all that drip stuff. From what I can tell, it just makes more vapor. I am still a newb though.

 

[weesie]

Webzcas,

My son could give you a run for your money........ I think he has lost track of just how many parts, tanks and whatever the other parts are called.

I have tried it but, to me, it is just not the same.

I have cut down to about 10 cigs a day, which is good for me.

 

[kou187]

I did try these e cigs last year but like someone else already mentioned it just wasn't the same. You dont get that hit that you get when you take a drag on a real ciggarette so it just didnt do it for me. But i will try again one day. Mean while i have been using a G Pen!!! Which i use to vapourise a certain other substance which isnt legal. Im sure you guys know what i mean.

 

[thebigs]

Been off the real fags for over 2 years now and been vaping since lol.
Saved a bloody fortune but lost it all on the slots but at least that's been more enjoyable.
I also prefer the fruit flavors and i keep trying the cherry ones and found some good ones.
Also noticed all the gear is much cheaper here than uk for juices and the like.
I pay anything between 2.20 to 4.50 for 10ml juices here.
anybody who does smoke give them a try.You might not be sure at first but before long it will be the best thing you will ever do.

 

[spintee]

Just the other day I stumbled across this vaping on you tube

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I thought to my self what are theses nutters doing lol,


I than done a quick research on it and did not reilze just how big it is,, I suppose any thinks got to be cheaper and better than a pack of cancer sticks,

My dads been on fags since he was a kid, He goes threw about 40 bensons a day, & In some motor way petrol stations there over £10 a pack, I member years back when he told me if they ever reach £5 a pack that's when he give up, He is still filing he's lungs up & cannot ever see him giving up, I bet he's last breath is going to be a puff on a stick,

 

[chayton]

When I first tried an ecig, I wanted something that looked like a cigarette. I got one of those cheap ones that actually have a little LED glowing light at the end and it was slim and just a little longer than cigarette sized. Physically it was what I wanted, but I found that after the first couple puffs, I wasn't getting enough of a hit, and puffing harder just made the vapor taste like crap - and it kept leaking juice and the battery seemed to only last a couple of hours, it was really more of a pain than anything.

I sprung for a mid-range kit with bigger tanks and batteries and it was a LOT better. It doesn't look like a cigarette, it's more like a big fountain pen, but once I got away from the idea that I needed something that LOOKED like a ciggie, it didn't take that long to get used to it.

Buying one of those cheap low quality ecigs might be a good starting point, but probably half the people who do that decide vaping isn't for them. Once you try a really quality vape with good juice, you'll definitely be able to tell the difference.

 

[suzecat]

Started smoking cigs at 12 and was good at it by 13. By age 20 the urge to quit struck me and by the time I actually quit at age 52, I can say smoking for 40 years was expensive and not very smart.

Cigs cost a quarter (25 cents) a pack of 20 when my habit began in 1966 and cost $5.90 a pack when I quit in 2006. Like most people, I tried everything from patches, gum, ecigs and cutting down which all failed miserably. The thing was that I was still addicted to nicotine!

The way I finally quit was going cold turkey. It sucked for the first week while the nicotine left my system. It really is best to do this step with no one around! It is also best to quit any substances which you usually do when smoking (coffee, tea, soda, weed, chocolate, etc.)

After clearing the nicotine out, step two is the psychological withdrawal. In many ways this is the harder part of quitting. After all these years of success, that still creeps in ever so often.

Quitting sucks and is well worth the effort.

 

[Jono777]

Well done Webzcas

I stopped too this time last year and I thought I would never smoke again.
I used an e-cig instead and it tasted just like a cigarette.

For some idiotic reason I started smoking again after just a few months, but I will give it another try soon.

So thanks for starting the thread. It does give me inspiration to try again.
I will stop. I have to!!

I have done almost word for word the same as above!

The only 'downside' I would say is that the e/vaping version doesn't have the same 'calming' or 'destress' effect as real fags.
Need to make an effort one day soon tho as its costing me £17 a day for our fags which is ridiculous

 

[Webzcas]

Have you tried a higher nicotine level? As you tend to get more of a throat hit that way. Also the more powerful mods provide more vapour production thus quelling the urge for a real cig.

 

[rshkrn]

Huge congrats to all who've kicked the butt

However I'd still urge you to give up vaping as well for good...... cos you have just reduced the no. of harmful substances you are taking in say from 3000 to about 300, and that danger of a lapse always lurks around....nicotine in any form is addictive-Period!

Believe me .........as long as you smoke ..........EVERYTHING revolves around planning the next cigarette (or e-cig).....for example you take important calls while smoking, you choose your restaurants and outings based on what's more convenient for a smoke, if you accomplish something small or big you decide to celebrate with yourself by having a cig.............you search desperately or ask around if that layover airport has a damn smoking room........you hit that feature finally but decide to go out for a quick one and come back to play the free spins

 

[Webzcas]

cos you have just reduced the no. of harmful substances you are taking in say from 3000 to about 300

That's actually not factually correct. By vaping I have reduced the number of harmful substances from 6000+ in tobacco of which 70 odd are known carcingens to a handful in vaping.

The eliquid I use contains nicotine which on it's own is no more harmful than caffeine. Plus PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin) ( Both of which are used in foods ) and of course flavourings. Whilst no long term studies have been completed, it is clear that vaping is far safer than smoking.

A really good site for unbiased information is

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which features all the studies performed by Dr Farsalinos, who is generally regarded as the most prominent researcher into the safety of vaping and ecigs.

Whilst no doubt vaping does contain some risks, these are minimal compared to that of smoking tobacco. With vaping there is no combustion or the thousands of toxins produced as a result of said combustion. Just the heating of the liquid soaked wick wrapped in a kanthal coil.

The biggest issue I had giving up in the past was the fact that even though NRT may replace the nicotine and reduce the craving, it did not replace the hand to mouth habit. Vaping does both and I enjoy it. I can't honestly say I will kick vaping into touch. I enjoy it too much, hence I will never go back to the cigarettes.

For me it has worked and done the impossible. I am happy in the knowledge that I have reduced my exposure to thousands of toxins as a result, so can deal with a handful that vaping may or may not produce.

Believe me .........as long as you smoke ......

I don't smoke and haven't smoked since October 6th 2014. Vaping is not smoking, period. Vaping is the production of a WATER VAPOUR by heating a coil which has a wick made of organic cotton soaked in eliquid. No smoke is produced by vaping, hence no exposure to the 6000 toxins created by the combustion and subsequent smoking of tobacco.

 

[rshkrn]

That's actually not factually correct. By vaping I have reduced the number of harmful substances from 6000+ in tobacco of which 70 odd are known carcingens to a handful in vaping.

The eliquid I use contains nicotine which on it's own is no more harmful that caffeine. Plus PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin) and of course flavourings. Whilst no long term studies have been completed, it is clear that vaping is far safer than smoking.

A really good site for unbiased information is

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which features all the studies performed by Dr Farsalinos, who is generally regarded as the most prominent researcher into the safety of vaping and ecigs.

I'd still say that a lot of the websites and research articles are funded or put there by the e-cig manufacturers....there's not too much research done in depth on this.

Anyways my point being.......handful or a dozen or a few hundred harmful substances, you are still knowingly and admittedly taking them ....but hey .....to each his own