What is vaping? Vaping is the term used to describe “smoking” from an e-cigarette or Personal Vaporizer (PV). Basically, a special liquid, which can contain nicotine, is heated by the atomizer of a PV. This produces vapors that are reminiscent of smoking a conventional or “analog” cigarette.
The benefits of vaping are believed to be many. First, people who vape are avoiding the carcinogens of analog cigarettes. Next, for those watching their budgets, vaping is rather cost-effective following he initial outlay, and as compared against the cost of buying analogs week after week. Also, it is very enjoyable. Many vendors offer e-liquid in various flavors and nicotine strengths. Exploring the various flavors, and learning to mix liquids on their own, is a large attraction for many people who enjoy vaping.
My husband vapes. He hasn’t touched an analog cigarette since January of this year. He notices that his sense of taste and smell has returned, and reports that it’s pleasant to find that he no longer reeks of smoke.
This page makes note of links to resources that he has found online, which can hopefully help people who are interested in vaping get started.
First, check out Grimm Green on YouTube. His videocasts are very informative.
The members of Vapers Forum tell it like it is — no pussy-footing around, or kow-towing. They’re a breath of fresh air!
As far as the hardware you need in order to get started, you need:
- An e-cigarette, aka “PV.” A PV consists of:
- A battery;
- An Atomizer;
- Cartridges for the juice (NOTE: Over time, vapers sometimes wish to move away from cartridges, and drip the juice directly on the atomizer.)
- Juice
Your options are several, and the choice you make is completely up to you. My husband started with a Joye 510. He already moved on to 6V vaping with a Silver Bullet.
Getting started can be overwhelming. Without insight from a good friend who had been vaping for some time, we might have thrown up our hands in confusion.
Keep in mind that as is true with anything electronic, parts can wear out over time. Atomizers will need to be replaced after a while, so keep a spare or two around. Batteries can also wear out. The lifespan depends upon the PV in use, and how often it’s charged. There are too many factors that impact the lifespans of atomizers (“atty’s”) and batteries to allow for a ballpark guess of how long it will take before a vaper needs to buy replacement parts — just keep in mind that sooner or later, it will be necessary.
E-liquid is the major consumable, of course — get a feel for your own rate of consumption in order to determine how often to order, and in what quantity.
Following is a list of links to vendors we have discovered, who provide good product and great service at reasonable prices.
AltSmoke –Home of the Silver Bullet and other PVs
Liquid Xpress — Great e-liquid selection
The House of Vapor — Good prices on liquids and PV parts
Mad Vapes — Parts for making your own PV
Lite Cig — Excellent prices on PVs and PV parts/accessories
Cig Techs — PVs and accessories, a distributer of the popular ‘Rath’ juice.
Vapers Forum — they tell it how it is.
Do you vape? Have you located other good vaping vendors? If so, sound off in Comments.
