The first thing we would like to state here is this: if you do not smoke, and are not looking for an alternative to smoking, this is not for you. We do not condone vaping as a hobby.
You’re ready to quit smoking and start vaping. So, what now?
So, maybe you have already tried out a cig-a-like type device, like a Blu or another disposable brand from your local supermarket. If you liked this alternative, or even if you haven’t tried a cig-like-device out yet, we’re ready to get you started and answer the most frequently asked questions that we hear.
How is vaping different to smoking?
The use of electronic cigarettes (known as vaping) is an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. Instead of being lit, an electronic cigarette vaporises a solution of water, nicotine & flavouring. There’s no smoke, no combustion – just vapour!
Characteristics of an electronic cigarette are:
- 95% Safer than smoking (NHS England)
- No tar or poisonous chemicals
- No second hand smoke
- No yellow teeth, fingers, or walls
- No lingering odours
- No carbon monoxide
Vaping has been around for a few years, but to a new vaper, it’s a mystery. Smokers try e-cigarettes when they want to stop smoking and when they wonder what all the fuss is about. Usually, someone wanting to quit will get the disposable type of e-cigarette to find out what it’s like. If the quitting smoker likes this new alternative, usually they move up to the non-disposable kits. It’s not really fair to call this alternative a cigarette, because they have almost nothing to do with commercially produced cigarettes. These e-cigarettes do provide nicotine, that substance that calms the smoker’s jangled nerves. Everything else about e-cigs is totally unique.
Step 1: Buy the Equipment
First, the new vaper will need the proper vaping equipment. They will need to become accustomed to not holding the device between two fingers like a cigarette. The e-cig is longer and heavier than a cigarette. Disposable e-cigs are fine for trying out this new alternative, but for the long-term the new vaper will need quality equipment they can put together in pretty much this order:
Mod: This houses the battery.
Tank: Holds the e-liquid.
Coil: This heats the juice to produce the vapour that is inhaled.
Drip-tip: This is where the vaper inhales.
Battery charger: Often via USB.
Step 2: Make Choices
Just like pack of cigarettes, the nicotine strength comes in variations. A nicotine strength of 0mg means no nicotine at all. A nicotine strength of 6mg would equal an ultra-light cigarette. A nicotine strength of 12mg would be like a pack of Marlboro Mediums. A nicotine strength of 18mg would be regular cigarette. The flavours range from woodsy to floral, fruity to veggie, coffee to tea and everything in between. The new vaper has quite a few decisions to make before they make their purchase.
Prices are important, but remember the pieces should last the smoker about one year. That’s cheap when smokers compare the cost of vaping to one year’s worth of cigarettes. It’s also cheap, because the health benefits of vaping over cigarette smoking are enormous.
Step 3: Maintenance
Everything needs cleaning every now and then and E-cigs are no different. Unscrew each piece, and have on hand paper towels, Q-tips and tweezers.
Drip-tip: roll a paper towel into a string. Push the towel up into the tip to remove any liquid that may have gotten in there.
Tank: if the tank is overfilled, it will leak. Blowing into the unscrewed end, hold a paper towel over the other end to catch the excess. Wipe threads and continue to the next piece.
Coils: there might be build-up on the threads between the battery and atomizer. Wipe the threads with a paper towel. Use the Q-tip to clean the inside of the coil. If one wants to deep clean the coil, hold it in the tweezers and run hot water through it. Allow it to dry overnight before vaping. Replace when the flavour of vape becomes burnt.
Now, let’s learn some technical terminology:
- “Mod” is the housing that contains the battery. This is what powers the heating of the coil that produces the vapour.
- “Coil” is the main part of your device that produces vapour. In tanks and beginner kits, one will use a pre-built coil, also referred to as an atomiser head.
- “Tank” is where the e-liquid is stored. It attaches to the battery.
- “Drip tip” is where you inhale from. It attaches to the top of the tank.
- E-Liquid is the flavoured liquid that will be heated to produce the vapour you inhale. There are thousands of flavors to choose from.
- “Battery Charger” – a way of recharging the battery in the mod. Some devices use batteries that can be removed from the device and charged using an external battery charger. Almost all devices can be charged by merely using a USB cable much like charging your phone.
What device should I start out with?
We sell many different devices. We have two very simple categories: one for beginners and one for more advanced users. All of these devices are basically the same concept: a battery, or mod that one inserts a battery into, a tank, and replaceable coils for the tank. The top device for starters is always changing, since new products are always coming out. We always recommend sticking to the top brands in the industry. Aspire, Eleaf, Innokin, Kangertech, Smok and Wismec are all very good brands. Wondering what our staff favourite is at the time of your order? E-mail us and we can tell you! You will want to start out with some sort of mod and a tank, though. Buying a tank means you can purchase pre-built coils, or atomiser heads, like we talked about earlier. This is the easiest and most convenient way to vape!
Ok, I have my new device. How do I start vaping?
Your tank will have two separate parts: Your base, which holds the coil, and the glass portion, which will hold the e-liquid. The first, and truly most important step to a good vaping experience, is to prime your coil. Unscrew the coil from the base of the tank. Put 2 small drops of liquid down the centre of your coil, allowing the liquid to soak into the cotton. There will be some small holes exposing cotton on the outside of the coil- dab a tiny bit of liquid there also. Re-screw your coil back into the base of the tank and reassemble. Now, fill up your tank. Try your hardest not to get liquid into the centre of the tank, or “chimney”, as this is where your vapour will come from, and where e-liquid will get into your mouth if you fill it by accident. Now, put your device to one side for 10 minutes. This will allow the coil time to fully prime with e-liquid. You only need to do this when installing a new coil or using your device for the first time. If your device allows the Wattage to be changed, set it to your desired level before vaping. Don’t know how high you can go? Look on the coil; the coil will show you what wattage range to use on your device.
You will know your coil needs to be changed when you start tasting an unfamiliar burnt taste. Then, just repeat these steps, and you’ll be ready to vape again!
How much e-liquid am I going to need or will I use?
This is impossible for us to estimate. It all depends on how frequently you vape. Always keep some e -liquid on hand, and, after a while, you’ll get an idea for how much liquid you use daily.
How do I properly care for my batteries if I am using a device with replaceable batteries (not internal)?
Battery safety is one of the most, if not the most, important issues when you are vaping. Not properly caring for your batteries can be detrimental and can cause serious injury. Do not, under any circumstance, toss your batteries around. Do not leave them in your pockets, purse, car, or rolling around in your backpack. We sell battery cases which will safely protect your batteries. Do not, under any circumstances, use batteries that have a rip or small tare in the wrap, especially if the battery is actually showing under the wrap! This can cause auto-firing in your device, which, left unnoticed and not resolved quickly, can cause very serious injury. Clean your batteries of any e-liquid before charging them. Always take very good care of your batteries! Not sure if what you’re using is safe? E-mail us. We will tell you! We cannot stress how important battery safety is.
E-Liquid. PG/VG ratios/ different flavourings / nicotine equivalencies
Now that the basics are out of the way, let’s address some common concerns, questions, or misconceptions. First off, vaping was not created for you to “blow clouds”. Vaping is a healthy alternative to smoking, and that is it. Yes, there is a very large group of people that vape with the intent to custom build their mods and RDA to be able to blow very large clouds of vapour, but this is not the goal. Additionally, a lot of safety concerns come with this phenomenon of “cloud chasing”. We have seen many instances where someone builds an RDA for an individual very dangerously, while using a no good battery, and the device can explode. There are so many dangers associated with building these different coils, and we do not condone or urge anyone to get involved in this.
A fun and huge positive of switching from smoking to vaping is your new community of friends. Whether it’s on FaceBook, Instagram, Reddit, or any other social media platform, you can find all kinds of people that can help you on your new journey to a healthier lifestyle.
If you’ve smoked traditional cigarettes for years, the term “e-cig” is an intriguing prospect. When you’re looking for a change, especially for an enhanced taste, e-cigarettes are a perfect product to keep your nicotine needs fulfilled. However, the e-cig industry has an entire vocabulary exclusive to its use. New vapers don’t need to worry about these terms because they are relatively simple to understand when you grasp the cigarette’s mechanical construction.
E-Liquid or E-Juice
Unlike traditional cigarettes with their dry material cores, e-cigs use a liquid, or e-juice. This liquid houses the nicotine, flavouring and vaporising components to create the vaping effect. It does not produce smoke when heated, but actually vaporises the liquid into a steam that is often visible. This vaping allows you to feel like you’re smoking, satisfying that physical and mental craving for a cloudy exhalation.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
This e-liquid component is the main flavour carrier. As you heat the e-liquid, you want to taste the particular flavour you chose, from tropical fruits to menthol. Propylene Glycol (PG) holds flavours well, giving you a rich taste with each vape. However, an e-liquid solution with 100 percent PG will not give you a proper vape cloud. It must be mixed with Vegetable Glycerin (VG) for the best effect.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
This e-liquid component offers the visible vapour which is composed of mainly water. The inhaling process gives the e-cig user the nicotine rush while exhaling the flavouring and water molecules. VG must generally be mixed with PG because flavouring isn’t held well with VG molecules. However, VG does offer the benefit of a softer throat hit. Very high PG concentrations can make users cough, creating an uncomfortable experience.
Atomiser / Coil
Although it sounds exotic, an atomiser is really just the e-cig’s heating element. The e-juice must be heated to a particular temperature to protect the physical e-cigarette along with the user’s mouth. It heats the liquid enough to vaporise it into a breathable mass. If it’s too cool, the juice cannot change physical states. Hot vapour is a potential hazard, making it crucial to have a quality e-cig.
FAQs:
How long will my battery last?
This will always vary based on the user. We like to equate battery life to the fuel in your car; how much you are using will vary based on how much you are driving. Additionally, voltage and wattage play a huge role in this. If you are using a mod with high wattage, the battery is pushing more power, meaning you’ll have to change it sooner. You’ll get a hang for how often you need to change/charge your battery after getting more familiar with your device.
Why did the light on my device change colour?
The light is changing to let you know you need to recharge your mod, or swap out your batteries. Always try to keep an extra battery on hand, or a car charger, if possible.
My tank is gurgling. Is that bad?
This is totally normal! Gurgling can come from flooding the coil, or from oxygen. If it’s oxygen, the sound will go away quickly. If i’s gurgling that’s troubling you, take the coil out of your tank and clean out from under it. Dry burn the coil a bit (fire the device with just the coil screwed in, no tank, for a second or so) to dry that extra liquid out.
Why isn’t my battery working?
Try clicking the power button 5 times, rapidly. The device should come on. Still not working? Plug the device in, let it charge, and try again.
How long will my coil last?
Let’s refer back to the battery usage question. This will always change depending on the user, as well as the wattage and what types of e-liquid you’re using. Typically, coils last anywhere from two weeks to two months.
My throat hurts when I vape.
Vaping is different from smoking cigarettes. If this happens, try using a) a different brand of e-liquid or b) a lower nicotine mg. Not all nicotines are created equally, and that is often the culprit for that annoying scratchy throat.
How long will my e-liquid last?
Another reference back to the coil and battery life here. This all depends on how much you are vaping. Again, you’ll get a hang for how much liquid to keep on hand after you get into it!
Are e-cigarettes cheaper than smoking?
In the long run, yes. A starter kit can cost from around £30 to £60, and the upkeep past that is coils (if using pre-built coils) and e-liquid. It works out much cheaper than the pack a day a lot of smokers are buying.
How similar is vaping to smoking?
Very similar! The vapour feels and looks like smoke, and satisfies those nicotine cravings. The beautiful thing about vaping is we can decide how much nicotine we are using, allowing us to slowly kick that nicotine craving all together!
Can I use my e-cigarette anywhere?
Every country has different laws. Depending on where you are, do some due diligent research to be sure you are in the right areas. Also, please be polite and respectful! Never try to vape in people’s faces, around small children, or entrances to businesses. We don’t want vaping to get a bad reputation.
I vape more than I smoked. Is that OK?
Anything is better than smoking. If you feel like you are vaping too much, perhaps you are needing more nicotine, and reduced that mg strength too quickly. Try to bump up your nicotine strength and see if that helps you not vape as much.
