Vaping: 2013-2014 Edition

[Engels]

I'm using the Aspire Mini Nautilus and I'm quite happy. How is the Atlantis better?

[MahrinSkel]

The point is to quit smoking, not replace it. 25mg. Jesus.

No, the point was to replace it. For me, anyway. I like nicotine, I like that "ZING!" when the surge hits my brain and the whole world just clicks into focus. It's pure brain candy.

Actually puffing is just overhead, flavor is to cover the bitterness of nicotine, vaping itself is a far superior alternative to the smell and constant bronchitis of burning plant material. Yeah, I'm an addict, so what?

--Dave

[Teleku]

Have they developed pure concentrated nicotine you can shoot straight into your arm yet?

[Yegolev]

There are patches and gum but somehow that just doesn't do it.  25mg is way too much for me, 8mg is on the high end and still does what I want.

[schild]

The point is to quit smoking, not replace it. 25mg. Jesus.

No, the point was to replace it. For me, anyway. I like nicotine, I like that "ZING!" when the surge hits my brain and the whole world just clicks into focus. It's pure brain candy.

Actually puffing is just overhead, flavor is to cover the bitterness of nicotine, vaping itself is a far superior alternative to the smell and constant bronchitis of burning plant material. Yeah, I'm an addict, so what?

--Dave

I am to. But 25mg is the result of your atomizer being an inefficient piece of dogshit. The Atlantis is so goddamn good at vaporizing nicotine that 3mg is enough for me these days.

I forgot to post links to the atlantis shit today, forgot. Might do it later. Need to dig up somewhere that offers the CF SubOhm tubes at or below retail.

I'm using the Aspire Mini Nautilus and I'm quite happy. How is the Atlantis better?

If you're happy with it, stick with it. The Atlantis is superior from every direction though - vapor, nic dispersal, flavor, blah blah. Literally everything. It's probably the best atomizer ever made for mass consumption.

[schild]

Have they developed pure concentrated nicotine you can shoot straight into your arm yet?

Yes, has the sideffect of death though.

[MahrinSkel]

I am to. But 25mg is the result of your atomizer being an inefficient piece of dogshit.

Ehh, I may look at some Vivi Nova based BDC designs, but really, I settled on 25mg when I had no options but the old style atomizers and it took that strength to equal the nicotine delivery of cigarettes. Now, I just find it convenient and predictable, I don't need more than a couple of puffs every half an hour or so unless I am really needing to concentrate, and I don't have to imitate a teapot when I do need to charge up.

I just don't want to have to constantly fiddle with the bits. Right now it's easy to keep two filled tanks and swap when I want a different flavor, and I change out cores every couple of weeks or whenever the flavor turns, whichever comes first.  I've built my RBA's just to know how, but the idea of doing it every week just holds no appeal.

As it stands, I can grab my gear and go, it all fits into a repurposed ammo belt pouch and I'm good for a few weeks. Packing all the little bits and bobs plus tools for RBA just to pop out for a weekend doesn't appeal.

--Dave

[Signe]

I'm also due for new kit.  I'm going to try out that Atlantis one.  Thanks!

Also... repurposed ammo belt pouch!  What an awesome idea!

[MahrinSkel]

I'm also due for new kit.  I'm going to try out that Atlantis one.  Thanks!

Also... repurposed ammo belt pouch!  What an awesome idea!

One of these, which apparently are no longer available in black. I was looking for something because a regulated 18650 tube mod is too big and heavy for a lanyard, which is what I had used before. Everything explicitly marketed as an e-cig carrier is crap, generally 20 bucks for cheap pleather. I started looking at flashlight holsters, and the "people who bought the Cree X1 Flashlight Holster also purchased...." links led me deep into militia/mercenary wishlist territory. But once I started looking at that kind of thing, I realized that an M4/M16 ammo pouch was perfect for my needs and both better and cheaper than anything explicitly designed for e-cigs.

I can stick a spare battery and an extra tank into the pistol mag section, and then put a couple of 20ml dropper bottles and a single-cell charger along with the Vamo V5 or the SID into the main portion. Tuck a couple of spare coils in there somewhere, and I'm set for a couple of weeks or more. Most of the time I just carry the rig and a single spare tank.

This one would probably work as well, although I'd probably remove the elastic from the front section.

--Dave

[Engels]

Ya, I wonder the looks I'd get at the mall with the thing strapped to my pants.

[MahrinSkel]

Ya, I wonder the looks I'd get at the mall with the thing strapped to my pants.

Really, none. Most people don't recognize it for what it is, it's just another odd-looking bit of belt paraphernalia. Only time I've been asked about it, it was by a guy who recognized the e-cig in it and wanted to know where I'd found a holster for it. Turned out he was in the Army and it was a forehead-slap moment for him, he'd never thought of using an ammo pouch that way.

Without an actual ammo clip in it, it doesn't look like anything dangerous.

--Dave

[Shatter]

The point is to quit smoking, not replace it. 25mg. Jesus.

I quit smoking in Feb 14 and started vaping, went to my doctor in June and she asked if I still was smoking, she's been trying to get me to quit since Ive known her.  Told her I quit in Feb but was vaping and from that I got a very surprising "that's great!".  My look made her expand on that comment with something like "Patching, gum, or vaping are all the same to me, any are better then smoking".  Saw her again this month,  told her I was still vaping and the basic reply was "Keep doing that if it keeps a cigarette out of your  mouth".  At this point I'm down to 3mg, been on that for 2 months and its working for me.  I guess I can say I achieved my 2014 resolution to quit smoking.   

[Signe]

Congrats, Shatter!  I don't usually carry my kit with me unless I'm going on a long-ish road trip.  I haven't tried vaping on a plane yet... has anyone?  I usually don't even put it in my carry on.  I wonder what they would if I did?  Must try. 

[Trippy]

Don't try it on a plane.

[Jimbo]

I think most hospitals banned it too.

If it keeps you from smoking real cigs great. Nicotine is nicotine, your going to mess with your health with it, but when I see the idiot Jenny advertising it, it repulses me even more. But I calm down and remember not all of you who do vaping are assholes, but just don't push it.

MahrinSkel, you ought to check out the local Army/Navy surplus stores for the an older 3 magazine M-16 pouch (when you say ammo pouch this is drilled into my head). They are cheap. M-16 3 Mag Pouch It might not be tall enough though...

The BAR magazine belt would be pretty cool looking to have too, not sure if it is tall enough.

[schild]

Nicotine is nicotine, your going to mess with your health with it

Don't say things like this in a vacuum, especially when you're a medical health professional. When you do things like that, you're propagating myth furthering the problem.

Show me how you're going to "mess your health with it."

[MahrinSkel]

Nicotine is mildly toxic, but every indication is that by itself it is less dangerous than, say, daily alcohol use. It can compound other conditions, especially when it comes to high blood pressure and heart conditions, on the other hand it has also been shown to have positive effects on conditions like dementia/Alzheimer's.

Compared to the many negative effects of smoking, nicotine by itself is nothing. It's more likely that the stuff used for flavoring will turn out to have negative consequences, or that nickel/chromium will outgas from the coils, or the chemicals used manufacturing them will turn out to be nasty even in trace amounts.  Nicotine itself has been studied a *lot*, and by itself has been shown to have very little problem.

Compared to nothing at all, there may turn out to be a comparatively minor health risk. Compared to smoking....

Anyway, I've vaped in hospitals and on planes, as long as you're not blowing clouds nobody cares.

--Dave

[Jimbo]

Sure, nicotine will increase your blood pressure, decrease the elastic capacity of your arteries, increase your heart rate, cause dependency issues, constricts your peripheral vascular system (which can increase your risk of peripheral vascular disease).

That said, I'm not saying it is going to kill you if you do it every now and then, but like anything, too much can cause problems. I'm sure Nebu (since he is a chemist and a doctor) can expand on it on the cellular level if we want to discuss that, but I'm just saying it isn't great and it isn't all bad.

Most disease process is a combination of factors, vaping is something you can control, so how much and how often can effect you. Plus the two commercials are repulsive to me (the one with Jenny McCarthy since she is an anti-vaccination and an idiot, and the dude selling e-cigs blue or something just strikes me as a smug asshole).

Enjoy it, if you like it great, just be respectful to others.

[Signe]

Having said "must try", I don't use nicotine at all anymore. 

[MahrinSkel]

All I know is that if I wasn't vaping, I'd be smoking, and that would certainly be a lot worse for me. "Second hand vapor" isn't a thing, you would have to be nearly kissing someone to actually get any of the nicotine into your system. Nicotine doesn't redeposit after it turns gaseous (that's why 100% PG mixes don't work), vaping doesn't leave residual smells (it can leave a very small amount of Vegetable Glycerin film on surfaces, but there won't be enough nicotine left in it to notice), and in general it's about as benign a habit as far as bystanders are concerned as singing along with your iPod.

And that's if you're blowing clouds, with even a minimal amount of discretion they won't even notice.

If there are health issues discovered they're probably going to be both very minor compared to smoking, and mostly the product of poor manufacturing practices (impure sources for liquids, chemical contamination of coils, etc.). Compared to what smoking did to my health, the worst I have gotten from vaping was leg cramps (from the PG early on) and some heart racing/palpitations when I had a tank leak in my pocket and soak my thigh with juice.

--Dave

[Signe]

I think he means other people shouldn't have to endure our second hand anythings.  When I smoked I was still always mindful of other people... my mother banged that into my head when a kid.  Having said that, I truly believe that my dog's second hand breath has knocked years off my lifespan.     I'll probably wait for an airline that opens a vaping class section.  Wouldn't that be fun!  I've noticed that people who vape love to chat about it.

[Pennilenko]

Which online retailer would be the most reliable to order an aspire atlantis and sub ohm battery from?

[schild]

Giant Vapes. I think the current coupon is bestcustomersever

Should work, if not I'll find another one.

[Pennilenko]

Thanks. They had everything I was looking for.

[schild]

They're slowly becoming the Amazon of Vaping. The guy who runs it is awesome and so are his employees. Had dinner with them last September and was legitimately upset he didn't make it to Houston in December. He's basically one of us, complete with awkwardly scheduled D&D group and elitist taste in obscure games.

[Signe]

Thank you, Aspire.  Thank you, Giant Vapes.  Thank you, Schild.  Got my stuff the other day.  Love it. 

I wish more juices started at 3mg instead of 6mg.  I would try more blends.  Heavily flavoured ones are okay in 0mg but I like the tobacco flavoured ones with a teeny bit of nicotine.  It gives it a nice little bite.

[Pennilenko]

This Atlantis is pretty fucking awesome. Thanks for recommending it Schild.

[schild]

Not a problem. My apologies for how much juice it goes through.

Also, never burn the coils. The taste will never leave and they are ruined unless you replace the wick yourself - which is totally not worth doing. I have... some experience with fucking up the coils.

[Malakili]

I know nothing about vaping, but I saw this article in the paper in case anyone is interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/opinion/will-the-fda-kill-off-e-cigs.html

[MahrinSkel]

The biggest barrier top a sensible, non-overkill approach to regulating ecigs is that the tobacco companies would love overkill.  Not only would it slow the rate at which their old business model would erode (they are about 99% responsible for the FUD that has reduced public confidence in ecigs) but they would be well positioned to dominate a marketplace where it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring a new product to market.

--Dave

[Nebu]

Not to get political, but this whole industry is going to affect politicians in VA, SC, NC, and GA in a big way.  That's a lot of GOP folks that will have to change their handouts to farmers/corps.  

[schild]

Yes, big tobacco and tobacco states are the most unhealthy thing about E-Cigs.

[Engels]

I know nothing about vaping, but I saw this article in the paper in case anyone is interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/opinion/will-the-fda-kill-off-e-cigs.html

Decent article.

Meanwhile in Washington state....There's a 95% tax being considered by the governor:

Dear Engels:
 
Thank you for contacting Governor Inslee regarding his electronic cigarette and vapor product proposals. He appreciates hearing your thoughts on this issue.
 
The Governor believes it is important for our state to consider the safety of our children first and foremost when crafting policies regarding e-cigarettes. Vapor products have proven particularly appealing and addictive to young people, particularly due to the amount of nicotine contained within them, their widespread availability, and their fruit and candy flavors. This is why the Governor's proposal includes provisions that will license retailers, prohibit Internet sales, ensure child-safe packaging, prohibit use on school property and restrict displays, over-the-counter sales and flavors that could be attractive to kids.
 
Additionally, it is important to note that while the health impacts of vapor products are still being researched, studies have found that many vapor products contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals, including cadmium, formaldehyde and lead. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends against the usage of these products.
 
Because of the addictive nature of the contents within vapor products, the Governor feels that it is important to consider taxation as a means for reducing consumption and preventing teen use. The proposed tax rate of 95 percent is consistent with the existing tax rate for non-cigarette tobacco products. It is important to note that, even with the addition of this tax, adult consumers of e-cigarettes would still pay far less for vapor products than traditional cigarettes.  
 
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns. The Governor truly appreciates your input.  
 
Sincerely,
 
Constituent Services
Office of Governor Jay Inslee

Bold emphasis mine.

[schild]

That's the standard issue bill that's being given to governments by Big Tobacco, likely Philip Morris. Texas just got hit with the same bullshit.

Edit: However, Texas hasn't legalized weed. Your governor is a double sack of shit for that.

[Engels]

Not that I doubt you, but can you provide me with a source for that 'Big Tobacco' standard issue bill?