Amazing changes already...

I've been a smoker since about 1990... That all changed this week, and boy can I tell the difference that vaping is making on my life.

For the past decade I have made half-hearted attempts to quit hammering coffin nails. Within the past 3-4 years I tried a few methods, but my self-control just couldn't overcome the addiction. Medications could get me halfway there, but I couldn't deal with side-effects.

I had tried cig-a-like's in the past, but of course it wasn't working... the crap flavor in my mouth along with the similar cost put an analog right back in my hand.

To keep a long story somewhat short(I've got to get some work done)... This week I decided to check out a B&M and see what has changed from the cig-a-like situation and get more info. There are 2 B&M's near me, which I live almost right between. I went to the first and ended up with an e-cheapo "pen" kit and a flavor sampler. I'll just say that from that visit and another stop by yesterday... I don't think I'll ever go back there again. I'll try to explain why a bit later.

The second store... They are AWESOME. I told them my story, somewhat related my "personality" to them, etc.
I also explained how the pen just wasn't "doing it for me", and also my displeasure with the "analog flavored" juice that the other place "let me leave with". I had learned from this site the benefit of flavors which makes sense to be as a way to break the habit. Along with the first B&M just trying to sell me something without learning anything... I left with "my brand" of analog flavoring. I have to thank my curiosity for making me grab a flavor sampler that was laying near their "ipad checkout" (hint for future rant about them).

Anyway, back the "good" B&M. They took time explaining EVERYTHING. We talked and there was some QnA about various things. Basically I put the pencil vape in my shirt pocket while doing things outside or driving down the road. But the biggest obstacles were what everyone deals with: MORNINGS. Along with the "I'm in the zone coding (or insert other task where you chain-smoke analogs). I kept seeing my weakness.

I ended up leaving with a GREAT understanding of how this was going to change my life for the better. Not to mention the big change in dealing with my nicotine dependence. I also left with a Mech Mod dripping 6mg Candy Watermelon.

Let a day go by and a day spent on VapingUnderground/Google/YouTube.... And I was on my way back. The reality of needing a backup to make sure I didn't fall backwards into buying analogs in a moment of weakness had hit me, along with the need for rebuild supplies... AND MORE FLAVOR!

This morning I wrapped my own coils. I have alot to learn, but the morning was easier to overcome with a decent flavor, a little more patience, and 6mg dripped (100% VG) (instead of the pen 12% 50/50). And did I say it's more fun?
Yay... Indoor clouds are pretty!

thanks for sharing your story and congrats on quitting the stinkies, tony. and welcome to VU!

Greetings and welcome sir!

You can do it, now you'll have a new addiction...shiny things. I started doing DIY ejuice late last month, so only a couple of weeks really. I really like what I've done so far. I've only made one recipie, and it's very simple, but I figure if I can perfect it in short order I'll be trying more flavours and complex recipies. So now the money I save on juice I can spend on, you know...shiney things Good luck, vape on!!

Hahaha, so true! It's already re-focused my addiction. I'm already dripping on 3 different "shiny things". The only bad thing that I "forgot" was battery life. I almost fell off the wagon last night, but the eGo style kit saved me since it was still fully charged. Too bad the flavor just wasn't all there.

This morning I found myself walking out of the B&M with a new charger, few more VTC5's and of course some Kanthal A1 (22ga and 26ga).
And who can leave a good shop without MORE FLAVA!

Another "stink free" day is in the books.
So far....
We've done laundry a few times and think we finally got the smell out. It's still there a bit, but my nose isn't completely clear yet.
We've been trying to get the smell out of the house, but it's going to take some time. We can see out the windshield in the truck, that's new... maybe I won't get headaches from blurred night drives.
There are actually walks outside now that are enjoyable instead of a laborious task . I can smell so many things that I barely noticed before. Cedar trees around here I've only been able to smell when we've had to clean up after storms. Now I can simply smell them after the rain... which I don't recall smelling so sweet itself.
Dinner was yet another story. My wife is still preparing food for a "smoker". She makes a dressing for a spinach salad that tasted perfectly fine until now... no, this isn't a bad thing. But from a smoker's perspective, the taste was "right on". Tonight I was SHOCKED at how strong the vinegar/oil dressing was, as my eye's watered from the taste of the vinegar. Nope, nothing had changed other than the ability to taste my food.
Did I mention the walks? We walked the property today and again tonight, and I could breathe without massive coughing. Yes, I coughed once or twice to clear my throat, but not the typical constant smokers cough.

I'm getting there, but honestly vaping has turned not only into a replacement for smoking which could extend my life. It is also turning into somewhat of a hobby. I just wish that some of the info that I'm finding wasn't so focused on a specific topic. From a noob standpoint, I can't figure out what best will suit my wants/needs. I can't figure out if I'm doing something correctly for the best benefit? There are times I want to ask a question but can't figure out how to word it. Coming from a eGo and going Mech as I've done, there isn't really a direct "guide" for preparing wicking, etc. I've figured it out as best I can, and think I've got a handle on it now, but whats missing for me is a "this is what happens and why" sort of guide. An example would be that I'm wondering about wicking within a coil on a mech. Is it best to have cotton directly through the middle of the coil or a smaller coil sitting on top of the wicking. Should the bottom of the coil have space under it having only the cotton to wick juice up into the center? I've been toying with different idea's and trying to figure it out myself, but really can't afford to keep trying only to have such a low ohm build that burns or a high ohm that barely vapes. So yes, I'm confused but being careful enough to keep my battery from blowing up.

So anyway... figured I might just keep adding to this intro post as time goes on. A record of my progress I guess, and what I learn as I go. I don't see a "buildlog" style area to continually update, so I'll keep it here. I see it fitting since that's how y'all will get yo know me

-T-

Oh, I forgot to mention my B&M experience. I really don't feel like typing much, but my frustrations might drag it out anyway.

I'll start with B&M #1 which frustrated me more once I figured out what happened.
I live "out in the sticks" so to speak. So I remembered seeing 2 B&M stores while we were out. I made the decision on the one that was nearest to me. Since my wife had our only other vehicle(I can't really drive a Pete 379 there), I had dad taking me into town. He was more than happy to try something to get me to quit. "Another cigarette?" is common from him whenever I lit up near him. So off we went.
Dad waited out in the parking lot, since I imagine he was uncomfortable due to the "head shop" appearance(neon/name/etc). I don't blame him.
Anyway, they weren't terribly busy with one customer ordering juice and there were two of them there. First guy took the juice order and handed off to the other that went back to "mix". I explain that I'm new and really want to quit tobacco and my only experience was cigalike's from truckstops. Which I also explained that I couldn't stand due to the "off flavor" and I always went back to analogs.
I attempted to converse enough to get as much information as I could and try to figure out the best fit. I had already googled the hell out of Vaping and had 100% decided that it was the way I wanted to go. I already knew that I wanted flavor!
I'm going to keep this part short since I don't think we need a step-by-step of what happened. What I'll do instead is give a basic idea of what I FEEL happened.

I've heard of a few guys here and other places mention something similar to a "vape-in-a-box" store. iPad/Square checkout, 90%+ pencil-style(ego style) hardware, and all the same flavors as each other. And from what I know now, this is the place. I later found after 3 more trips there to potentially get juice that the purveyor's don't vape(and never smoked) unless it's for show. Yes, I have given them a chance after all of this and bought juice there. Thanks to my mech mod and onyl having to change cotton now, I still have their "mixes" sitting here on my desk FULL. One of the weekend staff giggled when she told me that the owner's lanyard-bound ego is a hollow battery tube(weight bothered him I guess) and he'll vape a tasting battery when showing basic operation... their tasting juices are mixed 0MG.

Ok, so back to day one. I wanted flavor along with a decent nicotine replacement. Existing customer leaves and another comes in while I'm talking. She orders direct with the "mixing guy" and sits on a couch to wait. She overheard us talk and I could hear her mumble a few times but couldn't understand what she said. Cutting short, I left with a cheap store branded ego "kit". He asked what brand analogs I smoked and told the guy in back to mix 0.5oz (my brand) flavored at 18mg 50/50. All we had discussed at the time was what brand I smoked, and all I knew and had told him is that cigalikes didn't work for me and I wanted flavor. The girl behind me grumbled again. When I was paying for my kit and the gross tasting juice, I finally heard her... "I thought you wanted to quit, you better get a flavor you want instead of what that dumbs4!7 gives you". I snatched a ziplock baggie of 5 sample flavors and a few disposable tanks that were on the counter. Mixing guy was the one that started ringing me out since the guy I WAS talking to moved on to someone else.

When I got in the truck, dad was kinda curious what happened, etc. I pulled out the ego and gave it a drag. Nope, didn't taste like my brand at all. Tasted more like the cheap single disposable at the truckstop down the road. Color me disappointed.

The girl that was mumbling came out a minute or so after me. When she heard me cussing about the crappy flavor, she walked up to the truck and talked to me. She NEVER goes there, but in this case she was on her lunch break and was completely out of juice and needed something to tide her over until she could get to the good place. Apparently this place has been there a while, but the locals that feed him can't get to or don't know about the other store once town over. And they are all direct out of the box ego vapers constantly replacing batteries/tanks/juices/etc. Why would one need to do more, it reminds me of the tobacco stores all over the place that only sell analogs and have one small cooler with a few soda's in it.

From what she heard, she said I would be doing myself a favor by going to the other store and that they would listen and help me learn what I wanted to know. She did tell me that I hadn't completely thrown money away except on the analog flavored juice. Which at that point in time I figured I had done... signed up for another scenario I experienced with truckstop disposable cigalikes. Ok, so I let the analog flavored juice(and the tank the store guy filled with it) hit the parking lot and made sure dad flattened it on the way out. I drowned one disposable tank since I didn't know how to fill it, but accidentally filled the next one right and the Apple sample juice seemed to tide me over until I made it to the next B&M later that day. btw, it seemed to take about an hour to get the ass flavor out of my mouth enough to slightly taste the Apple sample at 10mg 50/50.

I'll leave this here for now and ramble about the "good" B&M experience and learning for another day... I got's clouds to dream of and figure out what food is in the kitchen so I can taste it finally

I think we all have those B&M horror stories. I live in a large metropolitan area with probably 15 to 20 B&M's and 85% of them are just like the first store you mentioned. I've been traveling further and further out in a large circle to all the B&M's I can find and I am constantly disappointed. It's a business and most of these places treat it that way. A lot of these places, at least in my area probably figure that they have to make bank while they can, not knowing how long they'll be able to keep their shop open. Others are just in it for a quick buck, but come off like they're " really into" vaping" and the "vaping" scene. The idea that they're all helping people quit smoking is sort of naïve, they don't care if you quit smoking, they care about you spending money in their shoddy little crap hole of a store. As far as the iPad, square credit card thing goes, I personally hate those things. I'd rather see an old hand cranked cash register, half the time they don't work or they have to "re-do" the receipt because "it didn't go through". I have been nothing but disappointed by the "OH" we're really hip vape store guys, or the I don't really know shit vape store guys ( and gals). All of that is why I started to do rebuildables and make my own juice. I do buy coils for my Silo tank, but only online. Whew, I almose feel better now. Just keep on vaping, find your own stuff, you won't regret it if you really do want to quit smoking. I smoked for over forty years, I had to quit, so when I finally made up my mind ( what little of it I have left ) I decided this is what I was gonna do and I haven't backed down yet...nor will I. Vape on my brethren and be well!!!

Welcome! And yes, you CAN do it. Besides the health aspects, vaping is a whole lot tastier, and a LOT more fun.

As of today, my NEW addiction has consumed me. I'm already chasing a custom box build. With my experience in electronics(very robust to say the least), I've already laid out a schematic and should have it laid out and made for assembly in the morning. I'll only have to wait for my parts which should be here by Friday. If all goes well, I'll have some extras I'll let go for cost. I only get pricing in semi-bulk from my suppliers(minimum orders) which are WAY cheaper than anywhere else I've seen for authentic components. Anyway, that's for another time.

As of today, the "toy" count has grown. I'm obviously attracted to shiny things

So far... the mech mod count has grown to 5 18650 mods and a 26650 mod. I am just LOVING the puffy clouds. It has turned into something fun to play with.
The habit of grabbing a stinky in a moment of boredom has now turned into... what can I completely envelop in a cloud and can I make it disappear.
If I manage to make the truck in the garage disappear, then we know I've gone too far!

So, as far as lifestyle changes...
I took a walk yesterday. We live on a ranch in TX on just at 120 acres. It was the first time ever that I was able to walk the perimeter of the whole property(in the rain) ending at my fathers house... and I didn't cough more than once or twice. Yes, I've been trying a few times a day since quitting analogs.
This was the first time I didn't stop for a single break, and the biggest change I noticed was not breaking into a major sweat. I normally break into a sweat just walking between houses and getting slightly winded if I walk more than a meander.

Yes I vape ALOT. I get into chain-dripping and putting a haze over my entire home office. But I get nothing worse than a funky taste in my mouth when I miss a drip and go dry(ick, cotton sucks... literally). Other than that... life is 100%. Oh, did I mention... I have a metric buttload of energy? I figure it's from the lack of chemi-crap in my bloodstream and tar/junk in my lungs. ie, being able to breathe more and gain the extra oxygen, I figure energy sucking analog's did that to me.

So yeah... I'm LOVING these changes and I'm here for good. Oh, and my truck doesn't smell like an ashtray.

btw, anyone "flick" an eGo out the truck window yet? lol, I did the "smoker butt-flick" out the window with my 'rescue ego'... "OH CRAP!"
Oh well, My mods are much heavier and I've realized that I don't need the window cracked open for air anymore... only to let the clouds out so I can see thru the windshield.

Vape-A-Day Pic...

Hahaha, ok well guess who's nic'd out a bit and lost track of time(aka forgot to go to bed ).
I've been 'interwebbing', so instead of chain smoking stinkies... I've been chain vaping. Tasty flavor btw.

Anywho... I went so far as to decide to start mixing my own juice. So.... I went on the hunt and went a bit crazy between Bull City and Vaperstek.
Yeah so... I'm hooked. Ya got me now. Whatcha gonna do with me? lol

Interested to hear how your custom mod comes out. Post some pics if you can. Also, I'm thinking of brewing some juice but have no clue how to build the flavors I like. Nice thread, keep it coming.

I sure will share, that's what a community is all about. I haven't 100% decided on a base build yet, but getting there. I have plenty of ideas

Anyway, on to today's experiences. I'm vaping "Flying Monkey" all day, which is a B&M flavor that another customer came up with by combining tasters. She's purty good at that, as I also have a few of her other mixes. My backup monotony breaker today is "Cake Pop Delux" which was my all-day from yesterday that I'm still stuck on.

So after getting nic'd last night and not getting to sleep until around 4:30am.... Dad called around 8am needing help with cattle.
We had round up 4 head to sell to a neighbor. One of the cows is what I call a "crazy bitch" and really hard to catch. She can sense when you want to round her up. The others are more or less food driven(who isn't?) and can be brought in close to the pen for easier movement. Since we only needed 4 out of the 20-25 in this herd, we sort them and let out who we don't need to keep inside. This gets kinda strenuous just due to Dad not wanting to stress them too much. We aren't using horses or anything to assist other than a few 4ft 1/2" pvc pipes for "shoo"ing them in the direction we want. You know... Dad's get their way, which overall used to tire me out running around the pen trying to sort out individual cows.

So, after the gates close and we have them all inside... few really long drags and my mod gets locked and put away safely. Now the fun begins.
By the time we are done, I find myself still wandering around working. Tightening chains on the panels that form the pen, chatting away at the cows trying to calm them down since they are now separated from their herd. Then it hit me like a brick to the forehead.
Normally about this time I'd be dragging major ass just to hurry up and try to get them in the loading chute before loading. And what is this?!?!? No sweat dripping off my forehead into my eyes. OMFG, this is working better than imagined. Still getting my nic-fix, but the extra energy from the increased oxygen I must be getting in my lungs. The free hand not holding a coffin-nail or blurred vision due to it sticking outta my mouth is a plus.

I'm starting to see more improvement in life every day. There is a major change that my wife is noticing as well. My mood has improved. I'm in a better mood more often than before. There seems to be a dramatic decrease in the depression I would feel during the day. Not to mention, fiddling with my vape toys does distract me(in a good way) when I lose focus mid-day.

Another interesting note from yesterday. When I went into town I realized something fairly big on the way home.
Do you remember doing a quick inventory on your way home? "Do I have enough packs at home to get me through tomorrow?" "Do I have enough $$ to stock up?" etc, etc, etc.
I did realize with just a couple 10ml juice bottles, I can stretch those out quite a while. And since I haven't found my absolute favorites, I have plenty here right now. I count 14x 10ml and 3x 30ml juice bottles in front of me right now. Even if I'm 100% broke for the next 2+ weeks... I'm all good. Take that stogies!

So glad you're gonna stick with it, it's a much healthier addiction ( shiny stuff ). I also have a background in electronics but ended up as a computer tech. Also, I have a niece and am a grand uncle to two children in Texas. My Sister and her ex used to live in Pasadena, outside Houston which is where my Niece and her Hopefully soon to be husband live. My Ex brother in-law ( cool guy ) is an underwater welder, and lives outside Galveston. I'm going to be down there in April or May next year for a wedding ( maybe) Will be terribly interested in the box mod you come up with!

I'll follow up with my box later as I'm reworking the schematic to make sure some safety issues are covered, etc.

After last nights lack of sleep, I've been telling myself to put down the 26650 mech and walk away.
Wrapped dual twisted 28g Kanthal @ 0.35 on a tobh juicing PMS 100%vg/3mNic. The clouds got more dense, but I'm not trying to throw massive clouds, I just like having to lean to the side to see the monitor
Anyway... I just put down the big shiny, and I'm going to take something smaller to the livingroom to kick back and veg in front of the tv for a bit before bed. I do plan on sleeping tonight

I really need to find a good source for good and safe 26650's now, I'm hooked on that thing.

Oh, and another thing. With a long duration habit like analogs, you tend to talk through an exhale. I've noticed with the thick fog in your throat, my vocal chords are affected changing my voice if I try the same now. rofl, my friends can definitely tell that I'm vaping even if I take a stealth hit just due to my voice changing when I talk. hahahaha, daily I learn something new and I'm really enjoying every tidbit of it.

Just a quick update as I've been(and still am) overloaded with work.
No slip-ups and still vaping away. I'm still discovering flavor in my food and experiencing things that bring back memories from 20+ years ago.
I haven't taken the time to post a vape-a-day pic.
I am a bit frustrated that usps seems to have lost my vapemail from 2 different sellers. 2 tracking numbers which one shows expected Friday and the other on Saturday. Neither shows arrival at the normal sort location. Both still show those Fri&Sat and in-transit, but nothing in the mailbox. Grrrrrr