Switching from cigarettes to vaping, need help getting started + recs.
January 30, 2024 1:13 PM Subscribe
I'm helping somebody switch to vaping after a failed attempt, but I know nothing about vaping. We're trying to avoid the most harmful aspects, so we're looking for a vape with a stainless steel heating element, and they'll be avoiding certain flavors. They struggled with harsh throat feel when they tried it last time.
To solve the throat feel issue, it seems like they'll have the best chance of success with using nicotine salts and avoiding high levels of PG.
So, how do we put this all together? Can you recommend a vape with a stainless steel element that takes nicotine salts? Or can elements get switched out? How does all of this work?
To solve the throat feel issue, it seems like they'll have the best chance of success with using nicotine salts and avoiding high levels of PG.
So, how do we put this all together? Can you recommend a vape with a stainless steel element that takes nicotine salts? Or can elements get switched out? How does all of this work?
Response by poster: The person won't be quitting nicotine, so we're looking for a long-term solution without the pitfalls of the crappy vapes.
posted by moira at 4:14 PM on January 30, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by moira at 4:14 PM on January 30, 2024 [1 favorite]
Mod note: One comment removed. Please don't include name calling in otherwise helpful advice, thanks!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:04 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:04 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A word of warning - - vaping makes it so easy to consume nicotine that I went from a decades long 2-3 cigarette a day habit to the equivalent of *over a pack* gaging by the amount of nicotine in my vape. I actually decided to go back to cigarettes to cut down before I eventually decided to quit altogether.
posted by ananci at 6:45 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by ananci at 6:45 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I switched from rollies to vaping about 8 years ago. There's a whole range of how much you can get into knowing about it vs. "just give me something that works." I heartily recommend visiting a brick/mortar vape shop and talking with the people there. They tend to be enthusiasts, all too happy to help someone get set up.
There are several separate elements.
- The mod: The battery containing machine. I chose a somewhat top-shelf, single battery model (SX Mini) several years ago and I'm very pleased with that choice. This part contains the "brain" that directs the experience.
- The tank: Contains the coil and the juice. Top-loading is a game-changer. (I'm fond of the VOOPOO TPP-X Pod)
- The coil: Fits the specific tank, but Ω varies according to the wattage the mod is set to for that vaper's preference (takes some trial/error possibly to find an individual's sweet spot)
- The juice: Varies according to Vg/Pg ratio (70Vg/30Pg is much easier on the throat) and nicotine level. The more nicotine, the more you taste the nicotine, and it's not delicious. Many people start their transition at 12 or 6mg/ml and go down to 3mg/ml. The ones you buy in a gas station are f'n ridiculously high nicotine (Juul 59mg/ml and I can't even)
- The battery/batteries: I've been very happy with my single battery mod, but some take a pair that must remain "married", meaning the set stays together and has an identical charging itinerary. There's some variation here, but possibly not worth going into. Buy what they give you at the shop.
I try to patronize my local shop, mostly to support the presence of people there to help people get set up. It's a great resource. Once your friend knows what they want, though, the ongoing juice and coils are found much cheaper online.
posted by droomoord at 6:49 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
There are several separate elements.
- The mod: The battery containing machine. I chose a somewhat top-shelf, single battery model (SX Mini) several years ago and I'm very pleased with that choice. This part contains the "brain" that directs the experience.
- The tank: Contains the coil and the juice. Top-loading is a game-changer. (I'm fond of the VOOPOO TPP-X Pod)
- The coil: Fits the specific tank, but Ω varies according to the wattage the mod is set to for that vaper's preference (takes some trial/error possibly to find an individual's sweet spot)
- The juice: Varies according to Vg/Pg ratio (70Vg/30Pg is much easier on the throat) and nicotine level. The more nicotine, the more you taste the nicotine, and it's not delicious. Many people start their transition at 12 or 6mg/ml and go down to 3mg/ml. The ones you buy in a gas station are f'n ridiculously high nicotine (Juul 59mg/ml and I can't even)
- The battery/batteries: I've been very happy with my single battery mod, but some take a pair that must remain "married", meaning the set stays together and has an identical charging itinerary. There's some variation here, but possibly not worth going into. Buy what they give you at the shop.
I try to patronize my local shop, mostly to support the presence of people there to help people get set up. It's a great resource. Once your friend knows what they want, though, the ongoing juice and coils are found much cheaper online.
posted by droomoord at 6:49 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The harsh throat hit thing may be related to the use of regular nicotine - especially at higher levels (like someone quitting cigarettes would start with).
Trying an e-juice with nicotine salt might work better at higher levels. as for the vape, I've used a ton over the years and am using a geekvape mod right now with the stock tank/atomizer combo that comes in the starter kit. The one I use is fairly large -it takes two of those 3.7v Lithium Ion batteries (the pink ones). Its not the cheapest but it is well made and it takes a decent amount of abuse, water resistant, produces clouds of vapor and you can set the wattage manually to prevent going too high/hot (just make sure your atomizer is rated to run at that wattage)
Cheaper ones i've tried by smok were fine for what they were but they broke too easily for me but that's probably because I'm dropping them all the time, if they're more careful they could be just fine for their pruposes. Those had disposable refillable pods and were a bit like a extra thick bic lighter in size.
posted by some loser at 6:55 AM on January 31, 2024
Trying an e-juice with nicotine salt might work better at higher levels. as for the vape, I've used a ton over the years and am using a geekvape mod right now with the stock tank/atomizer combo that comes in the starter kit. The one I use is fairly large -it takes two of those 3.7v Lithium Ion batteries (the pink ones). Its not the cheapest but it is well made and it takes a decent amount of abuse, water resistant, produces clouds of vapor and you can set the wattage manually to prevent going too high/hot (just make sure your atomizer is rated to run at that wattage)
Cheaper ones i've tried by smok were fine for what they were but they broke too easily for me but that's probably because I'm dropping them all the time, if they're more careful they could be just fine for their pruposes. Those had disposable refillable pods and were a bit like a extra thick bic lighter in size.
posted by some loser at 6:55 AM on January 31, 2024
Best answer: Very important addendum: Make absolute sure the batteries stay in excellent condition with no flaws in the plastic coating. I woke up one morning to a couch fire because I learned this one late and it flew off the charger. Wraps are cheap and easy to install with a hair dryer if batteries start showing wear.
posted by droomoord at 6:57 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by droomoord at 6:57 AM on January 31, 2024 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone, this really helps. Don Pepino, I appreciate your advice as well; if the person wanted to quit, it would have been perfect.
posted by moira at 12:57 PM on January 31, 2024
posted by moira at 12:57 PM on January 31, 2024
Is there any reason for not switching to gum/lozenge/patch for getting the Nicotine fix?
Nicotine by itself is not as much a problem as the nicotine delivery methods, be they cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chew or vaping.
posted by indianbadger1 at 2:05 PM on February 1, 2024
Nicotine by itself is not as much a problem as the nicotine delivery methods, be they cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chew or vaping.
posted by indianbadger1 at 2:05 PM on February 1, 2024
Response by poster: Hi, that's a good question. She gets awful rashes and blisters with the patch. The gum/lozenges just take the edge off and don't really cut it for a nicotine fix. She did successfully quit a couple of years ago after some failed attempts, but lives part of the year around smokers, and when a death happened in the family, it was just too much. She's been smoking for around 50 years, and at this point, she's not motivated to quit, but expressed interest in switching vaping for a couple of reasons (primarily smell/convenience if I'm remembering correctly).
She knows that there are health risks to vaping, but I've read that they're significantly lower than cigarettes (like, around 95% less), especially when avoiding heating elements with heavy metals, more hazardous flavors associated with popcorn lung, and the E acetate which was causing EVALI. So those are our snowflakes.
posted by moira at 5:54 PM on February 1, 2024
She knows that there are health risks to vaping, but I've read that they're significantly lower than cigarettes (like, around 95% less), especially when avoiding heating elements with heavy metals, more hazardous flavors associated with popcorn lung, and the E acetate which was causing EVALI. So those are our snowflakes.
posted by moira at 5:54 PM on February 1, 2024
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posted by Don Pepino at 1:27 PM on January 30, 2024 [1 favorite]