Helping a friend get back into vaping

[DaveJ]

I/we have a good friend who wishes to have another go at vaping to quit the smokes. I'm trying to make sure it works for her this time around.

Some details:

She's an amateur singer (pretty good too) at her local church and is now finding voice/breathing issues from smoking. She's tried vaping before - using Ego "pen" batteries with Evod atties. It worked for a while until throat irritations and a lack of motivation to follow through saw her attempt fail within a couple of months. I think her throat irritation may have come from PG harshness - while using a highish PG ratio that last time. I did mix up some half/half PG/VG at the time but her motivation had waned so we couldn't prove that assumption one way or the other.

I'll also mention that, for her, money is tightish and that she lives over 90 minutes away ... so it's not easy to "just pop around" to sort anything out.

So - this is what I'm thinking. I'm seeking further advice/input from you guys to help ensure we get it right for her this time around.

* I've a bunch of surplus Evods and Protanks (V2) lying around here. Since she says they worked fine for her last time, that's one thing she doesn't need to buy. Perhaps, in time, she may "upgrade" but we both think they'll do fine for her to start with.

* I've just heard of the more recent SOCC coils now available for the Evod/Protanks which seem better regarded than the older silica wicked coils. Apparently they'll better wick higher VG ratios than the old silica wicks - so I've already ordered a bunch.

* She's what I'd call a "lightish" smoker - where a packet of 20 will last her 3 to 4 days - so I'm guessing that she will not require a super high Nic ratio. I'm planning to start her on around the 12 mg/ml mark. With the Evods, I'm thinking that ought not be too strong. Any input or suggestions about this?

* I'm planning on getting her to sample some flavours I've got here - then select several for her to start with. I'll mix her several weeks worth of juice to see how it goes. We can then evaluate how she's going with nic/pg ratios. I'm thinking I ought be able to run up to about 50 or 60 % VG in those newer socc coils... based on playing with a Protank myself using an older silica wick (50/50 PGVG @ a heady 7 watts!). It's been running OK for me these last coupla days. Maybe I might go up to 70 % VG with a dash of distilled water to guarantee good wicking.... Anyone have other comments or suggestions?

Once she's started and got her nic and PG/VG ratios sorted, then I'll lead her thro the maze of ordering juice, nic and mixing supplies. She's definitely very cautious and guarded about this aspect of vaping.

* Battery/mod? Last time she was happy with the Ego pen style battery (900 mAh - not even a "spinner"). We need to buy something as I've no suitable "hand me down" devices for her. A mod charged by USB is her strong preference - she has no interest in separate removable batteries/charger at this stage. Based on my own experience, a "VW something" provided a far more satisfying and consistent vape so that's what I'm leaning toward getting for her. She's seen some of my "big manly mods" and is very much against those (can't understand why  ) For simplicity, I'm thinking of something like the iStick 30 which is available in "pretty" girly pink and proven to be a fairly reliable and consistent performer. Any other suggestions for affordable reliable mods?

Yep - I've a number of 510 to Ego adapters floating around here so I can make the Evods (ego threaded) work in any current 510 mod.

What else do I need to consider? Have I missed anything?

Thanks all for any advice you can offer.



** Just for information - she's coming around here latish next week to look over possible mods, sample juices and look at options. After that, there'll be a web ordering frenzy. When those orders land, I'll then be setting her going.

[pipeman01]

sounds spot on to me. good luck!

[norfolkphil]

Maybe a second mod, for when the first is charging.
Backups are required by law

Otherwise looks great. Good luck from me also.

[Perpetua]

This although perhaps considered to be a little ' outdated ' makes an excellent starter/spares set up ( I think ) DaveJ . . . .

www.fasttech.com/p/1854801

In it's day the Kanger Emow with it's airflow control was and still is for me a jolly good tank . . . . . and it's compatible with the heads you have/have ordered - I use the standard dual coil heads with VG heavy homebrew and have no wicking issues. Additionally it's a 510 connection so no need for an adapter.

Good luck with helping your friend.

[dagl]

Tell her to look in here!
Look forward to meeting her..

[DaveJ]

Oct 7, 2016 13:37:33 GMT norfolkphil said:

Maybe a second mod, for when the first is charging.
Backups are required by law

Yes. Right you are, thank you! On review of my own words, I might have given the idea that I was looking at only obtaining just one mod. That's not me. I'm thinking no less than three. Just so she can have at least two flavours on the go concurrently with the third on charge... or, well, just in case.

I'm a firm believer in backups too. Especially when we don't have vaping shops ...

Oct 7, 2016 19:01:42 GMT Perpetua said:

This although perhaps considered to be a little ' outdated ' makes an excellent starter/spares set up ( I think ) DaveJ . . . .

www.fasttech.com/p/1854801

In it's day the Kanger Emow with it's airflow control was and still is for me a jolly good tank . . . . . and it's compatible with the heads you have/have ordered - I use the standard dual coil heads with VG heavy homebrew and have no wicking issues. Additionally it's a 510 connection so no need for an adapter.

Good luck with helping your friend.

Thanks Perpetua. I've heard of the Emow but have never seen one. Well worth knowing about. I'll keep them in mind.

But I'm not sure the Emow you point to and my Evods/Protanks will take the same coils. There were TWO Evods - the original that had single coils (first with silica wicks, then the later "organic cotton" Socc coils). The later second version of the Evod used (I think) different dual coils. I do not think (but am far from certain) the dual coils from the second version of the EVOD will retro fit to the first version.

I do know the coils from the original EVOD works with the first and second versions of the Protanks.

In anycase, since I've found some original Evods, Protanks and related parts (from Dave's Vaping Crypt - or that cupboard where all the old vaping crap gathers) we'll start with those and see how she goes. I've certainly no issue with spending some more dollars if it'd help (although I've gotta remember she's not got the budget I do). Shame she's not into bigger mods - there's some Vamos, SIDs and nipple top 18650s hanging around unloved too.


And, my oh my - those older Protanks/Evods are tight on the draw! Even the ones I've drilled out are still tight - even by original Kayfun Lite standards.

Oct 7, 2016 22:17:09 GMT dagl said:

Tell her to look in here!
Look forward to meeting her..

Will do, thank you. But unfortunately she's not really the forum type so I won't hold by breath...


General comment:
Since I've a few atties and given she's not super technical (she ain't silly though) I was thinking I'd give her a whole bunch of clean fresh atties with the instructions "Don't stress if something isn't playing right. If you cannot easily fix something, put it aside, grab another, break out a new coil, fill it up and carry on. Put the suspect one aside and we'll look at it together when next we meet up."

I'm wanting to get her going and be properly off the smokes first, then I'll SLOWLY ease her into all the other mysteries of juice, ordering and maintenance.


Thanks all for your useful thoughts so far.

[Perpetua]

Oct 8, 2016 5:53:27 GMT DaveJ said:

Oct 7, 2016 19:01:42 GMT Perpetua said:

This although perhaps considered to be a little ' outdated ' makes an excellent starter/spares set up ( I think ) DaveJ . . . .

www.fasttech.com/p/1854801

In it's day the Kanger Emow with it's airflow control was and still is for me a jolly good tank . . . . . and it's compatible with the heads you have/have ordered - I use the standard dual coil heads with VG heavy homebrew and have no wicking issues. Additionally it's a 510 connection so no need for an adapter.

Good luck with helping your friend.

Thanks Perpetua. I've heard of the Emow but have never seen one. Well worth knowing about. I'll keep them in mind.

But I'm not sure the Emow you point to and my Evods/Protanks will take the same coils. There were TWO Evods - the original that had single coils (first with silica wicks, then the later "organic cotton" Socc coils). The later second version of the Evod used (I think) different dual coils. I do not think (but am far from certain) the dual coils from the second version of the EVOD will retro fit to the first version.

I do know the coils from the original EVOD works with the first and second versions of the Protanks.

In anycase, since I've found some original Evods, Protanks and related parts (from Dave's Vaping Crypt - or that cupboard where all the old vaping crap gathers) we'll start with those and see how she goes. I've certainly no issue with spending some more dollars if it'd help (although I've gotta remember she's not got the budget I do). Shame she's not into bigger mods - there's some Vamos, SIDs and nipple top 18650s hanging around unloved too.


And, my oh my - those older Protanks/Evods are tight on the draw! Even the ones I've drilled out are still tight - even by original Kayfun Lite standards.

 

Lol . . . . I don't find them tight at all Dave and I happily go from an airy subohm type vape, to a Protank/Evod/Emow/Aerotank/Genitank without noticing much of a difference enjoyment wise - but that's just me and my weirdness.

The airflow control does give greater flexibilty for sure.

These are the dual coils I use between all those tanks:

www.fasttech.com/p/1640704

www.fasttech.com/p/1727001

In addition to the single coil heads silica or cotton . . . . . all can be re-wicked, which I do - although only to single on the duals.

[DaveJ]

Oct 8, 2016 6:09:45 GMT Perpetua said:

...
Lol . . . . I don't find them tight at all Dave and I happily go from an airy subohm type vape, to a Protank/Evod/Emow/Aerotank/Genitank without noticing much of a difference enjoyment wise - but that's just me and my weirdness.

Yeah, we are all diffferent.

I like that Kayfun Lite draw but detest the latest open airy tanks. Even the "Roxy" Merlin - with the "special insert for MTL" is way too open for me. But that one I sorted with a bit of DIY homebrew shed jiggery.

Just another example of different strokes for different folks I s'pose.

Oct 8, 2016 6:09:45 GMT Perpetua said:

These are the dual coils I use between all those tanks:

www.fasttech.com/p/1640704

www.fasttech.com/p/1727001

AND that second link - the coils look different to the ones I'm familiar with and the notes for it say EVOD 2 not the original EVOD. That said - donno iffn they will fit the original or not. Not that it is an issue just at the moment for me. Outa interest, these are the ones that I have on the way :linky

Oct 8, 2016 6:09:45 GMT Perpetua said:

In addition to the single coil heads silica or cotton . . . . . all can be re-wicked, which I do - although only to single on the duals.

Argh! What horrid memories. 

My first recoiling was on the original Evod/Protank silica wick jobbies. Nasty, tiny, fiddly horrid little things - especially with old man eyes. I got 'em going, but damn they are fiddly. More modern atties are certainly more coil builder friendly than those things. You might notice in the pic I posted above - the left hand side bag - them's mostly recoiled evod heads. But given these atties are going to a non techie newby, I figured premade was the go.

[gill2009]

  She's very lucky to have a friend like you DaveJ 

[phtumshk]

Ill throw the egoaio in the mix if you want faff free vapin.
Other than the glass tank (FFS dont drop it) there great bits of kit.
I recently got the xl version, 2300mahs, 4mls easy fill, party lights?.
The mrs loves it, swore shed never give up on the h4s.
Regular
XL
Coils

[DaveJ]

Oct 8, 2016 9:19:00 GMT phtumshk said:

Ill throw the egoaio in the mix if you want faff free vapin.
Other than the glass tank (FFS dont drop it) there great bits of kit.
I recently got the xl version, 2300mahs, 4mls easy fill, party lights?.
The mrs loves it, swore shed never give up on the h4s.
Regular
XL
Coils

Thank you. I've heard of the AIO but never looked at it before. Appears to be well regarded as a first beginners setup around the traps. It looks unregulated to me... and, being a VW regulated fella, I'm not really seeing what, if any extra issues that may cause...

But I'll certainly offer it up as one option to her when she's here later this coming week.

[DaveJ]

Oct 8, 2016 9:08:32 GMT gill2009 said:

  She's very lucky to have a friend like you DaveJ  

*Blush*   Well, shucks .....

Seriously - that what friends do.

Fact is, life has delivered this friend a bunch of blows for over a decade - and the effects will haunt her for quite a while to come. That's the prime reason she's been back on the smokes and had quite a time trying to get off 'em. We've been ready to help with the vape thing for a good long while and have just been waiting until she was ready to give it another go. I'm just hoping we can make it work for her this time around.

[Perpetua]

Oct 8, 2016 6:33:50 GMT DaveJ said:

Oct 8, 2016 6:09:45 GMT Perpetua said:

...
Lol . . . . I don't find them tight at all Dave and I happily go from an airy subohm type vape, to a Protank/Evod/Emow/Aerotank/Genitank without noticing much of a difference enjoyment wise - but that's just me and my weirdness.

Yeah, we are all diffferent.

I like that Kayfun Lite draw but detest the latest open airy tanks. Even the "Roxy" Merlin - with the "special insert for MTL" is way too open for me. But that one I sorted with a bit of DIY homebrew shed jiggery.

Just another example of different strokes for different folks I s'pose.

And a boring ole world it would be if we all liked the same Dave, in anything.

Oct 8, 2016 6:33:50 GMT DaveJ said:

Oct 8, 2016 6:09:45 GMT Perpetua said:

These are the dual coils I use between all those tanks:

www.fasttech.com/p/1640704

www.fasttech.com/p/1727001

AND that second link - the coils look different to the ones I'm familiar with and the notes for it say EVOD 2 not the original EVOD. That said - donno iffn they will fit the original or not. Not that it is an issue just at the moment for me. Outa interest, these are the ones that I have on the way :linky

You've got me on a mission now Dave . . . . so I've just had a rummage through my very elderly Evod's, they only take the coil heads with the shorter chimney I've found - so the Evod's I'm still using ( with the longer one dual/single coil  ) must be an updated version - completely unbeknown to me.

I do remember vaguely Kanger at some stage making their Evod/Protank heads ' universal ' so perhaps that's when it happened.

Oct 8, 2016 6:33:50 GMT DaveJ said:

Oct 8, 2016 6:09:45 GMT Perpetua said:

In addition to the single coil heads silica or cotton . . . . . all can be re-wicked, which I do - although only to single on the duals.

Argh! What horrid memories. 

My first recoiling was on the original Evod/Protank silica wick jobbies. Nasty, tiny, fiddly horrid little things - especially with old man eyes. I got 'em going, but damn they are fiddly. More modern atties are certainly more coil builder friendly than those things. You might notice in the pic I posted above - the left hand side bag - them's mostly recoiled evod heads. But given these atties are going to a non techie newby, I figured premade was the go.

Ready coils . . . . I'm a Fan Massive of them.

Can't be doing with twiddly, twirly stuff myself Dave - so I have a veritable arsenal of the things, a ready coil for every occasion me. 

Incase you get the job of recoiling - I use these, as a silica wick doesn't bother me:

www.fasttech.com/product/3586006

www.fasttech.com/products/3033/10007181/1591806

[DaveJ]

Oct 8, 2016 14:05:37 GMT Perpetua said:

...You've got me on a mission now Dave . . . . so I've just had a rummage through my very elderly Evod's, they only take the coil heads with the shorter chimney I've found - so the Evod's I'm still using ( with the longer one dual/single coil  ) must be an updated version - completely unbeknown to me.

I do remember vaguely Kanger at some stage making their Evod/Protank heads ' universal ' so perhaps that's when it happened.

Ah! You may onto something with that, Perpetua.

My evods will take both the long and short "chimneys". Maybe that means mine will also take those fancy newer dual coil heads too? Donno...

What I do know is mine are just on 3 years old (bought when I first started vaping)... and given your join date here I'm guessing you've been vaping lots longer than me, so I'm also assuming your older evods may well be older than mine and thus predate that Kanger change. There's also the possibility mine were clones (back then, the vendor was less than reliable about a good many things - but I didn't know at the time). I've seen comments in the FT remarks sections about some heads only fitting clones but not originals - or vice versa. *shrug*.

Oct 8, 2016 14:05:37 GMT Perpetua said:

....
Ready coils . . . . I'm a Fan Massive of them.

Can't be doing with twiddly, twirly stuff myself Dave - so I have a veritable arsenal of the things, a ready coil for every occasion me. 

Ah. I see. Well the actual coil winding was bad enough. That prompted me to make my coil jig (from my pics/woodworking/shed thread) which made that bit far easier for me. I also found the mounting - with that fiddly rubber sleeve and metal plug and getting it all to go together without collapsing the itty bitty flimsy coil then getting consistent resistance readings was the tedious part.

But yeah - premade would help lots.

Oct 8, 2016 14:05:37 GMT Perpetua said:

Incase you get the job of recoiling - I use these.....

Hell no! I'd rather go for a dentist appointment.

I'll help this lady set up. I'll guide her thro the maze of ordering and mixing and setups and I'll try to deal with any issues when they arise ... but re-coiling Evods for her? Nope. That's just a step too far! 

Seriously - being a little remote makes it harder to sort these things. Assuming she stays with it *fingers crossed*, we'll see what she wants/needs/likes and what works for her, then we'll consider what newer things may suit her and fit within her budget. My aim is to ensure she's ultimately completely self sufficient even if that takes a good long while - and she's certainly not the sort to be doing coils.

[Perpetua]

Oct 9, 2016 3:55:11 GMT DaveJ said:

Oct 8, 2016 14:05:37 GMT Perpetua said:

...You've got me on a mission now Dave . . . . so I've just had a rummage through my very elderly Evod's, they only take the coil heads with the shorter chimney I've found - so the Evod's I'm still using ( with the longer one dual/single coil  ) must be an updated version - completely unbeknown to me.

I do remember vaguely Kanger at some stage making their Evod/Protank heads ' universal ' so perhaps that's when it happened.

Ah! You may onto something with that, Perpetua.

My evods will take both the long and short "chimneys". Maybe that means mine will also take those fancy newer dual coil heads too? Donno...

What I do know is mine are just on 3 years old (bought when I first started vaping)... and given your join date here I'm guessing you've been vaping lots longer than me, so I'm also assuming your older evods may well be older than mine and thus predate that Kanger change. There's also the possibility mine were clones (back then, the vendor was less than reliable about a good many things - but I didn't know at the time). I've seen comments in the FT remarks sections about some heads only fitting clones but not originals - or vice versa. *shrug*.

They ought to in that case Dave . . . . I tried a dual head into a early FT clone, it screwed into the base all ok but the tank part wouldn't go over the longer chimney. Shame you don't live nearer otherwise I'd pop a couple in the post for you to try!


( Seven years next April I'll have been vaping - no one is more astounded than me! )

Oct 9, 2016 3:55:11 GMT DaveJ said:

Seriously - being a little remote makes it harder to sort these things. Assuming she stays with it *fingers crossed*, we'll see what she wants/needs/likes and what works for her, then we'll consider what newer things may suit her and fit within her budget. My aim is to ensure she's ultimately completely self sufficient even if that takes a good long while - and she's certainly not the sort to be doing coils.

Which is the main thing . . . . . although I find myself doing ' technicals ' never before dreamt of, so never say never!!!