AyeUp

[mel]

Hi, 

have spent most of the day looking through you site and forums and got loadsa info, (I think) I didn't want to ask the question I hate seeing on forums `` which one should I buy?'' drives me nuts ! Originally this morning I started looking at the Nicorette inhaler, then almost ordered the Sky e-cig thing then which eventually led to me reading up about the vapor thingys. After reading about all sorts of weird and wonderful gizmos and gadgets I have almost come to a decision .... being on a dinner lady's salary you learn to look before you when it comes to spending cash.

I have been a relatively heavy smoker for 32 years   and know I have to kick the fags!

So .... I am at the point ....where I have in my `cart' as we speak, the Riva 1100 but I have couple of questions if anyone could help:




1. Would you say this is a suitable starter kit yet one that I wouldn't have to upgrade for at least a while?

2. Is this kit complete, for example, I'm not quite clear on what the cartomisers and clearomiser does exactly .... or do I need to buy extra cartridges/ liquid to go with the kit.

3. If I do need additional stuff could anyone recommend what strength liquid would a 15-ish a day roll up smoker need and how much I would need to order for a couple of weeks to try, (quite fancy trying the menthol one as well)

3. I tried to order the usb mains charger as I use a laptop these days and noticed that it isn't good to use the usb charger too much. Unfortunately the mains chargers were out of stock, is there anywhere else I could get one?

Any help or advice would me most appreciated

Thanks

Mel

[Jen]

Hi and

Your Riva will see you through a good few months at the very least, whether you upgrade it after that depends on whether you contract shinyitis or not

Wall charger: www.ukecigcabin.com/product/ego-usb-wall-charger-plug

I'd start at 18mg or below myself, but I quickly levelled out at 10mg. Get 3 or 4 different juices at different strengths and see what suits, there are no hard and fast rules here really.

[rincewind]

Hello and .

As a relative new caper my self I won't answer most of the questions apart from number 3. Use an iPod charger or something similar as USB is USB

[mel]

Just a follow up here .... this morning I posted a message on the facebook no smoking forum originally about the Nicorette inhaler thingies.... a few posts later the moderator has just said that vaping (I'm picking up the lingo already lol) isn't nicotine replacement ? Have I totally misunderstood this vaping thing .... help .....

[Kbee]

Do you have a plug that takes a USB - kindle charger, phone charger? If so you can use this.

Riva kit is ideal for a starter - you get to try cartomisers and clearomisers to see which you prefer. You will need to buy liquid to put into each of these and as a 15 a day smoker I should think 18mg is about right. Buy your liquid in small sizes - 5ml or 10ml until you know which you like and then buy bigger. RY4 is a popular tobacco flavour that a lot of newbies try out - sweet tobacco with caramel/vanilla backnotes. Get yourself a fruit flavour and a menthol too. I never really liked menthol cigarettes but enjoy a menthol vape. If you have a sweet tooth have a look at the dessert flavours too. 2-3ml of juice per day seems to be about average usage.

[Jen]

No, vaping is not NRT - but it most definitely is a nicotine delivery system

BTW - forgot to say, you could always add a couple of mini novas or Evods to your order. These are clearomiser tanks and far superior to cartos IMO. Other people love cartos though

[mel]

May 11, 2013 14:58:56 GMT Jen said:

No, vaping is not NRT - but it most definitely is a nicotine delivery system

BTW - forgot to say, you could always add a couple of mini novas or Evods to your order. These are clearomiser tanks and far superior to cartos IMO. Other people love cartos though

oh? is there a difference between delivery and replacement then  ???

[chykensa]

Hi Mel, and welcome to the forum.
I'm sure you will look back in a couple of weeks and realise just what a good move it was NOT to buy the Nicorette inhaler!

To answer your questions -

1. Would you say this is a suitable starter kit yet one that I wouldn't have to upgrade for at least a while?
You have obviously researched well, and the Riva is a great beginners kit, which won't need any upgrading apart from spares for some while. You will need to buy spare cartomisers or clearomisers as they wear out, but this will be a few weeks down the line at least, and only cost a few quid each.

2. Is this kit complete, for example, I'm not quite clear on what the cartomisers and clearomiser does exactly .... or do I need to buy extra cartridges/ liquid to go with the kit.
Cartomisers are long metal tubes with a coil at one end which heats the juice to produce the vapour. They have a fairly finite lifespan of about 2 weeks, after which they are destined for the bin. However, they are cheap to buy and easy to use. Clearomisers are a more recent addition to the vapers arsenal, and some are called 'rebuildable', meaning that the coil and wick (the bit which wears out) can be replaced for about £2.50. These 'atty heads' will last about the same time as a carto(miser).
You will need to buy extra liquid (see below)

3. If I do need additional stuff could anyone recommend what strength liquid would a 15-ish a day roll up smoker need and how much I would need to order for a couple of weeks to try, (quite fancy trying the menthol one as well)
We generally suggest that buying various different juices in small quantities is the best way to find one which you like. Once you have come across your all-day vape, then you can buy in larger amounts. For someone like yourself, and like I was, you should find an 18mg strength would be sufficient, but it might be an idea to get some 24mg juice too just in case. The higher the mg amount, the stronger the nicotine. When I started on clearomisers, I would get through about 3ml/day, but it would be an idea to over-order in terms of quantity as you can't just pop to the corner shop to get some more if you run out. Bear in mind that most online vendors take two days to get gear to you, depending on where you live in the country.

3. I tried to order the usb mains charger as I use a laptop these days and noticed that it isn't good to use the usb charger too much. Unfortunately the mains chargers were out of stock, is there anywhere else I could get one?
I started out charging my batteries using my laptop, and there is no reason why you can't do this too until the charger you want is in stock again. If you have a charger for another device which uses a USB socket in a mains plug, that would work equally well - i use an iPhone charger now!

You haven't mentioned which vendor you intend to order from, and you don't have to (!), but somewhere like www.ukecigcabin.com or wwwvapeescape.co.uk are worthy recipients of your dosh! They both have good quality products and great customer service. These two retailers should also have the best selection of juices and accessories to get you started as cheaply as possible.

I hope this helps you in your decision, but please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions!

Andy

[Jen]

May 11, 2013 15:04:06 GMT mel said:

May 11, 2013 14:58:56 GMT Jen said:

No, vaping is not NRT - but it most definitely is a nicotine delivery system

BTW - forgot to say, you could always add a couple of mini novas or Evods to your order. These are clearomiser tanks and far superior to cartos IMO. Other people love cartos though

oh? is there a difference between delivery and replacement then  ???

NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) is meant to help you quit smoking, officially and all that. Vaping is not meant as a quitting aid, more of an alternative to smoking which is far healthier and less stinky. So the difference is more of a legal one than a practical one.

Vaping is wayyyy better, tastier, cheaper and more effective too

[dragon]

Ditto on the not impressed with cartos

In the beginning, yes get small samples of liquids, but even when you find one you know you like, don't buy too big, after a few weeks both your tastes and your required nicotine level will change. I started on 18nic, which kept me off the stinkies, but very quickly needed to reduce it. I LOVED menthol in the beginning, so I ordered tons and quickly went off it.

Basically your batteries will last a good long time, and if you get decent clearomizers then you can expect each one to last about 2-4 weeks before needing a new "head" (get ones that you can change the heads on, or you have to replace the whole unit.)

Don't be afraid of all the new stuff, it is amazingly simple and after a few days you will wonder why you found it confusing.

One thing I wish I had discovered earlier is needle tops for bottles. These make filling clearomisers much easier

You really can vape very economically with a good basic kit

[chykensa]

May 11, 2013 15:04:06 GMT mel said:

oh? is there a difference between delivery and replacement then  ???

Replacement is designed to wean you off nicotine, delivery does just that - delivers your nicotine (in this case, much more healthily and cleanly than tobacco). We are all hopeless nicotine addicts still, but choose to get our fix in a more healthy and safe manner, not only for us but for those around us.
Of course, one of the other factors is that we have fairly precise control over what level of nicotine we take. Some vapers on this forum will use a high strength juice to get them started in the mornings, and relax over a low or zero-nic juice in the evenings. I started on 18mg juice bought commercially, and now mix my own at 10mg, and intend dropping further in the coming months.
Andy

[Jen]

May 11, 2013 15:11:55 GMT dragon said:

Ditto on the not impressed with cartos

I just can't get on with them - clearos and tanks make much more 'sense' to me, somehow - being able to see the level of liquid, easy filling, easy to check wicks and change heads and stuff. Just better in general

[Super-Shiny]

Hello and melshouse77

[dragon]

May 11, 2013 15:16:18 GMT Jen said:

May 11, 2013 15:11:55 GMT dragon said:

Ditto on the not impressed with cartos

I just can't get on with them - clearos and tanks make much more 'sense' to me, somehow - being able to see the level of liquid, easy filling, easy to check wicks and change heads and stuff. Just better in general

imo cartos = fiddly to fill, ditto on cleaning. I don't like the vape and basically I have never understood why people prefer them to clearos ... but then again in this game, we are all so different

[Chrissie]

Mel, you can slowly reduce the amount of nicotine you are using in an e-cig in a similar way to how you would with NRT. However, e-cigs are not allowed to be sold as NRT or advertised as an aid for quitting smoking.

dragon, I find the draw better with cartomisers than any clearomiser I've ever tried.