Dipping a toe in the water

[womble]

It's not on the timer, it does take less time to charge a partially depleted battery.

[domesticextremist]

One week on

Since today is my one week anniversary, I thought I'd
take time to summarise what has happened and what
I've discovered so far. This going to be a mega-post, so
pull up a comfy chair

Baccy

I never really kept track of how much I smoke, but I
reckon I was chugging my way through about 10g per
day of rolling baccy - that's around 70g per week.
Since starting vaping I have still smoked, but only 15g
so far, so a massive reduction in usage.
I find that I still miss the action of smoking, especially
being able to blow decent smoke rings, and notice I most
strongly want to roll one up when sucking on a drying out
cartridge - so I guess that's a clue that I need to put a fresh
cartridge in.
The good news is that I don't liek them so much any more, and
the last few have been out out half smoked.

Coughing
This is a weird one, the first few vapes in the morning and it
makes me cough!
I never really had a smoker's cough, at least since I gave up
straights and only really coughed a lot when I had a cold or last
winter when I had the flu and coughed myself inside out for 3
weeks.
I'm guessing it's condensate gathering in my lungs, and it clears
after an hour or so. hopefully it will go away over time.

General health
I would say it feels better - it's kind of odd having your fill of nicotine
and not feeling fagged out. Even better when out and about, as I feel
relaxed and full of energy at the same time.
I was up on Hampstead Heath yesterday, indulging my photography
habit and was yomping around for a good couple of hours plus a long foot/train/tube journey and found that my legs didn't get really tired
out after all that walking.

Public vaping

Another weird one. It's really nice being able to vape in places where
I couldn't smoke - such as on the tube, but I find myself feeling really
self-concious in front of others. Yesterday, I even rolled a fag, rather
than vape in front of my fellow photographers as I somehow felt that
was more socially acceptable, even though I was the only smoker.

I'll have to work at this one and develop my technique so as not to look
odd doing it.

[womble]

My doctor told me at 4 or 5 weeks that it was common to get a bad cough from giving up smoking! It's your lungs getting rid of all the rubbish or something.

[Gordy]

Hi Dom its great to read your post you are doing so well ...my take on your coughing in the morning is prob a result of cutting back on the analogues. your lungs are getting better and getting rid of all the junk smoking has done to them... give it a few days and you'll be great

the lack of tiredness is due to the haemoglobin in your blood being able to carry oxygen and not being hi jacked by the carbon dioxide that happends when you smoke

keep up the great work mate

[domesticextremist]

...there's more.

Techie stuff:

Cartridges

They are becoming a bit of a pain - you just seem to be
having a good vape up when they start to run dry.
Changing the filler for fish foam helps deliver the juice more
smoothly as it empties, but capacity is an issue.
Filling is a faff, so I've oreder some cartomisers to see if I
can get a better result.
I'll keep the cartridges only for trying out new flavours.

PG vs VG

I find that PG gives a light and slightly harsh vape and I got
a couple of zits on the first few days. This could be the famed
irritation, but could be just be happenstance.

I've done a comparison between all PG RY4 and 60/40 PG/VG.
It definitely gives a less harsh and thicker vape, but has a definite
laxative effect. I'm not sure if this goes away with time, I hope so
as PG/VG is definitely a nicer vape.

[Chrissie]

Did you go for the Boge cartomisers Dom?

Oh & have you tried a drip tip on your atomisers instead of a cartridge?

[domesticextremist]

Oct 10, 2011 12:52:29 GMT Chrissie said:

Did you go for the Boge cartomisers Dom?

Oh & have you tried a drip tip on your atomisers instead of a cartridge?

Yes, I went for standard resistance too to match my Riva batteries.
I also got a whistle tip - I don't like the feel of those round carts in
my mouth, I guess it's because I'm used to rollies.

[domesticextremist]

...there's still more (got interrupted by a phone call).

Flavours

This is the best aspect of vaping imo.
All those different flavours. So far I've done RY4,
also like mango, virginia and the occasional
peppermint.
Cinnamon is a bit of a non-starter for me,
I like the stuff, but not as vape.

I have the long term plan of getting some favourites
and then using it to wean myself off the nicotine altogether.
It may no happen - I need the nic to stop me killing people ,
and I'll be dangerous to society if I have fully oxygenated blood
and no medication

Finally

Costs

As I said, I didn't really keep track of my baccy costs, but
70g is around £20 per week,plus slim silver Rizlas as my
papers of choice give around £24 per week outlay.
(that's £1200 pa, give or take).

Meanwhile, I've spent

£33 on the Riva XL starter kit
£20 on a pick and mix
£25 on cartomiser, a drip tip and a vari-voltage USB pass through

so £75 quid so far.

I realise there's lots of shiny stuff out there and I could spend
loads more if I'm not careful, fortunately I'm a natural tight wad,
so that will probably be it apart from juice for a while.
(though I might go for an Iolite, depending on how the legal
situation unfolds...).

So that's it so far, I hope any lurkers who've read this far find it helpful.
I'll be sticking around the forum, as it is a gold mine for useful info, and
populated by a jolly and friendly bunch.

[monster74]

Ahhhh the shiney shiney stuff is so nice

Sounds like your going great guns I'd love to see some of your photography, I couldn't take a good pic if my life depended on it!

Nats x

[domesticextremist]

Oct 10, 2011 13:24:27 GMT monster74 said:

Ahhhh the shiney shiney stuff is so nice

Sounds like your going great guns I'd love to see some of your photography, I couldn't take a good pic if my life depended on it!

Nats x

Neither could I, practice helps though, and it's rewarding when you
get something good (about one in a hundred for me )

There's my avatar - bees are hard to catch, buggers won't stay
still long enough to focus and Ive got a couple of albums here
but be ready to wade through a fair bit of stuff...

[Chrissie]

Wow Dom, some fantastic photos there

[Gordy]

ditto loved the pics Dom, you have a talent

[tizerbelle]

Good going there Dom - well done.

[domesticextremist]

>
Waiting for the postman...

[monster74]

Amazing pictures. I can't believe they where taken in London. The colour is intense! Well done, you've a real talent

Nats x