Tuesday, January 31, 2012
So Close and Yet So Far
Most of the e-juices I've bought so far have been economy priced juices. They've been good, but I've been really anxious to see if the "top shelf" juices are better. I spent a bit of money building a good supply of the affordable stuff, but just the last two days have added several orders of the top-of-the-line price wise juices. One of them was shipped yesterday, and as of this morning it showed up at my local post office branch according to the tracking page for usps. However, it got there after 10 am (10:30 am) so it didn't make the delivery for today... dang. It will be here tomorrow, but how much of a tease is that? It's only 8 blocks away!!! So close, and yet so far.
New Design on "Vapevine's" e-Cigarette Vaping Apparel
I added a new design to my shop. There are lots of different style t-s in men's and women's styles, as well as a coffee mug.
My Review of the KGO e-cigarette
Again, I am just letting you all know, none of these reviews, this one included are paid for in any way. They are just my experiences with new equipment I've purchased to get started in my e-cigarette life. Thanks to these delightful pieces, I've been tobacco free for 2 weeks now!
My Review of the KGO E-Cigarette
I purchased my KGO starter kit from Northwest Vapors, but there are several vendors out there with equally good deals on starter kits for this powerful little model.
After a little over a week of being a slave to my battery charger with the smaller Nebula (which I still like a lot), I decided it was time to try one of the "big boys" on the block, and after much consideration, chose the KGO.
The KGO is a very attractive piece. It is about 2 times big around as the Nebula and about the same length (the drip tip on top was an add-on that did not come with the actual kit). Even though the KGO is about twice as heavy as the Nebula it is easy to handle.
The biggest differences with the KGO are the fact that it is a manual battery for one, and much more powerful and longer lasting.
The KGO is a 1100mah battery, meaning it will have about an 11 - 12 hour running life even at the heaviest vaping. Compared to the smaller pen-style automatics like the Nebula with its 2.5 hour use life, that's amazing.
Of course, it is rechargable, but now I don't have to feel like I am always charging batteries.
The 1100mah batteries are also a ton more powerful. It operates at 3.7 volts and can use dual cartomizers which produce a lot more heat, therefore a lot more vapor with each draw.
With a manual you don't have to do the ritual primer puffs that you with an automatic battery, and because of the massive power, you don't have to take long draws to get huge amounts of vapor.
The KGO Kit:
2 KGO 1100mah/3.7 volt batteries
2 atomizers
2 atomizer sleeves
USB/AC charger
(Sorry the picture is so dark)
The KGO kit from Northwest Vapors also comes with 6 preloaded cartridges of various strengths, but I didn't care for the juice in them, and I don't plan on using cartridges anyway. I prefer cartomizers or plain dripping with the atomizers.
Using the KGO
Wow what a difference! Besides the battery life issue, the entire vaping experience changes with such power. I didn't think I'd like having to push a button to turn it on every time I vaped, but it really isn't an issue at all.
The KGO locks (5 fast clicks on the button turns it off completely) so that it won't turn on by being bumped in a purse or pocket. Turning it back on is easy (the same 5 fast clicks). That's a cool safety feature.
I love the freedom to be able to "sample" e-liquids before filling an entire cartomizer with them too. I just use the atomizer alone, and drip liquid into it to taste it first. Then if I like it, I can load up a cartomizer and go.
I have ordered a few extra accessories to go with this. They should be here in a day or two. Along with extra empty cartomizers (colored and clear: that should be interesting), I've also ordered:
A lanyard to carry it around my neck anywhere
A carrying case that also holds extra cartomizers and e-juice bottles, etc.
A 3.5 ml tank (a really new experience that will alleviate all the constant refilling of cartomizers)
A few more drip tips in different colors
Lots of fun, and best of all, I'm cigarette free and not missing them at all!
The KGO--AA+
My Review of the KGO E-Cigarette
I purchased my KGO starter kit from Northwest Vapors, but there are several vendors out there with equally good deals on starter kits for this powerful little model.
After a little over a week of being a slave to my battery charger with the smaller Nebula (which I still like a lot), I decided it was time to try one of the "big boys" on the block, and after much consideration, chose the KGO.
The KGO is a very attractive piece. It is about 2 times big around as the Nebula and about the same length (the drip tip on top was an add-on that did not come with the actual kit). Even though the KGO is about twice as heavy as the Nebula it is easy to handle.
The biggest differences with the KGO are the fact that it is a manual battery for one, and much more powerful and longer lasting.
The KGO is a 1100mah battery, meaning it will have about an 11 - 12 hour running life even at the heaviest vaping. Compared to the smaller pen-style automatics like the Nebula with its 2.5 hour use life, that's amazing.
Of course, it is rechargable, but now I don't have to feel like I am always charging batteries.
The 1100mah batteries are also a ton more powerful. It operates at 3.7 volts and can use dual cartomizers which produce a lot more heat, therefore a lot more vapor with each draw.
With a manual you don't have to do the ritual primer puffs that you with an automatic battery, and because of the massive power, you don't have to take long draws to get huge amounts of vapor.
The KGO Kit:
2 KGO 1100mah/3.7 volt batteries
2 atomizers
2 atomizer sleeves
USB/AC charger
(Sorry the picture is so dark)
The KGO kit from Northwest Vapors also comes with 6 preloaded cartridges of various strengths, but I didn't care for the juice in them, and I don't plan on using cartridges anyway. I prefer cartomizers or plain dripping with the atomizers.
Using the KGO
Wow what a difference! Besides the battery life issue, the entire vaping experience changes with such power. I didn't think I'd like having to push a button to turn it on every time I vaped, but it really isn't an issue at all.
The KGO locks (5 fast clicks on the button turns it off completely) so that it won't turn on by being bumped in a purse or pocket. Turning it back on is easy (the same 5 fast clicks). That's a cool safety feature.
I love the freedom to be able to "sample" e-liquids before filling an entire cartomizer with them too. I just use the atomizer alone, and drip liquid into it to taste it first. Then if I like it, I can load up a cartomizer and go.
I have ordered a few extra accessories to go with this. They should be here in a day or two. Along with extra empty cartomizers (colored and clear: that should be interesting), I've also ordered:
A lanyard to carry it around my neck anywhere
A carrying case that also holds extra cartomizers and e-juice bottles, etc.
A 3.5 ml tank (a really new experience that will alleviate all the constant refilling of cartomizers)
A few more drip tips in different colors
Lots of fun, and best of all, I'm cigarette free and not missing them at all!
The KGO--AA+
Dr Vapor Videos
I love this guy's youtube videos. Dr. Vapor, a real life doctor, has many wonderful and informative e-cigarette videos, and he's got a fun sense of humor too!
Here's another great video from a different youtube poster that is awesome too:
Here's another great video from a different youtube poster that is awesome too:
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Washing Cartomizers
Yes, they're disposable, and yes they're cheap, but for those of us on a budget, getting the most out of each one is important. I decided to try washing out used cartomizers that I used all last week and were getting overloaded, not to mention that one of them had a menthol tobacco in it that was WHEW overpowering (my own mix so I have no one to blame but myself). I managed to make a new more tolerable menthol but was left with a carto that I was not going to be able to use, so I threw that into the used cartos too.
The cleaning method I used:
I took off the end cap, mouth-piece of each cartomizer.
I boiled a pot of water.
I put the cartos in a bowl, and poured the boiling water over them.
I swirled the cartos around a few times, then took a tongs and grabbed each one and ran it under a faucet of HOT water for several minutes each.
I placed all of the washed cartomizers in a pie tin and put them in the oven at 175 degrees for a hour.
Let them sit for another 8 hours, and loaded one up... vapes very nice.
The one that didn't. The menthol cartomizer still smells like strong menthol. I should have washed that a few times. That may not even have done the trick, so I'm down one, but that's better than being down 5.
The cleaning method I used:
I took off the end cap, mouth-piece of each cartomizer.
I boiled a pot of water.
I put the cartos in a bowl, and poured the boiling water over them.
I swirled the cartos around a few times, then took a tongs and grabbed each one and ran it under a faucet of HOT water for several minutes each.
I placed all of the washed cartomizers in a pie tin and put them in the oven at 175 degrees for a hour.
Let them sit for another 8 hours, and loaded one up... vapes very nice.
The one that didn't. The menthol cartomizer still smells like strong menthol. I should have washed that a few times. That may not even have done the trick, so I'm down one, but that's better than being down 5.
Quitting One Cigarette at a Time, or All At Once: Does it Matter?
Technically, I'd say no. If you vape and smoke, and gradually cut down the number of "real" cigarettes you smoke each day, week or month, that is that much less harmful toxins and carcinogens you are inhaling.
If you find that you're craving cigarettes while you vape, consider using a higher nicotine level e-juice. The brand I started out with only had an 11mg strength at the highest, and I liked it okay, but it was not killing the cravings for cigarettes. I bought a different model, and found that most standard pre-filled cartomizers, and e-juices come in higher levels including 18gm, 24mg and 30mg. I chose 24mg and all of my cravings stopped. All of them.
Recently I bought some new juice and thought I could get away with a lower level, and bought it in 16mg. That was a mistake. It's okay to try and cut back on the nicotine levels gradually, but do it slower. The cravings came back, although not really intensely. I was able to resist, and thankfully had some 24mg e-juice still, so I alternated between them throughout the day and killed all the cravings.
Since stopping smoking 7 days ago, my sinuses have cleared up, I have stopped that nasty, hacking smoker's cough and I feel great. There hasn't been any of the horrible withdrawals I've had when trying to quit tobacco cigarettes in the past. E-cigarettes are fantastic!
If you find that you're craving cigarettes while you vape, consider using a higher nicotine level e-juice. The brand I started out with only had an 11mg strength at the highest, and I liked it okay, but it was not killing the cravings for cigarettes. I bought a different model, and found that most standard pre-filled cartomizers, and e-juices come in higher levels including 18gm, 24mg and 30mg. I chose 24mg and all of my cravings stopped. All of them.
Recently I bought some new juice and thought I could get away with a lower level, and bought it in 16mg. That was a mistake. It's okay to try and cut back on the nicotine levels gradually, but do it slower. The cravings came back, although not really intensely. I was able to resist, and thankfully had some 24mg e-juice still, so I alternated between them throughout the day and killed all the cravings.
Since stopping smoking 7 days ago, my sinuses have cleared up, I have stopped that nasty, hacking smoker's cough and I feel great. There hasn't been any of the horrible withdrawals I've had when trying to quit tobacco cigarettes in the past. E-cigarettes are fantastic!
There's Nothing To It
That's what I thought when I looked into the idea of using an e-cigarette to kick the nasty butt habit of smoking tobacco cigarettes. It really did seem simple enough. Then I wandered into the world of serious vapers and ...
...well let's say the learning curve is a lot steeper than it looks like at the start. It's worth it though, and already all of the abbreviations and methods are getting clearer. It's a brave new world, but definitely a world worth learning about. If you want to visit one of the most informative places you could ever hope for, with a bunch of folks who are amazing and helpful, check out ECF - the World's Largest E-Cigarette Forum.
...well let's say the learning curve is a lot steeper than it looks like at the start. It's worth it though, and already all of the abbreviations and methods are getting clearer. It's a brave new world, but definitely a world worth learning about. If you want to visit one of the most informative places you could ever hope for, with a bunch of folks who are amazing and helpful, check out ECF - the World's Largest E-Cigarette Forum.
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