Mark
Legend
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2012
- Messages
- 13,961
So tomorrow 6/7 marks my three year anniversary of switching from smoking to Vaping 
It all began in June 2010 when a work colleague brought a cigalike in. From memory it was something called an Smartsmoker. This guy was a heavy smoker, like myself. We shared fag breaks all the time. I knew he was getting a lot of grief from his other half and so he had ordered this thing. I gave it a toke in the office and was surprised that it seemed ok-ish.
At the time I was smoking my way through most of a 20 pack a day at work and rollies in the evening and had no intentions of quitting. Apart from the addiction I actually enjoyed smoking. But seeing this 'gadget' , as I saw it, wondered if it was something I might make use of. That evening I did a bit of 'research'. And by that I googled Smartsmoker. I found the E-Lite site and to cut a short story even shorter, ordered a kit with spare cartridges in different strengths. I also found a forum called UKV, bookmarked it for later but didn't actually read it.
It arrived a few days later and I played with the kit for a few days. I hadn't stopped smoking but used them at home and thought I could get used to this indoors. I quickly vaped through the supplied cartridges and ordered more before realising just how ridiculous their claims of cigarette equivalence they were.
I became an avid watcher of You tube reviews, especially those of Andy Smoketovape Sutton and Scott Igetcha 69.
I joined UKV within a week. There I found a resource which showed me the light. As I suspected, there were better things out there. I found lots of enthusiastic people. Some like me had just found ecigs like Dave Kitson. Others had used them for up to a year or more like Dave Dorn. It had about 600 members at that time. I got some great advice and formed some friendships that exist to this day. I attended the first Vapefest in Tamworth in October 2010. Compared to Vapefests since it was a relatively small affair, maybe 50 people. Nevertheless a great day. I met a lot of interesting helpful people, some of whom have gone on to become the 'celebrities' of VTTV (the two Daves, Cat, Sav, Andy Sutton) . I won a Phideas Woodimus box mod, well sought after at the time too.
When I look at the multitude of devices available now to the new Vaper it is quite astonishing. Rebuildables just didn't feature at all. Your choices were between leaky clearos or cartridges in the beginning. Cartridges were the forerunner of cartomisers. And they were shite. Even the E-Lites used a cartridge at the time. Holding a paltry 5 or 6 drops of juice required frequent filling. Overfill and it was Juice in Gob. Not that E-Lites told you about refilling of course. Various modifications were popular. Replacing the cotton wool style 'fluval' filler with this blue mesh stuff for example. Another was to use the material from tea bags. I kid you not.
I went through the cartridges. Boges arrived as did some other style cartos. Things became more consistent. I got an Ego kit on 6/7 with two batteries from @Toby at ivapour (who i also met in Tamworth) and from that day on I simply stopped smoking. I discovered probably the most popular juice at the time, RY4, and found I had no need to smoke. I also bought some 306 dripping atomisers which worked fantastically well in the bottom feeding Phideas and remain popular today. I try to keep one or two in my stash.
I started on 36 mgs (and still have some ) and tried various strengths. I'm happiest on 18-20 these days and vape anywhere between 3-6 mls a day. After an epic overload of juice trials, as we do, I've settled on probably a dozen that I really like and stick with. Never avers to trying new ones now and again but, as some will know I tend to like my tobaccos, but often with a sweeter edge. Currently liking Mom &Pops Tobacco Haze and Manabush Powwow Sauce. Second choice would be a dessert style vanilla, banana, custardy type and VERY occasionally a fruity one. I do find that if I over-vape a particular juice my taste buds kind of go on strike and I have to change for a while.
I won't go through all the devices I've owned over the years as I've done that somewhere else on here but there have been a lot
The same with Mizers of every type from the humble 510 to the massively overpriced but nevertheless awesome HH347. From CE2s to Buds, to Stardusts to CE5s. From cartridges to cartos of every type. Tanks of many varieties. carto tanks. Clearo tanks. Top coil. Bottom coil. Too many to remember let alone record here.
I think the Evod was a game changer for the standard new kit purchaser and experienced Vaper alike. Pretty fine vape IMO.
I've only had one real slip up when several batteries all died at once and since then have always advised everyone to have spares...and spares of spares. I used to have the occasional toke on someone else's fag just to see if I missed it. Nope.
I've experienced like most Vapers the search for the Holy Grail. By that I mean the perfect vape. The most satisfying throat hit. The best flavour. The most vapour produced.
I'm here to tell you I've not found it. Sure I've narrowed down my juice favourites (though even that can change). Sure I can say that I like the performance of a certain mizer or the look and features of a particular mod. And I'm very happy with what I'm using right now. And importantly I'm not smoking. But with Vaping.....there is always something new to try
It became, as for a lot of forum folks, a hobby.
More than that though, and I don't want to go all sugarey about this, is the sense of community. I always liked the company of smokers. There is something about sharing a vice. Vaping is the same but multiplied because it is new and there are always questions. Always new ways of doing something. This is especially true of the rebuildable revolution but applies elsewhere too. I can't ever imagine a Smokefest and much less a Patchfest. Vaping is unique in its appeal and efficacy. Vapers from all walks of life get together whether its online or in the real world. There were few 'meets' when I started. They are happening all over now. Vaping shops? I don't think so.
I discovered CamVIP (Campaign for Vaping in Pubs) when I met Russell Ord at Tamworth and worked on my local pub to allow Vaping. As you will know the smoking ban forced a number of pubs to close and I happen to think a good local is important for a community. I organised with Russ' help a Stay Inside Night and met lots of other great people including @steffijade amongst others.
What am I blithering on about? I don't know really. I suppose I'm trying to say how Vaping has changed my life, not least because I no longer get regular chest infections and I no longer f#####g stink but because I've met so many great people and like to think I've made a difference along the way to new Vapers. My g/f now Vapes as do her friends and family. I've helped colleagues to switch and I've helped people on the forums and in the pubs I frequent.
Last summer this place was born. Out of the ashes of UKV the Planet became a refuge. UKV has since started again and many returned. However I felt strongly that this was now my home. Offered a moderators role I jumped at it. I admire and respect the whole team here and am happy to call them my friends. It's been a phenomenal year for us here at POTV and am proud to have played my small part in helping to keep it the happy friendly supportive place it is to ALL Vapers whether they use E-Lites or a top end mod and RBA.
In my experience it is easy to feel 'noob fatigue'. By that I mean that you can find answering the same questions that every new Vaper has, over and over frustrating and tiring. I've seen examples of new Vapers elsewhere being utterly blown out by answers like ' do some research yourself', 'read the forums before asking stupid questions' and the like. Not here! We were all noobs once.
I will end by saying we have many great members here who contribute and make a difference. Sharing experiences. Reviewing new juices and devices. Helping others. Keep on Vaping! And keep your heads up about the EU/MRHA battle. It's not over yet by any means.
Thanks to @OccultScientist @KulrMeStoopid ZT @Purplefowler and the mods @AndyC1971, @Roadhoguk (who I met in real life last week despite 'knowing ' him virtually for years lol), @Markfletcher007 and @Merino-Teflon for the camaraderie and what you have done for Vapers and this great forum.
So enough from me and all that flowery bollocks
All hail POTV! And...
Happy vapeversary to me
Time for a beer
It all began in June 2010 when a work colleague brought a cigalike in. From memory it was something called an Smartsmoker. This guy was a heavy smoker, like myself. We shared fag breaks all the time. I knew he was getting a lot of grief from his other half and so he had ordered this thing. I gave it a toke in the office and was surprised that it seemed ok-ish.
At the time I was smoking my way through most of a 20 pack a day at work and rollies in the evening and had no intentions of quitting. Apart from the addiction I actually enjoyed smoking. But seeing this 'gadget' , as I saw it, wondered if it was something I might make use of. That evening I did a bit of 'research'. And by that I googled Smartsmoker. I found the E-Lite site and to cut a short story even shorter, ordered a kit with spare cartridges in different strengths. I also found a forum called UKV, bookmarked it for later but didn't actually read it.
It arrived a few days later and I played with the kit for a few days. I hadn't stopped smoking but used them at home and thought I could get used to this indoors. I quickly vaped through the supplied cartridges and ordered more before realising just how ridiculous their claims of cigarette equivalence they were.
I became an avid watcher of You tube reviews, especially those of Andy Smoketovape Sutton and Scott Igetcha 69.
I joined UKV within a week. There I found a resource which showed me the light. As I suspected, there were better things out there. I found lots of enthusiastic people. Some like me had just found ecigs like Dave Kitson. Others had used them for up to a year or more like Dave Dorn. It had about 600 members at that time. I got some great advice and formed some friendships that exist to this day. I attended the first Vapefest in Tamworth in October 2010. Compared to Vapefests since it was a relatively small affair, maybe 50 people. Nevertheless a great day. I met a lot of interesting helpful people, some of whom have gone on to become the 'celebrities' of VTTV (the two Daves, Cat, Sav, Andy Sutton) . I won a Phideas Woodimus box mod, well sought after at the time too.
When I look at the multitude of devices available now to the new Vaper it is quite astonishing. Rebuildables just didn't feature at all. Your choices were between leaky clearos or cartridges in the beginning. Cartridges were the forerunner of cartomisers. And they were shite. Even the E-Lites used a cartridge at the time. Holding a paltry 5 or 6 drops of juice required frequent filling. Overfill and it was Juice in Gob. Not that E-Lites told you about refilling of course. Various modifications were popular. Replacing the cotton wool style 'fluval' filler with this blue mesh stuff for example. Another was to use the material from tea bags. I kid you not.
I went through the cartridges. Boges arrived as did some other style cartos. Things became more consistent. I got an Ego kit on 6/7 with two batteries from @Toby at ivapour (who i also met in Tamworth) and from that day on I simply stopped smoking. I discovered probably the most popular juice at the time, RY4, and found I had no need to smoke. I also bought some 306 dripping atomisers which worked fantastically well in the bottom feeding Phideas and remain popular today. I try to keep one or two in my stash.
I started on 36 mgs (and still have some ) and tried various strengths. I'm happiest on 18-20 these days and vape anywhere between 3-6 mls a day. After an epic overload of juice trials, as we do, I've settled on probably a dozen that I really like and stick with. Never avers to trying new ones now and again but, as some will know I tend to like my tobaccos, but often with a sweeter edge. Currently liking Mom &Pops Tobacco Haze and Manabush Powwow Sauce. Second choice would be a dessert style vanilla, banana, custardy type and VERY occasionally a fruity one. I do find that if I over-vape a particular juice my taste buds kind of go on strike and I have to change for a while.
I won't go through all the devices I've owned over the years as I've done that somewhere else on here but there have been a lot
The same with Mizers of every type from the humble 510 to the massively overpriced but nevertheless awesome HH347. From CE2s to Buds, to Stardusts to CE5s. From cartridges to cartos of every type. Tanks of many varieties. carto tanks. Clearo tanks. Top coil. Bottom coil. Too many to remember let alone record here.
I think the Evod was a game changer for the standard new kit purchaser and experienced Vaper alike. Pretty fine vape IMO.
I've only had one real slip up when several batteries all died at once and since then have always advised everyone to have spares...and spares of spares. I used to have the occasional toke on someone else's fag just to see if I missed it. Nope.
I've experienced like most Vapers the search for the Holy Grail. By that I mean the perfect vape. The most satisfying throat hit. The best flavour. The most vapour produced.
I'm here to tell you I've not found it. Sure I've narrowed down my juice favourites (though even that can change). Sure I can say that I like the performance of a certain mizer or the look and features of a particular mod. And I'm very happy with what I'm using right now. And importantly I'm not smoking. But with Vaping.....there is always something new to try
It became, as for a lot of forum folks, a hobby.
More than that though, and I don't want to go all sugarey about this, is the sense of community. I always liked the company of smokers. There is something about sharing a vice. Vaping is the same but multiplied because it is new and there are always questions. Always new ways of doing something. This is especially true of the rebuildable revolution but applies elsewhere too. I can't ever imagine a Smokefest and much less a Patchfest. Vaping is unique in its appeal and efficacy. Vapers from all walks of life get together whether its online or in the real world. There were few 'meets' when I started. They are happening all over now. Vaping shops? I don't think so.
I discovered CamVIP (Campaign for Vaping in Pubs) when I met Russell Ord at Tamworth and worked on my local pub to allow Vaping. As you will know the smoking ban forced a number of pubs to close and I happen to think a good local is important for a community. I organised with Russ' help a Stay Inside Night and met lots of other great people including @steffijade amongst others.
What am I blithering on about? I don't know really. I suppose I'm trying to say how Vaping has changed my life, not least because I no longer get regular chest infections and I no longer f#####g stink but because I've met so many great people and like to think I've made a difference along the way to new Vapers. My g/f now Vapes as do her friends and family. I've helped colleagues to switch and I've helped people on the forums and in the pubs I frequent.
Last summer this place was born. Out of the ashes of UKV the Planet became a refuge. UKV has since started again and many returned. However I felt strongly that this was now my home. Offered a moderators role I jumped at it. I admire and respect the whole team here and am happy to call them my friends. It's been a phenomenal year for us here at POTV and am proud to have played my small part in helping to keep it the happy friendly supportive place it is to ALL Vapers whether they use E-Lites or a top end mod and RBA.
In my experience it is easy to feel 'noob fatigue'. By that I mean that you can find answering the same questions that every new Vaper has, over and over frustrating and tiring. I've seen examples of new Vapers elsewhere being utterly blown out by answers like ' do some research yourself', 'read the forums before asking stupid questions' and the like. Not here! We were all noobs once.
I will end by saying we have many great members here who contribute and make a difference. Sharing experiences. Reviewing new juices and devices. Helping others. Keep on Vaping! And keep your heads up about the EU/MRHA battle. It's not over yet by any means.
Thanks to @OccultScientist @KulrMeStoopid ZT @Purplefowler and the mods @AndyC1971, @Roadhoguk (who I met in real life last week despite 'knowing ' him virtually for years lol), @Markfletcher007 and @Merino-Teflon for the camaraderie and what you have done for Vapers and this great forum.
So enough from me and all that flowery bollocks
All hail POTV! And...
Happy vapeversary to me
Time for a beer
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