Vaping Guides to the Electronic Cigarette

Little Shop of Vapors

Eric — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:06:21 +0000

I just ordered some 1.7ohm prepunched cartos from Little Shop of Vapors and couldn’t help noticing some of the fantastic deals they are currently offering on their half price sale page. In particular, a $15 Smoktech 510 tank electronic cigarette kit is a steal. Not for the hard core vaper, but a great way to introduce someone to vaping for only slightly more than the cost of a disposable electronic cigarette.

Chrome Lavatube

Eric — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:31:48 +0000

In case you haven’t noticed, I have an affinity for chrome PVs and electronic cigarettes. So of course, the chrome Lavatube from Volcano caught my eye and one should be here soon. From early reports, the chrome version is a little better designed, with metal end caps. This version still has the 2.5amp limitation, but I have found that is fine for me when used with 1.7 ohm cartos.

V2 eGo 18650 Mod Head

Eric — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:56:43 +0000

One of the nice features of the eGo 18650 mod is the fact that the head is replaceable. The downside of that mod is the 3.3v regulated power. Joye has approached that problem in a novel way by releasing a new V2 18650 mod head that allows the user to switch between regulated 3.3v power and unregulated power. The latter will deliver up to 4.15v or whatever the battery is capable of given the atomizer or cartomizer that is attached. As we’ve seen from other unregulated mods, that is typically enough power to deliver a very satisfactory vape.

Stripped 5V Wow

Eric — Sun, 06 May 2012 05:03:04 +0000

I have been enjoying the 5V Wow for several months now and it has performed flawlessly. The black finish on the tube proved to be a little less durable, however and was chipping after a few weeks. I was surprised to see brass underneath the paint and decided to sand it all off. I think it looks pretty good with the finish removed and thought I’d share a photo. The only downside is that the bare metal gets tarnished after awhile; the photo at left shows it before and after a quick polish with Brasso.

The Bolt in Chrome and Gunmetal

Eric — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:56:48 +0000

I recently reviewed the Bolt and after a few week’s use I am still extremely happy with this mod. The new Chrome and Gunmetal versions make it even more attractive and it’s a beatiful mod for less than $40 from Smoktek.

Tobacco Express Flavorings from Ecig Express

Eric — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:54:19 +0000

I’m always on the lookout for new tobacco flavorings. Most of my stock of tobaccos need a little something else like vanilla, caramel or fruit flavors to make them an enjoyable vape. It’s always nice to find a good tobacco flavoring that vapes well on its own and Tobacco Express flavorings from Ecig Express fall solidly in that category. So far Dhill, Virginia and Win Churchill have all been very good. One thing I did find is that these are very concentrated flavorings and require only 1-3% to make a good mix, so a little less than a drop of flavoring to a ml of liquid is all that is needed.

Michael L. Marlow: FDA should butt out of e-cigarette therapy

Eric — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:10:53 +0000

In a great article in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, California Polytechnic professor Michael L. Marlow really gets at the heart of the attempts to ban electronic cigarette usage. The article takes aim at the groups that have sought to ban the of electronic cigarettes, citing the “preposterous” idea that a device that produces no secondhand smoke could be included in a public smoking ban. Studies showing the efficacy and relative safety are also mentioned. As Mr. Marlow puts it, “the FDA has decided that a government-approved failure (like NRT or going “cold turkey”) is better than an unapproved success.” Thanks for a great article, Mr. Marlow.

APV – When A Mod Is Not Just A Mod

Eric — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:47:22 +0000

Many vapers have come to the realization that the term Mod can mean a lot of different things. A flashlight modified with a switch, battery and atomizer connector is a mod and yet so is a mass produced but custom fabricated electronic cigarette like the Provari. The time has possibly come for differentiation between the two. Rolygate at ECF has recently posted an article that advances the idea of using the term Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV) to refer to purpose built vaping devices, and I think it will work. We will begin using the term here at Vaping Guides as well.

NJoy at Walmart!

Eric — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:35:11 +0000

Not the best electronic cigarette and not the best outlet for it, but seeing a big NJoy display at Walmart made my day. Sure I would have rather seen an eGo or KR808 kit, but the NJoy is at least a usable electronic cigarette and at a reasonable price. Walmart is selling a single rechargeable battery starter kit for $18.97 and refill 5-packs for $18.97. The price is high and quality low compared to what can be bought online, but I’m happy because for less than the cost of a few packs of cigarettes, a lot of smokers will be tempted to give it a try. I did it three years ago with an Njoy clone that cost twice as much, but, and this is the important part, I have been smoke free ever since. Electronic cigarettes prominently displayed in Walmart should be a good thing for smokers and for the ecig industry.

Seedman’s Commercial Flavoring

Eric — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:17:50 +0000

It’s rare that I like a tobacco flavoring by itself in my electronic cigarette e-liquid mixes, but I always mix a little e-liquid that way to get a sense of what the flavor is like. I recently ordered some Seedman’s “Commercial” flavoring from Blue Mist Vapors and was pleasantly surprised. Mixed at about 8%, the Commercial has a fairly complex and enjoyable flavor even when its not combined with other flavors. Good tobacco with just a hint of a caramel-like sweetness give it a light RY4 type of flavor. This will make a great flavor as-is, but should also become a great base for other recipes.

Note for new users: The Seedman’s flavoring is a concentrated flavoring, meaning that it must be mixed with a combination of NIC liquid, PG and VG before use in your electronic cigarette. See the DIY Beginners Guide for more information.