When vaping was introduced to the mainstream market in 2006, it came without a safety instruction guide. Hon Lik, a medical researcher from China who forgot to take his nicotine patch off his skin one night, invented the first e-cigarette. This smoking alternative was released to the public much trial and error, and wound up containing a plastic cartridge with the propylene glycerol suspending the nicotine solution, a battery and an ultrasonic atomizer. Most e-cigs now utilize a cartomizer instead of an ultrasonic atomizer, which is more user-friendly and work in a more efficient way compared to cartridge/traditional atomizer combo.
You may be confused about the ingredients that are different from a pack of tobacco cigarette and scientific terms a that are new, but we are here to help you out.
If you are excited to use your device and already placed for your first e-cigarette, let this article walk you through the step-by-step procedures of how vaping works.
The Device
This can come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, depending on how you will use it. It may look like a tube, a box, or a pen but they all serves the same purpose. The battery supplies the power and brings it to the atomizer. Today, the most popular manufacturers include Kangertech and Innokon. The Aspire Nautilus Series includes some of the most popular brands on the market.
The Atomizer
You can choose from different atomized cartridges, clearomizers, cartomizers, Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers (RDA), Rebuildable Tank Atomizers and Hybrid Atomizers. All of them have their own advantages and disadvantages.
The Battery
Some units may have replaceable batteries, some may have the batteries already built-in. This part of the e-cigarette supplies the power to the device.
The Wick
Wicks deliver the e-juice from the tank to the coil where it is then turned into vapor. Some materials used in making e-cig wicks are eko-wool, silica cord, cotton, ceramic and stainless steel.
E-Liquid/E-Juice
They can come in different levels of nicotine strengths and PG/VG ratios and flavors. E-liquids are made up of vegetable glycerin, nicotine, food flavorings and propylene glycerol.
Tips for Vaping Beginners
1. Vaping is not Smoking
The feel of the vapor in your mouth, throat and lungs will not be the exact replica of smoking tobacco cigarette. It does not taste like your smelly and nasty cigarette. Some companies may have produced e-cigs that taste like the normal ones but this is still not as harmful as the tobacco ones. You can actually choose from a large array of delicious flavors.
2. Your First Puff Should Be A Vaping-Friendly Area
Though people around you will not suffer from the second hand smoke your tobacco cigarette will bring, there are still rules and regulations you need to follow when it comes to dragging your first vapor. Remember there are other people who might not like the vape, so always make sure to comply with the laws and legislations in your area.
3. Don’t be stingy on your first MOD
A lot of vaping beginners automatically assume that getting the cheapest e-cig will feed their daily tobacco consumption. Make sure to invest in a good MOD to avoid replacing your parts from time to time. It is better to have an expensive unit that will last you for a long time rather than having a cheap device that will require you to replace your unit from time to time. It will not just save you money; it will also save you the hassle of looking for replacement parts.
4. Make sure that your supplies will last
It is frustrating to know that you cannot vape when you are in the most stressful part of the day because you did not charge your battery because you left the house. Or you forgot to bring an extra pack of e-juice because you are in such in a hurry to leave. This will heighten the chance of going back to tobacco cigarettes because they are the only alternative you have.
Coils can last up to a month, but make sure that you have an extra. The same goes with your battery, especially if your unit’s battery is not built in. if you unit has a built-in battery, do not forget to bring your charging cable with you, even when your trip is not that long.
5. Try New Flavors and Nicotine Strengths
As a beginner, you might want to try your normal nicotine level before gradually lowering. Try different flavors of e-juice, and different atomizers and cartomizers until you find what suits you best. Afterwards, you can modify your unit by changing tanks and mixing your e-juice brands. You can ask for suggestions from your friends who are already into vaping on how they modified their e-cigarettes, and how they chose their brand and if they specifically prefer cartomizers from atomizers. You can also experiment by sub-ohming—you can produce bigger amount of vapor with a better airflow.
E-cigs or vapes may not be for everybody, but are a better alternative to burning and smoking tobacco. It also lessens your worry about having smoke-related diseases because you are free from the chemical and harmful materials a stick of cigarette delivers to your body.
Do you have any vaping stories to share? Comment your suggestions below.
Photo: Lindsay Fox
