Introduction to Vaping

Hello and welcome to my new blog. My name is Konstantinos, I'm from Greece and here you will find my opinion on why, how and what to vape.

What I post here is from my personal experience and research. I do what I do at my own risk and state what I like and don't like personally. What I find bad may be great for another person and vice versa.

I started vaping in 2013 and am now almost 2 years free from cigarette smoke. I got the idea from a friend who wanted to start vaping to save money, so since e-cigs were "gadgety" (I love gadgets) I gave them a try and never went back to cigarettes.


What is Vaping


Vaping is
another word for using an electronic cigerette. It is an alternative way of smoking conventional (combustible) cigarettes via an electronic device powered by a battery and fueled by a liquid containing nicotine (or not).


Why Vape?

The first electronic cigarettes were introduced around 2003, but they started storming the market around 2009. The latter ones were more easy to use, cheaper and came in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes to fit almost everyone. So, why vape? Several reasons actually:

1. E-cigarettes do not contain the hundeds of chemics produced by cigarettes. They contain propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, water and nicotine. Latest studies state that e-cigarettes are 95% safer than traditional cigarettes (this study is not sanctioned or approved by the FDA or any other health organization, so what these studies do is provide early data on what are the effects of vaping on a human). They are considered (not proven) healthier than cigarettes, and I state this because only time will actually tell what the effects of vaping are and how much harm they cause or not.
2. They are cheaper in the long run. Surely, when you buy a new fancy device you might spend 50€,100€ or 200€, but the cost of consumables is cheap and will save you a lot . 
3. You can vape at certain places where smoking is prohibited. This used to apply to some public places, but at this time many countries make new laws that have prohibited the use of e-cigs where smoking is prohibited and the laws will only get more strict.
4. Second hand vapor is not harmful (studies pending) to others. That being said, it is still early as stated above to tell 100% if that applies. Study results show that "the aerosol and gases produced by e-cigarettescontain nicotine, glycerin/glycols, artificial flavorings,and preservatives." There is still a long way to find definite data, but the first signs show that second hand vapor could be less harmfull too.
5. No more bad breath, lack of taste, yellow teeth and fingers. Since e-cigs lack tar and many other chamicals, the sense of taste can return to an almost normal state, shortness of breath decreases, and yellow coloration on teeth and fingers from cigarettes fade (with proper care and hygiene of course).

So, to conclude, even though e-cigarettes are in an infant stage, positive signs can be seen to keep tobacco addicts away from conventional cigarettes, while satisfying their need for nicotine. As previously mentioned, use these devices at your own risk. What I say here is personal opinions and research I made browsing the internet for my personaly interest. This post is for your information and ease of introduction to electronic cigarettes.

Potential hazards of Vaping

There has been an abundance of posts online, in social media, on TV etc on the risks of e-cigs are. Time and again we became witnesses to people suffering burns on their body from exploding e-cigarette batteries and even worse the death of children from ingesting e-liquid (the liquid used in electronic cigarettes). What I saw from negligence. 

1. E-cigarette batteries can ignite or explode just like a cellphone,tablet or laptop battery can. Devices can be faulty and can malfunction. This is to human error, manufacturer or not. But these were extremeties. Things like "don't smoke that, it will explode" or "you are smoking battery fluid" are words said by the ignorant or misinformed. It's like saying "don't talk on that phone,it will explode" or "you are talking to a microwave oven frying your brain". So let's get things straight. The majority of e-cig devices exploding were "hybrid mods" or "mechanical mods" which effectively are metal tubes containing a high drain, high Amp battery that were shorted and caused the battery to explode/burst into flames/leak corrosive battery fluids. Or there is the case of people carrying these batteries in their pockets, alongside change, keys and other metal objects causeing the batteries to short again. This is a situation that can easily be avoided with the proper care of these batteries.
2. Malfunctioning devices can and will happen unfortunately. Like the revenge of the killer toaster, e-cigs might want to hurt you, whether they know it or not. Human error is again a big factor here, from the production line, to bad design, to bad use. Charging an e-cig that can handle up to 1 Amp with a 2 Amp charger can destroy that device, in a violent way or not. Let's NOT try that experiment.
3. What harm the vapor inhaled can do is too soon to say, so we vape at our own risk. Yes, I know I am repeating myself multiple times, but it is important to understand the state in which these devices function and the state we use them. I personally use them because I save money instead of smoking, I now feel my breathing healthier and my taste better. If you are having second thoughts don't do it. It's as simple as that.

How do electronic cigarettes work

The general idea is the same for all devices. You have a battery, a chamber with a wick and coil where the liquid vaporizes and a tip from where you inhale. The liquid is placed in a container called a tank, that is connected to a heating coil and a synthetic wick or cotton material. The wicking material absorbs the liquid, the heating coil vaporizes it and through a tube the vapor reaches the mouth. There might or not be a button that fires the device, an indication light, to see how much battery life you have , or if the device is working/firing etc. Many advanced devices feature a screen where you cna see and change many parameters, like voltage,wattage, temperature etc. These devices are for advanced users and need caution. 

So what is an advanced user? An advanced user/vaper is a person who has a basic knowledge of Ohm's Law and battery safety and wants to set parameters when vaping to his/her liking. Wait what? Ohm's Law? So I need a degree and study physics to smoke ?No, but if you want to have a more customizable vaping experience you might want to learn and try. Customizable means "I want more flavor", "cooler/warmer vapor", "more vapor" and the such, which will be explained in a later post.

Basic Terminology

Electronic cigarette: A battery powered device that delives vapor containing by default nicotine , "a smoking cessation device?"

E-cig: An electronic cigarette

E-liquid or Juice: The liquid that vaporizes in the chamber, delivering nicotine. 

Amp or A: The amperes, the current of the battery

Ω or Ohm: The electrical resistance of coil. 

Volt or V: The electric potential energy 

Tank: The container of the e-liquid

PG or Propylene Glycol: An ingredient of the e-liquid, commonly used in asthma aerosols. 

VG or Vegetable Glycerin: An ingredient of the e-liquid, derived from plants, commonly used in pharmaceuticals, as sweeterer etc.

Nicotine: A tobacco chemical, that causes addiction, also found in e-liquids in 0,3%-1,8% concentration

Drip tip: The end bit of the the e-cig, the mouth tip, from where a vaper inhales

Vaping: The act of inhaling/exhaling the vapor of an e-cigarette