Earthling789

Yes, Big South Fork is a LOT like the areas I hunt up here... So, finding a place on a ridge is sometimes more advantageous than up a tree At least on a ridge, you don't have to spend hours looking for that perfect diameter, straight, limbless tree for your climber! I tend to carry one of those camo heat-seats attached to my backpack, so I can sit anywhere and be off the ground (and dry). Finding an area with small trees, ferns, holly-bushes, etc. where you can pocket yourself into them is excellent concealment on a ridge or rise, especially if you can overlook a travel-route or creek. One thing I can say about hunting public land is that most hunters will be "early-birds" (3-4am)... So, your best hunting will be first light, as the late-arrivals are moving deer. 90% of the early-birds will head home well before Noon, so deer will begin to move again around 11am to 2pm-ish... and I've taken more deer on public land between Noon and 4pm than any other time of day... second most successful time of day is just before dark, at least on public land... Private land is a different story... most any time of day is good, but I still prefer afternoons and evenings during rifle season. I've taken all my kids hunting, and my boys were the most fidgety and complained the most about being bored, hungry, "can we go home", "it's too early", "I'm cold", etc. My daughter could sit for hours (hot, cold, wind, rain, snow...) and not move, and rarely complained... except that one time we sat in the rain for several hours... we got back to the truck and she could wring buckets of water out of her socks (and she was wearing waterproof boots)! That was the only time she gave up before dark.... So, when taking youth with you... I'd suggest you arrive around Noon-ish (after you've filled them up with some fast-food, lol). They'll see more, be quieter, be warmer, and will have a much better time with dad. I always hit McDonald's or Wendy's along the way and we were set-up in the woods in the late-morning or early-afternoon, usually in a blind or on the ground along a protected ridge. Even if we didn't see or bag a deer, we had a good time eating out and spending time with each other in the woods!

I hunt the mountains and river-bottoms here in eastern KY, and I can tell you I've shot far more deer from a stationary position (sitting on a stool, stump, or leaning against a tree/rock overlooking a creek or valley), than I have from a stand or blind... probably 2:1 ratio? If you're hunting public land, a climber is a necessity since you can't leave a stand unattended, and the Summit is a really good (and economical choice - I have two of them). But, in the woods/mountains, finding a good (and concealed) spot with a good view is just as good - like a stump/rock with a good amount of foliage behind it. Hunting a blind is really good with kids because it conceals movement, but not noise. One thing I always did with my kids was to bring along their game-boy or MP3 with headphones... because sitting and staring at the trees for hours on end can get boring for even the teenagers! I've always had good luck with those "leaf-looking" scents that you hang from tree limbs. Vanilla, apple, and doe-in-heat scents seem to work best for drawing them up-wind... so vaping an apple or vanilla flavor might work to your advantage

I'm heading out to the blind this evening, and plan to be vaping a mixture of apple/vanilla/black-cherry... It smells wonderful (to me), so I'm hoping the deer will find it appealing as well. On a side-note, I've shot deer from less than 20-yd away (from a tree-stand, with bow), and a cigar still in my mouth or left-hand! Honestly, the deer here, during the rut, are far less spooked by human smells. A couple years ago, I had a yearling doe walk right up to my blind and stick her head in the front window! Scared the PEE out of me... AND HER

Yes, but there are limitations... Most regulated APVs will not fire a coil below 1.2 (like a Vamo) or 0.8 Ohms (Innokin MVP). Plus, there are voltage/wattage limitations as well as limitations on the battery (especially if you're using cheap 18650's). Bottom line, if you're not sub-ohming, and use good equipment, it is very possible.

Condolences on your loss, Patricia... Here's my input on the "cages"... as they contact the glass, and are thin, a sharp enough blow to crack the glass without the cage would surely be enough to crack the glass WITH the cage. Therefore, my take on the cages is they are "decorative" only. I do like the flavor of my full-size Nautilus, which is slightly better than my KPT2's or AeroTanks. The Kanger tanks are IMO a bit more durable, and the coils are definitely cheaper (and last almost as long as the Aspire coils). Capacity of the full-size Nautilus is greater, and the mini Nautilus is roughly the same as the Kanger tanks (2.5-ish ml). For the flavor and capacity I'd buy the Nautilus, and stock up on coils. Instead of buying decorative cages, I'd invest in a couple (or more) spare glass, for just in case breakages. For durability, consistency, and price (tank and coils) I'd stock up on KPT2's with Air-flow Control bases (single-coil convenience, with adjustable air-flow). Or, AeroTanks... the V2's have optional Stainless tanks included, cost only a couple bucks more than KPT2s, and the coils are only slightly more expensive (but still cheaper than Aspire coils, by roughly half). Five tanks, 20-pack of coils, and a couple spare Pyrex tanks... Nautilus cost will be pushing $200... KPT2 costs for the same, with addition of air-flow-control bases, will be ~ $100... AeroTank cost for the same would be ~$20 more than KPT2s.

* Bows * I had popping on my AeroTanks (with thinner juices), which was fixed by reducing air-flow. Reducing air-flow reduced the wicking-action created by vacuum pressure. On most RDAs, their is not as much juice in the well as there will be in your Magma, so increased air-flow increases the vacuum... and like a tank... draws more juice to the coil from the juice-well... excess juice = popping. At least that seems to be the best logic for why reducing air-flow also reduces popping.

Tam, I was getting popping on my Magma too (running dual-coil), and when I cut back on the air-flow, it stopped.

Wow, I read that entire article, and while I agree with their methodology, I do NOT agree with their assessment/conclusion. Their entire premise is based on Nicotine, solely, which we know to NOT be the problem with (cause of) smoking addictions. There are 4000+ OTHER ingredients in cigarette smoke, with nicotine being the least addictive by-product, when compared to the other "addictive" ingredients... and nicotine does not cause cancer (unless you only believe gov't propaganda)! Electronic cigarettes (vaporizers) provide cessation success by targeting three fronts... Nicotine, visible-mouth/lung-filling-vapor, and hand-to-mouth repetition. Nicotine alone is not the reason they work, as this has been assessed in countless studies on nicotine patches and nicotine gum, and their abysmal failure rates in smoking cessation. They did, however, nail one major flaw in patches/gum... their nicotine levels are inferior to the nicotine delivery-rate of smoking (or e-cigs). If the study is suggesting only 50mg levels are "effective", then why are patches and gum limited to 1/10 those levels (or less)? Conspiracy, perhaps? I smoked for 30 years, and am quite sure my nicotine-intake-levels were far and above 24mg rates, but e-liquid's 24mg levels were too much for my system when I started vaping... mostly (assumed) because smoking is also delivering an anesthetic to the mouth/throat/lungs, to allow for higher nicotine levels (without burning/choking you to death). I've been smoke-free since the day I started vaping, and settled at 18mg juices to stave-off cravings for the first 6-monhts. I'm now at 12mg for my daily-vape, but keep 18 and 24mg around for high-stress times, or times when I can only take a few hits every couple hours (to keep my nic-levels even). In the evenings, I drop to 3mg or 6mg juices about an hour or two before bedtime, and I sleep much better, and don't have horrible cravings in the morning because I reduced my nicotine levels before sleep (gradually), rather than a sharp-drop, which will always cause cravings or dehydration-headaches when you wake up (same as caffeine, sugar, chocolate, alcohol, etc.).

Hahaha... welcome to the club! Fortunately, once you find a couple of "favorite" flavors, the expense in juices will calm down, and you'll actually spend less per month on juices than you once did on analogs! Just a quick look at all the gear/juice I've bought for vaping, I thought I'd spent way too much too... but honestly, smoking would have cost me a lot more (and not just in the wallet)

Paying it forward, be it juice, hardware, or knowledge is just a way to give back by helping others. I've never been in a 12-step program, but I feel the best way to kick any habit is to have loving support of your friends and family (like everyone here on this forum)... and helping others overcome your habit/addiction is one of the best feelings in the world! I no longer keep track of the things I've given away (lost count), but will continue to give what I can, when I can... either basic eGo-starter-kits I've assembled for 'just-in-case-noob' moments, freebies/gifts I've received but won't ever use, or hardware I no longer use/need...

And, after buying 200+ drip-tips, a $50 discount was the least they could do

Welcome!

More details, tech-specs, and product reviews... Yep, those were my comments in the survey Nothing keeps me from buying a product more-so than a lack of description details and accurate tech-specs on the product. Honest reviews (not the canned-praise often found on web-retailers) will often seal-the-deal on a purchase!

All good suggestions above... I'll toss in the Magma as a good starter RDA... It has a deep juice-well (less mess), as well as a stable (and forgiving) platform for building single or dual-coil configurations, and it has adjustable airflow. Things to mention about RDAs... and these are just my opinions and observations... You will use (exponentially) more juice than vaping from a tank (i.e. more juice expenses) You WILL require lower Nicotine levels with an RDA than you use in your tanks (extra juice costs) You will "want" a Mech MOD or two as you try lower-ohm builds (and yes, you eventually will with an RDA) Buying resistance wires (different gauges), cutters, mandrels (something to wrap wire on), wick (silica, cotton, rayon, etc), and resistance meter are all additional expenses UP FRONT So, buying a $15-30 RDA is cheap, but getting all the necessary equipment to properly use it can set you back $50-150! Again, that is generally an expense you only have to bear once, but I feel it should be pointed out for anyone starting out with their first RDA. My first RDA set me back $23, and even though I already owned Mech MODs (and batteries/charger), an Ohm-meter, cutters, mandrels (drill-bits or other known-size rods), and a torch... I still spent an additional $50 on different gauges of Kanthal and a big bag of Japanese Cotton (enough to last for years). Also, my first week "dripping" added in the extra expense of different flavor/nic-level juices (six bottles), and I vaped roughly 60ml the first week, alone (trying to nail-down new flavor preferences and coil-build preferences)... on top of my usual 18-22ml per week of tank vaping! So, one tiny, inexpensive RDA set me back $150 in total costs to get "going", and I added the extra expense of increasing my juice costs by 200% per week, minimum.... Yes, the flavor and vapor production are amazing from my Magma (like a good pipe or cigar), but I feel everyone wanting to drip should be aware of the initial, up-front expenses, as well as the increase in juices expenses you will incur, weekly. NOW, an alternative would be a Kayfun Lite Plus or Russian 91%. Both RTAs can be found in quality clones for $20-45, still will allow him to build a coil to suit his needs, use wick of his choice, the flavor is still amazing (like a dripper), but you use less juice than a dripper, although still more than a KPT2 If I only use my KPT2s all week, I use ~20ml of juice... If I only use my Russian 91%, I use ~25ml of juice... if I only use my Magma, I use between 60ml and 90ml of juice! Yes, for a Kayfun-style RTA, you still have to have a meter, wire, wick, etc... but juice expenses will be lower... and RTAs typically perform best with coil builds > 1.0 Ohm, so there is no "need" for a Mech MOD... the ProVari (or most any regulated device) will suffice.

^^ This ^^ I use my Russians on my MVP, as well as Mech MODs, and I find that my preferred coils are 1.4-1.6 Ohms (at 3.9-4.1V) on that platform, for the juices I vape. sure, you can run a Russian (or similar RTA) into the sub-ohm levels (and would require a Mech Mod), but nothing says you HAVE to sub-ohm them... and I think their flavors are better in the 1.5 Ohm range... but that's just my opinion

Following a few article links, which started with this one about a town in MA which plans to ban sales all tobacco and related products (including e-cigs) because of the devil called Nicotine... , I ran across this one from Discovery Magazine, touting the medical benefits of Nicotine for Parkinson's Disease, Tourette’s and schizophrenia. But, the interesting portion of the article was independent research buried within, proving that Nicotine (alone) is NOT the addictive component of cigarettes (cigars, etc.), and alluding to the fact that Big-Tobacco, researchers, and our government have known this for decades, despite their demonizing of Nicotine publicly! If Nicotine were so addictive and deadly, do you think we'd be able to buy it from any corner-drug-store, or in bulk on the Internet? Try buying Morphine without a prescription or FDA license.... You can't even buy Lidocaine (Cocaine derivative used as an anesthetic by dentists all over the world) over-the-counter without a prescription or FDA license (in strengths greater than 0.5% - and usually only in first-aid sprays or ointments)! Saying Nicotine is the evil, addictive component of smoking, IMO, is like saying that motor oil is the addictive component that forces people to drive, and thus the leading (evil) cause of vehicle accidents and vehicle related deaths.

Welcome to VT, Aimee! Tell us more... are you vaping to get away from smoking (if so, smoking for how long / how much daily)? What gear are you using (brands, styles)? What are your juice flavor preferences (what have you tried and liked so far)?

This may sound nuts, but I've cleaned the crud out of firing buttons of flashlights and similar items using tablet Denture Cleaner soak for 20-30 minutes to loosen the crud, and then an old toothbrush to clean the threading areas and crevices I also always soak or rinse in 90-100% alcohol to aid in water removal (removes mineral deposits left by air-drying just water rinses). I don't know what it will do to brass or copper (discolorations), but it works well for aluminum and SS I wouldn't think it would damage brass/copper... but use at your own risk (or test a "real" copper penny or brass trinket)

I bought a Magma a while back, and use 3mg or 6mg juices in it, when I bother to use it... Yes, the flavor and vapor are amazing, but I guess I'm just too simple to bother with it very often, and I'm not a cloud-chaser The flavor from my RTA's (Russian 91%) is just as good, and I don't have to carry a bottle of juice from room to room... I guess that makes me a solid tank-guy, lol. The RDA (Magma), to me is akin to a good pipe or after-dinner cigar... worth the effort if you are "stationary", even though it does hold quite a bit of juice in the tray/well, but I'm way too active, which is why I prefer tanks or RTA's (rebuild-able customization, but still have juice capacity, and less "mess").

I've had more dental work done in my life for 2 or 3 people... I empathize with anyone in a dentist's chair Hope you feel better real soon!

Copper-brite is a copper specific cleaner with a protective additive built-in. Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish is great for cleaning just about any metal surface, too. I use to clear-coat the brass handle of my walking stick, but after a while, the acids from your skin wear it down anyway, and it looks even worse with all the flaking and peeling and yellowing. After a few times of striping the clear-coat, cleaning the brass and re-coating it... I gave up and learned to love the patina

Yep, I tried using a single-coil in my AeroTank... wasn't impressed with the function, nor was I disappointed in it either, but yes, it did work! Then again, I bought in bulk for single and dual-coils several months ago, so I'm set for using the correct coil for at least another year (or two), before I even have to think about rebuilding the heads I was mostly trying to point out for a noobie, that your second and/or third tank purchases should be the same tank, or at least a tank style that will use the same coils so you don't have that initial cost of keeping up with two VERY different coils... such as Kanger and Aspire... unless of course you are not liking the first tank you bought and want to change brand/style....

If you have a Nautilus, getting a Nautilus mini is a good choice, because they both can use the same BVC coils Keeping up with only one brand/style of coil is always cheaper. I've had my Nautilus for only a couple days now, and been using Kanger single and dual-coils for over 6-months. Now I have 3 coil-types to keep up with But, I must say, KPT2 and AeroTanks have served me well, and I find little difference between my AeroTank and my Nautilus, with slightly more robust flavor from the Nautilus (mostly based on the chimney design - more like Kayfun/Russian), but I can buy two AeroTanks for the price of one Nautilus (and the coils are <$1 each, compared to $3 Aspire coils). There is a ton of info, basic, and more in-depth in the cloud-chaser sub-threads... pros and cons of different devices, coil-building, wicking, juices, and above all else... SAFETY when dealing with an RBA/RDA and Mech MOD!

I'll chime in on the battery, and say... Buy a couple more 18650's and at least one eGo-style backup Nothing is worse than waiting for one to charge while you have nothing to vape One thing we like to beat people with here is BACKUPS ... and backups for your backups!! Spare batteries, spare eGo's (static or variable voltage), spare tanks, spare everything... because you never know when you'll break something, have hardware failure, coil failure, battery won't charge, etc. etc. I know you're just starting out, but investing $10 on an eGo-T and $15-20 on a couple more 18650's... and having a spare tank (or two) with spare coils may just save your sanity one day!

Comp is correct... buying direct from China is cheaper than US retail sites, but you'll be waiting by the mailbox until you need another haircut... 4-8 weeks is the norm for shipping. I recently received my Nautilus, direct from China... took 34 days from shipping to delivery! So, bottom-line is this... Yes, you get some really good prices by ordering direct from China, especially if buying in bulk. But, if you can't wait upwards of 8-weeks for delivery (with no recourse for damage/defective products), then the slightly higher prices from US retailers is worth it.