Smoke Free Terminology
·
Analog – Slang term
for a traditional cigarette.
·
Atomizer (or atty) –
The heating element on an e-cigarette, the part that heats the eJuice to the
point of vaporization.
·
Automatic
Battery/Suction Switch – A style of electronic cigarette that does not use a
button to activate the healing element. This style of battery is most similar
to smoking an analog.
·
Battery – The battery
is the part of the eCig that provides power to the heating element.
·
Cartridge (or cart) –
A plastic tube that is generally filled with absorbent filler material that
holds E-Juice.
·
Cartomizer (or carto)
– A cartridge and atomizer in a single unit. These are typically inexpensive
and disposable.
·
Clearomizer (or
clearo) – A tank that uses wicks and a heating element rather than filler
material.
·
Drip Tip – An
accessory that can be used in conjunction with an atomizer or cartomizer. Drip
tips are typically used for looks or added comfort.
·
Flooding – This can
occur when too much eJuice is applied to the atomizer or heating element.
Heating elements require air to properly vaporize liquids, and adding too much
eJuice will cause a decrease in vapor production and flavor.
·
Juice – E-Juice,
eJuice. This is the liquid that is vaporized when using an electronic
cigarette.
·
Manual – A style of
electronic cigarette that has a button which activates the heating element.
·
Mod – Typically refers
to devices that use larger lithium ion batteries and have variable voltage
and/or wattage options.
·
Throat Hit – The
tingling sensation that a user gets in the back of the throat when vaporizing
eJuice that contains nicotine.
·
Vaping – The action of
“smoking” an electronic cigarette.
What
is an E-Cig?
An electronic
cigarette (eCig) is simply a device that houses a rechargeable lithium ion
battery which powers a heating element. The heating element vaporizes “E-Juice”
(also known as “eJuice”), that the user then inhales. The inhaled vapor closely
resembles the feel and appearance of smoke, with none of the staining or
unpleasant smells caused by combustion.
It really is very
similar to a regular (or “analog”) cigarette without all of the deadly
chemicals, tar and second hand smoke. You’re also not going to start any fires
with an electronic cigarette!
Where can I use my
E-Cig?
Electronic cigarettes
don’t operate like analog (traditional) cigarettes, because no combustion takes
place in order to inhale the vapor. The vapor that is exhaled dissipates
quickly, and any (often pleasant) aroma in the vapor also disperses within
seconds. Because of this, these products can be used in most places where
analog cigarettes are frowned upon or not allowed. That being said, we suggest
that you always politely check with the staff or management of any business or
location that does not allow smoking before using your electronic cigarette.
What kind of E-Cig
should I use?
Batteries come in all
shapes and sizes. From the size of a cigarette, to the larger “eGo” style
batteries, all the way up to the massive and long lasting 18650 battery style
devices, commonly called “mods”. The size of the battery is generally related
to the mAh (milliamps hour) rating of the battery. Milliamps hour is important,
because it is the easiest way to distinguish the strength or capacity of a
battery. The higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last between charges.
Think of the petrol tank on a car. Voltage would be the petrol being used, and
mAh would be the size of the tank. The larger the petrol tank (mAh), the longer
the car will run. When it runs empty, it’s time to refill (recharge) the tank.
Some devices feature
variable voltage and/or variable wattage options. In a nutshell, VV and VW
settings allow the user to manually adjust the output voltage or wattage being
provided to the heating element. The advantage to these features is that it allows
the individual to set his or her device to their optimum level, and provides a
greater range of control over throat hit and vapor production.
When the user
activates the battery, it provides the electrical power that is needed by the
atomizer to generate enough heat to produce vapor.
Way back in the dark
ages of “vaping” (around 2003), the only real options for heating elements were
either dripping E-Juice directly on an exposed atomizer, or an
atomizer/cartridge setup, where a small tank filled with an absorbent material
and E-Juice was placed on top of the atomizer. Now we have dozens of options of
varying ease of use or difficulty, with multiple benefits and/or drawbacks. The
important thing to remember is that the basic function of any heating element is
to vaporize liquid, so that the user can then inhale it.
Ultimately, the type
of device that you choose is up to you. With so many options out there, you are
able to consider what will work best for your lifestyle and personal
preference.
What is E-Juice?
Now for the fun part!
The single most important part when it comes to vaping is the E-Juice. If a
person doesn’t like the taste of what they’re vaping, they aren’t going to use
their device, plain and simple.
It seems like it
should be basic, you buy some E-Juice, and you either like it or you don’t,
right? There’s a lot more to that delicious E-Juice sitting in your tank
than you might think. At SFI, we use an average ratio of 60% vegetable glycerin
to 40% propylene glycol as the base for our liquids. We are unable to create
100% VG E-Juice containing nicotine, because our nicotine is PG based. The
PG and VG that is used by SFI is USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) grade and
kosher to ensure maximum safety without toxicity risk.
We also use PG based
pharmaceutical grade nicotine that meets the EU 6.0 standards and is 99.86%
pure.
The only other
ingredients in our E-Juice are U.S. and E.U. Food grade flavorings. We do not
use any alcohol, vitamin supplements, artificial colorings or additives in our
juice. SFI creates flavors using only the best ingredients available.
Finding your favorite
E-Juice is one of the greatest joys of vaping. Since taste is 100% subjective,
try lots of different flavors, and share them with your friends! Smoking has
always been a social activity, and there’s no reason why vaping shouldn’t be
also.
What is PG and What is
VG?
Propylene glycol (or PG) is a clear, slightly syrupy liquid made
by the reaction of propylene oxide with water. PG has had an unsurpassed
reputation for safe use in a wide range of consumer products and has
antibacterial properties. PG is used to keep many foods that we eat moist, and
the FDA has deemed it safe for human consumption. It’s used in many drinks,
including beers. It’s also present in the manufacturing process of several
types of cookies, cakes and candies. Because of its water-retaining properties,
propylene glycol is the compound of choice for delivering atomized medications.
It has been used in asthma inhalers and nebulizers since the 1950s! In
electronic cigarettes, PG allows atomization to occur at substantially lower
temperatures than required for tobacco (analog) cigarettes, and also helps to
deliver the nicotine when inhaled.
Vegetable glycerin (VG) is a natural carbohydrate derived from
certain types of plants, and is used in everyday products worldwide, including
food. It is non toxic, and also deemed safe for human consumption by the FDA.
When eJuices are made with a base that combines PG and VG, they
generally produce more vapor and give less “throat hit” than E-Juices made
solely with propylene glycol. By using both, SFI is maximizing the best
properties of each ingredient in order to provide our customers a better, more
flavorful experience that produces large, realistic clouds of vapor.