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As governments continue to grapple with legislating vaping technology, many users are left in the dark about what is and is not legally acceptable. Although regulation of nicotine containing substances is obviously an important matter of public safety, there is heated debate around the way vape users are being ostracised and lumped in with cigarette smokers by law makers. This week, we take a look at what exactly the vaping laws are in Australia, and what proposed laws may come into effect in the near future.

Purchasing

In Victoria, the sale and supply of electronic cigarettes is legal. From August 1^st 2017, it will be illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase, possess or use electronic cigarettes whether or not they contain nicotine. However, the sale of nicotine products such as nicotine containing e juice is currently illegal and shows no sign of changing in the near future. For vapers who want to use nicotine products, it is legal to import nicotine from overseas for personal use. Each importation is limited to three months’ supply and the total amount of nicotine imported over a period of 12 months cannot exceed 15 months’ supply. There are many different overseas vendors in which you can purchase nicotine. If you need help use the contact page  http://www.vaphilia.com.au/pages/contact and will get back to you with some direct links where it can be purchased.

Use

The use of electronic cigarettes is currently legal everywhere in Victoria, but from August 1^st 2017, it will be illegal to use electronic cigarettes in all smoke free areas, whether or not they contain nicotine. Although these laws will not technically come into effect until next year, it’s still good practice to refrain from using a vapouriser in places where smoking is banned, as electronic cigarettes are a relatively new technology that not all the general public is knowledgeable about, and the use of these devices in close proximity to non smokers or asthmatics may cause distress or upset. Being polite and conscientious about the way that you use your vape is one of the best things you can do to portray a positive image of vapers to the wider community.

Vaphilia is an established electronic cigarette shop with two locations in Melbourne. Explore our extensive range of mods, devices, e juice and accessories online.

If you’ve just invested in your first mod, then you’re probably deeply ensconced in the midst of a vape cloud euphoria right now, but in a few weeks’ time, you’re going to notice your mod is looking pretty gunky, and maybe even experience some unpleasant side effects like ‘ghost’ flavours, a burnt taste, a flooded battery, and poor vapour production. The cumulative effect of these things is probably going to take the sheen off your new mod, but you can avoid the whole thing in the first place by following these simple cleaning tips.

Drip tip

There are 20 billion microbes in the average human mouth, so if you’re sucking on your mod several times a day over several weeks, your drip tip is going to become unhygienic, and fast. Drip tips collect all kinds of gross things like saliva, food residue and dead skin, and when this gunk builds up, it can compromise the quality of vapour. The best way to clean your drip tip is to simply remove it and run it under some water and get the gunk off. Do this as needed. I do it maybe once a day or whenever I notice the gunk build-up.

Clearomiser

Cleaning the clearomiser is important to ensure quality vapour clouds and unadulterated e juice flavour. Cleaning the clearomiser is a twostep process, the first stage of which involves cleaning the tank to get rid of any gunk. Remove the drip tip, discard any excess e liquid, and then fill the tank up halfway with warm water, before placing your thumb over the opening and shaking it vigorously for a few seconds, then dumping the water out. Repeat this process 4-5 times and if you are dealing with flavour ghosting (getting hints of leftover e juice flavours even after you start using a new flavour), then adding a little lemon juice or clear alcohol like vodka can help neutralise this. Always remove the coil before washing your tank. Never wash the coil as you will ruin it. If you are changing flavours in your tank, then either use the same coil and just wait until the new flavour comes through (about 5 minutes) or change the coil altogether. For myself, as I usually vape similar flavours (dessert) I just use the same coil and wait for the new flavour to come out. But if you are changing to a different flavour profile (e.g. going from a tobacco to fruit) then you might be better off changing the coil as well.

Battery

Cleaning the battery is more about maintaining function than hygiene. Poor firing connection is a common issue which can occur when e liquid seeps through onto the top of the 510 pin that connects the battery to the tank. Cleaning your battery and the tank regularly is simple and ensures a strong connection. All you need to do is take a dry cotton cloth and gently clean both connections.

As the stealth style of vaping continues to gain ground, more and more of the leading e cigarette companies are producing miniature portable vapouriser models which are perfect for the user who likes to keep their habits private. This week, we take a look at the mini vaporiser phenomenon, and explore how they measure up both literally and figuratively to their full sized counterparts.

Convenience

The biggest advantage of mini vapourisers is how easy they are to take on the road. With most mini mods being less than 10cm in length and small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, they easily fit into a pocket, purse or briefcase. The 75W Eleaf Istick Pico TC Mod for example, is just 45mm wide and 70.5mm long, so small enough to fit in your coat pocket without creating a bulge.

Functionality

Whilst most mini mods have a reduced e juice capacity due to their more compact size, they are surprisingly comparable to standard mods when it comes to power and performance. Designs like the Tesla Stealth Mod come with 2200 mAh Li Po battery power and 100W capacity, which is more juice than most vapers need. Mini mods do tend to have less functions than some of their standard counterparts, but this may suit users who like to stick to one function per device anyway.

Aesthetics

Most mini mods on the market are scaled down and simplified versions of a standard design, so they can actually be more aesthetically pleasing than the original. Devices like the Vaporesso Target Mini Mod are a perfect example of this, as the sleek scaled down design makes the original target mod look awkward and gangly by comparison.

Vaping experience

Mini but mighty, these scaled down designs can still pack quite a punch when it comes to throat hit, and their size really has no bearing on the quality of the vaping experience. If anything, the mini design makes it easier to relax and enjoy you vape breaks in peace. 

In the world of vaping, bigger doesn’t necessarily always mean better and the mini mod trend stands testament to this. These devices are ideal for a private user who doesn’t have much call to switch up functions and likes to keep their vape style simple. Explore Vaphilia’s complete range of mini mods in our electronic cigarette shop.

Although there is a lot of myth and misinformation about e cigarettes circulating in the public sphere, more and more research is being done into the health and social implications of this comparatively new technology. The results of these research projects is gradually building up a clearer picture of e cigarette use and culture, and although there are still plenty of sceptics, the statistics suggest that there are plenty of advantages for smokers who choose to make the switch to e cigarettes. In this article, we take a look at just some of the more recent research findings which examined a range of different elements associated with e cigarette use.

• 11 seconds is the average amount of time vapour took to evaporate according French scientists. The same study found that cigarette smoke lasted for 20 minutes.
• 91% Of smokers who made the switch over to e-cigarettes tended to have improved health according to an independent study done by university researchers. 97% of the study group also had reduced or completely eliminated chronic coughs, 80% had an improved sense of smell, and 73% reported a better sense of taste
• $50 billion US dollars is the projected worth of the global e cigarette market by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 22.36%
• E-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than traditional tobacco products, according to an independent evidence review published by Public Health England
• 44% of the general population in the UK believe e cigarettes are as harmful as tobacco products
• There are around 20 different chemicals present in a bottle of e-juice, there are over 3600 present in cigarettes * 31-43% of users prefer fruit flavoured e liquids
• 31% of smokers who tried e cigarettes quit smoking within 6 months
• 7.2 billion cigarette butts are littered in Australia every year. By contrast, electronic cigarettes produce very little waste, with the average customizer lasting 15-20 longer than a cigarette.
• The greatest (20%) proportion of electronic cigarette users are aged between 35 and 44 according to a UK survey
• E cigarettes are 40% cheaper than conventional tobacco products and have the potential to save you $1,387 USD per year according to a NerdWallet survey.
• There are around 7,000 different e liquid flavours

Vaphilia stock a wide range of mods, devices, e liquids and accessories. Shop with us online or get in touch with us by calling 03 9528 2548.

The tank is essentially the component that turns a battery into a vaporiser. The tank performs the dual function of being a heating element and an e liquid holder, and it plays a crucial role in your vaping experience. In this article, we examine the different types of tanks available on the market, so that you can make amore informed choice about what type of tank best suits your vaping style.

Reusable and Disposable

Perhaps the first and most important decision you have to make when choosing a tank is whether you want something you can tinker with, or something that comes readymade. Disposable tanks are comparatively cheap and require no coil building expertise so if you’re new to e cigarettes, these might be the way to go. Reusable tanks can be reused once the atomizer burns out or the wicks go bad, and simply involve replacing the coil heads. Whilst the tank itself is costlier than a disposable, the replacement coil heads are relatively inexpensive, so you’ll save money in the long run.

Materials

Tanks come in three different material types, and each have their own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

• Plastic (polycarbonate)
  The most common tanks on the market, plastic is a durable and affordable option but they don’t perform well with very sweet or acidic e liquid flavours like cinnamon, passionfruit and citrus, which crack and cloud the plastic (this does not affect flavour or function).

• Pyrex (glass)
  A stylish and slightly heavier operation, glass is a great performer when it comes to smooth airflow and is therefore a good option if you want to produce a lot of vapour. Glass is slightly more expensive than plastic, and is also prone to breaking when dropped.

• Metal
  Although relatively scarce, there are some metal tanks made from stainless steel and anodized aluminium. These are ideal for a hot vape as metal is a fantastic conductor.

Wicks and cartomizers

A cartomizer contains cotton filament inside the tanks that absorbs the e liquid whilst wick based devices (clearomizers and glassomizers) have a wick attached to the coil which absorbs the e liquid. There is no performance difference between these two variances, it really depends on your personal preference.

Resistance

Tanks come in a wide range of OHM ratings and different levels of resistance provide different vaping experiences. Broadly speaking, if you are after a hot vape, choose a lower resistance tank and if you want a smooth vape, go high.

Coil placement

Where the coil is placed in the tank can affect a number of aspects of your vape experience. A tank with a top coil design will result in a hotter vape, and tends to manage high powered batteries better. However, the top coil design tends to burn through e juice quite quickly, so you need to pay close attention to your fluid levels. A bottom coil design tends to be run through e juice at a slower rate and offers a cooler vape experience.

Single and dual coils

Whilst single coils are cost effective, dual coins are better performers in terms of heat and vapour production.

One of the great pleasures of taking up the e cigarette lifestyle is the sense of community that comes with it. If you’re just starting out as an e cigarette user, it’s well worth tapping into the knowledge of this passionate community to get information and support. In this article, we list five of the best e cigarette bloggers online.

Grimm Green

One of the most prominent and popular vape reviewers on the internet, Nick’s YouTube videos regularly receives hundreds of thousands of hits and are a go to resource for beginner and advanced users alike. On this site you can expect to find light-hearted yet through mod reviews told from a user’s perspective, as well as plenty of engaging content discussing current e cigarette news, advocacy issues, and legislation.

Taste Your Juice

Phil Busardo is the other heavyweight reviewer that many in the e cigarette community turn to for comprehensive reviews that don’t beat around the bush. Whilst exploring this site, you’ll be able to find detailed breakdowns of the latest mods, coils, tanks, e liquids and mechanicals as well as tutorials, user resources, and a beginners’ guide. If ever there was an encyclopaedia of vaping, Pbusardo’s blog would be it.

Keyzygirl

Although it’s less professional looking, Kezygirl’s blog offers a warmth and personal touch that the other blogs on this list simply do not. A passionate veteran of the e cigarette community Kezygirl is also one of only a handful of female vape bloggers who play a prominent role in the community. On her blog you’ll find reviews, medical research discussions, and information on the latest e cigarette technology.

Ecig Advanced

Klaus Kneale is part blogger, part reviewer, and part e cigarette advocate. His site is the place to go if you want vaping news from around the world, and join in on an educational discussion about the latest research and legislation.

The Exit Door Leads In

The poster girl for e cigarette users in the UK, Lorien Jollye eloquently articulates the challenges of switching from smoking to vaping, and is very vocal about the stigma surrounding tobacco use.  

Dick Puddlecote

Puddlecote pulls no punches when it comes to criticising the politics and cultural attitudes surrounding vapourisers and there is something genuinely refreshing about their honesty. On this blog you will find insightful breakdowns of the latest developments in e cigarette legislation and strong criticism of the ‘nanny state’ attitude which leads many governments to restrict the civil liberties of their people. 

E liquid plays a crucial role in the electronic cigarette experience. Regardless of whether you’re an experienced mechanical fanatic obsessed with cloud chasing, or an absolute beginner who is on their first starter kit, the e liquid blend plays a central role in the user’s enjoyment of their device. This week, we explain the inns and outs of e liquid care.

Steeping

To get the flavours of your e liquid to mature, you need to let it steep. Steeping involves placing the bottle in a cool dark area for around two weeks so that the natural flavours of the e liquid can develop. Steeping is advisable for pretty much all brands of e liquid, although some companies do steep before they put their products on the market. Steeping is particularly important for tobacco products as it produces a richer flavour.

Storage

All e liquids benefit from storage in a cool, dry and dark area but its particularly important if you use nicotine products because it oxidizes and evaporate when exposed to sunlight and heat. It’s ideal to avoid temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius as heat will have an impact on the potency of your e-liquid. It is possible to store e liquid in the fridge; you just need to let it warm back up to room temperature before filling your device. There is some conjecture as to whether or not you can freeze e liquid, and whilst some users do use this method of storage, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Filling

Although most e liquid bottles have a specially designed nozzle to reduce drips, it’s often messy and you will sometimes spill e liquid on your fingers and hands. If this happens there is no need to panic, just wash or wipe the e liquid off and you will be fine. Of course, you should always keep your e liquid well out of the reach of small children and pets, as although the nicotine concentration used in e cigarettes is not generally dangerous to adults it can be harmful to very small children or pets.

Life expectancy

Once the bottle is opened, they have shelf life of around 1-2 years maximum but this very much depends on how they’re stored. Although using expired e liquid is not likely to harm your heath, it probably won’t be a pleasant experience. Expired e liquid may smell or taste bad, or will separate and not mix well.

Vaphilia sells an extensive range of quality e liquid brands which are available to buy online and in-store.