The Story of Crisscross

Reflection

So I thought I would take a bit of an overview of my vaping journey. I had general goals for each of the years and then smaller bite sized goals that built up in time as I discovered the flaws in thinking and misdirected moves I made.

Year one. Goal: Replace smoking with vaping.
Try everything to see what works and fits in our lifestyle. Find a routine of battery charging/changeover. Discover how long Cartos or Atomisers last and set up a maintenance routine. Find some flavours that work on a daily basis and setup an ordering and mixing schedule. Get in front and stay in front of the ordering. Lastly find the best combo of gear for each of our regular situations and how best to carry what we need.

It was actually quite easy for us. The switch was instantaneous, we found eliquid that we liked in the second week and the routine was quickly established. But....... I had failed to quit so many times that I was not a true believer for most of that year. I panicked at the hint of any problem and second guessed myself (a lot) I only felt comfortable when I had amassed a large collection of backups.

Year two. Goal : Future proof my vaping
Belief....this is when I actually become a true believer that vaping works for us. The routine is down pat and it's time to future proof. Commit to a type or style of vaping and start to build up supplies. At this point vaping is still expensive so planning the purchases is important.

Because of the uncertain nature of vaping in Australia at this time, I wanted at least a 1 year supply of vaping consumables and at least 2 years of Eliquid makings. Still dabble with new gear but we predominantly stayed with carto tanks. I also adjusted my equipment mix to be interchangeable. No point spending lots of cash on things that don't work across all your gear.

I think year two is the hardest. So many new things being released and boredom sets in. So it was the year I started what I consider my "Vaping with elegance" journey and began my rainbow collection. Different colours of all my gear that I could switch around a look on a whim, (tanks, batteries and drip tips) and delay the inevitable boredom. Chasing a particular colour, tank, battery or that perfect drip tip made it interesting.

I started to develop DIY recipes which is quite amusing because in the whole time I was developing them I really only had a few successes with recipes that stood the test of time. I did however learn a lot about flavours and what it really takes to make complex eliquid. Time, patience and meticulous record keeping. Time I had a plenty, patience not so much and when the record keeping starts to slip......you know it's time to stop.

Year three - Goal - Longevity
Maintain the future proof supply level but now it's time to upgrade and make our gear bullet proof and in it for the long haul. Switch from disposable battery devices that have a lifespan to devices that take batteries like provari's, billet boxes and genuine mech's. These mech's have options of battery size and weight. Add additional aftermarket accessories like coloured tubes, Provari bits, Sophia's rebuildable cartos For my tanks, billet bridges for the billet boxes. Switch up all tanks to glass and add quality tanks to the mix. Learn how to make and wick coils in all the variants available at the time. and put some quality RBT's in the war chest.

Year four - Customisation
This past year has been learning to customise my vaping. By now I know exactly what I want (or don't want) in my vaping gear and decided the only way to be perfectly satisfied was to make them. Lots of research and tinkering followed. Buying second hand mods and taking them apart. Taking atomisers and all versions of coils apart. Wrapping mods and devices, playing with finishes and changing buttons. Lots of questions to knowledgeable forum members about ways of doing things and then teaching myself how to make it work.

I designed and made (with lots of help from GtAdmin) my DIY billet bridge, a DIY coil solution for my elegance tanks, drippers from Imist bases and adapters and finally the biggie......my CrissCross mods.

My CrissCross mods have been the highlight and the cumulation of all the ideas I had rolling around my head for a long time. The best part was getting Bazz involved in their creation and I think his work on them is quite stunning. They have their own thread so I won't go through it again.

Well there you have it in a bit more than a nutshell. What a wonderful journey. I am glossing over all the little (or big) hiccups and highlights along the way but it has been completely satisfying. I don't have a lofty goal for the upcoming fifth year and I am not going to make any grandiose statements about the future of vaping in my life. Except to say I am healthy, happy and I vape and I don't see that changing any time soon.


Year 5 was all about finding that happy place. Bringing all the variables together and being content, Now don't get me wrong, I am still a collector but now a days it's collecting different versions or colours of the same thing.

My tinkering days are not over just yet and I hope to continue to play with improving or changing things to suit my style but the truth is I rarely improve on what I have. These old school devices and tanks that just work without fail and now that I rebuild all my coils they stay current and relevant to my style.

Billet boxes with recoiled BVC coils
Provari mini's with carto tanks, cerotanks, nautilus and cubis tanks all with rebuilt coils
And a new favourite the Evic AIO with the modified and rebuilt cubis coil system

The same 3 eliquids I have always vaped with the occasional 4th thrown in for a change. In fact I think 5 years of menthol eucalyptus puts it firmly in the all time favourite.

The biggest change this year was to rediscover my passion for cosmetic upgrades to my mods. Learning to work with different materials and mediums to create something that is attractive to look at and more importantly comfortable to use. I always say...there is something quite special about using something unique that you made and I use them all. This forum is quite wonderful in the way it encourages you to try different things....so a huge thank you all for taking an interest.

While I am at it. I am so very thankful for all the PIF's that contribute to my tinkering and customising. I appreciate every one. And especially your faith in my actually coming up with something pretty.

Vaping can teach you so many new skills if you have the courage to try and the members here are always ready to pass on snippets, tricks and tips to guide you if you get stuck. the collective experience of this place is awesome.

Vaping is changing so finding that happy place can be illusive amidst the avalanche of new product, new styles, new information & new regulation......all I can suggest is that if you find it, enjoy it, appreciate your own journey and the people that you met along the way.

So here we are Vaping for over 6 years. Vaping is firmly entrenched in our lives. Using tried and tested equipment that just works, vaping eliquids that satisfy. What more can you ask for.

Final the obligatory words of wisdom.
My desperate need to stop smoking 50 cigarettes a day was my only motivation to make the switch to vaping. If that is your motivation then always remember it and recognise that you need an efficient nicotine delivery system and reliable set of gear to replace the habitual movements we do as smokers.

Anything else is part of the hobby rather than the necessary side of vaping. The more extreme you vape the more stresses you put on yourself and your gear thereby increasing your points of failure.

Seven years.
No words of wisdom, no goals, not even plans for new gear. Totally boring........Vaping is now just a part of daily life.

I suppose the only change is the amount I vape has slowly tapered off. Not planned but just a result of me keeping busy.

Congratulations XX!.......I'm getting a bit bored too........in a good way.....

Congrats Chris, you might think it boring but your story is also inspirational for many of us and I would like to give you a massive thumbs up for the Knowledge you have shared along the way