My First Post: About little about me.

[Þornbjörg]

Hi, this is my first post made in the e-cig community.

I'm almost 30, and have been smoking analogs regularly for just under 20 years, except for a single 10 month break a few years back.

My first cigarette was a Kool Mild 100, probably around 1989.
My first pack-a-day regular brand was Marlboro 100's, in 1991.
Somewhere around 1999 I switched to Camel Menthol Lights.
In 2007, I managed to quit cold turkey in Feb. I was smoking again by Dec.

A few friends left analogs behind a few weeks ago.. so I did research.

As of yesterday, the order is placed for 3 different sets of ecigs for the smokers in my house. After reading several reviews, seeing feedback, checking prices, and general decision making, we went with Joye 510's. Two of us ordered black, the other white. Along with the order, we ordered a 50mL regular, a 30mL menthol, a vial of menthol flavoring, and 30 blank carts. Two of us being menthol smokers, I'm hoping to find a good mix to satisfy us, since our preferred brands are quite different, and menthol seems to be the single most hard to reproduce flavor.

I'm still on analogs, for now. Once the order arrives, I'll be making the switch... for better or worse.

For anyone reading this, here's my questions...

Are there any secrets to e-cigs I won't easily find that you can offer?

Are there any 'good' menthol juices out there, that aren't very back-ordered?

How hard would it be for a 'closet chemist'* to produce their own, quality juice?

* - Who has the knowledge and means to acquire pharmaceutical grade chemicals, as well as the equipment to accurately combine ingredients with consistent and clean results. If I were to go into production, I would have results lab tested.

[breakfastchef]

Rule Number One: E-cigs are not a 'magic bullet' to smoking cessation.
Rule Number Two: You cannot change Rule Number One.

Try it and see if it works for you. Read through the DIY e-Liquid thread for information about mixing your own.

Regarding menthol; Iwas a hardcore Newport smoker for over thirty years. Today, I rarely ever vape anything with mint or menthol Keep your mind and tastebuds open to other flavors.

[beckah54]

Hi, this is my first post made in the e-cig community.

I'm almost 30, and have been smoking analogs regularly for just under 20 years, except for a single 10 month break a few years back.

My first cigarette was a Kool Mild 100, probably around 1989.
My first pack-a-day regular brand was Marlboro 100's, in 1991.
Somewhere around 1999 I switched to Camel Menthol Lights.
In 2007, I managed to quit cold turkey in Feb. I was smoking again by Dec.

A few friends left analogs behind a few weeks ago.. so I did research.

As of yesterday, the order is placed for 3 different sets of ecigs for the smokers in my house. After reading several reviews, seeing feedback, checking prices, and general decision making, we went with Joye 510's. Two of us ordered black, the other white. Along with the order, we ordered a 50mL regular, a 30mL menthol, a vial of menthol flavoring, and 30 blank carts. Two of us being menthol smokers, I'm hoping to find a good mix to satisfy us, since our preferred brands are quite different, and menthol seems to be the single most hard to reproduce flavor.

I'm still on analogs, for now. Once the order arrives, I'll be making the switch... for better or worse.

For anyone reading this, here's my questions...

Are there any secrets to e-cigs I won't easily find that you can offer?

I can tell you, they are totally different than smoking an analog. There is a learning curve to using an e-cig. The first time you use your new 510, it may have a nasty taste because there is primer fluid on the atomizer. While your batteries are charging for the first time, take a minute and blow out the atomizer (on a paper towel) from the end that connects to the battery. You may have to do this a couple of times.
When you're ready to go, drip 2 drops of e-liquid on the atomizer. If you have prefilled carts, insert one. You're ready to go! Once the taste starts to go, drip enough of your e-juice onto the cartridge filler to make it wet but not pooling
It may take a day or two before it starts to increase in taste and vapor due to the atomizer "breaking" in.

Are there any 'good' menthol juices out there, that aren't very back-ordered?

I don't use menthol, so I can't help you here. Sorry!

How hard would it be for a 'closet chemist'* to produce their own, quality juice?

There is a wealth of knowledge on this board about DIY (Do it yourself) liquids. Go here ; http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/

* - Who has the knowledge and means to acquire pharmaceutical grade chemicals, as well as the equipment to accurately combine ingredients with consistent and clean results. If I were to go into production, I would have results lab tested.

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to this question.

[JenJen]

Welcome and good luck to you! You can do this - If I can, anyone can! For me it tooks 2 weeks before I totally quit. I smoked about 3-4 a day (down from 1 pack a day) and then realized I really didn't want them any more!

Tips for the 510 - dripping directly on the atty will get you a nice throat hit, topping off the cart with a drop or two every so often helps also. If you are getting nothing, your atty may be flooded. Take off the cart and atty, and blow the atty (from the battery side) onto a paper towel. A little juice may be on the towel, tap it a few times then put it back on with the cart and off you go!

I wish you and your family all good luck as you give up the cigs! This is a great 1st step to a healthier life!

[FunkyDogMan]

Be VERY careful if you are thinking about distilling nicotine out of tobacco. Too much CAN kill you. I don't know anyone who has a successful easily reproducible way to extract nicotine. That is why we all buy our Nic juice.

[SudokuGal]

Welcome to the forum...best wishes to you.

When you have a chance, drop in at the Florida Vapors Club (a sub forum/social group here). There are several us from the Tampa Bay area...in fact, we just had a meetup last night...it's so much fun with other vapers.

[Þornbjörg]

Be VERY careful if you are thinking about distilling nicotine out of tobacco. Too much CAN kill you. I don't know anyone who has a successful easily reproducible way to extract nicotine. That is why we all buy our Nic juice.

I haven't found a good resource yet (yes, browsing the DIY forums) for me. I understand terms such as LD50, LD100, and the one that most people don't understand proper ventilation. Its sad really, some people think a fan pointed at a window is adequate when working with toxic chemicals that are easily airborne and can readily reach LD levels in the air.

I saw some with probably more knowledge than I in the DIY forums, and once I post a bit more, I'll probably open a topic there (so I'm not hijacking threads, which is my only option at low post count).

I'm still doing research on the matter though... once I can find a good method to either produce or obtain nicotine, I'll then forward my researching into cutting and flavorings.

[Þornbjörg]

Grr, no edit button yet.

As per learning curve to vaping, the friend of mine that started first and got the ball rolling with me was surprised how well I picked right up on it. While over at his apartment for the night, and again a different night, I more or less laid claim to his spare while I was there, and found it perfect for cravings and the 'having something in the hand' part.

Normally, while out at a friends house playing video games for 5 or 6 hours, I've been known to go through a pack and a half of cigs. I managed to kill the bat, smoke 1/2 pack while waiting on charge, then switch back to the ecig for the remaining couple hours (which he tried to pull sticking a 0mg on, which took me all of a few minutes to figure out).

I will definitely be looking into extra attys and a usb pass-though for my own use, since I work on my computer. Do they make any attys that can survive a person who is an extremely heavy smoker (I presently smoke 2-4 packs a day)? When I sit down to work on a website or play a game online, if I'm not watching myself, I've often been known to chain packs. I'm hoping that if I get 6 attys or so, and rotate 3 during my work and play time, I can extend the life a bit... rather than straight burning them up.

Sadly, when it comes to nicotine extraction, I'm probably one of the few people who could take an extremely large accidental dose with little effects. To win a bet while I worked for a video game company, I smoked a cig while I had two 17mg snus packs in my mouth, and two nicotine patches on, immediately after chewing high strength nicotine gum for 10 minutes... without getting light headed, dizzy, or having heart palpitations. The bet was won by my not vomiting. Yes, there was medical personnel present, armed and waiting for my collapse.

A little extra note here, I saw in the DIY forums where there was a guy looking for 80mg liquid, and MANY nay-sayers stating it would kill him. Sadly, I'm probably in a similar boat to him, however rather than trying to start off on 80mg, I ordered a 36mg, and intend on a 50/50 cut, see how it works out, and raise mg level based on withdrawal symptoms, or lower it if I'm not getting them. I have zero intention of quitting nicotine myself, but finding a means where I can get a throat hit, decent flavor (yes, this is something I plan on working on), and lowering nicotine to smaller amounts if possible (as well as removing the amount of tar going into my lungs) is my ultimate goal with ecigs.

Regarding flavorings, I fully intend on making tinctures of the contents of my spice cabinet (at least things that appeal to my taste), as well as running the gambit with tinctures of my incense (the kind you put on charcoal blocks) and likely a variety of other things until I find something that really clicks. One thing that keeps popping into mind and I'm very curious to try is a combination of clove, dragon's blood (its a resin), and cherry.