My advice is my own opinion and should be taken as such. All safety precautions should be followed.
So you made that mix and think you did everything right or feel over confident because you made that mix hundred's of times. You've added the correct amount of flavoring, mixed your base just right, Steeped for a long long time and now you’re ready to sample your greatest creation. You fill your carto take that big puff and hack, hack, choke, choke, cough, cough.... and you think to yourself my throat is on fire where’s the ice water. I just swallowed a whole jar of black pepper.
Well several factors that you may have over looked or not realized effect throat hit.
1. To much PG (I find a 50/50 mix good)
2. Too much NIC. When I was a smoker 24mg was good but as I quit I noticed the throat hit increased. Reducing the NIC from 24mg to 18 worked. Now I'm between 18mg and 12mg.
3. Flavoring, Some flavors (Especially some tobaccos) are harsh. I'd reduced the percentage or added a smoother like vape wizard.
So now that I gave you the whys and what's you need to determine exactly what it is that's causing this. So you need to do the following:
First you need to test the VG, PG and the entire prepared mixed base.
1. Vape just the PG alone (Don't add flavoring VG or NIC) and see if it's the PG that's causing this harshness. Put plain PG and nothing else in a clean carto and vape it by it's lonesome. PG will provide throat hit but should not be overly strong or give the sensation of vaping black pepper. It should also be clear and odorless. It should have a thin consistency as compared to VG.
Does the PG make you hack and cough?
Yes. Then you will need to switch to a fresh bottle or purchase a new bottle from a different vender
NO. Good then lets move on.
2. Vape just the VG alone (Don't add flavoring PG or NIC) and see if it's the VG that's causing this harshness. Put plain VG and nothing else in a clean carto and vape it by it's lonesome. VG will have a slight sweetness and give no throat hit. It should be clear and odorless with a thick consistency. It may have a slightly sweet smell.
Does the VG make you hack and cough?
Yes. Then you will need to switch to a fresh bottle or purchase a new bottle from a different vender
NO. Good then lets move on. (Very rarely is VG the problem)
3. Vape just the mixed base PG/VG/NIC (Don't add flavoring) in your usual mixed concentration in a clean carto. The nicotine solution used in your mix should be clear and have no noticeable odor. As it ages it will start to amber in color. The darker the amber the older the solution. This is OK as long as it has very little to no odor. A very slight odor of nicotine is normal especially as it ages. A very powerful odor is not normal. The consistency should be as described above depending on if it's a VG or PG based nicotine solution.
Does the base mix make you hack and cough?
Yes. Then you need to adjust your PG to VG ratio to a higher VG concentration (50/50) and if that doesn't work your NIC concentration is either to high so try lowering your MG concentration. If this doesn't help then your NIC solution is bad or old so switch to a fresh bottle or purchase a new bottle from a different vender.
NO. Good then lets move on.
4. If all is well after all that testing then it's the flavoring. The flavoring could have spoiled or it could be your using to much. Check the date and see if the flavor is old or expired. Flavors typically don't last longer then 18 months and in some cases such as flavors made with natural essences will last less then a year. Try using less of a percentage or add a smoothing agent such as FA's Vape wizard and if all else fails try purchasing a new bottle or switch to a different flavor manufacture.
If you find that there is still a harshness to your vape and you ruled out all of the above then it's time to look towards the hardware that your using to vape with. This goes beyond the scope of this blog and will be covered in the future in a separate blog.
For more information on how to tame that harshness read my other blog:
How to adjust your base to reduce that peppery harsh Nicotine taste
My other vaping blogs can be seen at:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dannyv45/
Good luck and happy vapeing.
So you made that mix and think you did everything right or feel over confident because you made that mix hundred's of times. You've added the correct amount of flavoring, mixed your base just right, Steeped for a long long time and now you’re ready to sample your greatest creation. You fill your carto take that big puff and hack, hack, choke, choke, cough, cough.... and you think to yourself my throat is on fire where’s the ice water. I just swallowed a whole jar of black pepper.
Well several factors that you may have over looked or not realized effect throat hit.
1. To much PG (I find a 50/50 mix good)
2. Too much NIC. When I was a smoker 24mg was good but as I quit I noticed the throat hit increased. Reducing the NIC from 24mg to 18 worked. Now I'm between 18mg and 12mg.
3. Flavoring, Some flavors (Especially some tobaccos) are harsh. I'd reduced the percentage or added a smoother like vape wizard.
So now that I gave you the whys and what's you need to determine exactly what it is that's causing this. So you need to do the following:
First you need to test the VG, PG and the entire prepared mixed base.
1. Vape just the PG alone (Don't add flavoring VG or NIC) and see if it's the PG that's causing this harshness. Put plain PG and nothing else in a clean carto and vape it by it's lonesome. PG will provide throat hit but should not be overly strong or give the sensation of vaping black pepper. It should also be clear and odorless. It should have a thin consistency as compared to VG.
Does the PG make you hack and cough?
Yes. Then you will need to switch to a fresh bottle or purchase a new bottle from a different vender
NO. Good then lets move on.
2. Vape just the VG alone (Don't add flavoring PG or NIC) and see if it's the VG that's causing this harshness. Put plain VG and nothing else in a clean carto and vape it by it's lonesome. VG will have a slight sweetness and give no throat hit. It should be clear and odorless with a thick consistency. It may have a slightly sweet smell.
Does the VG make you hack and cough?
Yes. Then you will need to switch to a fresh bottle or purchase a new bottle from a different vender
NO. Good then lets move on. (Very rarely is VG the problem)
3. Vape just the mixed base PG/VG/NIC (Don't add flavoring) in your usual mixed concentration in a clean carto. The nicotine solution used in your mix should be clear and have no noticeable odor. As it ages it will start to amber in color. The darker the amber the older the solution. This is OK as long as it has very little to no odor. A very slight odor of nicotine is normal especially as it ages. A very powerful odor is not normal. The consistency should be as described above depending on if it's a VG or PG based nicotine solution.
Does the base mix make you hack and cough?
Yes. Then you need to adjust your PG to VG ratio to a higher VG concentration (50/50) and if that doesn't work your NIC concentration is either to high so try lowering your MG concentration. If this doesn't help then your NIC solution is bad or old so switch to a fresh bottle or purchase a new bottle from a different vender.
NO. Good then lets move on.
4. If all is well after all that testing then it's the flavoring. The flavoring could have spoiled or it could be your using to much. Check the date and see if the flavor is old or expired. Flavors typically don't last longer then 18 months and in some cases such as flavors made with natural essences will last less then a year. Try using less of a percentage or add a smoothing agent such as FA's Vape wizard and if all else fails try purchasing a new bottle or switch to a different flavor manufacture.
If you find that there is still a harshness to your vape and you ruled out all of the above then it's time to look towards the hardware that your using to vape with. This goes beyond the scope of this blog and will be covered in the future in a separate blog.
For more information on how to tame that harshness read my other blog:
How to adjust your base to reduce that peppery harsh Nicotine taste
My other vaping blogs can be seen at:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/dannyv45/
Good luck and happy vapeing.
