Today has been an interesting day. I've come to find out that some conclusions that I had come to are not quite so true.
First, about VG/PG ratios. When I first started vaping hard core, I was buying from a brick and mortar store. I don't know what their ratio is, but for the sake of argument I'll take a guess at 70PG/30VG. I wasn't getting good vape, but the flavor was good for about a day or so. But... their juices aren't made fresh like they would have you believe. It's been sitting on a shelf for God knows how long. So... a week or so back, I found a local mixologist who does DIY juice as a side business. He's got some good stuff, and even better, he'll customize the mix ratios on my request.
He runs a 50/50 mix as a standard issue. His flavors are good and strong, if not a bit overpowering sometimes. But, in general, I enjoy his stuff and plan to keep using it for awhile.
So... in my quest for the Cloud, I decided to try 100% VG mix. Actually, I was testing to see if I might be allergic to PG. Turns out I'm not, but more on that later. With 100% VG, I find that I get cloud, but at the cost of flavor. So... back to the 50/50. Least till I can learn how to DIY it. I might try a 30 PG/70 Vg, just for kicks.
I had forgotten about the built in camera on my laptop. One thing that several forum members have brought up, is how the video heads are generating such huge white clouds. A lot of is is reflection of the camera, and they aren't inhaling either. One guy was running the same Pro-tank II as I do, but his battery was much larger. Even so, his power settings didn't seem all that much different from mine.
With that in mind, I conducted an experiment today. I turned on the PC camera, and did a couple of test runs. First run was at 100% vg mix with a 2.5 ohm coil running at about 3.7 volts. When I looked at what was actually showing up on the monitor, it sure looked like a good solid cloud. I tried inhaling versus just holding it in my mouth and releasing it. Not much difference between the two.
I switched back to a 50/50 mixture and vaped that on camera. Mind you I didn't actually record any of this. This was an experiment for my own personal benefit. To my surprise, I found that vapor production seemed to be identical. The camera got fogged up for a couple of seconds. Actually, I generated more cloud than I would have smoking a standard cig.
So...
I've actually been getting good fog all along. It's just hard to see with the lighting situation in my apartment. I'm not generating full on cumulonimbus clouds like the video heads, but it's impressive in its own way. So, with that in mind, I'm now turning my focus onto tanks.
My most recent thread asked whether you use a tank or not. If so, what kind of tank. While a lot of people talked about RBA's, which is interesting, I was looking more for what I could get with a manufacturer's build. I've said it a few times elsewhere: I'm not ready for RBA yet. I'm too much of a virgin in this vaping thing, and I'm not mechanically inclined. I'm not opposed to it. Just not ready for it yet.
Also, I have a limited budget. I can't go out and throw $50-100+ on this every other week, just for the sake of experimenting. Where my attention really is right now, is consistency within the vaping experience itself. My largest problem lately has been burning the juice, despite having tried different settings, and even inhalation methods.
What I'm gathering now, is that a lot of people, especially those who love the value of the tank system, is the Carto-Tank. I have been considering this kind of tank for a little while now. People are saying that, if you go through the proper steps, and your cartos aren't defective, then it tends to be the most consistent vape, other than an atomizer.
So, with that in mind, I've just about decided on my next tank. It will be a carto tank. Just a matter of finding the right brand at the right price. Once this is settled, and I'm comfortable in the new system, I'm going to research DIY juices. For this I probably will need a drip-style atomizer, so that I can sample my flavors. At the very least, a tiny tank or something that can be more readily swapped.
I also figured out something interesting about my MVP. I've stopped playing with the wattage side of it, and been sticking to adjusting the voltage. Since I'm running 2.5 ohm coils right now, I've been advised to up my power. Well, I was playing more so with the wattage than the voltage. I've set my wattage to 8.0, and upped the volts to 4.2. Strangely enough, I don't burn the juice anymore, and the vape is a bit more consistent. I guess the devil really is in the details. Heck, my clouds seem to be just a bit thicker since I did this, too. Although, that could just be psychosemantics on my part.
Anyway, just some personal observations. My next tank is likely going to be running a dual coil carto set at 1.5 ohms. I haven't yet tried a dual coil setup, but the carts that I'm looking at can be ordered as single or dual coils, so there's some power of choice there. Still haven't decided on a particular make and model yet... Im waiting on the advice of one more person before I make the final decision tonight.
Christmas is over and done with, and my break will also be over with in another week. I'll be getting back on the school bus in the mornings, with Jack Frost keeping me company most days. Screaming little one's will definitely call for some good solid vape.
I've also got a NASCAR race coming up in March. I'll likely be asked to do shuttle service for one of the campgrounds again. I'll be cramming 25 hours into two day's worth of work. I won't have a lot of opportunity for refilling and charging. This single event was what inspired me to get my MVP in the first place. I wanted something rugged, and that would last all day and well into the night.
The race may very well bring its own opportunity to talk to others about vaping as well. Back during August, I was still a smoker. It was rough, trying to hide somewhere away from all the campers, so I didn't get that nasty smoke smell everywhere. I think the vaping might have a more positive impact on my tips this year as well.
Anyway... will continue to post as I learn more. Hope this helps someone!
Happy Vaping!
First, about VG/PG ratios. When I first started vaping hard core, I was buying from a brick and mortar store. I don't know what their ratio is, but for the sake of argument I'll take a guess at 70PG/30VG. I wasn't getting good vape, but the flavor was good for about a day or so. But... their juices aren't made fresh like they would have you believe. It's been sitting on a shelf for God knows how long. So... a week or so back, I found a local mixologist who does DIY juice as a side business. He's got some good stuff, and even better, he'll customize the mix ratios on my request.
He runs a 50/50 mix as a standard issue. His flavors are good and strong, if not a bit overpowering sometimes. But, in general, I enjoy his stuff and plan to keep using it for awhile.
So... in my quest for the Cloud, I decided to try 100% VG mix. Actually, I was testing to see if I might be allergic to PG. Turns out I'm not, but more on that later. With 100% VG, I find that I get cloud, but at the cost of flavor. So... back to the 50/50. Least till I can learn how to DIY it. I might try a 30 PG/70 Vg, just for kicks.
I had forgotten about the built in camera on my laptop. One thing that several forum members have brought up, is how the video heads are generating such huge white clouds. A lot of is is reflection of the camera, and they aren't inhaling either. One guy was running the same Pro-tank II as I do, but his battery was much larger. Even so, his power settings didn't seem all that much different from mine.
With that in mind, I conducted an experiment today. I turned on the PC camera, and did a couple of test runs. First run was at 100% vg mix with a 2.5 ohm coil running at about 3.7 volts. When I looked at what was actually showing up on the monitor, it sure looked like a good solid cloud. I tried inhaling versus just holding it in my mouth and releasing it. Not much difference between the two.
I switched back to a 50/50 mixture and vaped that on camera. Mind you I didn't actually record any of this. This was an experiment for my own personal benefit. To my surprise, I found that vapor production seemed to be identical. The camera got fogged up for a couple of seconds. Actually, I generated more cloud than I would have smoking a standard cig.
So...
I've actually been getting good fog all along. It's just hard to see with the lighting situation in my apartment. I'm not generating full on cumulonimbus clouds like the video heads, but it's impressive in its own way. So, with that in mind, I'm now turning my focus onto tanks.
My most recent thread asked whether you use a tank or not. If so, what kind of tank. While a lot of people talked about RBA's, which is interesting, I was looking more for what I could get with a manufacturer's build. I've said it a few times elsewhere: I'm not ready for RBA yet. I'm too much of a virgin in this vaping thing, and I'm not mechanically inclined. I'm not opposed to it. Just not ready for it yet.
Also, I have a limited budget. I can't go out and throw $50-100+ on this every other week, just for the sake of experimenting. Where my attention really is right now, is consistency within the vaping experience itself. My largest problem lately has been burning the juice, despite having tried different settings, and even inhalation methods.
What I'm gathering now, is that a lot of people, especially those who love the value of the tank system, is the Carto-Tank. I have been considering this kind of tank for a little while now. People are saying that, if you go through the proper steps, and your cartos aren't defective, then it tends to be the most consistent vape, other than an atomizer.
So, with that in mind, I've just about decided on my next tank. It will be a carto tank. Just a matter of finding the right brand at the right price. Once this is settled, and I'm comfortable in the new system, I'm going to research DIY juices. For this I probably will need a drip-style atomizer, so that I can sample my flavors. At the very least, a tiny tank or something that can be more readily swapped.
I also figured out something interesting about my MVP. I've stopped playing with the wattage side of it, and been sticking to adjusting the voltage. Since I'm running 2.5 ohm coils right now, I've been advised to up my power. Well, I was playing more so with the wattage than the voltage. I've set my wattage to 8.0, and upped the volts to 4.2. Strangely enough, I don't burn the juice anymore, and the vape is a bit more consistent. I guess the devil really is in the details. Heck, my clouds seem to be just a bit thicker since I did this, too. Although, that could just be psychosemantics on my part.
Anyway, just some personal observations. My next tank is likely going to be running a dual coil carto set at 1.5 ohms. I haven't yet tried a dual coil setup, but the carts that I'm looking at can be ordered as single or dual coils, so there's some power of choice there. Still haven't decided on a particular make and model yet... Im waiting on the advice of one more person before I make the final decision tonight.
Christmas is over and done with, and my break will also be over with in another week. I'll be getting back on the school bus in the mornings, with Jack Frost keeping me company most days. Screaming little one's will definitely call for some good solid vape.
I've also got a NASCAR race coming up in March. I'll likely be asked to do shuttle service for one of the campgrounds again. I'll be cramming 25 hours into two day's worth of work. I won't have a lot of opportunity for refilling and charging. This single event was what inspired me to get my MVP in the first place. I wanted something rugged, and that would last all day and well into the night.
The race may very well bring its own opportunity to talk to others about vaping as well. Back during August, I was still a smoker. It was rough, trying to hide somewhere away from all the campers, so I didn't get that nasty smoke smell everywhere. I think the vaping might have a more positive impact on my tips this year as well.
Anyway... will continue to post as I learn more. Hope this helps someone!
Happy Vaping!
