3 weeks tomorrow!! Some questions...

[gooseberry]

I'm very happy about my success in quitting cigs, especially since all I have left is a really terrible flavor and I have another 3 days before more juice comes arrives...

Anyway, can I please get some advice on stepping down on nic level? Would it be wise to stay on 12 for a month, then 8 for a month, then 5, then 0? Is that slow enoug or should I buy a 12 and 8 of the same flavor and mix then for a 10 instead?...I just really don't want cravings to come back because my husband is an off and on smoker.

Is there a fully reusable device I can use? I hate burning through so many cartomizers. I wouldn't mind replacing wicks every week, but this is just ridiculous. I'm spending way more on this than I did smoking...I only smoked an $8 pack of american spirits every few days. Excluding the actual battery kit I received, I've still spent almost 200 the past 3 weeks (enough to get me through 5 weeks total)

Does anyone know of more companies other than VV that sells organic all natural, 100% vg eliquids. Ahlusion is already on my must try list.

Thanks everyone!! Happy vaping!




EDIT: PS I'm using the vision (stardust) cartomizers first batch was ok. They worked fine, then I reordered ..second order of visions were horrible...every one of them leaks and I get a disgusting gasoline taste sometimes when either the juice is low or the wicks arnt properlly doused in liquid, but I have to always hold them upright or they spill out juice into the part where the battery attaches...also when they were brand new they tainted the flavor of my liquids with a very chemical taste. The seller says this is the primer they use on the wicks. With my next order I'm receiving evod cartomizers. Since lostman mentioned it I'm really excited about it now!! Where can I buy replacement parts? I'll look into the iclear 16's thank you. I'm not sure what kind of battery I have exactly...lol the pack I got them in dosn't really say much..

 

[l0stm4n]

alien visions has some really good 100% vg juice, and i think roarvapors has teh option of 100 vg.
as far as burning cartos, you could try an evod, or some such bottom coil, the heads are pretty cheap and you could even rebuild them yourself. it might help to let others here know what equipment you have.

 

[msween00]

I keep re-using my iClear 16's. I only changed one head when it stopped giving me flavor even after cleaning and dry burning. I normally just clean them out, dry burn gunk off the coils, clean again, and re-assemble. Good as new. I think most clearomizers have replaceable heads, but you can usually just get away with cleaning them like I do. I really like my iClear 16's, but I recently started using a Kanger T2. Both are top-coil, I'm going to be picking up a Kanger T3S soon, which is almost the same, but bottom coil (less 'dry hits' and a cooler vape from what I've been reading). The T2 I have is quite airy compared to the iClears but a little adjustment in the draw and they produce just fine.

 

[gooseberry]

thank you, updated my post :]

 

[doots]

I would suggest and congrats on quitting smoking... That you stay at 12 mg for awhile. You will know when to change if and when it is needed. Instead of setting a goal just stay off cigs. 12mg isnt very much to begin with. I wouldnt worry about that part of it.

Try some t3s tanks or an Evod bottom coil carto tanks. I think you would like those. I the iclears are good too but I use the bottom coils and find that a coils will last me more than a week. They can easily be rebuilt and cost next to nothing to rebuild.

I also DIY and juice costs almost nothing to make. You can keep your costs very low but takes some time to learn.. Just keep at it..
Good success..

 

[Chimney34]

Hey there! As far as stepping down I think you kinda have to wait & see. I've been vaping 18mg since I started but I'll probably never stop vaping since I thought I'd never quit smoking. plus vaping is way more fun! I mix in a lil 15mg from time to time & vape lower a couple of hours before bed. I've seen some people say that they had no problems moving down & others say that they were in a semi rage when they tried to step down too soon. Maybe buy 1 or 2 bottles of low nic to see how you do one you try to step down.

Also I've saved a lot of money since I switched to cartotanks! I got tired of all of the leaky clearos! Depending on the juice I get anywhere from 7-14 days or more out of one. I saved even more once I started punching my own cartos.

Congrats on 3 weeks

 

[Tenzo]

Buy the next level of Nic down, and try it for a bit. Worst case is you have to bump it back up.

 

[Tenzo]

And Congrats

 

[Train2]

Just more possibilities for you to spend money on...but you asked!
1) Depending on how your tastes run, you might try Velvet Cloud for All VG juice. I tried it, and found that it NEEDED to steep, but then was a VERY pleasant, mild flavor, with superb vapor.
2) For a more reliable juice delivery than the "stardust," I'd suggest you try the Kanger EVOD. They're earning a great reputation, they don't leak (they might gurgle when low though), they're like $5, and you can replace the head for like $1.20 - so they're cheap to maintain.

 

[DavidOck]

Agree with Tenzo. Next time you order a flavor you know you like, get two, one at your current level, and one one step down. If the lower level doesn't cut it, half fill a clearo with it and finish filling with the higher level. That gets you the step in between.

If that still doesn't do it for you, then set the lower level nic aside for later.

The place you got your evod should have new heads as well.

And I always wash new devices before using them. Lots of hot water, after dis-assembly. Just pat dry any wick it might have - silica can be fragile. Helps to get any manufacturing gunk out.

Some clearos will react adversely to some juices, and that may be the reason your second batch of Stardusts went south....

 

[dash]

I buy the same juices in 12 & 6 mg and mix a little of both in my tank. Somedays I top it off with 6 others 12. Depends on how my day is going and how much I am vaping. If its a nice slow day I use 6 so I can vape more and not OD on my level of nic.

 

[swoop_g]

I will be at two weeks off cigs tomorrow, Monday. I was just wondering the same thing about stepping down so I'm glad you asked first. DavidOck, quick question, will the coil rust on you if you wash it with warm water? I guess if you left it for too long it could. And I also have a couple of clearos that gurgle and leak out of the bottom, very aggrevating! Anyway congrats on the three weeks.

 

[gooseberry]

Thank you guys! I have no idea what exactly went wrong with the second batch of clearomizers. They were from the same company, same name, but they looked entirely different...I tried the same eliquids I had in the others and there was a definite stick to your mouth chemical taste in the second order of visions, I think it was an oil of some sort to keep the wicks from drying out (I think I'm sensitive to it, because my husband didn't mind too much.) I'm glad I already ordered the kanger evod clearomizers. So many people are recommending them! I found a site with replacement coils for a great price so I'm feeling much more positive about the potential saving aspect of this. I had no idea the parts were replaceable when I ordered. The seller just recommended them to me and I dove in right away because there was no way they could be worse than the ones I have now. I think with my next order I'll buy all but 1 bottle in 12 mg, just to see if I notice a huge difference when smoking it all day..

Going to try DIY next! Can't wait!

 

[DavidOck]

Nope, coils won't rust. Or at least I've never had that problem. Not sure of the exact alloy on Kanthal, but Nichrome has no iron, no rust.

Sometimes leaking down through the air tube to the battery is due to a loose head. I've had them loose from the factory (another reason to take them apart and clean when new - you put them back together right!). The heads can also work loose when you unscrew the tip for filling, which does take you by surprise!!

Sometime, too, it's technique. Try for long, slow and easy draw on whatever top end you use, it can make a difference. Hard sharp draws can lead to flooding, which then runs down the air tube.

Another possibility is too low a voltage for the given coil. If you don't have VV or VW, order (or make) as slightly lower resistance coil. If you do have VV or VW, just turn it up a little - not enough to make a harsh vape, but just to see if it makes a difference.

Sometimes there is a film on the coil - one of the reasons those of us who rewind our own "torch" the wire. That can certainly alter the flavor! Another good reason for precleaning.

 

[Grimwald]

I started at 24mg for the first 2 months. When that started giving my anxiety, sleeplessness, general running around like a headless chicken syndrome, I started to cut back. I had to order several flavors in several strengths, and get some plain VG and PG. I went to 18mg which was pretty easy. As I tapered down over the months, it became more of a chemistry experiment. I went to 15mg then 12mg then 9mg by mixing different strengths. Now after 10 months, I find that 9mg is a little too low...12mg a little too high, so I try to get around 10mg. You'll find your sweet spot.

 

[swoop_g]

Ok, that makes sense about the lack of iron, didn't think about that. I just received some Nic juice and PG, VG, glassware and flavoring. I am now testing my first 5 bottle batch of DIY ejuice. The vape is mild, too mild. I can barely taste anything at all! I have been slowly adding .1 - .2 ml of flavoring and putting the bottles in a home-made shaker to mix them but I am just not getting a pronounced flavor. I feel like the nic strength is fine(~20mg/ml) but the five flavors I started with just don't come out. I will not be buying LorAnn flavorings anymore. I am up to nearly an entire mini bottle of watermelon to 10 ml of nic solution and will need to add more concentrated nic to regain my target dose. I let it steep overnight now with the caps off and that may have helped slightly but it is not what I expected or hoped for. I will give it a few days before I totally call it a failure. Sorry for off topic...

 

[Nkayy]

I use a DCT tank and its lasted me since I started vaping no problem. No change in taste or any indication that it's bad. I did clean it out once because I hated the flavor I had in it. I actually ordered a bunch of startdusts so im curious if they wont last long.