A bit confused about e-liquidl - help? Also want sampler recommendations.

[bodrell]

OK so I got a KGO and three types of juice from hoosier - great communication and fast shipping BTW - and I'm a little confused, still, about the different types of e-liquid. What I bought was 24 mg 60/40 (caramel something, Red Bull, pineapple) but I'm having a hard time getting clear on the difference between PG and VG. My regular smoke shop carries basic menthol and tobacco flavors in 100% PG.

I know what they are but want to know more about how each type, or ratio, works IRL.

From what I read, VG is sweeter (so you taste the flavors more) and may have less of a throat hit. (I need that TH!) PG has better TH but may be more harsh, or have more negative side effects such as mouth ulcers, dry mouth etc. Is that about right? I know it's stupid to think about "side effects" as a hard-core smoker but after 37 years smoking, I'm used to all my regular, familiar side effects.

So I'm ready to go on an e-liquid shopping spree. I'd like a little more guidance since I'm new and don't have much to compare anything to. What else do I need to know? Also, who has decent sampler packs or sells bottles in small amounts so I can try different flavors out? Finally I realise that Chinese ingredients are everywhere in everything, but I would prefer to buy from vendors that at least mix and assemble juice themselves, rather than purchase juice made completely in China. So I guess Dekang is out, right?

Thanks, fellow vapers!

 

[elfstone]

I guess sailorman will be here shortly to explain why Dekang is not a bad choice (and it's not), so I won't talk about that

Anyway, the PG/VG thing is not complicated - don't worry too much about it. Like everything - it's a matter of preference, and you'll need to find your own favorite.

PG - gives off less vapor, allows more flavor to come through, permits more throat hit from nicotine and other irritants in the juice (menthol, PGA, some flavors like 'hot cinnamon'). Vaped by itself is ever so slightly sweet, but basically odorless and flavorless and has no throat hit. The liquid actually tastes a little "chemically", reminiscent of alcohol (which it is). It's thicker than water, but much thinner than glycerin - so the more there is of it in the juice the easier to manage in pouring, filling and especially wicking in cartomizers.

Glycerin (aka VG) - gives off loads of very thick vapor; 100% VG by itself (no flavoring, no nic) gives off a vapor that seems solid and lingers in the air for minutes. It tastes frankly sweet, should not have other flavor. It actually mutes flavor, especially true with fruity flavors, and has no effect on "dry" tobaccos as far as I can tell. It also tones down throat hit, but if you achieve a juice with good throat hit, the glycerin makes for a smoother, more pleasant hit in my opinion. It's thicker than PG, somewhat like simple syrup. Varies more with temperature - if it's cold outside glycerin is really sticky and hard to pour. Can be troublesome in cartomizers, but I find it to be quite okay in my experience. It definitely becomes troublesome for clearos and atty-tank setups. Some 100% VG juices are thinner than others, so I'm assuming they either use water or ethanol to thin it down, or such comes from the flavorings.

I prefer a 50/50 mix for mostly everything, but I can use 100% juices like Boba's Bounty or Gorilla Juice without a hicth. You'll have to play with this yourself.

 

[bodrell]

Thank you elfstone! That helps. Maybe I'm overthinking a bit.

I actually don't care about the amount of vapor, or even if there is vapor...at this point I want TH first and taste second. I'm too much of a newbie to "get" nuances in flavor yet. All I know so far is the KGO delivers a whopper of a hit compared to disposable e-cigs, and the cartos I filled myself (I got the BOGE ones) are much tastier than the pre-filled cartridges that come with the KGO. In fact I about coughed up a lung LOL until I figured out how to vape this thing.

 

[bruiser]

It seems that most vapers who use PG for the base use an 80/20 or 70/30 PG/VG ratio.

 

[newq]

I guess sailorman will be here shortly to explain why Dekang is not a bad choice (and it's not), so I won't talk about that

Anyway, the PG/VG thing is not complicated - don't worry too much about it. Like everything - it's a matter of preference, and you'll need to find your own favorite.

PG - gives off less vapor, allows more flavor to come through, permits more throat hit from nicotine and other irritants in the juice (menthol, PGA, some flavors like 'hot cinnamon'). Vaped by itself is ever so slightly sweet, but basically odorless and flavorless and has no throat hit. The liquid actually tastes a little "chemically", reminiscent of alcohol (which it is). It's thicker than water, but much thinner than glycerin - so the more there is of it in the juice the easier to manage in pouring, filling and especially wicking in cartomizers.

Glycerin (aka VG) - gives off loads of very thick vapor; 100% VG by itself (no flavoring, no nic) gives off a vapor that seems solid and lingers in the air for minutes. It tastes frankly sweet, should not have other flavor. It actually mutes flavor, especially true with fruity flavors, and has no effect on "dry" tobaccos as far as I can tell. It also tones down throat hit, but if you achieve a juice with good throat hit, the glycerin makes for a smoother, more pleasant hit in my opinion. It's thicker than PG, somewhat like simple syrup. Varies more with temperature - if it's cold outside glycerin is really sticky and hard to pour. Can be troublesome in cartomizers, but I find it to be quite okay in my experience. It definitely becomes troublesome for clearos and atty-tank setups. Some 100% VG juices are thinner than others, so I'm assuming they either use water or ethanol to thin it down, or such comes from the flavorings.

I prefer a 50/50 mix for mostly everything, but I can use 100% juices like Boba's Bounty or Gorilla Juice without a hicth. You'll have to play with this yourself.

Very accurate and thorough nice job elf. I could not agree more.

 

[lucylocket]

Hi I have been vaping for awhile and I have tried a tin of different flavor vendors. I would not recommend demand, I don't think the flavor is good at all but that's just me. I order from thevaporhut.com it's really good and they do make it themselves. You can get a sampler pack for 20 dollars of 5 five ml bottles. Their mix is 60-40 pg/vg.brget are wonderful and will help you with anything you need. They have a store in mwc, ok
You can order on their web to. I think it's down until Monday but I would check them out
You do have to be careful about where you get your juice j have got some bad stuff before, it didn't hurt me but there was something very wrong with it. So I now stick with the vapor hut.they are very helpful and will tell you everything that us in their juice and I have never had any trouble.

 

[luvinit]

Hey bodrell.. I have a KGO too and I think you're gonna love it! With the right juice, you'll get a really good throat hit with it. I need that throat hit too, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Boge cartos are the best too.. but check out the 1.7ohm resurrectors from Crystal Clear Vaping.. those are really good too. As for juice, I like 50/50 or 60/40 mixes. And either 18mg or 12mg nic strength and get pretty good TH with those. Most juice vendors have sampler packs at pretty good prices.. I like Mountain Oak Vapors, C2GVapors juices are my current favorite. Spring Vapors is also very good. A lot of people talk about finding that all day vape,, I haven't found it yet.. I have too much fun trying all the different flavors.. and I change flavors many times during the day.. not unusual for me to have 7 or 8 flavors in a day. There's just TONS of flavors out there.. happy hunting!

 

[clownballs]

Dont buy large quantities until you are sure you like them....

 

[bodrell]

Hey bodrell.. I have a KGO too and I think you're gonna love it! With the right juice, you'll get a really good throat hit with it. I need that throat hit too, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Boge cartos are the best too.. but check out the 1.7ohm resurrectors from Crystal Clear Vaping.. those are really good too. As for juice, I like 50/50 or 60/40 mixes. And either 18mg or 12mg nic strength and get pretty good TH with those. Most juice vendors have sampler packs at pretty good prices.. I like Mountain Oak Vapors, C2GVapors juices are my current favorite. Spring Vapors is also very good. A lot of people talk about finding that all day vape,, I haven't found it yet.. I have too much fun trying all the different flavors.. and I change flavors many times during the day.. not unusual for me to have 7 or 8 flavors in a day. There's just TONS of flavors out there.. happy hunting!

I've got a drawer set aside for my vaping stuff and I can't wait to get it all filled up with different flavored bottles. Sort of like having a closet full of cute shoes, ha.
Thanks for all the recommendations and advice you guys!

 

[luvinit]

OH bodrell!! I've made that same analogy! Shopping for juice is a lot like shoe shopping... oooooh I like that flavor, but there might be a better one over there! If juice bottles were shoes, I'd need a spare room for them all!

 

[bodrell]

OH bodrell!! I've made that same analogy! Shopping for juice is a lot like shoe shopping... oooooh I like that flavor, but there might be a better one over there! If juice bottles were shoes, I'd need a spare room for them all!

Too funny! Juice is cheaper, yay.
I found there's a couple of B&M stores about an hour away that carry a big selection of liquids...I may take a little drive when I have time. So far I like each one I've tried although the Red Bull flavor is a bit strange. But hey it's got nicotine so I'm OK with it.