Distilled Water vs Alcohol?

[Angela]

I always smoked pretty fast, and slowing down has probably been the hardest part of converting to the e-cig (the juice doesn't wick fast enough!)

As a result, I often make my liquid ever-so-slightly thinner than most commercial liquids so that it wicks to the atty quicker.

I have been using distilled water for this.

But to those of you who use alcohol:

1. what do you believe are the benefits of using alcohol over distilled water? and

2. is there any particular alcohol that you would recommend?

 

[TheWrathOfSanity]

If I ever decide to thin mine, I'd have to go with alcohol.
Why?
Because I live on a military instillation and not having alcohol in your home is like a southerner (which I am) not having sweet tea!

All joking aside, I'd try both.
Just from thought I would assume water sounds healthier, but alcohol seems like it would burn faster.
But, I never was that great in chemistry.

I'm going to stick with the try both answer...

As for what brand. Try a top shelf vodka first.

 

[Cellmeister]

Alcohol Gives You A Strong Throat Hit. Vodka (Get Da Best & Highest Proof U Can Find) is Usually Used For Cutting & Hit.

~Keep Vapin~!

 

[effigi]

I would recommend a high proof clear alcohol (100 proof smirnoff for i.e.)

 

[Adeem]

I've been using Everclear 95% alcohol (190 proof), great throat hit! I dilute to ratio of 25-30% everclear, it vapes great just produces a thinner more smoke-like vapor.

 

[MisKate]

You really use LIQUOR in your mixes? For flavor I assume? Hmmm, wonder if beer would work. Might get my hubby to try it if I filled a cart up with Keystone Light, lol!

 

[Nicfits]

The only time I ever dillute is when I am using a mix of VG and PG in a zero nic DIY. In which case I use 190 proof everclear, along with a touch of white distilled vinegar. Still not the throat hit as you get from nic liquids, but at least it gives me more than just flavored air.

 

[Angela]

Thanks for the replies, so in summary:

1. what do you believe are the benefits of using alcohol over distilled water?

Throat Hit

2. is there any particular alcohol that you would recommend?

(never even heard of 'ever clear' this side of the Atlantic) so the answer is 'Vodka'

If anyone has any differing opinions from the above, then let me know. Ta again

 

[LifeLongJoyRide]

Everclear is an almost pure grain alcohol. It's like legal moonshine.

 

[Oblivionrising]

Alcohol Gives You A Strong Throat Hit. Vodka (Get Da Best & Highest Proof U Can Find) is Usually Used For Cutting & Hit.

~Keep Vapin~!

Just out of idle curiosity, if you get something with a proof too high, aren't you risking a flash point and setting your cart on fire?

 

[sheilalynn]

So all this time I could've been vaping margaritas...now you tell me

 

[blackopz]

Johnny Walker Blue on the rocks with a splash of spring water.. excellent vape

 

[MonkeyMonk]

The purest grain alcohol that I have found is from Poland it is called, Spirytus Rektyfikowany Recitfied Spirit, 96% alcohol by volume (192 proof). I soak my addy's in it but recently used it to cut some glycerine when diluting JC's glycerine based juice with more glycerine.

I didn't notice any throat hit, but I did notice I got more vapor than with distilled water and the atty seemed as if it got hotter.

 

[RavenII]

I'm just curious, is it possible to cut the water and/or alcohol out of the equation? I ask because I've read that vaporizing alcohol can actually get you drunk quicker....maybe I'm paranoid, but ever since I got over my Vicodin addiction, I can't stand anything that alters my state of mind.

 

[Big_Nige]

I often make my liquid ever-so-slightly thinner than most commercial liquids so that it wicks to the atty quicker. I have been using distilled water for this. But to those of you who use alcohol ...

Well I don't drink (no, really, I don't), so I haven't even thought of using alcohol

However AFAIK, most PV liguids have about 10% water in them, so another 10% should do no harm. It certainly works for me, and the carts fill up faster from the dropper bottle.

 

[MonkeyMonk]

RavenII that's a good question. I can't drink, but here is what I would consider... if an average person vapes 2ml (40 drops) per day, and the 2ml was a solution that was diluted with alcohol...the solution would only at most (figuring 10%) be 4 drops for the whole day of vaping.

Also, note, LorAnns flavorings contain alcohol. So if using them then the general formula for flavorings, as I recollect, is 20% flavoring = roughly 8 drops.

And, depending of your ratio of PG to VG, no water or alcohol is required if the amount of VG is small enough.

BTW. The DIY dilution that I made, I have not consistantly vaped. I switch small bottles all day long because the variety helps me keep analogs at bay.

Anyone who should not have alcohol would be best to avoid any alcohol in anything.

 

[RavenII]

You know what, I TOTALLY overlooked the dilution of it....and the small small amount one would intake. Meh, I'll try to DIMS (do it myself...)...I'm off to read where to get the stuff...the "good" stuff.

 

[taz3cat]

I'm just curious, is it possible to cut the water and/or alcohol out of the equation? I ask because I've read that vaporizing alcohol can actually get you drunk quicker....maybe I'm paranoid, but ever since I got over my Vicodin addiction, I can't stand anything that alters my state of mind.

Cooking or burning alcohol gets rid of the alcohol. Can't get drunk on cook wine, beer, whiskey, brandy etc. just leaves flavor sometimes and sometimes nothing. A waste of good liquor some people would say.

 

[waskel]

That's a bit of an old wives tale. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol doesn't give up that easily.
A study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory calculated the percentage of alcohol remaining in a dish based on various cooking methods. The results are as follows:

Preparation Method Percent of Alcohol Retained
alcohol added to boiling liquid & removed from heat......85%
alcohol flamed.......................................................75%
no heat, stored overnight........................................70%
baked, 25 minutes, alcohol not stirred into mixture.......45%
baked/simmered, alcohol stirred into mixture:
....* 15 minutes.....................................................40%
....* 30 minutes.....................................................35%
....* 1 hour...........................................................25%
....* 1.5 hours.......................................................20%
....* 2 hours..........................................................10%
....* 2.5 hours........................................................5%

 

[DigDreams]

I use Smirnoff 100 Proof Triple Distilled. I just picked up a small "sample size" bottle for $2.79 and it will probably last me until the end of time. I don't use very much in my mix (just a few drops) but it does give it that little extra "kick".