Dripping vs Carts and other questions, oh my!

[iheart45s]

So I've only started vaping in the past couple of weeks and for the most part I love it. I've quit smoking analogs (see, check me out picking up on the lingo!) but the craving is still there. I have a few questions though and I'm hoping some old school vapetastic folks might be able to help me out.

I currently have a 510 Tornado. I'm happy with this as it seems to have a MUCHHH longer battery than my boyfriend's 510 Titan. That said, I'm running into a few problems..

I really like flavors and I'm having a hard time finding the best way to experience the different flavors of juices I've bought. I have some all PG, some 50% VG and PG and I currently have some all VG flavors coming to me from Vapor Bomb. I find if I do a drip method I can taste the flavors more. Sometimes when I use the carts, I get a more chemical flavor. Ideally just drip all the time right? But I feel like a tool when I'm out in public dripping a little bottle every few minutes into this already funky contraption. Also sometimes the juice comes up through the cart when I drip and tastes totally bitter in my mouth. Is this normal? Is there a better solution?

Totally new to this and really want to find a way for it to work as I am a 15 year smoker who would really like to not touch another cigarette again.

Also, I'm noticing that I'm still feeling nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The ecig helps fight the cravings but I'm still a total crankypuss. Should I increase the dosage of nicotine? (Currently using 11mg) We've also both been experiencing insomnia. How much of this is nicotine withdrawal and how much of it is the PG in my juice?

Oh oh oh oh annnnnnnnd, I've noticed on my Tornado sometimes the bottom of the cartridge melts a little. Any tricks to stopping this? I don't think I'm holding the button down that long....

 

[TWolf]

I'd recommend looking into a drip tip or two. This eliminates the melting plastic cart and makes dripping soooooo much easier.

The whole juice in mouth thing is part of the learning curve that goes with dripping. It means that either you've over-dripped or that you're dragging on the ecig like you would an analog. Had a tendancy to do that myself at first, especially when I was in a hurry to get some nic in me! Keep in mind that the Tornado's cone hides the fact that you're overdripping very well. Try dripping for awhile with the cone off to practice. So... the solutions are just a couple of drops and long, slow pulls on the PV.

Depending on how much you smoked, you probably are right about raising your nic strength as well. I smoked 2+ packs for 33 yrs and found my cravings didn't stop until I raised from 18 to 24mg. Each person is different, so it takes time to find your ideal nic level.

 

[DC2]

Also, I'm noticing that I'm still feeling nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The ecig helps fight the cravings but I'm still a total crankypuss. Should I increase the dosage of nicotine? (Currently using 11mg)

I only smoked around 5 cigarettes per day, on average, and I use 12mg juice.

If you smoked a pack a day (or more) I can't see 11mg being enough for you to start with.
Many people here need to go up to 24mg to start with, some even higher.

How much of what did you smoke?

We've also both been experiencing insomnia. How much of this is nicotine withdrawal and how much of it is the PG in my juice?

Why would you think it had anything to do with the PG in the juice?

 

[CaptJay]

I smoked a pack a day (aka PAD for lingo junkies) ultralights and I do fine on 12mg BUT I do tend to chain vape on that when Im at home. I started on 24mg - this did have a tendency to blow my throat out (lol) but it killed any cravings stone dead. I cant chain vape at 24mg, Id have serial migraines if I did. Id suggest moving up a bit on the nic level at least for a little while, you can always buy some lower nic juice to dilute it with (same flavor obviously lol) if you find its TOO high, or just keep the high level juice for thoe times when you really feel the need to smoke. A lot of people have one bottle that they only use for cravings, and the lower levels for 'all day' vaping.
Welcome to ECF btw

 

[iheart45s]

Yea I probably have to get the whole drip thing straight. It does tend to leak out of the atty (hahaha lookie me!) sometimes. I've ordered a drip tip. Hopefully this will help.

I smoked a pack a day. I think I was hoping that my doing a lower dose of nicotine I'd be able to kill the cravings and avoid the irritability at the same time but not so much. I'll up my dose. I was smoking Marlboro or Parliment Lights. Same for my boyfriend. He's still smoking the pre-filled tobacco carts that came with our kits. I'm not a huge fan of the tobacco taste so I've been experiencing with different flavors from different places. (Really love most everything I've gotten from VaporBomb by the way. That said, the juices I got from TW, I'm starting to like a little more than I did at first. Unsure why.)

I heard PG has a side effect of insomnia. Read it on a forum here I think actually. (I've been lurking for a couple of weeks.) Not true?

 

[iheart45s]

Also, whats the difference between a low resistance atty and a regular atty?

I feel like I'm spending way too much money trying to figure out what works for me...

 

[DC2]

I heard PG has a side effect of insomnia. Read it on a forum here I think actually. (I've been lurking for a couple of weeks.) Not true?

Insomnia could definitely come from too much nicotine.
And possibly even be a side effect of quitting cigarettes, maybe, I guess.

But I've never seen anything about PG having anything to do with insomnia.

 

[DC2]

Also, whats the difference between a low resistance atty and a regular atty?

A low resistance (LR) atomizer basically runs hotter.
They are intended to simulate high voltage vaping with lower voltage batteries.

 

[ECSD]

Also, whats the difference between a low resistance atty and a regular atty?

I feel like I'm spending way too much money trying to figure out what works for me...

A low resistance atty will get hotter than a regular one, allowing for thicker vapor with less of a pull.

I was thinking the same thing about spending all this money on ecig stuff. But packs are $8 here and I smoked 1 - 1.5 a day. It costs me a little less than $1 a day to make my own juice, so that's a huge savings. Allowed me to justify buying the new GG with the automatic feeding tank . That thing looks like a damn light saber, so I'm not sure if I have the confidence to go out in public with that thing.

I just ordered a low resistance atty for my Tornado because I wasn't pleased with the amount of vapor I was getting. Hopefully it will kick it up a bit.

 

[BiffRocko]

If you're getting juice in your mouth and leaking out the atty when you drip, you're most likely dripping too much and/or too often. While you're getting the hang of things, try to drip no more than 2 drops at a time. You'll notice a significant change in the taste and harshness when you need to drip again.

Since you said you ordered a drip tip, I assume you have been dripping directly on the bridge? You should also find it much easier to do with a drip tip.

I agree it does look a little weird, and somewhat elicit, to drip in public, but there's just no other reliable way around the decreased taste and the nasty filler taste except to drip.

 

[mini_art]

Insomnia is a result of quitting cigs, Google for the wierd things that happen when you quit cigs, anything from acne, muscle aches, insomnia , shortness of breath, irritability,
short throat, mouth sores, etc etc.

Many think that vaping is the cause of these things that happen, when in reality, it is simply the result of not smoking cigs and will happen even if you dont vape when quitting smoking.

Allergies to pg and or vg are very rare. These things are in most of the household products you use every day anyway.

The good news is , all the smoking related symptoms do go away with a bit of time.

 

[BiffRocko]

Insomnia is a result of quitting cigs

I would say "could be" because it could also be too much nicotine. I quit smoking at least 7 times over the years before I switched to vaping, and I never had insomnia. The first week I vaped, I slept 3-5 hours a night for 5 days straight and I was not waking up tired. I cut down from 18mg to 0mg and only used juice with nic when I was craving a cigarette and my sleep pattern went right back to normal.

 

[iheart45s]

You guys have all been super helpful. Thank you.

I bought a low resistance atty to see if it does anything different for me. I just wasn't sure what the difference was. Hi. I'm a bit ridiculous when it comes to getting into new things.

I already struggle with insomnia but it just seems to be worse since I started vaping. I read that it could also be that the nicotine is entering our systems slower than with an actual ciggy. I took someone elses advice and purchased sleepy time lung juice from nhaler. Just got in today. I am super looking forward to trying it!

Also, I've reduced my drips to two drops and I'm having a MUCH better time. (I was dropping three to four drops in there before.) I havent sucked juice up through the empty cart once today! Yay!

 

[HzG8rGrl]

Maybe switching to a lower nicotine level a couple hours before bed could help the insomnia.