Ever Diminishing Nicotine

Status
Not open for further replies.

ruet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 20, 2011
553
1,118
GR, MI
When I started vaping, I started out at 36-40mg/ml nic strength. That was the only strength band that kept me off smokes. Since then I am satisfied at the 24-36mg/ml. Much of the time 24mg/ml doesn't cut it so I get 32-36 whenever possible. As of late though, I've noticed a distressing trend. Ever diminishing "high" level nicotine choices. Seems more and more vendors are either cutting out the higher levels or not offering them in the first place. Recently, my local ADV vendor eliminated 32mg juices and the highest level they now offer is 24mg. Looking for new selections is even more disheartening with some vendors offering 12mg or less as their highest level. I have bought lo-nic juices I like, flavor wise, and added nic base to them to get a satisfying level but flavor suffers. Also, to me, that’s like touching-up the Mona Lisa. I know there is a monetary/ inventory component to this but I thought vaping was invented to get and keep people off of cigarettes. Oh, and I use the same nic level regardless of the device I’m using. Hi watts, lo watts, hi res, low res, drip or tank. Anyone else feel like they are being cut out of this market?
 

AllElseFailed

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 23, 2015
1,230
3,860
49
Champaign, IL
I myself havent been vaping for very long, but even though I was a heavy pack a day smoker for over 20 years, the 18 mg was enough for me to kick the cigarettes. Already I find myself with 12mg as my standard and have some 9, 6 and 3 mg for when I want to chain vape with no repercussions. And I chain vape a lot.

I do hear you and noticed that this was happening, just hasn't affected me personally. So sorry!
 

erratum

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 4, 2015
849
444
Kansas City
I was 2 packs a day when I started up again before I started vaping .... I have been 5 packs a day for a small stint & 3 packs a day for many years.

Started vaping about Christmas time 2014. Started at 32 ... moved to 24 ... moved to 12 ... moved up to 18 & that seems to do it for me, but I do chew nicotine gum as well, in not so small quantities. If I didn't, I'd probably be searching for nic in the 40mg range myself.

I'm gonna guess, but I don't imagine you are dripping, sub-ohming or both. The delivery system you use has a great effect on the mg/ml nicotine you are able to take. Up your device & you will probably need to drop your nic mg.
 

DoubleEwe

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Apr 1, 2014
1,047
1,015
Hiding up a tree
I think your sources are severely limited in terms of vendors carrying such high nicotine juices.
Your best bet is to get into DIY, start by thinking about which flavour profiles you enjoy, then search for recipes that fit them.
Or if you have a specific juice in mind search for a 'clone recipe' of it.

That way you can just buy the flavourings that you need for those recipes, it should reduce the initial expense of your foray into the DIY realm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WonderDude32
I just started vaping after 50+ years of smoking. The last few years I was a 2 pack a day dope. I tried 24 & 18. I didn't like it. I'm doing 12mg in menthol using a .50 coil in my new Kangertech Kbox mini at 17W. Yeah I'm vaping alot but I have gone down to less then a half a pack a day.
 

WonderDude32

Super Member
ECF Veteran
May 9, 2015
880
737
52
Clarksville, TN
DIY is the best option as you can add both nic and flavor to any currently owned juice or make yours from scratch. 100% nic is dangerous if you get it on your skin and to kids and pets, however, a small amount can increase your juice level to something you're more comfortable vaping. You can get it in either PG or VG base as well. Good luck.
 

jefsview

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
May 2, 2013
9,756
11,127
Crete, Il
Might be time to upgrade the equipment.

Once I got better equipment the 12/18/24 stuff about killed me.

Now I like 3-6 mg stuff. Total nic intake is prolly about the same just a tastier way of getting it.

You will also tend to go through more e-liquid that way.

I started on 24mg, and after 2 years dropped down to 18mg. Certainly the equipment made a difference in that drop by moving onto rebuildables from disposables. I've tried to drop to 12mg, since many newer, budget friendly vendors use that as a ceiling, but there wasn't enough "kick" or throat hit for me even with dual coils. Short term dripper use just for flavor, the 12mg is okay. But not for daily stress. For that, I still need the 18.

There was another thread within the last month about the same issue. The higher nicotine strengths are not fashionable or profitable for the sub-ohm crowds, which include many vendors.

I am on a tight budget, and my RBA/RTA builds reflect that with single coil 1.2 ohm builds. That combined with 18mg liquid gives me all I need to get through the day with a single tank, battery and liquid.

yeah, if you're looking for anything higher than 12 or 18 these days, good luck. Choices are limited.
 

ruet

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 20, 2011
553
1,118
GR, MI
I vape .5-.9 ohm twisted coils exclusively. From 8-18.5 watts in tanks to 20-50 watts in drippers. It's not the hardware. Also, as mentioned by jefsview, I go through liquid a lot faster when vaping below 24mg. Probably twice the rate of 24 and above. I imagine it's just like what was discovered with light and ultra-light cigarettes. Smokers were fooling themselves and either taking more drags or inhaling deeper and/or holding longer to get the same nic as a full-flavor smoke. I've almost pulled the trigger on DIY several times but, in the end, I was never ready to fully commit. The way things are going I might have to actually take the plunge. One option I also noticed was smaller NET vendors. Many seem to have a much broader range of high-strength nic. The only problem with that they are largely unknown to me and I'm going to have to spend a lot up-front to find some ADVs.
 

VNeil

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 30, 2014
2,726
6,868
Ocean City, MD
I was in a vape store a few weeks ago and mentioned juice > 24mg. He told me they "could not sell it", that it was either illegal or "against regulations" or something like that. I questioned him, but he could not state precisely what law or regulation they would be breaking. He finally admitted it might exceed some "guideline" he could not specify. Interesting. LOL.

Your best bet is to get a bottle of 100mg concentrated nic and add it to your juice. Assuming you don't just save money and go fully DIY. The rough back of the envelope formula is pretty simple... each 0.1ml of 100mg concentrate will raise 10ml of juice 1mg in strength. So if you want to go from 24 to 32mg you add 0.6ml to 10ml of juice or 0.9ml of 100mg concentrate to 15ml of juice, and so on.

(the accountants here will note that my back of the envelope formula will result in a slightly lower concentration and it is better to build a spreadsheet or use a juice calculator. But my method gets you into a safe ballpark, slightly underestimating the 100mg addition)

You also want to buy a handful of 1ml (1CC) syringes. For adding nic I prefer the style that has a slip fit nose, *not* a full "luer lock" and I do NOT use a blunt tip needle. The reason is that concentrated nic is thick, it needs a large bore blunt needle (about 14ga) and that needle holds a bit of nic, not accounted for in the syringe graduations. If you are adding 100mg nic to a 15 or 30ml bottle you may only be adding a few tenths of a ml and what is in that blunt tip could be an appreciable amount (0.1 or more ml). So I think it is best not to use a blunt tip needle at all. A luer lock needle will "trap" nic inside the luer lock, adding additional unwanted nic in a different way. The slip fits, without a needle, are probably the most accurate way to do this without becoming a chemist :)

Concentrated nic is not as safe as water. Nor is it arsenic :). It is somewhere in between. Use nitrile gloves until you have a handle on your tolerance for it touching your skin. Personally I am not bothered at all and do not use gloves but I have a very high tolerance and occasionally drip 50mg juice just for fun. Some get a tingling sensation or feel heat. Clean up carefully especially if you have pets. Don't drink it or use it as a skin care lotion :). It is probably best to store your working supply in a 15ml or 30 ml bottle, and keep the remaining stock in the freezer, in a heavy duty zip lock freezer bag or something similar, just in case you have an ooops and drop it. You don't want to drop a liter of nic, in a glass bottle, on your tile floor :(.

There are many other recommendations and precautions for handling concentrated nic in the pinned topics of the DIY subforum under the eLiquid forum. The above are just my personal guidelines and off the cuff suggestions of the things most important to me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread