First Day with E-Cigs & Not off to a good start

[MustQuitNow]

Update

Since my last post, have gotten Joye 2.3 ohm cartomizers that seem to work well with the Ego and regular 510 batteries. Have used the condom method to fill and then drop a few into the top at a 45 degree angle and shake and wait until it is saturated evenly. Have had no more burnt or disgustingly sweet smells. End up with a good draw of vapor and it seems satisfying at first, though still crave analogs and still smoke them, though not as much. I have continued to try this method with a couple of different flavor liquids (18 mg seems the strongest I can stand). That is where I am at today. Appreciate all the advice folks have given me on this thread. Thank you.

 

[Y060N]

I mean if you are still getting cravings then you probably should up the nic level of your juice at least for a month or so until you can start weening down. You will get vapor even if the poly is saturated, but that burnt taste can be a number of reasons. One is that it could just be the juice inside of a carto, but another is sometimes the poly doesn't get saturated enough at the bottom and the filler burns a bit. All I can really think of.

 

[bstedh]

I think you may just need to find that juice that satisfies just right=] For me it was Backwoods Brew Casablanca. All I can recommend is to keep trying samples or small bottles from different suppliers until you find what works for you. Don at BWB is awesome, he worked with me to adjust my juice to what works for me. I don't like tobacco taste at all anymore and he was able to mellow out some flavors in my order to what worked just right for me.

The more I vape the more I find that different strengths work at different times of the day. First thing in the morning and after meals I seem to need a weaker juice as the nic bite/sting is stronger. After vaping for a while my throat seems to get used to it and I can switch to a stronger juice to curb the craving more.

Where you able to get you broken ego back up and running?

 

[MustQuitNow]

I think you may just need to find that juice that satisfies just right=] For me it was Backwoods Brew Casablanca. All I can recommend is to keep trying samples or small bottles from different suppliers until you find what works for you. Don at BWB is awesome, he worked with me to adjust my juice to what works for me. I don't like tobacco taste at all anymore and he was able to mellow out some flavors in my order to what worked just right for me.

The more I vape the more I find that different strengths work at different times of the day. First thing in the morning and after meals I seem to need a weaker juice as the nic bite/sting is stronger. After vaping for a while my throat seems to get used to it and I can switch to a stronger juice to curb the craving more.

Where you able to get you broken ego back up and running?

not able to get that battery fixed tried a bunch of places, but no go yet.

As for liquids, so far I like banana bread and black licorice and at 18mg, and seems satisfying, especially with the LR cartomizers. I have more flavors I don't like though - watermelon, mojito, fireball (I thought it would be like fireballs or cinnamon, but it is so sweet and has no flavor close to what I wanted), waffle, USA mix, and cinnibiscus). I am open to recommendations on other flavors and will try small 5ml bottles to get the ones that work best for me. I realize this is all personal, but would like to hear about others' favorites.

Have not made the total transition off analogs. What I find happening is that I vape inside and forget that I have analogs after several, very busy hours of work. I suppose that is good. I think that is a good sign.

Thanks so much!

 

[DC2]

I have more flavors I don't like though.

Welcome to the club!!

Have not made the total transition off analogs. What I find happening is that I vape inside and forget that I have analogs after several, very busy hours of work. I suppose that is good. I think that is a good sign.

Sounds like you are on the right track though.

Check this out, it might make you feel a little better...
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/polls/80124-how-long-did-take-you-stop-smoking.html

 

[bloogboy]

well i can tell you right off the bat that your using nicotine levels taht are WAY too high for what you used to smoke.
marlboro lights are really light and contain little amounts of nicotine. not only that, you purchased nicotine levels that are near the levels of unfiltered cigarettes. since your a lights smoker try out a 14~max 18 mg nicotine mgs in your vaping. lata

 

[MustQuitNow]

well i can tell you right off the bat that your using nicotine levels taht are WAY too high for what you used to smoke.
marlboro lights are really light and contain little amounts of nicotine. not only that, you purchased nicotine levels that are near the levels of unfiltered cigarettes. since your a lights smoker try out a 14~max 18 mg nicotine mgs in your vaping. lata

I have gotten so much conflicting advice on nicotine levels. Some have said too high, others too low. Right now am happy with 18mg. And I haven't had an analog in over 6 hours!

 

[NicLiq]

I have gotten so much conflicting advice on nicotine levels. Some have said too high, others too low. Right now am happy with 18mg. And I haven't had an analog in over 6 hours!

That's fantastic! So glad to read that things keep improving. Hopefully it won't be long before you're down to just the few key ones in the day and then you can start dropping them one by one.

 

[bstedh]

not able to get that battery fixed tried a bunch of places, but no go yet.

Look on the bottom of your remotes and other devices around the house for one of those little sticky rubber feet. You might be able to find one that is sized right and be able to just stick it in there if the adhesive comes off with it. Of course the device you take it off of might be a little wobbly =] If you can't find one small enough you can get creative with an exacto. Just stick it on wax paper while working with it so you don't mess up the sticky.

 

[MustQuitNow]

Is it normal for cartomizers to pop sparks and sizzle/crackle? Am using these Joye 2.3 ohm with both the 900mah gold Ego battery and the skinny 510 mega battery. Have tried this cartomizer on both batteries and definitely have sparks flying out from the mouthpiece. BTW - using Vermillion River Kentucky Applewood and also Cherrywood.

 

[bstedh]

Is it normal for cartomizers to pop sparks and sizzle/crackle? Am using these Joye 2.3 ohm with both the 900mah gold Ego battery and the skinny 510 mega battery. Have tried this cartomizer on both batteries and definitely have sparks flying out from the mouthpiece. BTW - using Vermillion River Kentucky Applewood and also Cherrywood.

sizzle crackle can be common as the juice vaporizes with a lower resistance carto but sparks should never happen. If your getting sparks something is shorted. Throw away the carto.

 

[MustQuitNow]

sizzle crackle can be common as the juice vaporizes with a lower resistance carto but sparks should never happen. If your getting sparks something is shorted. Throw away the carto.

you are so kind in responding to me so quickly.

carto thrown away. getting another one started...

will update shortly.

 

[MustQuitNow]

replacement cartridge did not throw sparks, but now a new question...

How is it that with juices, using the same type of cartomizer on the same battery, that I have to draw real hard to get a vapor, while others end up that the slightest pull makes me choke and gag? How is it in these vapor demo videos that the vape-head can take these real long drawn inhalations and not gag or choke and actually seem to enjoy it? What am I doing wrong?

 

[NicLiq]

It might be that they are using a two-step inhalation, they draw into their mouths first and then inhale slowly and exhale from both their mouth and nose (and don't inhale the entire vape sometimes either - so they are also exhaling what didn't get inhaled).

It really takes some time to develop your own way with vaping. The videos are often done by people who have been off cigarettes for a long time and have been vaping for at least a few months straight. Your lungs (and breath control) are not in the same shape as theirs are right now either.

After some time, when you are very relaxed while vaping, you will find yourself able to take the same type of draws. When people are trying to quit smoking at the same time, they are a lot more anxious with the process because their focus is on getting the nicotine (quick) rather than enjoying the feeling of the vapor going in their mouth, then in their lungs, etc. I don't drink, but I imagine it's like having a shot (to feel the alcohol) vs. having a glass of expensive wine to feel the flavor, body, smell, etc.

 

[MustQuitNow]

It really takes some time to develop your own way with vaping. The videos are often done by people who have been off cigarettes for a long time and have been vaping for at least a few months straight. Your lungs (and breath control) are not in the same shape as theirs are right now either. After some time, when you are very relaxed while vaping, you will find yourself able to take the same type of draws. When

But why would two completely different liquids be so different? One is 18mg, the other 20mg - so there is not much difference. Everything else is the same, including the 'anxious' vaporer.

I don't drink, but I imagine it's like having a shot (to feel the alcohol) vs. having a glass of expensive wine to feel the flavor, body, smell, etc.

I don't drink either (been sober 26 years), and I will say that Kentucky Cherrywood & Applewood reminded too much of bourbon in a way that was both pleasing and scary.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Not all vendors are equal....lol......they use different flavorings, different pg/vg. Some use koshger pg/vg. It is not as easy to mix a good juice as it sounds.

 

[NicLiq]

I can get two different flavor liquids from the same place, both with the same PG/VG ratio, same mg, same thickness, same color, and one will be a PITA to vape. I think this is where the variable voltage people have the big advantage.

I've got a juice now that I've bought 5 times before, but this time it's making my drip tip so hot I can't stand it. Nothing else change.

 

[MustQuitNow]

I can get two different flavor liquids from the same place, both with the same PG/VG ratio, same mg, same thickness, same color, and one will be a PITA to vape. I think this is where the variable voltage people have the big advantage.

I've got a juice now that I've bought 5 times before, but this time it's making my drip tip so hot I can't stand it. Nothing else change.

seems like poor quality control. I am still trying to get going with e-cigs and so far not much has been consistent. I don't understand why this is so complicated. I am not interested in getting my hands all gooey and mixing and syringing and buying cartos that end up bad or mismatched for my batteries or cutting up tea bags, etc. Smoking analogs is so much easier... take cig out, light it and smoke it and each time it is the same crappy cigarette, though very consistent. Why can't this just as easily translate to the ecig world?

 

[bstedh]

I think a lot of times the big difference comes from the nicotine base that is used in the liquid. I have read a lot of threads about how different suppliers have totally different juice experience simply due to where they get their base from and how the nicotine was extracted for the base.

 

[bstedh]

seems like poor quality control. I am still trying to get going with e-cigs and so far not much has been consistent. I don't understand why this is so complicated. I am not interested in getting my hands all gooey and mixing and syringing and buying cartos that end up bad or mismatched for my batteries or cutting up tea bags, etc. Smoking analogs is so much easier... take cig out, light it and smoke it and each time it is the same crappy cigarette, though very consistent. Why can't this just as easily translate to the ecig world?

Chinese mass production. As far as I know there are no cartomizers made in the US. I think the only thing you can find made here are mod batteries and some specialty atomizers.

Of course mass production hear would probably only be marginally better...