Hello, and some questions

[DesertGrue]

Hi all. Working my way through the mandatory "5 posts in newbie forum", and thought I might as well ask some useful questions while I was at it...

1. I purchased a kit including a pass-thru, which is what I use the vast majority of the time. Am I correct in assuming that the batteries that I'm not using should be stored at full charge? Do they need to be "topped off" periodically? Or can I just let them set for a week or more at a time, and expect them to work properly without any other attention?

2. I'm planning to start mixing my own flavors (I did the math, and realized just how much of a profit margin those outfits selling pre-mixed juices are making!). Any general guidelines for DIY mixes. Specifically, about how much of a flavoring should I be using to start (I'm going with just fruit flavors to start, along with a menthol "kick"). I possible, I'd prefer numbers in percentages or milliliters (I'm a lot better at chemistry than cooking ).

3. Any suggestions on where to buy the nicotine liquid for the mix? So far, the best pricing I've found is at vaporshots.com, but I'm very interested in a less expensive source for this rather pricey ingredient. Note that I'll just be mixing juices for myself and maybe my brother, so buying in wholesale quantities makes no sense for me (I'd be afraid of it hitting it's max shelf life before I have a chance to use it).

4. Since switching from "burining weeds" to e-cigs, I seem to be vaping a lot more than I used to smoke. I think this is because there's no "I'm done" signal with vaping the way there is with smoking. Anyone have any suggestions on how to counteract this? I've already had to drop from 18mg liquids to 12mg liquids because I was showing the symptoms of too much nicotine (I used to smoke 2 packs a day, so I though that 18 would be a good starting point for me).

Thanks in advance for any answers, tips, advice, etc.

 

[Btsmokincat]

Hi all. Working my way through the mandatory "5 posts in newbie forum", and thought I might as well ask some useful questions while I was at it...

1. I purchased a kit including a pass-thru, which is what I use the vast majority of the time. Am I correct in assuming that the batteries that I'm not using should be stored at full charge? Do they need to be "topped off" periodically? Or can I just let them set for a week or more at a time, and expect them to work properly without any other attention?

2. I'm planning to start mixing my own flavors (I did the math, and realized just how much of a profit margin those outfits selling pre-mixed juices are making!). Any general guidelines for DIY mixes. Specifically, about how much of a flavoring should I be using to start (I'm going with just fruit flavors to start, along with a menthol "kick"). I possible, I'd prefer numbers in percentages or milliliters (I'm a lot better at chemistry than cooking ).

3. Any suggestions on where to buy the nicotine liquid for the mix? So far, the best pricing I've found is at vaporshots.com, but I'm very interested in a less expensive source for this rather pricey ingredient. Note that I'll just be mixing juices for myself and maybe my brother, so buying in wholesale quantities makes no sense for me (I'd be afraid of it hitting it's max shelf life before I have a chance to use it).

4. Since switching from "burining weeds" to e-cigs, I seem to be vaping a lot more than I used to smoke. I think this is because there's no "I'm done" signal with vaping the way there is with smoking. Anyone have any suggestions on how to counteract this? I've already had to drop from 18mg liquids to 12mg liquids because I was showing the symptoms of too much nicotine (I used to smoke 2 packs a day, so I though that 18 would be a good starting point for me).

Thanks in advance for any answers, tips, advice, etc.

1. Storing fully charged is a good idea. A battery will slowly lose it's charge over time but after a week there shouldn't be any loss or at most a very minimal drop, like .01 volts.

2. I am not "DIY"ing yet but I've read that most people start with 5% flavoring and move up from there.

3. Wizard labs is a very popular place to get ingredients (so popular they sometimes sell out). They are inexpensive and sell everything from measuring devices, nicotine liquid, PG, VG, and flavorings: Wizard Labs

4. Dropping your nic level is a good idea. We absorb nicotine differently from an e-cig than a cigarette, so it is harder to tell. My only suggestion would be to buy a device with a puff counter, like a MVP2 or Itaste VV V3, to track your intake. Other than that it will just take experience.


One suggestion for when you start DIY, you'll want a way to test the juices for taste. The easiest way without getting into rebuildables would be with one of these: 510 Atomizer - 2.0 ohm (510 dripping atomizers are sold all over the place so look around.)

Welcome to ECF and congrats on making a healthier choice!

 

[Mr. Orange]

I just started DIY, I got all my stuff from ecig express and used nature's flavors flavorings. The flavors and percentages I used are; Orange 2%, French Vanilla 2%, Blueberry 1%, Key Lime 4% but that may have been too much, Black Cherry 2%, Chocolate Mint 2% needs a bit more, Raspberry 2.5%, Maraschino Cherry 4%, Cranberry 2%.

I used all vg and had to add 5% distilled water to thin it a bit.

 

[DesertGrue]

1. Storing fully charged is a good idea. A battery will slowly lose it's charge over time but after a week there shouldn't be any loss or at most a very minimal drop, like .01 volts.

2. I am not "DIY"ing yet but I've read that most people start with 5% flavoring and move up from there.

3. Wizard labs is a very popular place to get ingredients (so popular they sometimes sell out). They are inexpensive and sell everything from measuring devices, nicotine liquid, PG, VG, and flavorings.

4. Dropping your nic level is a good idea. We absorb nicotine differently from an e-cig than a cigarette, so it is harder to tell. My only suggestion would be to buy a device with a puff counter, like a MVP2 or Itaste VV V3, to track your intake. Other than that it will just take experience.


One suggestion for when you start DIY, you'll want a way to test the juices for taste. The easiest way without getting into rebuildables would be with one of these: 510 Atomizer - 2.0 ohm (510 dripping atomizers are sold all over the place so look around.)

Welcome to ECF and congrats on making a healthier choice!

Thnaks for the tip on Wizard Labs - that site looks great, though all those "out of stock" notices and the "expect delays in shipping" warnings are a bit jarring. Hopefully, those are just a symptom of "growing pains" for the company. I'm planning on placing an order with them (wish they weren't out of stock on the mixing stations - one of those would be nice).

I have already ordered a pair of atomizers, specifically for taste-testing my home-brew liquids, so that's already covered.

I'm seriously consiering the handling the "vaping too much" issue by the simple expedient of dropping my nic levels much further (maybe 5mg or so), and then not even worrying about how much I vape. In fact, I'm hoping to slowly wean myself from nicotine entirely, by slowing dropping the nic levels to zero. Given that even buying pre-mixed liquids is way cheaper than buying cigarettes, this will still be economically reasonable.

 

[DesertGrue]

I just started DIY, I got all my stuff from ecig express and used nature's flavors flavorings. The flavors and percentages I used are; Orange 2%, French Vanilla 2%, Blueberry 1%, Key Lime 4% but that may have been too much, Black Cherry 2%, Chocolate Mint 2% needs a bit more, Raspberry 2.5%, Maraschino Cherry 4%, Cranberry 2%.

I used all vg and had to add 5% distilled water to thin it a bit.

I looked at E-cig Express, and their prices aren't all that wonderful (the flavor prices are comparable to other places, but I've found two so far with cheaper prices on the nic juice).

Thanks for the numbers on the mixes, though - that was one of my major hangups on DIY, since I didn't really have a clue as to how much of the flavors to order . I was looking at ordering 30ml of some of them, but given your numbers, that would turn out to be a multi-year supply

 

[Huckleberried]

#2 Venture over to the DIY section of the General Eliquid Discussion Forum. Get a cuppa Joe, a notebook, and buckle in for a while. There is SO much great info over there. Depending on the manufacturer of the flavorings, people recommend different percentages. There are also a few different ejuice calculator recommendations, as well. Read and absorb as much info as you can there. Be safe in the process, too.

#3 Wizard Labs fo sho! Keep checking their nicotine stock. It's sometimes there the next day. I think a lot of people are becoming more concerned that nic will not be available. People try and assure us that it will be fine. I'm guilty of ordering, myself.

#4 I vape more than I smoked, too. I hear that's normal and it's absorbed very differently and not to be too concerned about it. I've dropped from 24mg to 12mg since I started.

And hey, welcome to the forums! Have fun

 

[Train2]

1. I purchased a kit including a pass-thru, which is what I use the vast majority of the time. Am I correct in assuming that the batteries that I'm not using should be stored at full charge? Do they need to be "topped off" periodically? Or can I just let them set for a week or more at a time, and expect them to work properly without any other attention?

Should be fine. For LONG TERM storage, batteries should be at more like 50-70% I've heard. But that's for months, not a week...
No TROUBLE "topping off" though - it's OK to put a battery on a charger because you want to start the day with a fresh one. You do NOT extend the life by running it all the way down!

2. I'm planning to start mixing my own flavors (I did the math, and realized just how much of a profit margin those outfits selling pre-mixed juices are making!). Any general guidelines for DIY mixes. Specifically, about how much of a flavoring should I be using to start (I'm going with just fruit flavors to start, along with a menthol "kick"). I possible, I'd prefer numbers in percentages or milliliters (I'm a lot better at chemistry than cooking ).
Good move! My FAVORITE juice is now DIY, and the savings are great. Sure, I spend it on fancy hardware, but still!!
I recommend you use the eJuiceMeUp calculator. Play with it and see how changing a flavor percentage also changes the PG/VG, etc. And read a bunch of threads in the DIY section of the forums to learn what people are doing! Somewhere there's a recomended starting % list for each flavor but a top tip is always to start a little low! I do like some flavor-saturated juice though - a couple of my fruity mixes are 15% flavor.


3. Any suggestions on where to buy the nicotine liquid for the mix? So far, the best pricing I've found is at vaporshots.com, but I'm very interested in a less expensive source for this rather pricey ingredient. Note that I'll just be mixing juices for myself and maybe my brother, so buying in wholesale quantities makes no sense for me (I'd be afraid of it hitting it's max shelf life before I have a chance to use it).
Wizard Labs
DIY Flavorshack
MyFreedomSmokes
RTSVapes


4. Since switching from "burining weeds" to e-cigs, I seem to be vaping a lot more than I used to smoke. I think this is because there's no "I'm done" signal with vaping the way there is with smoking. Anyone have any suggestions on how to counteract this? I've already had to drop from 18mg liquids to 12mg liquids because I was showing the symptoms of too much nicotine (I used to smoke 2 packs a day, so I though that 18 would be a good starting point for me).
Personal opinion - don't worry about it.
Absorbing nicotine is different with vaping, and it seems likely that you HAVE to vape more - a cigarette BLASTS you with nic, but vaping is a more steady and slow delivery. ANd look - you've already cut your nic level!
And you're not smoking!

Thanks in advance for any answers, tips, advice, etc.[/QUOTE]