Help with a buddy new to vaping...

[MasterQ]

Well I successfully helped my friend, a pack every two day clove smoker, to come over to the vape side.

He bought the silver bullet and loves the ease of use and battery life. 3.7v has been sufficient.

I got him to get the dual coil cartos and start with the 12mg juices. He picked up the cuban and the american 55.

When I started months ago I stocked up on more 0mg nic juices than actual nic since I was more like a pack a week smoker...sometimes inching into a second pack by weekend. I had originally picked up samples with my pv (spade) with 6mg and 12 mg so I could get a punch once in awhile.

Point is I had plenty to help him do some mixing to find the flavor he would agree with the most. Problem is the 12mg base he uses along with my 0mg flavors are probably bringing down the nic to levels which have helped him drop smoking analogues by more than 50% but he still has his moments.

My thinking is he probably needs to get some 18 or 24mg nic juice for his base and then start his mixes from there. From what I have read here, the reduction in nic from cutting with other juices does happen but I am no expert in mixing to know exactly by how much he is doing this.

I even asked him if smoking an analogue made him feel sick or the taste start to come off a bit nasty and he promptly said no.

He did explain that he just feels his body from time to time, especially during a stressful moment, needs to get more of the full body reaction he gets from analogues (still cloves even though they are in cigarillo form).

Personally, when I vape just a bit more than 7/8 puffs of 12mg I'm flying. I HAVE to vape 0mg in between and trust me, finding an all day vape juice is rough but personally I have been extremely happy with the hummingbird nectar from kickbass.

So am I in the right thinking that I should suggest 18 or even 24mg to him to help curb those feelings even more?

He's been vaping for about 3 weeks now and still has to go outside (50% less now) to smoke an analogue for reasons described above. I'd hate to see this not go to full completion but I'm running out of ideas.

Thanks in advance!!

-Q

 

[keyzygirl]

Maybe some 18mg would help curb the cravings.

 

[Stef64]

Definitely have him try 18 or even 24 mg/ml juice. For as heavy a smoker he was he probably does not get enough nicotine with 12 mg or less juice. And some people, myself included, will gradually reduce then number of analogs rather than just giving them up completely.

 

[4mehealth]

Are you cutting the 12mg down already? Has he tried just the 12 straight up?

If that works, just don't cut it?

Otherwise, if you've got 24mg and 0mg, just add the "parts" to determine what you need/ want.

eg. 1oz 24mg + 1oz 0mg => (24mg + 0mg)/(1oz + 1oz) = 12mg/oz.

 

[roxics]

Yup, but don't start with a 24 or 18mg base nic. Get him some actual finished juice that is 24mg. When I DIY I start with 100mg nic juice because its easy to divide with and goes a long way. But 100mg is very dangerous and must be handled with absolute care. Get some on the skin and you will go to the hospital or end up dead. So I would recommend he buys some 24mg juice pre-made from a vendor until he gets more experience.

 

[MasterQ]

Sorry, I guess I fumbled that up a bit.

These are premade juices not pure nic being cut.

For example:

His Cuban is 12mg nic and he mixed it with my 0mg kretek clove, a few drops of menthol, and some 0mg juicy fruit. Sometimes he adds a few drops of the American 55 12mg nic premade.

So in a sense it isn't true DIY but I was thinking my 0mg juices are cutting down the 12mg's of the cuban and american.

It's probably like 5cuban(12mg):3kretek(0mg):1menthol(0mg):3juicyfrut(0mg):2American55(12mg)

Is that not a cut at all? If so that would make the going to 18mg definitely the path to go.

Not sure if mixing 12mg's increases nic.

Sorry this is all still somewhat new to me.

-Q

 

[4mehealth]

With 7 parts 12mg and 7 parts 0mg, you've cut the concentration down to 6mg.

If you want 18 and plan on mixing other 0 nic flavors, then go with higher nic. 24 will be a tad tight. 36 will make things a little easier (in that you can bring the nic down further with more flavors).

 

[roxics]

Consider about 20 drops equals a mL. So yes if you start adding 0 nic juice you are cutting the nicotine down. But if you are mixing 12mg with 12mg you are staying at 12mg. However if you start mixing 12mg and 24mg you'll end up with juice somewhere between 12 and 24 depending on your ratios.

So yes if he does want to mix finished liquid with 0 nic flavors, start him at a higher mg so you can end up at a lower desired mg.

 

[roxics]

BTW this thread should probably be in the DIY forum.

 

[carpedebass]

I agree with most of the posters here...I would advise that he up is nic until he's firmly off of analogs, then step down. Nicotine isn't the evil monster people make it out to be in decent strengths, and it's not a carcinogen. It won't hurt a thing to up the nic for a while to even 24 or so mg.

Beyond that, it's really his choice. If he isn't really ready to quit, he won't! Nothing you can do about it, and no reason for you to feel like it is a failure at all.

 

[dormouse]

What about the flavor? That is not how you make juices. He's getting juices with a fraction of the flavor that your juices have. Have you considered getting some real flavorings and putting a more correct amount of flavoring into his juices instead of him using your juices? The aroma and flavor is part of what completes the vaping experience.

Liberty-Flights seems to have all of the Flavourart tobacco flavorings and many of the food flavors
D.I.Y & Mixing - Flavourart eLiquid Flavouring

Flavor Apprentice flavors are here
Perfumers Apprentice - Professional DIY Flavors

And Capella's Flavor Drops are here
Capella Flavor Drops - Over 50+ Water Soluble Concentrated Flavorings

----

I would practice with 0mg plain PG first (cheaper so nic juice isn't wasted) to get the amount right.

 

[carpedebass]

The aroma and flavor is part of what completes the vaping experience.

Dang! Am I really about to disagree with the mouse? I do hope this doesn't come across as "know-it-all-ish" but I must say that to SOME people aroma and flavor are part of what completes the experience. Most assuredly not ALL people though. To me it's not that important. I burned dry plant material combined with jet fuel and carpet glue and withstood that horrid taste, so anything is a step up from that experience. In fact, recently I discovered the joy of vaping unflavored DIY juice.

I would think the OP might do better by asking the friend exactly what he needs out of the vaping experience, then try to assimilate those needs with a PV and accessory choice that would meet it.

 

[dormouse]

OK - add "for most people" to that. I agree some people can vape straight PG or VG and nic and be happy. But this person is using more expensive 0-nic juices to flavor his friend's juices. If the friend didn't care about flavor then wouldn't he just be vaping his base liquid?

 

[carpedebass]

OK - add "for most people" to that. I agree some people can vape straight PG or VG and nic and be happy. But this person is using more expensive 0-nic juices to flavor his friend's juices. If the friend didn't care about flavor then wouldn't he just be vaping his base liquid?

Good point there. But the answer is still, "we don't know." At least that's my answer...and I'm stickin' to it by golly!

 

[Dieseler]

Im no expert by far as i been vaping only since May .
I did smoke 2 packs a day for close to 40 years. When i fist started vaping i tried the 12 strength nic and found myself still having a urge for a analog not a strong urge but an urge and i refused to let that beat me.
I quickly ordered and received in 2 days 18 strength and that stopped the urge for me. I feel its like when i was smoking i tried to go to Marlboro lights but was smoking even more than 2 packs to satisfy my cravings and went back to the regs if that makes any sense.
It is a terrific feeling not having any ashtrays around the house like the bedroom, bathroom, in every darn room as the wife smoked also and ashes around the computer somewhat, the car etc.
So maybe a higher strength like some others suggest may work, hopefully it does for him it did for me.

 

[waveryder]

I know what he is dealing with - I am making the transition to vaping now. Thanks to veterans on this site I chose the Silver Bullet and don't have to worry about battery life when I need an instant hit. I was smoking 1+ pack a day and did not stop analogues when I began vaping. I wasn't sure why I still wanted to smoke the analogues so I moved up from 12 mg to 24 mg of nicotine. Wow!! The throat hit was more satisfying and the nicotine was more than ample.
I am now using 8 mg to 12 mg BUT I carry a couple of carto's with 24 mg just in case!! I resort to the 24 mg now (after 4 weeks) much less than I used to. I thing I overdosed on nicotine a couple of times (was getting headaches) which helped cure my yearning for them.
I haven't had an analogue for a couple of weeks now, the last time I smoked one I noticed that the after taste was absolutely disgusting.

 

[MasterQ]

Thank you so much to everyone for your advice and comments.

It appears to me that we should up his dosage.

I did mention a few things mentioned here..especially the vaping straight 12mg and he took it.

Needless to say instead of going outside for 1-2 analogues 3-4 times it was probably one dragged on through the day.

Guess I'm going to have to order it up and then get him to try.

I know it also has to be a personal commitment but I'm going to take this last chance to see what happens.

I'm not dragging him by any means, but he's the type of personality who needs a little kick in the pants and appreciates it later lol!

-Q

 

[coffm0]

I totally agree about the mixing, there are plenty of 24MG or 36MG pre mixed juices out there. I would recommend 36MG if he was a heavy smoker but only to curb the need.

Yup, but don't start with a 24 or 18mg base nic. Get him some actual finished juice that is 24mg. When I DIY I start with 100mg nic juice because its easy to divide with and goes a long way. But 100mg is very dangerous and must be handled with absolute care. Get some on the skin and you will go to the hospital or end up dead. So I would recommend he buys some 24mg juice pre-made from a vendor until he gets more experience.