Help!

[lelly]

So I got my first ever batch of DIY stuff today and made up 10 bottles of various flavors. I got the 28 mg nic to cut in half to 14, a step down from the 18 that I have been going strong on from the start. So here is the problem, don't know if I did something wrong or if it is because I am trying some of the flavors in carto's (which I have never tried before, this model Blank (empty) cartomizers (cartridge + atomizer combined into a single unit) for the Happy 510/eGo e-cigarette. ), some of the flavors were too bland so gonna let them sit a day or two, but I picked out 3 that I liked to fill my cartos for work tonight. The more I tried them throughout the night, the more I didn't like them. Even at 14mg nic the TH was very harsh, does the carto do this (up until today I was only dripping)?

Because of the TH (not sure if this is the right word to describe the feeling?) I didn't vape very much, but when I did take 5-6 vapes I would feel sick, like a nic OD, light headed, dizzy, head ache, and warm. I usually vape twice what I did at a stronger nic so whats up with this? I wasn't just me either, my hubby's ego came today with all of the DIY stuff and I filled up a couple of cartos for him before I left (he has never vaped before) and when I called him halfway through the night to see how it was going, he said after the first little bit he got a headache so he put it away for now, he said he didn't vape much on it at all.

This is the calculator I used e-Liquid Calculator and I made 3 mL batches so

Nicotine e-juice 28 mg 1.5mL 38 drops 50%
PG dilutant 0.6mL 15 drops 20%
VG dilutant 0.6mL 15 drops 20%
Flavor 0.3mL 8 drops 10%

I know I can tinker around with the flavors to make them stronger/weaker but do some just have TH no matter how little nic is in there? The ones I had were a tobacco flavor, milk chocolate, and apple and I found them all pretty harsh and they all made me dizzy. Could that be a reaction to the PG (I don't know what I have been vaping before this, didn't say how much pg/vg)?. So this really doesn't seem right but maybe I need to make them with less nic? So for all my 3mL batches, how much PG/VG would I have to add to make it maybe 8 mg? Please forgive me as it is late, I am tired, and math is really not my strong suit.

Or if someone could suggest something else, perhaps I should go back to dripping, use less flavor, more VG instead of PG??? When I smoked analogs, I hated the ultralights, I was a full flavor person, I liked to feel the smoke go down and I thought that this was more what throat hit was, maybe I am mistaken? I have been somewhat satisfied with the feeling I get in my throat with the tobacco flavor I am using, but I will not buy it as he is robbing people blind at $30 for a premixed 6mL bottle

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[NoizMaker]

So I got my first ever batch of DIY stuff today and made up 10 bottles of various flavors. I got the 28 mg nic to cut in half to 14, a step down from the 18 that I have been going strong on from the start. So here is the problem, don't know if I did something wrong or if it is because I am trying some of the flavors in carto's (which I have never tried before, this model Blank (empty) cartomizers (cartridge + atomizer combined into a single unit) for the Happy 510/eGo e-cigarette. ), some of the flavors were too bland so gonna let them sit a day or two, but I picked out 3 that I liked to fill my cartos for work tonight. The more I tried them throughout the night, the more I didn't like them. Even at 14mg nic the TH was very harsh, does the carto do this (up until today I was only dripping)?

Because of the TH (not sure if this is the right word to describe the feeling?) I didn't vape very much, but when I did take 5-6 vapes I would feel sick, like a nic OD, light headed, dizzy, head ache, and warm. I usually vape twice what I did at a stronger nic so whats up with this? I wasn't just me either, my hubby's ego came today with all of the DIY stuff and I filled up a couple of cartos for him before I left (he has never vaped before) and when I called him halfway through the night to see how it was going, he said after the first little bit he got a headache so he put it away for now, he said he didn't vape much on it at all.

This is the calculator I used e-Liquid Calculator and I made 3 mL batches so

Nicotine e-juice 28 mg 1.5mL 38 drops 50%
PG dilutant 0.6mL 15 drops 20%
VG dilutant 0.6mL 15 drops 20%
Flavor 0.3mL 8 drops 10%

I know I can tinker around with the flavors to make them stronger/weaker but do some just have TH no matter how little nic is in there? The ones I had were a tobacco flavor, milk chocolate, and apple and I found them all pretty harsh and they all made me dizzy. Could that be a reaction to the PG (I don't know what I have been vaping before this, didn't say how much pg/vg)?. So this really doesn't seem right but maybe I need to make them with less nic? So for all my 3mL batches, how much PG/VG would I have to add to make it maybe 8 mg? Please forgive me as it is late, I am tired, and math is really not my strong suit.

Or if someone could suggest something else, perhaps I should go back to dripping, use less flavor, more VG instead of PG??? When I smoked analogs, I hated the ultralights, I was a full flavor person, I liked to feel the smoke go down and I thought that this was more what throat hit was, maybe I am mistaken? I have been somewhat satisfied with the feeling I get in my throat with the tobacco flavor I am using, but I will not buy it as he is robbing people blind at $30 for a premixed 6mL bottle

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

It sounds almost as if you are burning your cartomizers. Some people have suggested that TH is more powerful in tobacco vapes and imho that is not universally true. However, most tobacco juices will have a much nicer TH.

I really enjoy those cartos you have at 5+ volts and that being said I never felt sick off of 6 puffs. To me this sounds like you are burning the carto and that would certainly give a very sick throat hit and headaches.
Which tobacco flavor are you using? Is it by chance Tobacco Absolute? The reason I ask is because that flavoring can be purchased suspended in PGA (pure grain alcohol) and PGA is known for providing a better throat hit in juices.

I suggest hunting around for recipes and I'm sure there will be others who will share some ideas. For flavorings, imo Flavourart is just ok while Perfumers Apprentice is very good, as well as Capella and some Lorann flavorings. This DIY stuff is a lot of fun once you get into the swing of it.

 

[VAPOINSANO]

Hi lelly,

just an f.y.i. and stay on topic!
(me,yea right lol@myself shhheeesh!)

do make small batches until you get aquainted with your sweet spot(s) !
dont wanna b throwin all your savins away now!

good luck sum'fin will work out right here!



my 2cts.......

 

[Roadstar]

Hi lelly,
From my personal experience, I certainly wouldn't recommend using carto's so soon after getting off the cigarettes...Although alot of people use them IMO I find flavor and TH is of lessor quality as compared to dripping on a atomizer. I think especially when you first get off the cigs you probably tend to chain vape to get your fix. For the most part I've experienced that if you chain vape a cartomizer you get that chemically burnt taste, because your not allowing enough time for the juice to wick the coil...I have tried all of those available at HV thus far and in my IMO I found the Royal smokers carto's to taste the best...probably due to not having any of that cotton batting found in others... Although I rinsed them out and dried them out before filling them, as had been recommened in these forums. Even then I still put a drip tip on, and occasionally add a few drips to keep'um tasting fresh (not the royal smokers)...I must admit, I am a fairly heavy vaper about 4mls a day... It is frustrating to find that sweet spot, I personally swear by the use of atties, and just keep all the carto's for a backup or for a long drive...Your mix looks ok...you could try cutting your pg nic with vg only to get less TH and a thicker plume ie: 10-20%flavor /30-40%vg/50%nic... Hope that helps ... don't give up

 

[rachelcoffe]

lelly hon, I think NoizMaker is right. Either the cartomizer isn't wet enough (in which case you'll be getting a fairly nasty, burnt-tasting mouthful of burnt-filler smoke along with a bit of vapour, yuck - which also usually means that cartomizer is ruined, throw it away)...

...or the nic level is too high for your comfort zone. I've experienced similar symptoms to what you described before when the nic was higher (20mg to 24mg); reducing the nic down to between 16mg & 18mg took care of it.

We all have different comfort zones & tolerances for nic. What's important is finding yours, so that your vaping is comfortable.

---

It also makes a difference how frequently you're vaping. I take a primer puff of 2 or 3 seconds (don't inhale, just puff), and then a 5 to 7 second medium-level draw & inhale. After two or three times of the above, I set my PV down to the cartomizer cool, for anywhere from 45 seconds to 2 minutes. Dragging too frequently on your cartomizer without giving it time to cool isn't good (for your, or your carto).

Bear in mind too, the first vape of the day will often seem stronger & be a bit more tingly because you haven't vaped all night. Your body reacts to the nic rush, & the germ-killing power of the vapourized PG is also killing a host of germs that built up in your mouth as you slept.

Sometimes (though not often) those first few morning puffs can still give me a headache or a headrush. Nicotine (like caffeine) is a mild vasoconstrictor. The headrush you occasionally got from smoking (and will occasionally get from vaping) is basically caused by a reduced flow of oxygen to your brain, lol. Adjusting the nic can usually help, but lot of factors come into play: mood, health, diet, stress, how well you slept. Some days more than others you're just more prone to a headache, caused by nic or something else. Some days you'll want a higher strength juice & be vaping it without problem; other days (or even other times of day) your tolerance will want you to take it lower.

---

Anyway - if you think the cartomizers you've used so far have burnt (a quick sniff inside, or a puff, should be pretty indicative), then chuck 'em in the garbage without hesitation. They're ruined. No need to feel embarrassed: we've all ruined a carto or two in a similar fashion before.

I advise taking a brand-new carto & making it even wetter this time (better too wet than too dry)...and use a lower nic juice (say, 10 to 12mg strength).

Praying for you & your hubby, hon!

 

[lelly]

Hi lelly,
From my personal experience, I certainly wouldn't recommend using carto's so soon after getting off the cigarettes...Although alot of people use them IMO I find flavor and TH is of lessor quality as compared to dripping on a atomizer.

It is funny cause in my experience, it is the opposite. This morning I cut my juices down by half using mostly VG to help with the TH and added a few extra drops of flavor, then dripped for a few hours, I found the flavors a little bland and not much of a TH. Then in the afternoon I loaded up a carto and I find it quite nice, not getting the sick feeling that I was getting before. I am pleasantly suprised that I can smoke 7mg with decent TH and so far the cravings haven't been any worse than usual! It kind of makes me wonder if what was smoking before is actually 18mg? I have yet to find my sweet spot for flavors though, a few are not too bad, I think I am still looking for a tobacco flavor though, might try the Benson and hedges. Thanks for all the advice, I may have to try those royal smokers.