Hi from Australia from a noob vapor

[KayP]

Hi everybody at ECF.

I'm a beginner to vaping. After smoking a good portion of my adult life (approx. 15 years) I've decided its time to quit. Of course I have tried many times before (cold turkey) but I obviously ended up back on cigarettes. I hope this will my last attempt.

I didn't know too much about vaping, apart from the many experiences shared by others who successfully kicked the nasty habit through it. I did some research, especially by watching entertaining videos on youtube and ended up investing into the Kanger Subox Mini Starter Kit and some premium USA made e-juices with 9 mg and 12 mg nicotine.

Regretfully, my experience thus far is not that great. The vape which is I have been getting is very harsh on the throat and lungs. The vape was less harsh on the supplied 1.5 ohm coil (compared to the 0.5); however, it is there nonetheless. I have made sure to wick properly and keep the wattage within the prescribed limits: currently 15 watts on the 1.5 ohm coil; however the harshness on my lungs is still getting to me.

I have a feeling I have made the wrong decision with regards to the nicotine level. I know this for certain because when I taste the juice by itself, the sensation I feel is warm and mild burning. It appears I was a bit too overzealous with my first attempt; I was just desperate to quit smoking. Next I will give a go with building on the supplied RDA. I might even order more of the same juices with 0 or low nicotine levels and mix them with what I currently have; however, I'll have to be mindful about Australian laws. I don't want to go over their supposed "3 month supply" restriction.

Any and all advice welcome. I apologize in advance for going on too long.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

 

[Fog n Vape]

Hi and welcome Just wondering if you primed the coils before vapeing i.e. putting a couple drops of juice on the cotton through the holes on the sides of the coils and a few drops down the top, then letting it sit with juice in the tank for 5-10 minutes for everything to get saturated. If you did not the cotton is burnt and you will need to change the coil as the burnt taste won't go away.
If you primed the coils then it must be the juice. What % of pg/vg is it ? I have the same rig and to a regular smoker starting with 9 or 12 nic most would not find too strong.

 

[gandymarsh]

Welcome!

I might even order more of the same juices with 0 or low nicotine levels and mix them with what I currently have

That's a good idea.

In the mean time you could buy some VG (Vegetable Glycerin) at your local pharmacy (it may just be called glycerin) and add a few ml to the juice you have. In the US we buy USP grade but there is probably a grading system there too. It will dilute the flavor so don't add too much.

You don't mention the PG/VG ratio of the juice you have but higher VG is easier on your throat.

You could also lower your wattage by a watt or two.

 

[suprtrkr]

Hi and welcome. Down mixing the juice should help. Also consider ordering juice with a higher VG content.

 

[djsvapour]

Welcome.

It took me nearly 3 years to vape at 15 watts. Not everyone can just buy a powerful e-cig kit and start vaping.

A subtank mini can be harsh. Start with the highest (ohm) coil, start at the lowest power.

You will get there, have faith.

- - -

To *me* the industry is it's own worst enemy. 2 years ago, you would have been recommended an eGo e-cig with a little glass tank and the vape would have been 7 or 8 watts on a good day.
Now. People just like to show off how they vape at 60w and the nice people who make our hardware can turn out 200w boxes and use liquid at 40 times the speed of the original invention.

- - -

Sorry. I got a bit mad.

One step at a time.

 

[BrotherBob]

I have made sure to wick properly and keep the wattage within the prescribed limits: currently 15 watts on the 1.5 ohm coil

I base the wattage on the type of juice I use. Could try 6.8 w. and work up from there. 15 watts is way to hot for me with any of the juices I use. The lower the wattage for me, tends to give me more flavor with less harshness. I like flavor/taste over massive clouds.

 

[gandymarsh]

One more thing.

Just because you have that SubTank doesn't mean you need to use it right now. You could get a Nautilus or Nautilus mini. With the 1.8 ohm coils, the hit would be much smoother.

 

[Fog n Vape]

I base the wattage on the type of juice I use. Could try 6.8 w. and work up from there. 15 watts is way to hot for me with any of the juices I use. The lower the wattage for me, tends to give me more flavor with less harshness. I like flavor/taste over massive clouds.

Good points Brother Bob and djsvapour

I missed that in my response, when I got the Kbox Kit I would set it at 8 watts with the 1.5. I couldn't imagine vaping at the watts some do and still don't. The heat at high watts sears my throat and make me cough. Even now with a 1.2 ohm build in the rba deck I vape at 12.5w.

When re-introducing vaping to a friend with the 1.2 in tank I lowered down to 7 watts to let her try it out and taste some of my juice. Now when she visits I set up the subtank on my backup eleaf 30w, set it at 7 watts and she doesn't sneak smokes in the washroom anymore ( ...... me off had to clean the walls and ceiling in there last week) or go outside in the winter cold to smoke.

 

[KayP]

Hi everyone.

Thank you for making me feel welcome! And also for all your advice.

I'd like to say I did everything to prime the coil; however, I did not wait 5-10 mins for the ejuice to saturate it (with either coil). I still have the rebuildable deck available for play. With this coil do I have to wait for the wick to soak in the ejuice?

I bought some of Phillip Rocke's ejuices and tried out Creme de la Creme and Looper thus far. I believe these are high VG juices, either 80/20 or 70/30. Yes, I have splurged a bit too much towards vaping, but I have 2 big reasons : 1) If it helps me get into vaping and out of cigarettes then all the better. 2) I was going to waste all that money (and more) on cigarettes anyways (it is quite expensive in Australia now, almost $30 for a pack of 25..).

I'll try using the buildable deck and hope the vape won't be as harsh; however, when I do taste the ejuice (without vaping) it is quite warm on the tongue and mildly burns in the throat. Is this supposed to happen? And is this because of the nicotine level?

 

[KayP]

I base the wattage on the type of juice I use. Could try 6.8 w. and work up from there. 15 watts is way to hot for me with any of the juices I use. The lower the wattage for me, tends to give me more flavor with less harshness. I like flavor/taste over massive clouds.

The Kanger Subox Mini goes as low as 7 watts. I have tried this setting and must admit it is not as harsh; however, it takes a long draw to get a satisfactory inhale. It is a little dry too, maybe I have burnt the cotton by not waiting for the ejuice to saturate it.

 

[Fog n Vape]

Hi everyone.

Thank you for making me feel welcome! And also for all your advice.

I'd like to say I did everything to prime the coil; however, I did not wait 5-10 mins for the ejuice to saturate it (with either coil). I still have the rebuildable deck available for play. With this coil do I have to wait for the wick to soak in the ejuice?

After you have the new coil wicked and the short cylinder thingy screwed back in place but before you screw the upper ring back on the rba deck just coat the new wick and coil with juice, you should be able to notice a slight colour change of the wick as it gets saturated with juice, screw the the top ring in place, fill tank and screw it all together. Might want to wait a few minutes just to be sure everything is well primed. then

 

[Fog n Vape]

The 2nd time I rebuilt on the rba I forgot to put that last ring back on. Screwed the tank on and when I turned the rig upright juice started pouring out everywhere !!! It was a full tank of some really nice stuff.
I'd like to say I never did that again but the truth is I have.

"when I do taste the ejuice (without vaping) it is quite warm on the tongue and mildly burns in the throat. Is this supposed to happen? "

As to this question I usually vape my juice not drink it so I don't know.

 

[Maiar]

It's already mentioned, but it applies with every tank ever made. Start at low power and work your way up through the first couple of tanks, especially if it's a new coil. With my iSub, which is rated between like 25-35W, I have to start it at like 12-13 on a new coil before I can get it anywhere near that. And I can barely get it past 20 without it tasting like death. That system is a beast though, lots of vapor. Kinda junk in the flavor department though. I've got a Kanger Subtank Mini under the christmas tree though, and I've used them before at 20-30W and it's actually the smoothest of the tanks I've tried around that wattage.
But I'm thinking back to when I started on the little Evods, if I had started on the subtank it may have killed me lol. So moral of the story is I had a year of vaping on Evods, Emow's, nautilus' and the iSub before I bought the subtank. You gotta walk before you crawl.
Oh and the recommended wattage are just a guide. With vaping, it's whatever wattage you're getting the most enjoyment out of it.

 

[nmackan]

Welcome my friend.
Yes I agree technologically new devices are hard for beginners. In my country when color tv began the people tended to give color to tv and people are all seemed like liver-ill men. (To show "see our tv is color". and others "mine is more color than yours")
Vaping needs some knowledge. These are simple basic things and easy to adopt but most of the beginners should begin with developed devices without those basic knowledge) and most of the veterans recommend them too by forgetting his/her very struggle in the beginning.
I too would recommend subtank mini set only if you have a e-cig user around. If not one should begin say with a dual evod set. However short time it gets to move to a sophisticated set the evod set would be a firm spare which we all recommend since the old days. Vaping needs spares of everything, for you can not get some items from a grocery or drug store.
On the other hand the main thing which makes you quit smoking is not device but the liquid itself.
But a vaper can not recommend any liquid because the choice is very personal. You can like a liquid I detested or vice versa.

First of all saturating thing I do is, I put the base on mod drop some liquid on it wait a little fire the mod drop more liquid and fire again. This will take any smell cotton or wire has and make sure the cotton is saturated well and ready to use.
The coil on RBA unit is about 0.5 ohm too so is not appropriate to use with 12 or 18 mg/ml. With sub-ohm (Less than 1 ohm) you will never go up 6mg/ml and use it with direct lung inhale.
On the other hand you can dilute the ones you had by mixing vegetable glycerine with food grade (Or even pharma grade) If you put 10mll on a 10ml 18mg Liquid you have 20 ml of 9mg/ml

Get 0.32 kenthal wire wrap 4 times on a screw driver (of the given with subtank) or 2mm drill You will have around 1 ohm coil. and try with lowest watt. Try to find the liquid you like.
The nicotine in the liquid is not like nic in cigarettes. It is absorbed by skin (so beware not to touch during any process) so getting the vapour in your mouth even using nostrills will provide you nic intake when you are imitating cigarette smoke.
Find your liquid, find the rate you satisfy with and than you can change watts or resistance. Now your home work is finding a liquid just not you liked but adored.
Go to it my friend we are here to help you whenever you need.

 

[BrotherBob]

I'll try using the buildable deck

mildly burns in the throat

I don't want to go over their supposed "3 month supply" restriction

I will give a go with building on the supplied RDA

Recommend you go to your local vapor shop with your juices and gear and talk to them. The shop personnel should be able to talk at length about your many problems.

 

[KayP]

I now have had better success, Yay!

I used the supplied RBA, and in addition I also left it in the tank for 15 mins to soak in the eliquid.

I am not getting that harshness anymore; therefore, I obviously burnt the cotton during my previous attempts. I am vaping only at 7-8 watts and I am enjoying it. I do wish I could inhale more for more a bigger vape, but I understand now this requires more time and tolerance.

So again, thank you for all your advice. I will also use your remarks as guidance towards my future set ups.

 

[BrotherBob]

It took me nearly 3 years to vape at 15 watts. Not everyone can just buy a powerful e-cig kit and start vaping.

I do wish I could inhale more for more a bigger vape

To get the maximum from your equipment, requires a basic knowledge of that equipment and a solid idea of the direction you want to go in vaping (how you want to vape).
You can vape massive clouds and get good flavor with your equipment. You need to know how to do it and if you want to do it. There will be a cost though. It's called high consumption of e liquid. Can get expensive.

 

[KayP]

To get the maximum from your equipment, requires a basic knowledge of that equipment and a solid idea of the direction you want to go in vaping (how you want to vape).
You can vape massive clouds and get good flavor with your equipment. You need to know how to do it and if you want to do it. There will be a cost though. It's called high consumption of e liquid. Can get expensive.

Hi BrotherBob,

Yes I do understand that now. As it is, I've already begun vaping too much. I'll try to steer myself away from smokes, towards a good vape, and vape in moderation.

 

[Fog n Vape]

I now have had better success, Yay!

I used the supplied RBA, and in addition I also left it in the tank for 15 mins to soak in the eliquid.

I am not getting that harshness anymore; therefore, I obviously burnt the cotton during my previous attempts. I am vaping only at 7-8 watts and I am enjoying it. I do wish I could inhale more for more a bigger vape, but I understand now this requires more time and tolerance.

So again, thank you for all your advice. I will also use your remarks as guidance towards my future set ups.

In time you will be able to inhale longer but first your lungs will need to heal some from the damage smoking has done. I assume your main goal right now is to ditch the cigs, there is no rule that you have to blow massive clouds or vape like anyone else. I did subohm for a bit but the juice consumption went to 15 mls a day so I went back to building 1.2 ohm coil in the rba deck, 28 gauge @ 12.5 watts, get a nice cool vape, enough cloud for me with 30pg/70vg though flavour comes first.

Feel free to post again if you have questions and there's lots of interesting threads to read and increase your vaping knowledge. I am happy we were able to help and that it is starting to work for you When I first started vaping I knew no one who vaped and when I had a problem would have to drive an hour to the nearest vape store for advice.

Right On ! you start the New Year as a vaper not a smoker.

 

[BrotherBob]

As it is, I've already begun vaping too much. I'll try to steer myself away from smokes, towards a good vape, and vape in moderation.

Suggest try to get off smokes any way you can. Don't worry about the method or cost (of course within sane limits) now. After a few months of success, then refine you costs/method of vaping. With vaping, you can successfully tailor almost all aspects to your individual needs.
If you have any additional questions just hit "like" at bottom right hand corner and I will get back to this thread.