I need help learning to vape

[okwriter]

Am I the only one who has had trouble getting the hack (no pun intended) of this?

I got my 510 a week ago, as well as an assortment of juices. I like the flavors (all of them so far), but I am can't seem to vape without coughing. Seems like I do a fairly decent job if I take the smoke and let it rise to get a "nose hit" first, but otherwise, I'm struggling!

Not sure if the cough is coming from irritation in my throat or in my lungs...or if both my throat and lungs are too shot to do this! I'm taking small-ish hits, as I don't really care how much vapor there is and obviously a throat hit isn't important (not really sure what a throat hit is, but I don't think I care about one).

So far, I've done best with an 80/20 VG/PG blend in coconut flavor.

Any thoughts on why I can't seem to do this without coughing? Or any suggestions on what I can do differently? I'm craving a "smoother" experience.

Thanks!

PS: The day I got my 510, my husband took a big old puff and inhaled. Didn't seem to bother him a bit, and he doesn't smoke!

 

[harpo]

Try taking shorter hits. Also this is normal when you first start vaping and will go away after a couple weeks.

 

[deback]

Are you coughing while you're vaping? Or are you coughing at other times, too?

I coughed quite a bit in the first few days, but in my case, my lungs were miraculously starting to heal a little and were getting rid of the first layer of tar. The next week, I coughed some more and got rid of the second layer. I'm anxious for the third layer to be gone!

A throat hit (for me, anyway) is when the warm vapor hits my throat and gives it a nice burning feeling. Not the bad kind of burn, but the good kind. If the nicotine level is too high, the burn will turn into a bad kind of burn. (Not referring to a burnt taste...)

Throat hits are why I continued vaping. And when I'm not getting throat hits, I get really frustrated -- and have broken down a couple of times in the last month and smoked half a cigarette.

I'm sure now that the reason I wasn't getting throat hits in the last week is because I ran out of liquid from my favorite supplier and was having to vape liquids bought from other suppliers that are weaker and don't provide good throat hits. As far as I'm concerned, I've tested enough suppliers' liquids and will just buy from the one that has given me the best results (and the majority of people here seem to buy from them, too).

Hang in there! I think your lungs have begun the healing process.

 

[Twist]

Are you using atty's or cartos?

I found the Bauway 2.5 ohm cartos to be garbage, way to harsh and they made all of my family cough with even the smallest of puffs. Switched to regular Boge cartos and they are much better. I'm sure there are some attys out there as well that are similiar, but I don't have much exp with those.

 

[Rosa]

In all honesty, you get more nicotine when you DON'T inhale (yeah, you heard me right). So, don't worry if you can't inhale it without choking, nose hits get you more nicotine than lung hits. Just keep playing around with it until you find what works best for you -- be one with the vapor. (that's a shout out to cozzcon fyi - that dude's bananas)
YouTube - cozzcon's Channel

 

[Willriker]

i am still waiting for this "cleaning out the lungs" ordeal people are talking about...

I found that a minor alteration to my 'toke' was all that was needed to use my eGo 510 without coughing. Just go a little slower with it, not ultra slow, just use more of a leasurely 'toke'.

 

[okwriter]

I am using cartos. Forgot to include that information.

And I have used my 510 and smoked, so I doubt if there's any clearing going on (yet).

This past week was unusual for me, as husband was on vacation and we did a major project here at home. I'm going to keep trying and hope that next week things go better.

Meantime, I'm not giving up and will tweak my method to see if I can master this. I reeeeally do love the flavor!

 

[deback]

Willriker - I think it might depend on how many layers of tar are in your lungs. I have (or had) almost 42 years of layers. How long did you smoke?

 

[deback]

okwriter - Your throat could be irritated if the nicotine strength is too high. You can decrease it (or "cut" it) by adding some Glycerin (VG-vegetable glycerine) to your liquids. I add 33% to 50% of Glycerin to the liquid I've bought from online suppliers when mixing my main liquid. Glycerin can be bought at Walmart in the pharmacy section on the shelf above the rubbing alcohol or in that aisle somewhere. It's only $3.00 for six ounces and will help thicken and double your liquids, give you more vapor, and lessen the nicotine strength. Could also decrease the flavor a little, but that could be a good thing for those liquids that are way too strong in flavor.

My main liquid is: 1/3 RY4, 1/3 Apple (or some kind of fruit), and 1/3 Glycerin When the nicotine strength is more than 24mg, I'll add a little bit more Glycerin, like about 40% instead of 33%.

 

[Bigham1]

For me the PG was irritating my throat. I switched to VG and it was much better unless I burn the liquid then it is harsh on the throat.

 

[okwriter]

Willriker - I think it might depend on how many layers of tar are in your lungs. I have (or had) almost 42 years of layers. How long did you smoke?

Not sure if you're asking me or Willriker. For me, 40 years of menthol. The cartos in my starter kit were mostly 18mg and a few 26.

I will try cutting some of my juice and see if that helps. At this moment, I am vaping my coconut and loving it. *grin* Just being very slow and patient. This particular one is only 12mg.

 

[okwriter]

In all honesty, you get more nicotine when you DON'T inhale (yeah, you heard me right). So, don't worry if you can't inhale it without choking, nose hits get you more nicotine than lung hits. Just keep playing around with it until you find what works best for you -- be one with the vapor. (that's a shout out to cozzcon fyi - that dude's bananas)
YouTube - cozzcon's Channel

Bwaaaahhhaaaahhhhaaaa!!! Funny video! I'll take time next week to look at some of his others.

 

[breaktru]

Sounds like my wife. She's inhaling like she's smoking a cigarette. She still smokes cigs when I'm not around and vapes when I'm with her. Every time she takes a drag on her 510 she cough's. I think it's because she still smokes cigs and forgets to change up on her drag. Took me a week to get it right. If you stay with your 510, you will learn to drag slowly and get the knack.

 

[Willriker]

Willriker - I think it might depend on how many layers of tar are in your lungs. I have (or had) almost 42 years of layers. How long did you smoke?

15 years, was pack and quarter a day. I was starting to feel the analogs hurting my lungs, it was one of the main motivations for me to look for someting else.

Still, even though it sounds absolutely nasty... i was hoping to cough out some of that crap. But, i have only been doing the ecig for 9 days now, rather heavily. So, perhaps it is just too soon for that to happen.

 

[Rosa]

15 years, was pack and quarter a day. I was starting to feel the analogs hurting my lungs, it was one of the main motivations for me to look for someting else.

Still, even though it sounds absolutely nasty... i was hoping to cough out some of that crap. But, i have only been doing the ecig for 9 days now, rather heavily. So, perhaps it is just too soon for that to happen.

I smoked 3/4 PAD camel filters for 25 years -- quit a few times and vaped these past 6 months, I've never hacked anything up. I think some people just don't. I always wondered why that is.