Last attempt to kick the habit!

[Ladiekali]

Another option is to buy your juices with double the nicotine you want and then cut them in half with a PG/VG solution. That way you don't have to buy the nicotine base. I find most commercial juices too strong and overly sweet, so that's my strategy.

For what it's worth, smok (who makes the Nords) is known for a lack of quality control and durability. Innokin has a much better reputation - the Sceptre in particular has good reviews and the Zenith is very well-liked. I'd say you didn't do too badly on your shop-a-thon. Like another commenter mentioned above, the ridiculous amounts I've spent on vaping gear (more than a bit of which I've quickly abandoned) are far less than the ludicrous amount I'd have spent if I were still smoking.

Good luck - and may you never crave another cigarette!

That’s a great idea too!
I find the same with juice, way too sweet! I'd rather light flavor than a punch in the throat of flavor and sugar. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Ladiekali]

Happy birthday (today is also my wife's birthday... go scorpios) Hey... did you know today is also "all saints day"? Just the opposite of Halloween.
Anyway, have lots of advice for you but wanted to post this first. I'll be back soon. yes, many juices are way too sweet! UJ suggested what I was going to say... easy to dilute them. Please don't give up (or give in... smae thing really) I slipped a few times but always vaped and loved it... just got stressed and was a "dual user" for awhile. Once you find gear and juice you like, you won't look back.

thanks for the support and birthday wishes!
Don’t give in…. I like that. I know it’s the same thing… but sounds stronger.

I can’t believe I never thought to dilute my juice! I agree once I find the gear that works for me and juice I can tolerate, I’ll have a much better chance of success.

 

[Ladiekali]

Can I ask why? Is the menthol too strong or something? I ask because I'm an avid peppermint vaper (and I wasn't a menthol smoker - actually hated it).

I DIY now and make my peppermint using one of 4 different peppermint flavors and I love it. I only vape peppermint and one other flavor. I mix around 6-8% flavor, depending on the brand of flavor - for me, it's a very mild yet noticeable peppermint flavor at that level. I don't add anything else to the juice, just my flavor, VG, PG and nicotine. I would say that it's mildly sweet.

If you do decide to make your own peppermint, I recommend Flavor Apprentice's Peppermint. Start at 5% then adjust up or down from there.

On the other hand, if you meant mentholated tobacco flavored juice, I can't help you there. I loathe tobacco flavored vape with the exception of one RY4, but since it's a coil killer I can do without it.

I know that DIY isn't for everyone, but juice is where the money flies out of your pocket and since you are particular on sweetness and flavor intensity, DIY seems like a good route for you. By and large, commercial juice is notorious for being over flavored and over sweetened.

Thanks for the tips! So menthol usually taste like a halls cough drop. Back in the day I was able to vape halo menthol, but that was in a carto tank and it was milder than what I find else where. I’m gonna see about finding some nicotine. I think I would love like a spearmint maybe. Especially if it’s light. I just want a hint of flavor. I’m finding the juices are so heavy with flavor and sweetness I often start feeling like I ate too much junk food.
And that makes it easier to opt for a cigarette.


I’m really happy I posted this. I’ve got some new ideas and tips. I’m gonna try to find some nic and place an order today!

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

I’m gonna try to find some nic and place an order today!

One thing you could do in order to keep cost down for now and to make things easier is to buy nic from Perfect Vape in a smaller size than a liter. They sell as small as 4oz for $13 before shipping. They give many PG/VG options. Just pick the PG/VG ratio and nic strength that's closest to the juices that you currently have that you want to dilute the flavor for, but keep the same nic strength (might not be excact, but close).

Voila! you have a nic base ready to dilute with your juice, no need to buy nic, pg and vg separately and mix it yourself. You'll do that later when you are ready to jump in full throttle with DIY.

PerfectVape - Nicotine Base - NicSelect

They have pre-mixed nic in the following PG/VG ratios:

10% PG / 90% VG
20% PG / 80% VG
30% PG / 70% VG
40% PG / 60% VG
50% PG / 50% VG
60% PG / 40% VG
70% PG / 30% VG
80% PG / 20% VG
90% PG / 10% VG

Nic strength (mg/ml) for the above are...
0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 100 (pick whichever is closest to your juices you want to dilute)

 

[Ladiekali]

One thing you could do in order to keep cost down for now and to make things easier is to buy nic from Perfect Vape in a smaller size than a liter. They sell as small as 4oz for $13 before shipping. They give many PG/VG options. Just pick the PG/VG ratio and nic strength that's closest to the juices that you currently have that you want to dilute the flavor for, but keep the same nic strength (might not be excact, but close).

Voila! you have a nic base ready to dilute with your juice, no need to buy nic, pg and vg separately and mix it yourself. You'll do that later when you are ready to jump in full throttle with DIY.

PerfectVape - Nicotine Base - NicSelect

They have pre-mixed nic in the following PG/VG ratios:

10% PG / 90% VG
20% PG / 80% VG
30% PG / 70% VG
40% PG / 60% VG
50% PG / 50% VG
60% PG / 40% VG
70% PG / 30% VG
80% PG / 20% VG
90% PG / 10% VG

Nic strength (mg/ml) for the above are...
0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 100 (pic whichever is closes to your juices)

That’s awesome. Thank you. I’ve been having a time finding premixed!

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

That’s awesome. Thank you. I’ve been having a time finding premixed!

Yea, it's a hell of a time buying nic period, due to the government BS. I also just checked and shipping is a flat rate of $10, so that's kinda pricey, but that's due to the PACT act. You may even have to pay sales tax and vapor tax is your state has either of those.

Also, realize that it will likely ship via some small carrier and take a while. But that's the way things are these days. Plus you'll most likely have to be there to sign for it.

BTW: There's also ECBlend at ecblendflavors.com. They don't sell nic base, per se, they sell a flavorless pre-blend. Unfortunately they only sell in 100%VG, 30%PG and 60%PG blends. Cost is $15 for 125ml, 12mg base, but they have smaller sizes down to 15ml. But shipping is over $5 just for that one 125ml bottle

 

[Miles Himan]

Voila! you have a nic base ready to dilute with your juice, no need to buy nic, pg and vg separately and mix it yourself. You'll do that later when you are ready to jump in full throttle with DIY.

That is really good to know... mostly for people new to DIY. So much easier to get started that way. I might try some too.

 

[Ladiekali]

Yea, it's a hell of a time buying nic period, due to the government BS. I also just checked and shipping is a flat rate of $10, so that's kinda pricey, but that's due to the PACT act. You may even have to pay sales tax and vapor tax is your state has either of those.

Also, realize that it will likely ship via some small carrier and take a while. But that's the way things are these days. Plus you'll most likely have to be there to sign for it.

BTW: There's also ECBlend at ecblendflavors.com. They don't sell nic base, per se, they sell a flavorless pre-blend. Unfortunately they only sell in 100%VG, 30%PG and 60%PG blends. Cost is $15 for 125ml, 12mg base, but they have smaller sizes down to 15ml. But shipping is over $5 just for that one 125ml bottle

i paid the $10 shipping. It’s worth it to have it. And they didn’t charge extra for the adult signature on delivery.
I really appreciate your help. I was overwhelmed

 

[Z-Lee]

The crown 3 had a good vape, it just looks Jurassic at this point.

*As I'm sitting here vaping on a Crown 3 *

There are particular coils that seem to mute flavors much more than others and I quickly sidelined them thinking why in the world would you ever want a muted juice flavor? Then I ordered some straight fruit flavored juices and now I see their place. There are a few coils that I remember muting flavors, but the only one that comes to mind right now (Sense Blazer 200 is another that I wouldn't recommend - I'm gonna have to dig up some of my stashed stuff to recollect) are the GT NRG coils by Vaporesso. The coils range from 0.15 ohm to 0.5 ohms (NRG cCell/ceramic - not to be confused with Vaporesso's Ceramic series) and have a reputably decent life. This also gives you a decent range of ohms to play around with, and they're cross compatible (this particular coil fitting) with about 1/3 of the available coils on the current market that are cross compatible with other brands (current market being before the effects of PMTAs which is when this list originated).

You mentioned you have a GeekVape Cerberus tank which I also have. They're not bad, but they're not great. And any premade coilhead ("sub-ohm") tank with bottom air flow is going to have a high tendency to leak - some just do it less than others. Both the Cerberus and Aero Mesh leaked for me.

GeekVape has leaped in strides since the Cerberus and Aero Mesh in my opinion. Their 2021 Z tank is top air flow (no leaking) and gives very good flavor with their Z-series coils, and their latest (and in my opinion greatest) P Subohm which is a mid airflow - also no leaking. The latter is definitely more along the lines of what you'd consider "jurassic", but it delivers on all fronts. It has a tribal-look which I personally quite like, and definitely the quietest subohm tank I've ever used, hands down. The Vaporesso GT NRG tank that was meant to use the NRG coils I mentioned above is also a decently solid choice. It's bottom airflow, but of all the bottom air flow tanks I've had, that is one of the ones that hardly leaks - I would definitely say it hasn't been a problem. These all vape from what I'd consider Restricted DL (RDL) to full DL.

So I think if you were to purchase one of these newer GeekVape tanks or the Vaporesso GT, and used NRG coils in them, that you'd likely find a decent mix of what you're looking for.

I can give you recommendations on other flavor-bangers if you're interested, but I didn't catch any interest from you in that regard from the original post. I'm assuming this is what you mean by too sweet?

Also for no-leak pod kits, these are my experienced recommendations:
(from smallest to largest in size, then favorability)

---JUUL-alike Size---
Freemax Onnix 2: (currently in testing, but have been extremely impressed with this kit)
-No leaking (so far)
-Pocket-friendly
-2 mL Pod
-Auto-draw (no worry of firing in your pocket)
-RMTL to RDL (manually have to cover 1 or both pinholes - no problem with Auto-draw)
-If the coils last as long as the 904L Freemax coils (same CoilTech 4.0), then I'll be in heaven
ZQ XTAL Pro:
-No leaking
-Pocket-friendly
-3 mL Pod
-Auto-draw
-Small display screen: Battery %, Wattage, Coil resistance, Puff Timer
-Internal battery (1000mAh)
-Adjustable: 1-30 Watts
-MTL to RDL (airflow is on one side, so you simply flip the pod around to switch between)
-Not sure how long the coils will be around

---Between Juul & Single 18650 Mod Size---
Uwell Havok V1:
-No leaking
-Pocket-friendly (thinner - like 10 credit cards stacked on top of each other but smaller dimensions)
-4 mL Pod
-Up to 65W
-Display screen: Battery %, Wattage, Volts, Coil Resistance, Puff Timer, Puff Counter
-Internal battery (1800mAh)
-0.25 & 0.6 ohm coils (good longevity and quality)
-True MTL (very restricted) to DL
-Draws out fairly strong flavors

---Single 18650 Mod Size - all have display screens with basic info---
Freemax Marvos:
-No leaking (so far)
-Square/Boxier frame (slight bulge in pocket)
-Coils range from 0.15 to 0.5 (same CoilTech 4.0 as 904L's - very good)
-IP67 rated (Water/Shock/Dust Proof)
-Up to 60W
-Internal battery (2000mAh)
-RDL to DL
-Draws out strong flavors; I'd recommend with your lighter juices
OXVA Velocity: (On sale right now on some sites for $25 - nix that, $18 - which is insane for what you get in this kit)
-No leaking
-5 mL Pod
-More Slender
-510 adapter comes in kit
-Two pods for 2 different coils:
-Unipro: 0.15/0.3 ohm
-Unicoil: 0.2/0.3/0.5/1.0 ohm
-18650-21700 battery (external)
-Up to 100W
-Also draws out strong flavors; again, would recommend with lighter juices

---Double 18650 Mod Size---
GeekVape Boost Plus: (I do not have experience with this mod, but it mirrors the Pro using MTL G-series coils)
-No leaking (slight condensation from air flow but no juice)
-Can purchase 510 adaptor
-18650 battery (external)
-IP67 rated
-Large 5.5 mL Pod
-G-series coils (great reputation for longevity)
-Coil ratings from 0.6 to 1.8 ohms
-Meant for MTL/Loose MTL/Possibly RDL?
-Draws out strong flavors (ask @AngeNZ for more info if you're interested in this)
GeekVape Boost Pro: (same as Boost Plus above except)
-7 mL Pod
-Up to 100W (based on coil resistence)
-P-series coils (great reputation for longevity/flavor)
-GeekVape G-series and P-series coils are not cross compatible, but the pods are
-Coil ratings from 0.2 to 0.5
-Meant for RDL to DL

Hope you find what you're looking for. If you have any questions about the info above, feel free to ask. And if you weren't really looking for any suggestions, then just keep some of this in mind for future purchases. I feel you on the wallet, lol.

Kick those stinkies!

Also, Happy Belated Birthday.