More vapor, why?

[CaptJR]

I was a heavy smoker. (man, it is nice to say "was" there). I have seen people say they were heavy smokers here when they smoked maybe two packs a day. Not often have I seen someone on here mention that they smoked as much as I did. At least 2 1/2 per day on weekdays and 3 1/2 or more per day on weekends.

Sometimes people would say to me. "JR, you need to breath every once in a while" I would be taking one drag after another with no clean air in-between.

Enough history, on with the question. The history did have a little relevance thought. When I smoked, I didn't care how much smoke came out of my mouth on exhale. That seems to be a big thing around here. On youtube vids I've watched, threads I have read. Everyone wants a lot of vapor and they seem to be talking more about vapor coming out of their mouth, than vapor going in and staying in. Maybe they are saying "if that much is coming out, just think about how much went in". But I’m not getting the impression that they are saying that. I'm getting the impression that, seeing the vapor come out is more important than how much went in.

If vapor is coming out, doesn't that vapor contain some of the precious nicotine? (I'm hoping to slow down on the nicotine sometime, but not worried about it)

Anyway, you all see what I’m getting at. Comments?

Thank you
JR

 

[XMit]

Everything I've read says the majority of the nic is absorbed pretty quickly. Obviously not every bit, but most. As far as the plumes of vapor, it's an aesthetic thing, just looks good and some are comforted by that.

 

[swedishfish]

I'm not really sure of the answer. Just want to congratulate you on how well you're doing!!

 

[madjack]

JR...for me, I love that big ol' plume of vapor coming out so much, I upped my mix to 40PG/60VG...love the vapor...it is a physical presence on the exhale and carries flavor as well...throat hit remains the same...when you inhale, you are inhaling a mist made up of whatever is in your carto/atty/etc...this mist is a humectant and attracts water...when you exhale, the vapor you see is comprised of around 65%water vapor...which mostly comes from you so, drink more water...the other 35% is comprised of the PG/VG you inhaled and lastly(less than 1%) is comprised of residual nicotine and flavorings...LOVE THE VAPOR....................
madjack

 

[tj99959]

need some kind of indicator that it's working

 

[dormouse]

If you use 100% PG liquid very little visible vapor last through the exhale. The more VG, the more visible and persistent the vapor is. VG makes the juice thicker and dulls flavor and hit. But even 10% VG in a liquid can add more nice vapor.

As far is is there nicotine being exhaled? Dunno. I don't think anyone has tested that. but you exhaled a bunch of smoke before and didn't worry about whether you got all of the nicotine. Same deal. Whether you are exhaling nicotine that can be absorbed by people around you? Dunno - I think first somebody would have to measure how much nic is exhaled. The nic does not make the vapor so the vapor amount exhaled is not a real indication of how much nic you are exhaling.

Psychologically I think with vapor there are 3 things - seeing yourself exhale vapor is comforting and smoking-like and is needed for the complete simulation of smoking. Seeing yourself exhale vapor lets you know you got a good drag, your ecig is working well and has enough liquid. And then there is a 3rd factor that I do not understand - some want others to see them blowing out huge clouds of smoke-like vapor (dunno why - to look cool? jaded? strong? no idea).

 

[erictho]

personally i feel that if only a scant amount of vapor is being let out, even less is being inhaled. i also notice a difference in "getting my fix" if the vapor production is low with well used parts. if i feel vapor production is low or that it takes too long of a drag to get a decent vapor output, that i'm unsatisfied with the nic fix. and ya, aesthetic appeal is there.
when i get scant vapor from a worn cartomizer, it reminds me of when i would roll a ....ty cigarette and then not get much of a fix or very much smoke.
and congrats! i could not even fathom smoking as much as you used to, and i'm sure you feel a bunch better already having adopted a pv. my grandparents used to smoke about as much for about 15 years (though they cut down later on in the years to about over a pack a day or a pack a day), and they both suffered from lung cancer. i've also known a couple 2 pack per day smokers, and they've had to have their lungs freed from phlegm buildup and such. good luck on your vaping journey.

 

[hangwire]

Like XMit said, its aesthetics. I think, for me anyway, it tricks my brain a little. It makes it feel a little more like "real" smoking. I actually use 100% VG juice specifically because I get more visible vapor that way.

But there are different types of smokers. You can find articles about the different types on alot of the quit-smoking sites. Some people will still crave the act of smoking even after the physical cravings are long gone. I think that's me, because I still feel like I need the occasional cigarette (one every few days, usually after a big meal). And one of the hardest parts of quitting for me has been that I still subconsciously want the ritual of going outside to have a cigarette. Switching to VG and getting more clouds of vapor makes me feel more like I'm accomplishing something, I guess. But at any rate it feels to me more like the real thing, so my brain desires the real thing less and less.

I've also read the absorption info XMit mentioned. And it seems to be true, because one night I sat at my computer and consciously didn't inhale all night. I just held every drag in my mouth for a minute or so. I had no craving issues, so based on my completely unscientific experiment, I'd say that seems to be the case.

 

[1eca]

Like XMit said, its aesthetics. I think, for me anyway, it tricks my brain a little. It makes it feel a little more like "real" smoking. I actually use 100% VG juice specifically because I get more visible vapor that way.

This is about how I feel as well. Also, exhaling larger clouds of vapor is fun!

 

[frosting]

I think particularly when people first start to vape, seeing the vapor is big for a successful transition for many among us. Higher vapor volume or higher VG is also good for some who may have a sensitivity to PG. In those cases its not about vapor but the kind of liquid they use and maybe more vapor is just a cherry on top/hindrance to others. I don't mind/think about my vapor production as much now, but sometimes I'm not gonna lie... I love to take a huuuuuge rip , blow it out, and smell my deliciously scented vapor!

As for nicotine on exhale, I agree with most. Hard to know for certain but most signs point to little or no nicotine in the vapor. I do remember reading something on ECF that mentioned that a while back.

 

[bnrkwest]

Funny thing about vapor, some love it some don't care. I am one of those that don't want huge vapor clouds rolling around me like a crowded smokey bar with a bunch of heavy smokers would make smoke so thick that hangs on the ceiling LOL! The higher VG mixes offer much more vapor, I like more PG that disipates quickly. But whatever works! bnrk

 

[Jammin246]

I like the throat hit... A little vapor is ok... But too much is annoying lol. I go with primarily pg

 

[CaptJR]

Thank you for all the replies. So it is OK for me to like the vapor even though it is more vapor than the smoke that every came out of my mouth when smoking. Needed to know I wasn't going vapor crazy or something. It has been a tough couple of weeks for me. Seems strange to me that I am relying on the vapor to fool myself. Maybe I don't like that I am so easily fooled. I think the psychology or all this is amazing but I don't know how good it would be to talk about it.

 

[Tersur]

I Enjoy the Visual feedback of a Huge Plume of Vapor. Its also much more impressive to a Analog smoker who sees how much your Ecig can output.

 

[Spac]

I Enjoy the Visual feedback of a Huge Plume of Vapor. Its also much more impressive to a Analog smoker who sees how much your Ecig can output.

Very true. Huge cloud makes the smoker look and ask; What the?!? You smoking again?

 

[OntariAuLait]

I'm starting to use the amount of vapour to gauge how much battery life I have left on my eGo. I'm not as good at detecting difference in TH or nic feeling, but when that cloud starts to shrink I get antsy!

Oh yeah, kind of on topic, I have a DIY question nagging me. Is FA's Vape Wizard as awesome as it seems? I want to actually reduce the VG in my mixes but I'm afraid of losing the cloud and I'm wondering just how much that will help.

 

[Dieseler]

I crack up sometimes when i watch those video reviews and see clouds of smoke watch carefully how they do the inhale.
Its not like there smoking a cig in a normal fashion . Seems like the intake is very little into their lungs and most stays in their mouth and then they let it out in clouds not from their lungs but from whats in there mouth.
I vape as if i'm smoking a cig and if i took a drag like those video's and inhaled it into my lungs as such well i would be coughing violently as i type this.

 

[Shadow102]

If vapor is coming out, doesn't that vapor contain some of the precious nicotine? (I'm hoping to slow down on the nicotine sometime, but not worried about it)

The nicotine is predominately absorbed through the mucus membranes in the mouth, throat, esophagus and sinus cavities. The vapor we exhale is mostly water (from our own bodies, which is why vaping dehyrates you) condensed by the hygroscopic agents (the PG and/or VG) in the juice. That being said, I'm sure there is a minute amount of nic that escapes on exhale, just like there is a small amount of flavoring (noted by the faint aroma) that escapes on exhale.

Some vapers just really like seeing plumes of vapor, it feeds the psychological addiction of seeing smoke. Personally I'm more concerned with the throat hit than vapor production, but that's why I vape 70/30 blends or higher.

 

[GJ-Greywolf]

I was a heavy smoker. (man, it is nice to say "was" there). I have seen people say they were heavy smokers here when they smoked maybe two packs a day. Not often have I seen someone on here mention that they smoked as much as I did. At least 2 1/2 per day on weekdays and 3 1/2 or more per day on weekends.

Sometimes people would say to me. "JR, you need to breath every once in a while" I would be taking one drag after another with no clean air in-between.

Enough history, on with the question. The history did have a little relevance thought. When I smoked, I didn't care how much smoke came out of my mouth on exhale. That seems to be a big thing around here. On youtube vids I've watched, threads I have read. Everyone wants a lot of vapor and they seem to be talking more about vapor coming out of their mouth, than vapor going in and staying in. Maybe they are saying "if that much is coming out, just think about how much went in". But I’m not getting the impression that they are saying that. I'm getting the impression that, seeing the vapor come out is more important than how much went in.

If vapor is coming out, doesn't that vapor contain some of the precious nicotine? (I'm hoping to slow down on the nicotine sometime, but not worried about it)

Anyway, you all see what I’m getting at. Comments?

Thank you
JR

First, congrats on vaping now.

Second, you smoked about what I have cut down to. I am new to vaping and still do smoke every once in a while. Not totally smoke free. I quit in 2009 for about 6 months and then I started back up again. Before I quit that particular time, I was smoking anywhere from 3 - 4.5 packs/day and sometimes more. Rarely I smoked less, and usually only if I was sick. Before I started vaping, I would smoke about 2 to 2.5 packs/day on days I worked and about 3 to 3.5 packs on days off. I recently cut down to about 2.5 packs on days off and 1.5 packs on days I work. I know how you feel and am glad another chain smoker is vaping.

third, reason I like to see the vapor is simple. I taste the flavor on the way out. I also like feeling the vapor since it's warm and feels like I am exhaling the smoke a bit. Part of it is also mental: more that comes out = more that went in (unless there is too much which tells me I'm not breathing deap enough - possible reason is a minor asthma attack coming on. I'm not always big on how much is coming out since there are times I hold it in before exhaling - like when I'm at work; it appears better when inside a non-smoking restaurant to not see guests (customers) see vapor since they may think I'm smoking and the policy is not to have appearance. We really aren't even supposed to smoke on the patio when we appear to be on duty. Those are the only times I hold it in and not want vapor. The other mental part is seeing the vapor coming out does give my mind the visual clues to "smoke" and it satisfies that part of addiction. The only thing I am glad about is that my apartment is not filling up with vapor like it did with smoke. I had to disconnect my smoke alarm since it kept going off from all my chain smoking.

Well, these are my reasons. I hope they answer your question enough from another heavy smoker - soon to be a non-smoker and chain vaporer (however it's called and spelled). lol

 

[hairball]

For me, the amount of vapor going in and coming out is both equally important. That's why I vape at 6V. I was a heavy smoker also...4 PAD on a good day. Mentally, I get satisfied exhaling a cloud because that's what I did when I smoked. As for nic absorption, it varies. I've heard all kinds of percentages thrown around but all I can say is, if you're satisfied, then you've sucked in enough.