New member, first post: Help understanding e-liquid nicotine strength ratings

[Eurotrash]

Hi everyone, I will admit, I trolled for a few months then decided to make the plunge into the crazy world of ecigs. I've been analog free today. First day I was originally thinking of substituting ecigs for a portion of my normal cigs every day and gradually weening myself off but today actually went ok with just the ecig, I'll probably have an analog before days end, but hey, I know now I CAN get through a work day with out a cigarette! That's a definite start in the right direction!

My question is thus:
I have an 11mg bottle of e-liquid. How can I tell how much nicotine I'm inhaling? Is there some kind of mathematical formula I should be using? I normally smoke light roll your own cigs, so I was hoping to come close to that amount, maybe a bit below or above.

Thanks guys!

 

[hvac73]

I was a pack and half aday guy of very mild cigs. I started with the 24mg but found it harsh on my throat after a day or two. Went to 16 and 18 mg and find I'm satisfied. Next step is to drop down further.

 

[CBB]

There is no math because no one knows exactly how much nick is absorbed. There are estimates, but the best way is to determine by feel. Do you feel satisfied? Do you have strong cravings? You may need more nic. Do you feel nauseous or have headaches? Do you feel fidgety or have trouble sleeping? Maybe you need less nic. Just go by the indicators and adjust your nic.

 

[dormouse]

No math. 11mg is not a dangerous level. 11 to 16mg sounds about right for a lights smoker. The 11mg is per ml so a 5ml bottle has 5 times 11mg or 55mg of nic in it. If you get a headache or rapid/irregular heartbeat then that's a common sign of too much nic or more often just too much vaping.

Isn't vaping awesome? I smoked for decades and switched to vaping easily.

11mg - is that Vapor4Life? I am vaping their WOWbacco right now. It's sort of a cocoa tobacco? ANd the WOWboy is the same w/ some mint added. Strong TH in that stuff but nice.

 

[Eurotrash]

No, not V4L, I've been using the VaporPro stuff. I only ordered one bottle of Orange Creme and I feel like I want more variety already. You know, one for the morning, one for the nighttime when I go out, etc..
No headaches, no dizzyness or nausea or anything yet.. I did feel very tired and took a nap, but doubt that has anything to do with anything other than being tired.

I vaped about half the day from 7, all the way up until 5 or 6 without craving an analog. Broke down right after the post and smoked one, then one just now. I think I simply need to work ecigs into my regular regimen.

I also need to learn how the 510 works intimately before relying solely on it as my delivery device. I'm not getting consistent thick vapor clouds. They're wispy compared to the videos I've seen on the 'tube. And I'm almost certain it has something to do with my technique.. Pulling smoke is definitely different from analogs! I'm going to guess that not getting very good pulls doesn't deliver as much nicotine, hence why I craved an analog. Like I said, I just got these yesterday and today was the first day of use, so I'm not the most experienced guy out there..
But you guys help!

 

[Eurotrash]

No math. 11mg is not a dangerous level. 11 to 16mg sounds about right for a lights smoker. The 11mg is per ml so a 5ml bottle has 5 times 11mg or 55mg of nic in it.

Oh! I get it, it's PER ML! I was wondering if it was per "fill" or per bottle...never thought of it like that. Durp...

 

[swedishfish]

You might need to up your nicotine for those times when you really crave a cigarette. I vape 24 mg but had 30 around for those times. I still use it sometimes but not too often or I lose my voice.

Are you using cartomizers or the cartridge and atomizer? I think you get a more consistant vape with cartomizers.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Hello,
The amount of vapor depends on the vg in the juice...more vg = more vapor and a little less flavor
more pg= little less vapor and more flavor and throat hit... a lot of users use a mix ie.e 50/50, or 70/30

 

[Eurotrash]

I'm still on the carts and atomizer. I did do the blue foam mod already and really like the smoothness it offered. I figure I'll wait until those get stale before I up the ante on something else. I DO REALLY want to buy some drip tips and do things that way, however. That seems like the best way to vape for me right now.

How can I tell how much VG is in a typical vape juice? Do they list specs on certain ones from certain mfg's?

 

[swedishfish]

They should unless it's chinese juice which is 100% pg. I usually get 70%pg/30%vg. My last bottle of juice was 60/40 which I liked also. You get less TH but more vapor with more VG.

When you get drip tips, pick up some cartomizers to try. I think carts are such a hassle and have to be filled too often.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I'm still on the carts and atomizer. I did do the blue foam mod already and really like the smoothness it offered. I figure I'll wait until those get stale before I up the ante on something else. I DO REALLY want to buy some drip tips and do things that way, however. That seems like the best way to vape for me right now.

How can I tell how much VG is in a typical vape juice? Do they list specs on certain ones from certain mfg's?

Does it say on their website? I guess I am just used to vendors that put it on the label... where did you order the juice from?

 

[Eurotrash]

No, not V4L, I've been using the VaporPro stuff. I only ordered one bottle of Orange Creme

They say basic nutritional info (which, incedentally is all 0's..)
but nothing about VG content. I had a choice between VG and some other "custom blend"
I opted for the custom blend for some reason..

This is taken from their site:

We offer our customers more choices we stock both Imported and MADE IN THE USA Smoke Juice / e-Liquid. Choose between 2 bases either our Custom Blend PG60/VG40 or 100% VG Base and 6 nicotine levels 0mg thru 36mg. All of our USA liquids are the freshest available as they are made to order minutes after your order is placed. With over 60 flavors like USA MLB Smoke Juice, Peach Smoke Juice, Desert Ship Smoke Juice, Crazy Clove Smoke Juice, RUM Smoke Juice and many more.

I'm under the assumption that I would add the VG juice to my existing blend to get the billowing clouds I seek? Or, I could just order the VG next time?

Heres what I have on hand:

 

[Eurotrash]

Oh and another question. (I hope I am not overstaying my welcome in this particular thread, but I do hate creating new ones.)
Which, in your opinion, is the best place that makes the smoke juice? I've only had this one experience, so Im not familiar with anything else. Just want to expand my horizons. I do like TheVaporPro because they ship FAST and it's not an arm and a leg to order with them.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

They seem like a good company...
freedomsmokeusa.com it also good and are having a memorial day sale for 25% off code = memorialday
they have samplers for 2 something and with 25% off, you could get several to try....shipping is always 5. something so it won't matter how many you order,,,if you do....just a suggestion,,,,
With the blend you already have, swedishfish's suggestion of cartomizers may produce the most consistent vape....
hope this helps..

 

[Eurotrash]

Wow, I just checked them out and freedomsmokeusa is pretty expensive..I may try that in the future though to see if there's a quality difference. Any other retailers of note?

 

[wv2win]

11mg nicotine strength is VERY low. The most common level vaped based on polls on this and other vaping sites is 24mg strength. There have been several reports that vaping is not nearly as efficient as smoking in delivering nicotine. I would suggest to start out and have a better chance of making the transition, to have some 24mg, 18mg and some 16mg. You can always lower your nic level in the liquid, but you can't make it stronger. If you find after awhile you prefer less, then it is easy to step down.

 

[Astatine]

The only hard mathematical formula is the strength. 11 mg is 11 mg of nicotine in each mL of e juice. (18 is 18 mg in a mL...etc)

I haven't seen any real information about how much nicotine is absorbed when vaping.

I have been vaping by "feel" and keeping track. I am perfectly satisfied with 1 to a 1.5 mL per day with an average of 18 mg per mL. That comes out to be 18 to 27 mg of nicotine per day, assuming it's all absorbed (which is doubtful...).

I used to smoke Newports at a rate of 1 to 1.5 pack a day. I have seen good studies estimating that the nicotine delivered was approximately 1 mg per cigarette.

So all in all, even if I assume that all the nicotine I vape is absorbed, I am still at the same level!

if you google your cigarette make and "nicotine level" you should get hits giving you the approximate level of nicotine absobed by cigarette, and knowing your consumption,you can get a ball park figure on how much you consume.

Beware of some of the info given on line about the equivalence cigarette / vape. A lot of them are just math with a LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS...

 

[Eurotrash]

11mg nicotine strength is VERY low. The most common level vaped based on polls on this and other vaping sites is 24mg strength. There have been several reports that vaping is not nearly as efficient as smoking in delivering nicotine. I would suggest to start out and have a better chance of making the transition, to have some 24mg, 18mg and some 16mg. You can always lower your nic level in the liquid, but you can't make it stronger. If you find after awhile you prefer less, then it is easy to step down.

I'm simply worried about getting dizzy/nauseous/headaches at work and other undesireable places during my day is really all. I do plan on experimenting, but need to do so in a controlled environment just in case something goes wrong. I feel like I'm taking a few puffs every hour or so instead of taking a long cig break every hour so I'm curious if it's actually as much nic as I WAS getting with my "roll your own" cigs. I smoke Peter Stokkabye's Danish Export on the regular and have NO IDEA how much nic is in those to be honest!

 

[DC2]

Some studies have shown we may be absorbing as little as 10% of the nicotine from vaping.
And some here find flaws in those studies and think they may be getting as much as 40% of the nicotine from vaping.

So, for example...

Let's say you're using 18mg strength liquid, which is 18mg of nicotine per milliliter.
If using 3ml per day of 18mg strength liquid, you would theoretically be getting 54mg per day assuming 100% absorption.

But taking absorption rates into account you will only be getting anywhere from 5.4mg to 21.6mg of nicotine per day.

And that would equal anywhere from about 5 to 43 cigarettes.
Because the amount of nicotine absorbed from real cigarettes is anywhere from 0.5mg to 1.1mg, and some are even more.

So really it all depends on which cigarettes we are talking about, and how much we really absorb from vaping.

 

[Eurotrash]

very interesting deduction, DC2... worth thinking about when I order my next batch. I do think I might need a higher strength..