Newbie after help from experienced vapers :)

[Benson112]

Hi All,

Im after some advice from you more experienced guys. Im back round to give vaping a proper go this time.

I started my vaping experience maybe 3 years ago...on cig-a-like type things from Skycig. I loved these, they were almost the perfect solution for me quitting smoking, and i did for around a year. But after many many many failures in the equipment, I got fed up and bought myself a cheap eGo style starter kit and moved away from the cig-a-likes. This was great for about a week when i developed a chest infection and ever since then i havent been able to use elec cigs at all without a really bad wheezy / tight chest feeling happening instantly.

My girlfriend however has been vaping now for the entire 3 years, and has easily moved over to the cheap eGo (i think thats what they are called) started kits but as she seems to go through these faster than underwear I decided to start looking into things a little more to understand why they break so much. So now, i am well versed, I understand parts need cleaning and replacing and that things have a life span and are not indestructable. I bought her a Vision II spinner and all it well, i have even managed to use it quite alot but i still have the issue of the chest tightening. I want to buy myself a spinner but this is where you guys come in...what things can i try to help resolve my issue?

1. Im using the Kanger Aerotank Mini (1.5 ohms) and have played around with the different settings on the spinner. It seems 3.2 is the best setting for this tank, but is there maybe anything i could change here to help? A different tank maybe?
2. Im using 50/50 ejuice (dont remember the actual manufacturer). Is there much of a difference to be seen between the different manufactureres? My next port of call is to try 100% VG liquid as im really hoping i am just sensitive to PG.
3. Is the Spinner the right thing for me? Before I persist with this and buy another one for me (instead of stealing my gf's all the time) is there a better option?

any help much appreciated! I desperately want to move back to vaping and actually enjoy it and not feel like im going to die each time

 

[GPC2012]

Personally the thing that helped me give the analogs up for good was when I got my first APV, it was an Innokin SVD. Since then I've gotten several more different ones and currently use a VTR, also have a Segeli 20 Watt that will be here next Saturday. Being able to fine tune the device with either watts or volts had a huge difference. I use the Nautilus and the Iclear 30S as my go to tanks.

 

[DavidOck]

HI Benson, and welcome to ECF.

While it may be a sensitivity to PG, I find the high VG to be problematic for me. So it might be worth trying some each direction for yourself.

And while you're still "experimenting" to find the right "fit" for yourself, I think sticking with a Spinner style makes sense. Why go off the extra money involved in higher end devices (tube mod, batteries and charger, etc....) before you know you'll be sticking with it? Worst case then, your partner has another backup battery

You might also try lowering the nic level, and if you do a "lung hit", maybe step away from that, draw the vapor into your mouth and inhale from there.

Good luck!

 

[skoony]

you said you started ok on cigalikes so i don't think its a PG or your nic level.
try increasing the ohmage in your coil.cigalikes
generally run in the 2.1 to 2.5 range.
your vapor may be to thick.
regards
mike

 

[oplholik]

Welcome Benson, following David's advice I think would be a good idea concerning the pg, vg. Good luck.

 

[Benson112]

Thansk for all the replys guys

Personally the thing that helped me give the analogs up for good was when I got my first APV, it was an Innokin SVD. Since then I've gotten several more different ones and currently use a VTR, also have a Segeli 20 Watt that will be here next Saturday. Being able to fine tune the device with either watts or volts had a huge difference. I use the Nautilus and the Iclear 30S as my go to tanks.

Thanks for the advice, i did some more research re: the difference between variable voltage and wattage last night which was interesting. I didnt realise the resistance increases over time so the variable wattage helps that situation. I think once im settled and have minimised my negative issues with vaping I will be looking into getting something more sophisticated like VW. And with the tanks...I think i need to try a good few out as everyone seems to have a different preference Ill check out the ones you mentioned above thanks.

HI Benson, and welcome to ECF.

While it may be a sensitivity to PG, I find the high VG to be problematic for me. So it might be worth trying some each direction for yourself.

And while you're still "experimenting" to find the right "fit" for yourself, I think sticking with a Spinner style makes sense. Why go off the extra money involved in higher end devices (tube mod, batteries and charger, etc....) before you know you'll be sticking with it? Worst case then, your partner has another backup battery

You might also try lowering the nic level, and if you do a "lung hit", maybe step away from that, draw the vapor into your mouth and inhale from there.

Good luck!

Some interesting points, i certainly dont want to spend huge amounts of money on something that my body may not let me continue with! lol. But im sure with ehough experimenting and tweaking i should be able to find the root cause and eliminate it. I will certainly try both directions on the juice. I will be ordering some at each end of the scale today...after alot more research of course! I want to try to find the right manufacturer of ejuice for me too, so hoping to get some advice on the most popular options. Nic level will most certainly be dropped to 6mg. Do you (or anyone else) know if there are any resources available comparing the level of nic you vape to the amount you would normally smoke in cigarettes? so for example, a 10 a day smoker, who vapes frequently would be suited to 6mg where as a 40 a day smoker who chain vapes would be suited to 12mg

I did try "lung hits" as you mentioned the other day, which strangely give me less problems than a normal (into the mouth then inhale) hit. But to be honest I dont feel comfortable doing this, I prefer to hit it the same i would a normal cigarette.

you said you started ok on cigalikes so i don't think its a PG or your nic level.
try increasing the ohmage in your coil.cigalikes
generally run in the 2.1 to 2.5 range.
your vapor may be to thick.
regards
mike

I didnt even think to question the resistance in the cigalikes! thanks very much. So this may very well be something to consider. I am having to take noticably smaller hits which produces obviously a smaller exhale. At first with the spinner i was hitting it hard and had no problems, now all of a sudden if i hit it hard it really hits me hard! lol.

Interestingly, i was playing around with the spinner last night and as i learnt that the resistance increases over time so i increased the voltage which has helped a little. I opened up the vent holes on the aerotank too which has helped massively on the chest issues! Granted i get much smaller vape on the exhale now but i can hit it much more freely. So im wondering if this is something to do with cooling? Maybe a higher resistance coil would help in that deparetment too.

 

[mountaingal]

The mg thing is very personal. I was a 12 cigs a day smoker, but I used full-flavored menthol Benson and Hedges. So, when I quit I went for the 24mg juice. It just barely got rid of my cravings. That's when I was using the ego-c. Then I went to the kanger protank mini2 and found I was getting some nic overdose symptoms. Mainly, just feeling sick to my stomach and maybe the hiccups. So, when I went down in the nic level to 18mg I did not get those problems. But, I was vaping more. I hope in time to get to less then 6mg. I have been vaping for over 1,000 days and just now trying to go lower. Some folks, go lower quicker. Good Luck!

 

[scratchtheweasel]

Hi Benson, welcome to ECF. Royalgate has a good write up on inhalation techniques that I think is worth a read if you're having trouble adjusting to vaping.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

A few random suggestions here:

- Stay well hydrated. Since starting to vape there's almost always a bottle of water with me wherever I go.
- Battery: an MVP 2.0 is only a few bucks more than a Spinner II. Very good device for about ~$40.
- Atomizer/Tank: Adjustable air flow is a very good thing to have. I love Aerotanks - especially the v3 airflow base.
- Liquid: if you haven't tried nicoticket I would suggest giving it a whirl. Swing by the Nicoticket forum if you have questions.
- Nic Level: Depends heavily on technique and device. 6-12mg is common for long-timers, 18-24mg is common for starters.

Vaping requires some patience. I've had lots of nagging problems along the way, but continually trying new things and trying to learn from other folks on ECF has helped me through all problems I have encountered. That said breathing trouble can be serious business and you may also want to consult your physician. I spoke to my doctor about e-cig use and found it very helpful. The more information you have the better. Good luck on your journey. Feel free to PM me if you ever need help.

 

[rurwin]

It might be an idea to try vaping pure VG with no flavouring or nicotine. It's cheap to try and it will give you a baseline for further experimentation. Just buy it at the chemist. You might want to add a little water to thin it down a touch. If you do, people recommend deionised water. Personally I use tap water -- there's very little in there that is bad for you in these quantities and you don't mind being around a boiling kettle.

 

[Tbev]

If your looking for a new mod I'd recommend a vamo, doesn't matter which one, I prefer the v2 I believe, with the non removable collar. It's a very sturdy, cheap device that will give you options far beyond that of a spinner or the likes. Best bang for your buck in the lower price range. Then you can put a fogger v4 on it and you'll be stylin'! The fogger v4 on the vamo is a wicked badazs setup for super cheap. Or even the fogger v5, it's got an easy fill hole on the top that is nice., that's my advice, I've been through tons of mods. If you want to spend more money look into bottom feeders if your down to learn how to rebuild. Feeders are the bees knees!

 

[daleron]

Welcome to ECF Benson.
Please also make sure you are drinking plenty of water! It's very important to do so while vaping!

 

[rurwin]

Erm... Tbev, he's using a spinner and an aerotank and you suggest he moves to a dual-coil rebuildable? Are you sure that's not rather too large a jump in complexity at this stage? Especially when he's wondering whether he can vape at all.

Personally, I'd say find out what is causing the problem with the current equipment before deciding how to upgrade. A spinner and aerotank are fine for the moment.

 

[Warpigs]

Welcome to ECF!

 

[Benson112]

Thanks Scratchtheweasel, very informative link...and surprisingly I was already doing everything as recommended, which is nice to know i changed my habbits without even noticing lol.

It might be an idea to try vaping pure VG with no flavouring or nicotine. It's cheap to try and it will give you a baseline for further experimentation. Just buy it at the chemist. You might want to add a little water to thin it down a touch. If you do, people recommend deionised water. Personally I use tap water -- there's very little in there that is bad for you in these quantities and you don't mind being around a boiling kettle.

This sounds like a good idea mate. That said, I seem to have cracked maybe 70% of my issue simply by turning up the voltage a notch and opening the air hole on the aerotank fully. Im not longer feeling choked out and can take hits without the immediate chest tightening issues. But, the issue still remains that i feel a small tickle in my chest between vaping. So im hoping my tweaking with juice will help that!

If your looking for a new mod I'd recommend a vamo, doesn't matter which one, I prefer the v2 I believe, with the non removable collar. It's a very sturdy, cheap device that will give you options far beyond that of a spinner or the likes. Best bang for your buck in the lower price range. Then you can put a fogger v4 on it and you'll be stylin'! The fogger v4 on the vamo is a wicked badazs setup for super cheap. Or even the fogger v5, it's got an easy fill hole on the top that is nice., that's my advice, I've been through tons of mods. If you want to spend more money look into bottom feeders if your down to learn how to rebuild. Feeders are the bees knees!

I agree with rurwin's second post that at the moment it may be too much of a jump for me at the moment. That said i have been looking into the variable wattage solutions and their benefits and it appears that maybe this will help me keep a constant acceptable setting to help me along. So i may very well move towards the Vamo in the next few weeks. I think I will stick to the spinner and aerotank while i experiment with juices and once im happy i will continue vaping for the longer term ill certainly be looking for a VW device....I almost dived straight into one of these before i bought the spinner but the sheer size of them put me off! lol. Maybe ill keep the spinner for out of the house and look at a vamo for in house vaping.

Daleron...i have seen this mentioned many times so have instinctively started drinking way more water than i ever have. Ive never seen the toilet so many times in one day!!

 

[rurwin]

The Spinner and Aerotank may be all you need to be happy. If you decide you want to move on then I'd suggest a cheap VV/VW mod first. It won't give you much or any advantage in vaping, but it's fun to play with. It also lets to try out the larger 22mm diameter tanks like the full size Aerotank. Once you are happy you again have a stable platform and still want to move on, then is the time to get a cheap dripper and maybe a rebuildable tank and start learning to build coils and wicks. But you don't want to move straight on to them because it does take a while to learn and you want to be able to go back to your every-day vape when it doesn't work out.

Personally, I used a full-sized Protak II with an eGo Twist for some time. It's rather top heavy but it works fine.

 

[Warpigs]

I think it's different for everyone transitioning from smoking to vaping. I was a 2-3 pack of Marlboro Reds a day and chewing 2-3 bags of Red Man a week. It was not fun for me when it came to the cravings/urges since I both smoked and chewed. But I was not gonna let that 30+ year habit beat me. Wehen I got my first set-up I told myself there was no turning around.. Although on my 1st anny off cig's I did light 1 up and threw it on the ground and said thats's what Smell/taste i did for all those years? What a waste. Vaping has thousand of mods/kits/liquids. Not just light up and instant ashtray BS.

This addiction is mental and physical. You need to deal with them seperatly. Easier said than done, but in a few months it will make sense.

 

[Benson112]

Thanks for the replys guys....i think its safe to say that i will be sticking with vaping now. I just need to get into the habbit of ensuring i dont run out of any essential equipment (which is what got me back on the cigs before....broken batteries and no local replacements).

So....I will begin to build up my arsenal of vaping equipment I think I will continue with my spinner for the time being while i test out the different juices. Ill likely try some different tanks and coils too. And once i have my prefered option there i will keep the spinner for out and about, and get myself a VV/VW beast for playing around with at home

 

[DavidOck]

Good to hear, Benson!

DO get your backups in order, even if the backup is just another Spinner, another topper and spare coils. As you unfortunately found out, backups can be essential to success!

 

[Benson112]

Totally agree, im in the process of ordering my backups now but....i have some more questions which i think are best suited to other threads as they are somewhat off topic to this one.

 

[Benson112]

Little update considering i have completed my first full month with no cigs!

I bought a few bits and bobs and have settled on the itaste VV battery and at the minute i am preferring the iClear16 Dual Coil Clearomizer that come with it. I also bought the kanger genitank mega and i hate it. It is sooooo difficult to get a decent draw from. So i am hunting my next tank, whilst I like the iclears...i would prefer something I can get more juice in but get the same effect...some resistance to the draw (as opposed to the aerotanks that draw too easily) and good vapour levels.

Roll on payday so I can order my eleaf istick and what ever choice of tank i go for.