Nic Level for a Very Casual Smoker

[NoLeak]

I'm wondering what level I should go for in a liquid. I want a nice strong head buzz but I don't want to waste money burning up an unnecessary amount of nicotine or form too strong a dependence on it. I've been off the habit for a very long time so my body isn't accustomed to nicotine at all.

I was a 1-2 cig a day smoker for the bulk of my smoking career. I'd like to replicate that with vaping.

I will be mixing a high nic juice with bulk PG. Should I shoot for 6mg or lower? I know that I can experiment to find the right level once I have my supplies but I'd like to get enough PG to fully dilute all of my juice. I don't want to have to make additional orders for bulk PG.

People may wonder why I would start vapring if I'm not addicted to nicotine. There have been long periods when I was totally happy smoking 1-2 per day. I plan to vape at that same level. It's something I can do or not do. I choose to do! Some people eat the greasy bacon cheeseburgers; I choose to smoke or vape in moderation.

 

[cassavetes]

I'd suggest 16-18 as a good starting point. I started at 16 and quickly moved to 24. Sometimes it's good to have some strong nic juice in your stash when a heavy smoking urge hits you.

For dilution, I'd go with 48 maybe? Cut in half with PG and flavor would give you a nice 18-20.

It's best to order high nic strength because you can always cut it to your liking.

 

[NoLeak]

I'd suggest 16-18 as a good starting point. I started at 16 and quickly moved to 24. Sometimes it's good to have some strong nic juice in your stash when a heavy smoking urge hits you.

16-24 ouch. That's a lot more than I was thinking.

Bill Hicks is the man!

 

[cassavetes]

lol, sorry. I misread that as 1-2 packs...Maybe around 12mg then?

And yeah he is.

 

[DWB]

I would try 12mg, thats conncidered low, I think very low(6mg) would be almost worthless for you.

 

[Xcetra]

I was smoking less than 3 analogs a day and the 10mg works great. Started with 6mg cartomizers, but switched to a 510 and 10 mg is the lowest I can get in the liquid I like.

 

[TaketheRedPill]

Omg - any flavor you want

 

[Madame Psychosis]

I was a "lighter" smoker (over time, anything from 1-10 ultra-lights a day; by the time I switched to e-cigs it was more like 3-5 a day).

My advice?
(1) I wouldn't look for just one "correct" nic level, because you want to sooth both your cravings for nic and your desire for the "ritual" of smoking, and those don't require the same level.
(2) Go by what you need, not what you can tolerate, at any given point in time. If you just need the ritual of smoking, go for 0 nic -- you often get better flavor that way, anyway. Nic excess (or if you want to sound dramatic, OD) is not fun.

Personally, I use three levels: 12mg, 6mg, and 0mg, and cuts in-between. 12mg is a first buzz in the morning or when I get a craving, because I can really feel it. 3-6mg is some daytime vaping, or evenings when I want to stay up a little longer. 0mg is for most evenings, and for much of the daytime when I'm pacifier-vaping and know I don't need more nicotine.
(I initially underestimated how much I'd use my 0mg, as a behavioral thing. Then again, I got obsessed with this as a cool hobby-gadget, not just as a smoking substitute. YMMV.)

Tweak it around for your needs, but most of all, I'd start by buying a few different levels at the 0-to-low end.

 

[NoLeak]

I was smoking less than 3 analogs a day and the 10mg works great. Started with 6mg cartomizers, but switched to a 510 and 10 mg is the lowest I can get in the liquid I like.

If you had been able to get your favorite liquid in 6mg would you have been happy sticking with that? Did it give you a nic buzz?

 

[ChesterN]

I too would suggest that it will take experimentation with different strengths to know what will satisy your needs. Personally, I have rarely experienced a 'strong head buzz' from vaping. However, I suspect that has more to do with being a heavy smoker/vapor. Had I been a 1-2 cigs per day smoker, the head buzz might be easier to achieve or recognize.

 

[TWISTED VICTOR]

Omg - any flavor you want

This might work very well, give it a shot first. If needed, you can still add some nic .

If you had been able to get your favorite liquid in 6mg would you have been happy sticking with that? Did it give you a nic buzz?

Push the nic buzz away from your thoughts. Satisfaction is what you're after. If you pursue the "buzz" you're apt to only feel ill .

 

[NoLeak]

I was a "lighter" smoker (over time, anything from 1-10 ultra-lights a day; by the time I switched to e-cigs it was more like 3-5 a day).

My advice?
(1) I wouldn't look for just one "correct" nic level, because you want to sooth both your cravings for nic and your desire for the "ritual" of smoking, and those don't require the same level.
(2) Go by what you need, not what you can tolerate, at any given point in time. If you just need the ritual of smoking, go for 0 nic -- you often get better flavor that way, anyway. Nic excess (or if you want to sound dramatic, OD) is not fun.

Personally, I use three levels: 12mg, 6mg, and 0mg, and cuts in-between. 12mg is a first buzz in the morning or when I get a craving, because I can really feel it. 3-6mg is some daytime vaping, or evenings when I want to stay up a little longer. 0mg is for most evenings, and for much of the daytime when I'm pacifier-vaping and know I don't need more nicotine.
(I initially underestimated how much I'd use my 0mg, as a behavioral thing. Then again, I got obsessed with this as a cool hobby-gadget, not just as a smoking substitute. YMMV.)

Tweak it around for your needs, but most of all, I'd start by buying a few different levels at the 0-to-low end.

I plan to vape the same way I smoked, once a day for a few minutes or about the same duration as 1-2 analogs. For me it was all about the nic buzz. I've never had the "pacifier" thing so 0mg seems like .........ion to me. I understand that many people enjoy 0mg and I'm all for people doing whatever they enjoy, but it's not for me.

I need one mix at the right nic level to give me a sweet head buzz for 5-10 minutes once a day. Can 6mg deliver for someone who has been nic free for years?

 

[NoLeak]

I've had my supplies for couple of days now. 6mg does the trick. 10-12mg knocks my socks off. I hope this helps other light / social smokers.

 

[four2109]

I've had my supplies for couple of days now. 6mg does the trick. 10-12mg knocks my socks off. I hope this helps other light / social smokers.

I hope you don't waste alot of money and time on this. It's really just another form of stupidity. But we have moved to a somewhat healthier one... we hope. At 1-2 a day... just don't let it get complicated. Wish you the best, and hope you just give it up while you can.

 

[Taryn]

If you are looking for the rush like smoking a cigarette and only plan on using it once a day or so I would suggest a higher nic level, perhaps 12 to 18mg, you'd have to suck on that pv for a while at 6mg to equal one regular cigarette.