Nicotine Levels, need some help.

[Odyssey in Atrophy]

Very new to vaping. Tried my friends 6mg greensmoke recently. I liked it enough to order a Red Dragon for myself.

His 6mg didn't have any real kick for me in terms of nicotine fix. I didn't feel like I usually feel when smoking a cigarette.

Here's what I'm thinking, and I hope someone can correct me if I'm wrong. When I see a nicotine level on an e-cig cartridge, I assume it is referring to the amount of nicotine in the entire cartridge. Lets say I have a 6mg cartridge. Since each cartridge is supposed to be equal to about 20 cigarettes, that means each e-cig I "smoke" would equal 6mg/20= .3mg per "cigarette."

This would explain the lack of nicotine fix for me when using my friends 6mg greensmoke.

So, if my normal cigarette brand says it's 1.5mg on the box, that must mean per cigarette. So, in order to equal that in my vaping, I will need a juice that is 30mg. (30mg divided by 20 cigarettes equals 1.5mg per cigarette.)

Does this make sense? Am I on the right track here?

Thanks!
OIA

 

[curiousJan]

Very new to vaping. Tried my friends 6mg greensmoke recently. I liked it enough to order a Red Dragon for myself.

His 6mg didn't have any real kick for me in terms of nicotine fix. I didn't feel like I usually feel when smoking a cigarette.

Here's what I'm thinking, and I hope someone can correct me if I'm wrong. When I see a nicotine level on an e-cig cartridge, I assume it is referring to the amount of nicotine in the entire cartridge. Lets say I have a 6mg cartridge. Since each cartridge is supposed to be equal to about 20 cigarettes, that means each e-cig I "smoke" would equal 6mg/20= .3mg per "cigarette."

This would explain the lack of nicotine fix for me when using my friends 6mg greensmoke.

So, if my normal cigarette brand says it's 1.5mg on the box, that must mean per cigarette. So, in order to equal that in my vaping, I will need a juice that is 30mg. (30mg divided by 20 cigarettes equals 1.5mg per cigarette.)

Does this make sense? Am I on the right track here?

Thanks!
OIA

Nope ... the levels that are provided are per mL. So the 6mg that you sampled contained 6mg of nicotine per mL of fluid. How much liquid fits in the cartridge/cartomizer that you sampled depends on the brand (and I've got no experience with the brand you mention).

How much did you smoke per day? I smoked about 1-1.5 ppd ... I started at 24mg/mL and did well. I've since stepped down to 18mg/mL and am still doing well. Worthy of note that 18mg did NOT do it for me at first ... I needed 24.

Starting at 30mg/mL may be a little high, but then again it may not. There are those that vape 36mg/mL all day long ... I couldn't do it, but each of us is different. You have to experiment a little to find the right equipment and nicotine levels for your vaping style and needs. If I were you, I'd order 30mg/mL and make sure to have some PG (propylene glycol) on hand to mix it down if you find it to be too strong. You'll lose a little flavor, but better that than make yourself sick with too much nicotine.

Oh, and be careful with the "cartridge = pack" line ... I've not seen anyone yet that it holds true for. With my 510 cartridges I could vape it dry it an hour ... V4L cartomizers don't go quite so quickly for me, more like a couple hours maximum. I wouldn't say that either a cart or a carto holds an entire pack of cigs.

Jan

 

[MarBro]

Welcome Oddyssey,
There are 2 ways to go about finding your kick. 1) Get some high test ( 24 mg/ml ) juice and some straight PG to dilute it down in case it's too much. This works but seems to wash out the flavor. or 2) Get some 12 mg/ml or so and some unflavored nicotine juice to add kick until you find your sweet spot. Keep up with how much you dilute down or build up so you can calculate what you want to order in the future.

 

[curiousJan]

Welcome Oddyssey,
There are 2 ways to go about finding your kick. 1) Get some high test ( 24 mg/ml ) juice and some straight PG to dilute it down in case it's too much. This works but seems to wash out the flavor. or 2) Get some 12 mg/ml or so and some unflavored nicotine juice to add kick until you find your sweet spot. Keep up with how much you dilute down or build up so you can calculate what you want to order in the future.

Adding unflavored niquid to pre-mixed flavored is still going to dilute flavor ... and I'm not sure that I'd recommend a newbie start working with unflavored nic too quickly. Even 48mg/mL unflavored can be dangerous if the right safety precautions aren't used.

And yes, the OP should measure and track how much the 30mg/mL needed to be diluted to get to their sweet spot ... just to know what strength to order the next time.

Jan

 

[jons]

Since each cartridge is supposed to be equal to about 20 cigarettes

OIA

That is false, I think that was just a sales pitch used to lure people in. For me .. lets say it takes 5 or 6 drips to fill the cartridge. You vape it and in a min or two its low. Now what you dont want to happen is let your cart get low because you may burn out an atty plus the taste will change. So what I do is fill the atty, vape for a minute and then continue to refill the cart with 3 to 4 drops every few minutes. This way my cart never runs dry and the taste always stays the same. Now I could just fill the cart and vape untill it was empty but it would in no way be equal to a pack of smokes. Oh and I am talking about an normal cart, not an xl or anything like that.

sorry I didnt answer your question. Its a hard question that alot of peopel try to figure out.

 

[Odyssey in Atrophy]

Wow, this seems more complicated than I originally thought. I ordered a starter kit, with 6mg cartridges. I'll order a sampler pack of some juice, and different nicotine levels. That's probably the easiest way to find my sweet spot, no? As a newbie, I'd rather not start diluting down juices until I have a better grasp on things.

This forum is so helpful. You guys are great!

-OIA

 

[jons]

most people go with 24 mg to start from what I've seen. then start to back it down over time. Thats where I started now I'm between 18mg and zero

 

[jons]

Its only hard untill you have a kit and can actually put your hands on the stuff. Once you see it all work its easy. Somethings are hard to figure out though like nic levels and doses.

 

[chimney55]

Adding unflavored niquid to pre-mixed flavored is still going to dilute flavor ... and I'm not sure that I'd recommend a newbie start working with unflavored nic too quickly. Even 48mg/mL unflavored can be dangerous if the right safety precautions aren't used.

And yes, the OP should measure and track how much the 30mg/mL needed to be diluted to get to their sweet spot ... just to know what strength to order the next time.

Jan

I just read somewhere else that someone suggested buy the same juice at 2 different nic. levels. Lower nic to add to higher nic juices or vice versa. I think that the OP could get the same juice at 24 mg. and 12 mg of the same flavor and experiment with it to find their nic level without sacrificing the flavor.

 

[curiousJan]

Wow, this seems more complicated than I originally thought. I ordered a starter kit, with 6mg cartridges. I'll order a sampler pack of some juice, and different nicotine levels. That's probably the easiest way to find my sweet spot, no? As a newbie, I'd rather not start diluting down juices until I have a better grasp on things.

This forum is so helpful. You guys are great!

-OIA

Now THAT sounds like a plan ... be sure to get at least one stronger one (24mg) just in case you need the extra oomph! It sounds to me like you might, since you specifically mentioned "kick" ... that is generally linked to nic-strength -- higher strength == more throat hit/kick.

Jan

 

[curiousJan]

I just read somewhere else that someone suggested buy the same juice at 2 different nic. levels. Lower nic to add to higher nic juices or vice versa. I think that the OP could get the same juice at 24 mg. and 12 mg of the same flavor and experiment with it to find their nic level without sacrificing the flavor.

Very true!!

 

[Shark_Bait]

Its only hard untill you have a kit and can actually put your hands on the stuff. Once you see it all work its easy. Somethings are hard to figure out though like nic levels and doses.

I found this to be very true. Confusing even overwhelming before I actually got my hands on the hardware. All coming together now. The You Tube videos were a big help as well.

 

[Thomas Simms]

So when you have a higher level of nic you wont taste the flavor as much? Or is that false? I first bought 30mg and its working absolutly great for me. Will that have some effect on the flavor thought?

 

[Krisb]

I have juices in many different levels of nic-from zero to 18. Let's face it, there are certain times of the day when you need to satisfy a nicfit and other times when it's simply the habit of hand to mouth calling. I mix up my levels throughout the day, seems to work great for me. The idea of getting the same juice in a couple diff. strengths is a great one!

As soon as I rcv'd my kit and charged it, I haven't looked back once. I tried to smoke an analog about a week later and took 2 drags and it was completely disgusting! There have been times when I felt like I needed one badly...but I just vape a higher nic level until the urge is gone. I smoked for 27 yrs at about 1-1 1/2 PAD. Never dreamed it would be this easy! Good luck!

 

[rons29445]

As 1 newbie to another.
I used to Smoke Salem Ultra Lights - .06mg nicotine.

When I began the e-cig I started with a 6mg cartomizer and found it did not work. In preparation, I has also gotten 11mg cartos and found them to work pretty good. So my magic number is around 10-12mg nicotine.

I pretty much vape all day and obtained some 0mg juice to switch off to, so to not get too much nicotine.

Be sure to do research before jumping in a making your own juices. You can really mess yourself up if you don't.

Welcome to the forum

 

[Dr Fred]

36 mg all day for me since I started back in May.
However I don't chain vape.
2 to 4 drags and put it down for 15 min.
Works for me. FWIW

 

[Odyssey in Atrophy]

You all have been very helpful. I'm a little disappointed now that I ordered my starter kit at 6mg. However, I ordered some sample juices at higher levels, so when they arrive I'll be able to do some experimentation. Here's a quick question: Is there any difference between re-filling my carto from the original supplier, and buying a blank carto? Will the original carto flavor linger in there when I decide to refill with new juice?

 

[kelaine]

That is a great question! I'd like to know as well. I am new to vaping as well. I quit smoking analogs around the first week of September. I have been using only prefilled carts, but now want to try buying my own juice. Can you wash out the inside material in the cart and then add your own juice to it?

 

[StormFinch]

Yes, usually the flavor lingers for the first refill or two, more if it's a juice with stronger flavors. I've got one carto that I'm on refill number 3, the first being a different flavor, and I can still taste hints of the original juice. Try to add like or complementary flavors when refilling.

One thing that should be mentioned. You will never get the same exact "kick" from an e-cig that you did with a cigarette. You will get your nicotine fix, you can get dizzy if you get too much nicotine, but you just won't get the same feeling. Pretty much all of that kick doesn't come from the nicotine, but from your brain cells screaming for air because you just dosed them up on carbon monoxide and thousands of other chemicals.

BTW, welcome to ECF.

Edited to add;

Some cartos can be cleaned; the kr808s, the regular 510s... I'm not sure about the others, like greensmoke, because I don't have any experience with them.

 

[Odyssey in Atrophy]

Wow, I won't ever get the same kick, huh? I guess I won't know until I experiment with different Nic levels and PG/VG ratios. I'd hope to be able to 'feel' it somehow. Maybe the nic fix will do it for me. I don't know, I guess I'd like a similar feeling to when I'm having a coffee and an analog. You know, a pick-me-up feeling. I'd like to get rid of analog forever. I wonder if just getting my nic fix through my pv will be enough.