Nicotine Strength

[Mystic Meep]

Hi Everyone.

I have been vaping a little over a week. I am currently on 3% nicotine. But I find that I am reaching for cigarettes more each day. Should I raise my nicotine and if so, how high should I go?
Thank you very much.

 

[djsvapour]

Hi @Jamie Plum

It's unlikely you are using 3%. That is the 'other way' of saying 30mg per ml.

3mg is a very low nicotine level unless you are vaping at some serious power.

What power are you liking?

 

[Mystic Meep]

Hi @Jamie Plum

It's unlikely you are using 3%. That is the 'other way' of saying 30mg per ml.

3mg is a very low nicotine level unless you are vaping at some serious power.

What power are you liking?

I think it is 40. That's the number I set it on.

 

[SteveS45]

If it is only a week since you quit smoking you are still purging the chemicals in cigarettes from your body. I would think 3MG is low for a new vapor but what MOD and tank are you using plus how much you smoked also contributes to what you will require to keep you off the killer sticks. For me I had to just quit cold turkey and stick it out because cutting down did no work for me.

 

[djsvapour]

Back in the old days, people often quit smoking using 18 or 24mg. Those devices were often under 7 watts, maybe as low as a rather unsatisfying 3 or 4 watts.

I tried 24mg in a cig-a-like and it didn't work for me.

However, 18mg at 7 watts was just about enough (and I had the head start of dual-using and already cutting down, but not very well in all honesty)

If you are vaping at 40w, you might consider that 4 or 5 (or 6) times more vapor than an entry-level eGo pen e-cig. Whether you get 4 or 5 times as much nicotine, I personally think no. No - because a lot of the vapor comes out on the exhale.
Also, as @SteveS45 says, in the early days you are going to struggle regardless.

Without going too mad (zzz) and boring everyone, I would immediately try some 6mg.

I'll happily vape 6mg at 15 watts (MTL) but today I was squonking 6mg at more like 50w and can't say I over-did it.

 

[jfcooley]

I quit a week ago and I've been using 6mg @ 35-40 watts. Granted it hit it a bit often but it's kept me in line.

I started with 12mg and found it a bit harsh. I also didn't like that I got less flavor. I hope to soon cut down to 3mg. Had planned to already but the juice I ordered tastes what I assume diesel fuel would taste like.

 

[Mystic Meep]

If it is only a week since you quit smoking you are still purging the chemicals in cigarettes from your body. I would think 3MG is low for a new vapor but what MOD and tank are you using plus how much you smoked also contributes to what you will require to keep you off the killer sticks. For me I had to just quit cold turkey and stick it out because cutting down did no work for me.

I have Smokk mod and a 5ml tank.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

@Jamie Plum, refresh our memory on what type(s) of device(s) you have, especially what you use the most. 3mg nicotine is a low strength liquid. That's not necessarily bad, but it might not be enough to satisfy your cravings.

Device name/model and the tank name/model, please.

If you don't know, try posting a pic.

Knowing what you're using would probably help the community help you find a liquid strength and vaping style that helps soothe the beast, so to speak.

 

[Mystic Meep]

@Jamie Plum, refresh our memory on what type(s) of device(s) you have, especially what you use the most. 3mg nicotine is a low strength liquid. That's not necessarily bad, but it might not be enough to satisfy your cravings.

Device name/model and the tank name/model, please.

If you don't know, try posting a pic.

Knowing what you're using would probably help the community help you find a liquid strength and vaping style that helps soothe the beast, so to speak.

The box for the mod reads SMOK G150

@Jamie Plum, refresh our memory on what type(s) of device(s) you have, especially what you use the most. 3mg nicotine is a low strength liquid. That's not necessarily bad, but it might not be enough to satisfy your cravings.

Device name/model and the tank name/model, please.

If you don't know, try posting a pic.

Knowing what you're using would probably help the community help you find a liquid strength and vaping style that helps soothe the beast, so to speak.

Ok I will. The box says SMOK G150

@Jamie Plum, refresh our memory on what type(s) of device(s) you have, especially what you use the most. 3mg nicotine is a low strength liquid. That's not necessarily bad, but it might not be enough to satisfy your cravings.

Device name/model and the tank name/model, please.

If you don't know, try posting a pic.

Knowing what you're using would probably help the community help you find a liquid strength and vaping style that helps soothe the beast, so to speak.

Ok, thank you. I will post pics.

@Jamie Plum, refresh our memory on what type(s) of device(s) you have, especially what you use the most. 3mg nicotine is a low strength liquid. That's not necessarily bad, but it might not be enough to satisfy your cravings.

Device name/model and the tank name/model, please.

If you don't know, try posting a pic.

Knowing what you're using would probably help the community help you find a liquid strength and vaping style that helps soothe the beast, so to speak.

@Jamie Plum, refresh our memory on what type(s) of device(s) you have, especially what you use the most. 3mg nicotine is a low strength liquid. That's not necessarily bad, but it might not be enough to satisfy your cravings.

Device name/model and the tank name/model, please.

If you don't know, try posting a pic.

Knowing what you're using would probably help the community help you find a liquid strength and vaping style that helps soothe the beast, so to speak.

 

[Mystic Meep]

The box for the mod reads SMOK G150



Ok I will. The box says SMOK G150

Ok, thank you. I will post pics.

I hope that helps. Thank you

 

[IMFire3605]

3mg, on a sub-ohm device for a person trying to quit :/, that's kind of a bit low, I could understand if you were a month or two in, but only a couple weeks, unless you can't handle the throat hit of a 6mg.

We also need to know 1) How long did you smoke, and 2) How many cigs/packs of cigs a day you smoked.

This table is based off a basic Ego type battery device with a Clearomizer tank (about 7 to 9 watts), though I can adjust the math depending on the devices you use and the number of cigs and how long you smoked...

General Guideline I used to use when I was an employee of a vape shop

10+ years and/or 2 Packs of Cigs Full Flavor Kings a day = 24 - 36mg
5 - 10 years and/or Pack to Pack and a Half Full Flavor Kings a day = 18 - 24mg
1 to 5 years and/or half to full pack of full flavor kings a day (or PAD of Light Type of Cigs) = 12mg
Half Pack a day of Lights/Light 100 type cigs a day = 6mg

Using this formula table and based off your watts 40watts/9 rounding up to 10watts = 4

2 PAD 24mg/4= 6mg
1 PAD to 1 1/2 PAD 18 to 24mg /4 = 4.5 to 6mg
1 PAD (or full lights) 12mg/4 = 3mg
Half Pack a day lighs/light 100's 6mg/4 = 1.5mg

hth a bit.

/edit follow up

Another thing, might try on top of upping your nic strength, you might also need to look into an NET (Naturally Extracted Tobacco) style liquid, or get some WTA (whole tobacco alkaloid) liquid base and add a few drops of WTA base to each tank to help alleviate some of your urges to reach for a cigarette to get those extra alkaloids your body is craving.

 

[Mystic Meep]

3mg, on a sub-ohm device for a person trying to quit :/, that's kind of a bit low, I could understand if you were a month or two in, but only a couple weeks, unless you can't handle the throat hit of a 6mg.

We also need to know 1) How long did you smoke, and 2) How many cigs/packs of cigs a day you smoked.

This table is based off a basic Ego type battery device with a Clearomizer tank (about 7 to 9 watts), though I can adjust the math depending on the devices you use and the number of cigs and how long you smoked...

General Guideline I used to use when I was an employee of a vape shop

10+ years and/or 2 Packs of Cigs Full Flavor Kings a day = 24 - 36mg
5 - 10 years and/or Pack to Pack and a Half Full Flavor Kings a day = 18 - 24mg
1 to 5 years and/or half to full pack of full flavor kings a day (or PAD of Light Type of Cigs) = 12mg
Half Pack a day of Lights/Light 100 type cigs a day = 6mg

Using this formula table and based off your watts 40watts/9 rounding up to 10watts = 4

2 PAD 24mg/4= 6mg
1 PAD to 1 1/2 PAD 18 to 24mg /4 = 4.5 to 6mg
1 PAD (or full lights) 12mg/4 = 3mg
Half Pack a day lighs/light 100's 6mg/4 = 1.5mg

hth a bit.

I am 64 years old. Started smoking as a teen. Smoked 1 pack per day. I also have COPD. Thank you again.

 

[IMFire3605]

Yeah, that long you need at least an 18mg (1.8%) nicotine solution or equivalent what I call exposure per volume/watts. So I would up your nic concentration up to a 6mg (0.6%) at least for your device, if the throat hit is a bit more harsh, just have to lower the watts down to like 30 to 35watts to adjust for it. Also, words of encouragement, when I officially went into I'm going to vape instead of smoke mode when I quit, I dual used for almost 3 weeks, though if you your cig usage is increasing, the extra nic will help, still I would suggest also look at the NET and WTA liquid/base offerings and add, at least with WTA base, some drops into each tank. But remember, even if you can't quit smokes entirely, trying to get down to say a couple a day (wake up and before bed, or after high stress situations), feel the urge for a cig, start vaping first, then after a few minutes, still feel the urge, smoke only 1/3 or 1/2 a cig, then go back to your vape, that should be plenty to equalize your alkaloid levels in your body to kill off the urge.

Don't think every cig you smoke is a loss, think about every cig you didn't have smoke during the day as a victory, have to retrain your brain and thought processes.

G/L and keep at it.

 

[Mystic Meep]

Yeah, that long you need at least an 18mg (1.8%) nicotine solution or equivalent what I call exposure per volume/watts. So I would up your nic concentration up to a 6mg (0.6%) at least for your device, if the throat hit is a bit more harsh, just have to lower the watts down to like 30 to 35watts to adjust for it. Also, words of encouragement, when I officially went into I'm going to vape instead of smoke mode when I quit, I dual used for almost 3 weeks, though if you your cig usage is increasing, the extra nic will help, still I would suggest also look at the NET and WTA liquid/base offerings and add, at least with WTA base, some drops into each tank. But remember, even if you can't quit smokes entirely, trying to get down to say a couple a day (wake up and before bed, or after high stress situations), feel the urge for a cig, start vaping first, then after a few minutes, still feel the urge, smoke only 1/3 or 1/2 a cig, then go back to your vape, that should be plenty to equalize your alkaloid levels in your body to kill off the urge.

Don't think every cig you smoke is a loss, think about every cig you didn't have smoke during the day as a victory, have to retrain your brain and thought processes.

G/L and keep at it.

 

[Mystic Meep]

Thank you so very very much. You have been extremely helpful and I appreciate it more than you know. I will not give up. I am determined.

Jamie

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Ahh! The Big Baby Beast kit! We know a few things about that one.

The tank that came with the kit is called the Big Baby Beast. It uses the Baby Beast coils that have very long lives and deliver very large clouds of vapor. That is a direct to lung (DL or DTL) tank--you hit that thing like inhaling through a straw and you are supposed to draw the vapor directly into your lungs.

That may not be what you want--you may prefer a mouth to lung (MTL) hit, similar to the way you smoke a cigarette. If that's the case, the Nautilus 2 tank may be better suited to you. It is designed to emulate the smoking hit, where you use your cheeks and jaw to draw the vapor into your mouth and then inhale. I don't think there's a better MTL tank out there and the 1.6 ohm coils are preferred by strict MTL users.

DL is better suited for very low nicotine concentrations--3mg up to maybe 9mg tops.

MTL allows you to increase the nic concentration. I typically use 12mg liquid in my MTL and restricted airflow DL setups. I have some that's 18mg for stealth vaping. I use 6mg in my Baby Beast tanks, which are just smaller versions of your tank.

 

[stols001]

Jamie, I'd suggest upping nicotine levels slightly as well. You can add me to the list of people that Whole Tobacco Alkaloid (WTA) juice helped, as well. I ordered mine as unflavored from Aroma E-juice. That helped me through the whole "transition phase" when I was ready to chew through steel at times. It's pricy, but it has been my experience that you don't need a whole lot of it. It helped me to put a TINY squirt into each tank when I filled to start, then I kinda slowly weaned myself, and I still have a tank with some WTA in it that I have around for those high stress/high pressure moments. But, I think you may wish to start by upping your nic a bit.

That said, with COPD, it may be harder to get that deep, full lung-inhale, like many sub0hmers want, (which I hated to start, as my lungs were shot, anyway, though not to COPD levels, just headed there). I did far better on a small MTL device at higher nic level and lower watts, meaning cooler, more easy to handle vape. I just plain didn't enjoy how sub0hming made my throat and lungs *feel* and I couldn't handle the sheer volume of vapor. So, that is another option, if you are finding yourself desirous to pick up a cigarette but not necessarily wanting to vape your current device-- a smaller, more mimicking of a cigarette device that gives you more nicotine per puff, but less vapor. I found I ultimately enjoyed the smaller MTL feel of tanks, so that is what I use.

Good luck!

Anna

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

@Jamie Plum ... one more thing: You can drop the wattage setting on the G150 to something like 15-20 watts with the MTL tank. The coils have less mass and don't need the exttra energy to deliver a satisfying vape. And pick @stols001's brain. Ain't nobody knows MTL like she knows MTL.

 

[stols001]

LOL, pick my brain @Jamie Plum, I don't want it anymore!!! But yeah, if you have MTL questions, ask away. I will do my best.... I don't think (personally) that someone with lung issues really wants/needs to handle the amount of vapor that sub0hming often requires to get enough nic via vapor produced, I really found I hated it quickly, and it made vaping aversive for me often at the time I *most* needed to vape. If you haven't it would be great to try a different tank, (you can keep your mod and you will have VAST battery life) that is MTL and see how you like it.

I'm running 18 nic in MTL tanks, and I feel great and don't enjoy huge vapor clouds, my usual wattage is between 7-12 watts, and if you want recommendations (the good the bad the ugly) on inexpensive tanks to start with, I've probably vaped a fair share. There's also the tootle puffer's thread, but boy, that sucker would be confusing to start, they've reached esoteric levels. I'm new enough at it to provide some basic recommendations.

Anna

 

[Trigster]

Jamie...You've got a lot of good helpers...My gut tells me 12mg is where you should be...Trig