Older Folks and Vaping Front Porch - Part Four

[fitzinthewindow]

Welcome to you too!! Jup, I quit one time for 7.5 months.......would find myself outside, see someone smoking, and want to get as close to em as I could just to smell it! Now it's awful. And I know that wonderful aroma of a freshly lit marlboro well. I quit as soon as I started vaping, cuz I was just too stubborn not too, but I made it much harder on myself than it needed to be. Wish I'd tapered off. But as someone else said, I also had to do 24mg before I could get over the cravings, and that did it for me. What is your nic level now?

What's my nic level now? Great question. Most of my juices are 12 mg. When I started, the shop suggested 9 mg. I have some juice as high as 18, and several as low as 6 mg, because that is as high as is available in that particular flavor. Interestingly, the higher the nic level, the more it seems to "burn" my throat. Lower nic levels seem to be much milder, more flavorful, and don't burn. Is that just my imagination, or is it real? I have considered some higher nic levels, but I worry about the "burn" and doing too much nic. I've been a steady 1 pack a day Marlboro red guy for years--ocassionally a little more, but mostly just a pack. Suggestions please!

 

[clnire]

Welcome Vic and Fitz!

Vic, I am an RY4 lover myself. You might try a small bottle of Flavor Art RY4 flavoring or Hangsen. Mix about 5-7% flavoring in your base and try it. Mix a small amount, let it steep 24 hrs, and taste. Adjust your amount of flavor for your next batch if needed. The Flavor Apprentice (TFA) also makes a decent RY4 flavor called RY4 Double. You can add more caramel and/or vanilla to any of these if you feel it would be better.

Fitz, don't sweat the ones you smoke. You will get there. Lots of good advice already given.

Hope you both stick around. Such a great group of people on both porches, and we always like new victims - er, friends

 

[Debadoo]

Interestingly, the higher the nic level, the more it seems to "burn" my throat. Lower nic levels seem to be much milder, more flavorful, and don't burn. Is that just my imagination, or is it real? I have considered some higher nic levels, but I worry about the "burn" and doing too much nic. I've been a steady 1 pack a day Marlboro red guy for years--ocassionally a little more, but mostly just a pack. Suggestions please!

it's probably not your imagination. Some nic tends to be very black peppery. I started out at 24 from a juice vendor in Texas and just couldn't vape their 24mg. Went to another vendor, their next lowest was 17 and I had cravings for 8 months. Finally decided to try their 24 and I could vape it fine. Either I got used to it, or they used a better quality nic. Considering the vendor at the time, I believe it was better quality nic. Cravings went away with the 24 pretty much immediately. I had smoked 1-1.5 packs of marlboro 100's full flavor for 36 years. There is a very low price juice vendor that many folks love, but their juice was really harsh on my throat, and this was just this past year after 3 years of vaping, so I do think it depends on the quality of the stuff the vendor is using. Now with DIY, I don't have any issues like that and I vape high PG which some find is harsh but not for me.
As to too much nic, you'll know if you get over nic'd. You'll get naseous, light headed, and just not feel good. Drinking a lot of water will help all the time, but especially if you get over nic'd. It will flush it out. You do want to drink as much water as you can with vaping. Some disagree, but most find it helps them not to feel too dried out.

 

[Semiretired]

still hard for me to comprehend I don't smoke after 40+ years of smoking.

But it is a good feeling though isn't it???

 

[Semiretired]

I have some juice as high as 18, and several as low as 6 mg, because that is as high as is available in that particular flavor. Interestingly, the higher the nic level, the more it seems to "burn" my throat. Lower nic levels seem to be much milder, more flavorful, and don't burn. Is that just my imagination, or is it real?

If they are all from the same vendor then try something (not a large amount) from another vendor somewhere in the middle with one of the flavors that you like, but is to strong and see if that helps...

 

[DavidOck]

Interestingly, the higher the nic level, the more it seems to "burn" my throat. Lower nic levels seem to be much milder, more flavorful, and don't burn. Is that just my imagination, or is it real?

In addition to the quality of the nic, the increased level will add to the throat hit (TH) all by itself. Nope, NOT your imagination!

But it is a good feeling though isn't it???

Well, I won't make my 4 year mile post until next October, but....


It's a GREAT feeling!! And I can actually take a deep breath to shout that without coughing my lungs out!!

 

[Vicshalls]

Welcome Vic and Fitz!

Vic, I am an RY4 lover myself. You might try a small bottle of Flavor Art RY4 flavoring or Hangsen. Mix about 5-7% flavoring in your base and try it. Mix a small amount, let it steep 24 hrs, and taste. Adjust your amount of flavor for your next batch if needed. The Flavor Apprentice (TFA) also makes a decent RY4 flavor called RY4 Double. You can add more caramel and/or vanilla to any of these if you feel it would be better.

Fitz, don't sweat the ones you smoke. You will get there. Lots of good advice already given.

Hope you both stick around. Such a great group of people on both porches, and we always like new victims - er, friends

I might try and get stuff with taxes this year and see how it goes. Maybe if i just do two liquids for myself it wont take up that much room. Thanks for the tip. I will look into this.

 

[DavidOck]

As hinted, the initial outlay for nic, PG and VG can be a bit, but when you figure out how much you get for that, it's dirt cheap.

And you don't have to be a chef. I'm not!

Just start with one flavor at a time, see how you like it, adjust percent 'til you're happy.

When I try new flavors, I always do that, so I'll have an idea of what they taste like - by themselves. Some are great that way. Then, if I feel like it, I'll experiment with blends of two or more flavors.

And there are many who prefer unflavored, so that's worth trying as well

 

[garyoa1]

And don't forget the olde' dump bottle. Flavors you don't like go there. After a few different dumps into it, you may just like what's there! Of course... you'll never duplicate it.

 

[DavidOck]

Yep. I have mine labelled "Mystery Mix"

 

[fitzinthewindow]

And don't forget the olde' dump bottle. Flavors you don't like go there. After a few different dumps into it, you may just like what's there! Of course... you'll never duplicate it.

I thought of doing this, but the flavors that I don't like are JUST AWFUL!! Some of the juice I purchased has a horrible, plastic, chemical sort of taste. It's just terrible, and totally unvapable. I can't believe that anyone would vape this stuff. I am not going to name names, but some juice is just disgusting. I can't imagine that mixing it would make it any better. Ever experience this?

 

[garyoa1]

Disgusting juice iz kinda common! But there are times where one (or more) disgustings = 1 yippeee, wahoooo!!!! It happens.
Oh, and waste not, want not.

 

[3mg Meniere]

Yes. I had a dump bottle for ages. Finally dumped it, because I had too much.

And the flavors, with a few weeks of steeping, do meld together to make something totally different. And usually highly vapeable. If not, just add a bit of PG or VG to take the edges off. Why waste good nic, especially if you use high-nic juices.

 

[Semiretired]

Ever experience this?

Yep, that is why a good many of us DIY...

 

[Kenna]

Hello everyone. This is my first time in any of the Porch threads. I usually just hang out in the Provape area. Most of the general forum seems to be people that want to blow clouds and use very high wattage. Makes me feel old and kinda out dated. I have been on ECF for a few years now. On and off that is. I found being here was hurting my wallet too much. lol

Thought i would give yall a little back ground on me. I started smoking at 12. Mostly just the ones i found people had thrown out. Was not really sure how to go buy my own at that age. As time progressed so did my smoking. I got up to 2-3 PAD before i found vaping. Some friends had gotten some egos and were using them, and i just thought it was crazy. Then some other friends got some of the cigalikes from the gas station. My then GF (now wife) gave it a try cause they had an acia berry flavor. We gave that a try for a bit, but we were both still smoking just as much. I did not find the benefit of doing both and it was costing us way too much money. So we quit that.

A while later i got a new car and decided i did not want to smoke in it. About that time a small vape shop opened by the house so i went and tried it out. Got a small ego and a disposable tank. My wife waited to see how i did cause again she did not want us to waist money we did not have. Next thing i knew i had quit smoking. She went out and got her one and the journey started. I found ECF and things went from bad to worse. Now all i could do was talk about vaping and it almost destroyed us. lol I wanted to get everything people talked about. I wanted to up the vape game. I wanted the flavors to be better and i thought set ups would help that. I knew vaping was my end all be all and i did not want to get a bunch of crap that would just break.

Next thing i knew i was ordering us both a provari and much better tanks. I found that the provari was hard to hide on my desk so i found the vapor shark. The size was just perfect. I got two of those, but found that the quality of them was just not that great after all. They did what they were supposed to and i liked them ok, but they started crapping out. The provape came out with the radius and i am now in love.

My wife and i hit all the conventions we can that come to town. My wife loves it cause she gets to meet people and she is a flavor junkie. We leave those things so broke cause she buys so much liquid it is crazy.

I guess i would consider vaping a hobby since it relaxes me to sit and tinker with my toys. I dont make crazy coils or anything like that. I just sit and clean and fill. I got my wife a kabuki a while back and she loves it. She was not thrilled about the price, but she is glad she has it. lol I am gonna keep looking and see if i can find her another at a decent price so she can have two. She does not build any thing and really just likes the ease of changing out a head and moving it along. If it keeps her smoke free then i am all for it. We just got married this year and I want to make sure i keep her around for a good long while.

So that is it. Us in a nutshell. I am looking forward to getting to know people in here. Everyone have a Happy New Year and heres to another year cigarette free!!!

Hi vic! I see you are in Houston! I'm in Alvin!

 

[Robert Cromwell]

I thought of doing this, but the flavors that I don't like are JUST AWFUL!! Some of the juice I purchased has a horrible, plastic, chemical sort of taste. It's just terrible, and totally unvapable. I can't believe that anyone would vape this stuff. I am not going to name names, but some juice is just disgusting. I can't imagine that mixing it would make it any better. Ever experience this?

Yep it is why I DIY. Less than 1 % of the commercial ejuice I have tried can I vape.
Either horrible chemical taste and or not pleasant side effects.

And few of the flavorings for DIY I have tried work for me either.

 

[Kenna]

Hello fellow middle aged vapers! I'm Fitz, I'm 64, smoked cigarettes since I was 13, and I have been vaping for 6 weeks. I feel like the elder stateman in the vape shops, but when the folks in the shops realize that I know what I'm talking about, we all get along just fine. I love the gear. Lots of new toys to play with, and that is great. I am still struggling with cigarettes, having one or two a day even though they taste like total crap. I honestly believe that I will completely get off of them, mainly because the more I vape, the worse cigarettes become. This is total alien behavior to me. I all of my previous efforts, the longer I stayed away from cigarettes, the better they would smell. I have made it as long as 5 years in the past, but that wonderful aroma of a freshly lit Marlboro drove me right back to them. "I'm mature. I can have just one." Yea right. Vaping is so different, though. I am not feeling the guilt about having an occasional cigarette because I have no craving for smoking a lot of cigarettes. Even when drinking beer! Vaping simply puts such a negative flavor on cigarettes that I don't crave them anymore. Why I am still having an occasional cigarette I really don't know--something is driving me to it--perhaps it's remembering how wonderful it used to be, but If I can't go there again, that's a great thing, and I fell in the long run I will be able to put them down forever. Anyone else have these feelings?

Hi Fitz! Welcome to The Porches! I'm a year & a half smoke free with vaping. I stopped smoking immediately after 44+ years on a pad. I did smoke a cig 3 months into vaping & again at 6 monthes & at the 9 month mark I lit one & put it out. I did it the first time just to see if I really didn't want one. I could not wrap my head around the fact that suddenly they stank & I really didn't want one. Same thing the second time. It was like I had to bury it in my brain somehow that they tased as bad as they smelled. The third time, it was so disgusting that I couldn't do it. There was nothing satisfying about it & the attraction was gone. And as amazing as it was, I don't even question or try to understand it anymore. It worked, & i'm happy!

 

[Ken_A]

Hello everyone. This is my first time in any of the Porch threads. I usually just hang out in the Provape area. Most of the general forum seems to be people that want to blow clouds and use very high wattage. Makes me feel old and kinda out dated. I have been on ECF for a few years now. On and off that is. I found being here was hurting my wallet too much. lol

Thought i would give yall a little back ground on me. I started smoking at 12. Mostly just the ones i found people had thrown out. Was not really sure how to go buy my own at that age. As time progressed so did my smoking. I got up to 2-3 PAD before i found vaping. Some friends had gotten some egos and were using them, and i just thought it was crazy. Then some other friends got some of the cigalikes from the gas station. My then GF (now wife) gave it a try cause they had an acia berry flavor. We gave that a try for a bit, but we were both still smoking just as much. I did not find the benefit of doing both and it was costing us way too much money. So we quit that.

A while later i got a new car and decided i did not want to smoke in it. About that time a small vape shop opened by the house so i went and tried it out. Got a small ego and a disposable tank. My wife waited to see how i did cause again she did not want us to waist money we did not have. Next thing i knew i had quit smoking. She went out and got her one and the journey started. I found ECF and things went from bad to worse. Now all i could do was talk about vaping and it almost destroyed us. lol I wanted to get everything people talked about. I wanted to up the vape game. I wanted the flavors to be better and i thought set ups would help that. I knew vaping was my end all be all and i did not want to get a bunch of crap that would just break.

Next thing i knew i was ordering us both a provari and much better tanks. I found that the provari was hard to hide on my desk so i found the vapor shark. The size was just perfect. I got two of those, but found that the quality of them was just not that great after all. They did what they were supposed to and i liked them ok, but they started crapping out. The provape came out with the radius and i am now in love.

My wife and i hit all the conventions we can that come to town. My wife loves it cause she gets to meet people and she is a flavor junkie. We leave those things so broke cause she buys so much liquid it is crazy.

I guess i would consider vaping a hobby since it relaxes me to sit and tinker with my toys. I dont make crazy coils or anything like that. I just sit and clean and fill. I got my wife a kabuki a while back and she loves it. She was not thrilled about the price, but she is glad she has it. lol I am gonna keep looking and see if i can find her another at a decent price so she can have two. She does not build any thing and really just likes the ease of changing out a head and moving it along. If it keeps her smoke free then i am all for it. We just got married this year and I want to make sure i keep her around for a good long while.

So that is it. Us in a nutshell. I am looking forward to getting to know people in here. Everyone have a Happy New Year and heres to another year cigarette free!!!

Hello fellow middle aged vapers! I'm Fitz, I'm 64, smoked cigarettes since I was 13, and I have been vaping for 6 weeks. I feel like the elder stateman in the vape shops, but when the folks in the shops realize that I know what I'm talking about, we all get along just fine. I love the gear. Lots of new toys to play with, and that is great. I am still struggling with cigarettes, having one or two a day even though they taste like total crap. I honestly believe that I will completely get off of them, mainly because the more I vape, the worse cigarettes become. This is total alien behavior to me. I all of my previous efforts, the longer I stayed away from cigarettes, the better they would smell. I have made it as long as 5 years in the past, but that wonderful aroma of a freshly lit Marlboro drove me right back to them. "I'm mature. I can have just one." Yea right. Vaping is so different, though. I am not feeling the guilt about having an occasional cigarette because I have no craving for smoking a lot of cigarettes. Even when drinking beer! Vaping simply puts such a negative flavor on cigarettes that I don't crave them anymore. Why I am still having an occasional cigarette I really don't know--something is driving me to it--perhaps it's remembering how wonderful it used to be, but If I can't go there again, that's a great thing, and I fell in the long run I will be able to put them down forever. Anyone else have these feelings?

This is true. I just wish i was not a chain vaper. I never put mine down. It does not matter the nic, i think it is all a hand to mouth thing so i had to lower the nic so i did not kill myself. lol i spend almost as much on liquid as i did on cigarettes. It is just sad.

I personally only vape when I'm sitting down. Or standing up, or driving, or walking, or awake.
I figure any other time may be a bit harmful to my health, but not at those times.
Nicotine is a stimulant, anti-depressant, and cognitive enhancer. it helps keep you alert and focused, so is very good for my A.O.D (attention overload disorder) and has been used in trials to slow down and even stop alzheimer's. it reduces periodic depression and anxiety. The reason people seem to smoke is to relax. Then the tar and ash kills them.
Nicotine does not kill when vaped.

Peer pressure won't work with me. We disagree, and that is that.

Don't worry about peer pressure. I don't buy much anymore myself. I still stay on the porches though.
speaking of new things... I have looked EVERYWHERE and finally found a nice friendly dragon to have for my very own. When it comes in, I think I will name him Fafner.

 

[FlamingoTutu]

Been a lot of posting going on, and new members, I'm going to go back and read after this...

I thought of doing this, but the flavors that I don't like are JUST AWFUL!! Some of the juice I purchased has a horrible, plastic, chemical sort of taste. It's just terrible, and totally unvapable. I can't believe that anyone would vape this stuff. I am not going to name names, but some juice is just disgusting. I can't imagine that mixing it would make it any better. Ever experience this?

Do you know about steeping? Some juices taste horrid when first made, most excellent after they've sat around for a while. Also, what you might dislike now, you may well love after your taste buds recover. Don't dump anything yet!

 

[Myrany]

This is true. I just wish i was not a chain vaper. I never put mine down. It does not matter the nic, i think it is all a hand to mouth thing so i had to lower the nic so i did not kill myself. lol i spend almost as much on liquid as i did on cigarettes. It is just sad.

That is when you learn to make your own liquid and kiss off the high price stuff. It is not as difficult as it seems at first.