This morning marks the 7 full days mark for me of no cigarettes.
So far, I would be working on my third carton of cigs in the same time frame as I've been vaping....
Very very glad I used the forums to find a local person selling a huge deal on liquids along with a 510, PCC, some atties and carts. My order from China was delayed due to the holiday (bugged them for a tracking number, which I finally got and HK air showed it leaving HK after the holiday finished, rather than before... fun mess...)
Anyhoo... I already bought some PG to mix with, have various flavors to work with, have learned basic maintenance... the whole fun process.
Couple of points I'd like to make....
1. After many experiments with filler materials, and trying a BUNCH of things from the craft room here which is well stocked, along with most of the kitchen, and some of the bathroom... there really isn't any better filler or cleaners out there that haven't been mentioned here at least once. The ONE and only ONE thing I found better than in guides here was using .12N H2SO4 as atty cleaner... but its something not a lot of people would easily know how to obtain. (Though its readily available)
2. Burned attys taste horrible. Of the 3 I obtained, I've already retired one. Didn't pitch it, saving it as my tester for finding something that will take the taste out of it. Addendum, do NOT attempt to mix very strong coffee (I make very strong, thick coffee liquor... tried reducing coffee like I do for that) into flavorless juice to make coffee flavoring. The coffee oils burn onto the atty and the burned taste (thus far) is impossible to remove.
3. Do not use vodka or water as a reduction agent for liquid. It kills the vapor production, and doesn't taste right... stick to PG or VG.
4. PG is very drying on the throat. I can now take a single puff from new liquids and tell immediately the approximate ratios of PG vs VG.
5. As much as I liked my Camel Menthol Lights, I don't like a lot of menthol in my vaping. I find myself usually loading up cherry, licorice, banana... and I hate most tobacco flavors I've tried. I've had others try various things, and most of them like the tobacco flavorings, so its definitely a 'me' thing.
6. A straw mod is a must for consistent, quality vaping on a 510. Someone should REALLY consider contacting the makers of the carts and see about getting them to slightly alter their design to incorporate it from the get-go. Without it, I find myself topping off carts with 5 drops since they start tasting dry... when they take 12-16 drops to fill.
7. Exhaling through the nostrils really helps avoid a lot of the throat-drying of heavy PG liquids. In another week, if I start having sinus issues, I may report back, but thus far, I've actually had improved sinus function (family history of chronic sinusitis). As of now, I'd chalk this up as one of the little known benefits, something worth a M.D. looking into as far as I'm concerned!
8. Cravings... I still occasionally get them. I nearly asked for a cigarette night before last... 18 cans of Bud Light and a pint of Smirnoff Blue Label were involved. I 'drip-tailpiped' some 36mg, and cravings left, then switched back to my normal cart. For those who haven't read the forums enough to understand these terms, that's dripping high strength fluid on the atty, taking off the cart, and vaping a few hits sans cart.
9. For a 3 pack a day smoker for more than 5 years, and at least pack a day smoker for going on 20, when I first got my 510, I was sticking to 36mg from the start, and barely had my spare battery charged before my one in use ran out... now I've reduced to 24mg liquid, but still rotate batteries the same frequency. If I use 36mg, I don't find myself vaping quite so much anymore. Guess I've lowered my nicotine requirements to avoid withdrawal a bit at least.
10. I've been irking friends a bit already with it. Testing 'outsiders' a bit. I've vaped at Applebee's, in a gas station, at the movies, in a non-smoking pool hall, at Denny's... I've had a few looks, and when asked, I go through a quick explanation, and so far, all manager types have said it's perfectly fine. Not a single complaint from another customer *knock on wood*. I think the fact I'm usually vaping Cherry, Licorice, or Banana (still haven't tried Grape yet), and the vapor has only a hint of the fruit smell, and no lingering odor, it helps my case.
11. I'll probably retire my 510 in the future. I'm really, really considering getting a Chuck. I don't want it for the 5v... I want it for the 3.7v multiple-day battery. With the amount I vape, my hope is if I get a Chuck, I might be able to pull off a whole day per battery.
12. Taste and smell are definitely coming back. Regarding taste, I think that's why I keep going back to fruit flavors. As per smell, the litter box is getting a lot more attention now! (Gone are the days of weekly cleaning it... its already now a daily ritual..)
I'll stop there... I could keep going. I doubt anyone's going to read the whole thing, and I don't want to go one more number. If someone did make it this far, my apologies for any grammatical or spelling errors... I'm on coffee cup #1 for the day. If no one makes it this far, at least I wrote it for myself if nothing else.
Cheers!
So far, I would be working on my third carton of cigs in the same time frame as I've been vaping....
Very very glad I used the forums to find a local person selling a huge deal on liquids along with a 510, PCC, some atties and carts. My order from China was delayed due to the holiday (bugged them for a tracking number, which I finally got and HK air showed it leaving HK after the holiday finished, rather than before... fun mess...)
Anyhoo... I already bought some PG to mix with, have various flavors to work with, have learned basic maintenance... the whole fun process.
Couple of points I'd like to make....
1. After many experiments with filler materials, and trying a BUNCH of things from the craft room here which is well stocked, along with most of the kitchen, and some of the bathroom... there really isn't any better filler or cleaners out there that haven't been mentioned here at least once. The ONE and only ONE thing I found better than in guides here was using .12N H2SO4 as atty cleaner... but its something not a lot of people would easily know how to obtain. (Though its readily available)
2. Burned attys taste horrible. Of the 3 I obtained, I've already retired one. Didn't pitch it, saving it as my tester for finding something that will take the taste out of it. Addendum, do NOT attempt to mix very strong coffee (I make very strong, thick coffee liquor... tried reducing coffee like I do for that) into flavorless juice to make coffee flavoring. The coffee oils burn onto the atty and the burned taste (thus far) is impossible to remove.
3. Do not use vodka or water as a reduction agent for liquid. It kills the vapor production, and doesn't taste right... stick to PG or VG.
4. PG is very drying on the throat. I can now take a single puff from new liquids and tell immediately the approximate ratios of PG vs VG.
5. As much as I liked my Camel Menthol Lights, I don't like a lot of menthol in my vaping. I find myself usually loading up cherry, licorice, banana... and I hate most tobacco flavors I've tried. I've had others try various things, and most of them like the tobacco flavorings, so its definitely a 'me' thing.
6. A straw mod is a must for consistent, quality vaping on a 510. Someone should REALLY consider contacting the makers of the carts and see about getting them to slightly alter their design to incorporate it from the get-go. Without it, I find myself topping off carts with 5 drops since they start tasting dry... when they take 12-16 drops to fill.
7. Exhaling through the nostrils really helps avoid a lot of the throat-drying of heavy PG liquids. In another week, if I start having sinus issues, I may report back, but thus far, I've actually had improved sinus function (family history of chronic sinusitis). As of now, I'd chalk this up as one of the little known benefits, something worth a M.D. looking into as far as I'm concerned!
8. Cravings... I still occasionally get them. I nearly asked for a cigarette night before last... 18 cans of Bud Light and a pint of Smirnoff Blue Label were involved. I 'drip-tailpiped' some 36mg, and cravings left, then switched back to my normal cart. For those who haven't read the forums enough to understand these terms, that's dripping high strength fluid on the atty, taking off the cart, and vaping a few hits sans cart.
9. For a 3 pack a day smoker for more than 5 years, and at least pack a day smoker for going on 20, when I first got my 510, I was sticking to 36mg from the start, and barely had my spare battery charged before my one in use ran out... now I've reduced to 24mg liquid, but still rotate batteries the same frequency. If I use 36mg, I don't find myself vaping quite so much anymore. Guess I've lowered my nicotine requirements to avoid withdrawal a bit at least.
10. I've been irking friends a bit already with it. Testing 'outsiders' a bit. I've vaped at Applebee's, in a gas station, at the movies, in a non-smoking pool hall, at Denny's... I've had a few looks, and when asked, I go through a quick explanation, and so far, all manager types have said it's perfectly fine. Not a single complaint from another customer *knock on wood*. I think the fact I'm usually vaping Cherry, Licorice, or Banana (still haven't tried Grape yet), and the vapor has only a hint of the fruit smell, and no lingering odor, it helps my case.
11. I'll probably retire my 510 in the future. I'm really, really considering getting a Chuck. I don't want it for the 5v... I want it for the 3.7v multiple-day battery. With the amount I vape, my hope is if I get a Chuck, I might be able to pull off a whole day per battery.
12. Taste and smell are definitely coming back. Regarding taste, I think that's why I keep going back to fruit flavors. As per smell, the litter box is getting a lot more attention now! (Gone are the days of weekly cleaning it... its already now a daily ritual..)
I'll stop there... I could keep going. I doubt anyone's going to read the whole thing, and I don't want to go one more number. If someone did make it this far, my apologies for any grammatical or spelling errors... I'm on coffee cup #1 for the day. If no one makes it this far, at least I wrote it for myself if nothing else.
Cheers!
