Pure Grain Alcohol Question

[Doctor Vapor]

I'm sure this has been posted before, but I can't seem to find the answer.

What advantage is there to adding Pure Grain Alcohol to your DYI mixtures? I am currently using a 36mg VG nic juice cut with VG to 18mg and flavoring. What advantage would I get by adding PGA to my mix?

 

[NightShadow]

The most common reason by far is to add throat hit imho.

Some may also use it to thin a thick juice, rather than using distilled water or pg. Mainly a personal preference in this case.

 

[emus]

I get a slight throat hit with PGA in a nicotine free juice.
I don't know if it is good or bad for your lungs to vape PGA in high concentrations.
I have been experimenting with PGA a few months with no side effects.

I like to frequently sterilize my atty with PGA; Don't want any weird creatures growing in the spit contaminated atty. Last thing I need is some bacterial infection of the lungs.

 

[Doctor Vapor]

I like to frequently sterilize my atty with PGA; Don't want any weird creatures growing in the spit contaminated atty. Last thing I need is some bacterial infection of the lungs.

As a health care professional, I agree whole heartedly with you. I rotate my addys every day. I keep one in PGA and one in my e-cig and I rotate them out every day. I shudder when ever I read that people will vape on one addy for a few weeks or until it gives out. This is not good practice. Keeping your addys as clean as possible is the best bet.

BTW, you should do the same thing with your carts. A plastic cart may not hold up very well being soaked in PGA, but you should at least dip your empty carts in PGA at least once a day then rinse it with tap water.

 

[jerrydon10]

The most common reason by far is to add throat hit imho.

Some may also use it to thin a thick juice, rather than using distilled water or pg. Mainly a personal preference in this case.

Don't you get some kind of buzz doing that?

 

[Cherice]

Where do you buy PGA?

 

[Valkerie]

Everclear is available at the liquor store. Smallest bottle you can buy, as it goes a long way. You will not want to drink this...or at least, after one taste, I don't.

If 190 proof is illegal in your state, try 150 vodka.

 

[Scubabatdan]

Don't you get some kind of buzz doing that?

No its like cooking the alcohol content is burned off in the process and if you do get any, you would have to vape 450ml to equal one shot of PGA provided you are mixing at 10% or 1ml per 10ml. I think the nicotine will get you first
Dan

 

[Blackdiamonds]

As a health care professional, I agree wholeheartedly with you. I rotate my addys every day. I keep one in PGA and one in my e-cig and I rotate them out every day.

Cnubel.

I am noob at this ECig thing and have a question about what you posted above.

You soak the entire addy in PGA for the entire 24 hour period between uses?

 

[Doctor Vapor]

Cnubel.

I am noob at this ECig thing and have a question about what you posted above.

You soak the entire addy in PGA for the entire 24 hour period between uses?

Yes, I soak them for about 24 hours sometimes, sometimes not. You don't really need to soak them that long, grain alcohol will kill anything almost instantly, so you give them a 10 minute soak everyday you will be keeping them good and clean. I just got in the habbit of throwing them in a small jar with a couple capfulls of PGA. Once again, dunk your cart caps in PGA and then wash them with tap water everyday too. You'll keep bacteria down and also have a good clean e-cig.

 

[Blackdiamonds]

Fantastic, thanks for the reply!

 

[Mo JJC]

Yes, I soak them for about 24 hours sometimes, sometimes not. You don't really need to soak them that long, grain alcohol will kill anything almost instantly, so you give them a 10 minute soak everyday you will be keeping them good and clean. I just got in the habbit of throwing them in a small jar with a couple capfulls of PGA. Once again, dunk your cart caps in PGA and then wash them with tap water everyday too. You'll keep bacteria down and also have a good clean e-cig.

somehow I thought the heat needed to vaporise would be enough to kill bacteria

 

[Doctor Vapor]

somehow I thought the heat needed to vaporise would be enough to kill bacteria

It is, however, your first couple of hits are a little on the cold side. The addy heats up more the more you hit it, and your cart cover never gets enough heat to kill bacteria. It’s good to sterilize them both in PGA to be on the safe side. Besides, it’s so easy to toss them in a jar with an ounce of alcohol so why not do it?

 

[miketr]

PGA definitely adds throat hit, and it seems to me that it enhances the throat hit of nicotine in eLiquid, although that is a subjective assessment. Also if you put say 25% PGA in your mix, it thins the glycerine so that it goes in the cart faster/easier, and stretches the eLiquid (makes it last longer). Around here, at least (midwest USA) PGA is about the least expensive component of DIY eLiquid, so it seems it adds a little savings as well by using it as an ingredient while adding benefit. You could thin with distilled water less expensively, but I don't think it adds anything and thins the flavor of the mix.
Note that for some flavorings, the alcohol in the flavorings is sufficient and additional PGA doesn't need to be added. I like to add 3 ml Lorann's Creme de Menthe to a 7 ml PG/VG mix, and the Lorann's is virtually all alcohol in this case, so I don't add any additional PGA, it would just weaken the flavor to do so.
There's no practical physical way you could get an alcohol "buzz" even if you were vaping straight PGA with an eCig. google personal alcohol vaporizers. If you want the effects of one ounce of alcohol, you have to breath in an ounce of alcohol. And that would take so long you could never build up enough alcohol in your system to get a noticeable "buzz".

 

[Doctor Vapor]

There's no practical physical way you could get an alcohol "buzz" even if you were vaping straight PGA with an eCig. google personal alcohol vaporizers. If you want the effects of one ounce of alcohol, you have to breath in an ounce of alcohol. And that would take so long you could never build up enough alcohol in your system to get a noticeable "buzz".

Thank you for your answer. It was very informative. I'm well aware of how alcohol works chemically and I agree whole heartedly with your above assessment. You can't inhale enough alcohol vape to produce an intoxicated effect. Most of the alcohol is burned off in the vaping process to begin with, and residual inhalation is inconsequential.

 

[stillcrazy]

Does this mean that recovering alcoholics needn't worry in cleaning with PGA?

 

[Doctor Vapor]

Does this mean that recovering alcoholics needn't worry in cleaning with PGA?

As someone who has worked with Alcoholics, I do not recomend anyone in recovery using PGA for anything. A recovering alcoholic should clean as best they can using the blowing out method, and should drop their addys in some boiling water for a minute or two.

Carts should be cleaned with soap and water and rinsed with tap water until all soap residue is gone.

Those in recovery should not use any substance with alcohol in the preperation of their juice. Find some juice recipies you like that are alcohol free and you should be in good shape.

 

[miketr]

Yes, if you need to avoid any contact with grain alcohol, just use distilled water in its place. A slightly higher nicotine level or some menthol can take care of any decreased throat hit if that is a concern.

 

[undertheradar]

I've been sober for over two years after drinking alcoholically for 35 years. I use Everclear in some of my DIY mixes, and the only negative effect I've experienced is an unpleasant nauseous feeling when I smell the straight stuff while mixing. Either you've quit drinking or not. I have. Just my experience.

 

[srcowell]

I've been sober for over two years after drinking alcoholically for 35 years. I use Everclear in some of my DIY mixes, and the only negative effect I've experienced is an unpleasant nauseous feeling when I smell the straight stuff while mixing. Either you've quit drinking or not. I have. Just my experience.

I agree 100%.