Purpose of PGA?

[sr999]

I've been hanging out here, reading as many posts as I have the time to, for a few months. I've begun DIY juicing - SO much better than pre-made! 24 mg. nic. just hadn't been enough for me. As I understand it: VG gives you smoke; PG gives you throat hit. So what would be the purpose in using Pure Grain Alcohol/Ever Clear?? What does it do?

 

[SimianSteam]

Most people use it for throat hit in low nic DIY juices.

 

[lamarrk]

Most people soak their wicks/coils in PGA/Everclear to clean them.

Drinking alcohol (please don't use Isopropyl/rubbing alcohol) can be used to increase throat hit.

 

[Three5Nines]

PGA absorbs some flavors better than VG or PG. So they use it to make their juice taste better with less flavoring. It is also better at cleaning the flavor out of heads than water, without needing to be thoroughly rinsed like isopropyl.

 

[zoiDman]

I've been hanging out here, reading as many posts as I have the time to, for a few months. I've begun DIY juicing - SO much better than pre-made! 24 mg. nic. just hadn't been enough for me. As I understand it: VG gives you smoke; PG gives you throat hit. So what would be the purpose in using Pure Grain Alcohol/Ever Clear?? What does it do?

The Scientific Explanation is that PGA can gives e-Liquids a certain amount of "Pop".

 

[classwife]

When I mix my DIY base up, I start off with thinning out my VG to me desired consistency.
I use part distilled water and part PGA.

For me, I feel it gives a little of zoiD's "pop", but I also feel it just makes liquids vape cleaner...my attys never get clogged.

 

[sr999]

Thanks for the great responses everyone! Not knowing how to clean my attys/clearos, I've used just water, hot water, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, & a pipe cleaner. Was using the CE4 type attys w/the long wicks that get nasty looking in a very short time. Those I'd soak overnight in iso. alc. - worked pretty good. The peroxide works quite well, w/or w/out the alcohol, as there's no taste (it IS just water/H2O with an extra molecule) & the bubbling loosens stuck-on gunk. Since I bought some anyway, I'll have to give the Ever Clear a try on all that's been mentioned by y'all!

 

[zoiDman]

...

For me, I feel it gives a little of zoiD's "pop", but I also feel it just makes liquids vape cleaner...my attys never get clogged.

Very good point CW.

And since the Pure VG in a DIY mix needs to Usually be thinned anyway, a little PGA and Water is a Nice thinning agent.

 

[Racehorse]

Very good point CW.

And since the Pure VG in a DIY mix needs to Usually be thinned anyway, a little PGA and Water is a Nice thinning agent.

Copuld I use just water and not PGA? What % would you guys say? Cuz I made some really gloppy VG juice this week, it is just not running well at all.

I live in a dry county, so if I decided to get PGA, just go get some "everclear" next time I'm out of town?

 

[zoiDman]

Copuld I use just water and not PGA? What % would you guys say? Cuz I made some really gloppy VG juice this week, it is just not running well at all.

I live in a dry county, so if I decided to get PGA, just go get some "everclear" next time I'm out of town?

Sure... Most people use Water instead of Alcohol.

BTW - It doesn't have to be PGA or Everclear. Plain old 80 Proof Vodka or Rum works fine.

As to how much. I dunno. I Dilute my VG until it is Slightly thicker than PG. Maybe 10%?

 

[GunArm]

"Throathit" is a misnomer. It's not a specific thing, it's a blanket term used to describe any "discomfort in the throat" which may or may not be sought after. Many things can cause this and yield different types of discomfort in the throat. Things that can cause it are high nicotine, high PG, PGA, harsh dry hits, gremlins that make your atty not hit the way it's supposed to, etc. Types of "throat hit" could be: a deep wide thump to the lungs, a sharp acute sting in the throat on inhale (nothing on the exhale), a sharp acute sting in the throat on exhale (nothing on inhale) (I have experienced both of these independently), and different levels of general harshness.

PG gives a certain type of throathit, PGA gives it's own. Personally, I've not been able to find any amount of PGA in my DIYs that seems to do anything without making my vape taste like a nasty shot of liquor. To be fair, you can put the finest top shelf shot in front of me and it all tastes like gasoline (I wish I could enjoy it), so I definitely hate the taste of ethanol.