Still smoking support and chat thread

[Timothy Moore]

Well you came to the right place and we are happy to have you.
I know I had all the same feelings you described. I started looking around for a place for vaper/smokers like us. Almost started a FB group. (Well, I created it, but didn't have any time to cultivate it.)
And yes, for a while I felt like an inferior vaper because all the threads talk about nothing but success stories and "never touching an analog again." And as I said before, I don't condemn them. But I know the feel of seeing their success and feeling "what is wrong with me." Especially after going a year as one of those same success stories.

I do find that focusing on the things I like about vaping and the aspects I like about vaping do encourage me.
By things I mean
-vaping is better for me
-vaping has more options than breathing smoke that tastes like smoke
-vaping has a friendly community
etc

By aspects I mean
-i love playing with gear
-i love trying new flavors
-i love mixing new flavors
-i love making coils and tweaking all that kind of stuff

We forget sometimes that the mind controls the body. And the mind is controlled by our thoughts and moods. If we are constantly thinking about smoking (whether it be concentrating on the desire to smoke or the guilt of having smoked) then we are thinking about smoking. And we will smoke. If we concentrate on the positive aspects of those things that are good for us, then our minds are shifted to the right direction and our actions tend to follow suit.

This isn't foolproof, because thoughts tend to creep in. Have to be on guard for them.

I am not a supporter of the "positive thinking your mind controls the world around you" philosophy. But I do agree that positive thoughts lead to positive actions. Our thoughts may not control the world around us, but they sure do have an affect on how we respond to the world around us. And a key to that is focusing on that which is good.
The more I think about how I just love vaping, the more I vape. Simple as that.

Anyways
/rant
Welcome to the group

*pokes his head in*

Hey all. I didn't know this thread existed or I probably would have started posting in it sooner. I, too, am guilty of vaping and smoking. I went a long time without participating in the forums due to this. I felt like I was being a hypocrite. But here I am. I can't seem to kick the analog habit completely. I've been vaping for almost four years and when I started I was between 2 - 3 PAD... but now am at ~6-10 analogs per day. Think part of it is the juice I'm using, I don't feel stimulated at all from it.

I do feel rather ashamed though. I know I shouldn't... but it's definitely there.

 

[aikanae1]

Those look nice Lox. But I do not understand how they are to be used. Maybe I am too tired and confused. Are you mixing all the pg/vg for all the bottles at one time? Like making a base mix? When I use the ejuice me up, all the percentages for all the different bottles I am making are all different. I am totally misunderstanding something here. I am still in kindergarten for this diy stuff.

I am amazed that I made something I really like right off the bat since we all know how fussy of a vaper I am. I am dripping the Caramel Pear Black Tea I made today and with the flavors all at 5% it is vaping very nice. I am happy. The black tea is not real present so I will probably have to bump that up a little. I will give it a couple of weeks to see how it ages.

I use the cylinders for mixing base too. Only I mix nic with it (since I'm just using VG). Then pour into bottles. I know my target nic range is 24mg and I'm not specific if it goes below that. But all my flavors are mixed at low % (< 10% total volume). I guess I'm not that specific as long as it's between 18mg and 24mg. I know it won't be over that and that was my primary concern. I tend to add additives after flavor largely because I'm experimenting.

The drops thing is kind of frustrating. Since I'm using super concentrates, some are mixed at 0.5 / 10ml for a single flavor. That's less than a drop. Ugh. Pippettes aren't as accurate as syringes. What was suggested to me are the measured droppers found (usually) in children's section of the pharmacy. At least I can maintain consistancy among my own measurements. I hope. There's a wide range. I couldn't find the Walgreen's one and that's the one I've heard most about. It runs apx $5.

Anyway, the cylinders have been handy. I think I like pouring out of them better than beakers esp. mixing up smaller than 30ml amounts. With VG, I like plastic better because it doesn't stick as much.

Amazon.com: Straight Tip 1ML Glass Calibrated Dropper: Health & Personal Care

Amazon.com: Ezy Dose Calibrated Plastic Medicine Dropper Straight Tip, 6934 - 1 ml: Health & Personal Care

P.S. Make sure you stir your nic up because it does settle. I tend to forget that.

 

[darksparkle13]

*pokes his head in*

Hey all. I didn't know this thread existed or I probably would have started posting in it sooner. I, too, am guilty of vaping and smoking. I went a long time without participating in the forums due to this. I felt like I was being a hypocrite. But here I am. I can't seem to kick the analog habit completely. I've been vaping for almost four years and when I started I was between 2 - 3 PAD... but now am at ~6-10 analogs per day. Think part of it is the juice I'm using, I don't feel stimulated at all from it.

I do feel rather ashamed though. I know I shouldn't... but it's definitely there.

welcome welcome loft... I know I felt shame for a while until I found this group and talked things out.....
One thing I have learned is that wehn you are down on yourself you tend to smoke more to make you "feel better" when it only makes you feel worse. so I celebrate the cigs I DONT smoke. that has been very helpful...
I LOVE vaping truly but that security blanket (cigs) I just cant give it up...

and from a 2-3 PAD to 6-10 a day WOW that is awesome!!!!

 

[Timothy Moore]

I see your difficulty. It really does make a difference when you have a flavor that you like.
Have you tried any vape shops in your area. More and more they are allowing customers to taste flavors.
They will have clearomizers or protanks all laid out in a row and they give you a mouthpiece (to keep things sterile) that slips over the end of the clearomizer. You can go through and test all the flavors.
Only drawback is that the more complex flavors don't translate well in those devices.
I remember going to a vape shop and they had Level one elixer. I tried it in the protank and it was meh. The guy behind the counter saw I had a RDA. He told me to rewick and try it in there. COMPLETELY different flavor. One of my favorites now.

That is another thing. Different juices taste different in different setups with different wattages. Just something to consider. It is amazing how just changing the wattage on a juice can bring out the flavor in such a different way.

To be completely honest... I don't know what I like. RY4 from IkenVape is the only flavor outside of menthol that I've used. I used to try a whole bunch of flavors from freedomsmokeusa, v4l, smoketip, pinkspot vapers... couple other vendors - and they all sucked (for me). That's why I settled on using menthol for the last two years. I spent around a grand taste testing and then decided to give up. And it's not that I can't afford taste testing but I was buying all this juice and getting the same bad results and I thought I was starting to lose my mind lmao.

And Alisa I ordered a couple WTA juices last night but I don't know what Snus is - can't look it up right now as I'm at work. Is it a different kind of juice?

 

[loft]

Unfortunately I don't have any reliable vape shops close by. I drive a gas guzzler and I think the closest B&M shop is on the other end of my state (1hr+ drive) so that would be expensive... lol

Feels like I'm fighting a losing battle honestly.

 

[Timothy Moore]

Snus is like snuff, but it is finer and usually packaged in little white packages.
The processing for snus is different than other tobaccos. The claim is that this results in less carcinogens. But I don't want to say that for a fact. I don't know a lot about the stuff. But sounds good.
There is also little to no spitting with snus, as compared to snuff.

To be completely honest... I don't know what I like. RY4 from IkenVape is the only flavor outside of menthol that I've used. I used to try a whole bunch of flavors from freedomsmokeusa, v4l, smoketip, pinkspot vapers... couple other vendors - and they all sucked (for me). That's why I settled on using menthol for the last two years. I spent around a grand taste testing and then decided to give up. And it's not that I can't afford taste testing but I was buying all this juice and getting the same bad results and I thought I was starting to lose my mind lmao.

And Alisa I ordered a couple WTA juices last night but I don't know what Snus is - can't look it up right now as I'm at work. Is it a different kind of juice?

 

[Thayamax]

Welcome to the group, loft. It's so great to see new life in this thread after a long lull in the action.

You're all doing a great job of cutting down on the smokes, even if you personally feel you're failing to meet your own expectations. As long as you continue to try you're not failing, you're slowly working your way to success. I had a really hard times giving them up completely. I went from being a chain smoker to being a chain vaper. It took 3 tries over a period of 4 years for it to finally stick for me. It's been over a year and yet I know I'm still only 1 cigarette away from going back to it.

Finding the right juice and the right equipment for you is vitally important, yet often difficult to do. We all have different wants, needs, tastes and triggers. I started off this last attempt with a Zmax V3 telescope and loved the power, hit and clouds, but I had a hard time finding a juice I enjoyed enough to give up smoking for. After buying many juices I finally found Deadly Sin and I loved it. So I'd found my equipment and my juice, but still had a trigger I couldn't beat. Everyone at work smoked together and my big APV just didn't cut it for me in that situation. I found myself mostly vaping at home but smoking nearly a pack a day at work. Thread member Alisa suggested I try an eRoll (cigalike) at work to better simulate smoking with my co-workers. It worked!! Who would have thought that after using and loving an APV that a cigalike would be a workaround for my biggest trigger and allow me to finally become smoke free after 42 years of heavy smoking?

That's what this thread is all about....providing support by people who care and are/have been where you are. No judgement are made here, only congratulations for any successes, no matter how big or how small, and suggestions to help you get to where you want to be. Thank goodness for this thread. I couldn't have done it without all the wonderful people here.

P.S. They didn't kick me out after I quit smoking either.

 

[loft]

Snus is like snuff, but it is finer and usually packaged in little white packages.
The processing for snus is different than other tobaccos. The claim is that this results in less carcinogens. But I don't want to say that for a fact. I don't know a lot about the stuff. But sounds good.
There is also little to no spitting with snus, as compared to snuff.

Ahhh yeah - I think I'm going to try the WTA and avoid Snus. Sounds like some sort of sinus infection... lol

 

[Timothy Moore]

Yeah, it doesn't help either that tobacco contains four naturally occurring MAOIs. This has been relatively recent buzz in tobacco research. At least, recent buzz to the public.
This is why people are going to WTA.
I remember when I first started vaping. I was in full "no more analog" mode. I must admit that while the nic in the juice did get rid of the cravings, it took a couple weeks to adjust to not having those MAOIs.
I was a bit moody and depressed.
So yeah, makes you "feel better."
I foolishly started smoking again off and on a while back. But now I am kind of in a circumstance where I must keep my head on straight. The repercussions for falling into depression right now too consequential. Ergo, I find the need to keep a pack around. Though trying to cut it back as much as possible and quit altogether once I get my legs fully under me.

I know that sounds like an excuse. And it kind of is. But just some heavy things going on in life right now. My reactions to such have and will have huge affects on those around me. (Not talking about going off nuts or anything. Just the wrong word spoken in depression right now can really hurt people in bad ways, because the people around me are going through it too. And most of them look to me for answers. Or the things that will get messed up if I fall into a negative mindset also affect those around me.)

But I do also find that there is a pivoting point. One or two cigarettes can make me feel good. After that, they start to have a reverse affect. Is it guilt? Is it too much of all the WTA? I dunno. It may have something to do with the fact that if I go full smoking, I am looking at 3 packs a day. That just might be too much of everything lol

Or have I gotten back to the place where I am overthinking everything again?

welcome welcome loft... I know I felt shame for a while until I found this group and talked things out.....
One thing I have learned is that wehn you are down on yourself you tend to smoke more to make you "feel better" when it only makes you feel worse. so I celebrate the cigs I DONT smoke. that has been very helpful...
I LOVE vaping truly but that security blanket (cigs) I just cant give it up...

and from a 2-3 PAD to 6-10 a day WOW that is awesome!!!!

 

[ShariR]

Giggle, giggle. Nobody has called me sweetie for decades. Thank you, that made my night.

What in the world is a mindroid?

Sweetie, protein shake and "mindroid" trust me...

 

[Timothy Moore]

thaya is right. Vitally important.
For me, it helped when I narrowed down the general area that I was looking for.
Even if I didn't find "the one" right away?

Do I want a fruity flavor? Dessert flavor? Tobacco flavor? Creamy flavor? (Yes I know there is a caveat with that one, but to each his own.)
Once I narrowed down what I preferred, it made it a lot easier to hone in on different flavors in that category.

Of course, you can't let one bad fruity flavor turn you off from all fruity flavors. And the category you like might also change over time.

Just if that helps, cool.
But perhaps you have already tried this. Sounds like you might have, if you have already went through so much juice.

Maybe consider mixing up some unflavored juice. I vaped unflavored for several months. Really isn't that bad.
Unflavored juice has some flavor. Because the PG and VG do have a sweetness to them. But it isn't overwhelming. To me, it wasn't that far off from smoking, because when you smoke as much as I do, you can't taste anything anymore anyways.
The smoke was more about the inhalation than the flavor. I was pretty numb to the flavor. Therefore, unflavored worked for me for a long time.

Just after that I got adventurous

I understand you have no vape shops close by. That makes it harder. But you can also weigh the cost of taking a whole day for a juice hunt versus NOT taking a whole day and a tank of gas for a juice hunt. Not pushing that option. Just something to consider.

Unfortunately I don't have any reliable vape shops close by. I drive a gas guzzler and I think the closest B&M shop is on the other end of my state (1hr+ drive) so that would be expensive... lol

Feels like I'm fighting a losing battle honestly.

 

[ShariR]

Where are you in Connecticut. I used to live in Milford, on the shore. There are 2 vapes shops right off I95 in Branford, near the East Haven line that have been open for around a year. One of them is supposed to be pretty good and they have a large selection of juices. I do not remember if they mix their own or sell some of the better brands on site. Google ecigarettes in CT and they should show up. There are probably many more in CT over the last 6 months. Last summer I was trying to get my cousin to start vaping and there were only these 2 shops.

I suggest you get yourself a good 510 atty or a dripper rda and take your setup with you and taste the flavors on your setup. Most places will let you do that. At least you will get a better idea of what you are tasting and if you like it in the setup you are vaping. Just remember, if they mix on site there may be some steep time involved once you get it home.

To be completely honest... I don't know what I like. RY4 from IkenVape is the only flavor outside of menthol that I've used. I used to try a whole bunch of flavors from freedomsmokeusa, v4l, smoketip, pinkspot vapers... couple other vendors - and they all sucked (for me). That's why I settled on using menthol for the last two years. I spent around a grand taste testing and then decided to give up. And it's not that I can't afford taste testing but I was buying all this juice and getting the same bad results and I thought I was starting to lose my mind lmao.

And Alisa I ordered a couple WTA juices last night but I don't know what Snus is - can't look it up right now as I'm at work. Is it a different kind of juice?

 

[loft]

I'm in Enfield. Last time I checked there was a couple shops but mostly by the shore. There was one close by in Chicopee but that seemed like a Chinese juice reseller and I absolutely hate dekang/etc for the most part. Tire fire anyone?

 

[ShariR]

Ahhhh..... Thank you for that explanation. It is now clear for me. Last night I was tired, confused, cranky, and sleepless, along with a non functioning brain.

With sleep and daylight comes some clarity. Yes, I can see the advantages of the beaker thingys. Sounds much quicker and easier.

Now ejuice me up gives me the amounts in tenths of mls. For the pg and vg, do you you eyeball it and come close or do you put in exactly 7.2ml and 6.3ml (for example)? I know I need to be exact for the nic base and flavors.

Example using 36mg nic base to make 30mls 18mg juice flavored at 10%

15mls nic base - using graduated cylinder
12mls pg/vg - using cylinder
3mls flavorings using syringe for however many mls of each flavor being used

Measuring nic base or pg/vg with a syringe would take more effort than just pouring it in a cylinder. A 3ml syringe would take 5 fills to get 15mls etc. like baking a cake using a measuring cup as opposed to a tablespoon.

 

[ShariR]

I absolutely love, love, love what you say about 'what if.' I have wasted too much time and caused myself lots of unnecessary pain and stress opening and closing that Pandora's Box. You have to put that stuff behind you and work on today forward. Draw the lessons from the past but do not dwell there. How right you are.

Me too. Some of the stress I was talking about is related to that. I mean everyone has problems, but I have a nasty habit of overthinking things - everything. I must say I am blessed that I am being forced right now to take things more simply.
And I am learning how awful the words "what if" truly are. They don't give you any help for tomorrow. They just make today more difficult.

 

[AndriaD]

I have the same thing. It really is a good mod.
That's the other thing. I no more than get all set up and proficient at sub-ohming with mech mods and they make the jump to high wattage devices.
Oh well. I prefer old school anyways.
I usually use my Zmax with a 1.5 resistance build for juices that lose flavor more quickly at high wattage. Running between 9-12 watts usually brings out the flavor more perfectly.
In my experience, I haven't found a lot of juices that retain a lot of flavor when you get past 13 watts.
But that's vaping. Gear for everyone's preference.
Long story short, I am very happy with my Zmax v3

Yeah, I love my Sigelei -- went to my folks' yesterday for the whole day, so I took it with 2 18350s in it... and it's STILL at 7.6v charge! I won't need to change the batteries till either tomorrow or late tonight, and that kind of staying power is really why I bought it, since I'm also very happy with my iTaste vv3s -- but they're primarily round-the-house devices, at 800mAh -- of course they also have pass-thru, so that's some compensation.

I rarely ever go over 9w; in fact I'm usually pretty happy around 8w, but since I'm getting started again, and now I'm using rayon instead of cotton, I've been keeping it at 9w most of the time, to get more vapor and so more nicotine, and yeah, the flavor absolutely changes with increasing the wattage; the Virginia I love tastes awful over 10w, or in any dual-coil thingie; too much heat just isn't good for this Virginia at all.

Andria

 

[ShariR]

Ah. You might as well be in MA. I am surprised there is not a decent shop in Springfield, MA. Hmmm.....

Well, I am thinking road trip to the shore one day. Pack up the wife and kids and take the drive. Eat at Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale right near the entrance of Hammenasett Beach. Right on Rt 1 about 8-10 miles from where the 2 vape shops are. They are known for the best whole belly fried clams, lobster rolls, and large seaford platters on the shore. And not very expensive. I dream of that place out here in Tennessee where I can not get seafood. Eat, drop all off at the beach, and then go on a tasting tour. Birthday or anniversary coming up? Kill 2 birds with one stone. Just a thought.

I'm in Enfield. Last time I checked there was a couple shops but mostly by the shore. There was one close by in Chicopee but that seemed like a Chinese juice reseller and I absolutely hate dekang/etc for the most part. Tire fire anyone?

 

[Anjaffm]

Yeah, I love my Sigelei --

Coming in, saying "Hi" - and laughing my head off
In the German forum, they also talk about the Sigelei. And I always read "Spiegelei" - now, in German, this here is a "Spiegelei"

 

[ShariR]

Hi, Anjaffm! How are you? Good to see you dropping by.

Coming in, saying "Hi" - and laughing my head off
In the German forum, they also talk about the Sigelei. And I always read "Spiegelei" - now, in German, this here is a "Spiegelei"

View attachment 359899

 

[Anjaffm]

Thank you, dear
I am fine, doing 100 things at once, as usual. Sorry to be a rare guest. But I just had to reply when I saw the "Spiegelei"