Throwing this out to the vaping wizards....

[jtbje]

So you guys have been so helpful, I thought I’d gather opinions before I start shopping.

Just started vaping, using KangerTech topbox mini (thank you K, for the videos ) and self mixed flavor.

Underwhelmed, guys. Extremely underwhelmed.

Many of you stated that the Kanger is great, and I know flavors are highly subjective. But I’m about to go into a vape shop for the first time and don’t want to look like an idiot while asking for what I want without knowing what I want.

Husband and CFO is a non smoker and VERY supportive of this endeavor, even taught himself how to make coils for me. So finances not an issue with initial set up.

I have all the motivation one 5 foot tall person can possibly have to quit smoking. The set up and juice I have now is like air. Like I might as well go outside and take deep breaths of air. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong or what to be doing differently.

So, my question. For a newbie, using that setup, with homemade juice...

WHAT DO I ASK THE VAPE SHOP FOR??

Going on Sunday and I live in the middle of nowhere so I can’t really run back and forth. I know I can order cheaper online but I need to quit smoking like, yesterday, so I’ll pay the price. I just need some direction!!

I appreciate you guys. Y’all are a really helpful group.

 

[dennism]

What is "homemade" juice? Are you buying flavors and mixing them, or is this something else?

 

[jtbje]

What is "homemade" juice? Are you buying flavors and mixing them, or is this something else?

I bought a sample pack and mixed it with VG and pg and nic. 75% VG, 25% PG, 6% Nic, and 5% flavor. (Capella green apple)

 

[jandrew]

I'm going to assume your nic percentage is a mistake --- 6% nic is 60mg/ml, which is pretty high, I'm thinking you probably meant you mixed to 6mg/ml (or 0.6%). Now, depending on the coils/wattage you are using, that might be too low and you might want to bump it up to 12mg/ml or higher if you vaping at lower wattages.

 

[AttyPops]

I'm going to assume your nic percentage is a mistake --- 6% nic is 60mg/ml, which is pretty high, I'm thinking you probably meant you mixed to 6mg/ml (or 0.6%). Now, depending on the coils/wattage you are using, that might be too low and you might want to bump it up to 12mg/ml or higher if you vaping at lower wattages.

If it's that smooth, I'm guessing she's even lower than that...and maybe still smoking so she's replacing the .006% nic she ended up with via cigs.

OP: What mg/ml base did you use, and how much to what volume? Did you use a juice calculator?

I hope I'm not being a smart-.... or insulting, but if it's that smooth there's probably very little nic in it...OR...it's nic salts and not "regular nic".

 

[vapdivrr]

You mentioned the vape is like breathing in air, this can be a couple things. One the nic level is too low and another is that the tank your using is too open or airy, as in airflow. I'm a mtl vapor, so the tanks I use has resistance in the pull, more like a cig, so if I were to vape a tank that has too much airflow, to me it would seem like I'm sucking in air. If your use to dtl inhaling, then your probably use to that open air also. Or it simply can be the nic and I personally vape hi nic and need that intense thump and if I even drop to 18mg nic, it feels like air and I find myself trying to suck harder and vape more juice, which I dont like to do. Are you using nic salts?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Jwaterski]

Can you tell us what restistance the coils you used are? Wire size, number of wraps, diameter of the coil, spaced coil? What do you have the wattage set at? It may not seem that important, but even the wicking can affect the flavor. Not going to say the top tank or sub tanks are the best available, probably not even close now, but that what I have been using for several years now, because once you learn them, they are pretty easy to get a good consistent vape from. Until your other thread I thought I was probably the only person still even using them.

That said, there are many highly rated tanks out there, and you will get flooded with suggestions soon enough. Try a few, you'll find one. And keep the subs around, you might find you like them... eventually.

Also I am very sorry about your mother, whatever time you can spend with her, do it. And make sure you give your kids as much time with their grandmother as possible!

 

[jtbje]

These were my measurements from an online calculator, and I used a kids medicine syringe to measure out.

Coils are made by husband, 26g SS wire, 6 wraps, and organic cotton. Pics of measurements and wire included. Calculator was steam-engine.org

 

[jtbje]

Can you tell us what restistance the coils you used are? Wire size, number of wraps, diameter of the coil, spaced coil? What do you have the wattage set at? It may not seem that important, but even the wicking can affect the flavor. Not going to say the top tank or sub tanks are the best available, probably not even close now, but that what I have been using for several years now, because once you learn them, they are pretty easy to get a good consistent vape from. Until your other thread I thought I was probably the only person still even using them.

That said, there are many highly rated tanks out there, and you will get flooded with suggestions soon enough. Try a few, you'll find one. And keep the subs around, you might find you like them... eventually.

Also I am very sorry about your mother, whatever time you can spend with her, do it. And make sure you give your kids as much time with their grandmother as possible!

Thank you so much, we are in grandma overload over here and soaking it all in. I will be lost without her, and I’m terrified of watching her die and then needing to go out for a ****ing smoke. That just can’t happen, I’ll never forgive myself. The vaping has to work.

 

[Shawn Hoefer]

Need to know the inside diameter of the coils, the resistance of the coil, the wattage you're using...

 

[jtbje]

You mentioned the vape is like breathing in air, this can be a couple things. One the nic level is too low and another is that the tank your using is too open or airy, as in airflow. I'm a mtl vapor, so the tanks I use has resistance in the pull, more like a cig, so if I were to vape a tank that has too much airflow, to me it would seem like I'm sucking in air. If your use to dtl inhaling, then your probably use to that open air also. Or it simply can be the nic and I personally vape hi nic and need that intense thump and if I even drop to 18mg nic, it feels like air and I find myself trying to suck harder and vape more juice, which I dont like to do. Are you using nic salts?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Regular liquid nic from my freedom smokes. 125 ml in 100%vg I think?

 

[jtbje]

Need to know the inside diameter of the coils, the resistance of the coil, the wattage you're using...

Hmmm...the display says 20w, 0.4 ohms, and there’s another number but I don’t know what it means. He used a tiny screwdriver to wrap it, jeez I sound like such a newbie. Once the toddler is asleep I’ll get more info.

 

[jtbje]

Hmmm...the display says 20w, 0.4 ohms, and there’s another number but I don’t know what it means. He used a tiny screwdriver to wrap it, jeez I sound like such a newbie. Once the toddler is asleep I’ll get more info.

2.9V is the other number

 

[AttyPops]

Regular liquid nic from my freedom smokes. 125 ml in 100%vg I think?

There should be a # on the bottle that says ___mg/ml.

The other number that is just ml is the quantity in the bottle (like 125 ml, vs 500 ml, 250 ml) are just fraction of a liter (1000 ml).

So I'm not sure if you have 125 mg/ml nic base, or you purchased 125 ml of base at ___ strength.

Whatever strength it is, your image showed that you used 1.8 ml of it for about a 30 ml bottle of juice. So if we're sure of the nic-base strength, we'll know the strength of your juice. Not sure that's the problem but it MAY be.

 

[jtbje]

There should be a # on the bottle that says ___mg/ml.

The other number that is just ml is the quantity in the bottle (like 125 ml, vs 500 ml, 250 ml) are just fraction of a liter (1000 ml).

So I'm not sure if you have 125 mg/ml nic base, or you purchased 125 ml of base at ___ strength.

Whatever strength it is, your image showed that you used 1.8 ml of it for about a 30 ml bottle of juice. So if we're sure of the nic-base strength, we'll know the strength of your juice. Not sure that's the problem but it MAY be.

 

[Jwaterski]

At .4 ohms you have some large wire or SS wire you are using for your coil. I don't normally use SS, so someone else will have to help with that if that is what you are using. You are using the RBA? Not a drop in coil? Do you know what wire you have available to build with? If so, we might be able to give some help on coils that will give good flavor.

Again, you might consider some of the other tanks available, subtank works for me, but there's plenty of other tanks out there for a reason

 

[AttyPops]

it's 100 mg/ml concentration if I read their label correctly.

So 1.8/30 x .100 = .006 = 6 mg/ml

So you ended up with 6 mg juice. You should taste/feel something at 6 mg. So you nailed it, and my guess was wrong.

Are you getting "clouds"/volume?

However, you may wish to up your target nic if it's not strong enough OR you need to fix the rig.
Bowing out now. Best of luck, and best wishes to you and family. The rest of the crew here can talk about specific hardware.

 

[vapdivrr]

Regular liquid nic from my freedom smokes. 125 ml in 100%vg I think?

The 100 percent vg is also something that has no bite to it. Yes it will give you big clouds, but is super sweet and is mild. Most juices are made of both vg and pg , vg gives clouds and pg gives the bite and maybe a bit more flavor, so a mix of both is usually common. I say decrease vg percentage to 60 or 70 and up nic by double and see what happens

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Opinionated]

I looked your making 6mg/ml

Try increasing the watts on your kanger, (bump it up a few watts at a time until your getting a comfortably warm vape, without it being hot or nasty tasting) close your airflow down about half way, and consider doubling your nicotine..

Most people start with a higher nicotine level.

 

[Jwaterski]

Look up MacTechvpr and Baditude on here, both have some very useful blogs. I think your problem is the coil build and possibly wicking if you are using the RBA.

As Opinionated said, 20 watts may not be enough for the .4 ohm coil you are using, it might be as simple as boosting the watts up. Give that a try first, worst case you'll burn the wick a little, then you'll get some flavor, not good flavor, but flavor none the less