Throwing this out to the vaping wizards....
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You're very welcome.
Agreed. Many new vapers get frustrated and keep buying more gear because they don't take the time to learn how to use what they already have properly.
Kanger mini is a perfectly good atomizer and is also extremely versatile--much more so than the Zenith. I'm pretty sure it can do anything that the Zenith can do and more. Many experienced vapers are still using Kanger minis.
I think you're in a hurry to quit, which I applaud, but I stand by the advice we've given you in the other thread--get some pre-made coils for your Kanger that we recommended and play with them. The SSOCC 1.2, 1.5, .5Ω coils (and the Aspire BVC 1.6Ω coils) will give you a nice cigarette-like draw. Make sure you adjust the wattage and the airflow to find your sweet spot. If you need more oomph, try Kanger premade Clapton coils--those will give you much more vapor but will also increase your juice consumption.
$7.91 Authentic KangerTech SUBTANK SSOCC Coil Head (5-Pack) - 1.5ohm at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
$7.80 Authentic KangerTech SUBTANK SSOCC Coil Head (5-Pack) - 1.2ohm at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
$7.81 Authentic KangerTech SUBTANK SSOCC Coil Head (5-Pack) - 0.5ohm at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
$5.94 Authentic Aspire BVC Clearomizer Replacement Coil Head (5-Pack) 5-pack - 1.6ohm at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
$9.25 Authentic KangerTech Clapton Coil Head (5-Pack) 5-pack - 0.5ohm at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Use any of these at the beginning to figure out what kind of vaping you like; then you can move to building your own coils. There's more to building a good coil than just wrapping a piece of wire around a screwdriver--proper tension, spacing (or lack of thereof), internal diameter, wire gauge, all those things matter. Proper wicking is also critical. The tails should be trimmed and placed correctly or your atomizer won't work well. The wicking material should touch the inside of the coil but shouldn't be packed too tight. If it's too tight, you will get dry hits. If it's too loose, your atomizer will gurgle and flood. Cotton expands when saturated, rayon collapses. It's not rocket science, but it takes practice. Owning a good coil-making gizmo (I use Kuro coil winder) helps tremendously.
The last subject--DIY ejuice. I agree with the others that you need more nicotine and more PG in your mixes. PG will give you more flavor and throat hit and is easier to work with--VG is very viscous and bland. I like 70 or 60% PG juices. Can't vape 100% VG to save my life. Never could. But that's just me. When you're at the store, ask for some premade 70/30 PG/VG mixes in 12 and 18 mg/ml in flavors you think you may like--just to have a point of reference. 6 mg/ml is very low, and at almost 100% VG will produce a very weak vape.
Good luck tomorrow!
Since you are already using the rba maybe get a Zenith for a second tank and get clapton wire for the Subtank rba head?
When I use the Kanger I get vape, probably comparable to smoking a cigarette, so not a huge cloud but not zero cloud. I think between the older style atomizer, homemade coils, and DIY flavor, I started off on the wrong foot. My father in law is the one who gave me the setup and showed me how to mix the liquid and build the coils, and he has since started using a larger mod with 2 batteries. He said he never could get the right 'throat hit' from the Kanger, but he gave it to me as a starting point to see if I liked it.
I don't live close enough to run to the vape shop conveniently, so I just ordered some supplies online and tried to replicate what I saw him do. As you all can tell, It Did Not Work LOL
I think from reading all of your kind suggestions here I will go in tomorrow and see if they have some coils I can buy, and get some premixed flavors or try some of theirs if they will let me. Hopefully a different flavor and nicotine ratio and non-homemade coils will set me on the right track. If not, and if I'm understanding all of you, a new atomizer or the Innokin (sp?)/Zenith kit would be the next step.
I read through all of your replies, and I've read several vaping stories that are like, oh I just picked up vaping and immediately stopped smoking because it was so much better. Or I dual used but only for a week or so because I liked vaping so much more. This is what I was expecting, and I think I set my expectations too high. I know the experience is different for everyone. I'm going to make these adjustments and try again!
All of that to say, I will be in Abilene, TX tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a really good vape shop to go to?
Thanks for your patience with my responses too, I have 3 boys, ages 9, 7, and 2, so sometimes it takes a minute for me to break free
Oh, my bad then, I thought we were talking about an older lady.
It's good that you have someone (FIL) local to help with these things. It's still a tall order to expect you to jump into making your own coils and juices though
Like I said, Plan A should be getting something simple just to test the waters. A new tank shouldn't be more than $40 I wouldn't have thought and you'll need to get some replacement coils to go with it. At least then you can see the lay of the land.
When you've got that you can have a play with your existing stuff and try to work out where things are going wrong. There's usually plenty of videos "on the youtubes" that will help. Plus you can post pictures on here and people can advise where you may be going wrong.
Getting good at making coils will take a while, for me it was the amount of cotton needed, took a bit of trial and error. Making juices is trial and error too but ultimately you end up with exactly what you like so it's worth the time investment.
Baby steps for now though
Ok friends I think I’m finally all set. At the vape shop today I got a 5 pack of coils for the Kanger mod and some 12% juice. I also got a Smok Nova (I know some of you have warned against this brand but it’s all they had that used nic salts) and 2 flavors of 35% nic salt juice, and an extra pack of pods.
Planning on using nic salts for all the major craving type times (mornings, after meals, etc) and then I took my time and picked out a really tasty flavor for the 12% juice for the Kanger for all the other times that I’m just in the habit of smoking.
I took a hit off of that SMOK nova in the store and....IT WAS JUST LIKE SMOKING A CIGARETTE. I think my eyes actually teared up, like I might have started crying if not in a public setting. I took a hit and realized, this is actually going to work. That SMOK stick is no different than a cig, other than it tastes better. You guys don’t know what an absolute relief that was.
So that’s the update. I’m sure I’ll have questions as I continue on, but for now I just want to thank all of you for educating me and motivating me. I’ve smoked one real cigarette today and I feel amazing. Much love from Texas.
Planning on using nic salts for all the major craving type times (mornings, after meals, etc) and then I took my time and picked out a really tasty flavor for the 12% juice for the Kanger for all the other times that I’m just in the habit of smoking.
I took a hit off of that SMOK nova in the store and....IT WAS JUST LIKE SMOKING A CIGARETTE. I think my eyes actually teared up, like I might have started crying if not in a public setting. I took a hit and realized, this is actually going to work. That SMOK stick is no different than a cig, other than it tastes better. You guys don’t know what an absolute relief that was.
So that’s the update. I’m sure I’ll have questions as I continue on, but for now I just want to thank all of you for educating me and motivating me. I’ve smoked one real cigarette today and I feel amazing. Much love from Texas.
Way to go jtbje.
Sounds like you found something to get you Started on your Journey.
Now Drink a lot of Water. Get a little more Exercise. And when those Moments come where a Cigarette sounds like the only Thing to Do, just Chain Vape on your Highest nicotine and it will pass.
Sounds like you found something to get you Started on your Journey.
Now Drink a lot of Water. Get a little more Exercise. And when those Moments come where a Cigarette sounds like the only Thing to Do, just Chain Vape on your Highest nicotine and it will pass.
Also, it's not the ones you smoke that count.... it is the ones you don't. Everyone is different but we are all rooting for you @jtbje You CAN Do it!!!!!!
Got to say, anyone who is trying to quit smoking should register on this board. A more supportive and helpful bunch is hard to imagine.
Bravo!!!
And if you don't stop first try, keep at it. Lots of us here struggle.
No shame.
I dual use. I have a few cigs a day and vape the rest of the day. Probably best not to dual use if you can help it though. Too easy to revert back to the old ways before you know it.
I found a flavor for using with coffee that stops that first one of the day. A flavor for after supper and one I use all day. So I have 3 different vaping tools.
And keep a vessel of liquid refreshment handy. Helps with cravings and helps keep the vape tongue away where your device suddenly seems flavorless. Another reason to have a couple of flavors handy.
And if you don't stop first try, keep at it. Lots of us here struggle.
No shame.
I dual use. I have a few cigs a day and vape the rest of the day. Probably best not to dual use if you can help it though. Too easy to revert back to the old ways before you know it.
I found a flavor for using with coffee that stops that first one of the day. A flavor for after supper and one I use all day. So I have 3 different vaping tools.
And keep a vessel of liquid refreshment handy. Helps with cravings and helps keep the vape tongue away where your device suddenly seems flavorless. Another reason to have a couple of flavors handy.
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Great, it sounds like you had 'the moment'
When I tried vaping for the very first time I was like, 'that's different... actually that's quite nice... I can do this!'
Over 4 years later and I'm still going strong
Stick with it, don't punish yourself for lapsing. The 'morning coffee' one was the hardest one to kick, took a few weeks to get past that. Good luck!
Day 3 and the hardest day so far. My mind is playing all kinds of tricks on me, and I’m trying to just vape through the urges but my throat is super sore despite drinking all the water. Horrible insomnia and night sweats last night, I actually got up at 4:30 am and took a shower because I felt so awful.
It’s funny, I quit with each of my pregnancies and I swear, I had none of these withdrawal symptoms. Like it was so easy, each time. But trying to quit this year has been so difficult and riddled with struggle.
Anyway I have a racing brain today so I just wanted to vent a bit. Maybe if someone else is new to vaping and feeling the same, they can read this and know they aren’t alone.
I’m still fighting. Not even close to giving up. But I’m in the trenches for sure.
It’s funny, I quit with each of my pregnancies and I swear, I had none of these withdrawal symptoms. Like it was so easy, each time. But trying to quit this year has been so difficult and riddled with struggle.
Anyway I have a racing brain today so I just wanted to vent a bit. Maybe if someone else is new to vaping and feeling the same, they can read this and know they aren’t alone.
I’m still fighting. Not even close to giving up. But I’m in the trenches for sure.
You would be surprised at all the chemicals that BT is allowed to put into cigarettes. Some of these when combusted actually turn into drugs that we can become addicted to. So depending on when you quit before to now lots of newer types could have been added. So if the nic alone won't cut the cravings, you may want to explore Whole Tobacco Alkaloids(WTA). Some wonderful members here(chemist) were able to figure out how to extract them from the whole tobacco leaf and its now offered as a add on to the ejuice. If you are interested just do a search here at ecf. Plenty of info.
Good luck and hang in there.
Maybe it's harder this time both because of the reason you're quitting and because this time you know it's for good. I could see a brain kicking up all kinds of fuss faced with both of those.
More prosaically, maybe your PG is too high? I don't remember if you said what PG/VG ratio you're vaping and I'm too lazy to look right now, but PG dried my mouth and throat something awful, as well as making my mouth feel scalded.
Hang in there jtbje.
The 1st week can be Tough. I know it was for me. But just stay Focused on getting thru Today.
I think with the amount of Stress you are dealing with, You are Doing Great.
Also... If you are not doing so Already, try to take Slower Hits than you normally did when you Smoked.
Not gonna lie - the first week was rough for me, too. But it got progressively better after those first few days. And then after about 3 weeks, there was nothing to it. It's easy to overdo it on the vape, getting thru the first few days, which for most people, affects their throat. For me, it did bother my throat some, but actually affected my mouth worse. Made the whole thing feel like I burned it on hot soup or something. I used aloe based mouth rinses - maybe that'll help with your throat. I'd also recommend to try to put off the "just because it's here in my hand" vapes, and try to save it for when you're really jonesing, to save your throat. But after the first couple of days, I'm sure you're thru the worst of it. You got this!
I'm guessing that there's something psychological and physical (hormones) that make it easier when you're pregnant. But I'm a guy, what do I know?
I'm guessing that there's something psychological and physical (hormones) that make it easier when you're pregnant. But I'm a guy, what do I know?
Here is the ecf forum for Aroma Ejuice. They were the first to put WTA into production for use. At the top of their page is also a link to their website.You would be surprised at all the chemicals that BT is allowed to put into cigarettes. Some of these when combusted actually turn into drugs that we can become addicted to. So depending on when you quit before to now lots of newer types could have been added. So if the nic alone won't cut the cravings, you may want to explore Whole Tobacco Alkaloids(WTA). Some wonderful members here(chemist) were able to figure out how to extract them from the whole tobacco leaf and its now offered as a add on to the ejuice. If you are interested just do a search here at ecf. Plenty of info.
Good luck and hang in there.
Aroma Ejuice
There are other companies that also make it, but who alludes me at the moment.
Although nicotine tends to be seen as a relaxer, it is a stimulant.
My first week of vaping was pretty sleepless. Now combine that with no carbon monoxide from those cigarettes sapping energy...and nearly every breath is oxygenated now so there's that too.
Sorry to hear it's such a struggle. My brother struggled a lot at first too. Then he picked up a cold virus and really struggled. Hopefully the sore throat thing will pass quickly. Perhaps some hard candy can help with that.
My first week of vaping was pretty sleepless. Now combine that with no carbon monoxide from those cigarettes sapping energy...and nearly every breath is oxygenated now so there's that too.
Sorry to hear it's such a struggle. My brother struggled a lot at first too. Then he picked up a cold virus and really struggled. Hopefully the sore throat thing will pass quickly. Perhaps some hard candy can help with that.
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