time for an upgrade, I think....

[rhm3769]

I used blu for about two weeks in august, finally quit when I upgraded to an ego twist.... pack a day, at least for about 10 years.... I stayed with the stock ego twist system for about 6 weeks or so and upgraded to a mini protank 2....
Started with 36mg liquid, when those 20 ml were gone, I dropped to 30mg.... when those 50ml were mostly gone, I dropped to 24mg.... for the most part, everything is fine.... but I caved in about two weeks ago and bought a pack.... went through half of it, while still vaping over the weekend and gave It to a coworker on monday.... a few days ago, found myself buying another pack and integrating one or two analogs into my routine....
Would an equipment upgrade get me back on track, or step up the mg's again?

 

[Stosh]

Likely upping your level to 30mg might help. Starting out I also used 36mg liquid, for a while, much longer than you did, before switching to 30mg. If you need the higher nic level to stay off the smokes, just do it. If you're getting too much nic your body will alert you, with hiccups or an upset stomach..(it was hiccups for me..)

Stick with it, and don't beat yourself over the head it you do smoke a few, the longer and the more you vape the less the "flavor" of cigarettes will entice you. They will soon taste so horrible (worse than a burnt atty) that you will prefer vaping...


p.s. after 3+ years I'm down to ~20mg

 

[Mark Anthony]

I think the speed in which you dropped your nic levels had quite a bit to do with it. Maybe you dropped too fast too soon. How much did you smoke that made you start out at 36mg of nicotine?

 

[rhm3769]

I couldn't vape to match my smoking habits with 36mg....
I jumped to 36 because blu wasn't completely working for me.... the drop to 24 wasn't intentional on my part, I found some vendors I wanted to try once I got the pt mini and 24 was the highest nic offered....
So find a few menthols and other flavors at 36mg that'll mix well with my stock of 24mg liquids?

 

[CreepyLady]

You can mix higher nic with your 24s or you may find that using 30 or 36 certain times of day and rotating in the 24 in between is sufficient as well. Some find rotating in thew higher levels when you really want a ciggie - like first thing in the AM curbs the craving.

Another thought would be a WTA liquid. (Thankfully some wonderful ECF members helped me on this one!!! ) My other half was having a bit more of a fight with the switch than I was - I ordered him a higher (previous level of nic he had been on) bottle of WTA tobacco (he is a tobacco flavor kinda guy) and filled him a tank and explained it. He put it into his daily rotation when he felt the "OH MY GOSH NEED TO SMOKE" moments and it was like a miracle.

Not sure what you are facing with the cig cravings - I will say he was certainly having some fairly extreme tobacco cessation symptoms to warrant the WTA. Many have found success in adding that in. Just a thought that maybe both the WTA and higher nic that you were using may help you on this journey.

We all know its a hard one.

Good luck and keep us posted

 

[Jazzi Mike]

You could always buy a dripping atty to use when the cravings get bad. I actually got a nic buzz when I started using my Reo.

 

[Myrany]

Also you can buy 2 bottles of the same juice one at 36 and one at 24 then mix them together to get 30 mg. Might give you an intermediate step.

 

[rhm3769]

Any recommendations for cheap dripping atties that fit an ego twist?

Unfortunately, the juices I have at 24mg aren't offered at higher levels.... vapure, AVE and diamond vapor only go up to 24mg.... looks like ill be getting 36mg menthol and maybe a vanilla and a strawberry or cherry flavor to mix in with them....
I'm not big on the tobacco flavors for some reason....
I don't think its really craving analogs.... with each one I don't know how they didn't taste that bad when I started. . It seems more like a boredom smoking than cravings.... which is why equipment upgrades entered my thoughts on this....

 

[Rickb119]

If you think it's due to boredom then it may be time to make your own! Check out the DIY forum, read, read, read and if that's still not enough start asking questions. Everyone there (and here) is more than willing to help get you off of the coffin nails.

True, it's another initial investment but it's well worth it, and in the (not so) long run, you will save LOT'S of money! Find some recipes that you think you will like (and that others have vouched for), order some supplies and get started. I started with the RWHY4 http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-liquid-recipes/350112-rwhy4-my-new-all-day-vape.html , tweaked that a few times and am still experimenting. Most of what I've made turned out pretty good, some very good and some just OK. Had one that went from terrible to not bad just by allowing it to steep. (That's also covered in the DIY forum.) With DIY you can make whatever strength (and flavor) you want.

Of course upgrading equipment isn't a bad thing either.

 

[TheJakeBailey]

I can only speak for myself, but part of why this is working for me so well, is the hobby aspect. I try different toppers, have way to much juice, and spend a decent amount of time looking for that next mod. I think I have spent a reasonable amount of money, but not totally out of control. If you can spare the $, maybe something new would get you excited again! It works for me. Could be something simple that just blows your mind. (For me, was my first carto in an IBtanked. Mind blown.)

 

[Stosh]

Any recommendations for cheap dripping atties that fit an ego twist?....

I don't think its really craving analogs.... with each one I don't know how they didn't taste that bad when I started. . It seems more like a boredom smoking than cravings.... which is why equipment upgrades entered my thoughts on this....

A 510 atty or a 306 (fits the 510/eGo threads) atty would be a good dripper to start with, learn how to drip without flooding it, or letting run dry. And it's FUN!!

Equipment upgrades (mods and toppers) are always fun, spend some time reading reviews, also read some threads of problems that some ran into, check a few dozen different sites for the best prices, and any coupon codes for discounts....you won't have time to think about smoking!!

Seriously shopping around can be a great learning experience, and you may find something that sounds just perfect to you, before you pull the trigger.

 

[rhm3769]

Thanks for all of the replies.... its a closet hobby starting out, the wife won't let it go further than that.... she's one of the "its still smoking" group but is happy its not analogs. ... I've looked into rebuilding and making mods and diy but haven't jumped into any of them yet.. between my pepper gardening and vaping, I do a lot of random researching already, more than I do for my graduate classes....
I'd like to go rebuilding before diy only because its only a mattwr od time before I drop my pt and break it....

 

[Stosh]

If you want to make it a bit of a hobby, have you considered building your own mods...

A very easy and cheap start would be http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/106016-how-build-puck.html#post1596382

It puts out about 5V and vapes very nice with a 2.5 - 2.8 ohm topper, costs ~$10 - $12 bucks to build, and the batteries are available anywhere.

p.s. you can use a 510 connector on it instead of the 901 in the instructions.

 

[rhm3769]

Thanks.... I looked at the before....
In other news, I realized today I haven't been pulling hard enough with the protank.... somehow it was resulting in using the juice faster so I thought I was getting more nicotine than I was.... I'm switching between vg, pg and mixes and pretty sure I thought I read one produces more vapor than the other and since I do a lung inhale and hold briefly before exhaling I know there is less that is visible on the exhale, not catching on to the fact I was doing light draws.... probably more in attwmpts to stealth vape around the house when the wife is there than anything.... ill see how the nexy few days work out....

 

[rhm3769]

For some odd reason, I decided to flip the little rubber piece on the head and look up recommended voltages other than kangers. Running the 2.2 ohm head between 3.6 and 3.8v without issues....