Thanks for all the replies! (Even the Hitler one!) Keep em coming, I am really glad to have sparked an interesting discussion.
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On a slightly unrelated note, I just ordered some 72mg/ml nicotine, PG,VG, containers and misc. lab equipment and will soon be mixing.
(N.B.! If anyone else, non-smoker or otherwise is thinking about doing this, please be advised that nicotine in high concentration is extremely toxic, and you should wear protective equipment and make sure that you know what you are doing before starting out. A 100 ml bottle at high concentration, has the potential to easily kill you many times over if mishandled)
What do you guys think would be a reasonable nicotine concentration solution to vape for a non-smoker to start off? I am leaning towards 4-8 mg. Any suggestions?
Next time you get concentrated nic, get the 100mg stuff. The math is so much easier... each percent equals one milligram (e.g. 5% = 5mg and etc). It's certainly PC to put in all the warnings but you'll find it's not arsenic. Although you probably have no tolerance for nic like us old time heavy smokers do.
What concentration you vape has a lot to do with your gear and the wattage you vape at. For example, with an eGo setup you might only use 2-3ml of juice a day. On the other extreme, with a 50W dripper you can blow through 30ml a day. Aside from the strength you are comfortable with (how much throat hit or harshness you can tolerate or desire), you need to balance the total quantity of nic you ingest, as in milligrams * milliliters.
You are probably somewhat alone on this because you are starting from a zero nic usage. Most people here have very well established nic levels they maintained via smoking, and then have modified that if they've been vaping for awhile.
So you are basically a lab rat here. But I would start low, 1-3mg, and work up as desired.
There are some interesting experiments you can do in the interests of science....
It is well known, and well documented, that ingesting nicotine via cigarettes creates very strong dependencies, to say the least.
It is believed, for various reasons, that ingesting nicotine in some way other than with tobacco does not create strong dependencies, but how much is all up in the air. I believe it has been established that subjects in clinical trials that were given nicotine via patches or gum or some other NRT method did not develop nicotine dependencies but those trials last 6-9 months, leaving open the argument that longer term usage would have resulted in dependency.
Some people here, who I think have very questionable agendas, but that is merely my personal opinion, suggest that inhaling nicotine will lead to more dependency than patches or gum. I don't believe that myself, but you are the lab rat for that one.
It would be interesting if you tested your dependency over time. For example, a vape-free day once a week or so. And see if you experience withdrawal symptoms. And if so, how long it takes. You'd also want to keep careful track of your nic ingestion, in terms of juice concentration and quantities vaped, and the gear and power levels you use.
As strange as it may sound, none of this has been tested scientifically, or if it has, the results are a deep dark secret. It is pretty obvious to most thinking people that there is far more interest in nicotine propaganda than nicotine science. And science seems almost afraid to do experiments that might indicate no harm, and especially no dependence.
