wanting to take the next step from my metro ecig...

[bigpman]

Thanks Warren, that's what I was looking for. The Metro states 1.8%, so not sure if that's the same as 18mg. The reason I do not like the Metro is that I have no idea what is in it...

I read up on PG/VG at ECBlend, they have a bunch of good info on e-liquid and looks to be the place I will order my first batch from (most people recommend it.). I also appreciate the tip on the VG, I think I will order stronger than what I first thought and then add in some VG if needed. Since I am making an order from Sweet-vapes for the e-power today, I will give the fudge brownie a chance

I'm not John but maybe I can fill in a blank or two here: first of all, I'd strongly suggest getting a variety of flavors in small bottles to see what you prefer. I'd also suggest getting a variety of nic levels and a few variations on PG/VG ratios if possible, keeping a few things in mind: first, nicotine is what actually provides the throat hit. However, PG is what carries it; PG also carries most of the flavor, but it can be an irritant, especially to folks who are particularly sensitive to it. OTOH VG provides most of the vapor, and smooths out the feel of it (remember, it's a main ingredient in most hand lotions).

I don't know what the nic level or PG/VG ratio run with the Metro you've been using - perhaps the nic level is listed on the package. Generally 18mg is considered a bit high for a "light" cig smoker but personally I don't put much stock in that. Also the consensus here seems to be (& I concur) it's better to start high & come down than start too low. As to TH I'd suggest around 70PG/30VG, then leaning more heavily toward the VG as needed. BTW, if needed you can pick up some pure VG at a pharmacy for $4 or so & add a few drops as needed. This will cut the nic, TH, flavor, and increase the vapor. Hope this helps.

Oh, almost forgot... if you like chocolate and are ordering any juice from Sweet-Vapes, I highly recommend their Fudge Brownie. I don't know if that stuff is as good to many other folks as it is to me but since I've been mixing my own juice that's my target. I love that stuff! (You may *not* so if you try it, just get a little bottle until you know )

Best of luck & Happy vaping!

Thanks

 

[John D in CT]

John,

I am going to order the e-power kit, but now need some help on the eliquid. I am looking at the differences between PG and VG and not sure what is the best for me. I was a light cigarette smoker (as in Parliament lights), and I think the Metro is a good TH for me. So, I just want to get a similar TH, but better taste (for example I am looking to try the Mountain Dew). What ratio should I do on the PG/VG, or should I go straight PG?

Also, I think the 18mg is a good amount for someone who smoked lights?

Lastly, what are the Cold Shots? Do you know?

Thanks again for your help!

Hiya big, sorry for the delay - as always, Warren gave great info.

On the nic levels; now bear in mind, I've only been back on nic for about a month, after 6 months at zero - so I'm not the guy to ask about what long-term nicotine levels you might want to be at - but I can give you some personal observations, and repeat some things that I've read over and over.

I'm probably averaging about 18mg strength nicotine, and I really can't even tell you for sure how much nicotine I'm getting into my system compared to the pack a day I used to smoke. My feeling is that it is a considerable amount, with a good chance it's as much as or more than I was getting at a PAD, and also a very good chance that it's "too much". I've been pretty "wired" since starting back on the nic, and Warren can vouch for the crazy hours I've been keeping. Nicotine, especially when not accompanied by the devastating chemicals found in tobacco smoke, seems to sharpen my memory and stimulate my thought processes much more than before. I think that I like this feeling too well, like the Bradley Cooper character in "Limitless".

To me, the overwhelming trend I see is that people end up reducing their nic levels, after the "binge vaping" starts to get a bit much. As Warren alluded to, I think that most people want to err on the high side when just starting out. God forbid I should still be craving nicotine, and yearn for a stinkie. Accordingly, I just started a bunch of my friends at 18mg a couple of weeks ago, and I'll have to feel them out about whether or not they are feeling like it's too high. I think that like me, they're still just having way too much fun, and aren't really worrying about it, or maybe just concerned about it if it happens to be creating too much throat hit.

I think it likely that I'll be weaning myself down soon, and try to determine the best "therapeutic level" of nicotine, where a good balance between the positive and negative effects exists. I keep reading that a lot of people seem to find that balance at around 6mg, with many people taking the occasional "pick me up" toot of higher nic levels as needed at the start of, or throughout, the day.

As for a juice-buying strategy - I would go ahead and get 18mg juice, for a few reasons. First, I do think that's what your metro was giving you; I do believe that 1.8% translates to 18mg. Second, most people seem to recommend that you start higher and work your way down. Seems to be more oranized than starting low, going up, then going back down. Third, you should probably see for yourself how the "binge" phase feels, to help you find your own balance between it and what will eventually become your long-term "maintenance" level. (That said, zero is always an option, and might just be the best one - nicotine is not entirely harmless).

The following is a cut-and-paste from another post of mine. It describes an excellent way of A) keeping the cost/ml down on a high-quality juice, and B) allowing you to adjust the nic level of it at will.

****

Tasty Vapors has what they call "Doublers", which are zero-nicotine e-liquids, any percentage of PG/VG you want, available in all the same flavors as their nicotine juices, that cost 1/4 as much. Using Doublers, I just order 1 oz. (30 ml) bottles of whatever flavors I want, and in the 48 mg strength. Their nicotine juices all all the same price - about $16/oz. - regardless of the nicotine level (from 12 to 48 mg) - so this is a no-brainer. You can then reduce the nicotine level to whatever you want, using the identical flavor of zero nicotine juice, so the flavor is not diminished.

i don't know if other vendors offer Doublers, but they should. Plenty of vendors will sell you zero-nicotine flavored juice, but at the same price as the nicotine juice, which makes little sense, economic or otherwise.

As for your calculations, I believe that much less nicotine is absorbed per puff with vaping than with smoking, so you can't just multiply 30 cigs x .6 mg nicotine per cig = 1 ml of 18 mg juice. I think you'd have to vape 3-4 times that to get the same amount of nicotine into your system.

I think it might have to do with the absence of WTA (Whole Tobacco Alkaloids) from most juices. And interestingly, nicotine by itself is not nearly as addictive as nicotine ingested along with MAOI's (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) that are present in cigarette smoke. I suspect that MAOI's might be present in WTA's, and that a nicotine juice containing WTA's might deliver more nicotine to your system than the same juice without them, but I'm still working on nailing that down.

****

Flavors from Tasty Vapor: Geoff's Blend is almost magical, and is my "reference flavor" for trying various apparatus. Highly recommended. The Kretek (clove) is insanely good, and if you've ever enjoyed the occasional pack of cloves, you will like it very much. Atomic Cinnacide (tastes like an Atomic Fireball - do you guys have them over there) is insanely good, and is their top seller, and while perhaps not for everyone, must be tried IMO.

Now listen very carefully, and do not tell anyone, but I just got off the phone with Chris at Tasty Vapor, and he informs me that he can provide me with more of a staggeringly great coffee flavor that he makes just for himself called "Gimmie Leftist Latte". It is not on their website, but you can get some by going to the "Mix your own flavor" section and just telling him in the notes that you want some. He can only make it in 12-24mg, and I would get the 12. Unbelievably good flavor. No Doubler available.

That's it for now. Feel free to ask any q's.

****

VERY in-depth discussions of favorite flavors in these threads:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo.../215923-what-flavor-you-vaping-right-now.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/286680-throat-hit-chase.html

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

When I ordered my E-Power from Sweet-Vapes I also ordered my first e-liquids from them as well. Honestly, I hadn't done much shopping around or sought advice about anything, just read a bit here on the forum (had a problem getting signed up - my fault). Anyway I just figured I'd mainly be interested in tobacco-flavored juice because after about half a century of smoking tobacco-flavored tobacco I sort of assumed I'd developed a fondness for it, and ordered their "Tobacco Sampler" with (my choice of) 4 tobacco flavors & 1 menthol, all in 18mg (yup, 1.8% nic), 80PG/20VG. But I wanted to try something else too. At that time the kit itself came with a 4ml bottle of juice, so I chose Chocolate in 24ml (& more VG I think). I also saw & *Had To Try* the Fudge Brownie. I *think* I ordered two 6ml bottles at 24mg. Anyhow, that stuff was love at first vape. I don't know how much of that had to do with the higher nic or how much to do with the flavor but I quickly learned two important things: I like good chocolate flavor much better than (?) tobacco flavor, and 18mg nic don't cut the mustard for this ol' coot.

That order included the first & last tobacco flavors I've tried. Actually I've only bought one or two other orders of pre-mixed juice before I got into DIY mixing so just haven't gotten around to trying any others yet. A lot of what I mix winds up being variations on chocolate.

 

[bigpman]

When I ordered my E-Power from Sweet-Vapes I also ordered my first e-liquids from them as well. Honestly, I hadn't done much shopping around or sought advice about anything, just read a bit here on the forum (had a problem getting signed up - my fault). Anyway I just figured I'd mainly be interested in tobacco-flavored juice because after about half a century of smoking tobacco-flavored tobacco I sort of assumed I'd developed a fondness for it, and ordered their "Tobacco Sampler" with (my choice of) 4 tobacco flavors & 1 menthol, all in 18mg (yup, 1.8% nic), 80PG/20VG. But I wanted to try something else too. At that time the kit itself came with a 4ml bottle of juice, so I chose Chocolate in 24ml (& more VG I think). I also saw & *Had To Try* the Fudge Brownie. I *think* I ordered two 6ml bottles at 24mg. Anyhow, that stuff was love at first vape. I don't know how much of that had to do with the higher nic or how much to do with the flavor but I quickly learned two important things: I like good chocolate flavor much better than (?) tobacco flavor, and 18mg nic don't cut the mustard for this ol' coot.

That order included the first & last tobacco flavors I've tried. Actually I've only bought one or two other orders of pre-mixed juice before I got into DIY mixing so just haven't gotten around to trying any others yet. A lot of what I mix winds up being variations on chocolate.

Cool beans! I opted to not buy any tobacco flavors. I figured, from using the Metro, that tobacco flavor actually sucks. I looking forward to trying MANY different flavors and might reach out to you soon on advice about making my own (figured it should he cheaper in the long run and i can get exactly what i want). For now, i am counting the hours for my e-power,should be here tomorrow. Although my order of e-liquid won't be here till Friday. At least I'll have plenty time to properly charge the batteries