What am I doing wrong ?!

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canzz

Full Member
Mar 13, 2015
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Toronto
Hi everyone. You probably saw my last post "Newbie Setup". I finally got my istick 50W and Subtank Mini but none of the eliquids I tried is working for me. I dont know what im doing wrong. Here is what I have tried so far:

BOBAS BOUNTY ( 0PG/100VG 12mg )
First one, a sweet tobacco flavor, It has a medium throat hit but crazy scratchiness in my throat.
BEETLE JOOSE ( 50PG/50VG 12mg )
Fruity flavor. Low throat hit, medium scratchiness on my throat.
HEAVY MENTHOL ( 60PG/40VG 18mg )
I used to smoke marlboro menthol so i wanted to try. Nice taste, Low-Mid throat hit, lot of scratchiness on my throat
SMOOTH MINT ( 40VG/60PG 18mg )
Nice throat hit, scratchiness on my throat
SILVERSTAR TOBACCO ( 55PG/45VG 12mg )
Nice throat hit, scratchiness on my throat

Please note that
- I have been smoking a pack of 20Nic Marlboro everyday
- I have tried all wattage settings from 6W to 30W
- I have adjusted airflow everytime to see if it makes a difference

I got the last three flavors from a downtown shop and i hate to admit that Smooth Mint and Silverstar Tobacco flavors tasted better with their basic tester ecigarettes. I was really disappointed when i came home and tried on my setup and felt scratchiness on my throat.

I dont know what to do, am i doing something wrong ?
 

Baditude

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Apr 8, 2012
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Have you really increased your water intake?

Both Pg and Vg draw moisture from your mucous membranes, so you must increase your fluid intake or you may become dehydrated. It could most certainly cause a scratchy throat.

You might also need to use a throat lozenge, hard candy, or gum to encourage your salivation.

You may also need to decrease your nicotine concentration a level. Nicotine itself has a peppery taste. This could also cause some throat scratchiness.

Otherwise I don't see anything you might be doing wrong. There is often an adjustment period when changing over from smoking to vaping. Stick with it. This stuff works.
 
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NCCTC

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Feb 26, 2015
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With Boba's; I suggest getting some unflavored VG, and cutting it by half (in a 15mL bottle to reduce waste).
Shake a couple times a day, and let it steep for a few days. I'm thinking the nic level is what's hitting your
throat. Nic has a peppery taste/feel, and Boba's is a super-smooth liquid. Of course, taste is subjective.

Which coil are you using ... .5ohm / 1.2ohm, etc? My personal Boba tank setup is dual-coil .7ohm at 25Watts.
In the gennie, it's usually 1.0ohm around 13-17Watts.
 

Das Auto

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Feb 6, 2015
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I would lean toward possible an intolerance to either the PG or the VG, but since you tried a 100 VG (doesn't mean the flavoring and/or nic was in PG) and still had the scratchy throat. You may need to find a company who makes 100% VG juice and uses nic in 100% VG and their flavoring to eliminate any and all PG to see if that eliminates your scratchy throat.
 

cinetrope

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Apr 12, 2014
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When I first switched from smoking (non-filtered American Spirit) to vaping, the guy at the local B & M sold me a bottle of 24mg Triple 7. (he was the same guy that used to sell me my cigarettes) Even in a 3.7v T2 type device I was having the same problem. I started reading about it here and stepped down to 18mg then 12mg over the course of my next two 15ML bottles. I also paid attention to my hydration as suggested by Baditude above and the problem went away. Don't be discouraged. Don't give up! The info at ECF and your desire to switch will enable you to succeed!
 

Sir2fyablyNutz

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Jan 22, 2015
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I'm going with too much nic on this one. From what I've read most Sub Ohm users cut their nicotine in half when moving to sub ohms. (Better delivery device plus more juice consumption).

Along with the above advice I'd consider getting a Aspire Nautilus Mini or Kanger Aero, both should fire on the iStick at about 6 to 15 watts, use less juice, cut down on the throat harshness, and give nice flavor too. If you dilute the juice to dilute the nicotine you are also diluting the flavor. With your cig consumption, the Mini or Aero would be about right for the nic level of your juice. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.
 

Thrasher

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Those are some pretty high mg' to be slamming through a subtank, specially for a newer vapor.


Dry or improper wicking comes to mind with cotton coils. Always wet them good before filling the tank first time

If your still real new your throat will be raw for a bit as it heals up from smoking.

Heavy VG causes me to get real flemed out and raspy.

Try not lung hitting till your body is used to vapor large clouds of high nic or pg will tear you up at first
 

canzz

Full Member
Mar 13, 2015
69
28
Toronto
Thank you all for your answers. Few things I want to mention/ask

- Boba's bounty 12mg nic made scratchiness on my throat way more than Silver Tobacco 12nic. Maybe its not completely about nic?
- The tester for SilverTobacco in store was also 12mg nic. And it had an decent throat hit, didnt make so much scratchiness.
- If scratchiness is all about nic and I have to reduce it 6mg, isnt it going to be hard to fulfill my need for nicotine?
- If the basic tester in the store is working and I need to lower my nic level to use my setup, why should i use my setup? (Dont get me wrong, Im seriously asking the advantages)
- Im using the 0.5 ohm coil that came as default with subtank.
- I always put 7-8 drops eliquid in coil at start
- Im actively doing sports and even at home my water bottle stays next to me all the time. Im quite sure its not about hydration.
- Mouth-to-Lung made more scratchiness compared to Directly-lung inhaling.

I really hope i can fix this isssue and get rid of the analogs
 

edyle

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Oct 23, 2013
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Thank you all for your answers. Few things I want to mention/ask

- Boba's bounty 12mg nic made scratchiness on my throat way more than Silver Tobacco 12nic. Maybe its not completely about nic?
- The tester for SilverTobacco in store was also 12mg nic. And it had an decent throat hit, didnt make so much scratchiness.
- If scratchiness is all about nic and I have to reduce it 6mg, isnt it going to be hard to fulfill my need for nicotine?
- If the basic tester in the store is working and I need to lower my nic level to use my setup, why should i use my setup? (Dont get me wrong, Im seriously asking the advantages)
- Im using the 0.5 ohm coil that came as default with subtank.
- I always put 7-8 drops eliquid in coil at start
- Im actively doing sports and even at home my water bottle stays next to me all the time. Im quite sure its not about hydration.
- Mouth-to-Lung made more scratchiness compared to Directly-lung inhaling.

I really hope i can fix this isssue and get rid of the analogs

1: If you found something in the store that worked, be a good thing to just use whatever works
2: When you make the transition from smoking to vaping, a few things start happening like, your tastebuds changing, throat irritation, coughing as your lungs start to clean out; so don't jump to conclusions; the first few weeks need some trial and error and especially some patience.
 

Alawot

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Jan 25, 2015
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Thank you all for your answers. Few things I want to mention/ask

- Boba's bounty 12mg nic made scratchiness on my throat way more than Silver Tobacco 12nic. Maybe its not completely about nic?
- The tester for SilverTobacco in store was also 12mg nic. And it had an decent throat hit, didnt make so much scratchiness.
- If scratchiness is all about nic and I have to reduce it 6mg, isnt it going to be hard to fulfill my need for nicotine?
- If the basic tester in the store is working and I need to lower my nic level to use my setup, why should i use my setup? (Dont get me wrong, Im seriously asking the advantages)
- Im using the 0.5 ohm coil that came as default with subtank.
- I always put 7-8 drops eliquid in coil at start
- Im actively doing sports and even at home my water bottle stays next to me all the time. Im quite sure its not about hydration.
- Mouth-to-Lung made more scratchiness compared to Directly-lung inhaling.
I really hope i can fix this isssue and get rid of the analogs

Going to agree with some others, it's most likely the nic level. I got my subtank mini just last week, and had to step down from 12 mg to 6 mg, and I used the 1.2 ohm coil first. I would say even with a lower nic level in the subtank you are still getting the needed nic because it uses more juice at a time and can more efficiently vaporize the nic.

I've been vaping for just over 2 months, and the subtank would've been too much for me when I started. Something like an Aspire Mini would've been good for you to get going. If you can afford it, get something like the aspire mini, and put the subtank up for a few weeks. That way you can use the juices you have and not have to try and change nic levels yet. and since you have the istick 50, you won't need a new mod, it'll fire the aspire mini just fine and give you huge battery life.

My :2c: hope this helps!
 

canzz

Full Member
Mar 13, 2015
69
28
Toronto
I guess most of you guys were right at some point. I have been to a store to buy some 6mg nic to try on my istick50+subtankmini. The guy working there were using istick20+nautilus mini 12mgNic eliquid. He offered me to try. It was simply awesome. Decent throat hit, no scratchiness on the throat. I guess my setup is a bit overkill for a beginner :) I guess I will use this kind of setup 4-5 months later. Im a little bit short on money this month so I'll sell my setup and buy iStick20or30+Nautilus Mini afterward.

I also like the size of that setup. Nearly half size of mine. much more portable. I have decided about the tank but I have couple questions about batteries, this time i want to buy something which is an exact fit for my need :)

- Would you recommend istick20 or 30? Why ?
- Should I Stick with IStick :2cool: or should i consider other batteries?

Any help is highly appreciated :)
 

Thrasher

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Oct 28, 2012
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Madeira beach, Fla
Well if its like most test tanks in vape shops it was a crappy clearomizer. And they are well known for not being the most efficient vaporizer of nicotine.
Ask all the vets on here, back in the day when that's all we had everyone was in the 18 to 24 mg range.

For many once we moved up to better designed attys that tore us up. I was on 18 forever till I got into rebuildables, if I tried 18 on my current gear I would be in the bathroom pukin with a headache. I vape 6 now and still catch a buzz.

In the end the subtank is much more powerful like an rba.


I do see you are on the heavy side w VG.
I would also get a bottle or two of something in the 75%+ pg range just to test.
 

UncleMike

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Feb 15, 2015
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Nova Scotia
You mentioned you already have the istick 50w? If that's the case then you really don't need to buy another mod. You could just by the Aspire Nautilus (full size or mini) tank and you're good to go. That way you have something you know you can use right now and also have the subtank for later when you desire more vapor. Win-Win :D
 

Uncle00Jesse

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Nov 4, 2014
120
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NY
Nothing that hasn't already been said, but these are the 2 causes of your problems:

1. No matter how new to vaping you are, 12mg in a sub-ohm tank is too much. You'll mess up your throat. Get 6mg and chain vape if you need to.
2. PRIME THE CRAP OUT OF THE COIL. Like literally drench it in juice. Then let it sit in a full tank for an hour. Then, and most important, start at very low wattage and slowly move up. If you shoot 25 watts at a brand new OCC head without getting her warmed up, you'll destroy it.

Hope this helps and best of luck.
 
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