ddavelarsen

I quit vaping a few months ago because my workplace banned it - I vaped mostly at my desk, which greatly increased my productivity vs going outside to smoke every hour...but corporate America being as PC as it is, I work in a "drug free workplace" and vaping is verboten. I can't use nasal snuff at work either. Figure that out! Anyway, I just wanted to say that the new site looks wonderful! Good job guys! It made me feel good to stop by again. I hope everyone is doing well, and all the newbies are still getting the excellent and polite help that I got when I started here. This is a special forum. Everyone have a Happy New Year! Dave Edit - Ooops! I better ditch that banner in my sig, hadn't I? I'm not smoke free anymore, alas.

Definitely use a few drops of pga to dissolve them; that's about the only thing that's ever worked for me. Just a few drops on a teaspoon of crystals will do. Good luck!

Thanks Brian! Good to hear from you too, I do miss the forum sometimes. Wish I had more time to spend here! I just wanted to second your excellent advice, though coming from you it didn't need that.

Oh man, I've done that too! And invariably it gets thrown out, pure waste. Labels are good! PS - And one thing I've learned is that a Sharpie doesn't stay well on a plastic bottle. I now tape my labels on.

I do flavorings the same way; I mix flavorings in large batches and just add nic and plain PG/VG to get the strength where it needs to be. I believe that using the highest nic concentration you're comfortable with is most cost effective. Everyone's different! I guess that's a good thing; diversity makes the world go 'round.

There's a whole liability issue, economies of scale that the small mixer can't undertake, all the competition from established makers... I think it's just too much. Some DIYers make liquid for their friends and charge a modest amount over their cost to make it, but I think that's probably the extent of it. Just my take. I'm sure some of the established makers started out as DIYers though.

555 is a nutty tobacco flavor. I think Brian hit it on the head when he suggested you treat it with cotton candy flavoring; that should mellow the tobacco aspect out a bit. Personally though, I love 555; it's all I use. I buy my flavoring from Health Cabin and mix my own juice so that I can get the flavor to the exact level I like. Maybe that would work for you long term too; it's a thought. Meanwhile, if you really can't stand it I bet someone would trade you or buy the stuff outright. Good luck! Not all flavors are palatable. I've found HC's 555 to be closest to the original that I love so much; most others have been a disappointment.

VG tends to be 'sweeter' than PG too. For what it's worth, I vape 6 volts and because of that have found that the smoother throat hit of VG really evens things out for me. It's also a great compliment to the intense vapor production of high voltage. I mix my liquid about 60-70% VG; usually the only PG in my juice is in the flavoring. As Jolly suggested though, I do use more flavoring than I probably would if I were vaping straight PG.

That's beautiful Brian! I'm glad you got a reward for your hard day of work, we take the beauty where and when we can find it. Thanks for sharing, that made my day too.

Way to go Schizo!!! I'm psyched man, maybe not as psyched as you are, but psyched nonetheless! Looking forward to your reviews. Way to go! YeeHAW!

I'm with Brian on this one, 5-7 drags before redripping.

Sneaky ninja, getting the hang of this married stuff pretty quick! Girls sure love Twilight don't they? I think there's a lesson for us in that, if I could only parse it...

You got that right meester. Let's get with the program! Actually, are you planning to buy an Iolite any time soon? I really am interested in your opinion about all of it -- how well it satisfies the nic requirement, TH, hassle, the works. I've never had much luck refilling butane lighters, is this going to be the same kind of deal? Like that. I need to know, and I know everyone else here is curious too. I'm a potential buyer though, so your experience is truly meaningful for me.

Amen nana, I think Schizo's onto something here. I'm looking forward to the report!

Schizo, I think this is a totally viable alternative to attys and juice if it comes to that. I'm really looking forward to your report on this device. My sense is that it might be more hassle than our vaping method, but I guess that might just be what you get used to, too. We'll see. Please let us know all about it man, I'm really curious but not in a position to buy any new devices. Don't believe me? Just ask my sweet wife! She'll give you the lowdown right quick. So I'm depending on you buddy! Gimme the good news and maybe I'll have a little leverage with the old lady. "But honey, the FDA is trying to make people die, I need this! You don't want me to die, do ya?" Like that, it'd work man, for sure.

Yeah, the stuff that makes you sneeze, though I haven't had that reaction. I have gotten way too much though, and cried like a baby! I'm with you man, it's ludicrous to attack ecigs when all the alternatives will kill you...

Just a comment about my recent excursion into dry tobacco snuff. I suspect few if any vapers have ever tried this, but I had used dry snuff for a while as a kid and decided to give it a run again as an adult. This is not the snuff you put behind your lip, but sniff up your nose. It comes in hundreds of flavors (sound familiar? ), with wild menthol possibilities. I suspect there are health risks using tobacco, so I'm not recommending this to other vapers; I've just been enjoying trying out a lot of different stuff. Like vaping there's a learning curve, and some equipment to accumulate. I've made a couple of snuff spoons and started watching for them on eBay. Snuff spoons are expensive! Because they're mostly antique; snuff is not a modern habit. Snuff boxes are pricey too, and many are not in a form you can carry in a pocket. So I've just stuck with the tins the snuff comes in for now. My favorite current flavors are all from Wilson's of Sharrow: Apricot, Sandalwood, Chocolate Orange, and Honey Menthol. Wilson's is the only manufacturer I've tried so far but expect I'll branch out more in the coming months. Sniffing has replaced vaping to a pretty significant degree; it's probably 1/3 of my nicotine intake now. Because of the tobacco in my sinuses, I think I'm going to take up sinus washing too, just to keep things cleared up. I haven't found any examples of cancer related to dry snuff, but there are warnings all over the place. This experiment is really just me messing around, and it's been pretty fun so far.

510 all the way. I vape mine at 6V on my trusty Saber and couldn't be happier. I've been using this combination for a couple of months with total satisfaction. I started out with the penstyle/801 but gave it up completely after I tried a 510. I think there might be better flavor with the penstyle, but the TH from my 510 is the overriding choice for me. I mix my own liquid, so have tweaked up the flavor too. It's vaping heaven.

I think this depends on personal taste. For me, since I get much better TH from a cooler atty, I prefer to let it cool between rounds of vaping. I'm sure the hydration is from your tasty liquid! PG tends to dry the mouth and throat for some people. I find that when I'm vaping a lot I really need to have a drink close by because I get so thirsty. This is an interesting question and I hope more people will weigh in.

Stacy, we're throwing a lot of specialized language at you, aren't we? Here are a few definitions, which might help you make your decisions. 510 - This is a particular model of atomizer. The threads will fit any other 510-type device, including the eGo. No other atomizer models will work with a 510 battery. There are many model numbers, but all 510 parts are generally interchangeable. Atomizer - The part that does the work of vaporizing the eliquid. An atomizer is often used with a cartridge, or with a drip tip for direct dripping. The atomizer is the part that screws onto the battery. Cartridge - A fiber-filled mouthpiece for the atomizer. You fill the cart with your choice of liquid. I always recommend blank carts and ordering your own liquid. This is much less expensive than prefilled carts! Cartomizer - A cartridge and atomizer combination. A carto will hold quite a bit more liquid than a cart will, and is simple to use since the atomizer and cartridge are all one piece. The downside is that they don't last very long. However, they're also very inexpensive. Cartos are probably the most convenient way to vape your favorite liquid. Direct Dripping - This is removing the cartridge altogether and dripping your liquid - 2-3 drops - directly onto the bridge in the atomizer. If you use a Drip Tip, you don't have to remove the mouthpiece every time you drip, just drip directly through the drip tip. Direct dripping is a common method for most experienced vapers. The reason is that you get more consistent vapor and flavor by controlling how much liquid is on your atty. Cone - this is a part that threads down over the atomizer, onto the eGo battery. It's esthetic, and some say improves the draw and flavor of the device. LR - Low Resistance - A special kind of atomizer that produces much more throat hit and vapor than a standard atomizer. These are used for 3.7V batteries to give the experience of using 5V batteries. They're a very good alternative for an eGo if you want to feel the vapor more in your lungs. In my experience LR attys don't last as long as standard ones, but they can be very satisfying to vape. You asked for recommendations what to order and you've gotten excellent advice. I think what you want to end up with two eGo batteries, and at least five atomizers; you might also wish to try a few cartomizers, which are very convenient. Order blank attys and cartos, and refill them with your own liquid. Brian's suggestion to try a sample pack with different strengths is an excellent idea. You may not really be sure yet what your best strength is, but based on what you say, I doubt you will need to go any higher than 16/18mg. It's hard to say how much liquid you need to last two months since that completely depends on how much you vape. You will vape more at lower strength than at higher strength. I think a good rule of thumb is 2-3 ml per day, so 120 to 180 ml of liquid for your two-month window. I started out using at least 3 ml per day, and now I probably use half that much. There is some waste filling carts and cartos; less waste direct dripping. I hope some of this helps. I know how overwhelming trying to sort all this out can be at first! We've all spent a ton of money trying to find the combination that works best for each of us, and it's different for everyone. I really don't think you can go wrong buying an eGo. If they'd had them when I started vaping I would probably have had a much less expensive route to get where I am! By the way, 555 is my everyday vape too; I love the stuff. Good luck in your ordering. Happy vaping!

Holy crap man, we're twins!!! Is that scary or what!? I avoid fantasy too, except Stephen R Donaldson, who can't write SF to save his skin. We're a trip man! We must have the same freakin bookshelves...

Hm. Henry Miller. Neal Asher. Jeff VanderMeer. Iain M Banks. Vernor Vinge. Yes, Dean Koontz. And holy crap Burn, someone else has read William S Burroughs!? Jim Thompson. Samuel R Delany. Don't get me started...

Wow, you all rule!!! Thanks a million for all the help. I knew that's what I'd get too. I'm going to turn my buddy onto this thread. It'll probably make his head spin! But so much good info here it's bound to help any newbie. eGo is the way to go for a first ecig, he's going to dig it if he decides to try vaping. Being able to vape at his desk will be a real plus, aside from being able to quit smoking. Like all of us, he's tried everything to quit smoking, and nothing has worked. I hope he tries your suggestions, he'll have a fair chance to succeed with the help folks get around here. +1 for Vapor Talk Community!

Okay, I'm at work and too lazy/busy (you choose) to do a bunch of shopping. Can one of you fine folks tell me where to direct my buddy to buy an eGo starter kit? Price probably matters, but maybe not a great deal. Thanks for any help!

M$ will never get a dime of my money for as long as I live. Same goes for my whole family. We don't support unrepentant convicted felons. I'm a Mac and a penguin.