ILuvHuskyDogs

Not really. If the juice you use to mix with is 6 mg, your finished nicotine level will be a little higher than 6, but probably not enough to really notice. If you're mixing with 0 nicotine juice and have been smoking higher nicotine analogs, your brain will be wondering where the nicotine is.

Yup, patience. Bebop, I know that "overdose" is a really highly-charged term. Again, more fodder for the Anti-Smoking Nazis. It can run the gamut from a mild headache and palpitations to a full-blown "Call 911!" tragedy, which is what comes to most people's minds. What I had was moderate: a skull-splitter, very rapid heart rate, nausea, lightheadedness, and blurred vision. Definitely not a "Call 911," but no fun, also, and it took me nearly 24 hours to come back to normal. I am sensitive to nicotine, because of the extremely low-nic analogs that I've smoked for years, and my mess-up was a Perfect Storm of stupidity: vaping too high a nicotine level, smoking at the same time, and diluting my juice with no gloves and a sloppy technique. So, when talking "overdose," I'm speaking in very broad terms and not wishing to scare or offend anyone. Sorry if I upset you.

Thanks, Mt, I'm one of those weirdos who actually enjoys the feel of smoke in my lungs. Vaping comes close to it, but it still feels like something's missing. It might be all those other chemicals, or maybe my brain is just fried from all those years of CO and can't handle all the extra oxygen. At least my chronic smoker's cough is making it a lot less fun. I got that working for me. I may take a stab at a little higher nicotine, again, but I'm still running scared from that horrible overdose I got early on.

I still seem to need one or two analogs with my morning coffee. Working on kicking those last couple, but going down from 30-40 a day to two is great progress. It also saves my poor dawgs a little verbal abuse, at least in the morning. When I smoke, I cough -- a lot. Yesterday I was vaping 0 nicotine and smoking. The juice soothed my lungs and stopped the cough. Wish I could un-know that! New rule in my house: no vaping and smoking at the same time. Suck it up, you danged addict, and cough up a lung when you hit the analog. No vaping until the analogs are wrapped back up in cellophane for the day. All that negative reinforcement will make it easier to quit those last couple. For any noobs who are still smoking and vape nicotine with your analogs, please be careful. I don't think vaping gets it to your brain quite as fast; none of that ammonia and other junk to make your lungs absorb it more quickly. It could be a recipe for a little nicotine overdose. Just IMO.

Thanks, Tx. My poor dawgs are taking the brunt of it. They can't leave. But I think they'd like to . . .

I'm sorry, TX, that last post was REALLY snarky. Can we just start again and chalk it up to withdrawal?

One last word to TX before I leave this topic topic. Grey Goose is a top-shelf vodka. There are only a couple of reasons I can think of for gifting it: 1. You have a good friend who wants you to have the best. 2. You have a wealthy friend who wants to make a statement. Either way, it's a shame to use it to clean coils, IMO. Think about giving it to a friend who likes Vodka? OK, mini-rant all done.

Whoops, will definitely have to watch a video.

I'm with Earthling, here, although I'm not going to trash tricks to just entertain yourself or a few friends. For me, vaping is truly a matter of life or just existence, followed by death. Too many analogs for too many years have taken a toll on my heart and lungs, and every time I quit, I always end up picking it up again. On the other hand, I would like to enjoy a Vape or two at a restaurant without the Anti-Smoking Nazis jumping down my throat because they're ill-informed. So let's not give them any more ammo. Anyway, welcome! If you need help with mods or juices, this is definitely the place to be.

Thanks! I'll do that when I get ready to clean up a burnt one. Patricia, I get pretty stubborn when I try to do something, but if I can't get an old one clean enough to get enough use out of it to justify the trouble, I'm with you. I'd rather give it to someone who can at least use it for spare parts than toss it.

Grey Goose? Wow, if I bought Grey Goose up here in good ole O-Sin-Tax-the-Heck-Out--of-Everything-hio, I'd be drinking it. Wouldn't be any left by the time I went to soak my tanks/coils, ROFL. Do evods have a wick in there? Haven't had one in pieces yet to take a look, and I'm not one to just take a new one apart --might be some pieces left over after I reassemble. We have to know our limitations . . .

Thanks. I'll take a look at one once I burn it up and see if I can figure out how to do it. I may be back to you with more questions at some point.

Oops, never mind. Earthling already told me in a previous post that it can dirty up the coil a little faster. I imagine how much faster depends on the PG:VG ratio.

Thanks! I'll do that.

Now we're getting into the gear area, which is Greek to me right now. Being new, I'm just using a simple Kanger evod. I know how to take the atty (?, hope I got that terminology right) off the battery and how to take out the coil. I don't think the tank breaks down any farther, but I could be way wrong on that. When things get a little messy, or I'm changing favors, I'll try your full cleaning routine --120 proof Vodka rather than IPA, I think. IPA's not nearly as bad as methanol, but it'll do the same job if you get enough. My eyesight's bad enough already, and I like my liver just the way it is. Right now, since I'm just nailing down nicotine levels and not changing flavors, maybe a hot water rinse, Vodka rinse, and dry might do the trick? I was worried about what regular tap water might do to the coil.

Thanks, Mtdobies, If I have to thin it a bit, I'll get some USP grade glycerin. Does it clog the coil faster? Leave a bad aftertaste? In other words, any downside?

I've looked around the forum a bit, and didn't see anything on this. It's so basic, it seems like a dumb question. I'm having to dump my tanks early to change juices while I'm getting things right. I don't even want to tell anyone how I'm cleaning them out. I'll leave it up to your imagination, but, no, I'm not spitting in them. Can someone tell me a good way to properly clean before changing juices? Thanks!

Actually, Grailhunter, I think I may just mix my own 1 mg/ml working juice. Knowing as I did early on that I was probably going to have to do some mixing, I ordered a pretty cheap but accurate 1 ml micropipettor and some 1ml tips. I used to use a micropipettor in the labs, so I'll just have to brush up. In fact, my volume measurements are going to be more accurate than the nicotine level in the 6 mg/ml starting juice, LOL. I was stuck thinking along the lines of diluting the commercial juice. For some reason, until Gnarly suggested it, I never made the mental leap to using a set starting solution to work from. And even then, I didn't think right away to mix it myself. Just goes to show you, retire, and your brain decides to retire with you. I guess I'd better order a backup. This pipettor is cheap, buts it's probably not very durable. I'm going to test it first to make sure it can suck up that thick juice.

I've been trolling around the web trying to find a vendor who sells very low nicotine solutions, like the 1mg/ml suggested above. No joy, here. Can anyone give me a recommendation? The lowest I see anywhere is 6. Absolutely, Mtdobies, I was an incredible idjit to do that with no gloves, and I should have known better. I'm not sure I totally trust the latex. I'm picking up some chemically resistant gloves before I do any more mixing. I'd probably wear eye protection also, if I didn't already need my eyeglasses to see what I'm doing. They don't have side shields, but they should do the job.

I worry about the same thing, but I really don't have any choice. I did find a study where rats were kept in a constant mist of PG for quite a long time. They then checked lung tissue, liver, etc. and couldn't find anything seriously wrong. Of course, we're not rats, and we live a lot longer. So, the jury's still out. If we're all still here and happy in 20 years or so, I'd be willing to weigh in with an opinion. Still, if you don't smoke, maybe better not to take the risk.

That's a REALLY good idea. It'll save me a lot of measuring. My juice isn't available in a 1 mg level, but maybe I could just get some nicotine solution at that strength? I'll have to do some shopping. Not sure whether you're referring to the small amount of nicotine I use, or the mess I made, both by vaping too much of the stronger stuff and by diluting my first try without gloves and getting it all over my fingers. I smoked around 1 1/2 - 2 packs a day of the 0.1 mg/cig stuff, I've tried just quitting, but I really miss that 3.5 - 4 mg/day. I've also pretty much structured my life around smoking, so the habit is really strong. After I cleared all the extra nicotine out f my system yesterday, the cravings hit. So, gotta have that little bit every day. In terms of the nicotine overdose, that was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I really didn't think 6 mg/ml was all that big a deal. I guess it was for my system. Today, I alternated 0 nicotine and my 0.75 mg/ml juice. It worked wonderfully, although I did get some dry-mouth and a little acid stomach this afternoon. I imagine those will go away as I get used it.

I thought I'd add to this post, in case anyone is still following. I'm really sensitive to nic, since I've been smoking 0.1 mg/cig analogs for many years. I just started vaping a few days ago, at a 6mg/ml dose. WAY too much. Fortunately, I've had nicotine overdoses in the past, when I've had to buy a higher dose cigarette and then forgot and smoked as usual. The first symptom I always get is a skull-splitting headache and rapid pulse. Then the nausea, blurred vision, and lightheadedness set in if I don't stop. Dumb me kept vaping, and I ended up having to Vape 0 nic for half a day to clear it all out. The half life for nic is about 2 hrs; so every 2 hours you clear another 50% or so out of your blood as long as you don't add anymore. What I had was an overdose. Sounds like you darned near killed yourself. It doesn't surprise me that the Drs. didn't catch it. Cigarette smokers rarely overdose, and Medicine probably hasn't caught up with vaping, yet. It's a good cautionary tale for us new Vapers.

Wow! Something I can actually help with. I'm new here, too. The forum rules are posted in the Welcome Area at the top of the home page. It sounds like violators will be warned, first. If the don't clean up their acts, they'll get booted and not allowed to post. Welcome, Fellow Wet-Behind-the-Ears Noob.

I've posted a couple threads on the Introduce Yourself Sub-Forum and figured it was time to leave there. I'm trying to come close to the nicotine level of my cigs (0.1 mg -- the "Why do you even bother?" cigarettes). Some members suggested that there might be a PG allergy. I'm very happy to say that, after vaping a zero nic version of my juice yesterday -- I was so overloaded with nicotine that it was after noon before I even got a craving, I don't have a problem with PG. I'm close, but still no cigar. I've been vaping 1 puff of my reduced-nic juice, two puffs of zero, and repeat with my morning coffee. So far, no overdose symptoms, no cravings. What does close translate to? 0.75 mg/ml (the new "Why do you even bother?" juice). In case someone actually wants a serious answer, I bother because I just can't kick that last 3.5-4 mg nic everyday, and the habit, of course. Another 50/50 split will be a bridge too far, so I'm going to play around in between. I'd like to free up my other e-cig for use with a different flavor, and I'm too lazy to keep switching reservoirs. "Things are looking up," she says as she gazes at the ceiling. I received lots of great help and encouragement in the sub-forum. Maybe I'll be able to pay it forward sometime.

Yup, going to try that today. Last night when I turned in, I could add blurred vision and lightheadedness to my other complaints. One of my friends suggested that I try vaping zero nic all day today. If things get worse again during the day, I'll have to think very seriously about a PG allergy. Yesterday, I stepped it down again using latex gloves. I was a little worried about nic going through them, but it didn't. It was the height of Idjit-dom to cut that first batch without them, and, boy, did I ever pay! If I'm going to be mixing larger batches, though, I'll probably go to a good pair of chemically-resistant neoprenes and pipettes. If I have to go to VG, then I'll likely need to work from scratch to get that great Menthol taste that I love. All this makes me very happy to have been a Chemistry Major right about now. It's been years since I've done lab work, but it's kinda like riding a bicycle, I hope. I'm going to be posting in the New Members Forum in the future, lest I wear out my welcome here. Big Thank-You's all around for all the help you've given me!