ancientpuffer

This is just my personal opinion, anyone who differs with me is free to do their own research. But... Dr. Eissenberg actually particpated in a question/answer discussion re: his study, on another forum. As best I can recall, he used untrained subjects (no previous experience with PV's), and "standard" (lol) cigarette style vaporizers (like you might get from the 7 Eleven). No information to substantiate whether any protocol was followed to ensure that the cartridges were properly filled, or filled at all. No instruction was given to the subjects whatsoever, except something along the lines of "take a few puffs, wait a few minutes, take a few more" While he presented himself as a serious researcher, what I gleaned from the discussion was that he knew little to nothing about how PV's work, little to nothing about what constitutes a quality device, nor any of the myriad of factors (type of juice, atomizer functioning properly, batteries charged properly, etc.) that affect the "experience", and little to nothing about how to use such devices efficiently. I don't believe there have yet been any scientifically sound and unbiased studies on PV use/function, and there probably won't be, until the industry itself commissions them. Relying on the "establishment" to fund and conduct such a study is tantamount (sp?) to having the fox guard the chickens. Let's not forget that virtually ALL of the misinformation about regular cigarettes was promulgated by the scientific/medical "establishment".

Jon, welcome! I have to say, the ego isn't noted for being harsh at all, so I want to ask, have you tried a different carto/cart with it or are you using just one? How much are you putting in when you fill it? (8-12 drops is about normal to fill a new one) If you haven't completely saturated the filler material, you'll get a dry harsh burnt taste that will kill your throat. Just a thought. One more thing, the sample you got, was it PG or VG? Its *possible* you're allergic to one or the other, how does the sample compare to the other juices you don't like?

Sheesh, its all going downhill for me. Just when I thought I had some control over my PV spending (what? a new type of PV? Where's that CC?), I found an article on building a mod that was so simple, I figured even I could do it. Unfortunately, it worked and I'm pleased as can be....BUT, there's a thread on how to modify it to become a bottom feeder, and hey, only need another LED, a switch, couple of battery boxes, a bottle, some tubing, and, and, and .... Will it EVER end? :)

This is just me, and may not be applicable to anyone else, but I thought I'd share it anyway. I quit completely for 3 years (after smoking for 50 years). It was hard but I needed to do it. THEN, I found vaping. I purposely made the choice to vape, because I missed the "ritual" of the hand to mouth, coffee, etc. thing. I started with 0mg of nicotine, but tried some 6mg and realized I missed the nicotine as well (not the other 4000 chemicals, though ). After almost a year of vaping, I've settled into 18mg nicotine, and really enjoy some of the nice flavors (Banana Creme is great with morning coffee). Everyone is different, but I really enjoy vaping for its own sake and I've never regretted taking it up. BTW, even though I vape now, I *never* have the cravings for it that I had for analogs. If its available, and I'm in the mood, I vape. If its not convenient, its no big deal. One last thing. My wife, who was also a long term smoker, but developed severe allergies to cigarette smoke (smoke of any kind, actually), tried vaping first and discovered it didn't bother her. (She had been off analogs for 7 years) We are both very happy vapers now

Just a note about harshness. With the tank attys, its also possible that your wick isn't getting juice to the coil properly. This can also result in a "harsh" burning of the throat. If that's a possibility in your case, try switching the atty and see if the harshness goes away. I had one of my 2 original attys that was like that and it killed my throat until I figured out what was wrong. I haven't had the problem with any subsequent attys I've ordered, including the LR ones (which give much better flavor and vapor, btw). The tank isn't noted for much throat hit, so if its a problem, I'd be more inclined to suspect faulty wick. Just a thought.

I'm sorry if this has been covered already, but I spent quite a lot of time looking and couldn't find it. I'm thinking about some DIY, but I've seen photos of vendors "mixologists" wearing all sorts of exotic protective clothing. To me, being completely clueless, it would make sense to take *some* precautions, like wearing gloves (just for example). So what, if any, safety measures do all of you veteran DIY'ers take when mixing?

First, welcome to VT! I'd guess you're right about the nicotine level (low/high), I use 18mg liquid which is sort of medium. However, some liquids/flavors give different amount of throat hit (TH) even if the nicotine is the same. Also the "base" (PG or VG) makes a difference, VG= more vapor, PG=more TH and flavor. You'll probably do well to order some "samples" from various places and try different ones until you hit pay dirt. Most people vape about 2-4ml per day, so once you find a good one, order more of that accordingly. I use cartomizers and top off or refill as needed. They have the additional advantage that when you replace one, you have a fresh new atomizer too. I find it cheaper that way, instead of buy separate atomizers and carts. Plus the atomizers hold more liquid so they tend to last longer. Just as an aside, its common for your tastes to change as you go longer and longer without regular cigarettes, so don't completely rule out the flavors, both sweet and fruity. Good luck to you and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. Good and helpful folks hanging around here.

I've found that the throat hit (that sensation you get in the back of your throat when you inhale smoke) is hardly noticable at 12mg. I can really feel it at 18mg, and 24 is almost too much. If your battery is capable of handling it, you could also try Low Resistance (LR) atomizers or cartomizers. They tend to give a warmer vape and more flavor, but do require more from your battery. I know the standard cigarette style batteries can NOT use them, but the eGO/Riva type (650 mAH) batteries can. Low, med and high aren't consistent from one vendor to another, but usually "high" is 18mg (at least it has been for me) I also find that juices based on PG rather than VG deliver more TH.

In case you haven't seen them, they've come out with 3.5 ml cartomizers that will fit the egos you have. see this --> http://shop.nhaler.com/New-Jumbo-510-35ml-Cartomizers-510jumbocart.htm

Congratulations, Lady. You can be very proud of yourself, before you know it, it will have been weekS, then months

Gah! That's what I get for posting when I should be sleeping *hangs head in shame*

Yes it will work with the Riva. The Riva is 510 threaded, so any device that's 510 will fit, however, you should avoid the LR attys, since the batteries can't handle the increased load.

Hi Debbee and welcome to VT Vaping is different than smoking analogs. I find that taking a nice slow draw into your mouth, then inhaling it into your lungs works best, although its a matter of preference. I've heard a lot of anecdotal evidence of nicotine absorbtion rates, but most folks average about 3-5 ml per day. The discomfort you've felt (sick feeling) might be due to the way you were vaping at first, nothing wrong with slowing down a bit, its very common to "over-vape" when you first start. And do drink lots of fluids, PG and VG both will dry out your mouth and throat. A few folks drop the analogs (regular cigarettes) immediately when they start vaping, but my guess is that most sort of "ease into it", vaping and smoking both at first. I think you'll find that as you smoke less, you'll like vaping more and more, and once your taste and smell return, the myriad of flavors available can be a real adventure.

Welcome to VT, Da1plumber. Just curious, because I have one too, how do you like the SD? Is it the MKII?

You can let it sit for a while so the juice wicks down to the atomizer coil (the part of the atomizer that heats the juice), OR, most people just drip 1 or 2 drop down into the atomizer onto the little "button" part that you see when you look down into it. That's actually what people do when they "direct drip", too, and you can try it that way by using the "blank" (no filler material) cap that came attached to the atomizer (if there was one), or remove the "filler" from a cart and use that. BTW, most atomizers come with some sort of primer on them which tastes AWFUL. Normally, you can blow through the atomizer (from the battery end) into a paper towel to get rid of that, then when you start, just don't inhale the first 3-5 puffs.

They don't always show it, but your atomizers should come with a "blank" (no filler) tip in them. You can use that and if you decide you like dripping, you can purchase a "drip tip" that lets you drip into it without having to remove the "blank" tip every time you want to add drops of juice. HTH

I *believe* that Joye and Janty are the same product (someone will correct me if I'm wrong ). That said, we have to understand that the suppliers we order from are dependent on the manufacturers (mostly Chinese) that supply them. Thus its a bit disconcerting to receive something other than what you ordered, but I can readily understand how that can happen. You didn't say who you ordered from, but if its a reputable vendor, a phone call or email to them should result in some adjustment being made. As for instructions, I often receive none or get them in Chinese, which for me, is about the same thing. That's one reason so many folks use forums like this, at least we can exchange information and tips and share what information we've learned by trial and error. If you tell us specifically what items you received we can certainly help you out getting started. (Batteries, atomizers, cartridges, cartomizers, chargers, etc.) The people here are happy to help any way that they can, and the community as a whole has a wealth of accumulated knowledge. Welcome aboard!

Good answers you got above. But I would just add, that "where the rubber meets the road", the LR attys will in general give you better flavor, more vapor, a better throat hit and slightly warmer vapor. They are purported to burn out faster than the regular ones, but I've had regulars die in two days, and I've had LR ones that last for weeks. YMMV

I'm glad to hear you made contact with Chris, and hopefully, everything will be straightened out in short order. I can understand your frustration, but we're pleased you are giving VT (Chris) a chance to get it "made right" for you. That said, we're very glad you came back and hope the rest of your experiences here will be a bit...um...less stressful Now that all that is settled, welcome to the forum! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask here, we really are some pretty good folks.

Welcome back! :)

I found the LR attys improve TH, vapor and flavor a LOT. The burnt taste means the atty isn't wicking properly, sometimes the wick needs to be repositioned or replaced, but that's a lot of trouble for something that isn't exactly cheap to start with. If the offending atty is still under warranty, I'd just return it for a replacement. BTW, just *my* experience, but: Although I've had a couple of bad *regular* tank attys, I've never had a problem with a LR atty (got mine from cignot)

The base of the juice makes a difference, I use 100% PG (French Vanilla from Johnson Creek). Also the LR atomizer helps quite a bit for both TH and flavor. BTW, "how" you vape matters too. I hit the button 1-2 seconds before I begin to draw, draw *slowly* for about 4-5 seconds, the release the button and draw for another second or so.

The LR attys or cartos do give better vapor, warmer and more TH, but I'm not sure you can use them on a 510 battery. They draw more power and can burn out the smaller batteries. The Riva and Ego batteries handle them just fine. I prefer the cartomizers, because they include the atomizer, so when one finally starts to wuss out on me, I just toss it and grab a fresh one. Separate atomizers can be expensive and you never know when one is going to go out on you, so you have to keep spares around. Since each cartomizer contains a new atomizer, its one less thing to worry about. I find I can refill a cartomizer 5 to 10 times before it goes out.

From what I've read about their "study", they found 1 cart out of 18 that had diethylene glycol, and those came from China. The stuff they tested NOT from China contained none. As for the nitrosamines, they found the same amount found in nicotine patches, but they failed to point that part out. Just saying

I think its mostly PG (or VG) that you're seeing. And I've *seen* (but haven't read any real research) that most of the nic is absorbed in 4 to 5 seconds. Maybe someone else can shed more light on that part.