DIY - Tips and Tricks To get Nicotine Smooth?

[Dietz]

I am sure there are threads on this but still no definitive answer, so lets ask it again.

Is there anyone here who can tell us why a 3mg nic commercial juice is barely felt in the throat, but a 3mg DIY joose kicks you to the floor?

Ive tried the following nic and prefere them in this order:
(BLCK) Gold Nic - 48mg (consistent no overly pepper taste and you need less in your recipe compared to the 36mg)
Clyrolinx nic - 36mg (Still testing but close to above)
Skrawny Gecko Whte label nic - 36mg (No issues but can be peppery)
Prime Nic - 36mg (Not consistent, out of three bottle I bought they were not one the same, Very peppery and too strong)

EDIT: (for @Raindance) I also tested this with the mixing and speeding variables. Most of what Im referring to here have been (Pain stakingly) hand shaken once a day and steepped for between 1 week to a month with minimal difference to the Nic harshness at higher content. I only recently started mixing with a magnetic stirrer and I am still testing some variables (Heat stirring, Mixing with the stirrer in direct sunlight)

I found that If I add more than 1.8mg to my mixes then it is too harsh to vape. But the problem I have is sometimes It feels like Ive been chukking like Riptrippers but am not getting the nic hit I need for the cravings.

I have yet to try this, but heard that some vendors premix the VG/PG and nic and pre steep that before finally adding flavors and shipping juices. I cannot confirm this as its hearsay, Has anyone tried this?

Something else I heard was that vendors import some super secret special nic that only vendors can get, But I call BS on that! People are too hungry for money to only sell to a select few.

What are you doing to get the nice nic hit without tasting only nic?

 

[Faiyaz Cheulkar]

I used to think the same, the below thread might give u some insight
https://www.ecigssa.co.za/diy-nicotine-potency.t47726/

 

[Raindance]

Just looking for a common denominator. Do all those experiencing nic tastes use electronic stirrers to speed up steeping. Would actually not want to limit the question to this option only. Rather do those experiencing this use steeping methods that may degrade the nic?

Regards

 

[Faiyaz Cheulkar]

Unless we design an equipment to extract nic from a bottle of juice and measure it, it is not possible to understand what makes commercial juices smoother.
The manufacturer might claim 3mg but who certifies this ?

 

[Dietz]

I used to think the same, the below thread might give u some insight
https://www.ecigssa.co.za/diy-nicotine-potency.t47726/

Thanks @Faiyaz Cheulkar, I just checked that thread and there is no definitive answer either.

 

[Dietz]

Just looking for a common denominator. Do all those experiencing nic tastes use electronic stirrers to speed up steeping. Would actually not want to limit the question to this option only. Rather do those experiencing this use steeping methods that may degrade the nic?

Regards

Ive updated the OP on this one including the magnetic stirrer mixing.

 

[Dietz]

Unless we design an equipment to extract nic from a bottle of juice and measure it, it is not possible to understand what makes commercial juices smoother.
The manufacturer might claim 3mg but who certifies this ?

I dont think its that difficult.
We would need to buy a commercial 3mg and also mix up a 3mg DIY joose. that would then be taken to a lab to test the nicotine content only.

 

[Bulldog]

On my DIY journey I have followed @RichJB to the T. If he says jump I ask how high . Hence I only steep naturally using time and definitely got the unpleasant throat hit when I was mixing with Scrawny Gecko @3mg. Since dropping to 1.5mg smooth as a babies bum.

 

[Cornelius]

On my DIY journey I have followed @RichJB to the T. If he says jump I ask how high . Hence I only steep naturally using time and definitely got the unpleasant throat hit when I was mixing with Scrawny Gecko @3mg. Since dropping to 1.5mg smooth as a babies bum.

I agree, exactly the same. However it is worse with Prime nic. Never tried Gold nic.
I think @Room Fogger once told me that the Vaperite Nic works great.

 

[Faiyaz Cheulkar]

I dont think its that difficult.
We would need to buy a commercial 3mg and also mix up a 3mg DIY joose. that would then be taken to a lab to test the nicotine content only.

for tobacco there are tests that I know of, dont know if they have designed any tests for extracting nicotine from e-juices. If there is I am really excited as this will solve the mystery once and for all.

 

[Humbolt]

I use Prime Nic 36mg and mix at 3mg and now 2mg, and I don't have this problem

 

[Dietz]

On my DIY journey I have followed @RichJB to the T. If he says jump I ask how high . Hence I only steep naturally using time and definitely got the unpleasant throat hit when I was mixing with Scrawny Gecko @3mg. Since dropping to 1.5mg smooth as a babies bum.

I hear you on dropping the nic, thats why I vape mine at 1.8mg, thats perfect for me FLAVOR wise, but it does not suffice for the Nic craving, i end up vaping half a tank to get what I need.
If it was 3 mg It would have worked in 4 puffs

 

[RichJB]

I can't say I've ever suffered throat hit from anything. People complain about peach flavours giving them razors to the throat and they're all fine to me. I don't have a Concrete palate but it seems I do have a concrete throat. I suppose 37 years of smoking will do that to ya.

I have heard from sources I trust that nicotine batches vary quite widely in terms of potency. You can buy one bottle and it's fine, the next bottle of the same brand is much more potent and dials up throat hit substantially. And that's not subjective, it's from people doing actual chemical testing on nic to determine its potency.

I hear you on the nic satisfaction level, @Dietz. I used to mix at 3mg and dialed it down to 2mg. It might have reduced the harshness, I wouldn't know. But it does give less of a nic hit too. I don't mind that as I'm trying to wean myself off nic dependence. I was at a party on Sat night and took my squonker along. While I was standing outside where all the smokers/vapers were, I was puffing constantly. Then I engaged a friend in chat and we sat inside. I was pleasantly surprised that, after 90 minutes inside, I hadn't taken a puff and wasn't feeling the need to. For me, vaping is a mechanical routine and automatic reaction. Regardless of nic level, I'll vape if I'm in a situation where I can. By not taking my vape when I go out for a short while (shopping, etc) and by consciously setting aside certain activities (like watching a movie on TV) where I won't vape, I'm hoping to acclimatise to a point where 2mg nic feels like a lot and I'll be ready to drop to 1.5mg.

 

[Raindance]

I can't say I've ever suffered throat hit from anything. People complain about peach flavours giving them razors to the throat and they're all fine to me. I don't have a Concrete palate but it seems I do have a concrete throat. I suppose 37 years of smoking will do that to ya.

I have heard from sources I trust that nicotine batches vary quite widely in terms of potency. You can buy one bottle and it's fine, the next bottle of the same brand is much more potent and dials up throat hit substantially. And that's not subjective, it's from people doing actual chemical testing on nic to determine its potency.

I hear you on the nic satisfaction level, @Dietz. I used to mix at 3mg and dialed it down to 2mg. It might have reduced the harshness, I wouldn't know. But it does give less of a nic hit too. I don't mind that as I'm trying to wean myself off nic dependence. I was at a party on Sat night and took my squonker along. While I was standing outside where all the smokers/vapers were, I was puffing constantly. Then I engaged a friend in chat and we sat inside. I was pleasantly surprised that, after 90 minutes inside, I hadn't taken a puff and wasn't feeling the need to. For me, vaping is a mechanical routine and automatic reaction. Regardless of nic level, I'll vape if I'm in a situation where I can. By not taking my vape when I go out for a short while (shopping, etc) and by consciously setting aside certain activities (like watching a movie on TV) where I won't vape, I'm hoping to acclimatise to a point where 2mg nic feels like a lot and I'll be ready to drop to 1.5mg.

Similar to the above and having come from eight mg nic to the current two over the past thirty months, I also never tasted nic or suffered throat hit from it. I get mild throat hit from vapor that is too dense due to incorrect airflow, and especially harsh ones on MTL devices. Strangely, seems the same happens with too much airflow on MTL. The latter could also be a case of too low Watts. I think vapor particle size differs with temperature resulting in different throat reactions to it.

I have only ever used SkyBlue and for the past two years Clyrolinx nic so can not comment on differences between brands. Quite plausible that some resellers do not shake their hundred gallon drums properly before decanting into smaller consumer bottles.

Regards

 

[Alex]

Interesting hearing about you guys getting a throat hit on 3mg, to me anything under 6 feels like fresh air. However anything with too much Koolada gives me the worst throat irritation ever (extreme bouts of coughing). I guess we all have different reactions to various chemicals.

 

[Silver]

Interesting hearing about you guys getting a throat hit on 3mg, to me anything under 6 feels like fresh air. However anything with too much Koolada gives me the worst throat irritation ever (extreme bouts of coughing). I guess we all have different reactions to various chemicals.

Agreed @Alex
Except for me, anything under 9mg feels like air
Then again I am vaping at lower power usually

by the way I get the same irritation from Koolada. It's not for me.

 

[Adephi]

I get the same irritation from Koolada.

I still don't get any throat hit from koolada. But WS-23 gives me a harsh tingle. And I have tried 2 brands.

 

[Dietz]

I had a very interesting conversation with @Raindance on the way home today and he said something that just might be what Im looking for. The juicemakers who are established surely dont use the normal nic that we use in terms of nic strength, they are using a higher nic. and I remembered a while back that someone somewhere mentioned to me that vendors have access to 100mg Nicotine.

So now I have two theories:
1. they are premixing the VG/PG with nic and letting that steep until the joose is actually made by adding the concentrates of the recipe to the per-steeped "Premix" containing everything but the concentrate. Then that probably gets steeped a certain amount of time too. At least thats what I think and will give this a test too.
2. The joosemakers have access to a Much higher nicotine like 100mg or pure nic (I dont know, Im no scientist), which means that they are adding a fraction of the nic compared to mixing with 36mg?

Now I am hoping by tagging @Oupa , he would be able to tell us which one is closer to the right answer?
C'mon, tell us the secret to a nice smooth nic? or is it all just in our imaginations?

 

[RainstormZA]

@Dietz I have this issue where compared to my diy juices , for some reason commercial juices have a much higher flavour content where mine has less.

The higher flavour content tends to make me cough so bad. That kinda puts me off buying commercial juices. The only two places that I've not had an issue is VapeAfrica and Vape King. VapeAfrica has this most awesome strawberry glazed donut juice - was quite sweet though. Even the nic at 3mg was perfect.

I agree, I tend to puff more with less nic but as Rich pointed out, at some time sooner or later, one would need to wean off nic dependency and I have no issue vaping 0mg juices at times. I still have "some" nic in other juices to make up for that.

 

[Dietz]

@Dietz I have this issue where compared to my diy juices , for some reason commercial juices have a much higher flavour content where mine has less.

The higher flavour content tends to make me cough so bad. That kinda puts me off buying commercial juices. The only two places that I've not had an issue is VapeAfrica and Vape King. VapeAfrica has this most awesome strawberry glazed donut juice - was quite sweet though. Even the nic at 3mg was perfect.

I agree, I tend to puff more with less nic but as Rich pointed out, at some time sooner or later, one would need to wean off nic dependency and I have no issue vaping 0mg juices at times. I still have "some" nic in other juices to make up for that.

your flav experience is interesting, Ive only heard of one person who felt the same about commercial juice I think his name was Psyclown, he enjoyed the less Explosive juices. He could also not taste any Strawberry of any sort in juices.

Just come to show again that with vaping, Its all subjective

Another note is I did not think much about VapeAfrica, I bought from them once at N1 city and it was how can I say... "meh", not bad, but not great either, it was basically a single flavor mix. BUT now that you mention it, It was a 3mg juice that I got from them and it was pretty smooth to me? Maybe I shall give them another try.

 

[Friep]

Last year at the vapemeet I had a chat with Doug Powell from @Blends Of Distinction he said that the quality of the nic plays a big role and that he mixes vg based nic and pg based nic and uses the mixture in his juice also suggested steeping a premix of vg and pg.

 

[Viper_SA]

My maths may not be too great, but if I'm reading this correctly, and one were to steep nic, pg and vg in a preblend, (say at 3mg) then the nic content would come down per volume once flavouring is added therefore one might end up at 2.5%?

 

[craigb]

My maths may not be too great, but if I'm reading this correctly, and one were to steep nic, pg and vg in a preblend, (say at 3mg) then the nic content would come down per volume once flavouring is added therefore one might end up at 2.5%?

If you premix pg/vg/nic, you should know what flavor % you will be adding and create your premix stronger in such a way that the final mix will be your desired strength.

 

[RainstormZA]

Surprise surprise .

The one on the right has been steeping for more than a week with 3mg nicotine - it's for a friend.

The one on the left I just put in 3mg nicotine to test this theory.



And it's VG.

Steeping seemed to have changed the colour and I had a few toots. Wasn't too bad. A bit of a tickle but bearable.

Conclusion: the freshly added nic was worse than the one that had steeped for some time. So this definitely makes sense

 

[craigb]

Surprise surprise .

The one on the right has been steeping for more than a week with 3mg nicotine - it's for a friend.

The one on the left I just put in 3mg nicotine to test this theory.

View attachment 134208

And it's VG.

Steeping seemed to have changed the colour and I had a few toots. Wasn't too bad. A bit of a tickle but bearable.

The colour change is probably the nic oxidizing.