3 ms·

I notice a weird tar looking substance in my vape chamber sometimes. I use a 70/30 VG/PG. Not sure what it is, but makes me question things...

ce4 8y ago
It's neither the nicotine nor the pg/vg. What flavour do you vape? A sweet one? You could check without flavour or methanol-only to find out.
- soylentcola 8y ago
  Sweeteners are known for producing "coil gunk". To add to the discussion without starting another thread, count me among those who quit smoking by switching over to a vaporizer and currently only use liquid I personally mix (easier than it sounds and you can control what goes into it). Very low nicotine and minimal flavoring with no diketones or added sugars/sweeteners. The hardest part for me was the initial switch. As I understand it, the nicotine is mostly absorbed through your mouth and mucous membranes (probably closer to nicotine gum than anything) and you trade the immediate rush of nicotine for a more slow, steady dose. Smoking seems to give you a rapid, heavy dose followed by a tapering off of blood concentration. This leads to a craving an hour or two later to restart the cycle. With a vaporizer, I had to get used to not having that big "hit" of nicotine but rather a slower, steadier intake as I had a puff now and then throughout the day. Once I got past that, it all but "unwired" the typical cravings I had when I smoked. Now I still use a vaporizer in some situations when I would have smoked (when drinking, on a long drive, etc. Likely self medicating for focus in both cases) but I don't feel that cranky, annoyed feeling of really needing a smoke like I did for years after taking up the habit in college.
  - ce4 8y ago
    I'm in the exact same boat. I had a smoke free period for 7 years when I started smoking again during a period of personal stress 4 years ago. Vaping helped immensely to reverse that - I started with 13mg and slowly went to lower nicotine levels until I was down to a final 0mg (I also mix/mixed the liquid myself). Now the gear is sitting in the drawer and gets used only every couple of months... As a side effect the cigarette cravings subsided not to say have inverted completely. All in all it was almost effortless and easy.

ce4 8y ago

It's neither the nicotine nor the pg/vg. What flavour do you vape? A sweet one? You could check without flavour or methanol-only to find out.

soylentcola 8y ago
Sweeteners are known for producing "coil gunk". To add to the discussion without starting another thread, count me among those who quit smoking by switching over to a vaporizer and currently only use liquid I personally mix (easier than it sounds and you can control what goes into it). Very low nicotine and minimal flavoring with no diketones or added sugars/sweeteners. The hardest part for me was the initial switch. As I understand it, the nicotine is mostly absorbed through your mouth and mucous membranes (probably closer to nicotine gum than anything) and you trade the immediate rush of nicotine for a more slow, steady dose. Smoking seems to give you a rapid, heavy dose followed by a tapering off of blood concentration. This leads to a craving an hour or two later to restart the cycle. With a vaporizer, I had to get used to not having that big "hit" of nicotine but rather a slower, steadier intake as I had a puff now and then throughout the day. Once I got past that, it all but "unwired" the typical cravings I had when I smoked. Now I still use a vaporizer in some situations when I would have smoked (when drinking, on a long drive, etc. Likely self medicating for focus in both cases) but I don't feel that cranky, annoyed feeling of really needing a smoke like I did for years after taking up the habit in college.
- ce4 8y ago
  I'm in the exact same boat. I had a smoke free period for 7 years when I started smoking again during a period of personal stress 4 years ago. Vaping helped immensely to reverse that - I started with 13mg and slowly went to lower nicotine levels until I was down to a final 0mg (I also mix/mixed the liquid myself). Now the gear is sitting in the drawer and gets used only every couple of months... As a side effect the cigarette cravings subsided not to say have inverted completely. All in all it was almost effortless and easy.