Been to heaven, but now looking hell in the face.

[flipflop]

Hi,
What can I say, it's been a long long time since I posted anything on here.
Hopefully some of you will remember me and welcome me back with open arms.
I have been gone for some time now, but every now and again I'd log on and take a peek.

my username name is flipflop, but call me Ian if you like.
I have been off the nasties for just over 1 year now and on the whole doing quite well. Infact until these last couple of days, having a nasty never even entered my mind.
I started vaping on about 16 mg then quickly moved up to around 24 mg, then levelled off again at around 16 mg. over the last 6 months, I have been slowly dropping my nicotine level bit by bit until I reached 4 mg which is what it's at now.

I started on Riva's then switched to mods then returned to the Riva style batteries for there ease of use and so.
I have tried cartomizers, atomisers, stardust(or whatever they were called) and many other types and for the most part, enjoyed them all.
Any time I struggled with a particular setup, I would revert back to the simple cartomizer.

At first I bought pre-made juices from various suppliers, but soon opted for the DIY option of making my own. And, for the most part, it's gone really well.

Since stopping the nasties, I have saved a friggin fortune, felt 100% healthier, don't feel like an outcast, and I smell much better (well I hope I do).

BUT, this is where I need help (if any of you are willing to help a long lost soul that thought he'd cracked it and could manage on his own).

I am struggling like crazy and am craving a nasty.

Because I'm down to 4 mg, I don't feel like I get any throat hit any more, and I miss it like crazy.
The setup I'm using( Riva + cartomizer) just doesn't feel good enough at the moment.
I have been making my own juice with various flavours with RY4 being the main flavour ingredient, but I'm starting to go off any mixture I seem to make.

The help I need is quite simply this:

Do I just increase the nicotine strength of my juices to get the throat hit? Or is there another way?
Is there a better setup than the Riva + cartomizer, keeping in mind that I want it kept simple and fairly discrete and
I go through somewhere between 4ml and 6ml a day of juice, so a setup where the fewer refills the better.
I know taste is different with everyone, but can anyone recommend a few really great flavours to get my enjoyment of vaping back to where it was in the early days.

I feel like I'm being cheeky asking you all for help considering I have been away for so long, but I just don't know where else to turn, other than popping to shop to buy some nasties.
And I really don't want to do that.
Please help.
Thanks

[Jemima]

ooooo I remember you how you been ?

Have you tried a riva twist ? maybe upping the voltage a little when you struggle could do the job. They are riva style so wouldn't look terribly different to what you prefer just a little longer. Or depending on the juice your mixing a higher pg ratio or a spot of vodka might help. It seems a few people start to feel the difference when they go low nic so hopefully lots more useful tips and more helpfull advice will be along shortly

[Anne (fuzzy)]

Welcome back Ian. I use 8mg and don't get much TH, but it doesn't bother me, I tend to vape mostly for the flavours. Have you considered a VV e.cig instead of a riva? Something with a bit more 'oomph' would make a difference.

[giles]

Welcome back Ian. Of course we are happy to help if we can.

With newbies throat hit is often about how you vape, but I imagine you've done all that.

A variable volt, like a twist or spinner would let you up the volts, give you a bit more power. They are a little longer than an ego with the same mah, so if you are currently using an 1100 mah you might like to try 900 mah, if 900 then 650 (I wouldn't go lower than 650). A lower resistance cart (or whatever) will also give you more power - lower res is best used with variable voltage.

I like vivi novas with dual coil (I got the coils from Viking - I already had the novas). With a twist or spinner you'd want the mini nova (the full size looks a bit silly). Holds 2ml if you top it right up.

If you mix your own then you probably know that PG gives more throat hit than VG and that diluting VG with vodka rather than water helps.

Then again, you could just say sod it and increase the nic again. It may actually be the nic you are missing anyway - your body has to find some way to tell your brain it wants more nic, and throat hit is a way for it to do that.

[flipflop]

Thanks for the help guys,

I'm currently looking at the mini vivis. I've never used them before, but I like the idea of them. I just hope they don't leak.

Jemima, I'm looking into the vv twist or something similar, but I'm not sure what's best.

I think I'm going to have to buy some pre mixed juice and leave my mixing skills on the back burner or a while. Time to try some new flavours I think.
Are there any places that will make juice at a requested strength?

Gilles, when it comes to the vivi novas and dual coils, I'm not sure what you mean. What would I need and where would I get them. Sorry for acting like a complete noob.

Anne, without going for a mod, what vv would you recommend.

Thanks again.
When you've been away for as long as I have, you forget how helpful people are on this site.
Huge thanks
Ian

[Deleted]

Vapeology will make at any strength.

[genguskhan]

Hi Ian

Giles hit on the head I think

www.esmokeuk.co.uk/shop/article_64/Vivi-Nova-mini-2ml-Tank-Set.html?sessid=kjj5rDJC2VPmOHdFG14y0mqdcqzPx7grYlUfZ6ngrZteVyMYiWjcoUYejwURCdLa&shop_param=cid%3D14%26aid%3D64%26

www.esmokeuk.co.uk/shop/article_5/Vivi-Nova-Dual-Coil-Head.html?sessid=kjj5rDJC2VPmOHdFG14y0mqdcqzPx7grYlUfZ6ngrZteVyMYiWjcoUYejwURCdLa&shop_param=cid%3D14%26aid%3D5%26

Hope that helps

I normaly buy all my stuf from VE but tried these and no leeks so far and good build quality. The only problem is that the heads are the wrong size from the VE ones.

[kibbster]

Hi and welcome back

I've found that low resistance dual coils can provide quite a kick to them as well as running higher voltage for warmer vapour.

The main thing for me that causes TH though is nic level, I vape 24mg at work during the day but no way can I vape it with the VV mods, I vape it in a gripper or I get too much TH.

[thundercat]

Diablo Loco addition to your juice - thats what you need. Nuf sed.







Pm me your address and I'll send you a little sample to try.

[Phoenix .]

Hi flipflop, I remember you welcome back.

I would recommend the Twist, it is variable so you can get the oomph you need., I use Kanger MT3 Clearomiser which are bottom fill and do not leak.
With regards to wanting a nasty, I would get some tobacco juice ( I use Old Holborn) 10mg that I use when I am needing something else and try to increase your strength just for such occasions.

Most vendors let you choose your own strength and PG/VG mix. I use Vape Space 5mg 50/50 PG/VG.

Hope this helps

[Toondog]

+1 for vapology you get to pick PG/VG plus nic strength all the way down to zero in 2mg in increments if I remember correctly. You can also add flavours etc. good code on the go at the mo aaec gives you 24% off.
Chris.
www.vapology.co.uk/

[Chrissie]

Of course we remember you Flipflop & it's good to see you again

[GunJack]

get 100% PG juice, maybe temp up the nic content, use a tobacco flavour, and possibly use a vv battery....should do the trick

[jeanie]

I'm finding Pure Perfection Ultra from Health-e-Vape very good for extra throat hit.

www.health-e-vape.co.uk/pure-perfection-e-liquid-108-c.asp

[chrisde]

Up the nic. When was the last time you asked the barista about the coffeine level in your espresso?