My New Setup ego K + MT3s

I've just put together this set up and I love it so much that I wanted to share it! I think it is quite aesthetically pleasing and it performs very well! This setup is a 900mAh ego King-Series in spiral paired with a Kanger MT3s clearomizer in green. Combined with some juice I got from a local shop, I'm getting the most vapor out of anything that I have tried so far! I want to start looking around for a dark blue Kanger, I think it will look even better!

The Kanger MT3s is an upgrade from the old MT3 model and it now features a two-piece base and head, making it cheaper to rebuild. It's design also makes it a bit rugged, which is good for me as I have a tendency to drop things! Also, I realized when I went to fill the tank that the atomizer on this looks to be the same as the ones on the Eonsmoke Eternity tanks, so it is possible that those can be rebuilt using these parts! (something that I intend to test in the near future!)

Kanger MT3s - $6.99, Flash Vapor

ego King series - $12.00, MoebiusDX (eBay)

The Anatomy of an E-Juice

I've been vaping for over a month now, and I can easily say that there is still a lot of information out there that I still don't know.  One of those tidbits of information was the ingredients in e-juice.  Sure, they are listed on the bottle for all to see, but it is one thing to know what is in something and another to understand what that ingredient really is or does.  I've been doing some research into what e-juice is and why it is made the way it is and I think that I have gained some insight into the anatomy of an e-juice.

Most e-juices will be made of variations of the same 3-5 ingredients.  They are a base (usually PG, VG, or a mixture of both), water, flavoring, and nicotine.  The folowing will outline and anylize the different parts of the solution.  The most confusion and misunderstanding seems to come from the actual base of the liquid, so we will start there.

E-Juice Base

As stated above, a base of either propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG) or both is used.  (Polyethylene glycol was once used as a base, but use of it was mostly discontinued over wide-spread concern over its effects on health.)  These compounds are used as a base due to their hygroscopic abilities.  Being hygroscopic, they can draw and hold the water molecules from their surrounding environment that then gets turned into vapor.  (This also means that  they can draw water out of your body when you vape too, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids!)  The PG and VG also help to hold the ingredients in the e-juice solution together, so that they don't separate.  While propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin both achieve the same end goal in e-juice, the two are are not the same overall, so let's take a closer look at each one:

• Propylene Glycol - Propylene glycol is an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, classified as a double alcohol, with the chemical formula C3N8O2.  PG is colorless and tasteless.  It is made as a result of a reaction of propylene oxide and water.  It is generally recognized as safe by the FDA and there is no evidence of PG being carcinogenic or genotoxic.  It is non-corrosive, has very low volatility, and has very low toxicity.  Large quantities of PG (much larger then even a day's worth of vaping) must be taken to give cause for even small health concerns.  It is so safe, in fact, that the EPA has approved it for inhalation and it has been used as a base in inhaler and nebulizer solutions since the 1950's.  Propylene glycol is easily metabolized by the body's normal processes and it is broken down into pyruvic acid, acetic acid, and propionaldehyol.  Of the three, only propionaldehyol has the potential to be dangerous, but it is present in such small amounts for any concerns to be negligible.  As well as Asthma medications, PG is also traditionally used as a humectant, a solvent, and as a preservative in food and tobacco products and in oral, injectable, and topical medications.
  
  There is one other use for PG, and this use has garnered propylene glycol a bad name with some folks.  It can also lower the freezing point of water, so it is often used as an ingredient in certain kinds of anti-freeze.  I say certain here because people seem to have failed to see that the anti-freezes that PG is used in are all non-toxic and environmentally friendly.  In fact, because it is so non-toxic, it is the ingredient of choice for RV and marine anti-freezes.  

• Vegetable Glycerin - Vegetable Glycerin is an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, classified as an alcohol, with the chemical formula C3H8O3.  In the United States, it is also classified as a carbohydrate as it provides calories, but does not provide fat or protein.  VG is thick and has a sweet taste.  It is made from vegetable oil, often palm or coconut, that is heated, with water, under pressure.  It is often created as a side product of soap making.  VG is one of the most benign of all organic liquids.  It is hypo-allergenic, non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-teratogenic.  Vegetable glycerin is often used in food products (often with the name glycerol) as it adds sweetness wile adding very few calories.  It also does not contribute to tooth decay and it has less of an effect on blood sugar levels as it is slower to metabolize then sucrose.  VG is metabolized through beta-oxidation and the process produces carbon dioxide and water.  It is also used in topical remedies for psoriasis, rashes, burns, bedsores, and cuts as well as in cough medicines (as it has soothing properties).  It is also used in laxatives, suppositories, and to treat gum disease.  VG can also be used to lower the freezing point of water.

In e-juices, propylene glycol has become more popular then vegetable glycerin as it is the thinner of the two.  (Although VG is chosen over the two as the organic option.)  Being thinner, it is thought that PG bases are more easily absorbed by the wicks, leaving less chance of a dry puff.  Using PG over VG can also help extend the life of your atomizer as the thicker VG can leave more gunky buildup on it.  Propylene Glycol also carries certain flavors better as the sweetness of vegetable glycerin can lessen the intensity of those flavors.  The main trade-off though is throat hit vs visible vapor.  PG will provide a much more intense throat hit, simulating the effects of smoke hitting the back of your throat, while VG provides a much larger cloud of visible vapor, also mimicking smoke.  Because of these different perks, many manufacturers will use a mixture of both PG and VG in their e-juices.  

Nicotine

It is important to note that while e-juice can contain nicotine, they don't have to.  Traditionally, e-juices have varying levels of nicotine, usually at levels of 0mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg, 24mg, and 36mg.  To help understand what this means, here is a chart that I pulled from Vaper Train:

0mg/mL Nicotine: This means that there is no nicotine in your E-Liquid mixture. Zero nicotine levels are usually ordered by people who have quit smoking but still have an oral fixation and use an electronic cigarette to satisfy it.

6mg/mL Nicotine: This level of nicotine is the lightest level offered. For people who wish to enjoy the smallest possible nicotine level while still enjoying a full E-liquid taste. This is commonly the last level in "stepping."

12mg/mL Nicotine: On the lower end of the spectrum, 12mg/ml is a comfortable level for people who prefer nicotine, but aren't heavy vapers. This level is also common for people who used to smoke light cigarettes.

18mg/ml Nicotine: This is the middle of the road in terms of nicotine. Most vapers who were former smokers enjoy this level because it delivers the perfect amount of nicotine in each vape.

24mg/ml Nicotine: This is on the high side of nicotine levels and is commonly preferred by people who were formally heavy smokers (about a pack per day). It has a noticeable nicotine level that many former smokers enjoy.

36mg/ml Nicotine: This is the highest concentration of nicotine that we offer our customers. People who prefer this level are usually former smokers with a serious addiction, usually meaning more than two packs per day.

Please note that these are just common levels of nicotine as there are many companies out there that offer nicotine at levels other then the ones listed (for instance, I purchased an e-juice with 30mg of nicotine from Sweet Vapes).  It is also important to note that many tests have found nictine levels in e-juices that vary from what is printed on the bottle (this is one problem that regulation may fix, though I'm sure it would also create a host of other problems and changes).

Flavoring

While I am sure that the chemicals used in e-juices vary from vendor to vendor and flavor to flavor, only compounds approved by the FDA for use in flavoring food and drink should be found in e-juices!

That leaves us with our last ingredient, which is water.  I'm pretty sure that we all know about water, so I won't discuss it in detail here!  You can see though that despite arguments as to the safety of e-juices, nothing in them seems to be harmful (except maybe the nicotine, though when used like it is in vaping, it's effects are almost the same as using caffeine!).  As long as you stick with reputable manufacturers, nothing other then these ingredients should be found!

Sources:
Canada Vapes
EC Blend
E-Juice Connoiseur
Mist Hub
Vape Ranks
Vaper Train

Wikipedia - Hygroscopy
Wikipedia - Propylene Glycol
Wikipedia - Vegetable Glycerine

Eonsmoke Frost

Brand Name:     Eonsmoke
Product Name:   Frost
Product Type:    E-Juice
Size:                  15 ml
Strength:            24 mg
Price:                 $8.99
Purchased at:     Milton Lukoil
                          5725 Berkshire Valley Rd,
                          Oak Ridge, NJ 07428

                          (973)208-1006

When describing this flavor on the website, Eonsmoke had this to say: "If you like Menthol or Mint we know you'll fall in love with Frost. A mixture of mint, menthol, and tobacco the Frost smoke juice is a must try."  Well, I can honestly say that they weren't kidding about the mint!  If you ask me though, a better description is "woah mint!".  In fact, this liquid is so minty, that after vapeing it for a while, you can actually feel a cooling sensation in your throat and chest.  That is not to say it is bad though.  It is just too minty for me on its own.  I have mixed it with other flavors (blueberry wasn't bad) and have been fine with it.

Perhaps a benefit (at least for me) of "woah mint" is that the cooling sensation helps to mask the throat hit.  As I find typical of Eonsmoke products, this liquid seems to produce smaller amounts of vapor.  As such, it is beneficial to use when you need to stealth vape (which I resort to alot).

Ecto Blueberry E-Juice

So long has passed now since I began my journey to become an ex-smoker and yet it doesn't feel very long at all.  I am on my second day of two cigarettes. Even though I still feel like I want them, after taking a few drags I feel more grossed out then anything else.  My last cigarette is scheduled for this coming Saturday, but I may try to completely quit as early as tomorrow so that I don't have to buy another pack. If I do, there will be leftovers and I don't want either the waste or the temptation.  Either way, it is all thanks, in part, to this:

Brand Name:     Ecto
Product Name:   Blueberry
Product Type:    E-Juice
Size:                  12 ml
Strength:            24 mg
Price:               $8.99
Purchased at:    Serenity Smoke Shop
                        1360 State Route 23,
                        Butler, NJ    

                        07405
                        (973)368-8912

This bottle was my very first e-juice purchase.  Remember, I thought that the Eonsmoke Eternity pen I bought would come with the e-juice and I assumed one of Eonsmoke's liquids would be my first try. Serenity did not carry Eonsmoke and I didn't know any other brands, so I just went for a flavor that I liked that was at a high nicotine strength and a reasonable price; I didn't know what else to look for. Well, I'm happy to say that I am quite happy with my choice!

While I think there could be some room for tweaking the flavor a tiny bit, the blueberry taste is great! It isn't sweet like candy but tastes almost like a blueberry jam. It does have a strange, almost bitter aftertaste (which is why I suggested the flavor could use a slight tweak) but it is not too bad and is ignorable.

The Ecto Blueberry 24mg gives a good amount of vapor, more then the Eonsmoke liquids that I have tried. It provides a throat hit that for me was a bit strong, but I think that I don't do well with the strong throat hits.  All in all I was satisfied with my random purchase, though I have little to compare it to!

The Ecto website does not seem to offer their product for sale, but it does offer some unique services, like printing your own labels. It is definitely worth checking out!  http://www.ectoworld.com

Random Beginner Vapeing Trivia

Wow, has it been a while since I posted! It was not intentional, I had perhaps the worst reaction to Poison Ivy that I have ever had, and though I tried several times to sit down and write a post, I just couldn't concentrate on it. I'm almost back to 100% though; no more fever and no more exhaustion from constantly dosing myself with Benadryl! 

Amazingly, even with all of my misery, I have been able to stick to my plan and am now smoke-free! I have not smoked a cigarette in over a week now, since about 8:00 the morning of Saturday, June 14th!! There have definitely been moments that were harder then others, like that first Monday when I found myself searching through the car hoping I dropped a cigarette or forget one that I clipped (luckily my car was cigarette free), but I've made it through! Of course even just writing about a cigarette I now have a craving, but I know that it will pass.

Since I have taken my little blogging hiatus, I have decided that it might be a good idea to explain some of the things that I have learned, some through trial and error. They are as follows: 

• Atomizers/Clearomizers don't last forever!

This was not something that I had ever took into consideration and I'm not really sure why, but I believe that I have reached the end of my first, and then my second, clearomizer.  I got the same burnt taste from the first that I used to use to signal myself that the cartridge needed to be changed on my Eonsomke e-cigs. I got the taste once or twice one day but it quickly went away. The next day, every pull I took gave the taste. The second clearomizer occasionally gives a burnt taste, but not always. I stopped using it all the same. I believe there are several methods to clean these and I may try to clean them using one of these ways at some point to see if I can get some life back into them. I'll let you know of my results when I do. Needless to say though, I now carry an extra clearomizer with me everywhere just in case.

• Sometimes the tank just leaks!

I purchased an eGo-T battery with a ce4 tank on eBay.  The kit was generic, not being branded with a name.  I figured I may be taking a risk, but it was very reasonably priced so it was worth a try.  It worked well, but right away I noticed that I was going through e-juice much more quickly then with my Eternity pen. At first I chocked it up to being from the wicks. They were much longer then I was used to as the ce4 is a much different set up with longer wicks. I thought they just sucked the liquid up and that was where it went. Until, that is, I noticed it coming down the sides of the battery.  I screwed the tank off and noticed that liquid had pooled into the hole where it screws on. Thinking I had perhaps filled it wrong, I emptied the tank and let it sit for a week, occasionally blowing in both ends to clear any remaining liquid out. (I figured if I had gotten liquid in the wrong place, more would follow the same path.). Once I stopped hearing liquid move around and deemed it dry, I filled it again with the same results. I suppose there are just some bad ones in a batch.  Even my Eonsmoke tanks start to leak just a tiny bit after some use. I just wipe the tip of the battery off and ignore it.

•It is illegal to vape indoors in NJ

I stumbled onto this one while searching the web and hadn't heard of it before, even though the law has been on the books for 4 years. Governor Christie added electronic cigarettes to the anti-smoking laws in the state, leaving vapers only able to vape in certain indoor places (like casinos or stores designated as e-cig stores).  This is hardly enforceable, however, as stealth vaping is so easily pulled off (my favorite place is the movie theatre...or any bathroom).

•Different liquids have different throat hits

One of the ingredients in e-juice effects how harshly the vapor hits your throat. I have seen two different ingredients listed as doing so, PG and Nicotiene. I have seen more reference to it being the nicotine content, so I am leaning towards that. I think that the amount of PG effects vapor production. I have to do more reading and playing around with different juices to be sure.

I'm just as sure that this is a small sample of what I have really learnt as I am that it is just a small parcel of what there is to learn. As I continue my journey in the world of vapeing I am sure I will have lots more that I will be eager to share!

Whole Tobacco Alkaloids (WTAs)

Remember in my first post when I had stated that I thought that there must be something in cigarettes other then nicotine that is addictive?  Apparently I was on to something!  There were so many smoker-turned-vapers that were complaining of having cravings that traditional nicotine only e-juice couldn't satisfy that researchers have developed a new type of e-juice that contains more of the alkaloids contained in tobacco (and by new, I mean within the past few years, it just hasn't been widely available).  Where regular e-juice focuses on just the nicotine alkaloid, Whole Tobacco Alkaloid (or WTA) e-juice uses a special chemical process to isolate and extract the other minor alkaloids in tobacco.  The end result is an e-juice that more closely mimics the calming effects experienced through smoking that is missing for some vapers.  I have seen the extraction process reported as being somewhat dangerous and it needs to be overseen by an experienced chemist.

I have been searching to try to find out just what these alkaloids are and what they might do.  One vendor of WTA e-juice, Mothers Milk WTA, lists their product as containing, besides nicotine,  Nornicotine, Anabasine, and Anatabine; all alkaloids (naturally occurring organics that contain nitrogen) of tobacco.  The minor alkaloids are said to create a synergy with nicotine and are indeed different metabolites of the substance.  The difference between these other alkaloids and Nicotine is that once ingested, nicotine has a half life of 1-2 hours while  the minor alkaloids have a half life of 4-12 hours (dependent on an individual's body chemistry).  The minor alkaloids are less present in tobacco then nicotine is, however, the levels build up in a regular user's system much faster then nicotine due to their longer half life.

Although WTA liquids do contain chemical in them that are not present in other e-juices, it is important to remember that these compounds are contained in tobacco smoke and are being ingested in smokers anyway.  If you are a smoker becoming a vaper, this does not make a difference and the WTA e-juice may help to make the transition period smother.  Non-smokers new to vaping should probably stay away from WTA liquid as there is no need to take in unnecessary extra chemicals.

I am curious about WTA e-liquid and am playing around with the idea of ordering some to test it out.  I will certainly do this if I begin to have trouble adjusting to vaping only once I am weened off of cigarettes.  I have still been having success with the quitting plan laid out for me be my LIVESTRONG MyQuit app, though I am going to have to adjust it.  I want Saturday, June 14th to be my last day to smoke a cigarette and no matter how many times I redo my plan with that day in mind, the app keeps on setting my date for 0 cigarettes before that.  The last time I adjusted it I accidentally deleted all my data, so I'm not going to keep trying to change it.  I'm going to do 2 more days of 3 cigarettes, then I'll drop to 2.  I am at least happy to know that others had the same problem that I once experienced and that someone out there came up with a solution!

Some online vendors of WTA e-juice:

Aroma eJuice
Mothers Milk WTA
Vapelicious
WholeCig

**Please note, at the time of this post, I have not had experience dealing with any of these listed vendors and cannot comment on quality or service!**

________________________________________________________________________________

Eonsmoke Eternity Kit

Here it is as promised, my review on the Eonsmoke Eternity Kit Vapor Pen!  For two weeks now, this little baby has helped me significantly cut down on my cigarette smoking.  Yesterday was my last day at 4 cigarettes, now I'm onto 3 days of 3 cigarettes each before dropping down again to 2.  I modified my quit plan again, but only because the app had me cutting down to zero a week before I wanted to.  The days have been hard to get through, but with support, I've made it!  One step closer to being a full-time vaper!

Brand Name:     Eon smoke
Product Name:   Eternity Kit
Product Type:    Vapor Pen
Price:               $23.98
Purchased at:    Lake Wanda Store
                        812 Canistear Road,
                        Highland Lakes, NJ    

                        07422
                        (973)764-4777

Ah, Eonsmoke!  It was a logical choice for me for my first Vapor Pen as Eonsmoke was my brand of choice back when I was using e-cigarettes.  That, and the brand has exploded into brick and mortar stores everywhere, including the local deli, The Lake Wanda Store, where I usually buy my cigarettes.  It couldn't have been easier!

The kit comes with everything you need to get started: a refillable tank with an atomizer, a battery (in black, purple, or blue), a USB charger, and a coupon for 15% off your first 3 orders on their website.  Well, everything you need, that is, except for some e-juice! The Eonsmoke Economy Kit, the starter kit for their e-cigarettes, comes with two cartridges, so I was expecting the Eternity Kit to also come with e-juice. Oh well, that just meant another stop later!  The vaper pen did not come charged, so I had to wait to use it anyway.

The directions were printed on the back of the box, had pictures, and were simple enough to follow. The only thing it doesn't explain is how to tell when the battery is low, which I still can't figure out.  When the pen is too low to power, the lights at the end of the pen and on the power button flash three times to let you know, but that is your only warning.  It would really be nice to know the pen is running low before it dies, so you don't have to wait the two hours for it to charge when you are jonesing for nicotine. I know that there are batteries out there that are capable of this, but perhaps the Eternity battery is not.

One feature that I think is great is the ability to turn the whole thing off. Pressing the power button 5 times in 1.5 seconds, achieved by rapidly pressing the button in quick succession, turns the pen on and off. This helps to protect the battery and atomizer, thus keeping them in working order for longer and making it safe to carry in your pocket.  Another plus is the available extra, colored tanks. (I found them for $4.99 at the Lukoil on Bershire Valley Road in Oak Ridge, NJ). This allows you to have multiple flavors on hand and allows you to keep them color coded for easy identification.  Alternatively, you could use the colors to coordinate your tank (and battery!) to your outfit.

Another big plus is that this battery is also compatable with Eonsmoke's e-cigarette cartridges. This is exciting for me as my old favorite flavor, Mojito, is not available in a liquid so I can still use it in cartridge form!  Also, if you run out of juice in a place where you can't easily fill your tank, you can just keep a cartridge on hand and twist it on. I haven't tried this yet but you can see pictures on the website. It makes the pen look funny, but this feature definitely opens up other possibilities!

The only other downsides I see to this vapor pen are problems with dirt. There are activities I enjoy where I get dirty, like gardening or car repair, that I could smoke a cigarette while doing.  With dirty hands, I am afraid to use the pen. There are air holes near the button that I suppose shouldn't be clogged. Besides that, I find that dirt from my pocket gets into the hole in the mouth piece. Some careful work with a q-tip can easily clean it out though.

All in all the Eonsmoke Eternity pen is easy to use and I am quite satisfied, though I can see myself eventually upgrading to something else, if only to get more warning when the battery is getting low. Now if only I could get over the anxiety I get when filling the tank! (More on that when I review my first e-juice!)