Thinning out high VG based liquids with out killing flavor?

[Jc61990]

So for the past two months or so I switched over to higher vg ratio liquids, 80VG 20PG. I have noticed that in most of my tanks/drippers i have no problems, but in others, I seem to get some wicking problems.

I set up my kraken in "auto dripper" mode for the first time last night, and my juice is so thick it doesn't wick at all.
In my russian 91, SOMETIMES i have wicking issues, it will vape normally for a couple of minutes then ill get a dry hit. I usually loosen the top cap a few turns, watch some bubbles come up then tighten up my air draw to increase the pressure hoping that it will wick better.

So i was wondering what i could do to thin out some of my liquids so they wick better without ruining the flavor.

 

[Spazmelda]

If you are not opposed to using alcohol, a couple of drops of vodka or everclear would do a good job thinning without reducing the flavor much. Water can be used, but it's not as efficient for thinning as alcohol. There is some talk that it's not good to inhale alcohol, but it's such a tiny amount it has never worried me, just mentioning it because it's something to consider.

 

[JeremyR]

Too much wicking! I use 100 vg with 3-5% water with no issues. I imagine that brings it close to the 80/20 your using now. Your best bet is to adjust your wicking, use a fluffier wick or less wick to give you better flow. This is your best option.

 

[piggy]

I also use a touch of distilled water. Although taste isn't affected, I find there is vapor production drop off.

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

If you are not opposed to using alcohol, a couple of drops of vodka or everclear would do a good job thinning without reducing the flavor much. Water can be used, but it's not as efficient for thinning as alcohol. There is some talk that it's not good to inhale alcohol, but it's such a tiny amount it has never worried me, just mentioning it because it's something to consider.

You mention vodka as a better juice thinner then water..... and you say add a couple of drops..... a couple of drops of vodka to how much 100% vg are you thinking?

 

[Spazmelda]

You mention vodka as a better juice thinner then water..... and you say add a couple of drops..... a couple of drops of vodka to how much 100% vg are you thinking?

Um... Hmm... Well, I use 4% vodka in my 50/50 juices, which would be 4 ml to 100 ml. So that would be .4 ml to 10 ml or .2 ml to 5 ml. You might be able to get away with less, since it seems your liquid is almost thin enough as is. I'd probably just transfer a tanks worth of juice to another container and add a couple of drops of vodka. Swirl it around and see how it does in your set up. Try the same with water and see how that does.

Or, adjust your wick as someone suggested above. That can make a big difference too.

 

[ElConquistador]

I am using Boba's Bounty 100% VG in my Russian. I usually have to re-wick (cotton) almost every tank. About 1 out of 4 new wicks does what you describe...vapes fine for a while then I get a burned taste. The problem seems to be that with a thicker juice, there is very little tolerance for error in the wicks, can't be too thick and can't be too thin, but when the wick's right, it vapes like a charm until the coils gunk up. With a good wick, when things start tasting funky, I find that the wick is like new but the coil is pretty nasty.

 

[catlady60]

I'd get a smaller bottle of the same flavor with the same strength of nicotine, only in a high PG "version." Then I'd mix the high PG juice with the existing high VG stuff, thus thinning it out some.

 

[Jc61990]

Um... Hmm... Well, I use 4% vodka in my 50/50 juices, which would be 4 ml to 100 ml. So that would be .4 ml to 10 ml or .2 ml to 5 ml. You might be able to get away with less, since it seems your liquid is almost thin enough as is. I'd probably just transfer a tanks worth of juice to another container and add a couple of drops of vodka. Swirl it around and see how it does in your set up. Try the same with water and see how that does.

This is more of what i was thinking of doing. I don't want to thin the entire bottle, mostly just the tank full im vaping at that time. Does it make a difference what proof vodka to use? I don't think I have everclear, and I could always make some distilled water, don't really feel like buying a gallon for just a few drops.

 

[Spazmelda]

Higher proof will thin better, but here in ohio we are limited. I think what I use is 150 proof. It was the highest proof I could get at the liquor store.

 

[JeremyR]

I just use regular filtered water, I'm not concerned with distilled unless I plan on storing the liquid for longer than a month

However I regularly use straight vg and if you have the proper amount of wicking in the channels and in the coil you will have no issue. Make sure the coil isn't too tight on the wick vg likes it a little looser.

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

Um... Hmm... Well, I use 4% vodka in my 50/50 juices, which would be 4 ml to 100 ml. So that would be .4 ml to 10 ml or .2 ml to 5 ml. You might be able to get away with less, since it seems your liquid is almost thin enough as is. I'd probably just transfer a tanks worth of juice to another container and add a couple of drops of vodka. Swirl it around and see how it does in your set up. Try the same with water and see how that does.

Or, adjust your wick as someone suggested above. That can make a big difference too.

are you spying on me? how do you know my juice is pretty thin as is?

maybe you saw that i squonk, i dunno ... i'm just a curious kind of guy that wants to know everything... your right it is good as is but you never know i might just need to use this little tip when it comes back around to winter.... i tried distilled water a while back at 10% but almost certain i could taste the water in the juice like when you have a watered down drink

 

[Spazmelda]

are you spying on me? how do you know my juice is pretty thin as is?

maybe you saw that i squonk, i dunno ... i'm just a curious kind of guy that wants to know everything... your right it is good as is but you never know i might just need to use this little tip when it comes back around to winter.... i tried distilled water a while back at 10% but almost certain i could taste the water in the juice like when you have a watered down drink

Oh, I was confused. Thought you were the op who said he'd get a couple of good hits, then a dry one. Lol. Or maybe I am just all seeing.

 

[SLIPPY_EEL]

phew! im glad of that... i was getting all paranoid!!....just checked no one was in my juice cupboard

Oh, I was confused. Thought you were the op who said he'd get a couple of good hits, then a dry one. Lol. Or maybe I am just all seeing.

 

[Jc61990]

Just changed the wick in my russian, used a little less cotton than I normally do, this time I got dry hits a lot sooner. Popped off the top and put a few drops of filtered water, the eLiquid definitely seems less viscous and still has the same exact vape as before, except this time I can open up the air flow a lot more now. Thank you everyone for the tips!

 

[JeremyR]

There a lot of differnt factors in how the wick is set up and its best to examin it before you pull it to try to identify where the problem was.. Maybe on that attempt it was to loose in the coil. Make sure you soak it down well and check for a
Nice fitment in the coil and around the deck. Make sure you've got no shoulders at the coil.