Revision as of 13:15, 12 January 2023 by Ass Ketchup (talk | contribs)
Instead of troubleshooting why (because there are a multitude of potential causes), I'll just offer some suggestions that will help reduce the likelihood of clogging your rig mid-shot. Because that's the worst kind of blue balls.
Use a larger gauge needle with a shorter tip. 30 is small enough for veins in the fingers and feet, 27–29 depending on individual preference for almost everywhere else, 25 for giants like the jugular or femoral veins. I like the 5/16″ shorts because less needle means less opportunity for a clog to build up between the syringe and the bevel. The 1/2″ ones work better if you're overweight or going for a leg vein, and 1″ tips are mainly reserved for femoral hits. I know all of us want as thick a shot as possible, but if you actually want to inject said shot you may have to dilute it down a little more. It's important to remember that the smaller the gauge you're using, the thinner the solution needs to be. The formula that works like a charm for me is this: crush some crystals into a fine powder and backload it into the rig, using the plunger to tamp it down until it's densely packed to your desired volume. Then pay careful attention to how much water you draw up. Mix it until your finished shot (not counting any air bubble, even if left there intentionally) has a total volume of however many units of powder were initially backloaded plus 5 additional units of water. So if I pack 40 units of powder, I add water until the solution is back to 40 units. Breaking even like that is usually the minimum it takes to even get all the meth to dissolve. To prevent clogging, I add 5 more units of water, bringing my total volume to 45 units. It makes a difference. The shot will still have a syrupy consistency but the plunger won't stick as much. Be careful not to hit the tip of the needle on anything, including when capping it.
Dinging it can imperceptibly narrow the tube inside the needle or even close it completely. Be careful to never sit on or throw it either, even of it has a cap on. If you're fishing around for a vein, keep an eye on your angle and make sure the skin isn't bending the rig at all — because not only can it mess up your point, but part of the needle could break off in the vein and travel to your heart or brain.
I find that once the shot is more than 25% blood from a lost register, I have 30 minutes or less to finish it all before it's too coagulated to make it through even a bigger gauge. So for starters, try not to lose a vein once you're in (I know, easier said than done). Stabilize the part of your body you're trying to hit, i.e. lay your hand flat against a table. Anchor the rig by squeezing it between 2+ fingers or firmly pressing it against the skin with one (ideally your thumb). Don't let it flap in the breeze while you attempt to inch your way up to draw back without jostling it. I like to guide the point in with it gripped between my pinky and middle fingers on one side and my thumb on the other. When it flashes or I feel the vein wall pop I lay it parallel to the skin, hold it there with my thumb, then use my index and middle fingers to register and push the plunger. As long as my thumb keeps pushing down I almost never fall out of the vein no matter how shaky I get. Try to not get much blood into the shot. Your goal with a register isn't to exsanguinate yourself, just to confirm you're in the vein. No more than 5 units of dark red blood is necessary, just make sure it draws up easily into the syringe since a weak trickle is not as reassuring as a rapid flow. If blood comprises >50% of the shot, cut your losses and boof it instead. Poking yourself over and over just to slam and possibly miss a watered down coagulated train wreck of a shot will only make you frustrated and fiendish. You're sure it's a clog and not resistance from the vein?
Ensure you're still in the right place by re-registering and watching the skin for any sort of bubble forming. Pain is a red flag.
Acetone wash your dope and consider switching to Luer Lock syringes with interchangeable needles so you can micron wheel filter the pre-mixed shot before hitting. Dealers will put any vaguely crystalline water soluble cut in their product and you want as little of that sludge in the shot as possible. If it can clog your rig it can clog your blood vessels.
I hope you find this somewhat helpful. Wishing you better luck with successful completion of your shots, my friend.