.
A few tips I think are good for first timers. This is not really a primer about how to DIY, and it will certainly not tell you everything you need to know. In fact, most of this is stuff you don't need to know; it is just a list of bullet points that I think might be helpful, perhaps allowing you to enjoy the DIY learning curve, rather than suffering through it.
Regarding flavor percentages, it varies a lot with what you are using. One question often asked is, "How much flavoring should i use in my mixes?" Seriously, no one can abswer that question without knowing which flavorings you are asking about. Some need 15% or more, others are disgustingly strong at 5%. First resource is the place where you bought it and/or the manufacturer's website. See if they provide a recommended percentage range, then start at the low end and work your way up. The problem with too much flavoring is that sometimes that will make it taste less like what it is supposed to. Hoosier's blog (see link below) has a good flavor troubleshooting guide that explains the process.
The other resource for recommendations is the ECF DIY forum. There is a spreadsheet around somewhere with some recommendations for a whole bunch of flavorings, and you can get advice for many flavors by posting a question that includes the name(s) and brand(s) of the flavoring in the title. That will get you the most responses from people that have used them. But even then you may need to experiment a bit to find what works best for you, since taste is very subjective and what works for one person might not work for someone else.
Recommended Reading
Safety first; read these posts if you have not already done so (maybe read them again anyway). These will get you up to speed on what not to do:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/announcements-news/144783-warning-e-liquid-diy-safety.html.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/127760-diy-warning-please-read.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/277267-purity-pg-vg-peg-short-version.html
These blogs were created by seasoned DIY veterans that have answered zillions of questions about the basics of DIY e-juice in this forum. This is the information they felt was useful enough to put into blog posts, instead of typing the same thing thousands of times:
E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs
E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs
I also have a blog explaining some of the fundamental chemistry terms and concepts you may find useful.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/boletus/6858-basic-chemistry-diy-beginners.html
A few tips I think are good for first timers. This is not really a primer about how to DIY, and it will certainly not tell you everything you need to know. In fact, most of this is stuff you don't need to know; it is just a list of bullet points that I think might be helpful, perhaps allowing you to enjoy the DIY learning curve, rather than suffering through it.
- Start slow. Do the reading (see links below), and then post any questions you develop. I am not going to reiterate the safety precautions here, but it is more than worth your time to know those things. And if you are not a chemist, the blogs linked below will explain some important things in terms that normal humans can understand. Additionally, there are a lot of great vendors from whom you can buy supplies that are discussed in the DIY forum, and there are some lousy ones out there too (you probably won't read about them on ECF, but they exist); time spent reading general threads on the DIY forum about suppliers is well worth it.
- Start slow. When you make your first purchase, don't pile up on labware and flavors. You can get started with a couple of disposable syringes, some empty bottles from pre-made juice, and some VG and/or PG. Nicotine base, if you will use it, and a few flavorings will round it out. Clear packing tape over the markings of disposable syringes will keep them usable for a long time.
- Start slow. Make your first mix a small batch of unflavored, and vape some of it. You may like it (I do), but even if not, that allows you to check the quality and flavor of those ingredients. If you can, vape a couple of drops of your PG and/or VG by themselves. Each has a flavor of its own, and some brands/sources are better than others. If one of them is nasty, it's much better to know that now than after mixing up a bunch of juices.
- Start slow. Do single flavor mixes of each flavoring before combining them. Once you really know each flavor, you will have much more success at combining them into recipes. Start at a low percentage and work your way up. Many vendors provide recommended % ranges, and for others you can post a question in the DIY forum.
- Start slow. Do not even think about making a large batch (>10 ml) of something until you know you will like it. What tastes like heaven to one person may be disgusting to someone else. At the same time, do not try to make your first mixes in really small amounts (<5 ml); the precision required to make those work requires a bit of skill that takes time to develop
- Start slow. Download one or more of the calculator applications and practice with some imaginary recipes. That may generate some more questions you will want to have answered before your first mix.
- Think about where you will do your mixing and how you will clean up, deal with potential spills, and generally avoid making yourself or others sick.
- When you post questions on the ECF DIY forum, it can be helpful to make the thread title as specific as possible. There are many helpful people that don't have time to read and respond to every post, but if they see a thread title about something they have experience with, they will be more likely to chime in.
- If you want help with a specific mix or recipe, include as much detail as possible: base nic concentration and PG/VG content; desired final nic concentration, PG/VG ratio, and volume (ml); and amounts of each flavoring and additive are all relevant. For the flavorings, mention the brand as well as the name of the flavor; there are a ton of RY4 flavorings, for example, and many of them bear little or no resemblance to each other.
- Start hoarding empty e-juice bottles immediately. Sure you could buy them, but why?
- Think about your motivation(s) for DIY-ing: Are you seriously trying to save money? Are you mostly concerned about health issues and want maximum control over what you vape? Are you looking for a creative hobby to play with? Are you a gourmet vaper that wants to create the most delicious juice ever? Maybe all of those things are true, but determining your priorities before diving in will probably save you time and money.
- Steeping is not just for tea. Many flavors require steeping to develop properly, while some do not. The blogs linked below will tell you everything you need to know about that to get started.
- You may well make a mix or two that is disgusting to you; don't sweat it. Learn and move on.
Regarding flavor percentages, it varies a lot with what you are using. One question often asked is, "How much flavoring should i use in my mixes?" Seriously, no one can abswer that question without knowing which flavorings you are asking about. Some need 15% or more, others are disgustingly strong at 5%. First resource is the place where you bought it and/or the manufacturer's website. See if they provide a recommended percentage range, then start at the low end and work your way up. The problem with too much flavoring is that sometimes that will make it taste less like what it is supposed to. Hoosier's blog (see link below) has a good flavor troubleshooting guide that explains the process.
The other resource for recommendations is the ECF DIY forum. There is a spreadsheet around somewhere with some recommendations for a whole bunch of flavorings, and you can get advice for many flavors by posting a question that includes the name(s) and brand(s) of the flavoring in the title. That will get you the most responses from people that have used them. But even then you may need to experiment a bit to find what works best for you, since taste is very subjective and what works for one person might not work for someone else.
Recommended Reading
Safety first; read these posts if you have not already done so (maybe read them again anyway). These will get you up to speed on what not to do:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/announcements-news/144783-warning-e-liquid-diy-safety.html.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/127760-diy-warning-please-read.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/277267-purity-pg-vg-peg-short-version.html
These blogs were created by seasoned DIY veterans that have answered zillions of questions about the basics of DIY e-juice in this forum. This is the information they felt was useful enough to put into blog posts, instead of typing the same thing thousands of times:
E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs
E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs
I also have a blog explaining some of the fundamental chemistry terms and concepts you may find useful.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/boletus/6858-basic-chemistry-diy-beginners.html
