This is one of those blog posts, that while is meant pretty much for my own process, might help the next new kid on the block. For the record, I am mortified. I am confessing my embarrassment with my learning curve, but hey, we were all new to this once right? Well, I'm still new...
If you haven't caught on by now, I want to do everything myself. Modding, RBAs, wicks and drip tips, juice...you name it. DIY really is a lot of fun. Also, as much money as I've spent, I'm still trying to save a dollar here and there.
When I first started, I was ordering everything I thought I would possibly need. After doing my research (I research like a hound dog), I ordered some VG from a cosmetics company. (I know, I know, did I say I was embarrassed?) It was cheap, so was I. When it arrived in the mail, I remembered being mildly surprised that the bottle didn't have a very extensive label. All it said was, "GLYCERIN VEGETABLE USP GRADE 100% PURE." No real matter to me then. It said all I needed to know. Or so I thought. *dun dun duuuunnnnn*
All of my juices turned out gross. I chalked it up to my newbie status. I researched. I'm not seeping it long enough, I'm mixing too much flavor, I'm not reading this calc properly...and it really was a combination of many things. (I would have thrown my table if not for the wonderful people at the DIY on fb.) I was up late last night, in bed staring into the darkness...why does all my juice have that same weird, perfumey taste? Then it hit me like a brick.
How did I not see this before? I checked the label on the VG again, right before I chucked the whole bottle. Luckily for me I had a new bottle of ED VG on hand. I mixed, I tasted, and there you have it. The difference is still left to speculation on my part, but the ED VG has a more informative label, and includes "kosher". It has a much shorter shelf life too.
Lessons learned in this process: Only buy from vendors that retail their product specifically for, or are known to be products good for this purpose. Sometimes spending a dollar saves a dollar. I found I like to start mixing at 5%, because even though 10% seems to be standard, it's easy to overdo. Seeping is an integral part of the process, so patience is definitely a virtue. My DIY future is looking a little brighter.
If you haven't caught on by now, I want to do everything myself. Modding, RBAs, wicks and drip tips, juice...you name it. DIY really is a lot of fun. Also, as much money as I've spent, I'm still trying to save a dollar here and there.
When I first started, I was ordering everything I thought I would possibly need. After doing my research (I research like a hound dog), I ordered some VG from a cosmetics company. (I know, I know, did I say I was embarrassed?) It was cheap, so was I. When it arrived in the mail, I remembered being mildly surprised that the bottle didn't have a very extensive label. All it said was, "GLYCERIN VEGETABLE USP GRADE 100% PURE." No real matter to me then. It said all I needed to know. Or so I thought. *dun dun duuuunnnnn*
All of my juices turned out gross. I chalked it up to my newbie status. I researched. I'm not seeping it long enough, I'm mixing too much flavor, I'm not reading this calc properly...and it really was a combination of many things. (I would have thrown my table if not for the wonderful people at the DIY on fb.) I was up late last night, in bed staring into the darkness...why does all my juice have that same weird, perfumey taste? Then it hit me like a brick.
How did I not see this before? I checked the label on the VG again, right before I chucked the whole bottle. Luckily for me I had a new bottle of ED VG on hand. I mixed, I tasted, and there you have it. The difference is still left to speculation on my part, but the ED VG has a more informative label, and includes "kosher". It has a much shorter shelf life too.
Lessons learned in this process: Only buy from vendors that retail their product specifically for, or are known to be products good for this purpose. Sometimes spending a dollar saves a dollar. I found I like to start mixing at 5%, because even though 10% seems to be standard, it's easy to overdo. Seeping is an integral part of the process, so patience is definitely a virtue. My DIY future is looking a little brighter.
