Advice for a beginner DIYer?

[Kevin Freeheart]

I'm planning on buying some DIY stuff this week to keep myself stocked more cheaply.

For you veterans who have been doing it for a while, do you have any advice for someone just starting out? I've read the guides and stickies here, wondering if anybody has anything to add. MIstakes you made when you started out, tips you learned along the way?

 

[JonnyVapΣ]

Off the top of my head...don't "mix to taste". Stick to the recipes. I did this when I was making a batch while coming down with a cold (didn't realize it) and with a compromised sense of taste made what I thought was awesome. About 2 weeks later after the juices had cured a bit I ended up with industrial floor cleaner...LOL

Some of the bottles had to be cut 6 times to get them normal.

 

[hairball]

Get a good juice calculator and always start with a small batch. 3-5ml. My advice would be to start out only using a vg/pg mix without nic so that if you hate what you made, you can dump it without much waste of money. Write down your recipe as you make it or if you make any changes to it. This way, if you make something that you really like, you can make a bigger batch by multipying it out. If you like it, substitute your nic liquid for either the pg/vg.

 

[Springbird]

Get everything you might need together before you start. I always mix in the bottom of a plastic storage box, a little bigger than a shoebox,that way if anything goes over it is contained.

 

[sapphyre]

Keep meticulous notes on everything you do and every single measurement of every single item you use. Dedicate a notebook or journal just for your DIY. And have fun!