Advice Needed on DIY juice making for a noob

Pugs1970 · Aug 23, 2015

Hello again peeps,
I just wondered if any of you kind vape pro's out there can give me some info on DIY juice making?
I have been vaping and slowly getting obsessed by the whole 'world of vape' for a year now, I have moved past the 'Pen' stage ages ago and am up to the 'box mod/drippa rda rta' etc phase, I make my own coils etc but what I dont do.....and have never done...Is make my own juice.
So...what do I need?..what should I know? where in the UK is a good place to start getting the essentials?
From a complete novice point of view!

Thanks in advance

Pugs

Susan~S · Aug 23, 2015

May I suggest some recommended research to get you started.

Dannyv45's blogs will give insight into all aspects of DYI, from steeping to what supplies to have on hand to a basic walk through mixing your first E-juice.
=> E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

Hoosier's blogs concentrate on fine tuning your mix and give insight on additives.
=> E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

Boletus's blog's concentrate on formulation of nicotine bases regarding proper calculations methods for figuring Nicotine concentration as well as safety.
=> E-Cigarette Forum - Boletus - Blogs

Ginger's book "E-Cigarettes 102: DIY E-Liquid" delivers an in depth easy to follow guide in the art of DYI.
=> E-Cigarettes 102: DIY E-Liquid

I recommend viewing VPLive Vape Team Episode #82: DIY Safety and bookmark it for future reference. It explains safety in all aspects of DYI.
=> VPLive Vape Team Episode #82: DIY Safety

The "stickies" pinned at the top of the DIY E-Liquid Forum page will explain a lot of the how's and why's.

Tagging @Sir2fyablyNutz who has many more links for you.

Alter · Aug 23, 2015

I hesitated for a long time to make my own juices. Like you my wife and I only had a ego pens for about a month then upgraded into the 18xxx battery series and I began to buy, buy, buy all kinks of mechs and mods. Now I have my istick50 and provari I use daily along with a army of other PV's I use occasionally. I rebuild my heads and now going full circle with making my own juice for both my wife and me.
I haven't bothered with making clone formulas but make single flavors then blend them together to my liking. Hangsen tobaccos are great concentrates, they have a popping out of other flavors when mixed. I got beakers, glass syringes, small funnels, magnetic stirbars all from eBay(China). Youtube showed me how to build a magnetic mixer and its the cats azz as far as I'm concerned.
I was very leery about handling nic at the beginning but read, research and use common sense then your be a DIY champ in no time. I still kick myself for not DIY juice a long time ago. I did calculate out both my wife and I consumption if nic and we use @50mls a month of 48nic between us so the liter of 100nic I bought should get us 40 months of vaping...the VG and PG are cheap and easier to get. For me its not the money saved not buying commercial juices but the better quality of juice that I make and I know EXACTLY what's in my juice but not spending that extra coin is more of a perk.
Good luck on your DIY journey, its a fun ride.

Sir2fyablyNutz · Aug 23, 2015

Sir2fyablyNutz · Aug 23, 2015

E-cigarette/E-liquid Vendors List + discount codes | ALL ABOUT E-CIGARETTES UK
UK Forum | E-Cigarette Forum
UK and Ireland Suppliers | E-Cigarette Forum
Myepack.co.uk
COUPONS - Stores - ECF E-Cigarette Coupons

DingerCPA · Aug 23, 2015

@Sir2fyablyNutz and @Susan~S have given you some phenomenal resource links! Wander over to the DIY threads - I started reading there and I got hooked.

There are LOTS of great recipes out there, but as you're going along, take great notes. That will be a help in getting you YOUR juice that YOU like.

Cheers

kaahn · Aug 23, 2015

Pugs1970 said:
Hello again peeps,
I just wondered if any of you kind vape pro's out there can give me some info on DIY juice making?
I have been vaping and slowly getting obsessed by the whole 'world of vape' for a year now, I have moved past the 'Pen' stage ages ago and am up to the 'box mod/drippa rda rta' etc phase, I make my own coils etc but what I dont do.....and have never done...Is make my own juice.
So...what do I need?..what should I know? where in the UK is a good place to start getting the essentials?
From a complete novice point of view!

Thanks in advance

Pugs

Chew got a lot of reading to do Lucy! :lol:

That's an old line from I Love Lucy. Loved those reruns as a kid!

Welcome @Pugs1970. Good Luck with your journey into DIY! If you have any more questions that isn't covered in all that reading above :shock:

just feel free to ask away!

dcfluegel · Aug 23, 2015

howdy - and welcome!

one of my most indispensable tools is the e juice me up calculator app on my pc - definitely a HUGE help with the process

djsvapour · Aug 23, 2015

I went straight it. No silly kits or 'bogus' accessories. These days, I just buy premade VPG unflavoured in the right mg. No calculators, no hassle.
I use LT ecigs + flavourart/decadent/capella/inawera.

Completely Average · Aug 23, 2015

I never saw the point of a lot of the "supplies" people claim you need. All I've ever needed were a dozen 10ml blunt tip syringes, two 100ml syringes, and a measuring cup. Then of course the PG, VG, nic base, and flavorings. That's it, I can easily mix anything I want in any amount I want using just that, and I have spares for the syringes. I kept all of the juice bottles when I was buying juice rather than DIY so I already have plenty of those when I started.

A juice calculator app is also convenient, but not necessary if you're half way decent at math.

Personally I have a preference for FlavourArt flavorings. To me they are more natural tasting and not as candy-like as many US flavoring suppliers. They are also VERY concentrated, so most mixes only require 3-5% flavoring rather than the 15-20% flavoring some other providers require. (The downside of that is if you use too much flavoring you can ruin the juice unless you dilute it)

Pugs1970 · Aug 23, 2015

Completely Average said:
I never saw the point of a lot of the "supplies" people claim you need. All I've ever needed were a dozen 10ml blunt tip syringes, two 100ml syringes, and a measuring cup. Then of course the PG, VG, nic base, and flavorings. That's it, I can easily mix anything I want in any amount I want using just that, and I have spares for the syringes. I kept all of the juice bottles when I was buying juice rather than DIY so I already have plenty of those when I started.

A juice calculator app is also convenient, but not necessary if you're half way decent at math.

Personally I have a preference for FlavourArt flavorings. To me they are more natural tasting and not as candy-like as many US flavoring suppliers. They are also VERY concentrated, so most mixes only require 3-5% flavoring rather than the 15-20% flavoring some other providers require. (The downside of that is if you use too much flavoring you can ruin the juice unless you dilute it)

Thanks for the information! I have took the plunge and ordered myself a starter kit from Vapeable along with a handful of extra capella flavours, so wish me luck! lol, looking forward to mixing my first 'masterpiece'

evan le'garde · Aug 24, 2015

UK !?, right.

DarkStar Vapour: 7.2% Nicotine (72mg/ml) This place sells nicotine base liquid at the best price you'll find in the uk.

5 LITRE VEGETABLE GLYCERINE EP/USP FOOD/COSMETIC GRADE | eBay This is the cutting liquid you may want, it's Vegetable Glycerine. You can buy smaller volumes from the same vendor.

1000ml ★1L★MPG Propylene glycol★USP/EP 99+%★Pharmaceutical grade★superb quality | eBay Some more cutting liquid, this is Propylene Glycol.

flavor concentrate | eBay Here you'll find all the concentrated flavourings you'll ever need.

3-100ml Empty Plastic Dropper Childproof Cap Squeezable Bottles e-juice E-Liquid | eBay Great e liquid bottles with long tips for easy filling. From Hong Kong. If i could find a place more local i would have. I've bought from here and it takes a couple of weeks to deliver, but as i said i couldn't find anywhere else who sold bottles with these long tips. These particular tips make a world of difference when filling your tank.

Safety Syringes Here for syringes - all sizes

14G / 14 Gauge Blunt Tip Needles for E-Liquid DIY Mixing (5 Pack): Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care Blunt needles. You need these to extract liquids from their containers before adding it to your e liquid solution you are making.

To make 20 ml of e liquid with 9mg nicotine content

I start with 2.5 mil of 72mg nicotine liquid.
Add 12.5ml of vegetable Glycerine.
Then add 2ml of Propylene glycol.
And finally 3 mil of you chosen flavour concentrate.

Shake a couple of hundred times and you are done.

Edit : Maybe stick a label on your bottle. You will also need some paper towel and some Q tips (cotton buds on sticks, you know !.

Steeping !?, i call it hokum, but plenty of people swear by it as a means of maturing e liquid. :unsure:

Pugs1970 · Aug 24, 2015

evan le'garde said:
UK !?, right.

DarkStar Vapour: 7.2% Nicotine (72mg/ml) This place sells nicotine base liquid at the best price you'll find in the uk.

5 LITRE VEGETABLE GLYCERINE EP/USP FOOD/COSMETIC GRADE | eBay This is the cutting liquid you may want, it's Vegetable Glycerine. You can buy smaller volumes from the same vendor.

1000ml ★1L★MPG Propylene glycol★USP/EP 99+%★Pharmaceutical grade★superb quality | eBay Some more cutting liquid, this is Propylene Glycol.

flavor concentrate | eBay Here you'll find all the concentrated flavourings you'll ever need.

3-100ml Empty Plastic Dropper Childproof Cap Squeezable Bottles e-juice E-Liquid | eBay Great e liquid bottles with long tips for easy filling. From Hong Kong. If i could find a place more local i would have. I've bought from here and it takes a couple of weeks to deliver, but as i said i couldn't find anywhere else who sold bottles with these long tips. These particular tips make a world of difference when filling your tank.

Safety Syringes Here for syringes - all sizes

14G / 14 Gauge Blunt Tip Needles for E-Liquid DIY Mixing (5 Pack): Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care Blunt needles. You need these to extract liquids from their containers before adding it to your e liquid solution you are making.

To make 20 ml of e liquid with 9mg nicotine content

I start with 2.5 mil of 72mg nicotine liquid.
Add 12.5ml of vegetable Glycerine.
Then add 2ml of Propylene glycol.
And finally 3 mil of you chosen flavour concentrate.

Shake a couple of hundred times and you are done.

Edit : Maybe stick a label on your bottle. You will also need some paper towel and some Q tips (cotton buds on sticks, you know !.

Steeping !?, i call it hokum, but plenty of people swear by it as a means of maturing e liquid.

Dude that's an awesome amount of info thanks! I've ordered a starter kit but I think it's only 100ml bases to see how I take to it so good to know where to get more, I only take 3ml nic normally so am I right in thinking to make it for me it would be around 0.8ml nic then 14.2ml VG then 2ml PG and 3ml flavour? I like strong flavours so if I had say another ml or 2 of flavour would you deduct that from the VG? ....sorry but total noob never actually done it yet lol

Hans Wermhat · Aug 24, 2015

A lot of folks want to make DIY into some sort of mad scientist laboratory set up. Like the others before said, keep it simple. You don't need a lot of hardware. I have 4 graduated cylinders, 2 syringes, 2 beakers and some 100+ ml bottles for mixing and steeping. Think of it like bartending. A lil out of this bottle, a splash out of that bottle, shake, pour, serve. It's really easy and can be fun if you let it. :thumb:

I would suggest that you start with fruit flavors. They are easier, steep faster, and are a lil more forgiving if you get the mix wrong.

AXIOM_1 · Aug 24, 2015

I think I am titched in the head or something...err no, I know I am..... because I started mixing my own juices from the very start. It's very easy and like others have mentioned, you need very few items. Do not over complicate it or get paranoid to try it.

evan le'garde · Aug 24, 2015

Pugs1970 said:
Dude that's an awesome amount of info thanks! I've ordered a starter kit but I think it's only 100ml bases to see how I take to it so good to know where to get more, I only take 3ml nic normally so am I right in thinking to make it for me it would be around 0.8ml nic then 14.2ml VG then 2ml PG and 3ml flavour? I like strong flavours so if I had say another ml or 2 of flavour would you deduct that from the VG? ....sorry but total noob never actually done it yet lol

The Propylene Glycol thins out the final e liquid. The flavouring has a Propylene glycol base. If you want more flavouring then less Propylene Glycol cutting liquid is required. This all depends on how thin you want your finished e liquid though. And yes 0.8 nicotine base is about right to make 3mg e liquid if you are making 20ml, if you're using 72mg nicotine liquid to start with. People talk about how they use thin e liquid and you will find most vendors sell it premade with a Propylene Glycol base so the majority of the contents is PG, a thin liquid. PG doesn't produce much vapour. VG does !. So my e liquid are based around VG which are reasonably thick. You could play around with your %'s to see what works best for you. I wouldn't suggest using too much flavouring though. Once it's in you can't take it out and then you'll find all kinds of complication like having to add this and that to make it right again. I'd highly recommend using the measurements i provided before, but if you do add more flavouring then use less PG cutting liquid. So if you added 1ml more of flavouring then use 1 mil less of PG cutting liquid.

brinks · Aug 25, 2015

its all way to confusing for me, it just as easy to buy it cheap on-line

Denvap0r · Aug 25, 2015

brinks said:
its all way to confusing for me, it just as easy to buy it cheap on-line

I used to say the same thing before I started making my own juice. Very easy, rewarding, and much cheaper than even the cheapest companies. I would urge you to try it out.

Pugs1970 · Aug 25, 2015

evan le'garde said:
The Propylene Glycol thins out the final e liquid. The flavouring has a Propylene glycol base. If you want more flavouring then less Propylene Glycol cutting liquid is required. This all depends on how thin you want your finished e liquid though. And yes 0.8 nicotine base is about right to make 3mg e liquid if you are making 20ml, if you're using 72mg nicotine liquid to start with. People talk about how they use thin e liquid and you will find most vendors sell it premade with a Propylene Glycol base so the majority of the contents is PG, a thin liquid. PG doesn't produce much vapour. VG does !. So my e liquid are based around VG which are reasonably thick. You could play around with your %'s to see what works best for you. I wouldn't suggest using too much flavouring though. Once it's in you can't take it out and then you'll find all kinds of complication like having to add this and that to make it right again. I'd highly recommend using the measurements i provided before, but if you do add more flavouring then use less PG cutting liquid. So if you added 1ml more of flavouring then use 1 mil less of PG cutting liquid.

That sounds great thank you so much for the info its very much appreciated, really looking forward to getting stuck into this

Pugs1970 · Aug 25, 2015

brinks said:
its all way to confusing for me, it just as easy to buy it cheap on-line

like Denvap0r says there, I haven't made any yet but already I can see the price advantages in this, if you compare a 14.99 30ml of premium liquid...this would work out about 40p for the same...not just a small difference

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