Another DIY Noob question thread: review materials/suggestions

[Burn_notice_fan_NY]

Started a new thread, did not want to hijack another person's thread on this similar topic.

Hey guys, I'm relatively new to vaping (off and on since the start of last summer but hit it head on since January 1st and stopped smoking completely on February 26th) and am thinking about beginning to DIY. Obviously I'm a bit nervous with the whole endeavor but have since seemed to calm my fears. I've read a lot of threads on DIY and watched some videos: one from a person on this forum and another that... well... even I thought was horrendous and irresponsible based on the 'measurements'. As it stands right now, I'm thinking about placing my first order with Wizard Labs and will begin my DIY with the following:

• 6 - LDPE Dropper Bottles - 30 ml
• 1 - PG 120 ml
• 1 - VG 120 ml
• 1 - 48 mg Nicotine 120 ml
• 1 - Menthol Crystals 15 g
• 1 -Ethyl Maltol 1/4 oz
• 4 - 3 ml Syringes
• 2 - 10 ml Syringes
• 4 - 20 Gauge Blunt Tip Needles
• 2 - 18 gauge Blunt Tip Needles
• Safety goggles (I have)
• Latex Gloves (I have)
• Tool box - I Have
• Flavorings 8 fl oz
  • Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • Creme de Menthe
  • Pumpkin
  • Chocolate
  • Cheesecake
  • Horchata
  • Waffle

I was wondering if this looks like a good 'starter' set or if there are any recommended changes I should do. I'm not sure which pg/vg ratio is the best so I figured I'd do 50/50 or 60/40 to start. I also currently need that throat hit and normally vape 24 mg when I'm 'jonesing' and 12-18 for my extended vape sessions. If It helps I have the following toppers: evod, Kanger T3s, Mini Pro-Tank 2, Vivi Nova, iclear 16 & 30 and a Patriot Clone. Any thoughts or suggestions on the kit? Additions needed for an intro? Flavors decent??? or any recommended additions/subtractions? Would 60 mg nicotine be better to start for a beginner/ is PG needed if nicotine is PG?



Thanks for any help you may give.

 

[^Top-Shelf^]

Looks good to me. I started DIYing 2 weeks ago and love it. Everything you have listed seems like you've covered all bases. Only thing I wish I would of ordered were more than 5 flavors, but those are always available. If you like sweet tasting juices maybe add some sweetener. Cotton candy makes a good sweetener if there's non available. I also ordered 48mg nic VG based as all of the higher were out, mixing 50/50 for 24mg. I found it easier ordering VG nic for mixing 50/50 because your flavors are PG based so it eliminated a measuring step and the need to buy straight VG.

30 ml 50/50 @ 24 mg
15ml VG nic, whatever % flavor you want! then just at PG for remaining liquid to equal 30ml. Easy peezy

 

[Wicked & Coiled]

Not a bad list, but you might want to order MORE empty bottles in SMALLER sizes.

-I use 100mg/mL Nic mix in a VG base, and do 80vg/20pg. That's all personal preference. Nic at 48mg will go fast if you're mixing at 24mg/mL strength. Use an e-liquid calculator and make life simple. You want to also be able to replicate your mixes. Take notes when you taste, and taste in time intervals: 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, etc., to see how flavors change over time.

-Try sticking to single-flavor mixes to begin with, and always mix low, and go up in flavor %. You can always add, you can't so easily subtract.

-I found larger (5mL+) syringes mostly useless, as I mix straight to a graduated cylinder the equivalent of my bottle.

-A 1mL or 3mL syringe will be helpful for fractional measurements.

-You are missing Pipettes imho. I use disposable pipettes for flavors, otherwise you need a dedicated syringe/needle combo for each flavoring, including Ethyl Maltol. Much easier to use, and toss them.

 

[Train2]

At some point you'll want to have both PG and VG, regardless of what you nic base is - or you'll bump into a limitation (like "you can't hit that ratio without LESS VG than there is already in your Nic") - especially with lower nic levels! So go ahead and get both...

The only think I see missing: 1 ml syringes. If you want to make a test batch of say 5 ml, you'll need to measure the flavoring with 1 ml syringes. Get a bunch - they're cheap. I use them and rinse to re-use until the plunger seems sticky, then chuck it.

The only other thing i didn't see mentioned - I HIGHLY recommend you use a calculator, like ejuicemeup.
The math otherwise can get confusing.

Oh - and you mean the Wizard labs 8 milliliter bottles of flavors, not 8 OUNCES, right?
You CAN get 8 oz of flavors, but I wouldn't do that unless you KNOW its a favorite and you vape a lot...

Good luck!

I make my own everyday favorite flavor .
It's nice when a 30 ml bottle of great juice costs you less than $2.
I just mixed Horchata for the first time too - haven't tried it yet, but it smells really good!

 

[Wicked & Coiled]

Here's a good calculator:


DIY E-Liquid Calculator Ten Flavors With Nicotine Plus PG/VG Adjusting

Experiment, and don't get discouraged. It takes time to perfect recipes and ratios. Trial and error. Keep it simple, and then get into molecules like EM or Acetyl Pyrazine later.

 

[bencooper74]

You might want to get some 14ga blunt tips.VG is really thick. 18ga won't be able to draw it in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Burn_notice_fan_NY]

So I did it, placed my order. Thank you all for the advice. I attached the order to this and was wondering if you have any other suggestions/comments... Please feel free to let me know, I look forward to starting this DIY adventure!

30ml LDPE Dropper Bottle with Child Resist Cap 8
Propylene Glycol USP - 120ml
Vegetable Glycerin USP - 120ml
60mg Nicotine solution - 120ml
- Carrier Base Liquid: 100% USP Vegetable G.. NS-60MG-120ML
Menthol Liquid 10% Solution PG
3ml Luer Lock Syringe - Quantity Discounts S-LL-3ML 3
1ml Luer Lock Syringe - Quantity Discounts S-LL-3ML 7
14ga Blunt Tip Luer-Lock Needle 1.5"
20ga Blunt Tip Luer-Lock Needle 1.5"
Nitrile Gloves - X-Large
Vanilla Swirl Flavor (TFA) FL-TFA-VANILA-SWIRL
Pumpkin Flavor (TFA) FL-TFA-PUMPKIN
Creme de Menthe Flavor (TFA)
Horchata Base Flavor (TFA)
Strawberry Ripe Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Irish Cream Flavor (TFA)
Koolada 10% PG Flavor (TFA)
Double Chocolate Clear Flavor (TFA)
Cheesecake Graham Crust Flavor (TFA)
Pineapple Flavor (TFA)
Ethyl Maltol 10% PG Solution (TFA)
Cinnamon Roll Flavor Concentrate (LA)
Cappuccino Flavor (TFA)

 

[downsm2]

I too would suggest using the 100 mg/ml of nic juice. I also prefer to get 100% VG nic as the base. This makes the calculations for the mixing oh so much easier. Also, you can do it all just with basic math, but some of the mixing calculators make it easier as well.

 

[Wingsfan0310]

The order looks good, I'll also add for someone new at mixing, I think 60mg/ml Nic is a good choice. No need to jump to the highest concentration your first time. Just my
Good luck on your DIY Adventure!

Cheers,
Steve

 

[JeremyR]

Good choice on the nic strength you do not need to risk 100mg in the beginning. I started with 36 and am only
Now at 48 mg base.

 

[SLane]

I started with 36mg Nic and it took about a liter before I was comfortable enough to order 100mg. I still use both. I'll grab the 36mg every time it works with the flavoring percentages and PG/VG percentage that I'm aiming for. If it doesn't, I'll use the 100mg. I keep a small bottle of both out and the rest in the freezer of our older refrigerator/freezer in the basement. I have them labeled and keep the 36mg in blue bottles and the 100mg in smaller amber bottles.

 

[stylemaster2001]

One other "tip" another newbie mixer might add....

I was making up 5 new flavors the other night, had all my recipes printed (Love that the ejuicemeup lets you print out your recipes) and calculated I'd need about 50ml's of vg. I put the 50 in a pyrex beaker and nuked it in the microwave for 8 seconds, that's all, and you cannot believe how easily it draws up in a syringe. Just my

 

[RocketPuppy]

Keep in mind that Ethyl Maltol isn't necessarily a sweetener. Many people find it mutes flavors. It's good to use if you find that one juice has too much of a kick. If you need a sweetener, try marshmallow, brown sugar, maple syrup, etc. Cotton candy is the same as EM, so no need to order double.

Imo, buy a ton of syringes. Pipettes are very difficult in getting accurate measurements, unless you're using real laboratory ones or a scale.

If you need good supply places: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...les-cylinders-vials-flasks-hdpe-supplies.html

 

[RocketPuppy]

I'd also suggest getting 5ml bottles for testers. This way you won't be tossing large quantities if you make anything you don't like. Took me too long to do this myself.