Beginner with DIY, have some problems. Help!

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extazy69

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Nov 19, 2016
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Hello,
I am newbie here. I have some problems with making my own juice. The problem is that normally I used to vape 3mg nicotine strength 60vg/40pg liquids. They are soft ant smooth for me. However, when I tried to mix my own juice I could not vape it. I started from testing with 10ml bottles. I use 70vg/30pg base, tried 60/40 also, adding 5-7% of flavour (used Capella Honeydew melon and other types) and I get very high TH. I cant vape it at all. Also, I feel untasty background flavour which is the base flavour itself. I have tried test and vape only the base and I think the base is the problem. But I also tried other bases such as Pink Mule and I get similar experience. I use mini volt kit from council of vapors. Also, tried changing my coil and nothing changed. It would be great if someone had similar problems and could help me. Thanks!
 

extazy69

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Welcome to the forums! What nicotine level (mg per ml) did you buy if any? Where did you purchase?
I used already mixed 70/30 3mg nicotine strength Liquideo base. Also Pink Mule 80/20 6mg mixed with Pink Mule 50/50 0mg. I live in Europe Lithuania and bought products from my countries number 1 e-cigs shop "Ecodumas". I am beginner so did not wanted to buy nicotine seperetely
 

extazy69

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Sorry if this question seems abit patronising but are you leaving the juice to steep for at least a week before using it?

Different flavours require different steep times.
Actually I dont. But I have read a review of a certain Capella fruity flavour that does not need steeping. Also, I dont think that steeping would eliminate the harshness I encounter when I vape, or maybe I am wrong? Also I have not vaped my mixs for 4 days now, so I will wait some more time and will test it if this is the case.
 

Bonskibon

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I used already mixed 70/30 3mg nicotine strength Liquideo base. Also Pink Mule 80/20 6mg mixed with Pink Mule 50/50 0mg. I live in Europe Lithuania and bought products from my countries number 1 e-cigs shop "Ecodumas". I am beginner so did not wanted to buy nicotine seperetely
Ok, my first thought was perhaps nicotine giving the harsh taste, but doesn't appear to be the case. If you tried the base without any flavor and it tastes nasty then it's the base. I'm in the US so not familiar where you purchased it and their quality.
 
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extazy69

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Ok, my first thought was perhaps nicotine giving the harsh taste, but doesn't appear to be the case. If you tried the base without any flavor and it tastes nasty then it's the base. I'm in the US so not familiar where you purchased it and their quality.
Okey. Can you give some examples of best base brands for you? Would try maybe finding one of them and buy
 

CoreyDog

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Actually I dont. But I have read a review of a certain Capella fruity flavour that does not need steeping. Also, I dont think that steeping would eliminate the harshness I encounter when I vape, or maybe I am wrong? Also I have not vaped my mixs for 4 days now, so I will wait some more time and will test it if this is the case.

It would certainly leave a "chemically" taste to the liquid without steeping.

Some flavours are just 'shake & vape' but it's all down to trial and error I found. Some of my liquids need at least a month to steep in order to taste good and lose that chemical taste.

An Ultrasonic cleaner, in my experience, really speeds up steeping time. One hour in the cleaner equals about 5 days normal steep I find.

Keep practising, took me months to get it right and I still make some vile liquids even now!

Good luck with it and enjoy it.
 
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extazy69

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Nov 19, 2016
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It would certainly leave a "chemically" taste to the liquid without steeping.

Some flavours are just 'shake & vape' but it's all down to trial and error I found. Some of my liquids need at least a month to steep in order to taste good and lose that chemical taste.

An Ultrasonic cleaner, in my experience, really speeds up steeping time. One hour in the cleaner equals about 5 days normal steep I find.

Keep practising, took me months to get it right and I still make some vile liquids even now!

Good luck with it and enjoy it.
Okey, thank you for your help. So I guess to eliminate the chemical taste I would need to steep my mixes. One problem is solved I think. But what about the harshness of the base? I think that my base I used was a good quality, it has positive reviews. Do steeping also eliminates the harshness?
 

Fozzy71

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Okey, thank you for your help. So I guess to eliminate the chemical taste I would need to steep my mixes. One problem is solved I think. But what about the harshness of the base? I think that my base I used was a good quality, it has positive reviews. Do steeping also eliminates the harshness?
Steeping allows the flavor to mingle fully with the base and will reduce any harsh flavor notes. Have you tried vaping the 3mg nic base unflavored? If that is harsh then there isn't much you can except try to cut the nic down with more 0mg base as the base doesn't/shouldn't change much as it ages. I vape 2mg now and have tried both 3mg and 2mg unflavored base (that I made myself with 100mg nic (My Freedom Smokes and Nude Nicotine) and pg/vg) and it was never harsh for me. I have had some flavored recipes that seemed harsh (because of the flavors) when first made that smoothed out dramatically after a few weeks steeping.
 

Sugar_and_Spice

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Okey, thank you for your help. So I guess to eliminate the chemical taste I would need to steep my mixes. One problem is solved I think. But what about the harshness of the base? I think that my base I used was a good quality, it has positive reviews. Do steeping also eliminates the harshness?
If your base nic liquid is harsh you can cut the 6mg down with vg without losing the 3mg you want to end up with. Depending on the age of the actual nicotine itself that can determine the harshness you taste. As nic ages (the more it is exposed to the air) it can take on a kind of peppery taste. Try taking a couple of mils of your 6mg base and cut it with same amt of vg and vape it. The vg has a little sweetness to it so it should cut down the harshness and smooth the vape. Some people actually prefer the unflavored vape.
Capella flavor are concentrated so maybe start with lower pcts until you find what works for you. In my experience I have always had to steep Capella flavors.
:)
 

JCinFLA

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@extazy69 - If I have this right, from your first and 2nd posts, here's what you bought and what you did with it:

(1) You bought 70/30 3mg nicotine strength Liquideo base - You tried mixing in 5-7% of CAP Honeydew Melon with it = harshness. You also tried similar single flavorings mixed with the 70/30 3mg nicotine base = harshness.

(2) You bought Pink Mule 80/20 6mg and mixed it with Pink Mule 50/50 0mg to try to hopefully make Pink Mule at 3mg.

Here are my ideas or opinions on the above:

Regarding #1 above - Capella recommends using only 2-5% of their flavorings to start with, and adjusting them to your own tastes. You started with the highest % they recommended. I'd recommend trying the 2% to see what it's like for you.

Also, most single flavorings are not best when used by themselves in eliquid you make. They require other flavorings...called secondary ones (or ones I think of as blender flavorings), to make your mix taste pleasant. Some of them many people use...include Marshmallow, or Vanilla Swirl, or Bavarian Cream, or Sweet Cream, etc. They help to take away or lessen the harshness of many primary flavorings. I'd recommend getting a few of those to use with your main or primary flavorings you're trying.

With some flavorings, you also may need to use alittle sweetening to take off some harshness. Possibly getting a small bottle of TFA Cotton Candy, or TFA Sweetener, or something similar available to you...would help. It doesn't take much at all though, to make a difference!

Also, some of the single flavorings you're using may have ethyl alcohol in them, which is not good to vape, and definitely causes harshness if/when you do vape it. Most flavorings you buy should say in the ingredients though, if they contain it or not. See below for more info. on how to evaporate it off.

Last, if you're making only 10mL samples of these mixes, hopefully you're measuring your flavoring carefully. At 5% flavoring in a small 10mL mix...that means you should have used only .5mL of that CAP Honeydew Melon flavoring. If you try their recommended 2%, that would only be .2mL of the flavoring.

Regarding #2 above - There may be some flavorings that were used in the Pink Mule that have ethyl alcohol in them. Without knowing the actual flavorings in it, it's a possibility. I'd try shaking both bottles of the Pink Mule very well, causing lots of bubbles to appear in them. Then, leave them totally open (no drip tip and no cap on them) to help any ethyl alcohol that may be in them to evaporate. Shake and repeat this for a couple days and see if each is better on its own...before you try mixing the 6mg one and the 3mg one together.

About steeping - In my own DIY eliquids, at least 95% of them require no steeping at all. I shake them and vape them as soon as I've made them. They're not harsh at all. The 5% of them I don't vape right away...had EA that needed to be evaporated, or were made with some custard type flavoring that needed alittle time to blend well with the other flavorings. All I do is leave them in a cabinet for about 3-4 days, and taste a drop or 2 each day. That's it, and they're fine. Tobacco flavorings used in eliquid mixes usually take at least a month to steep according to many who use them, but I don't use any of those at all.

Other than the above, if none of those things help...I'd say your base is bad or may not really be the 3mg nic they say it is! Your Pink Mule may just be very old.

Again, this has been just my opinions, based on my own DIY experiences and what I've seen recommended by many DIY experts who have lots more experience and knowledge than I have now. I hope something above helps you.
 
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Beeker

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If you vaped each base without flavors and you get an unpleasant TH, its your base...assuming you're using the same temperature you vape other liquids that are OK. I'm unfamiliar with the brands of premixed Nicotine base you're referring to. Some nicotine bases have a peppery taste and can contribute to a harsh TH (and affect taste). This is due in part to the nicotine oxidizing. Nicotine oxidizes rapidly with exposure to oxygen, light, heat, and moisture. As Nicotine oxidizes the color of the solution will turn yellow to amber brown in color.

If you have access to test materials (or can order them) for measuring nicotine levels, you might check those bases to see if they are truly accurate.
 
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daviedog

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^^++ i wouldn't trust anyone to mix "base".
I buy nico from many sources in US. The worst i ever purchased was VapeTek, i believe, in Europe.couldn't resist the price.
Try base unflavored as stated above, if harsh dispose & buy from a different vendor.
A high VG base by its nature should not be harsh which leads to the nicotine..
 

extazy69

Full Member
Nov 19, 2016
14
2
32
@extazy69 - If I have this right, from your first and 2nd posts, here's what you bought and what you did with it:

(1) You bought 70/30 3mg nicotine strength Liquideo base - You tried mixing in 5-7% of CAP Honeydew Melon with it = harshness. You also tried similar single flavorings mixed with the 70/30 3mg nicotine base = harshness.

(2) You bought Pink Mule 80/20 6mg and mixed it with Pink Mule 50/50 0mg to try to hopefully make Pink Mule at 3mg.

Here are my ideas or opinions on the above:

Regarding #1 above - Capella recommends using only 2-5% of their flavorings to start with, and adjusting them to your own tastes. You started with the highest % they recommended. I'd recommend trying the 2% to see what it's like for you.

Also, most single flavorings are not best when used by themselves in eliquid you make. They require other flavorings...called secondary ones (or ones I think of as blender flavorings), to make your mix taste pleasant. Some of them many people use...include Marshmallow, or Vanilla Swirl, or Bavarian Cream, or Sweet Cream, etc. They help to take away or lessen the harshness of many primary flavorings. I'd recommend getting a few of those to use with your main or primary flavorings you're trying.

With some flavorings, you also may need to use alittle sweetening to take off some harshness. Possibly getting a small bottle of TFA Cotton Candy, or TFA Sweetener, or something similar available to you...would help. It doesn't take much at all though, to make a difference!

Also, some of the single flavorings you're using may have ethyl alcohol in them, which is not good to vape, and definitely causes harshness if/when you do vape it. Most flavorings you buy should say in the ingredients though, if they contain it or not. See below for more info. on how to evaporate it off.

Last, if you're making only 10mL samples of these mixes, hopefully you're measuring your flavoring carefully. At 5% flavoring in a small 10mL mix...that means you should have used only .5mL of that CAP Honeydew Melon flavoring. If you try their recommended 2%, that would only be .2mL of the flavoring.

Regarding #2 above - There may be some flavorings that were used in the Pink Mule that have ethyl alcohol in them. Without knowing the actual flavorings in it, it's a possibility. I'd try shaking both bottles of the Pink Mule very well, causing lots of bubbles to appear in them. Then, leave them totally open (no drip tip and no cap on them) to help any ethyl alcohol that may be in them to evaporate. Shake and repeat this for a couple days and see if each is better on its own...before you try mixing the 6mg one and the 3mg one together.

About steeping - In my own DIY eliquids, at least 95% of them require no steeping at all. I shake them and vape them as soon as I've made them. They're not harsh at all. The 5% of them I don't vape right away...had EA that needed to be evaporated, or were made with some custard type flavoring that needed alittle time to blend well with the other flavorings. All I do is leave them in a cabinet for about 3-4 days, and taste a drop or 2 each day. That's it, and they're fine. Tobacco flavorings used in eliquid mixes usually take at least a month to steep according to many who use them, but I don't use any of those at all.

Other than the above, if none of those things help...I'd say your base is bad or may not really be the 3mg nic they say it is! Your Pink Mule may just be very old.

Again, this has been just my opinions, based on my own DIY experiences and what I've seen recommended by many DIY experts who have lots more experience and knowledge than I have now. I hope something above helps you.
Thank you very much for this information. It really helped me. I will continue making and testing my mixes. Will try different bases. Maybe my base is actually old or something is not good. I will post my results
 

extazy69

Full Member
Nov 19, 2016
14
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32
If your base nic liquid is harsh you can cut the 6mg down with vg without losing the 3mg you want to end up with. Depending on the age of the actual nicotine itself that can determine the harshness you taste. As nic ages (the more it is exposed to the air) it can take on a kind of peppery taste. Try taking a couple of mils of your 6mg base and cut it with same amt of vg and vape it. The vg has a little sweetness to it so it should cut down the harshness and smooth the vape. Some people actually prefer the unflavored vape.
Capella flavor are concentrated so maybe start with lower pcts until you find what works for you. In my experience I have always had to steep Capella flavors.
:)
Thank you for your help. Will try everything mentioned
 

BrotherBob

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Dec 24, 2014
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Hello,
I am newbie here. I have some problems with making my own juice. The problem is that normally I used to vape 3mg nicotine strength 60vg/40pg liquids. They are soft ant smooth for me. However, when I tried to mix my own juice I could not vape it. I started from testing with 10ml bottles. I use 70vg/30pg base, tried 60/40 also, adding 5-7% of flavour (used Capella Honeydew melon and other types) and I get very high TH. I cant vape it at all. Also, I feel untasty background flavour which is the base flavour itself. I have tried test and vape only the base and I think the base is the problem. But I also tried other bases such as Pink Mule and I get similar experience. I use mini volt kit from council of vapors. Also, tried changing my coil and nothing changed. It would be great if someone had similar problems and could help me. Thanks!
Welcome and glad you joined. Sounds like an error in amount or type of nic. Assuming you are using a calculator to define your mix, I would try a mix without any nic and see if the TH ceases. By eliminating each component of the mix in turn, you will be bound to find the cause.
Might like to read:
diy_beginners_guide - DIY_eJuice
dannyv45's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
Hoosier's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
http://www.thevaperstable.com/diy/
 
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