DIY ? confused

[wendallb]

I have been reading all through the DIY section and getting more confused by the minute. I see so many tools to buy so looks expensive to me but maybe there are a lot of these tools you don't really need.

So someone please explain what I really need to get started just for myself to DIY small batches..

30ml last me about 2 week's so no big project is needed.. I want to use about a 50/50 pg/vg mix and some flavor and come out with about 18ml/mg nic..

Any help appreciated because I really want to try this but again I am very confused.

Thanks

WendallB

 

[beckah54]

I have been reading all through the DIY section and getting more confused by the minute. I see so many tools to buy so looks expensive to me but maybe there are a lot of these tools you don't really need.

So someone please explain what I really need to get started just for myself to DIY small batches..

30ml last me about 2 week's so no big project is needed.. I want to use about a 50/50 pg/vg mix and some flavor and come out with about 18ml/mg nic..

Any help appreciated because I really want to try this but again I am very confused.

Thanks

WendallB

The minimum you would need would be;

PG

VG

Nicotine liquid (your choice of strength)

Flavorings of your choice (Capella, TPA, FA, or LorAnn (LA can sometimes be found at hobby stores such as Hobby Lobby or cake decorating stores. I order mine from One Stop DIY Shop or ecig express)

Something to mix your liquid in (Something about the size of the cup on top of a bottle of Nyquil would work well unless you mixing a huge batch or you could mix directly into the bottle you're using)

Something to measure your liquids with (you can get syringes at Wal-Mart or Tractor Supply Stores. An eyedropper would be good for smaller batches that go by drops rather than ml)

Bottles to put your liquids in

Hope this helps.

 

[Liv2Ski]

wendallb - Yes it can be overwhelming when first jumping in. You really do not need all the "tools" so let's see if we can narrow it down.

1. Get a small 30 or 60 ml bottle of nic. I would suggest going with lower concentration stuff to get your feet wet. Something around 50mg/ml
2. Depending on your juice preference you will need vg & pg. This stuff is inexpensive
3. Some people measure in drops but I prefer mls. So a small plastic graduated cylinder (25ml or 50 ml) and some 3ml pipettes
4. Of course some flavors. Buy the 6ml sizes untill you find a few that you really like then you can jump up to bigger and save a few pennies
5. I need sweetner in my juices. Some people don't but I find I need it to make my juices "pop". I use the sweetner flavor which is sucralose in pg and the cotton candy which is ethyl malto in pg. You only need a small amount 1% or less of total mix
6. Get a calculator I use this one but there are other good ones out there too:
eJuice Me Up - e-Juice e-Liquid Recipe Calculator
7. I shop a few DIY vendors but one in particular that I like is One Stop DIY:
One Stop DIY Shop
Coupon code ECF will get you 10% off your order and they have all the stuff needed to get you started. When you want to move to high level nic there are other Suppliers for that.
8. Get a few 3ml & 6ml bottles. You will find you never have enough of these around for mxing up small batches
9. Jump in and have fun. If you can make a mixed drink then you can DIY and making and vaping your own juice is a awesome part of this vaping hobby we enjoy!

I hope that helps a little and happy vapes!

 

[wendallb]

Thanks for the help folks...I can see where some of next pay check is going...Going to give this a try and see how it goes..

1 question.. if I purchase the nic base in pg do I only need to add vg or do I need to add both? I know that sounds dumb but I really don't know..

Again Thanks,

WendallB

 

[TinyTimberGal]

You're correct. If the nic base if PG, then just buy some VG. It might not hurt to have some plain PG on hand though in case you don't like the 50/50. You can also check out PIF (Pay It Forward) or the Classifieds. PIF has a thread for swaps, or you could post a WTTF ad in the classifieds. Good luck!

 

[wendallb]

Thanks TinyTimberGal

Happy Vaping

WendallB

 

[Spazmelda]

You've already been answered but I'll tell you what I have. I just started, so this would be bare basics stuff I guess.

liquids:
Humco glycerin (drug store)
Propylene Glycol (Essential Depot- Amazon)
48 mg/ml nicotine (Box Elder)

flavors:
various LorAnn, 1 dram each

plasticware:
several 15 ml conical tubes for mixing small batches (like these: http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Plas...1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1314750658&sr=1-1 )
a couple of 3 ml syringes
a couple of 5 ml syringes
a plastic bulb pipette (like these: Amazon.com: PIPETTES 3ML 20PK: Patio, Lawn & Garden )

I've been storing the juices in the 15 ml tubes, but I just ordered some of these in 6, 10, and 15 ml sizes: Cylinder and Boston Round Bottles with Dropper Caps | U.S. Plastic Corp.

paper towels
labels of some kind
perhaps some rubber glove if you are so inclined (I have some, but I haven't worn them yet and I'm still alive)

 

[donnaq4]

wendallb, you can probably find the PG at tractor supply or the feed store. The glycerine is at Wal-mart or order from Amazon. Get some 5cc syringes, 16 or 18 ga needles, a few flavors, and nicotine.
I've been wanting to say "Hi" since I was raised just down to road, in Hamilton. Hope you are keeping cool, but at least fall is on its way! Have fun mixing. I just started about a month ago and I love it.

 

[cookiebun]

Read this too:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/218802-guide-making-your-own-e-juice.html.
It'll all sink in eventually.
Really all you need is:
Nicotine base - What ever level you feel comfortable handling up to 100 mg per mill.
Propylene Glycol USP Grade
Vegetable Glycerin USP grade.
Flavorings. Water soluble, most are PG based.
Some bottles for your creations.
Small measuring spoons/cups/syringes that measure in MLs.

 

[zoiDman]

... I want to use about a 50/50 pg/vg mix and some flavor and come out with about 18ml/mg nic..

...
WendallB

My suggestion would be to keep it simple the first time around.

If you want to end up with about 18mg 50|50 e-Liquid, I would buy 36mg PG Nicotine Base and a VG. That way you can mix half 36mg Nicotine base with half diluted VG and you will end up with 18mg Unflavored. Having 18mg Unlavored makes it easy to just add flavoring/sweetener to make small test DIY mixes.

I will also tell you the BIGGEST mistake DIY Newbies make. And that is not keeping Detailed Records of what you make.

Adding a dash of this and 4 drops of that can work but it becomes hard to remember what you did 2 or 3 weeks later.

 

[Scubabatdan]

Thanks for the help folks...I can see where some of next pay check is going...Going to give this a try and see how it goes..

1 question.. if I purchase the nic base in pg do I only need to add vg or do I need to add both? I know that sounds dumb but I really don't know..

Again Thanks,

WendallB

PG is the base for pretty much ALL e-juice except for people that are allergic to it then they have to use 100% VG. Adding VG to the mix will increase the texture of the vape, and give you more visual clouds IMHO. I have noticed in the past when I started out in DIY, the more VG I added the more the flavor seemed muted, this could just be me though. I have settled on a mix of 80/20 PG/VG for like two years now and am happy with it, Some people use 75/25 PG/VG or 50/50 PG/VG. It is all up to you and how your flavor buds like your mixes. I would try a 80/20 mix and then try different variations of PG/VG to see which one you like.
Hope this helps.
Dan

 

[Dirgon]

I like my DIY mixes at about 50/50, and I usually add 10-15% flavor (flavors count as PG)

I start with 50mg nicotine in PG, flavors (in PG) and the rest is diluted down to strength with pure VG. This usually nets me in the range of 55/45 to 45/55 PG/VG, which is close enough for me.

This is how I make 18mg. Higher than 18 kicks the PG higher, lower than 18 lets me take the VG higher, but if I want to stay around 50/50 I have to add PG for lower nic levels than 18mg.

 

[wendallb]

Wow, all this wonderful help...Many Thanks...I will have to give this a go..