DIY...giving it another try....

[Michele]

Ok you DIY guru's....I've been reading all these threads as well as Nikhil's LONG informational postings and I'd like to give this another try. My question to you is this: I need a "stupid proof" formula. (yes, I know there are 5 gazillion jokes waiting for me) I understand that common mixes are 80/20 of PG/VG and anywhere from 1-15% flavoring plus the nicotine. I'm using this (or trying to) juice calculator: http://www.ecigexpress.com/ejuice-calculator.phphttp://www.ecigexpress.com/ejuice-calculator.php

1. Why would I want to use PGA or Vodka, etc... ???
2. What would I use if I was plugging in a number in the "other" box???
3. What is a "stupid proof" simple recipe that you'd suggest for a beginner???
4. Why do some people use 80/20 VG/PG rather than 80/20 PG/VG???
5. What is the common formula that the websites that sell "ready made" liquid use???
6. Based on the information that Nikhil gathered in that LONG super informative thread, he made a comment that LoAnn flavorings are not for the newbie. Unfortunately, that's what I ordered before gave up a year ago. I have 24-1dram bottles of the stuff! Why are these for newbies only???
7. I use both a LR atty and 18650 bat with my Reo Grand. I also use an eGo-T. The same juice tastes different with these two PV's. Why???

I think that's all for now. Please help.

 

[Michele]

bumpie....

 

[donnah]

Hmmm.. a super simple recipe... tell me what you have.. do you have both pg and vg? What mg is your nic juice? what flavors do you have? do you have any sweetener? Let us know what you have to work with and I'm sure (if not myself) someone can come up with something for you to mix.

To answer a few of your questions.. some ppl use 80%VG and 20%VG because they like more PG in their mix.. Most of use use 50/50 or above (with the above meaning more PG) it depends on what you want.. PG is thinner and gives a bigger throat hit.. VG is thicker and produces more vapor.. some ppl are allergic to PG.. it's just personal preference.

I don't use PGA or Vodka.. why? I don't have any. never thought about it.

As far as wanting to know a common formula that vendors use in their juices.. I would imagine that is as much a secret and the secret ingredients in Bush's baked beans. They're not going to tell that info cause they want you to buy from them.. not make it yourself! If I could make waffles that taste like tasty vapor I wouldn't have to buy it from them (but I have to cause I can't get it to taste like theirs!)

 

[jwquantrell]

Hey there,

That calculator is ok. Pretty basic, but I prefer Scubabatdans myself.

Some folks are using PGA or Vodka because they feel that it gives some kick, or "throat hit", to the juice. I am not sure if it works or not as I have never tried it.

The "other" box, from what I can tell, is if you are using two of those items or VG. Let's say that you want to use 20% VG and you want to add 10% water, vodka, or PGA. You would put 10% in one box and 20% in the other.

"Stupid proof" I can't help you on, other than to say you can use the one flavor type recipes that many have posted here. The eliquid recipe sub forum is certainly a good place to try some recipes out.

PG/VG ratios are just a personal preference having to do with amount of vapor desired or to accomodate allergic reactions, etc. I have been all over the board on this one and have settled on 80% PG and 20% VG for my mixes.

No idea on the common formula of juice vendors. I doubt they will want to share that with us either.

There have been quite a few new vendors discovered in the last year for flavors and they have relegated Lorrans to the bottom of the list for most of us. Since you have them already they will work fine, it is just that most of us feel that there is better now.

Yes, I notice a different taste from different atties and from different voltages. Halo Freedom is the only commercial juice that I occasionally treat myself to, but it tastes terrible in cartomizers to me. When I use it to drip it is pure bliss though. /shrug

Hope my opinion helps you a bit.

 

[cookiebun]

Stupid proof?
There are several flavorings that juice makers don't even try to disguise in the juices they sell so I decided to just make those myself.
Hypnotic Mist, Vanilla Cupcake just for starters. I think my Hypnotic Mist needs a little less flavoring and my Vanilla Cupcake needs slightly more. I mixed them 70/30 VG/PG because I like lots of vapor.

PS. I used the Ejuice Me Up calculator because I don't have Excel or Open Office.

 

[MaxUT]

Good flavors for beginners: Capella

Try 10-15% flavoring with these. I recently made a bottle of Cinnamon Danish Swirl and it's pretty good.

They also have PG and VG for a decent price.

Stop at a farm supply store and get a couple of syringes for measuring. The bigger the needles the better.

 

[Michele]

Hmmm.. a super simple recipe... tell me what you have.. do you have both pg and vg? What mg is your nic juice? what flavors do you have? do you have any sweetener? Let us know what you have to work with and I'm sure (if not myself) someone can come up with something for you to mix.

To answer a few of your questions.. some ppl use 80%VG and 20%VG because they like more PG in their mix.. Most of use use 50/50 or above (with the above meaning more PG) it depends on what you want.. PG is thinner and gives a bigger throat hit.. VG is thicker and produces more vapor.. some ppl are allergic to PG.. it's just personal preference.

I don't use PGA or Vodka.. why? I don't have any. never thought about it.

As far as wanting to know a common formula that vendors use in their juices.. I would imagine that is as much a secret and the secret ingredients in Bush's baked beans. They're not going to tell that info cause they want you to buy from them.. not make it yourself! If I could make waffles that taste like tasty vapor I wouldn't have to buy it from them (but I have to cause I can't get it to taste like theirs!)

1. I do have both PG and VG
2. Currently I have 24mg, but that's what I vape so I'll have to get a higher mg to DIY (yes?)
3. I have the pre-packaged assorted flavors by LoAnn (This assorted carton contains 1-dram size bottles: 4 Cinnamon; 3 Peppermint; 2 Watermelon; 1 each of Anise, Bavarian Cream, Bubblegum, Butterscotch, Cherry, Clove, Cran-Raspberry, Grape, Lemon, Orange, Orange Cream, Raspberry, Root Beer, Spearmint, and Strawberry.)
4. I have Splendex liquid sweetner
5. Do you have an answer to my original question number 7???

Thanks!

 

[Chime]

First of take the cinnamon oil and mix a bit of it 50/50 with vodka (or pga), its way too friggin strong otherwise.

You could try to make a clove juice with that I'm not sure about loranns clove oil tho, smells stronger than the TPA clove I use. Try mixing 4 clove : 2 anise : 1 50/50 cinnamon, take the resulting flavor mix and add it at like 7% to the bases (pg/vg/nic).


Oh and my guess on 7 would be diff voltage/current between the 2 devices.

 

[donnah]

I guess that juices taste different at different voltages. If all you have is 24 mg nic juice and that is what you vape, then yes, you would need a higher mg nic juice to diy. I'm not much on cinnamon, clove or anise flavors. You could mix the strawberry with Bavarian cream to get a strawberry cream type juice. It just depends onwhat you like. Get some higher nic juice and we can go from there.

 

[Slickstick]

Some flavorings are super powerful and some are weak. I like to use 100% VG because it is sweeter and has much more vapor and the PG gave me cramps and headaches.
Start with 1 drop per ml and work your way up to your desired tastes.
Most flavors are good around 5 drops per ml.

But that's based on an an accurate measurement!

Every bottle you purchase is never the same size as listed.
Example some 10ml bottles are actually 13ml. Some 15ml are actually 20ml.
Just because a website says it is a certain size, does not make it so..
One of the reasons I never use a diy calculator.
Measure it.
I bet 90% of suppliers never bothered actually measuring the bottles on their websites.

 

[Michele]

Some flavorings are super powerful and some are weak. I like to use 100% VG because it is sweeter and has much more vapor and the PG gave me cramps and headaches.
Start with 1 drop per ml and work your way up to your desired tastes.
Most flavors are good around 5 drops per ml.

But that's based on an an accurate measurement!

Every bottle you purchase is never the same size as listed.
Example some 10ml bottles are actually 13ml. Some 15ml are actually 20ml.
Just because a website says it is a certain size, does not make it so..
One of the reasons I never use a diy calculator.
Measure it.
I bet 90% of suppliers never bothered actually measuring the bottles on their websites.

Well that's something I never thought of. I think however that using the calculator is still an option for a newbie to DIY, wouldn't you say? Start with the calculation and tweak it to my preference?

 

[Slickstick]

Sure calculators are fine for many, heh, I've just never had to use one. They may have even been based on the advertised size anyway instead of actual measurements. I personally do drops per ml until it tastes the way I want it to. I Don't mess with syringes either. I poked myself back in the day and I don't need to be making customers juice getting poked! Examination gloves don't mean a hoot if you poke yourself.

An easy cheap diy kit would include a few eye droppers, powder free examination gloves, a small graduated cylinder, empty bottles and the ingredients. I get feedback from over half of my customers that put the top vendors here to shame so I must be doing something right. It's just too bad most of them don't use the forums or I would probably be right up there with them. You would think after a year I would be more noticed. Notice how I don't even get included in the who is your favorite supplier polls even being a sponsoring supplier? My facebook and email feedback rags on the top vendors here big time.

The easiest way I can suggest is "drops per ml" (accurate ml) until you get the desired taste you are looking for. I start with 3 for most. 5 is a good number for most flavors I have used, and we have over 100.