DIY Master Techniques - Flavor Add-on's (EM, VW, BW, MTS, ACV, ect)

[ukeman]

I see Agave Nectar on the shelf in the store in a light and dark. Been temped to try some, anyone done this?

Wallace

[

The chemical in baking soda, Sodium Bicarbonate, is used in IV solutions to raise pH. It is an alkaline.

[Originally Posted by ShogaNinja View Post
Sucralose itself isn't poisonous, it's the heavy metals and arsenic that are used to refine it that are. I'd rather see Agave Nectar or even Stevia used instead, if such a thing is possible.]

I would think Agave, processed similar to sugar and which imo isn''t quite a subsitute in the sense that Sucra, Stevia, Splenda (or other low cal sweetners for food), are for sugar… Agave would gunk up coils like real sugar…

On other juice threads (not DIY) theres talk of juices that use a natural sweetener (sugar? or other not sure) and how they will gunk.
I tried a couple of the juices in question (Dragon Chi and Cran Chi from Halcyon) and got a rather strong t/h, not to my liking ymmv.

 

[dannyv45]

The chemical in baking soda, Sodium Bicarbonate, is used in IV solutions to raise pH. It is an alkaline.

Sodium bicarbonate can be used as a wash to remove any acidic impurities from a "crude" liquid, producing a purer sample. Reaction of sodium bicarbonate and an acid produce a salt and carbonic acid, which readily decomposes to carbon dioxide and water:

In medical use:

Sodium bicarbonate may be used as a buffering agent, combined with table salt, when creating a solution for nasal irrigation.

Seems it would be good to smooth out a mix and reduce some of the harshness in the vape. I would think it would help reduce throat irritation associated with vaping.

 

[Crunktanium]

I would think Agave, processed similar to sugar and which imo isn''t quite a substitute in the sense that Sucra, Stevia, Splenda (or other low cal sweetners for food), are for sugar… Agave would gunk up coils like real sugar.

I use organic amber agave (provides a distinct taste) from time to time (not to fond of light agave) if I run low on Sucralose flavoring. It does not take much but it's not as sweet as other sweeteners. If you want to make organic juice it's about the only thing you can use which is truly organic. And it's good enough to use in top shelf Patron Tequila so it's got to be good enough for my ejuice. Keep in mind though I build my own coils so replacing a caked up wick takes all of a minute. Anyone who does DIY juice should be making DIY coils too so coil gunk would be of little concern.

 

[aikanae1]

LOL! A worm is good enough for tequillia. I like the agave as a sweetner too, for coffee. I've been wondering about inhaling it. I wish someone was concerned enough to test some of these things.

 

[we2rcool]

Our experience with .9% sterile saline solution:

We make a base solution of 80% VG; 9% distilled water; 9% sterile saline (.9% solution) and 2% PGA

We have made (literally) hundreds of samples...with 18% distilled water (no saline) and with 9% dw and 9% saline (.9% solution). We also made dozens of samples with all manner of variations - all with a base of 80% VG

In all but a handful of samples, the flavor was definitely 'more intense' with the saline. (Frustratingly, as newbies when testing, we didn't write down the ones that didn't intensify - we were only interested in "majority rules" :::grin::

Neither of us could taste the salt in any of the samples (via vaping). Neither of us can taste the salt in any of our mixes (nor can the handful of others that have sampled them).

Our mouths, sinuses, lungs (and even eyes) are less dehydrated

We have never found a 'negative' (like "coil gunking", flavor diminishing/changing, etc) due to the saline

However, we think we may have noticed when we mix EM powder in our base at 10% (to make a 10% EM solution to use as an additive), it may tend to recrystallize faster than in straight VG (due to the salt?)...but we haven't yet done a side-by-side to compare (it doesn't matter to us, because it always stays completey dissolved in our juices). The 2% pga may also be a factor there (or the mix of the two).

Also fwiw...

We will not use or inhale Splenda. Independent research (not mainstream, but even some mainstream) shows many different adverse effects on the human body. The newest data reveals the creation of some dangerous carcinogen/chemical (dioxin?) at even moderate baking temperatures. It's not for us.

Agave "nectar" is basically the same as corn syrup...only made from agave. It was hailed/marketed as "healthier" until a few researchers dug in and found it was processed almost exactly like corn syrup. Of course, the rumor of 'healthier' still persists.

 

[bcollier9253]

Our experience with .9% sterile saline solution:

We make a base solution of 80% VG; 9% distilled water; 9% sterile saline (.9% solution) and 2% PGA

We have made (literally) hundreds of samples...with 18% distilled water (no saline) and with 9% dw and 9% saline (.9% solution). We also made dozens of samples with all manner of variations - all with a base of 80% VG

In all but a handful of samples, the flavor was definitely 'more intense' with the saline. (Frustratingly, as newbies when testing, we didn't write down the ones that didn't intensify - we were only interested in "majority rules" :::grin::

Neither of us could taste the salt in any of the samples (via vaping). Neither of us can taste the salt in any of our mixes (nor can the handful of others that have sampled them).

Our mouths, sinuses, lungs (and even eyes) are less dehydrated

We have never found a 'negative' (like "coil gunking", flavor diminishing/changing, etc) due to the saline

However, we think we may have noticed when we mix EM powder in our base at 10% (to make a 10% EM solution to use as an additive), it may tend to recrystallize faster than in straight VG (due to the salt?)...but we haven't yet done a side-by-side to compare (it doesn't matter to us, because it always stays completey dissolved in our juices). The 2% pga may also be a factor there (or the mix of the two).

Also fwiw...

We will not use or inhale Splenda. Independent research (not mainstream, but even some mainstream) shows many different adverse effects on the human body. The newest data reveals the creation of some dangerous carcinogen/chemical (dioxin?) at even moderate baking temperatures. It's not for us.

Agave "nectar" is basically the same as corn syrup...only made from agave. It was hailed/marketed as "healthier" until a few researchers dug in and found it was processed almost exactly like corn syrup. Of course, the rumor of 'healthier' still persists.

When you mix as stated above what do you enter into the calculator? Do you treat the Vg mix as just straight vg? I guess what I'm asking is, if a recipe calls for 1.28ml of vg, do you plug in 1.28 in the vg column? And not enter anything in the water/PGA column? Say for a 50/50 blend? And for all practical purposes would it still be called a 50/50 blend?

Now, I'm just thinking out loud here... Could a person possibly make the same solution in a pg base,as to dilute the pg without adding vg? Just curious if it would have its pros and cons. I understand by making it in vg base is to thin the vg to make it more wick friendly.

 

[we2rcool]

When you mix as stated above what do you enter into the calculator? Do you treat the Vg mix as just straight vg? I guess what I'm asking is, if a recipe calls for 1.28ml of vg, do you plug in 1.28 in the vg column? And not enter anything in the water/PGA column? Say for a 50/50 blend? And for all practical purposes would it still be called a 50/50 blend?

Now, I'm just thinking out loud here... Could a person possibly make the same solution in a pg base,as to dilute the pg without adding vg? Just curious if it would have its pros and cons. I understand by making it in vg base is to thin the vg to make it more wick friendly.

What you described is exactly what we do...enter our "base mixture" into the calculator as "straight VG" (and don't mess with the rest). The only PG we use is what's in the flavoring - and we don't mess with that on the calculator either.

If "50/50 blend" meant 50vg/50pg...then, nope, we don't have any type of a 50/50 thing like that. Just our base (entered as VG), whatever mg/ml nic we're using, and the flavors.


As far as diluting PG, I know I've read you can't dilute it very much (with water/alcohol/saline solution) - but since we don't work with it, hopefully somebody else can let you know about that. I can't see how it would be a problem to use something like our base as the "vg part" of a 50/50 pg/vg dilution.

 

[bcollier9253]

Cool, Thanks! Sorry for all the silly newb questions

 

[michaelsil1]

I was at CVS and the only Saline I could find without preservatives was a package (Sodium Chloride with Sodium Bicarbonate). Is this worth trying?

 

[bcollier9253]

I was at CVS and the only Saline I could find without preservatives was a package (Sodium Chloride with Sodium Bicarbonate). Is this worth trying?

Was wondering the same thing, it's what I got as well.

 

[michaelsil1]

Was wondering the same thing, it's what I got as well.

I didn't buy it I figured I would ask first.

 

[bcollier9253]

I have since gotten 4 10ml syringes of saline wash from a buddy of mine at the firehouse. I know that's gotta be the right stuff!

 

[Sirius]

From Liv2Ski...

When I started DIY I had a difficult time getting a juice to "shine". They all seemed flat to me and nothing really popped. I struggled with why mine were not as good as the "store bought" stuff. I had a few favorite juices form Vendors and tried to make a few copies. Again same thing mine seemed flat. Then I put a dab of the store bought on my finger and tasted it. Each one of my favorites had a "sweetness" to it. I went and placed and order for two flavors- Cotton candy (Ethyl Malto in PG) and Sweetener (Sucralose in PG). Adding 1% sweetener to my DIY juices was the trick. I use the EM for tobacco based juices and the sweetener flavor for bakery and fruit types. I have not bought a premade juice in almost a year.

from the original thread...
www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/255207-need-help-making-flavors-taste-right-2.html

Ty Micksf -- I will try this as I can't seem to get Blueberry down right..Enjoying this thread btw.

 

[dannyv45]

I was at CVS and the only Saline I could find without preservatives was a package (Sodium Chloride with Sodium Bicarbonate). Is this worth trying?

Was wondering the same thing, it's what I got as well.

I to shop at CVS and although I haven't gone yet I'm wondering the same thing myself. Nasal wash and wound wash is susposed to be .9% saline. I know the pharacist pretty well I think I'll ask them for some help.

 

[michaelsil1]

I to shop at CVS and although I haven't gone yet I'm wondering the same thing myself. Nasal wash and wound wash is susposed to be .9% saline. I know the pharacist pretty well I think I'll ask them for some help.

The package I found you have to add (4oz) water.

 

[Sirius]

I to shop at CVS and although I haven't gone yet I'm wondering the same thing myself. Nasal wash and wound wash is susposed to be .9% saline. I know the pharacist pretty well I think I'll ask them for some help.

Dannyv -- what do you think about adding citric acid to a blueberry flavor? Makes it pop? I'm not even interested in the saline
solution yet though..sounds a bit complicated..lol

 

[dannyv45]

Dannyv -- what do you think about adding citric acid to a blueberry flavor? Makes it pop? I'm not even interested in the saline
solution yet though..sounds a bit complicated..lol

Yes it will make it pop. Most add lemon juice as the citric acid.

 

[Sirius]

Yes it will make it pop. Most add lemon juice as the citric acid.

Tyvm I will try that .. I have seen where some are using actual real lemon juice instead of the Real Lemon brand.
I will try both on my next batch.

 

[bcollier9253]

I to shop at CVS and although I haven't gone yet I'm wondering the same thing myself. Nasal wash and wound wash is susposed to be .9% saline. I know the pharacist pretty well I think I'll ask them for some help.

Let us know what he says Danny

 

[Chas F.]

This is what I bought at Walmart, I may have said earlier that I got it at Walgreens, but I was wrong. It comes out in a stream and I simply sprayed it into a 1 oz. dripper bottle and it's ready to go!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/NeilMed-Wound-Wash-Saline-Spray-6-fl-oz/23821918