DIY Menthol, 4mg nic: I need some help with ingredient acquisition

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Try this method. It was really easy and made great drops from my menthol crystals.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/20590-menthol-drops-recipe-menthol-lovers.html

 

[interestingfellow]

Try this method. It was really easy and made great drops from my menthol crystals.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/20590-menthol-drops-recipe-menthol-lovers.html

That's the thread/recipe to which I was referring. I did 5ml crystals instead of 2.5ml. I also posted this question there.

 

[Bdbodger]

This site NicFitNation.com - Canadian supplier of e-cig kits, parts, accessories, and e-liquids - Other Vaping Accessories suggests you only need one small crystal to make a 10ml bottle of e-liquid into a refreshing frozen menthol flavor. I have never tried it though .

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Nope, the link I gave you is a different thread (and a really easy way to measure up and make the menthol crystals). Maybe take a look at it?

Sounds like you just need to heat up your liquid or give it a good shake? Crystals may reform in it. Not a problem. Did you disolve it in all PGA or did you add VG too?

 

[interestingfellow]

Sorry Hell (I couldn't resist),
You are correct, that is not the thread I posted the question on, but it is the thread I used for the recipe/mop (but I used more crystals than called for). My question did pertain to the other other thread about separation though. Did it separate because it's a saturated/supersaturated solution? Or because there isn't enough crystals in it to absorb all the water/OH?
I used Smirnoff 100proof (%50) (as close as I could get to PGA: none of my friends had any good shine available).

For my 3rd attempt at 1/2 decent menthol ejuice, I threw 14 drops of that (after I shook it up), with 10 drops hazelnut flavor, and about 10 ml of 6mg VG base. does this sound too strong a concentration of menthol? I had my wife try it to see if it was too mentholated, but she's not a vapor, is a newport smoker, and chokes like it's chronic no matter what juice it is, so I feel like she may not have been the best tester.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Sorry Hell (I couldn't resist)

Like Hell... LOL

Did it separate because it's a saturated/supersaturated solution? Or because there isn't enough crystals in it to absorb all the water/OH?

ummm, WATER? You didn't use water did ya? Hope not... If you didn't... you may want to add a bit more Vodka/PGA. Might be right about too much crystal in it.

I used Smirnoff 100proof (%50) (as close as I could get to PGA: none of my friends had any good shine available).

For my 3rd attempt at 1/2 decent menthol ejuice, I threw 14 drops of that (after I shook it up), with 10 drops hazelnut flavor, and about 10 ml of 6mg VG base. does this sound too strong a concentration of menthol? I had my wife try it to see if it was too mentholated, but she's not a vapor, is a newport smoker, and chokes like it's chronic no matter what juice it is, so I feel like she may not have been the best tester.

The Vodka should be fine. If it is still separating, or crystalizing, put the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a while, and shake well every 5 minutes or so... see if that helps.

Normal is 1 drop of menthol drops to 1 ml e-liquid (more or less). Sounds like it should be fine. Sometimes, a bit of tobacco can mellow out the menthol a bit or perhaps a bit of vanilla or ethyl maltol (main ingredient in cotton candy flavored e-liquid, so if you find a bottle, you can use it as a flavoring to add to your menthol to sweeten just a tad so it isn't so Vics Vap-O-Rubbish).

When in doubt... use the spouse as the

LOL

 

[Scubabatdan]

Sorry Hell (I couldn't resist),
You are correct, that is not the thread I posted the question on, but it is the thread I used for the recipe/mop (but I used more crystals than called for). My question did pertain to the other other thread about separation though. Did it separate because it's a saturated/supersaturated solution? Or because there isn't enough crystals in it to absorb all the water/OH?
I used Smirnoff 100proof (%50) (as close as I could get to PGA: none of my friends had any good shine available).

For my 3rd attempt at 1/2 decent menthol ejuice, I threw 14 drops of that (after I shook it up), with 10 drops hazelnut flavor, and about 10 ml of 6mg VG base. does this sound too strong a concentration of menthol? I had my wife try it to see if it was too mentholated, but she's not a vapor, is a newport smoker, and chokes like it's chronic no matter what juice it is, so I feel like she may not have been the best tester.

After reviewing you post in the other thread I did respond to it. One thing kept nagging at me, you said you had 3 distint layers. I remember a bit of information sometime back. The crystal you get off of ebay are coated with a wax to help them for sticking together as in high heat they will melt together forming a clump of crystal. I only ordered from herbal accents but they are going out of business. My other source is:
Mountain Rose Herbs | Bulk organic herbs, spices & essential oils
They have from 4oz - lbs, I tried ebay menthol crystals when I first started and thew them away as they did not taste very good. Just seemed off.
Well hope this helps.
Dan

 

[Scubabatdan]

Like Hell... LOL



ummm, WATER? You didn't use water did ya? Hope not... If you didn't... you may want to add a bit more Vodka/PGA. Might be right about too much crystal in it.



The Vodka should be fine. If it is still separating, or crystalizing, put the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a while, and shake well every 5 minutes or so... see if that helps.

Normal is 1 drop of menthol drops to 1 ml e-liquid (more or less). Sounds like it should be fine. Sometimes, a bit of tobacco can mellow out the menthol a bit or perhaps a bit of vanilla or ethyl maltol (main ingredient in cotton candy flavored e-liquid, so if you find a bottle, you can use it as a flavoring to add to your menthol to sweeten just a tad so it isn't so Vics Vap-O-Rubbish).

When in doubt... use the spouse as the

LOL

As I posted in the other thread:
Thats because Absolute alcohol is 200 proof, or 100 % pure ethanol, 100 proof is 50% alcohol and 50% water. The water is seperating from the menthol crystals.

100 proof vodka will always seperate because it is made up of 50% water.
Use everclear if you can get it and you wont go wrong.
Dan

ADDED:
I always mix my menthol concentrate as so:
Take a bottle and fill it full of menthol crystal, then start adding everclear (PGA) until the bottle is full. Cap and shake, a warm bath water speeds up the process. Once all the crystals are melted use at 4% in your ejuice.
Thats pretty much it.
Dan

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Ahhh, right. Makes sense. I never used Vodka, only PGA. Never thought about water content in Vodka! Doh! Thanks Dan.

 

[interestingfellow]

Thank you all. I was out for a bit (my son gave me coupons for father's day to go on a run OR a bike ride. No running for me, instead we rode bikes for 12 miles.....)

I just got back in, I'll use a syringe to see what's what in the layers.
As far as wax or coating goes, is there a way to see if it has it or not? That thin layer could be excess menthol from a saturated solution??? %50 of 7.5 ml vodka=3.75mlOH + 4ml Menthol Crystals (5ml-air between dust/crystals).... Dunno....

Here's what I got (4oz for $10) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=300489790978&view=all&tid=561293680020

I also have an ounce coming from perfumer's apprentice (I ran out of my usual menthol and wasn't sure what would be here and when) with a couple other ingredients.

 

[interestingfellow]

Yeah, like an ... I siphoned off the layers into different bottles. Both of them felt oily, smelt minty and alchoholic, and (DUHHHHHHH) taste minty. Stupid stupid stupid move trying to taste it... Anyway, I guess the menthol will disolve in water too. i'm gonna go ahead and distillate a small qty of rum myself. i googled about it quite a bit. 10 gallons of mash will make 2 gallons of shine, so I'm thinking 1 gallon of mash (I forget what it's called when you use brown suger instead of corn meal) should make about 25 ounces of rum/shine. No everclear in Virginia, all my rednecks are out of shine, and Maryland is too far for me. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Wouldn't just buying pre-made drops from one of the vendors mentioned be easier? LOL

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Seems a bit extreme (unless you have other uses for the moonshine planned ). As an alternative to buying the drops, PG can dissolve menthol perfectly - use about 50% menthol, 50% PG.

 

[interestingfellow]

Easier.... probably. But I like rum, and I'd also get to say I made my own shine! Coolfactor +1