DIY NET Thread

[boomerdude]

I thought it might be good to start a thread discussing the ins and outs of juice making with NET's from pipe tobacco and cigars. There is a sub-forum for extraction and an excellent thread on vendor NET juices. Perhaps those of us that make our own extractions or use vendor extracts can come here to discuss their recipes and any tips or tricks of the trade.

Right now I use around 20 NET's of my own and have tried several vendor NET's to make DIY juice. I have had pretty good success if going by comments from friends and family that have tried them.

One thing I have found is that I needed to perfect blending tobacco extracts, by which I mean unadulterated single flavor tobacco's like Burley, Turkish, Virginia, etc. by trial and error before I tried mixing them together to make a juice. I think this is a key factor. You can spend $10 for 5 mls. of a vendor extract or you can spend the $10 for an ounce of tobacco and the PG/VG/Alcohol to extract 150 mls. You also have the luxury of a much wider assortment of types like Green River Black Cavendish or Dark Fired Kentucky Burley and many more.

There's a whole new facet to DIY out there which can be a lot of fun to try, and a tasty way to get your next ADV.

So don't be shy and jump right in.

 

[dannyv45]

I've made a few of my own extracts but found they kill my atty very quickly. I've used tobacco absolute with good success in several of my mixes by adding it at 2 - 3% to my tobacco flavorings from hangsen, FA, and found it enhanced the tobacco flavors nicely.

 

[Dave_in_OK]

I've made a few of my own extracts but found they kill my atty very quickly. I've used tobacco absolute with good success in several of my mixes by adding it at 2 - 3% to my tobacco flavorings from hangsen, FA, and found it enhanced the tobacco flavors nicely.

I think the key here is the type of tobacco used i.e. whether it's high in sugar or other known atty killers and the filtration. TA is great and I use it a lot but to raise the bar a little more and get a truly unique flavor (hopefully good) the use of NET's is a great way to get there IMHO

 

[boomerdude]

I've had good luck using a 20cc syringe with a cotton ball ( sterile or organic ) as a filter. I gets rid of the larger particulates which burn on the coils. To test liquids I use a micro-coil. When I'm done I pull out the cotton and pulse the coil to dry burn. Then I replace the wick with new cotton.

I use Hangsen also. Whatever gets you a good, tasty vape is what counts. You can filter your extracts several times and use them in a recipe but the percentage is usually around 20-30% unlike lab extracts at 2.5%. I extract a Burley, a Virginia and maybe a Turkish or Latakia, etc. Mix them together in varying strengths for a tobacco base I can add lab flavors to if I want.

I've made a few of my own extracts but found they kill my atty very quickly. I've used tobacco absolute with good success in several of my mixes by adding it at 2 - 3% to my tobacco flavorings from hangsen, FA, and found it enhanced the tobacco flavors nicely.

 

[Vash]

Have extracted 6 so far .I too use micro coils and just switch wick once a day.I have found for me though that I like mine at 8-10 % flavor but that might just be my personal preference.
Maybe Ill try one at 20 % to see what I think
Boomer have you tried any at lower % ? Im curious if going to 20% will clog wick faster or just increase flavor.If clogging seems the same then I wouldnt mind more flavor .

Ill be filtering 2 new ones today A vanilla black Cavendish and a butterscotch pipe tobacco as well.

 

[Vash]

Great idea on thread too Just subscribed!

 

[UntamedRose]

Marking

I've played around some with this. Nothing OMG yet...BUT using the hubbies old as heck pipe tobacco and stale cigars might not have been the best way to try. Did order some new samplers just a few days ago looking forward to those coming in

 

[boomerdude]

It depends on the tobacco. I go for flavor first. A lot of trial and error. If it loses flavor from too much filtering I cut back. Whichever percentage gives me the best flavor, that's what I use. I can always dry burn. Switching cotton wicks just takes a few seconds and then I'm back in business. If I'm vaping a really dirty juice I use a ribbon wire and cotton center Ekowool. I think clogging goes more from filtering than percentage.


Boomer have you tried any at lower % ? Im curious if going to 20% will clog wick faster or just increase flavor.If clogging seems the same then I wouldnt mind more flavor .

 

[boomerdude]

What did you get for samples? Do you use hot or cold extraction? Inquiring minds want to know.

Marking

I've played around some with this. Nothing OMG yet...BUT using the hubbies old as heck pipe tobacco and stale cigars might not have been the best way to try. Did order some new samplers just a few days ago looking forward to those coming in

 

[Vash]

It depends on the tobacco. I go for flavor first. A lot of trial and error. If it loses flavor from too much filtering I cut back. Whichever percentage gives me the best flavor, that's what I use. I can always dry burn. Switching cotton wicks just takes a few seconds and then I'm back in business. If I'm vaping a really dirty juice I use a ribbon wire and cotton center Ekowool. I think clogging goes more from filtering than percentage.


Boomer have you tried any at lower % ? Im curious if going to 20% will clog wick faster or just increase flavor.If clogging seems the same then I wouldnt mind more flavor .

Thanks man.I filter 4 times with cotton ball method so think I will try a new % tonight and see what I think.Im thinking Ill try 15% with the vanilla Cavendish and report back how it compares to my regular black Cavendish at 10% .
Like you stated before making your own is so much more cost effective that half the fun is messing around with the process

 

[Vash]

If inquiring minds care I use a hot and cold maceration combo with all tobaccos coming from pipesandcigars.com

 

[UntamedRose]

What did you get for samples? Do you use hot or cold extraction? Inquiring minds want to know.

I got Sutliff's black vanilla and black spice; Captain Black's regular and Dark. Have to let you know how those are when they get here

And hot did a double boiler kinda deal the first time around.

 

[boomerdude]

I'm hesitant to try flavored tobaccos and generally stick to the blending types. I add any flavorings myself. I have tried Borkum Riff and Cpt. Black Regular but that's about it. If I don't know how a vendor flavors their tobacco and by what process it makes me nervous; not knowing what I'm putting in my lungs. Cigars-I stick to companies that explain their process like Drew Estates, Nat Sherman, etc.

If anyone is thinking about Kuba-Kuba, get the deluxe and go easy. Too much and you'll get an overpowering flowery taste. Acid Blonde is the opposite, I go 30% flavoring on that.

 

[Vash]

So mixed up some Vanilla Black at 15% and not sure yet what I think.Lots of flavor almost has a honey tone to it.Will keep vaping and let you guys know if its a winner or not.

As far as flavored stuff goes I have had great luck with two so far.Vanilla custard and Coconut almond from Sutliff.I also have tried Sutliff Golden Cavendish and thats really nice and light .Still have to try the Butterscotch and see how that turned out.

Im thinking my next order will be a couple more unflavored pipe tobaccos that I can try on their own and then blend.I have blended the GC with some Black Cavendish before and that was really good too.

I understand Boomer where your coming from with the flavored stuff.I wanted to try some first time around that would already have the flavor note added instead of messing around myself but think that you make a good point of trying blends and then flavoring myself .Which would actually work out better since then I would have the unflavored blends and then if adding something doesnt work out Im not stuck with a bottle of flavored stuff that wont be used.

 

[Dave_in_OK]

My thoughts on flavored tobaccos is to use that background flavor note to help build depth to the overall profile by sometimes adding the same type and sometimes with contrasting flavors. Just my btw I'm currently working with a Montecristo on its second day of a Hot maceration and waiting for by order from Pipes and Cigars: Captain Black Royal & Cherry, McClelland Darkest Caramel, Chocolate & Cream, Strawberry Daiquiri and Sultiff Sunset Rum

 

[Vash]

So the VBC is growing on me .Thinking I will go lower on the flavor next time.Not just with my NETs but seems my taste buds these days are liking less and not more with all of DIY mixes .

Dave let us know how the McClelland Darkest Caramel and Chocolate & Cream turn out.I had been thinking of trying these before.

Maybe once we get enough folks joining us here we should start to compile a list of tobaccos and percentages to help each other out.I know results will very based on every ones own extraction methods but might be useful Im sure we all have a few mixes and methods we all want keep to ourselves for certain blends but maybe some of the simple mixes and tobaccos can be done to help out extract vets and noobs a like .

 

[boomerdude]

I have found that most extracts, my own and vendor purchases, lack body. I just received a couple of vendor extract that I wanted to try because others have raved about the juices. Neither of the two have any body to them, just flat. Cigar extracts are the best for flavor and body and they don't need much tweaking to get a good juice from.

The first time I bought NET extracts was from MOVJ. I got Rogue, Southern Gentleman and Wicked Wench. I was very disappointed with the Rogue and WW. No body, very flat, but the flavor was there. So I shied away from vendor extracts until recently. I had to try NETCOM's American Spirit and Black Cavendish. I mixed at the vendor's recommended percentages. Same flat, bodiless juice. However this time I have a lot more experience so I'm not disappointed because I know I need to tweak them or add to other flavors. Now I have the tweaked juice steeping and in about a week I'll drip a little to see how it's coming along. I'll do this about every 3 days until I think the taste is the best I can get.

When I first started to extract purchased cigars and pipe tobacco I mixed Burley, Turkish and Virginia together. I wasn't bad, but there was something missing. So I added some TA and a few drops of ACV. There was a lot of improvement. So once I got percentages down on stand alone blending tobacco's I started adding flavors. Cigars are a different story for a future post.

 

[Aheadatime]

I'm having good luck with a cigar I recently extracted using hot/cold methods spanning 5 days or so. The cigar is just some random purchase from a local cig corner store. Alot of flavor and depth, but it had a bitter undertone to it. 2 drops of ACV per 10ml and 2% EM fixed this, but I'll lower the EM next time around. As always, its a bit of a coil gunker.

Boomer, many vapers use clearos, cartos, and the like and can't simply switch out cotton at will like you can. I think this is the basis of people's issue with extracts. I rotate between an HH357, a few novas I rebuild myself with hemp, a protank hemp rebuild, and the aspire tank. I don't let the extracts anywhere near the HH357, thus I'm limited to constantly rebuilding my tanks. I have an IGO-L and some cotton on the way, but the fact remains that I've yet to encounter a clean burning extract of the 5 I've tried so far, and the cotton method hasn't helped. I'm thinking of trying a low-budget centrifuge type contraption, but I'm not there yet.

 

[Vash]

I'm having good luck with a cigar I recently extracted using hot/cold methods spanning 5 days or so. The cigar is just some random purchase from a local cig corner store. Alot of flavor and depth, but it had a bitter undertone to it. 2 drops of ACV per 10ml and 2% EM fixed this, but I'll lower the EM next time around. As always, its a bit of a coil gunker.

Boomer, many vapers use clearos, cartos, and the like and can't simply switch out cotton at will like you can. I think this is the basis of people's issue with extracts. I rotate between an HH357, a few novas I rebuild myself with hemp, a protank hemp rebuild, and the aspire tank. I don't let the extracts anywhere near the HH357, thus I'm limited to constantly rebuilding my tanks. I have an IGO-L and some cotton on the way, but the fact remains that I've yet to encounter a clean burning extract of the 5 I've tried so far, and the cotton method hasn't helped. I'm thinking of trying a low-budget centrifuge type contraption, but I'm not there yet.

Try wrapping a micro coil for the Igo L and paired with the cotton you should get great results.I still have to swap wick once a day for my extracts but its so easy to do on a micro that its well worth it for the flavor of a good NET Only takes seconds to switch out wick.

 

[Dave_in_OK]

Vash I will post my findings as well as the methods so if their good you or anyone can repeat the results or improve upon them.

Boomer theirs a recipe in the book All about Tobacco from Milton Sherman that I've tried to make using flavors from TFA, FA, Hangsen, and Seedmans (some were better than others but none really that good) that called for those tobaccos looks like I'll be making an order to leafsonly in the morning lol

My first test on the Montecristo without steeping at 15% flavor 70pg 30vg 18mg was light on taste -the wrapper flavor was dominate but the body and depth was good. I know I'll be using it with other tobacco flavors in the near future.