DIY newbie questions

[jnnfrlsw]

I have decided to try my hand at DIY and am in the process of ordering supplies and getting set up. I have a couple questions for you seasoned DIYers:

1. What's the difference between flavoring and concentrate? How do I adjust each when following a recipe? For example, if the recipe calls for 2% vanilla. What % would I use if I am using concentrate instead of plain flavoring? I have a mixture of both on order.

2. When reading a recipe and it calls for a certain percentage do I figure each ingredient based on the total batch ml size? For example, using a 10ml bottle-
2% vanilla would be .2ml
8% coffee .8ml
20% banna-2ml
then would the remaining 70% be the 7ml of the nic/pg/vg mixture to completely fill the 10ml bottle amount?

3. What's the easiest method to use when trying to create my own mixes? I am assuming you try to use the smallest amount of base and flavorings since I expect to waste a lot of each while learning and experimenting. Would working with a 3ml base amount be large enough to determine if a recipe is to my liking or not?

Thanks for any help. I am slowly trying to read thru all the diy posts on the forum too.

 

[dannyv45]

I have decided to try my hand at DIY and am in the process of ordering supplies and getting set up. I have a couple questions for you seasoned DIYers:

1. What's the difference between flavoring and concentrate? How do I adjust each when following a recipe? For example, if the recipe calls for 2% vanilla. What % would I use if I am using concentrate instead of plain flavoring? I have a mixture of both on order.

Flavoring and concentrates most times refer to the same thing. What you do have to realize is that there are concentrates and super concentrates. Concentrates are regular flavoring. Super concentrate are 4x stronger so you would use 1 fourth the amount. SO for instance if a mix calls for 2% you would add .2ml standard concentrate based on 10ml base. with super concentrates you would use .05 ml.

2. When reading a recipe and it calls for a certain percentage do I figure each ingredient based on the total batch ml size? For example, using a 10ml bottle-
2% vanilla would be .2ml
8% coffee .8ml
20% banna-2ml
then would the remaining 70% be the 7ml of the nic/pg/vg mixture to completely fill the 10ml bottle amount?

That is absolutly correct but it's not advisable to go above 20% total flavor. To make it easier use the ejuice me up calculator.
eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator


3. What's the easiest method to use when trying to create my own mixes? I am assuming you try to use the smallest amount of base and flavorings since I expect to waste a lot of each while learning and experimenting. Would working with a 3ml base amount be large enough to determine if a recipe is to my liking or not?

Start with a single flavor and learn to perfect it before you go on to combination mixes. Know what each individual flavor taste like so you will be better able to judge what flavors might and might not go well together. I start with 5ml test batches it's just easier to calculate. Start with the lowest recommended percent and work up. It's easier to adjust for under flavoring then it is to adjust for over flavoring.

Thanks for any help. I am slowly trying to read thru all the diy posts on the forum too.

Read my blogs before getting started

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

then read hoosier's blogs.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

this will explain a lot of the how's and why's.

 

[glasseye]

Download one of the e-liquid calculators and play around with it while you're waiting for your supplies to get there. Just input ingredients from recipes here (or wherever) and see what it does. I use this one, you don't have to download anything (I can't use the downloadable ones since my computer is a grumpy old jerk). DIY Simple E-Liquid (E-Juice) Recipe Calculator I most often use the one with PG/VG adjusting. That will answer your question #2.

Personally, I like to use the least amount of flavoring so I use concentrates and super concentrates. Never just flavoring like you'd put in a cupcake. You have to watch the ingredients and sugar content in those, they'll kill your attys PDQ. The smallest batch I've made is 5ml but lots of peeps do 3ml. I have no actual reason for this. lol

Good luck!

 

[Wingsfan0310]

I'll take a shot at this.

1. All my flavors are concentrates, some more concentrated than others. My best advice is add on the low end and taste - you can always add more.
2. Correct
3. I usually make between 5-10ml test batches. Smaller than that and it gets hard to measure the flavor, especially when your talking about 1-2% (at least it does for me) YMMV
Again I'll add when creating your own recipes, Ill suggest starting low on the flavors, you can always add more if needed. Read a lot. Think about what flavors go together well for you, ie cooking, eating etc.

Hope this helps - Welcome to DIY and Good Luck

Cheers,
Steve