DIY pros and cons

[zuzette]

The longer I vape the more interested in DIY I am. Running a few scenarios of recipes and supplier costs I can see that one can save a lot of money with DIY. AND - no waiting for the next vape mail for ones favorite flavor.

but I have been around the block a few times and I know, no matter how many people tell me something is easy or doable, I get sucked in to projects and simply reach a point of frustration. DIY only saves money if one has the skill and tools to get the job done.

I do have good mixing skills - I am an artisan soap maker and I dye my own yarns (hand spun by me of course). Looking at DIY juice it all seem straight forward and with patience easy.

but - what about flavor? I can easily see how this could become an expensive proposition if one is experimental and curious. failure seems imminent

For those of you who do DIY - are you sucessful with your flavor creations? or do you mostly stick to single or duo flavor blends? Do you use others recipes and enjoy what they create?

The thing of it is - I can get really gung ho about things and find that in the end, Ive blown a bunch of dough even though my initial point of attraction was to save money.

should I drop the idea of saving money right now and simply experiment and enjoy the process? just how satisfied are you with DIY?

 

[Rule62]

I enjoy DIYing. In between making juice and my more recent endeavor into rebuildable attys, vaping has become as much a hobby as the original intent of simply satisfying a nicotine addiction. I'm also one of those people who goes whole hog into things that I become interested in. I've been DIYing for nearly 1 1/2 years; and yes, I've wasted some money, by buying several flavors that I simply don't like; and by not being aware, at first, of where to get supplies at the best price. But, over time, the results have been worth the effort, not only cost wise; but quality wise, as well.

 

[graffinfected]

i have to say, i didn't spend too much money on vendor juices because i knew from the beginning that it was going to cost me a lot of money (i vape 24/7)

none the less, i have spent money on vendor juices and i like them they are much better than what i can make at home (for now) because im not very experienced in mixing and all that, but! its fun to me, yea i have had to throw some batches away but if you mix small you can keep that to a minimum.

i usually mix one flavor because im still learning, but now im starting to mix 2 flavors because im getting the 1 flavor juices down ( oh yeaa) you want to know why?? i read hoosiers blog (http://http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/hoosier/ ) and str8v8ping's blog ( http://http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/str8v8ping/ )which taught me a lot about mixing and what i should do to start the whole DIY stuff. And yes, sometimes its fun to mix someone else's recipe, and yet, sometimes its a nightmare lol!

i suggest buying some capella some flavor art some lorann and some perfumers apprentice flavors.. search around the DIY sections to find what flavors are best from what company.. for example.. the cheescake from TPA is no match to the cheescake from capella. These are just things you learn from reading the forum or trial and error. Personally i think DIY is the way to go, you just have to mess around with it first before you start making some magical stuff. i think its worth it. especially sense you say you have mixing experience, this might be your thing...

 

[Hoosier]

but I have been around the block a few times and I know, no matter how many people tell me something is easy or doable, I get sucked in to projects and simply reach a point of frustration. DIY only saves money if one has the skill and tools to get the job done.

It's the same for every thing. I know someone who cannot drive for more than 4 months without losing a rearview mirror, but I find driving around without catching my mirrors on various objects to be pretty darn easy.

I do have good mixing skills - I am an artisan soap maker and I dye my own yarns (hand spun by me of course). Looking at DIY juice it all seem straight forward and with patience easy.

Exactly

but - what about flavor? I can easily see how this could become an expensive proposition if one is experimental and curious. failure seems imminent

I'm extremely curious so I make plenty of crappy juice. I don't see it as a failure though, it's just a way to not do what I wanted to do.

For those of you who do DIY - are you sucessful with your flavor creations? or do you mostly stick to single or duo flavor blends? Do you use others recipes and enjoy what they create?

Yes to all that. Single to 9 flavor blends. I have had successful mixes and throwaway mixes. I think I only have used less than half a dozen of the recipes I have found posted and all of them needed something tweaked to work for me.

The thing of it is - I can get really gung ho about things and find that in the end, Ive blown a bunch of dough even though my initial point of attraction was to save money.

Then don't go into it to save money. (If you only make one recipe and don't want to vape anything else, you could save quite a bit of money, we have mixers who do that, but I'm not one of them.)

should I drop the idea of saving money right now and simply experiment and enjoy the process? just how satisfied are you with DIY?

I think I've inferred that previously, possibly even stated that. I've been mixing for 2+ years. Feel free to draw your own conclusions...

 

[Cookster]

I've been DIYing for over nine months, and while I see a ton of "pro's", and I only see two "con's":

1. Time-It can be as time consuming as you make it, though once you get the hang of it, it's fairly quick. I would dedicate one day a week to mixing. Having a pre-mix ready to go at all time makes it superrr easy.

2. Once you DIY for a while and see the prices and savings, it's almost impossible to pay $1.00/ml for vendor juice. I look at some of the new. hot vendors and simply cannot justify paying those prices. I'm actually a little horrified

 

[zuzette]

collateral...I'm horrified by those prices too and the few i tried were not even cry good. i felt like i fell for the emperor's new clothes.

 

[kabonk]

I've been DIY exclusively for over a year for me it took about a month or so of experimenting before my juice creations went from that's OK to wow that's good. I pretty much stick to 7 or 8 recipes and mix in large batches so my more complex recipes have a good 3 to 4 weeks to steep

 

[flintlock62]

I'm looking to get into the DIY scene, too. I started one thread asking about [flavoring] oils, and was told NOT to use oils because they are dangerous. If oils aren't used for flavoring, what IS used?

 

[ninfreak]

i told you in the other thread that you are confused by the name lorran oils, which very few of those flavors are oil based.

 

[MrMayhem]

DIY is the way to go. Steeping, and making very small batches in the beginning are the two best tips anyone starting can use.

 

[James416]

i have to say, i didn't spend too much money on vendor juices because i knew from the beginning that it was going to cost me a lot of money (i vape 24/7)

none the less, i have spent money on vendor juices and i like them they are much better than what i can make at home (for now) because im not very experienced in mixing and all that, but! its fun to me, yea i have had to throw some batches away but if you mix small you can keep that to a minimum.

i usually mix one flavor because im still learning, but now im starting to mix 2 flavors because im getting the 1 flavor juices down ( oh yeaa) you want to know why?? i read hoosiers blog (http://http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/hoosier/ ) and str8v8ping's blog ( http://http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/str8v8ping/ )which taught me a lot about mixing and what i should do to start the whole DIY stuff. And yes, sometimes its fun to mix someone else's recipe, and yet, sometimes its a nightmare lol!

i suggest buying some capella some flavor art some lorann and some perfumers apprentice flavors.. search around the DIY sections to find what flavors are best from what company.. for example.. the cheescake from TPA is no match to the cheescake from capella. These are just things you learn from reading the forum or trial and error. Personally i think DIY is the way to go, you just have to mess around with it first before you start making some magical stuff. i think its worth it. especially sense you say you have mixing experience, this might be your thing...

Those links dont work, been hunting for them as well, can someone PM them to me plz

 

[flintlock62]

i told you in the other thread that you are confused by the name lorran oils, which very few of those flavors are oil based.

I believe I asked what is used if oils aren't? You have to excuse my ignorance because I'm new to this. Maybe I SHOULD have said, "What is the base for flavoring"? Maybe that would have sounded more intelligent. The first thing I have seen is what is called LorAnn's OILS. I want to know what is going into what I'm vaping, plain and simple. Does that make sense now?

 

[Dougiestyle]

I dove, head-long, into DIY right after deciding vaping was gonna get me off the stinkies. I'm a mixologist at heart. I'm a whiz in the kitchen. Unfortunately, my first couple experiments were failures. I got discouraged. I had attended a local vapers' meet and found a cost-effective nicquid supplier and I started buying bulk, pre-mixed nicquids in flavors that I enjoyed. Thos flavors became stagnant, so I experimented with enhancing the pre-mixed flavors my mixing tham together in various quantities, as well as adding DIY flavors. Recently, I have reverted back to strictly DIY with a few flavors that I can vape all-day, everyday.

If you're going to begin DIY, I'd suggest the wonderful support and CS of onestopdiyshop.com. Kim is a memebr, her, on ECF and is more helpful than anyone could imagine. My first purchase was their "Flavor Apprentice Artisan Kit" it has everything you will need to get you started. Order some unflavored base with it and some unflavored PG and VG. They have an abundance of flavors to choose from, also.

I now buy my nicquid base from wizardlabs.com as well as PG and VG, but I'm faithful to OSDIYS for flavors and hardware.

 

[Hoosier]

I believe I asked what is used if oils aren't? You have to excuse my ignorance because I'm new to this. Maybe I SHOULD have said, "What is the base for flavoring"? Maybe that would have sounded more intelligent. The first thing I have seen is what is called LorAnn's OILS. I want to know what is going into what I'm vaping, plain and simple. Does that make sense now?

See sticky at top of this sub-forum. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/74109-guide-diy-flavoring.html That should get you started.

 

[Hoosier]

Those links dont work, been hunting for them as well, can someone PM them to me plz

See the blue "3" under my avatar? Click it.

 

[klynnn]

My first attempt at diy was buying a cheap chinese tobacco juice in bulk and then diluting and adding flavor to that. I actually found my all day vape that way and it's very inexpensive. If you make mistakes oh well not losing so much money.

 

[BakuPeg]

My husband started Vaping in early April. I was buying ejuice from several vendors to find out what he liked. after a month everything just seemed too much till I found this forum. I then was committed to try DIY. I bought a couple Lorann flavors from Hobby Lobby, USP PG and VG I found locally for a very reasonable price. I checked out Wizard Labs and bought NIC and a bunch of flavors from them. Later I bought some SC flavors from a co-op and a bunch from capellas, Flavor Art and flavor west. I filled 3 bathroom cabinets with steeping juice and it has spilled out into a closet.

The pros, good custom juice. When my husband gets to a flavor he gives me feedback and what he would like added or subtracted. A little vanilla here, or a little methol or koolata.. Lately it has been "this is great don't mess with it!". I have made a couple failures but they were fixable. (with the exception of 20% caramel Cappuccino. Massive failure).

The cons: TIME. I suggest you take the time to do research on every single flavor. (Or be ready to experiment till you get it right). Everyone's taste is different but I like to know before I use a flavor if its a weak flavor (15-20% recommended) or a concentrated flavor (1-2% total) The only way to know is to search the forums here. (or experiment) It doesn't work with new flavors or undocumented flavors. Then you are guessing. and without an atty and little bottles it can be a long process.

Most people are here to help and will let you know that new TPA Mint candy is STRONG at 5-6%, so if I need to use it in a new menthol juice as a flavor layer I am to use it very gently.

I know now to take detailed notes and any failures I use as a learning experience to make that next juice batch better!

As an add, since you have experience mixing soap, you already have the safety experience!!. Mixing Lye, oils, and scents is actually real similar to DIY. You use the same safety equipment (don’t get it on your hands/face/etc) You have to calculate everything you mix and be accurate. You are not actually reacting chemicals, just mixing, labeling, taking notes and let the mixture steep.

Ohh I have to add, it gets a little addicting.. The flavor combinations are ENDLESS! SO if you want to join us in the search for the Holy Grail of juices.. Dive right in the water is waaarrmmm

 

[zuzette]

thank you for all the great comments and suggestions. I've hot the bug now and will be placing an order. i think ill start with some single flavors and go from there. no hurry right? I've already got a notebook full of notes on DIY
record keeping wont be a problem.

 

[Cookster]

BTW, I use the TPA Mint Candy @ 20%...see how it is individual?! But, everyone agrees TPA Caramel Cap at 1 drop per ml

 

[BakuPeg]

Keeping up with flavors is important. It is good to use the search option on this board as well as taking a peek at the flavor reviews buried in another part of this forum. Thanks Cookster for the TPA mint candy tip. Maybe my 5% Mint Candy mix with 10% Xtreme Ice from FW (and 2% koolata) + 5 drops oba oba + 1 drop of menthol won't be a failure. I'll know in 1 week when he tries that mixture. I'm a little worried about that one...