DIY questions, multiple

I can answer a few of your questions, so here goes:

1. Almost. The only correction I'd make is to note that nicotine concentration is usually measured in mg/ml, not mg, although some lazy and irresponsible manufacturers leave off the ml and just write mg. The rest is correct. Pure nicotine is 1000 mg/ml, so the commonly used concentration of 3 mg/ml could also be described as 0.3%.

2. The original purpose of nic salts was to provide a way to vape higher concentrations of nicotine. Some pods use up to 50 mg/ml of nicotine. Freebase nic at that concentration would have too much throat hit to vape, so nic salts were developed to overcome that problem. The point: nic salts usually have less throat hit than freebase nicotine, although they can have more or less depending on the type of nic salt.

Another key point is that you can use either type of nicotine in any device. Pods tend to be lower-powered, so they usually use higher concentrations of nicotine which therefore tends to be in the form of nic salts. Sub-ohm devices are more powerful, therefore using lower concentrations of nicotine which tend to be freebase. Want to use freebase in a pod or salts when sub-ohming? Go ahead - if it works for you there's no problem.

A note about selection - There hasn't been much research about freebase nicotine, but even less is known about nic salts. As freebase is plain nicotine without other components, it's probably better to use freebase if you can get it to work for you. Nic salts involve more unknowns at this time.

3. Never use any form of oil for vaping. That includes oil bases and essential oils. Lungs do not like oils.

Use only flavours sold with vaping in mind. They aren't absolutely safe because they haven't been thoroughly tested and researched, but they do minimize your risk by avoiding a number of things we know are problems. Like oil.

Flavours used in DIY are usually PG-based but can be VG-based.

I don't know how to use menthol crystals, but I know it's done and you can find directions around here somewhere.

4. I'd suggest getting small amounts of freebase and any salt nic you're interested in and trying it out in your preferred set up. The 'right' type of nic is whatever works for you, though, as I said above, it's probably for the best if you can work with freebase.

Pod suggestions I'll leave to someone more knowledgeable in that area.

5. Check the DIY forum for recipes and recipe resources. As for preferred flavours, I can almost guarantee you'd be better off sticking to what you like than trying to replicate a cigarette. Many of us have tried to reproduce cigarettes, and virtually all have failed. A more successful strategy is seeking out new flavours that appeal.

Good luck!

 

Yes; your statements are correct.

ECF encourages posts to use the "Xmg/mL" format; specifically to avoid this type of confusion.

And, only so you are aware; forum rules prohibit nicotine discussion higher than 200mg/mL.

For the purposes of DIYing; nicotine salts is treated exactly like "regular" (freebase) nicotine. The mixer uses them at a 1:1 substitution.

The caution, to avoid salts, in sub-ohm devices; comes mostly from the fact that the majority of ready-to-vape salt-based e-liquids, are 25-50mg/mL strength. DTL vaping at this high levels (regardless of freebase, or salt, nic), can lead easily to nic sickness.

If someone is DTLing 3-6mg/mL freebase nic; there is no reason one couldn't DTL 3-6mg/mL nic salts.

As for stability; yes, nic salts are less prone to oxidizing. So, this can aid shelf life.
However, with proper handling (freezer storage), there is no reason not to expect freebase to last 5 years and beyond... with minimal degradation.

I would recommend staying with the known brands routinely used for DIY (and commercial) mixing. Vendors like Flavour Art (FA), Capella (CAP), The Perfumer's Apprentice/The Flavor Apprentice (TFA, TPA), Flavor West (FW), Flavorah (FLV), and Inawera (INW, INA). There are at least another couple of dozen smaller manufacturers I didn't list; but those are the most commonly used, and should be plenty to get started.

The primary benefit of nic salts; is that it can be (comfortably) vaped at higher levels... such as those required by many pod systems (to get a satisfying vape). Most people, would find freebase nic, to be too harsh at those same levels.

Throat hit is mostly a matter of personal preference. As ex-smokers, or folks trying to quit; we each have different triggers, that make us want a cigarette. For some, it is needing to find a replacement/substitution, for the irritation we experience inhaling smoke from combusting tobacco.

Nic salts are naturally smoother than traditional freebase nic. "Hit" types of nic salts offer a less smooth alternative.

An in-house made mint e-liquid is what got me off cigarettes. It was neutral enough (kind of like chewing gum, or breath mints) that it didn't overwhelm my taste buds. And, I could vape it for nearly two years without getting tired of it.

I had tried various fruits, and custards, and candies; and none tasted "real" enough to be satisfying.

Tobacco e-liquids were actually the one flavor profile that made me want to smoke. So, I had to steer clear of those. (Now, I enjoy a tobacco vape occasionally. But, it was about 3½ years, before I felt like I was not in danger of falling off the wagon.)

A side note regarding tobacco concentrates:
Because there is no combustion; it is virtually impossible to replicate the taste of a burning cigarette. All of the tobacco concentrates I have personally experimented with, at best, replicate the taste/aroma of the fresh (unlit) tobacco. In other words; envision the aroma, of a freshly opened pack of cigarettes, a freshly unwrapped cigar, or pouch of pipe tobacco... and that is the flavor of most tobacco e-liquids. At least; for me it is.

I don't know what tobacco profile (cigarette, pipe, cigar) you are looking for. But, for me; I found a pipe recipe that remains my go-to tobacco. It is simply 3.5% Inawera Am4a, mixed with vaper's choice of PG, VG, and nic. It is ready to vape in just 3 days. And, it reminds me of all my pipe-smoking relatives.


I have only recently experimented with 2 pod systems; so I will leave recommendations to others. You may also want to peruse the pod discussions that already exist here:
Vape Pod Systems

 

Hardware questions are best asked in the appropriate hardware forum. I say "best," in that you are likely going to reach a more appropriate audience, that can provide more helpful/current answers.

You placed this in almost the right spot for your DIY questions (there is actually a DIY E-Liquid sub-forum that would be even better). But, you might want to post a new thread in the pod forum (I previously linked) asking for pod recommendations.

TIP: If you ever feel like you posted in the wrong area; you can use the "Report" button, found at the bottom of every post.

Clicking on this will open a dialog box that goes directly to the administration. Just briefly describe your concern, and they will help you out. They can move, delete, and edit posts; in ways that are not available to us as regular members.

 

Using flavorings in your DIY eliquids that contain ethyl alcohol is OK. However, many people recommend letting the ethyl alcohol evaporate off before vaping the eliquid. It's not good for the lungs. Just shake the batch you've made really well, and let it breathe (sit with dropper tip and cap off) for awhile before vaping it. How long it may take to evaporate depends on how much flavoring was used that contained ethyl alcohol and the size batch you made.

 

@Merlin 9- These are some of the US vendors that DIYers on ECF have bought their nic base from. Many people have their preferences for a particular one or several of them, but all are safe reputable vendors to buy from, and they have quality nic base that meets requirements to be sold in the US. You can sort through and compare price, the different price grades and versions they sell, etc. The first 3 are more expensive than most of the rest, IIRC.


Carolina Extracts
Nude Nicotine
Wizard Labs
Heartland Vapes
Nicotine Giant (formerly RTS Vapes)
Liquid Nicotine Wholesalers
Nicotine River
My Freedom Smokes
Ecig Express

 

ALL of the above sell nic base that meets or exceeds US requirements. You could buy from any of them, IMO, and be fine.

My own nic stash for the longterm is comprised of 100mg/mL liters from Heartland Vapes, Nicotine Giant, and Liquid Nicotine Wholesalers. Also have about 3/4 L from Wizard Labs that's 60mg/mL. IMO, it's all excellent quality from those vendors. I also bought 120mL of 100mg/mL nic base from Nude Nicotine in the past, and it was also excellent quality, IMO. For the price difference though, when comparing the Nude Nicotine to the first 3 (HV, NG, and LNW)...I personally couldn't tell a difference, to warrant spending the higher amount of $ to buy 4-5 Liters from Nude Nicotine.

 

I'm glad you feel that way now.

I bought my Liters 2 at a time, for longterm freezer storage, from Heartland Vapes and Nicotine Giant, when they each had a sale. The price for them then, was even less than their regular already reasonable price...and I got Free S/H, too. I also bought 2L from LNW during a sale and got Free S/H, but 1L of that was for a local friend who does DIY, too. The Liter of Wizard Labs 60mg/mL was bought when they had a super 50% off sale on the 500mL bottles of it. Apparently they had too many, so they marked them way down. The date on them was only 2 weeks before they went on sale though, so they weren't "old".

Your idea about comparing some of the higher priced nic to the other nics...is what many other DIYers have done, too. You just need to make sure that the comparison eliquids are the same in every way...except for the particular brand of nic used in them.

I found that the easiest way for me to do that, was to start making my recipe in just 1 bottle or other type of container. I put the recipe required amounts of the flavorings, the plain PG, and the plain VG only in it. I shook those ingredients really well, and then equally divided the mixture in half. Then I added 1/2 of the amount of nic base the recipe called for...(using 1 of the nic bases)...to 1 portion of the mixture. I did the same with the other portion of the mixture...using my 2nd nic base. I shook them each really well and then let them sit for a day or 2 before I vaped them. I used my recipe for NannerBerry eliquid when I did the test.

I'm sure other people have used various methods to do the same sort of thing though. The above is just what worked well for me.

 

Even thou I have nic stored from a few of those places I buy most from NR now. There salts are made without benzoic acid. They are extremely smooth. Just my preference but I have used nic from Plenty of other places and most a really comparable. To be honest, most are probably sourced from just a couple of places

 

I haven't tried Heartland Vapes PG or VG because I buy all of mine from Bulk Apothecary. It's $18+change for a gallon of PG and $13 +change for a gallon of VG. During a sale it's even less, usually between 10-15% off and sometimes they'll send a coupon code for $10 off any order of $29 or more. Doing a total price comparison (items + S/H) showed me several years ago that they're the lowest of the top 3 usually recommended on here. However...if you're going to buy nic base and flavorings there, and you'll meet the Free S/H requirement...I'd go ahead and get your PG & VG from them this time. It can ride along for Free!

I bought a couple each of the 14ga, 16ga, and 18ga blunt needle tips when I first started DIY. I found that the 14ga were my preferred ones, so I then bought them in quantity, because I also share some with local new DIYers and friends, too.

Most websites have an email newsletter that you can subscribe to. They'll send you info on sales, special offerings, new products, etc. Many people sign up for those.

OH Yes, there's a special place that discounts and coupon codes for DIY "stuff" are posted...right here in the DIY Forum, near the top of the page:

DIY : Good Deals and Sales !