DIY Questions

[carpedebass]

Hi everybuddy!

I am seriously tempted to try my hand at DIY but honestly don't know where to begin or even if I can do it...more on that later...

As far as my background, I used to be an environmental chemist before I got a belly full of BS (Big Science...don't ask) so mixing and such is really not an issue for me. I am comfortable handling extremely dangerous reagents and know how to do so safely.

As far as not being sure if I can do it...you need a little bit of background. My wife and I are full time RVers...that means I don't have a whole lot of room for extraneous stuff littered around, and the kitchen isn't large enough to swing a cat without hitting the walls.

Can someone clue me in on exactly what processes you use for DIY? Do you make a base solution first with PG/VG and then add your flavoring, nicotine, etc? How about storage of the base solutions? How do you store your stuff so it's not constantly in DW's way?

Finally, has anyone tried the DIY calculators on a Linux based system? I haven't even looked at it, so I'm not exactly sure what kind of program it is...does it open within an Excel spreadsheet or something?

Any tips or tricks I may need to know would be very helpful as well. Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[KrisBKream]

I'm in the very beginning baby step beginner's stage myself, so I can only address a small bit of your questions.

As far as what you NEED, that seems to vary with everyone. I haven't started with the nicotine yet, so I'm doing 0mg stuff til my next paycheck. So I've just used a 3ml syringe and a 1ml syringe for measuring. A 10ml syringe will be one of my next purchases though. Then bottles, of course. And for the nicotine, my plan is to buy 60mg vg juice, mix it with equal parts plain PG to make a 50/50 30mg juice which I'll refrigerate. My original plan was to do the same with 100mg juice to make 50mg base, but some very helpful person on here pointed out that the 60mg stuff is usually cheaper per mg of nicotine. For a limited budget and limited space, this should work well.

Storage-wise... I'm interested to see the responses too. I've been assuming that only nic needs to be refrigerated, but I look forward to being corrected

 

[carpedebass]

I'm in the very beginning baby step beginner's stage myself, so I can only address a small bit of your questions.

As far as what you NEED, that seems to vary with everyone. I haven't started with the nicotine yet, so I'm doing 0mg stuff til my next paycheck. So I've just used a 3ml syringe and a 1ml syringe for measuring. A 10ml syringe will be one of my next purchases though. Then bottles, of course. And for the nicotine, my plan is to buy 60mg vg juice, mix it with equal parts plain PG to make a 50/50 30mg juice which I'll refrigerate. My original plan was to do the same with 100mg juice to make 50mg base, but some very helpful person on here pointed out that the 60mg stuff is usually cheaper per mg of nicotine. For a limited budget and limited space, this should work well.

Storage-wise... I'm interested to see the responses too. I've been assuming that only nic needs to be refrigerated, but I look forward to being corrected

Thanks for the response! I'm seriously thinking about trying to make some nic free stuff first and see how I do on it. I'd really like to throw out the nicotine completely...maybe buy some Throat Hit Plus or something so I can still get a good TH.

 

[Stownz]

Things needed:

Nicotine base: I use 100mg pg base so I can keep 24 and 36 mg end strength but still cut down to 50/50 pg/vg final.
PG: Propelyn Glycol
VG: Vegetable Glycerin
Flavoring: stay away from the oil based ones, and shop around. We have lots of re-bottlers in this business jacking up prices for nothing

Tobacco Extract, or Tobacco Absolute as an additive for seeking that elusive tobacco taste. Vape Wizard for artificially jacking up vapor amount when you want PG heavy juices.

E-juice me up calculator. eJuice Me Up - e-Juice e-Liquid Recipe Calculator
Best Calculator I have ever used. This is how you get perfect ratios for your juices. Just plug in numbers and it tells you exactly how much to mix of each ingredient to get the end result you want.

Misc. Syringes: I use a 10 ml one, a 1ml one, and a couple of 30ml and 10ml graduated cylinders.
Bottles: I keep 3,10,15,and 30ml on hand. I never mix smaller then 10ml anymore though for testing, 10ml gives you more room for error (counting drops is a bad idea).

Shop around, seriously. Its just like PVs, lots of rebranders out there jacking up prices for the exact same thing elsewhere.

 

[carpedebass]

Thanks stowns...more things to consider.

 

[Stownz]

Use the calc, and do the math on what it costs you to DIY. Will actually make you angry when you see what these guys are charging vs what you could make it for yourself. I poor failed mixes that I don't like on ant beds. The most expensive component of vaping should NOT be the juice you are vaping.

Oh, and I mix up 120ml jars of what I call "base". This is the PG/Vg ratio I want + the nic. This way all I have to do is suck some up and add flavoring.

 

[markfm]

One of the Walmart multi-tier small plastic storage units, I use one that has three stacked drawers, is handy to hold your stuff in. I keep PG, VG, distilled water (in an old VG 6 ounce bottle), and nic down in the first drawer. Second drawer has a small Brother PTouch label maker, Walmart 3x4 and 2x3 ziplocs, misc. empty bottles, pipettes, syringes, plastic 15ml graduated beakers, top drawer has flavors, some mixed liquid. It's moderately tall, enough to easily hold decent sized nic and flavoring bottles upright.
I use a small dollar store plastic tray for mixing, about 10" x 14" with small side lips. Easy to clean/wipe.
I always do the nic first, then cap it and put away.
I use a little dollar store 4x6 spiral bound notepad -- it's my cook book. Every liquid gets an entry, dated, the precise mix used.
Honestly, I've downloaded the Scubabatdan calculator (quite good), and an Android calculator (also good), but don't use either. I know what I'm mixing, and actually prefer to have the formulas written -- I tick off ingredients as they get added for a batch, and have a running total of ml.
Every mix starts with the basic what it is, how much, and desired final nic level. Nic base is the first ingredient, then the flavors (so many % = so many ml), then PG and VG for filler.
Example:
60 ml VanTob 24mg 25%VG
60 ml x 24 mg/ml = 1440 mg total nic needed.
I use 60 mg/ml nic base, normally PG. 1440 mg/60mg/ml = 24 ml of nic base
24 ml PG Nic Base
31.2 7.2 ml Tobacco blend Alc (12%)
36 4.8 ml NF Vanilla (8%)
51 15 ml VG (25% of 60 ml, the above ingredients are alc or PG)
60 9 ml PG (filler to hit 60 ml)

I rarely use the syringes, though you can often get a couple of them free by asking for oral syringes at pharmacy desks. Pipettes, 1 ml and 3 ml sizes, plus a handful of the 15 ml graduated beakers, are my go-to measuring devices. Happy to send you a couple of the beakers -- I bought a 100 pack from US Plastics (good source for boston round dropper bottles), still using my first four after a full year of mixing

If you work in VG, at least the Natures Flavors products recommend cool and/or refrigerated. I have a cool, dark, dry, basement, where I work. If it was hot, I'd probably stash the flavors and nic in a plastic container in the refrigerator, small locking box for the nic if there are children around.

 

[carpedebass]

Great info guys! That's just the kind of stuff I wanted to know. Thank you!!!

 

[carpedebass]

One of the Walmart multi-tier small plastic storage units, I use one that has three stacked drawers, is handy to hold your stuff in.

Funny...this is what I use for my everyday PV stash. I'll have to get another one.

I use a small dollar store plastic tray for mixing, about 10" x 14" with small side lips. Easy to clean/wipe.

Awesome idea!

I use a little dollar store 4x6 spiral bound notepad -- it's my cook book. Every liquid gets an entry, dated, the precise mix used.

I have several of these...another great idea.

Honestly, I've downloaded the Scubabatdan calculator (quite good), and an Android calculator (also good), but don't use either.

Kinda what I ws thinking...

Happy to send you a couple of the beakers -- I bought a 100 pack from US Plastics (good source for boston round dropper bottles), still using my first four after a full year of mixing

Makes me wish I still worked at the lab. I had access to anything I ever wanted for mixing and measuring. I'd love to try out some of those beakers if you have a couple extra. I'll sure pay you for shipping too.

If you work in VG, at least the Natures Flavors products recommend cool and/or refrigerated.

This is what I do NOT have...a fridge with enough capacity to hold extra DIY stuff. I think I'd be OK to just keep it out though. Our rig has twin 15,000 BTU A/C units up top and it gets cool enough to hang meat when the outside temp is 110 degrees.

Thanks again, MarkFM. I know you know your stuff because I still crave the carcapp mix you sent me previously. I want to try out a butterscotch menthol combo or even butterscotch menthol wintergreen...the possibilities are endless! I'm stoked!! When I worked at the lab I bought my own multi pipetter. It would have been really nice to have about now...

 

[breaktru]

Linux:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/175939-e-juice-me-up-linux.html

eJuice Me Up on Linux

 

[carpedebass]

Linux:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/175939-e-juice-me-up-linux.html

eJuice Me Up on Linux

Sweet! Thanks!!

 

[Stownz]

I need a fridge, but I would have to get a big one, lol.

 

[carpedebass]

I need a fridge, but I would have to get a big one, lol.

Holy Cannoli! No way do I have NEARLY enough room for 1/4 of that. Man, you have a lot of mailing stuff in there. Do you sell your juice?

 

[Stownz]

Nope, but I buy and sell a lot of mods 8)

Like to try everything at least once, and if it is fail, pass it on to someone that thinks it is great 8)

boxes are free at the post office.

 

[carpedebass]

Nope, but I buy and sell a lot of mods 8)

Like to try everything at least once, and if it is fail, pass it on to someone that thinks it is great 8)

Huh! Great idea! Put me on the "pass" list will ya'?

 

[breaktru]

Wow Stownz, mighty impressive collection I must say.
I probably have more DIY supplies but your setup is Ace's.
Mine are all over the place and not so neat like yours.

 

[Stownz]

Wow Stownz, mighty impressive collection I must say.
I probably have more DIY supplies but your setup is Ace's.
Mine are all over the place and not so neat like yours.

Bah, wifey cleaned up my mess for these pics, its why I use the same pics from months ago, haha.

If I had your mod building skillz, I'm sure I would have a bigger mess.

I can make a killer DK tab that will rock your vape though 8)

Here is my desk

 

[otrpu]

Lived OTR, in a stretched ton dually w/sleeper for 3 years. Means I've lived on DC current. Wasn't vaping then, rather smoking neigh onto 3 packs a day. If I were on the road now I'd have: a solar panel battery charger. (Long term it's cheaper than running the gen). I don't like messin much with nuttin. I use a ProVari, there's others that are dependable, and several that will do the job. Not messin means I only vape one e-liquid. I'd get myself 240mL's of 36 or 24 mg PG Nic, a qt of PGA, & a gallon of VG. Get whichever Tank you like, they all perform pretty much the same. A couple packs of Metal C-E2 XL carto's, a $7 buck pipe cutter, and you'll have enough coils to last quit awhile. Personally, I don't use any ADDED FLAVOR anymore. This ain't my "hobby", I'm a fightin a serious addiction. Nothin fun about it for me. Want to know more about anything I've mentioned, read the stickies. Everything is there for the taking. My vapin is as simple as I can make it. Don't need to mark nuttin, cause I only mix one blend. I wouldn't exactly call myself anywhere near a "normal vaper". But, I've set aside a neigh onto 3 pack a day analog habit, and haven't smoked a tobacco cig for more than 7 months. Good luck with your analog replacement, you'll prolly live longer because of it. JMHO

Cheers,
otrpu

 

[carpedebass]

Lived OTR, in a stretched ton dually w/sleeper for 3 years. Means I've lived on DC current. Wasn't vaping then, rather smoking neigh onto 3 packs a day. If I were on the road now I'd have: a solar panel battery charger. (Long term it's cheaper than running the gen). I don't like messin much with nuttin. I use a ProVari, there's others that are dependable, and several that will do the job. Not messin means I only vape one e-liquid. I'd get myself 240mL's of 36 or 24 mg PG Nic, a qt of PGA, & a gallon of VG. Get whichever Tank you like, they all perform pretty much the same. A couple packs of Metal C-E2 carto's, a $7 buck pipe cutter, and you'll have enough coils to last quit awhile. Personally, I don't use any ADDED FLAVOR anymore. This ain't my "hobby", I'm a fightin an serious addiction. Nothin fun about it for me. Want to know more about anything I've mentioned, read the stickies. Everything is there for the taking. My vapin is as simple as I can make it. Don't need to mark nuttin, cause I only mix one blend. I wouldn't exactly call myself anywhere near a "normal vaper". But, I've set aside a neigh onto 3 pack a day analog habit, and haven't smoked a tobacco cig for more than 7 months. Good luck with your analog replacement, you'll prolly live longer because of it. JMHO

Cheers,
otrpu

Interesting take on things. Kind of a minimalist viewpoint. Good job! And best of luck to you as well.

 

[breaktru]

Bah, wifey cleaned up my mess for these pics, its why I use the same pics from months ago, haha.

If I had your mod building skillz, I'm sure I would have a bigger mess.

I can make a killer DK tab that will rock your vape though 8)

Here is my desk

Okay Stonwz, you desk is messier than mine. Thank god for pullout keyboard shelves.
Your DK tab sounds good