DIY ready or not....

[Crocky]

Here I come . I have no idea really what I need to do from here but with more reading and experimenting I am sure to find out. Ordered some stuff to get started.
I ended up getting 100% VG in 18mg as well as the PG the same way as I usually vape exclusively 50/50 juice so figured to get started I would make it easy on myself and just combine the two bottles, or rather fill the 60ml bottles I got half full with each. As for the flavors I got a mixture of things just to see wha I like. Pretty nervous actually as this is brand new to me but hey, got to start somewhere right? Sweet tangerine and juicy peach was recommended several places so I of course got those two as well as many others. Figuring out the percentages etc is going to be the hardest part for me as math is not my strong suit. Not sure the e juice cal will be helpful either since I got the nicotine like I did.

 

[calan]

I wouldn't mix all the nic juice. Just make up smaller batches of it pre-mixed, but leave some as is in case your needs change (which they most likely will).

When you have it to do over again, I would recommend getting a bottle of 100mg nic in either PG or VG, and some large bottles of pure 0mg VG and PG. Then you have the versatility to mix anything you want, and the 100mg nic is MUCH more cost effective.

Welcome to DIY!

 

[dannyv45]

100ml NIC may be cost effective but not really recommended for newbies that don't have a handle yet on mix down ratios. So my sugestion is stay with what you have until you know how to calculate percentages. Using a calculator makes things easier. A good calculator can be found here.

E-Liquid Recipe Name

Decide what you like and research recipies on this site to find a basic mixing guideline. It is usually best to start simple with 1 tobacco flavor. Mix it, sample it and decide if it's for you. Then you can add a flavor such as bavarian cream or a fruit. Start with low percentages for example 1 - 3% tobacco flavor and increase as needed until its to your liking. try different tobaccos with no other flavoring so you get an idea on what the differences are. The ones you like will be your base for adding additional flavors. Fruits, creams, additives also need to be started at small percentages and built up until there to your liking. Just remember the cardinal rule when it comes to mixing "A little is a lot". Also remember that with tobacco steeping is a big part of developing it's true taste. Most tobaccos need anywhere from 2 - 4 weeks to steep and develope. So what may be bad tasting or have no taste at all right after mixing will develpe into a teriffic vape juice after sometime has passed. This is normal.
Before you go any further read, read, read, Do research on steeping, Mixing, flavor recepies etc....
You have a lot of flavors and I'm sure you've got the urge to start mixing 2,3,4, flavors at once. Fight that urge and start small. You'll thank me in the end. Why because you didn't waste your time, patence and money mixing disgusting batches that wound up in the garbage..

Good luck.

 

[Crocky]

Thanks, I actually am not that eager yet simply because I really don't know what I am doing . So I figured like mentioned above I would start with one flavor like sweet tangerine or cinnamon Danish and stick with one for now, then add whatever flavor I think might be missing.
The other thing I need to do to before I start is to get some mixing stuff, mainly syringes I guess. I have several but not sure they will be what I need for the part percentages. So will learn as I go....and be sure to sto in and ask question if need be. I have been lurking around the DIY threads for a while but things never make as much sense until you do for yourself. Hoping next week I will be able to and have time to try my hand at one or two. For now I am going to separate the vg and pg and mix them equally for a 50/50 mix into the 60ml glass bottles and store in the freezer until I feel comfortable enough to try

 

[Iffy]

e-JUICE ME UP is my favorite joose calculator.

Good luck in your new DIY adventure!

 

[Hitmetwice]

I cut my nic as soon as I get it so as not to make any mistakes in that area. You're ahead of the game there as you bought nic. at the strength you'll be vaping it at. Unless you want to vape at 9mg/ml. nic in which case you'll get twice as much joose to vape!

The calculator works great for me as a guide at determining flavour percentages.
You just need to skip the nic. cutting section of the calculator.
I always do 5ml. batches to start so 1 drop of flavour equals 1%
Using a 20 drop per 1ml. average. It's not perfect but it's close.

You may want to get yourself some plain PG/VG(no nic.) to begin experimenting so cost will be negligible
if you don't like what you've made. Be sure to revisit your creations after a month or so, they all change
for the better or for the worse, with time.

Enjoy diy'ing and play safe. I rarely buy store bought stuff anymore.

The e-juice me up is my fav. as it gives you tips along the way if you need'em. I did!

 

[dannyv45]

The calculator works great for me as a guide at determining flavour percentages.
You just need to skip the nic. cutting section of the calculator.
I always do 5ml. batches to start so 1 drop of flavour equals 1%
Using a 20 drop per 1ml. average. It's not perfect but it's close.

Excellent point that I forgot to mention.

start with 5mil base

makes adding flavor easy 1% = 1 drop per 5ml and saves materal as your only making 5ml test batches. so for a 3 percent tobacco 5ml mix the formula would be.

5 ml's pg/vg nic base
3 drops tobacco flavor = 3%
1 drop black cherry flavor = 1%

and you have a cherry flavored tobacco mix.

If flavors are to weak increase by a drop. if to strong decrease by a drop.

Creamy cherry mix

5 ml base
2 drops baverian cream
1 drop cherry

etc....

 

[Crocky]

I could easily do the 5 mil in a 10 mil bottle then. I need to get some extra bottles. I did however order a few 3mil bottles for making taste/test batches but that would screw up the ease of the calculations you out up there to start off with.

 

[Crocky]

Oh and I meant to include my fist multiple flavor trial will be "peppermint icecream". I did the make your own on MBV with a 15mil bottle at 2 parts candy cane, 2 parts sweet cream and 2 parts vanilla ice cream. Just need to figure out those "2 parts" and how they translate into percentages per volume. Assuming 6 part flavors and 10 part nic base.....I lose myself in the math part I just reordered a 236mil bottle of it and to make it the same as the small bottle they did 32,32,32 in the flavors.

By the way, that is some good stuff, I was trying to replicate breyers peppermint ice cream they have during the holidays and it was pretty spot on. Maybe just a drop or two more candy cane needed but hey it was pretty dang close and YUM!

 

[donna328]

When you do make some juice just remember to let it steep. I made a bunch and they all tasted disgusting than a couple weeks later not that bad. I also would go light on the sweetner cause that was the one thing I found that after steeping I wish I wouldn't have added so much.

 

[dannyv45]

Stick with 1% per 5 mil and go up by 1% for adjustments until its good for you. Steep them in hot water as I described earler and let them sit for 24 hours after the steep. With fruits and cream flavors they should be just about there after 24 hours.

For what you describe try

5 mil base
2% vanilla Icecream (2 drops)
1% cream (1 drop)
1% peperment (1 drop)

If pepperment comes on to strong delute it by adding 1 mil more pg/vg nic base. Repeat again if still 2 strong.

If not sweet enough add 1% (1 drop) sweetner such as em or cotton candy.

If you like your final mix and want to make 30 ml's then simply multiply your final percentages (drops) by 6.

 

[Crocky]

Excellent point that I forgot to mention.

start with 5mil base

makes adding flavor easy 1% = 1 drop per 5ml and saves materal as your only making 5ml test batches. so for a 3 percent tobacco 5ml mix the formula would be.

5 ml's pg/vg nic base
3 drops tobacco flavor = 3%
1 drop black cherry flavor = 1%

and you have a cherry flavored tobacco mix.

If flavors are to weak increase by a drop. if to strong decrease by a drop.

Creamy cherry mix

5 ml base
2 drops baverian cream
1 drop cherry

etc....

So if I wanted to mix it in a 10mil I will just double that. I don't have any 5 mil bottles and I hate to guess on it being half full first time around. I only have 3mil, 10mil and 30 mil. I assume I fill it up with my nic liquid base minus the percent I add for flavoring. Wow I need it go back to school. No wonder I placed into math lab in college....I have alway struggled with math

 

[bnrkwest]

My suggestion is as others have said, make very small batches of 3-5 ml for each flavor you have. You can always experiment with mixing your separate ejuice flavors in a carto to teak a flavor outcome. Say you are after a orange, tangerine, chocolate mix, you may find you like heavy on the citrus and low on the chocolate, you can do your experimenting in a carto until you find your perfect mix. You may find you also need to add sweetener or sour to bring out a flavor better as well. Anyway this is how I do test mixing before I actually make a batch of something. Have fun! bnrk

 

[bnrkwest]

use the 3 ml is what I suggest. bnrk

So if I wanted to mix it in a 10mil I will just double that. I don't have any 5 mil bottles and I hate to guess on it being half full first time around. I only have 3mil, 10mil and 30 mil. I assume I fill it up with my nic liquid base minus the percent I add for flavoring. Wow I need it go back to school. No wonder I placed into math lab in college....I have alway struggled with math

 

[dannyv45]

My suggestion is as others have said, make very small batches of 3-5 ml for each flavor you have. You can always experiment with mixing your separate ejuice flavors in a carto to teak a flavor outcome. Say you are after a orange, tangerine, chocolate mix, you may find you like heavy on the citrus and low on the chocolate, you can do your experimenting in a carto until you find your perfect mix. You may find you also need to add sweetener or sour to bring out a flavor better as well. Anyway this is how I do test mixing before I actually make a batch of something. Have fun! bnrk

I've tested my completed and adjusted mixes by direct dripping on an atomizer coil but never though of testing in a carto. I would think the volume of a carto is so small and flavors are getting more and more concentrated I don't see how that adjusting flavors on an already saturated carto could be very accurate expecially for collecting data to mix large amounts of juice 1,2,3oz or more.....

As i said I use an atomizer and directly drip the sample on the coil. Then taste it and if it's not right I adjust the sample, rinse the atomizer in hot water and use a second atomizer while the first one drys (Only takes 10 - 15 mins to dry).

 

[FogHawg]

Remember that converting drops of flavoring to % or vice versa can be tricky because of differences in drop size. I didn't take that into account at first & couldn't understand why my mixes were so far off. Also, do a search for ethyl malto, acv, & lemon juice.

 

[crxess]

As for Nic strength, I don think anything over what a noob is vaping is wise.......unless they have a clue.
Kind of cocky coming from a DIY noob I know, but I've seen some serious night light minds around.

I Did order 100mg Nic, enough to go a few years or longer if I reduce usage. FIRST I learned all I could about Nic safety and handling. Still, I double/triple check myself and the Calculator before proceeding.

To Op, you have an adventure ahead. Take your time..... Allow your blends to age gracefully before passing judgement. Todays sharp taste may be tomorrows pleasant surprise.
You may notice many using large percentages of Flavors. Remember this may be where they started and what their pallet expects. I've enjoyed some strong mixes, but learned fast that some subtle flavors are excellent and only minor adjustment may be needed to be just right for you. i.e. 20% Blueberry may be no better than 7% depending on Brand and taste preference.

 

[dannyv45]

To Op, you have an adventure ahead. Take your time..... Allow your blends to age gracefully before passing judgement. Todays sharp taste may be tomorrows pleasant surprise.
You may notice many using large percentages of Flavors. Remember this may be where they started and what their pallet expects. I've enjoyed some strong mixes, but learned fast that some subtle flavors are excellent and only minor adjustment may be needed to be just right for you. i.e. 20% Blueberry may be no better than 7% depending on Brand and taste preference.

Taste is very subjective. I very seldom go over 10% total combined flavors. This is perfect for me but to others it could be very weak and tastless. Rule of thumb is to start low and add 1 drop at a time until you've reached your taste goal.

 

[dannyv45]

So if I wanted to mix it in a 10mil I will just double that. I don't have any 5 mil bottles and I hate to guess on it being half full first time around. I only have 3mil, 10mil and 30 mil. I assume I fill it up with my nic liquid base minus the percent I add for flavoring. Wow I need it go back to school. No wonder I placed into math lab in college....I have alway struggled with math

Yes for 10 ml's double the flavoring drops. if you use 3 drops per 5ml then double it to 6 drops for 10ml. for 30ml's times it by 6, 3 drops x 6 = 18 drops for 30 mls.

Drops are not as exact as mesuring by ML. When I make larger quantities like 30 - 60 ml's I use an ejuice calculator and then add my flavor by the ML using a syrange. If the amount is to small such as 1% to 30ml = 6 drops then I'll just add the drops.

 

[Red_Bird]

If you are using unflavored nic base say its 60/40 and 18 mg.....u generally vape this, right? and u wanna just add flavoring percentages.....remember that most flavorings are 100% pg.....so u must compensate for this if you want to remain at 60% pg/40% vg

example : desired amount to make 30 mil

Flavor 1 (primary) is 10%
Flavor 2 (secondary) is 4%
Flavor 3 (secondary) is 2%

10% of 30 mil= 3 mil
4%= 1.2 mill
2%= 0.6 mill

4.8 mill of PG added to your mix, u need to add 3.2 mill of VG to keep FINAL MIX @ 60/40

4.8 pg + 3.2 vg = 8 mill additives

30 mill minus 8 additives= 22 mill of that premixed nic base u bought is needed


........You will then have 30 mill of your 60/40 eliquid you wanted but it will be 26.67% lower nic then what u started with. The flavorings (16%) and the extra vg (10.67%)to compensate for the pg flavorings have lowered your original unflavored nic base.

I find its much more accurate to use EJUICE ME UP, much higher strength nic then u vape, pg, and vg.

No backtracking that way, no need to compensate.


FORGET DROPS...use a one mill syringe for flavorings and u can measure within 0.1 millimeter accuracy