DIY Styles and advice to the beginners

[Foggy Road]

I'm a noob to DIY and have been having a discouraging time with it until just this morning. I could waste an entire column in this thread with my disappointing attempts but I won't waste the space or bore the readers with it.

I finally acknowledged that I needed to use a REAL recipe from someone else. Two days ago I decided to try this.

Orange Dreamcycle
Cherry - 6%
Raspberry - 6%
Orange Mandarin- 6%
Dulce de Leche - 2%
Cotton Candy - 5%
All TFA

Two days ago mixed a 200 drop batch. Siiigghh, yet another disappointment. With a name like Dreamcycle and three equally dominant flavors I imagined an alternating experience at different stages of inhale exhale. What I got was just unrecognizable and somewhat medicinal tasting but not unvapeable.
This morning I decided to try some adjustment. Increasing the % of the orange and reducing others. It's much better and I'm finally feeling encouraged. Vapin away on my teeny little dripper to use up this 100 drops and move on to another adjustment. I may end up with 3 distinctly different flavors by varying the dominance of the flavors I've got. At least I'm finally seeing a light waaaay of at the end of the DIY tunnel.

 

[SteveS45]

Squeezing in VG is actually more accurate then it sounds. I use to measure everything so I know how much the 30ml bottle comes up to when filled. So I just add all other ingredients first then squeeze in the VG to where it should be. Beats having to suck it up with a syringe, especially since my mix is 80% VG

Reading your post gave me an idea for adding my VG. Instead of using the Graduated Cylinder I will add it to the Graduated Beaker, Save the time waiting for the last few drops of the VG to run out. Simple yet elegant!

 

[Capt.shay]

Squeezing in VG is actually more accurate then it sounds. I use to measure everything so I know how much the 30ml bottle comes up to when filled. So I just add all other ingredients first then squeeze in the VG to where it should be. Beats having to suck it up with a syringe, especially since my mix is 80% VG

I use a scale. I squeeze every thing in as all my flavors, pg, vg and nic. are all in dropper bottles. The few that aren't, I use disposable pipets . It is sooo much easier and cleaner. And yes, VG last so you don't have to measure, just top off.

 

[SteveS45]

I use a scale. I squeeze every thing in as all my flavors, pg, vg and nic. are all in dropper bottles. The few that aren't, I use disposable pipets . It is sooo much easier and cleaner. And yes, VG last so you don't have to measure, just top off.

My VG/PG are in Squeeze bottles with dropper twist tops. Not a question of accuracy as I use graduated cylinders and beakers. With the Nicotine I shoot for accuracy but also going low with my DIY and at this rate will eventually hit the Zero mark within a year!

Thanks for you Input!

 

[Dextrose]

I like to use ejuice me up, for testing and creating new flavors ill do a drop of this a drop of that, take notes and adjust the percentage to match the amount of drops.

 

[SteveS45]

I like to use ejuice me up, for testing and creating new flavors ill do a drop of this a drop of that, take notes and adjust the percentage to match the amount of drops.

As I am just "getting my feet wet" with DIY and I am keeping it simple and not going to crazy or flamboyant sticking to single flavors and just did a Strawberry Peach I am dying to try. So far 4 recipes and 4 successful creations. May do so tweaking as time goes on because you know after 15-20 MLs you say you know it could use..................

 

[Jdurand]

I will admit, the more I read about mixing with a scale, the easier it seems it would be. Pour, tare, pour, tare...just seems to make sense.

How hard is it to do all the weight calculations that need to be entered into Juice me up?

 

[Capt.shay]

the easier it seems it would be. Pour, tare, pour, tare...just seems to make sense.

Ding, ding ding. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

How hard is it to do all the weight calculations that need to be entered into Juice me up?

I just use 1 for flavors and vg/pg are known. Most calculators have it built in. Even if 1 is off buy a small amount, you are working in percentages so it carries over. The only time you might maybe get a slight variation is trying to go from a volume recipe to a weight one but still it is minimal.

 

[Scy123]

I use a scale. I squeeze every thing in as all my flavors, pg, vg and nic. are all in dropper bottles. The few that aren't, I use disposable pipets . It is sooo much easier and cleaner. And yes, VG last so you don't have to measure, just top off.

Yea I think measuring by weight is easier too and that is what I'd like to do. Just need a scale, been too cheap these days to buy one.

Also their are calculators that displays the ratio by weight and they also take into consideration the density.

 

[Jdurand]

Yea I think measuring by weight is easier too and that is what I'd like to do. Just need a scale, been too cheap these days to buy one.

Also their are calculators that displays the ratio by weight and they also take into consideration the density.

You actually have to measure each liquid per ML and enter those values one time into juice me up, if I read it right. So yes, the different weights/densities are considered in the process.

 

[Capt.shay]

• Weight of PG: 1.038 grams per ml
• Weight of VG: 1.26 grams per ml
• Weight of Pure Nicotine: 1.01 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 100mg in PG: 1.035 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 60mg in PG: 1.03632 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 50mg in PG: 1.0366 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 48mg in PG: 1.036656 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 36mg in PG: 1.036992 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 24mg in PG: 1.037328 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 100mg in VG: 1.235 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 60mg in VG: 1.245 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 50mg in VG: 1.2475 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 48mg in VG: 1.248 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 36mg in VG: 1.251 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 24mg in VG: 1.254 grams per ml
  

 

[sofarsogood]

I vape 7 ml per day. Lately I mix 100 ml batches, a two week supply. My recipe is 60% PG, 40% VG, 1% nic, 1% flavoring. I use an android calculator called liquix

1. Drip 1 ml of flavoring to the 1 ml line of a 3 ml syringe, holding the bottom hole with my finger, then drain into the mixing bottle.

2. Draw 10 ml of 100 mg nic from it's bottle with a 10 ml syringe and add to the mix

3. Measure PG and VG into a 50 ml erlyanmeyer flask and add to the mix.
Shake the bottle

That's it. I suspect that the flavor improves a tiny bit after a few days of settling but I don't wait to start vaping it. Cost of ingredients is 1.2 cents per ml.

 

[jambi]

I use a scale. I squeeze every thing in as all my flavors, pg, vg and nic. are all in dropper bottles. The few that aren't, I use disposable pipets . It is sooo much easier and cleaner. And yes, VG last so you don't have to measure, just top off.

So, if I may ask, what are you making with FW Kahlua, Butter Pecan, and French Vanilla?

 

[Capt.shay]

FW French V at 12% is my ADV.

 

[Capt.shay]

Doubled down

 

[Jdurand]

• Weight of PG: 1.038 grams per ml
• Weight of VG: 1.26 grams per ml
• Weight of Pure Nicotine: 1.01 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 100mg in PG: 1.035 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 60mg in PG: 1.03632 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 50mg in PG: 1.0366 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 48mg in PG: 1.036656 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 36mg in PG: 1.036992 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 24mg in PG: 1.037328 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 100mg in VG: 1.235 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 60mg in VG: 1.245 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 50mg in VG: 1.2475 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 48mg in VG: 1.248 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 36mg in VG: 1.251 grams per ml
  
  
• Weight of 24mg in VG: 1.254 grams per ml

You just saved me a ton of time and edged me closer to buying the scale....you are PURE EVIL. lol

 

[Bob Chill]

I've been at it almost 3 years now. I remember feeling totally overwhelmed at the beginning. Not overwhelmed from the process of mixing. But overwhelmed from the countless flavors and recipes. Looking back I spent way too much on flavorings early on. I should have just picked a couple categories and gone with simple mixes (1-3 ingredients tops). I have over 50 flavor viles that I will never touch again.

My process is still the same. A variety of syringes (1 through 30mls) and have a recipe book of tried and true that are all well labeled (I mix for 4 people). I've personally settled into just 4-5 different mixes at a time. The rotation is continuously satisfying. But I paid my dues getting there with plenty of "OMG! ADV!" flavors that I got sick of in less than a month.

I've grown out of experimenting for myself. I've hit the groove and stay in my lane. It's just easier for me that way. My 2 friends that I mix for only need 2 flavors to be happy month in and month out. I mix them 3 month supplies at a time.

Each person has their own preferred process. I like syringes for the mixing and 60 & 120ml glass bottles for mixes. But whatever works for consistency is fine. What we do isn't any more complicated than mixing drinks or cooking dinner. Both activities produce similar results but with many different ways of getting there.

The most important advice I can give (and it's already been said earlier) is keeping it simple stupid at the beginning. Goal #1 is to work out 2 ADV's. When you always have something you can vape all day on hand then testing and tweaking gets much less stressful.

 

[Hoosier]

Great thread folks!

 

[Jdurand]

Great thread folks!

Thanks Hoosier,
I really wanted this thread to take on some life and offer encouragement to the new DIY mixer. Vaping, in and of itself, can have elitist tendencies some times. I just wanted those who may let this get intimidating or overwhelming to jump on in with us. The more people we have doing DIY mixing, the more ideas and experience we will all be able to tap into.

 

[Bob Chill]

There are a lot of great reasons to get into DIY. Outside of huge cost savings once you make the initial investment, I think the greatest reason (and the biggest one for me personally) is complete freedom from relying on pre-mix and zero worries about regulation. I haven't bought premix in almost 16 months.

Here's some motivational reasons:

1. Complete control of the ingredients you vape. No mystery and no worries. I love this aspect of the hobby.

2. You never run low or out. I always have over 100mls of great juice on hand and usually 3 times that much.

3. It's easier than you think. It's no harder than mixing a special cocktail or cooking homemade soup. Once you get past the practice/learning curve it becomes second nature.

4. It takes less time than you think once you have your system down. I can mix 3 months worth for 4 people in about an hour.

5. You can mix at any strength you want and if you want to taper down you can do it in tiny increments

6. It's very satisfying. Just like cooking a meal, growing vegetables, or fixing a car. Doing something yourself causes a hardwired boost of the satisfaction receptors in your brain

7. It's not scary or dangerous. Yes, 100mg/ml nic "can" be dangerous but only if your careless. I've never had a single mishap of any sort and I've mixed a lot of juice. If you accidentally get some nic base on your skin you just wash it off. Nothing bad happens. I wear gloves and work on a spill tray.

8. Dumping out a gross mix is no big deal and costs pennies. I hated dumping out nasty pre-mix and I dumped a lot before DIY