EPIC DIY FAILURE!!! Test your equipment

[Hoofhearted62]

Well after doing DIY for about 2 months and having juices that were always ok, but seemed a little weak. I finally decided to do some testing that I should have done on DAY ONE!!! DUH

This pertains to using drops instead of syringes.

Most all of my juices always were close but no cigar. I always assumed that because they were close, maybe all it needed was a little steeping and all would be right in the world. WRONG.

I always used a syringe to transfer the PG/VG/NIC, but always used pipets for the flavors.

I finally decided today to test/verify my transfer pipets that I have been using since I began. I have a box of 500 of them. It seems the standard 20 drops per ML is just not the case for me. The pipets I use are from a lab that I work in and one would assume that they are of the highest quality (they are). but dummy me never decided to actually test it until today.
I found out just today that 20 drops per ML. isn't even close. My pipets which I tested using water and a 1ml syringe were way off.

Although the viscosity of water is a bit different that PG/VG the results were the same.

I put 20 drops of water from 4 different pipets into a 1 ML syringe and low and behold it only measured about .8ML. Meaning that for every 10% flavor I was trying to achieve I was about 4 drops light. Now I realize why the flavors were light and know that no amount of steeping is going to fix these.

Take it from me, if you are new to DIY, please test your equipment for accuracy if you are using pipets or drops as a way to flavor. At least none are over flavored and they are vapeable as they are. I could always add a drop or two to them to bring the flavors up and make them pop. but I'll do all that the next session.


Good luck everyone,

AND TEST YOUR STUFF!!!

 

[Caridwen]

I don't know where 20 drops per ml ever came from.

Even something as basic as filling a 1 ml cartomizer, I can easily put 30 drops (of my e-liquid) in a cartomizer. Someone with different e-liquid, different PG/VG ratio would be much different.

 

[Hoofhearted62]

Most juice calcs I have seen use that as a standard. I am sure that some other pipets or eye droppers, may actually be 20 drops per but in my case nope...

 

[Hoofhearted62]

I feel like such an idiot for never checking this out on day one. but you live and learn

 

[Bob Chill]

I have some pipettes but only used them a couple times before switching to 1 & 3 cc syringes. Is using pipettes for flavor a common practice?

 

[Hoofhearted62]

i have 500 pipets and only about 12 syringes. to avoid constant cleaning and cross contamination i use pipets and throw them away after each flavor.

 

[HeadInClouds]

Yup, a few tests will show different "drop counts" for VG versus PG, or for droppers with different sized holes, etc. It can vary a LOT.
Cheapo syringes - where you squeeze the end rather than press the plunger - continue to drip a lot of VG even after it looks empty. Thicker liquids coat the inside and move so slowly. Real plunger-type syringes save me time and help get consistent results. Fun side effect: you look like a mad chemist. Don't forget the goggles for 100mg base ;-)

 

[dannyv45]

This is why I measure by ml using a syringe. If your going to use a dropper or pipettes you need to calibrate it. An even more accurate way of measuring is by weight but that has always boggled my mind being that I can hardly count my fingers on both hands

 

[Hoofhearted62]

I just did a little retest 43 drops for pg, 24 drops for water, and 25 drops for vg, now since the flavors are pg based, do I need to re think this? UGH

 

[dannyv45]

The other thing you have to consider is the thickness of the flavoring. Thin flavors will drop differently then thick flavors. So again I would have to recommend you use a syringe.

 

[glasseye]

What's even more fun is having to do it every time you get a new batch of pipettes. Different vendors have different suppliers. I've had them range from 36 to 42 drops per ml. I really only use them for flavors or additives less than .2ml or so anyway.

 

[Hoofhearted62]

danny, you are correct as always, looks like I'm off to buy some graduated cylinders, a pipet pump and glass pipets, and more syringes.

 

[savagemann]

I benchmarked my drips per ml with the bottles I often use for flavoring, sweetener and other such things that are pg based.
All mine are 34 drops per ml.
Always test drops per ml if switching to a new or different delivery device.

 

[we2rcool]

Not only will the drop size out of each type of dispenser be different based on the viscosity of the liquid, it will also be different depending upon how hard we squeeze, and at what angle we hold the dispenser. A drop out of a typical dropper with the dropper held vertically compared to holding is horizontally IS a different size.

And a drop out of a plastic squeeze bottle will vary, not only with pressure, but will the amount of air in the bottle.

I agree - NO DROPS for measuring.

 

[Caridwen]

I've fooled around to make my calculations as easy as possible. I make a batch of 60 base. Then, I make 100 ml of 70/30 with 10% flavoring- 18 mg.

30 nic, 30 pg, 30 vg, 10 flavoring

 

[Hoofhearted62]

this is going to make my DIY so much more accurate...

 

[souleaterzer0]

I used to go by the 20 drops per ml but I noticed everything never added up correctly. After testing some of my flavors most are 38-42 drops per ml. On ejuicemeup I decided to use 40 drops per ml and now everything is adding up. I only use drops when making my 5ml tester batches. I use 1 ml oral syringes for everything flavor otherwise. Good luck with your mixing experiments!

 

[Dave_in_OK]

this is going to make my DIY so much more accurate...
View attachment 263501

What is it?

 

[Hoofhearted62]

a very accurate pipet pump. front one is 1 ml per pull, the second one is .1ml per pull. in the blue case are the dispobabe tip for the 1ml, the yellows anr for the .1ml one

 

[fogMann]

I'm with Danny on this one. I always use a 1ml syringe for flavoring in test batches. Only problem is small batch where one or more flavors that are in very low percentages. I either bump the batch size up or resort to drops at .030ml/drop and hope for the best.

I keep looking for some 0.3ml syringes. However, the needle gauge is so low I don't think you could 'pull' the liquid through.