Few questions from a new DIY'er

[llamainagstring]

Hey guys, done a lot of research between YouTube and of course you awesome people, over the last 6 months or so and have been waiting on taxes before making the initial investment into DIY Finally got taxes back and here's what ive gotten so far

1. VG/PG from bulk apoth
2. 100mg/ml nude nicotine (the smooth salt, only heard good things about it and I like as smooth of a vape as possible)
3. A really nice scale (One that's always suggested on the forums, ill be doing weight method)
4. Rubber gloves (yes the correct ones for DIY) bunch of 120ml plastics (mainly for the VG and PG) safety gear, syringes (would like to do syringe method for the Nicotine, weight for the rest) 30ml glass dropper bottles (about 20, will wash and reuse as we go)

all of that is ordered and on it's way. My questions are, am I missing anything (besides flavor concentrates which I'm obviously missing) question 2 , what are some of the staple flavor concentrate brands in your opinions ? I know for a fact flavor west irritates my throat and I do not want anything from them. What are the higher end better/more expensive brands ? I don't want large amounts of every flavor id like to do like 30-40 different flavors so I have a lot of options and can figure out which flavors I personally like as I go ! ANY tips/help/answers to these questions are all much appreciated ! thank you !

 

[SteveS45]

Congratulations on the start of your DIY journey and I suggest looking into the Liquid Barn flavors as they have a few single bottle flavors for some semi complex recipes. Feel free to ask for my personal opinion on any your interested in but I don't have them all...... Yet?

 

[DaveP]

You've covered most of it. Absorbent paper drop cloths are good to cover the surface and soak up liquids from utensils you'll set down from time to time. I usually just lay down a large square of paper towels.

It's a good idea to wear glasses when you mix. I have safety glasses, but most of the time I just wear my prescription glasses. A drop of nicotine in the eye is painful according to those who have experienced it. It's a lot easier to wipe it off your glasses than wash it out of your eye.

I use surgical type gloves from Harbor Freight. They are lightweight and don't hamper your efforts to handle small utensils. When you pull them off they turn inside out and drop right into the trash. There's 100 or so to a box for less than 5 bucks.

I use mostly Flavourart and Hangsen flavors. I also like Capella for fruit and candy flavors.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I didn't see any bottles listed for the finished products. Or for testing flavors to see if you even like them.

I usually use 15ml bottles for testing a new recipe. It is more than enough to tell if you like your mixes. I keep my finished mixes in 30ml bottles which I use to fill my tanks.

 

[Who_Dey_1991]

Some brands off the top of my head:

The Flavor Apprentice
Flavorart
Lorann
Flavor West
Capella

Those are the ones I've used so far and the flavors I've chosen have turned out to be good.

Also I'd suggest stocking up on paper towels, lol. There will be spills. I like to lay a couple down and mix on top of them.

I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess.

 

[llamainagstring]

You've covered most of it. Absorbent paper drop cloths are good to cover the surface and soak up liquids from utensils you'll set down from time to time. I usually just lay down a large square of paper towels.

It's a good idea to wear glasses when you mix. I have safety glasses, but most of the time I just wear my prescription glasses. A drop of nicotine in the eye is painful according to those who have experienced it. It's a lot easier to wipe it off your glasses than wash it out of your eye.

I use surgical type gloves from Harbor Freight. They are lightweight and don't hamper your efforts to handle small utensils. When you pull them off they turn inside out and drop right into the trash. There's 100 or so to a box for less than 5 bucks.

I use mostly Flavourart and Hangsen flavors. I also like Capella for fruit and candy flavors.

thanks for the quick response man ! and I was going to use paper towels as well , also have safety glasses, not trying to get some nicotine in the eye.... ive gotten 3nic ejuice in my eye and that was horrid enough lol....

so I have decided to go with flavor art / TFA / and capella, those all seem to be staple choices for most, and FA being a huge suggestion for starts since you can get away using less % since they are a little stronger.... also ill be ordering from bull city, great prices. I will be going with 10ml bottles of everything and probally getting 30-40+ different flavors so I'm not limited in what I want to try. and you answered half of this next question, between those 3 brands, which brands are good for what? you said capella for fruit and candy ? what is FA and TFA good for ?

 

[llamainagstring]

I didn't see any bottles listed for the finished products. Or for testing flavors to see if you even like them.

I usually use 15ml bottles for testing a new recipe. It is more than enough to tell if you like your mixes. I keep my finished mixes in 30ml bottles which I use to fill my tanks.

they are in there I got 15ml bottles for trying new recipes , 120mls for holding vg/pg , and glass 30mls for steeping flavors and chubby gorillas for bringing personal bottles around for me and the wife !

 

[llamainagstring]

Some brands off the top of my head:

The Flavor Apprentice
Flavorart
Lorann
Flavor West
Capella

Those are the ones I've used so far and the flavors I've chosen have turned out to be good.

Also I'd suggest stocking up on paper towels, lol. There will be spills. I like to lay a couple down and mix on top of them.

I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess.

flavor west irritates my throat unfortunately, I'm going with FA TFA and capella.... opinions on what flavors from each are really good? like what is good for fruits...which has better deserts...ect ect ?

 

[Who_Dey_1991]

flavor west irritates my throat unfortunately, I'm going with FA TFA and capella.... opinions on what flavors from each are really good? like what is good for fruits...which has better deserts...ect ect ?

Well for my taste, TFA's vanilla custard and banana cream are fantastic. Haven't really tried any other fruits besides banana. My most recent batches were some candy flavors like cotton candy and Skittles from TFA, CAP and FW. All of them have pretty much tasted just as you'd expect which is great.

I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

thanks for the quick response man ! and I was going to use paper towels as well , also have safety glasses, not trying to get some nicotine in the eye.... ive gotten 3nic ejuice in my eye and that was horrid enough lol....

so I have decided to go with flavor art / TFA / and capella, those all seem to be staple choices for most, and FA being a huge suggestion for starts since you can get away using less % since they are a little stronger.... also ill be ordering from bull city, great prices. I will be going with 10ml bottles of everything and probally getting 30-40+ different flavors so I'm not limited in what I want to try. and you answered half of this next question, between those 3 brands, which brands are good for what? you said capella for fruit and candy ? what is FA and TFA good for ?

flavor west irritates my throat unfortunately, I'm going with FA TFA and capella.... opinions on what flavors from each are really good? like what is good for fruits...which has better deserts...ect ect ?

Capella is good for vanilla's, custards, fruits, and TFA, has good overall flavors. Sometimes I use both depending on the taste I am going for. I also like to mix like flavors such as peanut butter from both vendors for a fuller flavor taste. I also use FlavorWest PB, but you said you didn't like them so...

 

[llamainagstring]

Capella is good for vanilla's, custards, fruits, and TFA, has good overall flavors. Sometimes I use both depending on the taste I am going for. I also like to mix like flavors such as peanut butter from both vendors for a fuller flavor taste. I also use FlavorWest PB, but you said you didn't like them so...

whats your opinion on FA ? I keep reading its a better start for starters because you can use less for recipies because its more concentrated ?

and its not that I don't like flavor west, I have random PG allergies to certain stuff and almost every flavor west concentrate ive tried has irritated my throat/burned my throat (I know because of being close friends with a local juicer here and whenever they subsitued flavors with FW I immedatly knew because it was unvapeable for me

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

whats your opinion on FA ? I keep reading its a better start for starters because you can use less for recipies because its more concentrated ?

and its not that I don't like flavor west, I have random PG allergies to certain stuff and almost every flavor west concentrate ive tried has irritated my throat/burned my throat (I know because of being close friends with a local juicer here and whenever they subsitued flavors with FW I immedatly knew because it was unvapeable for me

You read correctly. FA flavors are more concentrated. I usually start @ around 3% and add more if needed.

 

[llamainagstring]

You read correctly. FA flavors are more concentrated. I usually start @ around 3% and add more if needed.

as I continue to narrow it down I'm now thinking Ill start with Flavor Art , and capella ! and a few people who have replied in here say go with capella for the fruits/custards ? so go with FA for candies/sugary sweet stuff? orrrr ? what types should I get from which brand ? thank you again for the quick responses ! I'm currently on bull city making my cart

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

as I continue to narrow it down I'm now thinking Ill start with Flavor Art , and capella ! and a few people who have replied in here say go with capella for the fruits/custards ? so go with FA for candies/sugary sweet stuff? orrrr ? what types should I get from which brand ? thank you again for the quick responses ! I'm currently on bull city making my cart

FA doesn't have sugary sweet stuff lol. They are flavors only, we have to add the sweetness ourselves. Fa has a good white peach and TFA has a good juicy peach, mixed together and allowed to steep = I love it. LOL Depending on how strong you want your flavoring , I would start with juicy peach at around 7% and FA white peach at 3%(mixed together). Capella has peach flavoring but I haven't tried it yet.
I like Caps sweet watermelon and double watermelon together also. About equal amts.

TFA strawberry ripe and TFA strawberry mixed together about equal parts. But that is just me. You don't have to combine flavoring to find something you may like.

 

[man00ver]

whats your opinion on FA ?

FlavourArt is one of my favorites, due to authentic flavors that suit my palate, and high concentration strength that makes my bottles last. You can find expert notes on many of their flavorings HERE. Their Fuji is a premier apple flavoring, and all their creams are wonderful. Most of their line is top-notch, IMO.

Inawera is another great favorite of mine for great flavors with high concentration and flavor durability. I use a lot of their fruit flavors, plus Biscuit, Spicy Biscuit, and Milk Chocolate. Their Strawberry Shisha and Vanilla Shisha flavorings also get top marks. They now have a Custard flavoring out which is a new favorite for me. If you plan on a cigarette-type tobacco vape, their Tobacco DNB (dirty neutral base) is a splendid additive.

Speaking of tobaccos: Hangsen. They make very good and authentic tobacco flavorings that can be the main element in a vast array of mixes.

 

[llamainagstring]

FlavourArt is one of my favorites, due to authentic flavors that suit my palate, and high concentration strength that makes my bottles last. You can find expert notes on many of their flavorings HERE. Their Fuji is a premier apple flavoring, and all their creams are wonderful. Most of their line is top-notch, IMO.

Inawera is another great favorite of mine for great flavors with high concentration and flavor durability. I use a lot of their fruit flavors, plus Biscuit, Spicy Biscuit, and Milk Chocolate. Their Strawberry Shisha and Vanilla Shisha flavorings also get top marks. They now have a Custard flavoring out which is a new favorite for me. If you plan on a cigarette-type tobacco vape, their Tobacco DNB (dirty neutral base) is a splendid additive.

Speaking of tobaccos: Hangsen. They make very good and authentic tobacco flavorings that can be the main element in a vast array of mixes.

Awesome too hear !! So far being it is a high concentration strength, I'm going to order a total of 35-45 different flavors total, and want to try many many different random mixes ( going to be the wife and I's new hobby) I'm going to be filling my cart with as many FA flavors as I can from bull city , is there any flavors that FA doesn't have that I would want to go to the TFA or Caps for ? ! thanks!

Edit - No tabbaco flavors for me , not my thing ! will just make me want a cig lol

 

[dobroeutro]

I use quite a few Capella flavors & my favorites/must haves are:
Vanilla Custard V1
Sugar Cookie V1/2
Cinnamon Danish Swirl V1/2
Vanilla Cupcake V1/2
Bavarian Cream
Butter Cream
Marshmallow
Caramel V1/2
Apple Pie V1/2
Raspberry V1/2
Blackberry
Blueberry (usually I mix with TFA Blueberry Extra 2 to 1 TFA/CAP)
Sweet Strawberry (usually I mix with TFA Strawberry Ripe 2 to 1 TFA/CAP)
Double Apple

 

[man00ver]

any flavors that FA doesn't have that I would want to go to the TFA or Caps for ?

Unique and useful TFA: Acetyl Pyrazine 5% (bakery additive); Banana Nut Bread; Brown Sugar*; Cheesecake Graham Crust; Peanut Butter*; Vanilla Cupcake*; French Vanilla Crème; Graham Cracker*; Greek Yogurt; Key Lime; Koolada; Toasted Almond; Vanilla Bean Gelato; Vanillin 10%; Whipped Cream. The ones with asterisks have "DX" versions that are tested diketone-free, which is a matter of concern for some vapers. I also get my sweeteners from TFA: Cotton Candy (10% EM/Ethyl Maltol) and Sweetener (Sucralose).

@dobroeutro has a solid CAP list above - My favorites there are Vanilla Custard, Sugar Cookie, and Cinnamon Danish swirl. I keep a bottle of their Golden Butter also for certain recipes. Their Sweet Strawberry is hugely popular in a ton of recipes, but I find INW Strawberry Shisha does that job with less flavoring needed.

 

[llamainagstring]

So between MOST FA flavors they have to choose from on bull city and select CAP flavors at about 45 Different flavors (all 10mls) so I think for an initial order I'm pretty stocked and able to mess around with quite a few mixtures haha

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I also use Dragon fruit to sweeten fruit flavors and it makes your primary flavors pop too. All vendors sell Dragon Fruit so if you go with Cap or TPA I use 1%, or it you get it from FA use 0.5%. YMMV I only like a little sweet(DF) in some mixes such as strawberry, or most of the berries really. You may find you want more. Dunno.