First LNW order, First attempt at DIY

[Sheriff420]

This is my first order from Liquid Nicotine Wholesalers and I think I'm set to try out some mixing, am I missing anything?

I use Kanger subtanks (old I know but reliable and leak-free), A Kylin and a Smoktech TFV4 at anywhere from .5 to .8 ohm built coils so they can handle the high VG.

I went with the 6mg premixed 80/20 vg/pg nicotine to get started mixing instead of the 100mg/ml because it seems easier to just give it a squirt of flavoring and a shake. I'm going do the sawzall deal because it's fast and effective, I might even weld a little cage to a blade just for mixing. I'll be measuring with syringes and starting with 10ml batches to try to find flavors I like.

Here's my order

Blackberry (CAP)Blackberry-15ml 1 $2.69
Blueberry Jam (CAP)capella-blueberry-jam-15ml 1 $2.69
Cake Batter (LNW)LNW-Cake-Batter-15ml 1 $3.29
Cappuccino (LNW)LNW-Cappuccino-15ml 1 $3.29
Caramel (FA)flavourart-Caramel-15ml 1 $3.40
Forest Fruit (FA)flavourart-Forest-Fruit-15ml 1 $3.40
Berry Mix (TFA)TFA-Berry-Mix-15ml 1 $1.79
Frosted Cake (LNW)lnw-Frosted-Cake-15ml 1 $3.29
Funnel Cake (CAP)CAP-Funnel-Cake-15ml 1 $2.69
Harvest Berry (CAP)capella-harvest-berry-15ml 1 $2.69
Huckleberry (FW)flavor-west-Huckleberry-15ml 1 $2.09
Mixed Berry (LNW)lnw-mixed-berry-15ml 1 $3.29
Red Velvet (LNW)lnw-Red-Velvet-15ml 1 $3.29
Sugar Cookie v2 (CAP)CAP-Sugar-Cookie-v2-15ml 1 $2.69
Super Sweet Sweetener (CAP)CAP-Super-Sweet-Sweetener-15ml 1 $2.69
Zeppola (FA)flavourart-Zeppola-15ml 1 $4.15

6mg e-liquid Nicotine1 Liter
Base20PG-80VG Liquid-Nicotine-6mg-1 liter-20pg-80vg 1 $23.99

5 mL Syringe w/ Luer Lock Blunt Tip 5-ml-syringe 1 $1.40

LDPE Dropper BottlenLDPE-Dropper-Bottle-60ml-10 1 $5.99

100 mL Graduated Cylinder Polypropylene 100mLGraduated Cylinder 1 $7.99

10 mL Syringe w/ Luer Lock Blunt Tip 10mLSyringe 1 $1.50

Subtotal $88.29
Shipping & Handling $12.58
Grand Total $100.87

 

[BrotherBob]

am I missing anything?

Not really, I did not see any plain PG nor VG.
re: Buy Vegetable Glycerin and Propylene Glycol - LNW
Suggest getting some 1 ml syringes for small measurements.
re: 1 mL Syringe w/ Luer Lock Blunt Tip
Good start but you did what I and most first time buyers did, spent way too much money. Don't worry, you have lots of company.
Before mixing, you may like to read:
Getting Started: DIY 101 – Mixing Your Own eLiquid
What you need to know as as far as supplies and safety for the first time juicer. | E-Cigarette Forum
reddit: the front page of the internet
dannyv45's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
DIY e-liquid Mixing. Learn how to make your own e-liquids

 

[*RJ*]

I use 100% vg and have to use 14 gauge needles...not sure what size you bought.

 

[Letitia]

I also would suggest adding 1ml syringes, much easier for the small amounts of flavorings in 10ml samples. I would also suggest just mixing in the bottle for small batches. Once you know that you'll stick with mixing might want to invest in a scale. I find it much faster and cleanup in much easier. Pay attention to the increments on the larger syringes; some are marked in 0.2 increments rather than 0.1.

 

[vaper1960]

Nice flavor list! Let me know what you think of "zeppola"... I'm planning on using that in a "french toast "recipe. A nice "cream" would come in handy too.

 

[NGAHaze]

Good start but I noticed you have no creams and/or vanillas ... you might want to consider a few of those for use as blenders.

 

[stols001]

I think it's a good start.

I will point out that buying premixed nic at a low nic level is probably THE most expensive way you could start. I mean, go for it, but a lot of DIY folks use nicotine base, that they mix themselves, and it is REALLY easy. I use 10% flavor most of the time, I am PG sensitive so I save the PG for my flavoring. I use 19 mg nicotine more or less, so my base is mixed 2 cups nic (100% VG) 2 cups VG and 5 cups PEG400. That brings me to about 20 mg of nic, and when I add my flavors, I'm pretty much where I want to be.

That amount of base lasts me FOREVER. If stored properly, there is NO reason not to do it this way, and the extra "step" has allowed me to like, store a lot more high test nic in my freezer.

So, if the DIY route pleases you, I might suggest that. I am just saying. You are paying a LOT for someone to basically do that step for you, and it takes me about 5 minutes.

Good luck!

Anna

 

[fiddleshe]

For twice the price of your 6 mg nicotine you could get 100 mg nicotine and it would last you a long time. Just sayin.

 

[Sheriff420]

Thanks for the links BrotherBob, there is some good info there.

I know it's more expensive to get the low nicotine stuff but I figured it's the easiest way to get into mixing and a liter of the stuff costs the same as a 60ml bottle of Betty. I'll get the 100mg/ml stuff if I can get some good mixes figured out.

I was doing finger crosses at the cream, caramel and vanilla stuff because they have diketones and nope nope nope.

I was at Tractor Supply a couple days ago and grabbed some extra needles and syringes, I think they were cheaper there too. When I got home I clipped the points off them and gave them a couple strokes on a file, now I have a bunch of blunt tip needles. I think it was a little bit cheaper too.

I planned on mixing in the bottles until I find a blend that I really like. I'll use the big syringe for the nicotine and the small syringes for the flavors. I'm going to try them soon after a violent shake then again every few days, if they don't come around after a couple weeks then I'll dump them out and try something else.

 

[Letitia]

Thanks for the links BrotherBob, there is some good info there.

I know it's more expensive to get the low nicotine stuff but I figured it's the easiest way to get into mixing and a liter of the stuff costs the same as a 60ml bottle of Betty. I'll get the 100mg/ml stuff if I can get some good mixes figured out.

I was doing finger crosses at the cream, caramel and vanilla stuff because they have diketones and nope nope nope.

I was at Tractor Supply a couple days ago and grabbed some extra needles and syringes, I think they were cheaper there too. When I got home I clipped the points off them and gave them a couple strokes on a file, now I have a bunch of blunt tip needles. I think it was a little bit cheaper too.

I planned on mixing in the bottles until I find a blend that I really like. I'll use the big syringe for the nicotine and the small syringes for the flavors. I'm going to try them soon after a violent shake then again every few days, if they don't come around after a couple weeks then I'll dump them out and try something else.

Don't dump the juices before 3 months, amazing what changes occur when given longer steeping.

 

[stols001]

So true. In a mere 2. 5 weeks-ish my ginger ale and brandy concoction turned from something I thought I might have to doctor, to like, HEAVEN. I'm glad I let it be.

Some rules of thumb for me: if I think it MAY need aid, I wait at least 3 weeks.

If it smells like goat's urine I air it out periodically but do not taste it for at LEAST a month. If it sort of sucks, wait another few weeks. Then MAYBE I will go about making changes.

Anna

 

[hisionics]

I think it's a good start.

I will point out that buying premixed nic at a low nic level is probably THE most expensive way you could start. I mean, go for it, but a lot of DIY folks use nicotine base, that they mix themselves, and it is REALLY easy. I use 10% flavor most of the time, I am PG sensitive so I save the PG for my flavoring.

Anna

What you mean for PG Sensitive? You get some reactions (like allergies)?

 

[vaper1960]

So true. In a mere 2. 5 weeks-ish my ginger ale and brandy concoction turned from something I thought I might have to doctor, to like, HEAVEN. I'm glad I let it be.

Sounds good... recipe please?
Sheriff420, don't dump anything out just yet. Besides waiting and letting it "steep" you can also play with mixing (with what you have made and/or with other flavors) It goes against my nature to waste anything...

 

[JCinFLA]

I was doing finger crosses at the cream, caramel and vanilla stuff because they have diketones and nope nope nope.

I agree with @NGAHaze regarding this: "Good start but I noticed you have no creams and/or vanillas ... you might want to consider a few of those for use as blenders."

You have a good variety of primary flavorings on your list. But the creams, vanillas, and/or other blenders and secondary flavorings are definitely needed/used in most DIY eliquids. You can buy creams, vanillas, and other blender/secondary flavorings...that don't contain diketones! Many of us use them in our DIY. TFA has a good number of them. They're designated the DX versions, to let you know they don't contain diketones. For example: DX Banana Cream, DX Bavarian Cream, DX Caramel Original, DX Marshmallow, DX Sweet Cream, DX Graham Cracker, DX Peanut Butter, and at least 15 more. Capella also has flavorings available like that, which they designate as V2, that don't contain diketones either! Some of theirs are: French Vanilla V2, New York Cheesecake V2, Peaches & Cream V2, Peanut Butter V2, Vanilla Cupcake V2, Vanilla Custard V2, Caramel V2, and at least 14 others.

To me...trying to achieve the taste of a complete eliquid, without using any creams or other blenders/secondary flavorings, along with the primary flavoring...is sort of like trying to make chili with just meat.

I was at Tractor Supply a couple days ago and grabbed some extra needles and syringes, I think they were cheaper there too. When I got home I clipped the points off them and gave them a couple strokes on a file, now I have a bunch of blunt tip needles. I think it was a little bit cheaper too.

I've bought some syringes for DIY at Tractor Supply as well in the past, and you're right...their prices are cheaper than the online vendors' DIY supplies prices. I don't use the TS needles though. 14ga. and 15ga. blunt needle tips definitely work better for DIY purposes, especially with the VG content of your nic base. IIRC, TS needles are much finer gauges like 18, 20, 21, and 22. The 18 & 20 could work for the flavorings though, if you already got those 2 gauges. The ones your 5mL and 10mL syringes will come with are 15ga. They should be OK for measuring your nic base that's 20PG/80VG, but the 14ga. would be a little easier, IMO. There are some little hints for using syringes to measure your DIY ingredients easily though. PM me if interested in them.

 

[wetclay]

I agree with @NGAHaze regarding this: "Good start but I noticed you have no creams and/or vanillas ... you might want to consider a few of those for use as blenders."

You have a good variety of primary flavorings on your list. But the creams, vanillas, and/or other blenders and secondary flavorings are definitely needed/used in most DIY eliquids. You can buy creams, vanillas, and other blender/secondary flavorings...that don't contain diketones! Many of us use them in our DIY. TFA has a good number of them. They're designated the DX versions, to let you know they don't contain diketones. For example: DX Banana Cream, DX Bavarian Cream, DX Caramel Original, DX Marshmallow, DX Sweet Cream, DX Graham Cracker, DX Peanut Butter, and at least 15 more. Capella also has flavorings available like that, which they designate as V2, that don't contain diketones either! Some of theirs are: French Vanilla V2, New York Cheesecake V2, Peaches & Cream V2, Peanut Butter V2, Vanilla Cupcake V2, Vanilla Custard V2, Caramel V2, and at least 14 others.

How do the V2/DX versions compare to the V1/originals taste wise?
I still use the V1 concentrates but would like to switch if they taste as good.
Anyway the amount of diacetyl is still multiples less than that present in cigarette smoke. Popcorn lung was never connected to smoking AFAIK anyhow.

 

[DeloresRose]

How do the V2/DX versions compare to the V1/originals taste wise?
I still use the V1 concentrates but would like to switch if they taste as good.
Anyway the amount of diacetyl is still multiples less than that present in cigarette smoke. Popcorn lung was never connected to smoking AFAIK anyhow.

I’ve only used a few in both OG and dx/v2 versions. Those were not exactly the same, but that one was better than the other really, and not that it ruined my mixes. So I’m happily switched to all dx. I’m not paranoid about the tiny quantities I would be using, if they were still OG though. 1-3% is where I’m normally at with those types of flavors in a recipe.

 

[JCinFLA]

How do the V2/DX versions compare to the V1/originals taste wise?
I still use the V1 concentrates but would like to switch if they taste as good.

To me, I can't tell a noticeable difference in taste, with the probably 10-15 different ones I've tried so far. I've recently bought the V2 of the CAP Vanilla Custard. Some people have said they can tell a difference in that 1 in particular, but I don't know if I will or not yet. Usually, I just go ahead and buy the DX and V2 versions of any flavorings when they're offered, and they've been fine according to my taste buds.

Anyway the amount of diacetyl is still multiples less than that present in cigarette smoke.

In comparing the ingredients of the original versions, versus their DX and V2 versions for those I've bought...it's usually the trace amounts of Acetoin and/or Acetyl Propionyl in the originals that have been removed from the DX/V2 versions. Out of the approx. 250+ flavorings I have so far...I've only seen about 4% of them that are noted to contain minute traces of diacetyl. IMO, that's a tiny drop in the bucket to what I'd get if I were still smoking 1 - 1.5 PAD...especially since I don't inhale my vapor, but always inhaled my ciggie smoke for 42+ years.

 

[Sheriff420]

I'll give the cream type flavors a shot on the next order.
I realized that I'm going to have to get the stronger base anyway because I use 6mg and have for a few years now and as soon as I put 5-10% flavoring in there it's going to dilute the base so I'll have to mix the strong stuff into the 6mg that's coming to bring it up to 8 or 9mg before the flavoring is added.
The biggest needles tractor supply had was 16ga. so that's what I got.