First Post - DIY can't be this easy, can it?

[lelander]

So I've been lurking for quite a while and have learned more than a bit. Still consider myself a complete newbie.

I have an itaste MVP and use a couple of different tanks that I enjoy.

I've looked and looked and haven't found my answer, so I figured it was time to finally post for the first time.

I'd love to make my own liquid. However, I am a little lazy and a whole lot scientifically inept.

I was wondering if I could go to wizardlabs and purchase the nic liguid already mixed with the nic and then buy a couple of flavorings and bottles and maybe an eye dropper and voila...my own eliquid!!

So, my question to you is whether or not I'm missing a step.

I assume I have to either warm the liquid once it's mixed or vigorously shake it to maybe mix.

DIY can't be this easy, can it? If it is, then me and my lackluster skills are very happy.

Thank you all in advance for any advice or direction you can offer.

 

[Ardent]

You've got the basic idea. You will also need some syringes. Wizardlabs is a good place to get all the ingredients that you need.

The way you warm liquid that you've mixed is by putting the bottle that you've mixed it in a warm/hot water bath. But I wouldn't bother with that unless you end up making a juice that needs a long time to steep. If you warm the juice then make sure to wait until it cools to room temperature before vaping it.

See my previous post that tells you what you need to mix along with the process.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...96966-newbie-juice-question.html#post11403256

And yes, it really is that simple. Enjoy!

 

[Dakota Jim]

in a nutshell, yes

now this assuming you are going to get the 24mg vg nic base (was unable to check strengths at wizard labs because of course their website is closed for the holiday - apparently their website does not work unless they baby sit it) so I looked at my nic supplier (RTS Vapes - who's website always seem to be open and they are always able to ship without excuses of being out of stock)
and their lowest nic is 36 mg which in my opinion is much to strong to vape

ok- lets say you get 36mg vg nic base you can get plain vg to cut this down to 18 mg 1 part nic 1 part plain (keep in mind 100%VG is very thick and hard to wick on anything but drippers)
now for flavorings lets say you want that at 15% (that's what I run most of my TFA flavors at) that is going to decrease your overall nic strength by about 15% so your 18mg will now be about 15.3 mg nic

now regarding droppers (or pipettes) they s*ck, get some syringes, much quicker, much more accurate, much easier not to get distrac -- SQUIRREL!!!! (sorry, my inner golden retriever just came out)

go to the DIY section and read up on the safety end of it regarding high strength nic

and yes, once you mix it you can just put the bottle in some warm water, shake the heck out of repeatedly for several days (I have carried a fresh bottle in front pocket to keep it warm and to shake it almost constantly and yes, my friends thought I was crazy)

Now one very important thing you HAVE to do if you are going to DIY your eliquid!

You HAVE to learn to play spooky pipe organ music. (all evil scientist do. It's a union rule)

 

[BigDaddio]

Sadly RTSVapes.com is down for a little while so they can add some age verification to meet their state law. It says down until Fe 2 and I hope he mistyped and meant Dec 2. I sent an email for clarification. I had a cart full of stuff.

 

[AthensGa]

The only problem I see with your plan is that Wizard Labs only sells 100% pg or vg nicotine. So you might want to buy 2 bottles of nicotine - one with pg and one with vg- and mix those together to get some sort of pg/vg mix unless you smoke 100% vg.

 

[Ardent]

You don't need a PG and a VG nic solution. One or the other will do. Follow the link I posted above for instructions on how to mix jucies.

 

[Thunderball]

If your that lazy and inept, I wouldnt bother if I were you. I'm not being mean, but Ive seen it before and if you dont want to read, read, read the DIY forums first and understand what your doing....then put it out of your head.

I DIY..in fact I just finished mixing 5 diff juices this morning...with the help of other members posts on the forums and alot of diligence and understanding.

 

[pamdis]

The process itself IS that easy.

The hard part is the same as finding a good e-liquid:

Finding a flavor you like (flavor x from company A will differ from that same flavor from company B)
Figuring out the right percentage to use - recommendations vary a lot. Someone says I use x flavor at 15%, someone else says, "Are you crazy??? I find 5% too strong and mix it at 3%!"

And that's just for a single flavor. Combining them to make a more complex flavor profile is even more complicated.

But I find I can make a bad or mediocre tasting liquid just like the pros and at a lot cheaper price.

I have yet to make a great juice, but I have also yet to buy a great juice, so I figure I'm still ahead at this point.

 

[Wow1420]

If I wanted to be totally lazy about the process, I'd go to someplace like ecigexpress, because they sell premixed base at different ready-to-vape strengths and VG/PG ratios. Get whichever is closest to what you vape and add your flavoring. Just keep in mind that the flavoring will reduce the nic strength somewhat.

Mixing up the base is where you really don't want to go wrong, so if you don't have good math and measuring skills, that's where buying pre-mixed helps out a lot. You don't want to end up with nic strength vastly different from what you planned.

I'm lazy, but I'm also cheap, so I mix my base from VG, PG and concentrated* nic. Straight VG is too thick, straight PG is too thin IMO, so I aim for a 50/50 mix usually.

*hmm, concentrated isn't exactly the right word, I mean it's higher strength than what I vape.

Keep notes on how you made your mixes so you can make them again when they turn out really good. I also make notes as I vape on what I want to tweak the next time.

Oh, and another thing, start with just a little flavoring, you can always add more, but too strong can be tricky to fix.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

So far, some good advice, and some advice on this thread from people who obviously don't DIY.

Start with a good calculator: eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator

Now go to the DIY Forum and read, gear up, and read some more. Basic concepts like dilution and ratios will become clear with a little effort. And yes, it's easy, like riding a bike. Once you know how, it's easy. Until then, it's not easy. Make single ingredient mixes at first. You need neither heat, nor constant shaking to DIY. What you need is time. Somehow, those flavor bonds form whether you shake 'em, heat 'em, stare at 'em, etc., as long as you give them time to form. The more ingredients, the longer the bonds take to form. Sometimes you can vape right away. More often a single ingredient juice will take a day or two or three. Complex recipes can take several weeks.

Go to DIY forum. I use TFA a lot, and once you learn the suggested starting percentages: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...181-tpa-tfa-recipes-only-51.html#post11023322 ....it's pretty easy. Good luck to you.

 

[jacobmckeone]

It's incredibly easy, with some reading and good math skills! I am making my first big batch of 90vg/10pg flavored juice this week!

 

[Wingsfan0310]

Most things are easy once you know how to do them. Getting your base right isn't to hard if your good at measuring and have decent math skills, its getting the flavoring down that is the hard part imo. My advice is to read, read, and read some more. Make small test batches (3-10ml) first until you get something you like. Get a good e-juice calculator like ejuice me up.

 

[Thunderball]

So far, some good advice, and some advice on this thread from people who obviously don't DIY.

Start with a good calculator: eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator

Now go to the DIY Forum and read, gear up, and read some more. Basic concepts like dilution and ratios will become clear with a little effort. And yes, it's easy, like riding a bike. Once you know how, it's easy. Until then, it's not easy. Make single ingredient mixes at first. You need neither heat, nor constant shaking to DIY. What you need is time. Somehow, those flavor bonds form whether you shake 'em, heat 'em, stare at 'em, etc., as long as you give them time to form. The more ingredients, the longer the bonds take to form. Sometimes you can vape right away. More often a single ingredient juice will take a day or two or three. Complex recipes can take several weeks.

Go to DIY forum. I use TFA a lot, and once you learn the suggested starting percentages: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...181-tpa-tfa-recipes-only-51.html#post11023322 ....it's pretty easy. Good luck to you.

Perfect advice given by Bill here. .... I followed Bills advice to the letter a while back and now I am a DIY Machine !!!


PS.......To Bill......I made a Great Rootbeer float this morning....very yummy.... The impossible is very possible. I wonder why Juice sellers cant do that ???

 

[Thunderball]

It's incredibly easy, with some reading and good math skills! I am making my first big batch of 90vg/10pg flavored juice this week!

Congradulations !! Welcome to the DIY Club !!

 

[Wow1420]

So far, some good advice, and some advice on this thread from people who obviously don't DIY.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. What's clear to me is that there are different styles of DIY, most people workout their own style as they gain experience. I see nothing wrong in starting simple and adding complexity gradually, as needed to reach the results one wants.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

I'm not sure what you mean by that. What's clear to me is that there are different styles of DIY, most people workout their own style as they gain experience. I see nothing wrong in starting simple and adding complexity gradually, as needed to reach the results one wants.

Yes, totally agree.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

Perfect advice given by Bill here. .... I followed Bills advice to the letter a while back and now I am a DIY Machine !!!


PS.......To Bill......I made a Great Rootbeer float this morning....very yummy.... The impossible is very possible. I wonder why Juice sellers cant do that ???

Sounds awesome Mr. Bond.