First Post DIY question

[Georg Ohm]

It appears I have to post here first. So I will just go ahead and ask the question I was going to ask elsewhere.

I'm planning on making my own e-liquid and I was wondering if I should make the liquid in a sterile environment. My home isn't a complete wreck but it's not exactly a show room in a model home either.


I was wanting to know where other people made juices and what cleaning steps they might take before mixing.

 

[Spazmelda]

I make mine in my bathroom. Most of the stuff in the juice is going to inhibit growth of microorganisms, so you don't have to be sterile. Clean your counter, you know, but you don't need to wipe it down with ethanol and autoclave your glassware.

 

[DD78]

I've actually just ordered my own supplies and am going to begin DIY'ing my own juices.

With all of the research I've done, I've decided that I'm going to lay out a paper towel, wash my hands, put on a dust mask, safety glasses, latex gloves, and then make my concoctions.

I've watched a bunch of videos of people making theirs, and have been quite surprised at many not using latex gloves. Nicotine is extremely toxic, and while I'm not a klutz, I would rather be safe.

 

[Thunderball]

..........

 

[Cliven]

I make my own in my kitchen. I wipe down the counter and go to work. I don't wear gloves as I use 48mg nic base and hear that 100mg nic is the one you really need to be careful with. If I get any on my hands, I wash them and continue on. I have made about 30 different juices and have had no issues and the best thing is.......the wife and myself actually prefer the homemade blends to the juices we have purchased from vendors!

 

[Spazmelda]

I don't wear gloves, but I recommend that other people do . That's for self protection though, not to avoid contaminating the liquids.

If I get some on myself I wash my hands immediately. I'm in the bathroom, so the sink is right there. I've gotten juice and base liquid on myself before, and never had any signs of nicotine overdose (nothing noticeable at all). Still, wearing gloves is a good idea.

 

[Georg Ohm]

Ahh I see, well as far as rubber gloves and safety goggles goes I don't think I need any since I will be making 0mg juices. I need to cut back on my nicotine intake but I love vaping so I'll be making 0mg juice for around the house vaping and actually go outside to vape 12mg vendor juice. I was just worried about bacteria making its way into the juice then flourishing.

 

[White Rabbit]

George Ohm and DD78,

Please be sure that you read the warnings on the DYI section of this forum, especially if you are "adding" your own levels of nicotine.

To start (after you have read the warnings and techniques) I suggest ordering your nicotine base in 100% PG at either 24 mg or at the max 48 mg levels. Then purchase USP VG at WalMart in 6 oz bottles for approximately $3.88 or 13 cents per ml. If you mix the PG base 50/50 with the VG you will cut the nic amount in half. Example: mix 15 ML of PG based 24 mg nic with 15 ML of pure USP VG and you will end up with a juice (no flavors yet) of 50%PG/50%VG at 12 Mg Nic or 1.2%. This is a good starting point. Keep in mind that if you add 20% flavorings which are mainly PG based, you will end up with approximately 60% PG/ 40% VG. Find one of the calculators from this fourm in the DIY section for exact amounts of PG, VG, and Nic base to add in order to get and remake your favorite juice over and over in various amounts.

Please do keep things "clean" not necessarily sterile. I also recommend to all new people to vaping that they keep their devices clean especially the drip tip which is in your mouth constantly

 

[Spazmelda]

If you google "propylene glycol antimicrobial" and "vegetable glycerin antimicrobial" you will get some links that will ease your mind.

 

[AttyPops]

Do you breathe in the same house that you make the juice in?

1) Wash hands.
2) Use clean sterile bottles and measuring stuff. Or wash em.
3) Don't sneeze into the stuff while making it.
4) Maybe work over a cookie-sheet with sides or some such to avoid spilling mass quantities on yourself.

Gloves are OK when dealing with 100 mg base (even that's not critical...just don't spill it all over your skin.)

You're basically using clean stuff like you would when cooking. This is for home use...your personal DIY. If you were producing it for others, there are more concerns I'm sure.

I start with 100 mg these days, and immediately mix it down to 50 mg when I open the bottle. So meh. 1 careful pour. I make my DIY mixes from that 50/48 mg base. Mix well and mix again.

 

[jocat54]

I might have to change how I mix.
Sit down at the table with all the various bottles in front of me.(60mg nicotine 50%pg/50%vg, pg, vg, various flavors)
Have the recipe from ejuice caculator.
Use hypodermic needle to measure from each botttle......wash hands and hypodermic in hot water between each bottle.
Wash everything again when finished and put it away and enjoy my mix.
Guess I could sterilize everything with alcohol....but don't.