First time DIYer needing some good advice please

[Shelly*]

I'm just looking to vape some unflavored 100% VG at 18-24mg, thinned down with distilled water or everclear.
Been having some issues (wheezing) when vaping flavored 60/40 & 50/50.

Decided to go with Wizard Labs for nic at 36mg 100% VG and some plain VG.
I know this has to be thinned to work in my carto's and Vivi Nova.

1) What percentage of DW or everclear would I need? I don't prefer super thin (water-like) liquid.
2) Should I consider DW as a safer alternative to everclear?
3) What equipment is needed to start if I'm making a small 60ml batch?

I've been reading alot and have learned so much through all of the wonderful contributors here.
A Big Thank You to all

 

[pizza2me]

Hi shelly. Just a quick drive by. But if you are wheezing, I'm not sure if you want to go 100% VG. Seems like you would want to go higher (or 100%) PG. Less vapor/moisture. Hopefully somebody else will chime in.

 

[recidivus]

1) I personally don't use a set %. I make my mix (flavourless is around 20/80 pg/vg) and add DW until it looks right. It comes out to around 1 drop per mL, but gets tweaked when I refill tanks if needed.
2) I use DW, haven't used everclear/pga
3) Generally you'd need larger (10mL?) syringe with 1/4 mL marking, rubber gloves, a large bottle to mix into. You don't need too much if you're just doing flavourless.

If you are going flavourless and want to stay there, it may just be easier to buy it at your desired nic %.

I can't comment on the wheezing beyond asking 2 things:
Why do you think it's the PG?
How long have you been off analogues?

 

[Yves]

Wizard Labs do nic at 24mg in VG if you buy that and then just add a little DW until you are happy with your mix. I took a quick look at a calculator for you 24mg nic in VG with 10% DW added would give you between 21-22mg finished nic juice.

 

[Shelly*]

Hi shelly. Just a quick drive by. But if you are wheezing, I'm not sure if you want to go 100% VG. Seems like you would want to go higher (or 100%) PG. Less vapor/moisture. Hopefully somebody else will chime in.

Thank you for the reply. I'm not completely positive that it's the PG but, figured that I should start by isolating the ingredients a lil more than all of these pre-mixes that I have.

1) I personally don't use a set %. I make my mix (flavourless is around 20/80 pg/vg) and add DW until it looks right. It comes out to around 1 drop per mL, but gets tweaked when I refill tanks if needed.
2) I use DW, haven't used everclear/pga
3) Generally you'd need larger (10mL?) syringe with 1/4 mL marking, rubber gloves, a large bottle to mix into. You don't need too much if you're just doing flavourless.

If you are going flavourless and want to stay there, it may just be easier to buy it at your desired nic %.

I can't comment on the wheezing beyond asking 2 things:
Why do you think it's the PG?
How long have you been off analogues?

Thanks for the reply. I tend to be somewhat of a perfectionist with things. Fiqure that I should be measuring everything. At some point I'd like to add flavor back to the mix (if tolerable) so I'd like to be very precise.

I think it may be the PG because I went and picked up a Blu disposable (100% VG) and the wheezing stopped. I've only been off analogs since 8/11/12. I did quit once for 5yrs but never experienced wheezing that time.

I have a bunch of stuff in my cart at WL right now including a couple 10ml syringes. Probably don't need to buy as much as I think

Wizard Labs do nic at 24mg in VG if you buy that and then just add a little DW until you are happy with your mix. I took a quick look at a calculator for you 24mg nic in VG with 10% DW added would give you between 21-22mg finished nic juice.

Thanks for the reply. I might just get the 24mg nic to start. I was thinking 36mg for future mixing if I decide to add flavor so as to keep the nic level a lil higher.

 

[J MacLeod]

1) What percentage of DW or everclear would I need? I don't prefer super thin (water-like) liquid.
2) Should I consider DW as a safer alternative to everclear?
3) What equipment is needed to start if I'm making a small 60ml batch?

Distilled water can be used to dilute/thin without adding "throathit".
Yes, it's perfectly safe.

Ethyl alcohol (Everclear, PGA, vodka, etc.) can be used to both dilute/thin, and also adds "throathit" (irritation).
If you find that you're missing the throathit by going with 100% VG, you may want to dilute with alcohol instead of DW to compensate.
It's up to personal preference. I've found over time that I don't really like or need the throathit so I'm slowly moving my own mixes to a heavier VG ratio.

Since you don't want it too thin, start with 2-3% DW or alcohol, and see if it's to your liking.
If not, add 1% at a time until you know how much it takes to reach the point that's right for you.

To start, you really don't need anything more than your liquids, flavorings, empty bottles, and some syringes and needles for measuring.
A 1ml syringe is useful for small, accurate measurements of flavoring or alcohol.
A 3ml or 5ml syringe for inbetween measurements, and a 10ml or 20ml syringe for large measurements.
An 18g or 16g needle for flavorings/alcohol/DW/PG.
A 14g needle for VG and heavy VG nic base.

The syringes will wear out with use and should be considered disposables, but the needles can be rinsed and reused over again on new syringes.
To keep the markings on the syringe from rubbing off too quickly you can give them a spray with some clearcoat, or a layer of clear nail polish.
If using the nail polish brush, be careful not to overbrush and smear the markings.

Welcome to DIY!

 

[Shelly*]

Distilled water can be used to dilute/thin without adding "throathit".
Yes, it's perfectly safe.

Ethyl alcohol (Everclear, PGA, vodka, etc.) can be used to both dilute/thin, and also adds "throathit" (irritation).
If you find that you're missing the throathit by going with 100% VG, you may want to dilute with alcohol instead of DW to compensate.
It's up to personal preference. I've found over time that I don't really like or need the throathit so I'm slowly moving my own mixes to a heavier VG ratio.

Since you don't want it too thin, start with 2-3% DW or alcohol, and see if it's to your liking.
If not, add 1% at a time until you know how much it takes to reach the point that's right for you.

To start, you really don't need anything more than your liquids, flavorings, empty bottles, and some syringes and needles for measuring.
A 1ml syringe is useful for small, accurate measurements of flavoring or alcohol.
A 3ml or 5ml syringe for inbetween measurements, and a 10ml or 20ml syringe for large measurements.
An 18g or 16g needle for flavorings/alcohol/DW/PG.
A 14g needle for VG and heavy VG nic base.

The syringes will wear out with use and should be considered disposables, but the needles can be rinsed and reused over again on new syringes.
To keep the markings on the syringe from rubbing off too quickly you can give them a spray with some clearcoat, or a layer of clear nail polish.
If using the nail polish brush, be careful not to overbrush and smear the markings.

Welcome to DIY!

Yeah, I've noticed that TH isn't that big of a deal for me.
Never really liked it with the analogs and I was a 2 PAD smoker.

Thanks so much for the welcome and simplifying everything