First venture into DIY E-juicing

[Fstop]

Anyone have any experience with vaporshots.com ? I've chosen them for my PG & VG source because they display Certificates & MDS for the base products regarding the Purity Level of the liquids. Seems pharmaceutical grade is the way to go for inhalation. They also provide a little more information regarding the ingredients of their products, which I noticed no one bothers to post on most vaping sites which there are tons of.

 

[Spooky Mulder]

You might want to get a moderator to move this to the DIY sub forum for you.

 

[Fstop]

You might want to get a moderator to move this to the DIY sub forum for you.

I agree. How?

 

[Spooky Mulder]

I agree. How?

On the main forum page scroll down to the bottom and you'll see a list of mods. Just PM one of them and ask them to move it for you.

 

[lamarrk]

Moving to DIY liquid by request of OP.

 

[chopdoc]

Hello Fstop. All the popular places that are discussed and used by people here provide pharmaceutical grade liquid. I looked at vaporshots prices on nicotine and their 1 liter of 100 mg is $112 right now. Two days ago I bought a liter of 100mg from MyFreedomSmokes for $50 and they have a link on the page to see the test results for impurities.

 

[fat1]

I used rtsvapes and had a very positive experience. They also offer 20% off for first orders by using coupon "firstorder". The products came well packaged and I vaped each component individually to test "the pudding" all was kosher. They also have a rewards program. I see alot of recommendations for alot of different vendors. I have determined the top 5 to be (in NO PARTICULAR ORDER):

Nudenicotine
Wizard Labs
RTSvapes
ecigexpress
vapingzone

I don't think you can go "wrong" with any of the above. I know you didn't ask just thought I would put this out there. I am new to DIY but not to vaping (3.5 years). rts posts certificates

 

[Fstop]

Thanks fat1 saved me the trouble of asking and chopdoc, I'm @ 0Nicotine it is reassuring that all the places discussed here provide pharma grade base liquids, one less worry as a newbie. Did you check out the flavors at vape shots, some say natural extract and I'm curious as to how they taste while mentioning it takes more natural juice to get the flavor level, I don't mind this trade off for non synthetic flavors. Off to check out fat1's list. Does the pricing reflect actual Flavor Concentrations?

 

[fat1]

no I think its more like try, test and see for the concentrations. Even if there was a way to quantify the concentration, taste is so subjective you would never be able to paint a straight percentage across any manufacturers line of offerings. I think in general some manufacturers are known to be more concentrated than others like Flavor West vs Flavour Art (one extreme to the other right there)

 

[Fstop]

Ok.. I never ordered e-liquid from anyone but V2 before. So I'm exploring my favorite flavor which is Tobacco. So far my taste exploration is good but Flavor testing & reviews is another thread. Let me focus here: 1. What is the shelf life of straight up PG & VG? 2. Same question but for Flavor Concentrates not yet mixed.
3. What is the shelf life of already Mixed Flavors? 4. I've left Nicotine for last because I'm @ 0 Nicotine level now and my DIY Mixing is @ this time just for myself.

I've researched my resource options and narrowed it down to a handful for most basic stuff and casting a wider net for premix flavors & concentrated flavors, there are soooo many to play w/ at my leisure & pleasure

 

[Boletus]

Ok.. I never ordered e-liquid from anyone but V2 before. So I'm exploring my favorite flavor which is Tobacco. So far my taste exploration is good but Flavor testing & reviews is another thread. Let me focus here: 1. What is the shelf life of straight up PG & VG? 2. Same question but for Flavor Concentrates not yet mixed.
3. What is the shelf life of already Mixed Flavors? 4. I've left Nicotine for last because I'm @ 0 Nicotine level now and my DIY Mixing is @ this time just for myself.

I've researched my resource options and narrowed it down to a handful for most basic stuff and casting a wider net for premix flavors & concentrated flavors, there are soooo many to play w/ at my leisure & pleasure

1. At least a year at normal room temp (68-72 deg F).
2. Varies with the flavoring and base liquid. Probably at least a couple of months.
3. Again varies with the flavorings. Some is best after 6 weeks (e.g. tobacco), some will fade after a few weeks (e.g. some fruit flavors).
4. Nicotine remains usable for a long time, but can lose some potency after a few months at room temps. We nic hoarders transfer it to glass bottles and freeze it, which could remain usable for decades.

[edit] Note that the lack of specific numbers is deliberate.

 

[Fstop]

no I think its more like try, test and see for the concentrations. Even if there was a way to quantify the concentration, taste is so subjective you would never be able to paint a straight percentage across any manufacturers line of offerings. I think in general some manufacturers are known to be more concentrated than others like Flavor West vs Flavour Art (one extreme to the other right there)

1) So if I'm steeping 2-4 weeks tobacco flavors & Hangsen recommends 3% - 12% concentrate, I would begin at 3% wait 2 -4weeks taste it and if i need more ad another % wait again how long before testing and so on?

Given this long steeping time, I'm thinking to startup 30ml & 25ml batches to make it worth my time.

2) Having dehydration trouble, currently vaping PG/VG 70/30 ratio. Would I see much of a difference with a 65/35 PG/VG ratio or 60/40? Don't want to lose my flavor, I know I have to adjust flavor % relative to PG % since its the flavor carrier. Yes, I'm drinking tons of water

 

[Boletus]

For most mixes and flavors that require steeping, the process can be greatly accelerated with heat (4 hours at 150 deg F has been reported to work well for many mixes). Check out Dannyv45's blog on steeping for the basics, and then check out the UC (ultrasonic cleaner) and crock pot threads if you want more detail. And really, you want to start at 10 ml or less, until you find something you are sure you will like.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...you-wanted-know-about-steeping-then-some.html

Regarding PG, there is no real need to use it. VG will accept flavors just fine, but more steeping is required. There are a few of us do not use PG at all, unless a flavoring uses it as a base (and then we are talking about low PG concentrations). Distilled water is fine for thinning VG and will help with the flavor penetration.

 

[Fstop]

Started experimenting with the following Mixing Ratios:
10 - 20% Water to thin the juice...

Batches of 5ml
Nicotine 0
Flavor:
3% = .15ml 5% = .25ml 10% = .5ml 12% = 0.6ml

Water starting @ 10% = .5ml - 20% 1ml
PG/ VG Ratio
50/50 2.5/2.5

PG 60% 3ml
VG 40% 2ml

PG 65% 3.25ml
VG 35% 2.75ml

Using Hangsen Tobacco flavors found that the manufacture recommendation to start @ 3% has been more than satisfactory. Purchased my Concentrated Flavors from ecigexpress.com and buyhangsen.com both provide good selection at low prices w/ quick first class delivery service, so I will be using them again.
So far I really like Virgina & Delux Tobacco.

Tried the 50/50 PG/VG mix and my mouth is still getting torn up by dehydration and I really don't like all smog with 50 VG plus the liquid is really thick not good for 808D clearos which I still like to use from time to time. I've had to cut down my vaping by more than half to keep my noise from drying up to the point of bleeding. So I have begun vaping as I smoked on a quitting schedule.

Going to try the 60/40 PG/VG ration with 10-20% water for thinning don't want to vape alcohol.

 

[dannyv45]

It's a trade off higher smog with VG or more dryness with PG. If you use higher VG it won't dry you out as much but you will need to add at least 15 - 20% water for 808's. Try saline instead of water it helps the drying effect even better then water. I imagine you want to reduce the smog when people are around so you may want to make 2 batches. One with higher PG for those times where smog is not desirable and one with higher VG when the smog don't matter.

Another trick I've learned when I used those cotton filled cartos is if it's hard to fill and the mix just sits on the top of the cotton and does not sink in get a syringe with a thin 22 or 24ga needle and carefully push that down the side wall into the cotton until it reaches the bottom of the carto. Then withdraw the needle slowly as you fill it.

 

[Fstop]

Thank you dannyv45, Its not just the visual amount of vapor that annoys me personally, I don't care what it looks like to others, the vape feels heavier to the taste. Rather than increase the PG I want to try substituting 15-20% as you suggest. Where do I get saline solution & what kind?
FYI - also use pt2 & mpt2 in addition to Ex blank clearos that I had just sitting mostly for tasting bc 1ml size.

 

[dannyv45]

Thank you dannyv45, Its not just the visual amount of vapor that annoys me personally, I don't care what it looks like to others, the vape feels heavier to the taste. Rather than increase the PG I want to try substituting 15-20% as you suggest. Where do I get saline solution & what kind?
FYI - also use pt2 & mpt2 in addition to Ex blank clearos that I had just sitting mostly for tasting bc 1ml size.

If you can't find it locally at one of the big box pharmacy's try amazon

Amazon.com: SALINE SOLUTION .9% 100ML (EA): Health & Personal Care

 

[Fstop]

Ordered from Amazon because walgreen's started in with the "you need a prescription for Sterile .9 Saline Solution"! Don't think mr. wanna be doc had a clue. Have to check other local stores too. Does this saline stuff get diluted any further with distilled water?