Firstime DIY - WL Purchase - Good To Go?

[Ictinike]

Hey DIY'ers,

Don't want to bore you but now ready to try DIY as I'm vaping about 3-5ml per day and of course trying to find something I really like is starting to add up in costs, both samples from various vendors and shipping.

Figured I should try DIY so I can get to a few I like more cheaper and work from there. I know many post here but wanted to give you an order I'm ready to pull the trigger on for comments, recommendations or suggestions.

I'm going mainly for a combo effect with various flavorings I could try and/or mix and match. Kind of a potpourri setup for now as I know the flavorings can last a while if used properly (< 3% to start and work up)

Anywho, here's the list and I'm trying to get to a 24-30mg level with a 60 PG/40 VG blend using WL TFA flavorings (to start)..

Many Thanks in Advance!
~Icky

-[Base]-----------------
1 60mg Nicotine solution - 250ml 100% PG
1 Propylene Glycol - 120ml
1 Vegetable Glycerin - 120ml

-[Tools]-----------------
2 10ml Luer Lock Syringe
2 5ml Luer Lock Syringe
2 1ml Luer Lock Syringe
2 14ga Blunt Tip Luer-Lock Needle 1.5"
2 20ga Blunt Tip Luer-Lock Needle 1.5"
10 10ml LDPE Dropper Bottle with Child Resist Cap
5 30ml LDPE Dropper Bottle with Child Resist Cap

-[Flavors]---------------
Banana Creme Flavor (TFA)
Belgian Waffle Flavor (TFA)
Black Honey tobacco Flavor (TFA)
Blueberry Extra TFA Flavor
Cinnamon Red Hots Candy Flavor (TFA)
Clove Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Graham Cracker Crust Flavor (TFA)
French Vanilla Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Grape juice Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Hawaiian Tropical Punch Flavor (TFA)
Peach Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Pomegranate Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Red Bullish Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Strawberry Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Wintergreen Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Caramel Original TFA Flavor
Coconut Extra Flavor Concentrate
Cranberry Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Green Apple Flavor (TFA)
Peppermint Flavor Concentrate (TFA)
Tobacco Absolute Blend PG (TFA)

-[Sweet/Menthol]-----
Ethyl Maltol 10% PG Solution (TFA)
Menthol Liquid 10% Solution PG (WL)

 

[purelyscientific]

I recommend you label 10 of the 10 mL dropper bottles and mark them with a sharpie 1-10.
Then pick out the top 10 flavors you want to try and make a list 1-10.
Then do an assembly line and mix all the flavors at 5% 5mL so you can see how strong they are and get a good feel for them.

Here is the recipe template for your specifications-

5mL 25mg 60/40 5% flavor (Units are in mL)
Nicotine- 2.08
PG- 0.62
VG- 2
Flavor- .25
Ethyl Maltol(optional)- .05

Take notes and label everything. For more throat hit add vinegar or Lemon juice. Wear gloves and glasses/goggles. Mix in a ventilated area.
Figure out what the flavors taste like before mixing them together. I find most flavors are good at 5-8%. Some are really strong and best used at 2-3%, others take as much as 10-15%. If you think a flavor is going to be strong mix it at a low percentage, it is always easier to add a tad more- which won't ruin your ratio- than to whack it down. I'd say around 90% of my flavors are good at 6%, 5% at 3%, and 5% at 10%. Then again, my flavor list is completely different from yours other than a couple.

Blueberry is good but its kind of weak and melts/cracks clearos. Strawberry is good, it tastes like strawberry fruit roll up. Coconut is very strong, I wouldn't recommend going over 3%. My buddy says waffle is really good, you should start by testing that one. Ethyl maltol is a miracle, it rounds out the juice and adds a touch of sweetness. I add it to all my juices.

Next time you should order 250 VG. Your going to run out of that first, mark my words bro.

Black Honey tobacco sounds yummy. So does french vanilla. Let me know what you think of them when you get around to trying them.

Make mistakes. Learn. And above all else, HAVE FUN!

Happy vaping!

 

[cindycated]

Thankfully you could get VG locally pretty easily if you needed more (WalMart, CVS), but if you didn't want to have to do that, you might try jumping to the next size up of it. To dilute your 250ml of 60mg nic to 24-30mg in 60/40, you'll probably end up using +/-200ml total of VG over time. I think I read somewhere that the shelf life for VG is around 6 months though, so maybe keep that in mind (but then you're only getting 3-4 months' worth, so...). PG you could probably have less of (since your nic is in 100% PG), but it's good to have some of that around anyway. PG's a little harder to find locally, and it comes in handy for a lot of different things.

I just started not too long ago, but what I learned from my first mix is that the nic might be a little more potent than what's in premixed when it's this fresh (dunno - it hit me really hard), so maybe start at 24mg first and see how that goes. Happy mixing!

 

[purelyscientific]

OH! That reminds me; Keep your VG in the refrigerator and your flavors, nic(especially), and PG in the freezer.
Oxidized nicotine tastes DISGUSTING. Don't make the mistake I made. VG fresh out of the freezer is realllllllly hard to suck up into a 1mL even with a 14 gauge on it. Your probably going to need more 1mL syringes. The numbers wear off quick. OH! that reminds me- I heard clear tape or clear nail polish works for that.

Keep your ethyl in the fridge too, I put mine in the freezer and the crystals precipitated out of it(which was really cool looking lol)

You should buy the ethyl crystals next time and make the solution your self. I made over 30mL with half of the bottle which is the same cost as a the bottle of ethyl solution you bought. So its like buying 10 for the price of 1, but you have to mix it yourself.

I just gave you 90% of everything I learned about DIY in 2 posts, so be grateful. lol

If you want some help mixing drop me a pm and we can skype. I taught my friend how to DIY over skype and now he knows more than me! hah

 

[BakuPeg]

Your list sounds good. but like Pures said you'll be running out of EM. Next order get the crystals and mix it yourself. I think it was 1/4th a tsp in 10 ml. I mixed 3/4 a tsp in a 30 ml bottle and still have lots left. You can get USP VG at Walmart/walgreens/cvs and USP pg at a tractor supply when you run out or order more from, the wiz, their shipping is quick.

 

[Ictinike]

All good info and thanks!

I've not ordered, as of yet, so I can change things up a bit on the EM..

Also have some VG from Wally's and PG from Tractor Supply already so good there if need extras (had been pre-purchasing a bit of bulk when I can)

Not sure I have fridge/freezer space and is this common that people keep them as such? I'ma have to read a bit more but I don't think I've ever seen, in any DIY post other than this, the fridge/freezing part. Good to note, just caught me blindside and had never seen that recommendation before

WL seems to be showing a near 50% off on everything which is why I decided to go a bit larger on the order.. We'll see and thanks again!

Cheers
~Icky

 

[adeline]

Oooh.. If you haven't pushed the button yet.

For tobacco bases a lot of folks recommend Seedman's Commercial Cigarette (can do a search for (SM) on the first page). I saw you had a couple tobaccos lined up. The thing about these flavorings is, for $1.50 you really can't go wrong.

Also, for $0.40, a pair of gloves might be a good choice for the 60mg nic.

Enjoy! I really like WL. Their prices are fantastic, shipping is fast, and their selection is the best I've seen.

 

[Cookster]

Looks good, just be aware that the blueberry, cinnamon and wintergreen can etch/crack tanks and clearos.

 

[purelyscientific]

I recently bought seedmans virginia fire cure tobacco and its awesome. Rich, ful flavor and it tastes like tobacco with a hint of sweetness. Its earthy to a degree too. I highly recommend it.
My top 3 flavors from WL are pineapple, blackberry from TFA, and Virginia fire cured tobacco.
You should get some NY style cheesecake too. It is delicious.

I found grapejuice to be really weak. Even at 8% it didn't come out good.

BTW, His prices are always that low.
You should DEFINITELY!!! keep your nic in the freezer. You could try putting it in a small lockbox with a skull and crossbones on it and let everyone know there is a poison in it which is not to be f'ed with

 

[Ictinike]

You should DEFINITELY!!! keep your nic in the freezer. You could try putting it in a small lockbox with a skull and crossbones on it and let everyone know there is a poison in it which is not to be f'ed with

Well not so worried about that as my boys are 12 and 14 so they wouldn't screw around too much but space. A growing family never has enough fridge/freezer space, lol

I've not pulled the trigger and as of now Strawberry is out of stock. Gotta #%$ or get off the pot, so to say, before it's all gone

Thanks again for all the info, opinions and recommendations. I'm really fighting this startup DIY or a first mechanical 18650 mod.. Ugggh the choices!

 

[Ictinike]

Oooh.. If you haven't pushed the button yet.
For tobacco bases a lot of folks recommend Seedman's Commercial Cigarette (can do a search for (SM) on the first page). I saw you had a couple tobaccos lined up. The thing about these flavorings is, for $1.50 you really can't go wrong.

Adeline,

Do you mean this specifically? Commercial Tobacco Flavor Concentrate (SM)

 

[purelyscientific]

Strawberry is very artificial tasting. Try some pineapple, its the most natural juicy flavor I've tried.
Chances are, hes not going to have *all* those flavors in stock at the same time. You can always add it to your next flavor order.

Its almost winter time. You could put the nic in a lockbox on the back porch or outside to keep it cool.

 

[adeline]

That's the one.

PG/VG mix + small amounts of Tobacco Absolute + Ethyl Maltol (or TPA cotton candy) + Seedmans = tobacco base to start with. Add your tobacco flavors to it.

I use that base exclusively for tobacco and add tobacco flavorings to it. It's a wonderful place to start. They were out of that stuff a couple days ago so I got a different kind of Seedman's to try out. Haven't yet, but will soon.

If you do a forum search for "tobacco base" you should find proper ratios. Experiment, experiment, experiment. And enjoy!

 

[Ictinike]

Awesome.. Figure I'll just buck up and pull the trigger (lol)

As always ECF members totally come through and help a fellow vaper out!

Let ya know and right now all of those, minus the strawberry, are in stock and in cart.. /happy dance

Cheers,
~Icky

 

[glassmanoak]

The only change I'd recommend is picking up some SMOOTH. It really helps fruit and tobacco flavors meld together.

 

[BakuPeg]

Honestly, I don't fridge/freeze anything at the moment. Everything is in a bathroom cupboard in a cool spot in my house. I might bottle up and freeze any extra bottles of nic I buy.

Don't worry everything goes in and out of stock. 2 flavors I had my heart on were out. I pulled it up the next day and they were there but 1 other on my list was gone. The one that was out wasnt major so I pulled the trigger and got the other flavor the next time.

 

[pinellaspete]

Make sure to paint the outside of your syringes with clear nail polish. It keeps the graduations from disappearing when you wash the syringes. The graduations otherwise will wash off and disappear after several washings.

Make sure you use 2 drops of an acid per 5ml of mix. You can use vinegar, concentrated lemon juice or malic acid. It acts as a preservative and will stop the flavors from fading.

I think 20 gauge needles are a little too fine. Using them with VG is like trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose! 14 gauge works well. I personally wish they sold 10 or 12 gauge needles.

 

[adeline]

Make sure to paint the outside of your syringes with clear nail polish. It keeps the graduations from disappearing when you wash the syringes. The graduations otherwise will wash off and disappear after several washings.

Make sure you use 2 drops of an acid per 5ml of mix. You can use vinegar, concentrated lemon juice or malic acid. It acts as a preservative and will stop the flavors from fading.

I think 20 gauge needles are a little too fine. Using them with VG is like trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose! 14 gauge works well. I personally wish they sold 10 or 12 gauge needles.

I use clear packing tape on the outside.. I just don't trust nail polish. Plus, clear tape is much more gender-neutral.

Re: Needles for VG -- it just takes too long. I use the syringe without a needle at all. Maybe a little messier than normal, but soooo much faster. 20g is way too small for undiluted VG.

Solid stuff here.

 

[pinellaspete]

Oh c'mon adeline! Take a good look at Ictinike's avatar. It says metro-sexual all the way!

He could paint the syringes after he does his nails!

 

[Ictinike]

Oh c'mon adeline! Take a good look at Ictinike's avatar. It says metro-sexual all the way!

He could paint the syringes after he does his nails!

LMAO

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