Getting my Breaking Bad on

[LitchOfDoom]

Alright, so I have had such a hard time finding the flavor juice that I want that I have decided to make it myself. The biggest issue when researching the process to do so is how complicated everyone seems to make it. I know that because I am making this juice for myself that I can make it to my own taste which means I won't need to add any nic as I don't vape it. That said, I know that the PG/VG/flavorings are non-toxic and safe so I can be a little "reckless" when it comes to mixing them and not need as much of the safety equipment that I keep being told to get.

What I really need to know is the simplified version of the process, which is hard to come by for some reason. My impression of making these juices is basically similar of that of baking, by which I mean pouring the PG/VG into a measuring cup, then mix in a bowl and add the flavoring like you would food coloring. When I talked it over with my friend, however, he said to use a syringe and a 10 ml bottle and not a bucket (I told him I though you just mixed it in a bucket and then fill the bottles). I honestly do not really see a need to get any equipment outside that of the syringe but I also could be missing a step or something from the information that I have gathered thus far.

Here is how I believe it is to be done (Please correct/add/comment on anything I have missed or done wrong):
1) Acquire PG/VG and flavorings
2) Using an e juice calculator, like one provided by Scubabatdan, you determine how much flavor you need for the amount of PG/VG you are mixing it in as well as how much PG/VG you need to use for the blend that you want (I am aiming for 65/35)
3) After you do the calculations you then apply it to the bottle that you will be mixing everything in and mix it up.
4) After a few minutes of mixing the juice, you then place it in a dark place for a few days to a week to let the flavor seep into the PG/VG.
5) Make sure to test the juice every few days to determine if/when it is done and the way that wish for it to be,
6) Vape on your newly created juice!

Now I have been told that there is a "speed seeping" method that is basically taking your bottle of juice, and putting it into a pot of near boiling water for an hour or so. Could someone please further explain that to me? Mostly that of how it is really done the length of time in the water = number of days sped though per ml of juice. I also found that most calculators need a nic level to actually work, even though I am using none. I haven't actually tried to use Scubabatdan's, but is it that same? If so, where can I go that will help me with what I need,

Please and thank you ^_^

 

[b.m.]

Sounds like you have the steps pretty much in order.As for steeping,some juices need it and some don't,so try it after you make it,then decide if it needs to steep.As for speed steeping,many people do it many different ways,some use a crock pot,some an ultrasonic cleaner,and some just put hot water in a cup and let the bottle sit in that.Length of time usually varies by the type of flavors,tobacco flavors seem to take the longest,creamy flavors take a while too,but most fruits are ready fairly quickly.

 

[LitchOfDoom]

So all the complications that I was reading about this was basically all due to the use of nic? Well that is great to know! Probably should verify that in the beginning of a lot of these discussions to help keep people from over thinking this like I did

 

[b.m.]

Yeah,i mean you still want to measure out the right amounts,but without nic,there is nowhere near the same problems you could run into when you do add nic.That in particular is what most commonly could cause big problems if not measured out right,so your margin for error isn't quite as big of an issue.All the other stuff will still apply though,if you use too much flavor,it could be muted or just plain nasty haha,so as long as you follow the same standards as far as percentages and such,you'll be fine,and hopefully be making some good juice soon.

 

[LitchOfDoom]

Now my next question is I was under the impression that I could take a 10 ml syringe, fill it up with 6.5 PG and then 3.5 VG and that is how I get my mixture (purposefully ignoring the flavoring added PG for sake of argument). Is this something of a preference or should I always use separate measurements?

 

[b.m.]

I don't see why that wouldn't work,i always do them seperate,but don't see any reason why they couldn't be done this way.

 

[2naphish]

So all the complications that I was reading about this was basically all due to the use of nic? Well that is great to know! Probably should verify that in the beginning of a lot of these discussions to help keep people from over thinking this like I did

not exactly. complex flavors can take months of work to develop.
you will also want to keep everything you touch and use as sterile as possible. i use a different syringe for each flavor and nicotine (although you aren't using it) to avoid any cross contamination. best of luck in your mixing.

 

[Zombo]

What I really need to know is the simplified version of the process, which is hard to come by for some reason.

When I started, a week ago, I thought the exact same thing. There is a ton of useful info here, but I couldn't find anything that showed how to actually do it, not in one concise entry anyway.. I was so clue-less about it that for a long time I thought DIY meant extracting your flavors from scratch. Eventually, I went to YouTube. Still, I was surprised there wasn't anything about it in the stickies.

 

[Muero]

Well, just about every one I talk to seems to have their own way of mixing. There's really not a set method that everyone uses. The way I think it should be done at home is to clean off your surface. Lay out the flavors, lay down a paper towel and put the syringes together. Place your mixing container (i use glass graduated cylinders). Being sure not to touch the end of the syringes to anything take out the required measurements of one ingredient and dispense in your container. Set the used syringe to the side and continue in this way. Then clean up.
Notes : I think you want to avoid having the syringe tips touch your hands or the work surface. I add the dilutants first, then nic and flavors. You should strive to have the least number of transfers. Use one syringe per ingredient.

Others might add or make other suggestions, but I feel a little time on youtube and just doing it will be the approach.

 

[sketchness]

Now my next question is I was under the impression that I could take a 10 ml syringe, fill it up with 6.5 PG and then 3.5 VG and that is how I get my mixture (purposefully ignoring the flavoring added PG for sake of argument). Is this something of a preference or should I always use separate measurements?

ejuice me up calculator is free and lets you mix with no nicotine in recipes. you can also save your different recipes to come back to at a later time to replicate the ones you liked. Once you have created your recipe, it calculates the totals and you just go down the list and add them to your bottle. I rarely mix in a separate container. You have none of the nic safety/contamination issues to worry about.

I would recommend getting at least 5 x 1ml syringes and 20 gauge blunt tip needles for measuring different flavors. It makes mixing so much easier so that you don't get fruits in your creams or sweetener. if you go this route paint the markings on the syringes with clear nail polish so they don't rub off

 

[alicewonderland]

it is more simpler even than that. i just get 18mg nicotine base unflavored VG. pour some of that into a bottle then add whatever amount of flavoring and try to vape it. if it needs more flavoring i just add more. who cares if im vaping diluted 8-18mg. you really dont need to do that much calculation unless you care about the %'s or are a vendor that needs to put out a specific % product.

half a bottle of vg, couple drops of this couple drops of that. vape what you like, DIY isnt really a science unless you make it one. as long as you aren't messing with high concrentrate nicotine.

 

[mattiem]

I am in the keep it simple camp. I use exactly 1 - 3ml syringe to measure all my flavorings, be it 1 or 10. I use larger syringe to measure out my nic and then just pour in the necessary base.

I mix all of mine in the glass bottle they are gonna stay in 'till all vaped up. I add the flavors first. I pull the plunger up to about the .5 ml mark and then draw up the needed amount of flavor #1. Add it to the bottle. That .5 ml of air will push all of the flavoring out of the blunt tip needle. I swish the needle in a glass of hot water. Dry it off with a paper towel and repeat until all the flavors I need for my mix are in the bottle. At this point I cap the bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix the flavorings. Of course this isn't necessary if you are doing single flavor mixes.

I then move to my other syringe to measure my nic. I would just use the same syringe but with my nic I need to measure out more volume than with my flavorings thus need a larger syringe. I do take more care while measuring the nic but am not overly concerned since I am usually only working with 48mg/ml. If I happened to spill a drop or a bunch I would just stop, clean it up and get back to my juice making.

Once I have added my nic I recap the bottle and again give it a gentle shake to help blend all I've added so far. Now I just top the bottle off with my pg/vg base and I am done. Takes me longer to pick out the flavors I need for my mix than it actually does to mix it.

I give it a really good shake at this point and then set it in a cup of very hot water. I shake it a couple of times as the water is cooling. I want the bottle to feel warm (not hot) to the touch. When the water starts cooling I replace it with very hot water again and repeat. I then just allow it all to cool down and my juice is ready to vape.

I hope this will help everyone that thinks you have to be a chemist to do this. It really is a very simple process and as you can see, I don't use a ton of equipment. Happy Mixing

 

[Hoosier]

This is why I miss DaMulta's posts. He just poured stuff in a bottle, and over his fingers, until it looked about right. Then he vaped it and called I good.

Still use his sweet tart recipe even though I broke it down to %'s so my results would be predictable. Good times...

(Process and equipment to mix are documented in the blog section of ECF. New folks starting out should know the vast majority of the sticky's were made sticky's before the blog feature was added to ECF. So, rather than lobby for a post that contained good reference to be made a sticky, folks put them in blogs instead to avoid the hit-or-miss process to be preserved in the sticky's.)

 

[FreeTimeNow]

I am in the keep it simple camp. I use exactly 1 - 3ml syringe to measure all my flavorings, be it 1 or 10. I use larger syringe to measure out my nic and then just pour in the necessary base.

I mix all of mine in the glass bottle they are gonna stay in 'till all vaped up. I add the flavors first. I pull the plunger up to about the .5 ml mark and then draw up the needed amount of flavor #1. Add it to the bottle. That .5 ml of air will push all of the flavoring out of the blunt tip needle. I swish the needle in a glass of hot water. Dry it off with a paper towel and repeat until all the flavors I need for my mix are in the bottle. At this point I cap the bottle and give it a gentle shake to mix the flavorings. Of course this isn't necessary if you are doing single flavor mixes.

I then move to my other syringe to measure my nic. I would just use the same syringe but with my nic I need to measure out more volume than with my flavorings thus need a larger syringe. I do take more care while measuring the nic but am not overly concerned since I am usually only working with 48mg/ml. If I happened to spill a drop or a bunch I would just stop, clean it up and get back to my juice making.

Once I have added my nic I recap the bottle and again give it a gentle shake to help blend all I've added so far. Now I just top the bottle off with my pg/vg base and I am done. Takes me longer to pick out the flavors I need for my mix than it actually does to mix it.

I give it a really good shake at this point and then set it in a cup of very hot water. I shake it a couple of times as the water is cooling. I want the bottle to feel warm (not hot) to the touch. When the water starts cooling I replace it with very hot water again and repeat. I then just allow it all to cool down and my juice is ready to vape.

I hope this will help everyone that thinks you have to be a chemist to do this. It really is a very simple process and as you can see, I don't use a ton of equipment. Happy Mixing

Yup, that's pretty much the way I use the syringes too. I use a 14 gauge blunt tip, have a glass of hot water and an empty glass as a "waste" jar and after each pg/vg or flavor rinse a few times and on to the next. I do kwwp my nic syringe separate also. Highly recommend the ejuice me up find it at eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator it is an awesome calculator. Oh BTW, as a newbie myself I have found some recipes that people rate high awful and others outstanding so don't get disappointed if you mix one up and it doesn't taste good TO YOU. Have fun, I am

 

[dannyv45]

I call it "Fly by the seat of your pants" mixing. I do it all the time but there are a few things you should know.

1. Not all flavors are created equal so you do need to start with the minimum recommended amount and work up (So researhing flavor percentages is required).

2. Not all mixes need steeping so taste first and steep later.

3. Take notes of what you do so when you find your OMG vape you can recreate it.

4. It's ok to add a few drops of this and a few drops of that but in doing so you loose track of what your doing. By not being more exacting you might as well then take point 3 and through it out the window. If you don't care about reproduction by all means a little of this and a little of that is OK.

Remember there is nothing set in stone as to how to mix. There is plenty of guidance and help along the way. What rules is common sense. So getting your "Breaking Bad" on and have fun with it.