Getting Ready To Take The Plunge :)

[Ld3441]

I have been reading for 3 months pretty much daily. I have read all the sticky threads (more than once) and blogs posted. My purchases are made, awaiting their arrival. I have purchased nicotine base, PG,VG and about 10 flavors to start along with bottles and syringes. I have downloaded the "e juice me up" calculator so I think I am ready. I plan to start simple with one flavor mixes and hope I come up with some vapable liquids!

I know to keep my percentages low and go up from there to my liking. One question I have before I start is..
Say I start out with one flavor at 10% and it is weaker than I like. By adding more flavor this will weaken the nicotine so I am wondering how you go about changing a mix that you have already made? And if adding just a few drops is what is needed, how do you go about adjusting that into your next mix of the same juice?

I can't wait to get started!

 

[bncceo]

I just got started as well. I have done quite a bit of experimenting but everything I have done has been no nicotine. The primary reason(s) is that you can a) test many forumlations without wasting any of the highest priced ingredient, and b) you can test them as much as you want on your dripper/whatever without od-ing yourself on the nicotine.

When I got my all my stuff the first thing I did was make 30ml of PG/VG/Nic + 4% EM sweetner. Its a slightly sweet & clean vape that gives me the nic to hold me over and "cleanses the palette" between testing flavors. Then, I created 10 different test (5ml) batches using my other flavors with no nic. I am a little over two weeks in, and I have a few promising batches, but still none that I would consider adding nic to and making a regular.

I'm also glad I've held off on adding nic to any of the test batches because I have had some that were just outright nasty, two that have had the top come off in the ultrasonic cleaner, and one just plain spill.

I also have been working on my backlog of store-bought juices to keep my nic needs met while I find that perfect homemade brew

 

[dannyv45]

I have been reading for 3 months pretty much daily. I have read all the sticky threads (more than once) and blogs posted. My purchases are made, awaiting their arrival. I have purchased nicotine base, PG,VG and about 10 flavors to start along with bottles and syringes. I have downloaded the "e juice me up" calculator so I think I am ready. I plan to start simple with one flavor mixes and hope I come up with some vapable liquids!

I know to keep my percentages low and go up from there to my liking. One question I have before I start is..
Say I start out with one flavor at 10% and it is weaker than I like. By adding more flavor this will weaken the nicotine so I am wondering how you go about changing a mix that you have already made? And if adding just a few drops is what is needed, how do you go about adjusting that into your next mix of the same juice?

I can't wait to get started!

Start out by buying as few flavors as possible and research the flavors recommended percentages and start at the lowest percentage. Learn to measure in ML's and understand how to use a juice calculator so you know how to convert those recommended percentages into ML's. Not all flavors are going to be created equal. So your going to want to sample flavors from many manafactures so this is why I say don't buy lots and lots of flavors right off the bat and expecially from one manufacture.

Measuring by drops is not used by many here so get used to ML's. Starting low will allow you to adjust by 1% increments.Understand what steeping is. and read my blogs.

Read my blogs before getting started

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

then read hoosier's blogs.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

this will explain a lot of the how's and why's.

 

[singu]

Well,i don't have any advice for you but wanted to say congrats on venturing into DIY. I can guarantee you will have a lot of fun and looking forward to your posts on DIY in the future.

Ok I lied, i have just one advice. Get as many empty bottles you can... and you still won't have enough.

Have fun and vape on!

Edit: And i love your wrap for the MVP. I was looking at that one too but ended up not ordering it. Very nice

 

[john333]

simply enter the new percentages in the calculator then subtract the first percentages and add the difference to the batch.

 

[Ld3441]

Start out by buying as few flavors as possible and research the flavors recommended percentages and start at the lowest percentage. Learn to measure in ML's and understand how to use a juice calculator so you know how to convert those recommended percentages into ML's. Not all flavors are going to be created equal. So your going to want to sample flavors from many manafactures so this is why I say don't buy lots and lots of flavors right off the bat and expecially from one manufacture.

Measuring by drops is not used by many here so get used to ML's. Starting low will allow you to adjust by 1% increments.Understand what steeping is. and read my blogs.

Read my blogs before getting started

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

then read hoosier's blogs.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

this will explain a lot of the how's and why's.

I have read your blogs more than once as well as all the sticky threads. LOL I have also read the entire thread of "best flavors" and took lots of notes. I have bookmarked the flavor percentages spreadsheet as well. I will be buying more flavors as I go, many were sold out that I wanted to try so I have to wait for those. I have the calculator down as I have played with it a bit. When I said I have been reading for 3 months, I wasn't joking.

I have 30 bottles to get me started but I'm sure I will be buying more of those as well. I didn't want to get too much in case I am a total flop but I sure hope that doesn't happen.

Thanks John for answering my question!

 

[Wingsfan0310]

I have been reading for 3 months pretty much daily. I have read all the sticky threads (more than once) and blogs posted. My purchases are made, awaiting their arrival. I have purchased nicotine base, PG,VG and about 10 flavors to start along with bottles and syringes. I have downloaded the "e juice me up" calculator so I think I am ready. I plan to start simple with one flavor mixes and hope I come up with some vapable liquids!

I know to keep my percentages low and go up from there to my liking. One question I have before I start is..
Say I start out with one flavor at 10% and it is weaker than I like. By adding more flavor this will weaken the nicotine so I am wondering how you go about changing a mix that you have already made? And if adding just a few drops is what is needed, how do you go about adjusting that into your next mix of the same juice?

I can't wait to get started!

I don't really worry about changing the Nic% if I have to add a little extra flavor to a test batch. I vape at 18mg Nic. On a 10ml test batch that you added 10% flavor (1ml) even if you were way off and decided you needed double (20%), you would only be adding 1ml extra of flavor which would bring 18mg down to 16.36mg of Nic. It's only a test batch and I doubt I would even notice the difference in Nic. YMMV Happy Vaping

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Ld3441]

Thanks Steve, I didn't think it would be a lot but it is always nice to learn how to do things. Thanks for the info. it is helpful!

I am probably over thinking everything but I usually do. Now as I await my supplies, I am thinking about storage. I know I will refrigerate my nicotine but what about the rest? Like e-juice should it be stored in a dark cupboard? Where/how do most of you store your supplies?

 

[Bob Chill]

Thanks Steve, I didn't think it would be a lot but it is always nice to learn how to do things. Thanks for the info. it is helpful!

I am probably over thinking everything but I usually do. Now as I await my supplies, I am thinking about storage. I know I will refrigerate my nicotine but what about the rest? Like e-juice should it be stored in a dark cupboard? Where/how do most of you store your supplies?

Storage has many considerations. I have kids in the house so I keep everything locked in a large tool box. I maximized the space with foam holders. I only keep enough nic in the box to last a month or 2. I had one bottle in there for 2+ months and it was totally fine. Didn't even change colors. Best thing to do is just be organized. And if possible, keep all bottles upright. Nothing worse than a leaky cap or cap not tight enough.

 

[Wingsfan0310]

Thanks Steve, I didn't think it would be a lot but it is always nice to learn how to do things. Thanks for the info. it is helpful!

I am probably over thinking everything but I usually do. Now as I await my supplies, I am thinking about storage. I know I will refrigerate my nicotine but what about the rest? Like e-juice should it be stored in a dark cupboard? Where/how do most of you store your supplies?

Your very welcome, I tend to over think things myself, welcome to the club

I bought a lot of Nic so I broke it down into seven 60ml amber glass bottles (properly labeled) and store them in the freezer inside a plastic container (it won't freeze). I left out about 80ml for a working supply. I think it will be good in a cool, dark place for at least a year, but I think mine will last longer than that. PG and VG, E-Juice, along with the flavors are also stored in a cool dark place.

PS I keep stuff in my walk in closet, on a shelf out of the way. I don't have any children left in the house but I do have a crazy Collie. You don't want kids or animals getting into that stuff. I'm sure you know this but I feel better saying it. No disrespect meant.

 

[dannyv45]

I don't really worry about changing the Nic% if I have to add a little extra flavor to a test batch. I vape at 18mg Nic. On a 10ml test batch that you added 10% flavor (1ml) even if you were way off and decided you needed double (20%), you would only be adding 1ml extra of flavor which would bring 18mg down to 16.36mg of Nic. It's only a test batch and I doubt I would even notice the difference in Nic. YMMV Happy Vaping

Cheers,
Steve

I most certainly subscribe to that way of thinking. When trying to perfect a mix don't get hung up on how much NIC will drop when adding more flavor. + or - 2mg will not effect taste much.

 

[Ld3441]

Thanks for all the replies! I do understand the need to be careful. That said I don't have children in the house, only a crazy cat that thinks everything is his. I do keep everything put up away from him but I just wasn't sure if PG/VG should also be kept in the refrigerator. I am excited, everything arrived today except my flavors. Those should be here tomorrow or Fiday so it looks like I will be mixing up some this weekend!

 

[Wingsfan0310]

Thanks for all the replies! I do understand the need to be careful. That said I don't have children in the house, only a crazy cat that thinks everything is his. I do keep everything put up away from him but I just wasn't sure if PG/VG should also be kept in the refrigerator. I am excited, everything arrived today except my flavors. Those should be here tomorrow or Fiday so it looks like I will be mixing up some this weekend!

I wondered the same thing about the VG and PG since I bought a gallon of each. To be honest, I'm still not 100% sure if I should freeze some but the prevailing opinion seems to be keeping it in a cool dark place should be sufficient. I made a thread about that very subject, here's a link if your interested: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/500464-storage-pg-vg.html

 

[Ld3441]

Thanks for the link!

 

[dannyv45]

I wondered the same thing about the VG and PG since I bought a gallon of each. To be honest, I'm still not 100% sure if I should freeze some but the prevailing opinion seems to be keeping it in a cool dark place should be sufficient. I made a thread about that very subject, here's a link if your interested: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/500464-storage-pg-vg.html

It's OK to freeze PG and VG if storing it for long term. Freezing would be the best solution but if room in the freezer is an issue then it's ok to put it in the refridgerator that would be the second best option. If nether is available then a cool dark place where you don't get major temperature fluctuations would be the third option. If storing for short term the best option is the third option. The same holds true for Nicotine solution. Never use option 1 or 2 for flavoring.