Getting started and would like some advice.

[Bahnzo]

Decided that this week will be the one were I get started with mixing my own juices. Been reading all the info I can find here and think I've got a good head start thanks to all of you. But I still have a few questions (of course).

Here's my supply list that I've drawn up:

From OneStopDIY:
10 & 6ml bottles
1cc Syringe w/blunt tip 16 gauge needle (I have a couple 3ml ones already)
Flavors
Tobacco Absolute
1ml & 3ml Pipette
Funnel

Xtreme vaping:
50mg Nic juice
125ml PG and VG

From Walmart:
Medical Gloves

First question: I'm starting with 50mg juice because I've never done this before. Is this a good level, or should I just start with 100mg?

Second: Are the 6ml bottles of flavor from FA and TPA good enough for starting out mixing sample (3ml) batches or will I need more?

Should I buy more than 1 of each pipette?

And most importantly, is there anything I missed that someone starting out should have? I'm trying to start small with just enough to get started but enough to make sure I can make mistakes and experiment.

Thanks!!

 

[zoiDman]

I think using 6ml bottles is a PITA. I like 15ml bottles much better. 6ml bottles are too small to put labels on and they are hard to add liquid too once a mix is made and needs ajustment.

Yeah, there is something else I would suggest. A 3-x-5 spiral notebook to keep notes in.

Your going to have successes and you are going to have failures when you DIY. You need to keep a record of what works and what doesn't.

The worst thing is to get a juice mix perfect, after 3 or 4 alterations, only to find that you can't remember what you did in the 3rd step.

What difference is there between 100mg and 50mg base. Your going to cut it down anyway right?

 

[zoiDman]

BTW - You might want to pick up a couple of eye droppers. It might be easier for you to work in drops for small DIY samples.

 

[GoodDog]

FYI - TPA flavorings come with dropper caps. When I first started DIY I stuck with 36mg nic because I didn't want to take any risks until I knew how to mix reducing the chance of an accident. I would never suggest 100mg to a beginner. After 8 months of DIY I'm just beginning to work with 100mg and it still scares me.

I make my samples in 3ml bottles and have no problems with the tiny droppers from the TPA bottles, they fit in the small opening.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[MaxUT]

Sounds like you're set up pretty well with equipment and supplies.

I definitely second what zoiDman said about the notebook. I started mixing without writing things down and soon realized my mistake.

I plan my recipes and write them down first, then mix exactly to the recipe. It helps to line up your ingredients before starting and after you use each one, set that bottle aside. That way, if you get interrupted during mixing you know which ingredient has been added and which has not.

Always label your bottles. I use small 'removable' peel off labels; the 5/8" x 3/4" size will work on 3ml bottles. Putting the recipe date on the label is very helpful. I place a piece of scotch tape over the label to keep liquid drips from smearing the ink.

 

[CtryBoy]

I agree 15 ml to 30 ml bottles for bases either 36mg or thinned lower. Got the 100 mg right off the bat, but havent quite done more than a little bottle at a time. Couldnt measure enough to do a real batch at the moment anyway. Turns out no matter how much you plan ahead, you are always missing that certain something. For instance a fully furnished chem lab with a vent a hood (up to 100 mg 'maybe' the one over the stove will be enough as long as it goes outside, not through a filter back at you.) Remember it's well labeled for a reason and must be respected like well bringing a cup of gasoline in the house and playing with it on the stove. One well thought out step at a time for sure, I love the notebook, I've been winging it and so far not sure what's worked best and what I can do better, then again baby steps. Dropper works, but only if you are counting drops or filling a premeasured level luckily the old label was the right strength and the right level, first safely measured with the inexpensive glycerin from walgreens, then emptied into .... well you see how each step becomes important when you cant just put things down just anywhere.

Measuring works both ways. If you are working too small a batch it's tougher to get it just right and not have some juice where you dont want it and when you want to make a larger batch you end up with a dropper that will eventually do the job one drop at a time, but unless you measure carefully, remember how many drops and dont ever slip. Gets a bit iffy in practice, but real handy skill if the FDA makes you get nasty carts with no nicotine or exotic flavors strong enough to drown out your last mistake. Vanilla extract sounds interesting, but......baby steps.

Eventually I want to split my 100mg and use it to turn my 4oz bottles from the pharmacy into a great mixing base that I can make up and have ready to pull out and mix. The bottle turns out to be just the right size for the setup I stumbled across and I can see myself holding a bottle of 24-36 base up to fill a syringe with a lot less worry than up ending a bottle of 100mg up in the air over my lap. Remember concentrated anything requires lots and lots of fresh air. And if it stinks, you might not want to leave it soaking overnight in the kitchen if you dont want to smell it at breakfast. Mistakes hurt in many sometimes unexpected ways.

I just got some syringes in that I just had to buy, cause I was the one begging for them. But just like the 510 mega manuals that werent sealed, they arent quite what I needed or thought they would be. Nothing in vaping is perfect. Each step gets you closer to what will work for you long term. Do your due diligence, take small steps in each direction (leaping can be fun if you make it without too many scratches) Think two or more steps ahead then slowly guide yourself to where you need to be and always have a backup in mind so you dont put yourself in a bind like I have trying to convert the masses, well at least my mom.



Remember a nice bottle of unflavored 36mg can thin any juice down and not weaken it, but if its really nasty you'll only end up vaping it longer. Remember it's easier to take it slow and make small mistakes with a good backup in mind. Trust me nothing is worse than having your best and almost last cartomizer have a lingering nasty that just wont quit but now I've got some samples in that I can play with along with my new cartomizers.

It's all a learning curve. Keep your mistakes small and your successes steady and you'll be telling us about how you did it.

 

[CtryBoy]

I make my samples in 3ml bottles and have no problems with the tiny droppers from the TPA bottles, they fit in the small opening.

Let us know how it goes.

Yeah what she said. 100mg in 15-30ml batches thinned to 36mg will drip nicely into 3-6ml for samples and 3 ml in 6ml bottle gives room for errors like too much flavoring. I cant tell you how many dry runs I did with the $5 bottle from Walgreens before I even dared open the big boy.

Of course now I like the 4 oz bottle for bulk mixing, just need to be able to accurately determine mix and measure about 5x the liquid during the 'hard' part then have a handy setup for the more delicate matter of flavor. Technically it should get easier to be more accurate at larger quantities of bulk base all mixed at once for getting nic right. And I'll have enough to afford the smaller messes. Backup and planning will go a long way.

 

[GoodDog]

CtryBoy, you have me rolling on the floor laughing... I want what you've been vaping! You should write a book.

 

[Bahnzo]

Thanks all some good info and ideas.

I had notebook and labels already....just didn't list them cause I have those already

Good idea to cut nic down into 30ml bottles of 36mg, I think that's what I'll do.

Should I be fine with just 1 pipette each, or should I buy a few....do they wear out?

 

[RippleInStillWater]

I'm just starting to do this also as I just can't find the flavors I like from anyone but then again I think I just like my flavors more intense and creamy than most -- anyway, do you also recommend one of those kits from DIY Flavorshack to keep it all together? It seems like a good deal to get a lot of necessities though I already have some pipettes and some different syringe sizes for raising the nic level of 0mg samples I've had...

Also, do you dedicate a desk/work area just for mixing? Jeez, my dad's old rolltop would have been great for this........Thanks for the good tips!

 

[lexi60]

Just get one of these kits DIY Artisan Kits - One Stop DIY Shop Store Kim will hook you up with everything you need, 36 or 48MG/ML, flavors,pipetts cups syringes, gloves, a mixing guide. and more.

Good luck.


Pipetts brake often, syringes the numbers always wear off, can never have to many...

 

[Bahnzo]

Just get one of these kits DIY Artisan Kits - One Stop DIY Shop Store Kim will hook you up with everything you need, 36 or 48MG/ML, flavors,pipetts cups syringes, gloves, a mixing guide. and more.

I did the math on these kits...they don't save you any money, all the pieces bought separately cost the same or at most save you $1. So instead you might as well buy more bottles, leave out the tweezers, etc. I'm not sure where the 10% savings they claim comes from......

 

[o4_srt]

I did the math on these kits...they don't save you any money, all the pieces bought separately cost the same or at most save you $1. So instead you might as well buy more bottles, leave out the tweezers, etc. I'm not sure where the 10% savings they claim comes from......

I totalled 33.45 not including gloves on one stop DIY shop's site for their Artisan's Apprentice kit when pieced together. They have the complete kit listed at 30.50. That's roughly 10% off.

 

[Bahnzo]

I totalled 33.45 not including gloves on one stop DIY shop's site for their Artisan's Apprentice kit when pieced together. They have the complete kit listed at 30.50. That's roughly 10% off.

Nah, I got $28 and change w/o the tweezers (not in stock). Either way, it's not a great deal and seems better off to just pick what you need, and then use the 10% off code for everything.

 

[Ast_Isis]

Over time I have accumulated so much vaping and DIY stuff that the collection has outgrown the plastic toolkit box I originally bought. I have moved up to a multiple drawer plastic cart from Wal Mart. It will hold everything and is easy to wash out if needed.

I agree with the suggestions to buy bigger bottles for mixing. You do not want to get stuck mixing small bottles of your favorite flavors. I always mix 60mls of my two favs and 30mls of the flavors I rotate.

NOTE: The small 3 - 6 ml bottles are handy for flavors during the experimenting stage. These are mixed 0 nic and I insure there is extra room in the bottle for adding flavor if needed.

 

[what the hell]

I've been looking at the kits from One stop DIY to get myself started with mixing my own juice. I did the math for the master kit and it works out to be about 15% off.

 

[banjo]

I'm just now putting together my DIY kit. Thanks for all of the good advice.......

 

[CtryBoy]

Pipetts brake often, syringes the numbers always wear off, can never have to many...

Havent tried pipettes yet, but can see the numbers wearing off the syringes.

Worth noting that depending on amount, the smaller syringes are just too small. Kinda like using the dropper to measure out 3 ml, PITA. 60 drops while trying not to shake is asking a bit much. Would love to see someone come out with a graduated dropper bottle for mixing. I cheated and measured out the proper amount in VG then marked the bottle on my own. Now just fill to line with 100 mg then add proper amount of VG to get base. Without a doubt the accuracy of measuring is the most difficult part, but fortunately I dont have to worry about FDA testing and relatively small deviations in mg dont add up too quickly to be dangerous.

From my latest attempts, the main issue seems to be just like finding your favorite MOD. Too many choices, too many options, nothing is perfect, and your way might not be my way. Also nothing beats hands on experience. Love the suggestion to mix flavors with zero nic first, makes sampling a lot less of a headache and mistakes a lot cheaper. Again think you should consider this to be just like your search for the perfect personal vaper. If you start with a few basic tools, you'll quickly discover what works for you and what the next step should be. And nothing focuses the mind quicker than making the decision to open that bottle of 100mg.

 

[tweazee]

Curious Question for advanced DIY ejuicers.

I have read that once you open a bottle of non-flavor NIC and air reaches it, that it eventually will go stale.
I also read from someone else that once you have started opening your bottles, that you basically might want to start putting them in smaller bottles. Example, if you have 100mg of 50ml, would you need to divide it into five dk bottles in 10ml size bottles? Then only use one 10ml until it is gone. Thus keeping the other 4 relatively air free?

 

[Nikhil]

Molecules can't really go 'stale'. See this and maybe also the link in the first post:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/86000-word-about-nicotine-purity-storage.html

Curious Question for advanced DIY ejuicers.

I have read that once you open a bottle of non-flavor NIC and air reaches it, that it eventually will go stale.
I also read from someone else that once you have started opening your bottles, that you basically might want to start putting them in smaller bottles. Example, if you have 100mg of 50ml, would you need to divide it into five dk bottles in 10ml size bottles? Then only use one 10ml until it is gone. Thus keeping the other 4 relatively air free?