Gonna Try Some DIY

[Renolizzie]

I've been reading up on DIY and I am taking the plunge. I got my products from Wizard Labs. I bought 60pg/40vg at 60% nic. I bought 120ml. I wanted to try some juice with less PG more VG. I'm hearing that VG is very thick. Is this going to be too thick? Will I have to thin it down by using extra PG I also bought 120 ml of PG and 120 ml of VG to mix with.

I have the ejuice calculator.

Flavors

Asian Ry4
Tobacco Absolute [non alcohol based]
Marlboro
Strawberries and Cream
Cantaloupe
Boysenberry
Caramel


Really, I based my flavor choices on what other people like on a couple of threads I have read.

I am going to start with single flavors.

How do you mix the stuff together? Do you put it in bottle and shake it? Do you need to shake the flavors, nic solution to make sure it is all still mixed together properly?

I have a bunch of syringes from the CE3's and was going to use them. Should I go ahead and order the locking syringes? What gauge needle would you suggest? I also have a lot of left over bottles I saved from samples. I was cleaning them out to reuse those.

I'm thinking about creating some 30mg nic since I don't think the 24mg is quite making it for me. Also, some 24mg and maybe wome weaker stuff for vaping in the evening. Mornings and breaks, I wish I was getting a bit more nic and vaping less time.

Hubby works at a food factory so he will get me some gloves.

Any other thoughts? What am I forgetting?

 

[adeline]

I've been reading up on DIY and I am taking the plunge. I got my products from Wizard Labs. I bought 60pg/40vg at 60% nic. I bought 120ml. I wanted to try some juice with less PG more VG. I'm hearing that VG is very thick. Is this going to be too thick? Will I have to thin it down by using extra PG I also bought 120 ml of PG and 120 ml of VG to mix with.

I have the ejuice calculator.

Flavors

Asian Ry4
Tobacco Absolute [non alcohol based]
Marlboro
Strawberries and Cream
Cantaloupe
Boysenberry
Caramel


Really, I based my flavor choices on what other people like on a couple of threads I have read.

I am going to start with single flavors.

How do you mix the stuff together? Do you put it in bottle and shake it? Do you need to shake the flavors, nic solution to make sure it is all still mixed together properly?

I have a bunch of syringes from the CE3's and was going to use them. Should I go ahead and order the locking syringes? What gauge needle would you suggest? I also have a lot of left over bottles I saved from samples. I was cleaning them out to reuse those.

I'm thinking about creating some 30mg nic since I don't think the 24mg is quite making it for me. Also, some 24mg and maybe wome weaker stuff for vaping in the evening. Mornings and breaks, I wish I was getting a bit more nic and vaping less time.

Hubby works at a food factory so he will get me some gloves.

Any other thoughts? What am I forgetting?

Congrats on getting started with DIY! WL is a great source for DIY supplies.

VG is thick. I generally use about 60/40 PG/VG and it's not overly thick. Maybe mix some small batches of just PG/VG in varying percentages and see what it's like. That way you can figure, "Alright, I won't mix anything higher than xx% VG." Some people use PG to thin out VG, others use distilled water. I haven't ventured down that road, but if you can tolerate PG, I'd start there.

I measure out my liquids into a bottle and shake. I also give my flavors and nic (and even PG and VG) a quick shake before mixing. No idea if it makes any difference, but I'd rather be 'safe' than sorry!

Get luer lock syringes, especially if you're mixing with VG. I don't even use needles with VG.. takes way too long. I just use the syringe without a needle and go. Works well, even on small 10ml bottles. 14g or 16g needles should be fine.

I reuse bottles all the time.. Just wash 'em out and let them dry!

Lots of folks swear by glass bottles. And swear WL has a great price on them. Food for thought.

I'd make sure you get Ethyl Maltol (or TPA Cotton Candy). And some Seedmans (Commercial Cigarette is tried and true. I am going to experiment with others because I enjoy it). Seedmans + EM + Tobacco Absolute = a great tobacco base. Search around the DIY forum for exact ratios, but I always add my tobacco flavorings to that base. EM is also a mild sweetener, and can do good things with other flavors in general.

Best of luck. Please come back with any questions!

 

[glassmanoak]

My advice is to start mixing small batches.. 5ml or less, and in single flavors. I wouldn't add any nic until I liked a flavor without nicotine. Also start with small percentages.. It is easy to increase % and a pain in the .... and a waste to try smaller percentages. Remember to mark bottles, keep notes and remember not to jump on something too quickly. Steeping affects a mix, so put a sample back and wait.
Good Luck!

 

[Renolizzie]

Congrats on getting started with DIY! WL is a great source for DIY supplies.

VG is thick. I generally use about 60/40 PG/VG and it's not overly thick. Maybe mix some small batches of just PG/VG in varying percentages and see what it's like. That way you can figure, "Alright, I won't mix anything higher than xx% VG." Some people use PG to thin out VG, others use distilled water. I haven't ventured down that road, but if you can tolerate PG, I'd start there.

I measure out my liquids into a bottle and shake. I also give my flavors and nic (and even PG and VG) a quick shake before mixing. No idea if it makes any difference, but I'd rather be 'safe' than sorry!

Get luer lock syringes, especially if you're mixing with VG. I don't even use needles with VG.. takes way too long. I just use the syringe without a needle and go. Works well, even on small 10ml bottles. 14g or 16g needles should be fine.

I reuse bottles all the time.. Just wash 'em out and let them dry!

Lots of folks swear by glass bottles. And swear WL has a great price on them. Food for thought.

I'd make sure you get Ethyl Maltol (or TPA Cotton Candy). And some Seedmans (Commercial Cigarette is tried and true. I am going to experiment with others because I enjoy it). Seedmans + EM + Tobacco Absolute = a great tobacco base. Search around the DIY forum for exact ratios, but I always add my tobacco flavorings to that base. EM is also a mild sweetener, and can do good things with other flavors in general.

Best of luck. Please come back with any questions!

I couldn't get Commercial Cigarette as they were out of stock so I got the two that were in stock.- English Tobacco Flavor Concentrate and Virginia Fire-cured Tobacco Flavor Concentrate.

I also got some locking syringes and locking needles and some Ethyl Malto. I threw in some apple flavor and some strawberry flavor while I was there

Thanks, Adeline. Addeline was the name of my Grandmother on the Norwegian side.

 

[Renolizzie]

My advice is to start mixing small batches.. 5ml or less, and in single flavors. I wouldn't add any nic until I liked a flavor without nicotine. Also start with small percentages.. It is easy to increase % and a pain in the .... and a waste to try smaller percentages. Remember to mark bottles, keep notes and remember not to jump on something too quickly. Steeping affects a mix, so put a sample back and wait.
Good Luck!

Thanks Glassman. I just ordered some more 24 mg from SI so I wouldn't feel impatient Can't run out of my fave strength and flavors while I am trying out new ways of doing things, now can I? I get nervous if I go below a reasonable level of backup amounts! and I was getting to the point of being nervous. Now, at least, I will be getting vapemail.

 

[klynnn]

One thing I have noticed about wizard is they are not usually out of stuff very long, check back a day or two later and it will prob be in stock again. I use them for almost all my diy stuff Wish they carried bigger bottles of flavor like 15ml.

 

[glassmanoak]

The quickest steeping flavors are fruits, IMO. If you like one after a day or two, then make a slightly larger batch, like 10ml with nic added. This has always worked well for me.

 

[glassmanoak]

One thing I have noticed about wizard is they are not usually out of stuff very long, check back a day or two later and it will prob be in stock again. I use them for almost all my diy stuff Wish they carried bigger bottles of flavor like 15ml.

I think that after they have been around longer, they will offer larger bottles for sale.

 

[adeline]

Flavors I've tried:

Tobacco Absolute [non alcohol based] - I use this stuff (PG based). It's great as a base, lacks something on its own. Some people say it has a grassy flavor.. I don't taste that, but I don't vape it on its own. A little goes a long way with this stuff!
Marlboro - very very strong. Try this at 1%-2% at first. It has an odd flavor, but it grows on you
Boysenberry - Also very strong. Start low with this one. Add some EM (small amounts!)
Caramel - If this is the TFA original caramel, it's pretty good, potent stuff. I've tried it with tobacco flavors and it blends well. Just start small.
Strawberry - If this is TFA -- I love this stuff... I love most of the TFA fruits, especially the berries. I make "Death by berry" mixes often.

Hope that helps!

 

[adeline]

I think that after they have been around longer, they will offer larger bottles for sale.

I hope so!!!

 

[adeline]

I couldn't get Commercial Cigarette as they were out of stock so I got the two that were in stock.- English Tobacco Flavor Concentrate and Virginia Fire-cured Tobacco Flavor Concentrate.

I also got some locking syringes and locking needles and some Ethyl Malto. I threw in some apple flavor and some strawberry flavor while I was there

Thanks, Adeline. Addeline was the name of my Grandmother on the Norwegian side.

I'm waiting for an excuse to get more flavorings so I can try those two... And the Captain Black variety. I hope you won't be disappointed. I've used a lot of the Commercial.. And when they were out last time I went with "Light Brand" .. Used it in my last batch of 'bacco and I'm impressed!

Note-taking is a great idea ... You will know what you've tried. It really helps in the long run.
Here's an example of my DIY note-taking:

(Date I mixed)
(Number as written on outside of bottle with sharpie) (Flavor used OR goal flavor) (Original % of flavor used)
(Measurements)
(Next-day taste test)
(Week or so post-steeping taste test and any tweaking/changes)
--- End with a final flavor % and ratios ---

10/20
1. Juicy Peach @2%
.2ml of 10ml
10/21 - tastes delicious. Could maybe use a touch more flavor
10/28 - still tastes good. added .2ml peach

10/20
5. Sweet Tea @2%
.2ml Black tea of 10ml
.2ml Sweetener
10/21 - Very strong tea taste. Not bad, but not sweet tea. Needs sweetener.. and something else…
10/28 - tastes really good. Not going to change it.


The sweet tea is a good example of steeping turning odd juices into great ones.

 

[Renolizzie]

Great info!!!!

Someone on the SI forum was saying to go really light on the Marlboro and the Absolute tobacco flavors since they are very strong. Glad you mentioned it here on this thread since I will be able to refer back to this thread easily from my control panel.

Good to know the fruit flavors are going to be yummy. Maybe I can start a notebook just for DIY to keep track of my notes.

 

[Levitas]

I noticed that you said you got the English tobacco? I have that one too. I haven't mixed a bottle yet, but, smelling it out of the bottle, it has a coconut, or tropical fruity smell to it. Definitely not what I was expecting, though John did call and tell me it did have a fruitiness to it.

 

[Renolizzie]

I noticed that you said you got the English tobacco? I have that one too. I haven't mixed a bottle yet, but, smelling it out of the bottle, it has a coconut, or tropical fruity smell to it. Definitely not what I was expecting, though John did call and tell me it did have a fruitiness to it.

I don't mind a hint of fruity in my tobacco. Let's see what it ends up tasting like. Let me know.

 

[Levitas]

I don't mind a hint of fruity in my tobacco. Let's see what it ends up tasting like. Let me know.

Right on, vice versa if you get to it before me.

Today I am going to mix Raisin, and a Dragonfruit (not together).

 

[Renolizzie]

Right on, vice versa if you get to it before me.

Today I am going to mix Raisin, and a Dragonfruit (not together).

Sounds exotic. Maybe after I do a few "normal" flavors I'll try some of the more exotic flavors

 

[murphyinsight]

It looks like you're getting some good feedback about starting DIY. I find using graduated cylinders for larger amounts and syringes for smaller ones are the best measuring tools. Keep safe, your skin will soak up nic like a sponge, use gloves if you can and change out of contaminated clothing because it will hold the nic on your skin and would be like wearing several nic patches. If you start having strange dreams or have trouble with insomnia it could be do to an increased exposure to nicotine. As you get better at it you will want to branch out and try other flavorings. One you should consider is the alcohol based super concentrated line from Vapingzone.com. I love them. And, the recommended 2.5% is really all you need. Sometimes I might go up to 3.5%, but that's rare. I wish you all the best!