Good idea, bad idea or REALLY bad idea?

[moflicky]

Hey yall,

I'm taking the plunge. I've got nic, pg, vg, a crap-ton of flavors and bottles winging their way to my door for the purpose of diying my own juice and I had a couple ideas.

What is wrong with mixing a 15% or 20% - 3ml or 5ml batch of each single flavor to my preferred nic/pg/vg blend, letting them steep for a few days and then testing flavor matches by doing micro batches of two or 3 of the base flavors by the drop.

I could test them by dripping them in fresh cotton on a dripper and, I wouldn't be wasting a lot of flavors on bad 5ml batches that don't work.

Has anyone tried it this way? If so, shoot this idea down before I screw it all up!

TIA!

 

[TinyTimberGal]

I think it's a great idea, though you wouldn't have to use nic base to test. It would be cheaper and you can always use the zero nic samples when and if you decide to lower your nic level.

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

The only issue I can see is figuring out really small percentage flavorings.

Stuff like EM goes from sweetener to cotton candy in a fraction of a percent.

With that said;
1 drop in a 400 drop batch = 0.25%

Maurice

 

[moflicky]

That's not a bad idea, but I'm already down to 6mg and I think nic is important to the taste of any juice. no-nic tastes different - not as much bite.

 

[moflicky]

The only issue I can see is figuring out really small percentage flavorings.

Stuff like EM goes from sweetener to cotton candy in a fraction of a percent.

With that said;
1 drop in a 400 drop batch = 0.25%

Maurice

EM? not hip to all the acronyms yet, but I assume that's a sweetener or a smoother of some kind? Very good tip - before I go crazy, I'm going to start with 10 or so flavors I've researched for potency and go from there. I'll leave the sweeteners to last. maybe just dip a syringe tip if I need to sweeten something.

 

[TinyTimberGal]

Leaving the sweeteners out is a good idea. My mixes are all fruit based, and I rarely, if ever, use sweetener. And that comes from someone who thinks sugar is a food group

 

[PhatRon]

If using TFA here is a good reference for how much of each flavoring to use.

View attachment TFA flavor percentages.pdf

 

[Wingsfan0310]

EM? not hip to all the acronyms yet, but I assume that's a sweetener or a smoother of some kind? Very good tip - before I go crazy, I'm going to start with 10 or so flavors I've researched for potency and go from there. I'll leave the sweeteners to last. maybe just dip a syringe tip if I need to sweeten something.

EM = Ethyl Maltol which is also the same thing as Cotton Candy. Good luck with your DIY.
Ethyl Maltol 10% PG Solution (TFA)

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

Yes Ethyl Maltol, TFA Menthol (eucalyptus) is another one that is good at well below 1% and Vicks vapor rub when used just a tad higher.

I'm considering buying a set of pyrex pipettes and pipette pumps, they have 1ml pipettes graduated in 1/100ml, that's pretty darn accurate.

Maurice

 

[we2rcool]

The problem at starting at high percentages is that 'too much flavor' MANY times yields a liquid that seems like it has far too little flavor. If a flavor is perfect at 5% and you mix that flavor at 10% or 15%, then when you vape it, it will very likely seem like it needs more.

The problem with the "guideline threads' is they are compromised of the few people that posted their experiences. And many times those people did not know that 'too much flavor cancels out flavor', nor did they know that sucralose/sweetener, EM, vinegar & lemon juice all lessen flavor substantially after the mix has steeped for a few days.

This thread (starting at around post #408) has VERY solid information about how the additives ultimately lessen or kill flavors. It's definitely a "must read' before using additives, in our opinion: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/268760-diy-master-techniques-flavor-add-ons-em-vw-bw-mts-acv-ect-11.html

Happy Mixing!

There are ultra-many reports from DIYers that they need far less than those lists. So remember, they are 'guidelines' based on a few experiences.

 

[HeadInClouds]

Has anyone tried it this way? If so, shoot this idea down before I screw it all up!

That's how I test all my new flavors. Except, as we2rcool recommended, I start low, about 2%. If it's tobacco or other often strong flavors, I'll start at 1%. If it's too weak, add another drop or two. You'll be surprised to find you often don't need 20+% to get great flavor.

 

[moflicky]

This thread (starting at around post #408) has VERY solid information about how the additives ultimately lessen or kill flavors. It's definitely a "must read' before using additives, in our opinion: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/268760-diy-master-techniques-flavor-add-ons-em-vw-bw-mts-acv-ect-11.html

Happy Mixing!

There are ultra-many reports from DIYers that they need far less than those lists. So remember, they are 'guidelines' based on a few experiences.

Thank you we2rcool - I've spent a lot of time reading, but it's nice to be directed to stuff I might have missed.

I have nic, pg, vg and all the lab equipment, just waiting on the flavors.

 

[moflicky]

Thank you we2rcool - I've spent a lot of time reading, but it's nice to be directed to stuff I might have missed.

I have nic, pg, vg and all the lab equipment, just waiting on the flavors.

huh. clearly I haven't been reading enough - your thread led me to the 3 other "DIY master techniques" threads.

lots of good stuff in there. thanks again!