Good Starter kit for DIY?

I don't really recommend starter kits as you get a lot of low quality stuff you really don't need. But I do recommend good research. Let me give you some material to start you off.

My blogs will give insight into all aspects of DYI, from steeping to what supplies to have on hand to a basic walk through mixing your first E-juice.

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

Then read hoosier's blogs. These blogs concentrate on fine tuning your mix and give insight on additives.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

Then read Boletus's blog's. These blogs concentrate on formulation of nicotine bases regarding proper calculations methods for figuring Nicotine concentration as well as safety.

E-Cigarette Forum - Boletus - Blogs

Then read Ginger's book "E-Cigarettes 102: DIY E-Liquid". It is a book which I've contributed to that delivers an in depth easy to follow guide in the art of DYI.

E-Cigarettes 102: DIY E-Liquid

I recommend viewing VPLive Vape Team Episode #82: DIY Safety and bookmark it for future reference. It explains safety in all aspects of DYI.

VPLive Vape Team Episode #82: DIY Safety

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

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

 

I started with the following smaller quantities of VG, PG, & Nic Base in VG...to see if I really even liked DIY first. I knew I wanted to do multi-flavoring eliquids though, so I spent more on them than you'd need to...for making single flavor liquids. Still, everything cost me about $55 total.

(1) 177mL bottle of VG - Walmart
(1) 120mL bottle of PG - Wizard Labs
(1) 120mL bottle of 24mg Nic Base in VG - Wizard Labs
(25) 8mL vials of TFA flavorings - Wizard Labs
(6) Syringes - 1mL, 3mL, & 5mL - Wizard Labs
(6) Luer Lock Blunt needles - 14g, 16g & 18g - Wizard Labs
(2) Pair of nitrile gloves - Wizard Labs

Already had about a dozen clean, empty, 10mL, 15mL, and 50mL dropper bottles. Also had some graduated cylinders and some beakers, but I hardly ever even use them, since I usually always make my mix directly into the dropper bottle.

If you knock off the 25 vials of flavorings and instead...get several of the single flavorings from OSDIY Shop...you should be set with enough stuff to at least get you going in DIY for less than about $40. If you end up doing what I've done since starting and liking it...I buy my PG and VG by the gallon from Bulk Apothecary now, and buy 100mg/mL Nic Base in VG by the 500mL or 1L bottles.

 

+1 @dannyv45 comments/reading. If you don't mind spending the money, Liquid Barn is not too bad as Labware kits go. Could see:Here's a review of Liquid Barn's DIY Starter kit for anyone who's ever considered making their own e-liquid. (X-Post /r/DIY_eJuice) • /r/electronic_cigarette
For LB Flavors and VG/PG/Nic you can do better cost wise. If you bought all three kits, you could use most all items.

 

Thanks for sharing the link Bob, I watched the review yesterday and ordered the kit today. Similar to OP, I'm thinking now is a pretty good time to start figuring out DIY, and I'm hoping this kit is as good an introduction as the review says.

 

I'm jumping into DIY myself. Instead of a kit, I just ordered what I need:

100mg/ml Nic, PG base
Selection of TFA flavors
Big bottle of USP VG
15ml bottles
30ml glass bottles
10ml syringes with blunt tips
Nitrile Gloves

I wasn't super concerned about cost, since I know it'll be cheaper in the long run. With 500ml of nic, 1000ml of VG, and about 10 15ml bottles of flavor, I should be set for quite some time to come.

I figure once the stuff arrives, I'll mix up about 60ml of 50mg nic base in amber glass, and put the rest in the freezer.

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I think that you will be happy with it. Their flavors are great for beginners as you are able to create good tasting liquid using single flavors. They did the blending for you. I have tried a few of their flavors and they were all good.

Good luck.

BTW- Not sure if it applies to kits but, elrecipes is good for 15% off

 

That's a very good start. I would recommend some 1ml syringes and depending on what your base ratio is maybe a bottle of plain PG.

 

TBH I don't really *know* what a liquid DIY "starter kit" is supposed to be.
What I do:

Pretty much ANY ecig vendor also has a section for liquids/aromas and bases.

I get one 200ml VPG (50%) base with 24mg NIC strength.
I get another 500ml bottle of pure PG 0%.
Then flavours, like TFA Double RY4, Atmos Labs, whatever.
A set of syringes!!! 10ml, 5ml, 1ml
And then I use this simple calculator here:
eJuice Recipe Calculator

That's basically it. Mind you I am mixing my liquids to 6mg..so a typical juice would then be like 11.5ml of 24mg NIC juice, then 5ml of whatever flavour, then 30ml of PG.

Your choices will depend on whether you like PG or VG, I came to the conclusion I like mixing PG much better than VG, so the only ingredient which has VG is the NIC juice which is 50/50.

 

Good look. Though I normally stick with max VG liquids, PG isn't too expensive and allows for some flexibility. I'd rather add a bit of PG instead of water if it needs thinning.

Got a bottle of PG on the way as well.

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What's the opinion on mixing by weight vs volume? Is it worth the expense to get a scale and mix by weight? It seems to me that measuring by the mg is more accurate than measuring by ml or drops.

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For the record, I think it should. I used a different coupon code I found online (VAPELADIES) and it worked for 20% off.

 

TBH, although I got a digital precision scale (they are not more than a few bucks on DX.com/fasttech) I never ever bothered to use it. I have a set of syringes and this works perfectly. In addition you could also get some of those "droppers". On the other hand it could well be that mixing with a scale would work well. I just never bothered.

 

As I newbie last year, I learned the hardway, make sure you purchase several syringes/needles. Not all syringes are created equal. I end up purchasing 5 of each, 1ml, 3ml, 5ml, 10ml. Dedicate one syringe to nicotine only. Make sure only needle is inserted, nicotine removes details on syringe.

The black rubber in syringes have a tendency to pop off, while suckin up vg occasionally, now I just pour into syringe. Have fun diy

 

Just wanted to post a quick follow-up:

I received the kit a few days ago and mixed a couple 15ml bottles of juice. Everything I needed was included, and the calculation sheet that comes with it was actually really easy and helpful (I know online calculators are available, but I like having everything on a sheet right in front of me).

The only thing I found somewhat intimidating was the nicotine. As a first-timer, I don't know what's typical, but I wasn't quite sure about the best way to get it out of the bottle; it doesn't come with a nozzle-top or anything (I ended up pouring some into one of the bigger beakers and using a syringe to measure it out from there).

I haven't yet tried the fruit of my labor (letting it steep for a week), but overall I'm very happy with the kit. Measuring and mixing the juice was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and it never felt like I was missing anything that I needed. I do think it's a very good starting point, and I'm pretty confident that I'll have a good idea what to looking for when it comes time to re-stock and/or upgrade.

 

May be a "starter kit" is better than not starting. Once you make a few batches and get confidence you'll buy more bulk items. The safe way to start with flavoring is dilute your favorite pre-mix with unflavored that has the same percent of PG, VG, and Nic. A brother of mine does that, 25/75 with good success. Most pre mix has way more flavoring that needed. My diy uses 1.5% flavoring.