Help necessary for someone who just cannot grasp the DIY thing

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Randyrtx

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Yes, you can blunt them using a sanding disk.

Ob, I mean no offense, but you may be inadvertently making it harder on yourself by making DIY out to be harder than it really is. You seem to have a very good grasp of what's involved, all you need is practice to build up your confidence a bit. It might also help to work on one recipe at a time until you perfect it, then move on to other flavors.

Definitely keep a stock of pre-made until you find a recipe you like. There's nothing more sure to increase stress than to feel pressed to make something because you're out of supplies. Once you do have a good recipe, make up a larger batch for your regular vaping, then move on to new recipes to try.

Hang in there, you can do it! :thumb:
 

the ob

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Yes, you can blunt them using a sanding disk.

Ob, I mean no offense, but you may be inadvertently making it harder on yourself by making DIY out to be harder than it really is. You seem to have a very good grasp of what's involved, all you need is practice to build up your confidence a bit. It might also help to work on one recipe at a time until you perfect it, then move on to other flavors.

Definitely keep a stock of pre-made until you find a recipe you like. There's nothing more sure to increase stress than to feel pressed to make something because you're out of supplies. Once you do have a good recipe, make up a larger batch for your regular vaping, then move on to new recipes to try.

Hang in there, you can do it! :thumb:

no offense taken. I appreciate all the feedback and help you are offering.
 

Foggy

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Hi the ob,

I just started DIY myself, and share the ADHD thing. Some thoughts from one newb to another.

- Forget the drops, unless it's adding one drop of flavor to a mix to tweak it. For me, there's no way to control the size of a drop from one thing to the next. You only need a 5ml syringe for your nic/vg/pg and a 1ml syringe for flavors to start.

- You're working with 36mg nicotine base and want to get to 9mg final mix. Forget the 9mg and calculate to 10mg final mix. Easier figure to use, and I don't think you'll notice the difference at all.

- See below to make a 3ml test batch. I started with 12mg nicotine base - mixing at 15% flavor to end up at 10% final strength mixed juice.

So, you can take your 36mg nic base, and mix 1/3 nic base + 2/3 PG/VG to end up at 12mg nic to use to add flavorings too.

Screenshot2012-02-28at110808AM.png


We need 2.5ml of base, which doesn't easily mix into 1/3's. Let's just use .8ml of 36mg unflavored nic and add 1.7ml of PG/VG. It might be slightly weaker than 12mg base, but it's close enough.

Now you need to determine what you want to use for your .5ml of flavoring. I have to be honest, not cooking is a major drawback. You need some idea in your head of how flavors blend and what combinations you might like. I'd take your flavors you have on hand and put a drop in some water or cool whip and taste them.

Are you using sweetener? I don't think you'll be happy with any raspberry or waffle without sweetener. I'd also be concerned that any fruit flavor can quickly be overpowering, so I'd use a very light touch with the Raspberry. (I find the same thing with cinnamons.)

Actually, to make a Razzberry using .5ml of flavors, I'd be tempted to use .1ml raspberry flavor +.1ml apple or blueberry flavor + .2ml cotton candy (sweetener or ethyl malitol). Mix, Mix, Mix, Mix. Test it, and if it still needs something, you have another 1ml of flavor to add. I'd also add one drop of lemon juice and mix before I put it away to steep.


- For waffle, I'd probably use .2ml waffle flavoring, .2ml sweetener, .1ml some type of cream or maple.

Again, I'm completely new to this myself, and welcome suggestions from others, but this is what's been working for me.

Edit: You may find that you have to adjust flavor percentages of course. I'd guess smaller percentage flavor for raspberry (10%?), larger percentage flavor for waffle (20%+). I'd still start with one batch at 15% and tweak it from there rather than making 3 different batches of the same thing with different percentages to start. It's making it way too hard.

If we start at 15% and find it's too strong, we add more base. If we start at 15% and it's too weak, we tweak by adding flavoring. The next time you make it you decrease or increase flavor percentages on your calculator.

Edit 2: It's known that VG holds sweet flavors better, so for your waffle, you may want to use a higher percent VG in your base.
 
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the ob

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foggy, thanks.

I have a tough time learning from reading as my eyes just scan the page in a lightning quick manner and I often cannot get myself to slow the process down. Makes me a amazing speed reader, but lousy for getting all the details.

Not cooking does not help. Thanks for the post and I will try to slow down and read it :)

good luck to you too!
 

the ob

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To -The ob- I have so totaly been cheerin for you. Your so close. I would like to let you know that you have presented yourself in professional, deserved, and appreciative form. I would be extreemly suprised if all the AMAZING WONDERFULL folks that have helped (and what a great job you all have done, honnestly, beyond the call of dutey) didn't feel the same. This thread has actualy brought me uplifting happyness. So chin up my friend. You have done well. You have met many new vapors, and I know they will always be gladd to help. Most importantly though I want to again say to everyone-The ob-will never forget you. You all will most likely be a point of conversation for-The ob-for some time to come. The ob and myself have a lot of similarities, and I am pretty sure ob would dig you a hole to China right about now. :)

just quoting because I love this post so much. :)
 

Traver

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Ob, I mean no offense, but you may be inadvertently making it harder on yourself by making DIY out to be harder than it really is. You seem to have a very good grasp of what's involved, all you need is practice to build up your confidence a bit. It might also help to work on one recipe at a time until you perfect it, then move on to other flavors.

I agree, I have trouble keeping track of more than three flavors at a time. I know you want to try everything immediately if not sooner but it may really pay to slow down. I rarely mix and test more than two flavors in a week.
 
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the ob

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Ob, I mean no offense, but you may be inadvertently making it harder on yourself by making DIY out to be harder than it really is. You seem to have a very good grasp of what's involved, all you need is practice to build up your confidence a bit. It might also help to work on one recipe at a time until you perfect it, then move on to other flavors.

No offense taken at all. I appreciate all the time, effort and sympathy everyone is offering. You are absolutely right. As I mentioned earlier, I am extremely persistent and stubborn and at the same time lack the patience of some. It makes this task difficult for me at times.
 

Foggy

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Actually, to make a Razzberry using .5ml of flavors, I'd be tempted to use .1ml raspberry flavor +.1ml apple or blueberry flavor + .2ml cotton candy (sweetener or ethyl malitol). Mix, Mix, Mix, Mix. Test it, and if it still needs something, you have another 1ml of flavor to add. I'd also add one drop of lemon juice and mix before I put it away to steep.


After further thought, I might try .1ml raspberry, 0.05ml lemon, .2ml sweetener and adjust from there. No idea if I'm on the right path though!
 

the ob

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Hi, uma! The ob is becoming a master mixer of ejuice! :)

umm. Not quite. I messed up the entire first batch and had to dump it. I am going to spend the whole day tomorrow trying again.

Question. would lemon juice give my razzberry that throaty kick? I like the almost peppery TH I get from some.
 

vicsan

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umm. Not quite. I messed up the entire first batch and had to dump it. I am going to spend the whole day tomorrow trying again.

Question. would lemon juice give my razzberry that throaty kick? I like the almost peppery TH I get from some.

I've never used lemon juice, so I really don't know (I like tobacco flavors). More nicotine is suppose to help with throat hit. You could up your nic to maybe 12? or 15mg? I was vaping 6mg and had to take my nic back up to 12mg-18mg for TH. I think the lemon juice is to make fruit flavors pop with more flavor. You can always try it in one bottle @ 9mg and see what it does. It won't hurt. :)

on edit: You didn't mess up your first batch. It just didn't turn out the way you like it. You didn't do anything wrong. That's just DIY. You mix until you find a flavor/mix you like.
 
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Foggy

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umm. Not quite. I messed up the entire first batch and had to dump it. I am going to spend the whole day tomorrow trying again.

Question. would lemon juice give my razzberry that throaty kick? I like the almost peppery TH I get from some.

There are many things that contribute to throat hit:
- higher PG = higher throat hit
- certain flavors, for example cinnamon or mint
- your vaping set up, (higher voltage or low resistance, drip tip, type of cart or atomizer, etc.)
- higher nicotine

I suggested lemon to brighten and balance the raspberry flavor. It might slightly increase throat hit.
 

Foggy

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on edit: You didn't mess up your first batch. It just didn't turn out the way you like it. You didn't do anything wrong. That's just DIY. You mix until you find a flavor/mix you like.

Also, this x 1 million.:thumb:

Did you say if you were using sweetener? If so, what kind?

Also, someone please come along to correct me if I go astray here. I've only been at this a couple of weeks.
 

the ob

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thanks!

I did not use any sweetener in the first batches. I could add it to the future ones if you all think I should. How much? I mean percentage wise?

I have the cotton candy from PA, I think. I can list all I have later when I get home. Of course some of the flavor additions I will need, I might not have.
 
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