Help/Question Regarding DIY Harshness

[volleyholic]

Hi All,

I am looking for help regarding my DIY which I am very new too. Here is my setup:

VG - 75-80% depending on flavor
Distilled Water - 5%
Flavor - 15-20%
0 Nicotine
The only PG is in the flavorings

So I have made a few flavors now (strawberries and cream, strawberry cheesecake, rootbeer float for example). Nothing too wild on the recipes, and I have steeped batches both traditional with letting it sit and crock pot method.

My issue is that my vape is too harsh. Too much throat hit and makes my cough if I take any kind of substantial hit. What am I doing wrong here? Only thing I can think of is I am using too much flavor perhaps? I use Mt. Baker Vapor flavors and the suggest 15-40% (although I think 40% seems ridiculously high). And if I go below 15% am I even going to taste anything? What are you guys using?

Thanks for the help and feedback, I really want this to work and justify my supplies expenses

Thanks!
Volley

 

[volleyholic]

Also I should say that at the current flavor %s the flavor is good taste wise. It's just too darn harsh.

 

[Cliven]

What kind of device(s) are you using?

 

[Norrin]

No PG and no nic? I really can't see where your getting the throat hit from.
Yes what are you running and what juice have you used that has been OK?

 

[sketchness]

Or what are you storing the mix in? Was it clean, did it leach into the mix? Is the VG harsh on its own?

Most DIY I have seen calls for no more that 20% total flavoring and often much less.

Finally have you tried it from a different device? Maybe the coils are not wicking very well?

 

[williebb123]

may need to up the DW to 10% or 15% if its not wicking well then thats the answer for the harsh hit i would not think the flavor is too high for strawberry its one of those flavs in most cases tends to be weak so most people use it at 15-20%

 

[edyle]

Can you not get PG?

You can vape plain PG;
That gives you a starting point, and you can add to it.

 

[volleyholic]

By device I assume you're referring to my vaping device. My main piece is the nautilus mini on an iStick, Ego or Vamo V5. For my premixed flavors I use max VG, 0 nic versions of Mt. Baker, my local B&M and ITCVapes and have no problems. In fact they all taste great in the mini. For the VG in the DIYs I have tried the Mt. Baker version and recently Essential Depot Kosher USP 100% VG. I haven't tried to vape it on its own but I can. Never thought of that. I'm not big on PG so I hope its not the VG.

I am not sure what it is but my DIYs are just dry and literally if I take more than a 2-3 second inhale (normally I'd say I'm around 6 secs) I get an irritation that makes me cough. Wierd.

 

[edyle]

Maybe you have to wrong idea about what diy is all about.

It's not like you just mix stuff together and it's good enough and you just try different mixes to see what you prefer.
You mix stuff together and alot of the time stuff is going to be REALLY BAD.

If you put too much vg you get certain problems; you can get harshness at high power.

I'd suggest you put less flavor and after that maybe more water.

 

[Norrin]

Try adding more water, do a 10% and 15% and see what works best. Going to 20% will probably start flooding but it might be OK.

 

[edyle]

actually may be just mix vg and water use that as a base.
if the base is harsh, add more water till you get a decent base.

 

[volleyholic]

Yea I guess its just a matter of trial and error. I'll start y upping the water and see how goes it! Thanks for all the input all. This rookie is much appreciative!

 

[JD1]

.......... I'll start y upping the water and see how goes it! ..........

Don't forget to keep yourself hydrated as well. My rule of thumb is that if I'm vaping, I'm drinking something. Sometimes it's even water lol. (Usually coffee though.)