Help with Diy

[InTheShade]

I just started DIY e liquid over the last two weeks. There are some great calculators that can be found throughout this site, as well as plenty of recipe sites that have calculators that help tremendously. I started out trying to make 6mg juice, but I've since stepped down to 3mg instead as I've found it easier to measure out the smaller amount while still allowing a little wiggle room for adding a little too much nic. My first few batches, I added a little too much nic and it was not a good experience.

I'm not going to lecture you on safety (well maybe I am a little), but if you put "a little too much nic" then you weren't doing it right.

I'd tell anyone doing DIY that they should know exactly how much nicotine they are adding to their mixes - there is no wiggle room - use a syringe to measure it accurately and double check your calculations before and after adding it.

Getting it wrong could result in a lot more than a 'not good' experience - particularly so if you are using higher nicotine strengths.

 

[DingerCPA]

Thank you dinger I think I understand now. Do you have any suggestions on where to get flavor concentrates?

I have been getting most of my goodies from WizardLabs. I've also ordered from ecigexpress. If you've not mixed before, I'd recommend starting with lower percentages. I've been reading through a lot of recipes this weekend, and some of the recommended percentages seem extremely high to me. And, realize your tastebuds are different from mine or anyone else's. Something I like at 10% may be way too strong (or weak) for you. This becomes the beauty of DIY - YOU get to pick the ratios and the ingredients. I don't always have the "exact" ingredient, but usually something similar, so I may substitute (or end up with my own creation )

If you need help with the "math", get the e-juicemeup calculator. It's a bit funky at first to use, but once you get the hang of it, the numbers come out pretty nice. I just "cheat". I have 50/50 0-nic base as my "filler". When I want nic in a batch, I'll add it (to the level of nic I want) and then add flavors (based on recipe ratios) and then top with 50/50. I'm less concerned with my PG/VG ratio, but more with flavor. Worst case, I'm probably 60P/40V in the end, and I can't tell much difference between that and store-bought 50/50.

What part of Ohio? Are you close to Fort Wayne? If so, mark your calendar for February 28. We're having a "Vape in the Fort" event that day. http://vapeinthefort.com/ Swing over if you're in the area!

 

[Creature Catcher]

Thanks for the invite. I'm in central Ohio

 

[DingerCPA]

Oh yeah, check out blogs by Hoosier and Dannyv45. Both those guys have some good tips for beginning mixers. I've mixed up about 700mL of juice since I've started, and I think only about 30-50 of it has been "less than pleasant" and has been since been made to go away. I've bought more juice that's sucked and have had to make "go away". So, having only wasted about $3 in DIY compared to maybe $15-20 in store-bought.....

 

[blechlit]

Fairly new to this myself - I started when I got hooked on Five Pawns but didn't like paying that much Found a clone recipe online, downloaded the eJuice Me Up app and order supplies from Wizard Labs. Very simple to do once you get started. I think I can have a bottle for $3-$4 ready in 15 minutes (then a week to steep). Good luck.

 

[rpb7]

Totally agree, and I do use a 1ml syringe to measure out my nic. What I have found now is, the first bottle of nic I bought was very low quality. I have a feeling that it was not accurately labelled and it has since been thrown out. I got a big bottle from RTS and have had no problems. I figured I measured poorly the first time but I did the same thing with my most recent batches, no problems at all. Honestly, the nic part kind is scary. That bottle comes out the freezer (double bag it in there), I measure it, put it in and immediately put it away and put the gloves I used to handle it in a plastic bag straight to the garbage in the garage. I've learned a few lessons so far on buying something that's a few dollars cheaper...mainly just spend the extra couple bucks, it's still cheap.

 

[rpb7]

It's 24 mg. Where do you get your flavor concentrate?

I have so far used LorAnn flavors (coconut/pineapple blend came out well for a 0mg mix for my wife...the rest didn't work out for me), Fluid Envy (strawberry and cheesecake mix came out great, tastes like Loki from Ragna Rok, Gummy Bear came out well and a cinnamon/vanilla cake came out nicely) and I have a bunch of Capella flavors on the way now. It's not as easy as I thought it would be to do this. Each time I make a 5ml tester (no nic for test batches, I just up the pg to cover the nic %) it gets faster though.

 

[rpb7]

What is the common way of mixing in general that you guys have found? I don't mix my pg/vg/nic in a big plain batch, I thought about doing a big 240ml batch of it, but because the % of flavors can be all over the place I'm just doing it as a make a batch instead. I'm trying to keep everything at 30/70, finding that works best with my Atlantis/Subtank but I can still toss it in an aero and nautilus when I go out for easier transportation (istick instead of a big mod).

 

[sparkky1]

Really depends on what type of flavor meaning bakery / fruit / tobacco, some need extended steeping.
Why would you not just mix it all together in one big batch although 240 ml it must be pretty damn good to wanna make that much of one recipe.

 

[rpb7]

Really depends on what type of flavor meaning bakery / fruit / tobacco, some need extended steeping.
Why would you not just mix it all together in one big batch although 240 ml it must be pretty damn good to wanna make that much of one recipe.

Sorry, should have clarified. I meant the non-flavored base mix. My original plan was to make a huge batch of base to save time with mixing flavors. After realizing that the % of flavors can vary so much, I opted not to do that. Some recipes I'm working on can't be done at the 30/70 mix I'm looking for, and since I'm really just getting my feet wet figured start small and slow for now.

 

[nat king kong]

Oh yeah, check out blogs by Hoosier and Dannyv45.

quoted to reinforce this- those blogs helped me tremendously when getting into diy