hi I'm new on hear , need some help if possible please.

[Imfallen_Angel]

yup.... to all the things you said. It will happen, and probably soon. I think I wanted to have tried a variety of flavours before jumping in because, you know, you could potentially buy lots of different flavourings then discover you don't even like half of them. About a month ago I spent practically a whole day surfing some Canadian websites that offer DIY supplies and at the end of the day I had an order put together for over $250. lol *reality check* I think now I am much closer to knowing what I like and don't like so I could probably go with less flavours and still get a good start.

About the flavours, just wanted to add, there's some flavours that are the "basics" that every one usually start with, while others are more for background taste, and some meld together, others, not that well. Once you start DYI, you'll probably find combinations that work better for you than others.

There's recipes sites that are truly assets to get your bearings, to get the average used for single and for recipe mixes, but keeping in mind that most recipes are as per that person's taste. They are good starting grounds to build on though and should be considered examples and guides for the most part.

The most popular site would be : https://goo.gl/QvM89r

And yes, once you start, you'll find that the amount of flavouring is just boogling... easily in the thousands, and one flavour from brand to another will differ.

So I tend to recommend that you check out a bunch of recipes to get an idea to the flavours that you'd be needing before ordering.

Side note: There's the fear-mongering about diacetyl and pop-corn lung, but it's already proven that even the flavour/liquid with the most diacetyl doesn't even come close to what a regular cigarette contains, and no one has even gotten the dreaded pop-corn lungs from smoking. It was exposure to thousands of times more, plus that they aren't even sure that it really was diacetyl, or at least by itself that caused it, there is still not a single iota of proof after all the research done about it, just guesses and beliefs.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

New link that just got my attention, worth checking out: https://goo.gl/eaSMuv

 

[ceeceeisme]

About the flavours, just wanted to add, there's some flavours that are the "basics" that every one usually start with, while others are more for background taste, and some meld together, others, not that well. Once you start DYI, you'll probably find combinations that work better for you than others.

There's recipes sites that are truly assets to get your bearings, to get the average used for single and for recipe mixes, but keeping in mind that most recipes are as per that person's taste. They are good starting grounds to build on though and should be considered examples and guides for the most part.

The most popular site would be : https://goo.gl/QvM89r

And yes, once you start, you'll find that the amount of flavouring is just boogling... easily in the thousands, and one flavour from brand to another will differ.

So I tend to recommend that you check out a bunch of recipes to get an idea to the flavours that you'd be needing before ordering.

Side note: There's the fear-mongering about diacetyl and pop-corn lung, but it's already proven that even the flavour/liquid with the most diacetyl doesn't even come close to what a regular cigarette contains, and no one has even gotten the dreaded pop-corn lungs from smoking. It was exposure to thousands of times more, plus that they aren't even sure that it really was diacetyl, or at least by itself that caused it, there is still not a single iota of proof after all the research done about it, just guesses and beliefs.

Lots of good advice there Imfallen_angel, I appreciate the time you took. I know about that e-juice recipe website and already have it bookmarked - saw it on here a while ago and stashed it away for later.

I think it is (and always was) the sheer mind-boggling variety of flavourings out there that has stopped me. I've read all sorts of beginner advice (as to which flavours to start with) but already know some of them are not for me (ie, not a strawberry fan which seems to be on everyone's starter list). Now that I have been vaping for almost 2 months I have a much better idea of what I'd like to try. I've got several Canuck DIY websites bookmarked here - some don't have the flavours I want, some do. That's another problem - one stop shopping doesn't look feasible because I am looking for odd flavours but also need all the other stuff too - nic, pg, vg, bottles, syringes, pipettes, funnels, also need a good scale as the one I have here is old and I don't trust it anymore (a triple beam, not digital).

I'm gonna take my time over the next week or so and figure it out. I have a ton of juice here and more on the the way. Not like I'm gonna run out anytime soon. Funny enough, of all the juices I have tried my favourite is a Chinese juice by Karnoo - Mango Shake. I've got 5 bottles on the way and want to try and dupicate that one first. It's the only juice I can throw in a tank and vape on without changing the flavour at all. Go figure!

New link that just got my attention, worth checking out: http://forum...................../t/a-beginners-guide-to-making-the-most-highly-rated-recipes/83612

Hmmm... maybe I'm not getting something here but that link doesn't work. lol... on a bit of information overload here again today.

 

[BrotherBob]

hi does any one know how to reduce nic level of a 24 mg ready made liquid. i make my own normally but have a load of 24 and 18 mg of oil given to me i vape between 1.1 and 9mg of nic. i know by adding vg or pg or both cand dilute it but not sure how much . I've looked on a site but can't work it out. if anyone can help it would be much appreciate.

kind regards

lee

Welcome and glad you joined.
Might like to read:
diy_beginners_guide - DIY_eJuice
dannyv45's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
Hoosier's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[Cheallaigh]

well cee... best idea? see about clones of those you are addicted too... for me it's kanzi, princess peach... I mix them together 50/50... then there is forbidden fruit(dragonfruit mix), geeks(nerds), dafuzz(fuzzy peach candies)... once I talk hubby into letting me diy... as in once he finds something he consistently likes besides high park(staw/nana)... i'll be making my favs... I know I like certain candies, but would be happy with a lot of fruit mixes... oh and I broke down and got double trouble(the vaporist's double double coffee one)... yep I can see myself running out of shelf space quickly... as is I'm suddenly building my neighbour's rba, a certain someone volunteered my services, good thing I like the neighbour who got us into vaping (slacker wont build his own).

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

Hmmm... maybe I'm not getting something here but that link doesn't work. lol... on a bit of information overload here again today.

Fixed: https://goo.gl/eaSMuv

This forum does weird things to some links... but it's a good read, well worth the time.

 

[JCinFLA]

That's another problem - one stop shopping doesn't look feasible because I am looking for odd flavours but also need all the other stuff too - nic, pg, vg, bottles, syringes, pipettes, funnels, also need a good scale as the one I have here is old and I don't trust it anymore (a triple beam, not digital).

You don't need all the stuff in your list above. Yes, you need the Nic base, PG, and VG and some bottles for your eliquids you make.

But as far as other supplies...you only need to buy the ones for whichever method of measurement you choose to use when DIY. If you plan to make your eliquids by the volume method...you'll definitely need syringes (a few 1mL, 3mL, 5-6mL, and 10mL) and blunt needle tips (a few 14ga, 16ga, 18ga). You don't really need a funnel, beakers, graduated cylinders, etc. that many DIY kits have in them. Most people don't use them! You can use the syringes with blunt needle tips on them to just squirt the PG, VG, Nic base, and flavorings...into the 15mL, 30mL, 50mL, or whatever size bottle you're making. Pipettes are not used for accurate measuring at all, and are usually just used to transfer small amounts of liquids from 1 container to another or for putting just a few drops at a time into an RDA when testing a new recipe.

If you choose to use weight based measuring, then and only then, do you need a scale. You'd need one that is capable of measuring down to .01grams. Then you could use pipettes for transfering liquids into the empty bottle, beaker, or other container on the top of your scale when making your recipe.

You'll also need to get familiar with eliquid calculators. how they work, and choose one to use. Many of us use some of the different ones available at ecigvape.com. My own favorite there, is the one that's PG/VG Adjustable and Allows for up to 9 Flavorings in a recipe. Others use 1 of the calculators recommended on the DIY E-Liquid discussion board at the top of the forum.

Last tip can also save you a bunch of money: Don't buy flavorings until you've FIRST found several recipes you'd like to make. Then buy the flavorings for those recipes. Otherwise, you may end up like lots of people who are new to DIY. They buy a bunch of them that just "sound good" to them. Maybe they're flavorings they like in candy, or desserts, or drinks, or types of fruits. Then they'll post on a forum asking, "OK, I've got all of these flavorings...what can I make with them? That's the backwards way, and usually ends in not only frustration because they don't have the "types" of flavorings they need to make recipes, but because they've often bought 1oz. or larger bottles to start with. It's best to buy the sample size flavorings first...in case you don't like them!

Lots of great reading in the blogs BrotherBob posted link to earlier. There's also another Blog by Bill's Magic Vapor - a longtime, ECF member, who used to make juice commercially, and is a wealth of information. He has tips, hints, recipes, methods, step by step instructions, recommendations, etc. in his Blogs. Many of us refer to them often!

 

[RainSong]

but also need all the other stuff too - nic, pg, vg, bottles, syringes, pipettes, funnels, also need a good scale as the one I have here is old and I don't trust it anymore (a triple beam, not digital).

All I use to mix is empty bottles, a scale, dropper bottles or pipettes and my nic, flavor, pg and VG. I bought 120ml squeeze bottles for my VG and pg and keep a small bottle of nic out of the freezer. There are great tutorials on YouTube on mixing by weight. It literally takes me longer to get everything out of the closet and set up on the counter than the actual mixing takes.

I also agree with what others have said on finding *well rated* recipes and buying the flavors for those to start. And then expanding from there. Of the 13 flavors I originally bought in small bottles I'm about to buy larger sizes of 5 of them. The eliquid calculator I use lets me hit the rating column to arrange by rating level. It also has a section where I can save the flavors I have and it will tell me what I can make with what I have. It's so much fun and so very easy.

 

[ceeceeisme]

Fixed: https://goo.gl/eaSMuv

This forum does weird things to some links... but it's a good read, well worth the time.

Thanks!! I haven't seen this one before and it does look like a good read.

All I use to mix is empty bottles, a scale, dropper bottles or pipettes and my nic, flavor, pg and VG. I bought 120ml squeeze bottles for my VG and pg and keep a small bottle of nic out of the freezer. There are great tutorials on YouTube on mixing by weight. It literally takes me longer to get everything out of the closet and set up on the counter than the actual mixing takes.

I also agree with what others have said on finding *well rated* recipes and buying the flavors for those to start. And then expanding from there. Of the 13 flavors I originally bought in small bottles I'm about to buy larger sizes of 5 of them. The eliquid calculator I use lets me hit the rating column to arrange by rating level. It also has a section where I can save the flavors I have and it will tell me what I can make with what I have. It's so much fun and so very easy.

Ohhh thanks MthompLmt! I have done lots of reading, here and there, and I did get the impression that some of the so-called recommended starter supplies wouldn't be needed in the long run. I do have a list of recipes that I want to make - the Karnoo Mango Shake is number one - Earl Grey Tea is another - Peppermint Patty is another. These are flavours that don't really go together but they are my top three fav's so I'll concentrate on these first. I know I won't be able to get them exactly the same as the commercial stuff but close enough is just fine.

I have about 5 e-juice calculators bookmarked already - thought I would figure out which is best to use sometime in the future.

Lots of good advice there - the squeeze bottle idea is something I had not thought of but seems to be a must have, now that you point it out. And I always forget that youtube is my friend lol.

 

[ceeceeisme]

You don't need all the stuff in your list above. Yes, you need the Nic base, PG, and VG and some bottles for your eliquids you make.

But as far as other supplies...you only need to buy the ones for whichever method of measurement you choose to use when DIY. If you plan to make your eliquids by the volume method...you'll definitely need syringes (a few 1mL, 3mL, 5-6mL, and 10mL) and blunt needle tips (a few 14ga, 16ga, 18ga). You don't really need a funnel, beakers, graduated cylinders, etc. that many DIY kits have in them. Most people don't use them! You can use the syringes with blunt needle tips on them to just squirt the PG, VG, Nic base, and flavorings...into the 15mL, 30mL, 50mL, or whatever size bottle you're making. Pipettes are not used for accurate measuring at all, and are usually just used to transfer small amounts of liquids from 1 container to another or for putting just a few drops at a time into an RDA when testing a new recipe.

If you choose to use weight based measuring, then and only then, do you need a scale. You'd need one that is capable of measuring down to .01grams. Then you could use pipettes for transfering liquids into the empty bottle, beaker, or other container on the top of your scale when making your recipe.

You'll also need to get familiar with eliquid calculators. how they work, and choose one to use. Many of us use some of the different ones available at ecigvape.com. My own favorite there, is the one that's PG/VG Adjustable and Allows for up to 9 Flavorings in a recipe. Others use 1 of the calculators recommended on the DIY E-Liquid discussion board at the top of the forum.

Last tip can also save you a bunch of money: Don't buy flavorings until you've FIRST found several recipes you'd like to make. Then buy the flavorings for those recipes. Otherwise, you may end up like lots of people who are new to DIY. They buy a bunch of them that just "sound good" to them. Maybe they're flavorings they like in candy, or desserts, or drinks, or types of fruits. Then they'll post on a forum asking, "OK, I've got all of these flavorings...what can I make with them? That's the backwards way, and usually ends in not only frustration because they don't have the "types" of flavorings they need to make recipes, but because they've often bought 1oz. or larger bottles to start with. It's best to buy the sample size flavorings first...in case you don't like them!

Lots of great reading in the blogs BrotherBob posted link to earlier. There's also another Blog by Bill's Magic Vapor - a longtime, ECF member, who used to make juice commercially, and is a wealth of information. He has tips, hints, recipes, methods, step by step instructions, recommendations, etc. in his Blogs. Many of us refer to them often!

YES... to everything you said LOL.

I do feel that eventually I will want to mix in large batches but realistically, will just try small ones at first until I get the whole mixing thing right. I guess I'm one of those people who likes to take care of business up front so that I am not making a ton of follow up orders but it seems inevitable that there is going to be follow up orders for flavourings and such. I did find a Canadian website that will ship up to 8 or 10 - 10ml flavouring bottles for only $3 (seems pretty reasonable to me, this way I can try different recipes without breaking the bank).

I will check those links from BrotherBob - he's got great advice (and I will say he's very kind to be so helpful to all us noobs). I didn't know about Bill's Magic Vapor blog but will bookmark that too.

Thank you so much for your help - so much to consider. When I tried vaping as an alternative to smoking (still less than 2 months ago) I never imagined there would be so many aspects to it.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

YES... to everything you said LOL.

I do feel that eventually I will want to mix in large batches but realistically, will just try small ones at first until I get the whole mixing thing right. I guess I'm one of those people who likes to take care of business up front so that I am not making a ton of follow up orders but it seems inevitable that there is going to be follow up orders for flavourings and such. I did find a Canadian website that will ship up to 8 or 10 - 10ml flavouring bottles for only $3 (seems pretty reasonable to me, this way I can try different recipes without breaking the bank).

I will check those links from BrotherBob - he's got great advice (and I will say he's very kind to be so helpful to all us noobs). I didn't know about Bill's Magic Vapor blog but will bookmark that too.

Thank you so much for your help - so much to consider. When I tried vaping as an alternative to smoking (still less than 2 months ago) I never imagined there would be so many aspects to it.

One piece of advice I'd add, some people buy the small 10ml flavouring to test things out. I kinda go against that for two reasons.

1) the price difference, it's simply a waste to get 10ml as....
2) if you actually like the flavouring, 10ml will be gone FAST.

And worse case and you don't like it at all, if you join a DYI local group, you can probably trade or sell it back.

As far as starter kits goes, as per the other guys stated, find recipes that really interest you first, then order accordingly, add a few extra that you're curious about, but don't go with flavouring first then figuring recipes for them.

I started with an Elmo baby medicine dispenser (the ones that are little stand-up graduated cylinders and spoon)... you can get those at Dollarama. You can use those medicine mini graduated cups. The biggest thing to consider is getting your liquid into the bottles without making a mess.

So all you really need is:
the base (VG/PG/Nic), flavourings, something simple to measure as stated above (but for 30ml, you can do drops), calculator (link below), and bottles, (and some sort of labels).

The scale thing, I never bothered with it, just too OCD for me. Might change my mind one day, but overall, I've yet to have trouble with anything I've done.

Calculator: eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator
(and this comes with a lot of recipes that the creator did/included)

Another note: stepping time... some are shake and vape, but will be better after a day or two, others can take a good week, others more, even up to a month.

Mixing, some just shake their bottles, others will have various stirring techniques, etc. Regardless of what you go for, the goal is to mix with the least air getting into the liquid as oxygen is bad for the nic. and some flavourings.

And also, the best stirring you do, the less stepping time it'll need. I use a drink mixer (milk frother type), making sure that I don't create a funnel to suck in air into the mix, works just fine.

 

[Cheallaigh]

at juice jam I got to try an earl grey which is the only tea I drink (lipton's earl grey flavoured green tea)... it was soo yummy, no idea who it was though lol... we were overloaded and exhausted by the time we got home. drove to some giant mall from up by midland, left my escape there, took the subway downtown, got a little lost and then found the clouds, spend hours trying every damned flavour, and then repeated the whole trip back.