How Do You Know?

[Ld3441]

I will be so glad to finish work tomorrow and then have 5 days off to play! My flavors arrived today and I am itching to get started but I will wait until I am rested and have more time. So of course I am thinking about this a lot.

My question now is...
How do you know if a mix just needs to steep or it is no good? I am sure that knowledge will come with time but I'm curious what you veterans have to say about this. I won't be getting rid of anything for awhile to see if steeping helps.

 

[SoUnique]

If it smells good, you should be able to work with it.

tobacco really needs steeping to develope, as does chocolte & coffee. My experience is that they are the 3 hardest flavors to work with.

 

[Hoosier]

How do you know if a mix just needs to steep or it is no good?

I don't know. I play with a mix until it's close to what I want and then set it aside to steep for awhile to see if anything happens. If it tastes different than what I expected, I set it aside to see if it gets better or worse.

The majority of time, it does absolutely nothing, but I wouldn't know that unless I tried it for myself to see.

 

[DetraMental]

I agree with the above posts. Some are great from the get go and do change over time.

 

[Wingsfan0310]

I'm of the belief if it's truely bad, no amount of steeping will turn it into something good. But we can always hope I guess Now if it's not too bad to pretty good, steeping may help. Good luck with the DIY, keep us posted on how it turns out.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[disco180]

Always work with small batches, 3ml, 5ml...don't get over zealous and shoot for the month supply right away...the most you should make to test is 10ml and that's stretching it.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

If there is a strong alcohol smell or taste def steep with the cap off. Some can take a while to evaporate the alcohol. Especially the tfa extra coconut.

 

[dannyv45]

I'm finding with the exception of a few creamy tobaccos most mixes don't need much steeping. Taste it if it's good vape it. If it taste really bad and skunky then most likely it's a problem with the the recipe. If it's a bit weak or to strong then set it aside for a few days then try it again and note any improvements or if it's getting worse. If it's getting better set it aside for another few days (keep repeating if nessessary). Steeping really comes from experience.

 

[FinallyQuit]

The only thing waiting does for me is knock down some of the sharpness from alcohols. . .

If it tastes like garbage after mixing it won't taste like heaven after a week. It will taste like week-old garbage.

 

[dannyv45]

The only thing waiting does for me is knock down some of the sharpness from alcohols. . .

If it tastes like garbage after mixing it won't taste like heaven after a week. It will taste like week-old garbage.

LOL Nice analogy but so true.

 

[MorpheusPA]

It's certainly true that sock-like flavors merely steep and become more sock-like (often adding an edge of decaying cheese to the mix).

For the most part, if it smells OK it's probably OK. If you try it and it just doesn't seem right, or doesn't taste like what it's supposed to, steep it for at least a week.

Most "simple" flavors like menthols and cinnamon, things that are very bold and very easy to describe, don't require much steeping, if any. Complex flavors like chocolate, blueberry pie, and so on are more subtle and harder to put your finger on to describe them with simple adjectives. Those, on average, take longer.

 

[Dakota Jim]

my 2 cents

write down all of your mixes so you van repeat the good ones and skip making the same mistake twice

I use a cooking recipe program that I can search by ingredients (flavors) and allows me to print index size cards for my successes

 

[dannyv45]

my 2 cents

write down all of your mixes so you van repeat the good ones and skip making the same mistake twice

I use a cooking recipe program that I can search by ingredients (flavors) and allows me to print index size cards for my successes

Also keeping notes in the e-juice me up calculator is a very good way to keep records.

eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator

 

[Ld3441]

I do use that calculator but have started a speadsheet in excel to keep up with mixes. This way I can see them all and what I've done. I am putting vendor, flavor(s) and percentages with notes on what I like/don't like. I have also listed suggestions that I want to try but have not purchased yet with percentages so I will have them when I make the purchase.

My sister-in-law has just taken 2 samples to try later. I look forward to her reviews! I am going to mix a couple that will have to steep after lunch. Patience is not one of my virtues so I will have to keep making stuff that doesn't need to steep! If I try them now, I'd want to mess with it so better to wait and see how it turns out.

 

[tw33k]

If you don't want to wait weeks for a mix to steep then you should check out an ultrasonic cleaner. I just ordered one because I did a lot of reading and the people that have been using them swear by them.

 

[Truetopath]

I usually make a 10mL as my sample and see how it tastes right away in my stingray atomizer, then I decide if I want to let it sit or if it's good to go...with taste being subjective I may like it right away while someone else may want to steep it a bit. I let my tastebuds decide.


CASAA member 2013

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[dannyv45]

I do use that calculator but have started a speadsheet in excel to keep up with mixes. This way I can see them all and what I've done. I am putting vendor, flavor(s) and percentages with notes on what I like/don't like. I have also listed suggestions that I want to try but have not purchased yet with percentages so I will have them when I make the purchase.

My sister-in-law has just taken 2 samples to try later. I look forward to her reviews! I am going to mix a couple that will have to steep after lunch. Patience is not one of my virtues so I will have to keep making stuff that doesn't need to steep! If I try them now, I'd want to mess with it so better to wait and see how it turns out.

You should try every batch you make right away before you steep. This way you have a baseline to gauge how they improve (or not improve). Just fight the urge to mess with the mix until a few days have passed.

 

[dannyv45]

If you don't want to wait weeks for a mix to steep then you should check out an ultrasonic cleaner. I just ordered one because I did a lot of reading and the people that have been using them swear by them.

Great advice but make sure DYI is for you before making a large investment. Then when you do don't go cheap with a UC. Read the recommendations.

Read my blog on steeping.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...you-wanted-know-about-steeping-then-some.html