How do you use an ejuice calculator

[rheichel]

Hello everyone. I am fairly new to vaping. I haven't had a real cigarette for about two to three weeks now. Yay me! I would love to save even more money by mixing ejuice but I am so confused on how to use an ejuice calculator. I have bought a few flavors with 12mg nicotine in them, bought VG, got menthol concentrated menthol juice, and menthol ejuice with 12 mg nicotine. Now how the heck would you calculate using any of these in a ejuice calculator. I am so confused on what I need to put on the "Nicotine Base" area. Do I need to buy a seperate nicotine base just to be able to calculate it. Please help me...anyone!

 

[Maxine]

Ejuice calculators are pretty much for DIY - Do It Yourself - juice making; buying the nicotine, bases and flavors all separately. You have to know what percent propelyne glycol to vegetable glycerine you want, how many miligrams of nicotine per mililiter, what percentage of flavoring you want your batch to be, and then the calculator will tell you how much to measure of each ingredient to make whatever size batch you want.

If you just want to combine premixed juices, get some small empty dropper bottles - 5 ml bottles would work - and just measure by the drops. 20 drops equal roughly 1 ml. So 60% methol would be six drops, 30% menthol freeze would be three drops, 10% VG would be one drop when all added together would be 10 drops or .5 ml. Double those amounts to make 1ml. Six times those amounts would make 3 ml. Ten times those amounts would be 5 ml of liquid.

 

[Maxine]

Here is an ejuice calculator that I think is easier than the spreadsheet ones: eJuice Me Up - e-Juice e-Liquid Recipe Calculator

 

[Hoosier]

...I have bought a few flavors with 12mg nicotine in them, bought VG, got menthol concentrated menthol juice, and menthol ejuice with 12 mg nicotine. Now how the heck would you calculate using any of these in a ejuice calculator. I am so confused on what I need to put on the "Nicotine Base" area. Do I need to buy a seperate nicotine base just to be able to calculate it. Please help me...anyone!

Your Base Nicotine is 12mg as you stated twice as your starting "base" nicotine liquid. Base is a starting point in this context. Generally you will enter Base, Target, and Total quantity to be made at the bare minimum. Flavoring percentage and PG/VG ratio are also typical.

Since there are dozens of popular calculators, it is really tough to be specific without details.

I use scubabatdan's calculator myself, but I am pretty exclusively a DIY mixer.

 

[rheichel]

Ejuice calculators are pretty much for DIY - Do It Yourself - juice making; buying the nicotine, bases and flavors all separately. You have to know what percent propelyne glycol to vegetable glycerine you want, how many miligrams of nicotine per mililiter, what percentage of flavoring you want your batch to be, and then the calculator will tell you how much to measure of each ingredient to make whatever size batch you want.

If you just want to combine premixed juices, get some small empty dropper bottles - 5 ml bottles would work - and just measure by the drops. 20 drops equal roughly 1 ml. So 60% methol would be six drops, 30% menthol freeze would be three drops, 10% VG would be one drop when all added together would be 10 drops or .5 ml. Double those amounts to make 1ml. Six times those amounts would make 3 ml. Ten times those amounts would be 5 ml of liquid.

From what I have researched, PG is more for flavor strength and VG is more for vapor. I've seen people on the forum say 50/50 is the best of both worlds. Am I right? Oh kay, I think I am understand it a lot more now...thanks to you. Just still a little confused on the nicotine base. I know I should have an unflavored nicotine base, but what nicotine strength should I get? My research tell's me that I should get 24mg nicotine strength. Might I add, I was maybe a between a pack or pack and a half a week smoker before ecig. I've read that makes a differance on what nicotine strength I should get. Please let me know if I am right. Any other imput would help me.

Your break down on your second paragraph explained so many questions I had. Thank you very much for that explanation.

 

[cyberwolf]

A 24mg nicotine base would not be bad to start with, although you could go higher to save a little more money. Essentially what you are doing with the base is using concentrated nicotine, then cutting that nicotine level by adding PG without nicotine, VG without nicotine and finally flavor. The nicotine base is the only component that actually contains the nicotine and you will typically get it unflavored so that you can flavor it the way you wish. If you did buy 24mg, for instance, you would create a 12mg solution by starting with a certain amount of 24mg unflavored base and then adding an equal amount of all of the other components combined. The calculators help you to figure out the amounts of each of the components to add.

 

[rheichel]

A 24mg nicotine base would not be bad to start with, although you could go higher to save a little more money. Essentially what you are doing with the base is using concentrated nicotine, then cutting that nicotine level by adding PG without nicotine, VG without nicotine and finally flavor. The nicotine base is the only component that actually contains the nicotine and you will typically get it unflavored so that you can flavor it the way you wish. If you did buy 24mg, for instance, you would create a 12mg solution by starting with a certain amount of 24mg unflavored base and then adding an equal amount of all of the other components combined. The calculators help you to figure out the amounts of each of the components to add.

That make's it clearer for me. Thank you. I just have one question....How is it going to save me more money if I get a nicotine base then 24mg? Please explain, I would really love to know.

 

[Maxine]

Not selling you anything, but look around the equipment to see if it clicks with you. Myself I have 48mg nicotine base (flavor it yourself e-liquid). I dilute that with PG base, VG base and flavorings to get 12 mg nicotine/ml.

DIY Artisan Kits - One Stop DIY Shop Store

The calculator is what tells you how much of each ingredient you need to get that 12mg of nic/ml per 15 (whatever) ml batch.

(Edit): Here is the DIY forum: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/

 

[SecondChance]

That make's it clearer for me. Thank you. I just have one question....How is it going to save me more money if I get a nicotine base then 24mg? Please explain, I would really love to know.

The higher nic base allows you to cut it more..therefore making more liquid for the same price..as 36 mg is normally the same price as 24 or 18 mg..etc you just add more plain pg/vg or flavoring. Do you know what target nic level you are looking for? For a light smoker like you I would think pretty low in the 6 to 12 mg range, but that does not always hold true. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[rheichel]

The higher nic base allows you to cut it more..therefore making more liquid for the same price..as 36 mg is normally the same price as 24 or 18 mg..etc you just add more plain pg/vg or flavoring. Do you know what target nic level you are looking for? For a light smoker like you I would think pretty low in the 6 to 12 mg range, but that does not always hold true. Hope this helps a bit.

So basically, the higher the mg the less I would need to use right?

 

[Maxine]

Right. The more mg of nicotine per ml, the less you'd need to use per batch.

 

[rheichel]

Right. The more mg of nicotine per ml, the less you'd need to use per batch.

Awwww, I think it is fully clear to me now. Thank you all very much who replied for helping me understand this new healthier venture for me.

I am researching on what ecig I should upgrade to. I still have the first and only two ecig's that I bought from 7 eleven store about three weeks ago. I think I need to upgrade to a better one. One that has a battery that last longer and maybe more features. I have been reading a lot of forums and I always hear people mention the Joye 510 or more recently Joye 510 ego. If anyone can give me some suggestions, I'd gladly take it. Thank you all.

 

[Bradder]

I know people get tired of hearing this but if you are going to DIY with very high levels of nic juice be very, very careful. If you have not done so, be sure to read the "stickied" precautions on the homepage of the forum under Announcements. Nic absorbs very quickly through the skin and is potentially very dangerous to you, family, and pets if a bit spills that is not wiped up.

As for upgrades, you will get a lot of different answers. Personally I love the Joye 51 and the Joye eGo especially since they give me the options of carts, cartos, or dripping. Small, portable, look nice, fairly inexpensive and most of the accessories are interchangeable between the 510 and eGo. The 510 battery doesn't last very long before it needs charging, the mega last a bit longer, and the eGo lasts a pretty good time. I find the best, and cheapest way around these complaints is to own at least two (many kits come with two) and use a USB passthrough and/or PCC. Just my opinion. Been vaping about two years now and still use them with no desire to upgrade.

 

[rheichel]

I did read that. I am a person that does a lot of research before I buy things or make a final decision. Thank you, though.

 

[Bradder]

I had assumed you had but I believe cautions are worth repeating. Wasn't trying to scare you- probably the grandfather in me . Sadly we are seeing more and more people in my line of work with nic poisoning. Even sadder is that the cases are increasing as e-cigs catch on which makes be fearful that the "you-know-who" will use it against us to restrict or ban e-cig and/or e-liquids. Personally I mix with 60mg, so my reaction is not an OMG thing. But just like a private pilot always checks out the plane before starting the engine, I run through my reminder list of precautions before starting my mad mixing. Good luck and be safe!

 

[rheichel]

You didn't scare me and I appreciate you caring enough to mention it to me just in case I hadn't read it. So thank you for that. I appreciate it.

 

[rheichel]

Any one know what is a good percentage rate for pg/vg for a nicotine base when I DIY? I have read that the best mix is
50pg/50vg. Does the pg & vg in the base make any differance on the TH or amount of vapor? I'm thinking that if I can put 100%pg nicotine base since I can just also add vg....is that right?

 

[Maxine]

Myself I like 80% PG / 20% VG. I see 70%PG / 30% VG most often preferred here on the forums. DIY means you get to experiment and find what works best for you. Mix small batches at first - 1 ml - to see how well you like what you've made.

Myself, I think 50/50 is too thick and I find my battery charge doesn't last as long when I use it. VG creates vapor, but a little does a lot. For me 20% is plenty of vapor. PG lets more flavoring through, VG mutes the flavoring and the higher the VG the less throat hit. Many people don't like TH, though.

And yes, you can go with 100% PG nicotine base and add VG.

 

[rheichel]

Myself I like 80% PG / 20% VG. I see 70%PG / 30% VG most often preferred here on the forums. DIY means you get to experiment and find what works best for you. Mix small batches at first - 1 ml - to see how well you like what you've made.

Myself, I think 50/50 is too thick and I find my battery charge doesn't last as long when I use it. VG creates vapor, but a little does a lot. For me 20% is plenty of vapor. PG lets more flavoring through, VG mutes the flavoring and the higher the VG the less throat hit. Many people don't like TH, though.

And yes, you can go with 100% PG nicotine base and add VG.

Thanks. That's helpfull. Now I just need to upgrade my ecig. The two that I bought from 7 eleven is just not cutting it.

 

[SecondChance]

I agree with the advice given here, as far as upgrade I would suggest a Riva Kit from LiberyFlights located here E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings in either 510 or 901 both are available for 29.99 and are very nice kits. Be sure to click the link in the upper left corner for 20% off before you order. Best of Luck.