You are getting good thoughts here
@Vicshalls.
I find myself in the camp of recommending individual components vs. buying premade blends. Simply because it will give you the most flexibility until you know what you like. This can be more important if you are mixing for more than one person and you are trying to accommodate multiple preferences including nic levels, PG/VG ratios, and total flavoring percentages. I have read many stories of new DIYers who "tried to keep it simple," but didn't know what they really wanted, and then had to try and alter a less than ideal purchase. Individual components may have an extra step or two, but are most practical for small batch experimentation, until you learn what works best for
you.
It is also likely to give you access to lowest pricing. Companies that are allowing you to choose PG/VG ratios are having to re-handle, and re-bottle, and therefore incurring costs of time (labor) and material (product + packaging) and will most likely pass that added expense on to you. If cost is not a priority for you this may not be important.
When looking at PG/VG ratios on their own; I find it boils down to these influences (though everyone is different):
- Health issues. Do you, or anyone you intend to mix for have PG or VG sensitivities? This will take priority over the rest of this list.
- Wicking needs/atomizers to be used. If you, and those you're mixing for, are dripping or squonking; it will have less importance. If tanks are being used then it can become more important. Tanks can be more temperamental to dry hits from the recipe being too thick (too much VG), or flooding from the recipe being too thin (too much PG). Different tanks behave differently. Different wicking materials can also alter this performance.
- Flavor influence. Opinions vary (like most things vaping) about how much the chosen ratio influences the individual's perception of flavor intensity. In other words; some vapers find that high VG ratios can "mute" flavors. I am not one of them but I respect those who say it does.
- "Cloud" production. If anyone you mix for wants to go cloud chasing; higher VG = more clouds.
If one or more of these hold importance to you, or those you will mix for, then they can help set some very general directions to start your ratios. If none of them apply then the sky is the limit.
The other thing to consider is "how important are hitting specific numbers to you and those you are mixing for?"
Blends, especially blends close to the desired target, are less forgiving to variation. So, if you
want a 30/70 finished ratio; don't but 30/70 blended PG and VG. When you add flavor(s) and nic you will no longer be at 30/70. Blends work best for those who mix with the attitude of "as long as I'm over <insert your preferred minimum ratio here>." If (like me) you are target specific; you will most certainly need (at least) small amounts of straight PG and VG to be able to bring the recipe back to target. If that is the case; you may as well use separate components to begin with. Otherwise, instead of saving steps/time, you'll like be making things more complicated. (Why add PG/VG blend + PG and/or VG when I could just add PG and VG and have it right where I want it from the beginning?)
Remember that both flavors and nicotines will be suspended in some sort of carrier too; usually PG, or VG, or some combination thereof. So the addition of these
will alter your final ratio.
There are many who do use (and find beneficial) a blended PG/VG base. And, many of those that do, blend their own instead of paying the higher price of someone else mixing it for them. This might be a good option for you too. You can mix up your own various PG/VG ratios, and find what ratio works best for you, then you can order it that way in the future (if you still so choose).
The last thing I will suggest you think about is your recipe calculator choice (and I strongly recommend the use of one; esp. for those new to DIY).
If you are going to work with blends; make sure you choose a calculator that will accommodate blends. Not all do.
And now my disclaimer: I do NOT profess these thoughts as
correct, or
better, or
the right way to think about it. They are only
my way. There are virtually as many ways to DIY as there are DIYers. The key to success is to find
what is right for you. So what ever you choose to do; do it on a small/minimal scale
until you discover what your way is.
Then scale up and mix to your heart's abandon!
Many of us who started DIY, did so with a particular goal in mind (save money, get a better flavor, know what is going in our juice, etc.), only to discover a whole new hobby. Have fun!
I wish you success on your DIY journey. Best wishes!!
