How long before you succeeded?

[jiminsandiego]

I'm about ready to place my first DIY order and I'm trying to get a feel for how many tries it took you folks before you said to yourself "this is better than store bought E-juice". I realize everyone will have a different answer, but I'm just trying to get a general idea of how illusive success has been for the average guy that has tried to his homework (like me). Thanks,
Jim

 

[RocketPuppy]

This average girl has been at it for a couple months. I stole my favorite recipes from others, and with some tweaking and personal refining, I had my adv within 2-3 weeks. I had some vapable stuff before that, but it took a solid 2 weeks to find the elusive one.

With that said, when I'm tinkering with new recipes, I still make quite a few flops until perfecting something I'd want to continue making. I make many vapable trial sizes, but until I mix something that I'd want to replicate, I go through time like I have an infinite amount.

Even with the wasted pg/vg and flavors, I've had such an awesome time. This new mad scientist persona fits me well, and the enjoyment I get just from organizing and mixing and ecf-ing and...well...all if it, I'm happy.

 

[doots]

the time it takes will depend on how complex your juice is. it takes some time to succeed but is worth it in savings. check out all the diy threads you can. tons of good advice and lots of recipes. I'm sure you'll find some you like.

 

[rowdyplace]

I liked the very first mix I ever assembled.

After spending many, many hours reading these posts, Danny and Hoosier's blogs, yes, all the stickys, I decided to make a flavor baseline - just 50/50-1.2% juice. Notice, no flavor at all. This way, I could compare my next flavored blend with this baseline.

Well, I liked the plain stuff - I mean a lot! I still keep an atty around and very often grab it thru the day as my go-to vape.

I then started mixing single flavors at low percentages. Apricot, Mango, and a 555 tobacco. I liked the 2 fruit flavors, and they get better each day. Me and that 555 are still not happy with each other.

Jump in, mix lightly, shake heavily, and have fun!!!

 

[Rat2chat2]

Right off the bat, I feel in love with making my own. I'm not sure if it is because it tastes better or because it is less expensive than buying. I just know if I can do it, anyone can. Have fun with it and good luck to you. I just know you are going to happy with the new hobby. heehee That is what it has turned into for me. I love the experimenting. There are so many threads on here to help and wonderful people to ask. Welcome to the forum and I'm glad you are here.

 

[Hoosier]

I started mixing my own to make a specific taste. It took me 5 months to figure it out and I still mix that recipe fairly often over 3 years later.

I did make some great juice along the way, but I didn't consider myself a "success" at mixing until I created that flavor I started mixing to create in the first place.

 

[HeadInClouds]

I started with simple, single flavors I thought I'd like: peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate. I liked my first try at peppermint enough to feel encouraged. I vaped just that for a while until I came up with another I liked as much.

When I started with recipes, my first attempts were sort of cruddy, but by then I had a few single flavors to tide me over as I worked on mixes I really liked.

These days, I like about 80% of what I make enough to vape the whole (always small) batch... and maybe 1 in 10 enough to write it down and make it again. I have lots I really enjoy, but I also enjoy experimenting with new combinations.

 

[Bob Chill]

I had it easy because of this forum. I quickly fell in love with hangsen tobaccos and never looked back. Danny and Hoosier's blogs are the fast track to success. I can't thank them enough for their willingness to share. I was able to mix great stuff within a month and haven't bought premix in over 4 months.

I don't like fruits and desserts all that much. I tried my hand at a couple with mixed results. Keeping it simple at first is important. As few different flaves in each mix as possible. Don't try to do it all at once. Work on getting just a couple good mixes going so you always have something you like on hand as you explore other mixes.

When I first started vaping I used to switch flavors 4+ times a day. Now that it's more habitual and predictable I can vape the same flavor all day no problem and enjoy it. I had a hard time with sweet and cloying flavors. They would taste good at first but burn out on me withing a couple hours. With tobaccos I find the flavors vapable for long periods because they are pretty complex on the palate compared to something like watermelon.

 

[dannyv45]

I started with single flavors and came up with a few vapeable juices in the first week. But my first "as good as a venders ADV" (All day vape) didn't come for 3 weeks to a month and only after a lot of reading and research and asking lots of questions. I've since improved on that recipe and enjoy it far better then that venders juice and I also created a lot of other as good as vender juices from that first great success. This was due to the knowledge gained by my failures and successes as well as all the research I've done. How long it takes you all depends on the amount of work you want to put into it.

 

[certus11]

Incremental improvement over time my friend. I have been vaping my DIY/ADV for 3 months now and it got better with time as I fine tuned it.

Always stack your flavorings for best juice. My ADV/DIY is stacked with Pandan, Raspberry, 555

 

[michaelsil1]

I succeeded at making Crap right from the start!


I'm still good at it!

 

[Blueser]

Day one...but then, I'm a genius

 

[doghair]

Took about a month before I quit buying juice. What I found too is that my taste buds coming back to life has caused me to lower my flavor percentages from what I liked when I started. I have a whole lot to learn still but the advice here has helped me avoid mistakes I would have made. Probably the hardest part is having the patience for steeping and the foresight to mix enough so I don't run out.

 

[Lord_Fubar]

I feel I did pretty well right from the start with some multi flavor mixes only because I read allot in the DIY E-Liquid, being a cook by trade and wanting to discover an exciting new flavor. I still suck at tobacco flavors, but then I really haven't put the same effort into tobacco as everything else.
After tasting tobacco for over 40 years, that flavor isn't high on my list, but I have found that most smokers I have talked to about the wonderful life of vaping only want to try tobacco flavors. I better come up with something decent soon. I may have to resort to copying someone's recipe.

 

[RocketPuppy]

Who's this Danny and Hoosier I hear so much about? =P