How to Organize a Flavoring Collection?

[DingerCPA]

I tried looking for those Plano organizers, and I'm not finding them on Home Depot. I recently received a flat of TFA flavorings, and I'm trying to figure out how to sort them as well. I have an old computer hutch as my "vape station". I finally thought about making some shelves that I would attach to the insides of the doors (so when the doors close, the shelves don't hit anything. I have two of them up right at the moment, but I need to make some more.

Regarding the "color coding" - I love the ejuicemeup calculator, but I don't have space for a computer in the vape cave where I can see the computer and mix at the same time. Plus, I am usually mixing multiple recipes at one time and I want to be efficient when I am using the same flavor across multiple recipes. So, I have all my recipes on color-coded index cards (Blue = Chocolate, Yellow = Vanillas, Red = Fruits, Orange = Bakery, Green = Misc.) Lay the cards out in front of the respective bottles, and when there's a common flavor, it gets into the respective bottle and then set aside.

Once I finish my shelves, I will be separating my flavors by "base type" and alphabetizing within each category. If you go the numbering scheme route, find the colored "yard sale price tag" dots. Mark your number and stick to the top of the correct bottle....

 

[Janet]

I use a nail polish rack for my mixed liquids, and it works well, though the shelves are a little big for flavoring bottles. I was thinking an under cabinet spice rack might work, but they're expensive. While checking those, though I saw some pull down spice racks that go in regular cupboards - might be worth checking out.

Oh, I also remember seeing someone using the clear vinyl shoe pocket/rack - the ones that hang over a door or in a closet.

You're right, Amoret, the nail polish shelves are a little big for a lot of flavoring bottles, but just right for the 30ml bottles. For the storage things I've found, a nail polish display rack seems to make the most sense as far as something that's already made. I looked at different spice racks, but they all seem too big. Those "stair-step" ones would work, but I don't have the space. I even thought about those hanging shoe organizers with vinyl pockets too (great minds think alike ). I can just see myself digging tiny bottles out of the bottom of those pockets. I know I could sew a "doll-sized" shoe organizer with vinyl, but I think building a hanging tiny shelving unit out of wood would be less time consuming. I think I should make a trip to home depot before I buy a nail polish display rack online. I wonder if there is a salesman's traveling case for small bottles of whatever. Also, I didn't look at any lab or medical supply sites.

 

[440BB]

One option to consider is a surface mount medicine cabinet, pretty inexpensive and you can see all the labels. I stumbled onto one put out for the trash while taking a walk in my neighborhood, 36 inches wide with mirrored doors. I hope my neighbor likes their new bathroom - my liquids like their new home!

 

[Janet]

I tried looking for those Plano organizers, and I'm not finding them on Home Depot. I recently received a flat of TFA flavorings, and I'm trying to figure out how to sort them as well. I have an old computer hutch as my "vape station". I finally thought about making some shelves that I would attach to the insides of the doors (so when the doors close, the shelves don't hit anything. I have two of them up right at the moment, but I need to make some more.

Regarding the "color coding" - I love the ejuicemeup calculator, but I don't have space for a computer in the vape cave where I can see the computer and mix at the same time. Plus, I am usually mixing multiple recipes at one time and I want to be efficient when I am using the same flavor across multiple recipes. So, I have all my recipes on color-coded index cards (Blue = Chocolate, Yellow = Vanillas, Red = Fruits, Orange = Bakery, Green = Misc.) Lay the cards out in front of the respective bottles, and when there's a common flavor, it gets into the respective bottle and then set aside.

Once I finish my shelves, I will be separating my flavors by "base type" and alphabetizing within each category. If you go the numbering scheme route, find the colored "yard sale price tag" dots. Mark your number and stick to the top of the correct bottle....

Sounds like you could use a small computer tablet, DingerCPA. My sorting idea is like yours except I didn't think up the color coding - I like color coding - great idea! You have carpenter skills - that's great! Did you make the shelves with a "lip" or something to keep the bottles from falling? The Plano containers in the HotWheels display is Plano Portable 24 Fixed Compartment Organizer-532430 - The Home Depot
I just did a search for the item number the guy put in the YouTube description. I was surprised by the price differences from the various stores. Also, IKEA has picture ledges (or something like that - can't remember the name) that look like they are just mounted to the wall and there is room to display a few framed photos or artwork in them. For your inside cupboard doors, those might work. If you look on the IKEA site, they are in the picture frame section. Please share a pic if you can when you get your project done. Best wishes!

 

[Janet]

One option to consider is a surface mount medicine cabinet, pretty inexpensive and you can see all the labels. I stumbled onto one put out for the trash while taking a walk in my neighborhood, 36 inches wide with mirrored doors. I hope my neighbor likes their new bathroom - my liquids like their new home!

Wow - what a great find! I looked at those, but they were too expensive to buy new. If I didn't live in an apartment, I'd like to have someone knock out some of the wall between the studs on the open wall space in the small kitchen and make a nice shallow storage space there with little shelves. I would want it painted and finished nicely of course. Hmmm, I wonder if that is possible. I can't imagine someone else not wanting some nice extra storage space there. I know that some medicine cabinets are made to be mounted in the wall. We had one in the house where I spent most of my childhood. It even had a slot for razor blades. I did not like thinking about the pile of razor blades inside the wall. Oh, Oh! - Reminds me of a funny old commercial -

 

[Janet]

vertical compartments or shelving with a face view seem to work best for me.
you can store single flavors from multiple suppliers in each one.
I organize alphabetically.
I have an exel spread sheet also. If I see a recipe somewhere - I can reference it right off my desktop to see if I have it on hand.
The compartment or shelf arrangement can be a bust if it is not solid and is subject to vibrations or sudden jerks of movement. I have watched 15 plastic bottles come tumbling off my shelf if I knocked one bottle over reaching for it, or hit the shelf edge with some sudden force.
you may try dbl. sided tape to secure those plastic racks to the back wall.
You may have to think of what would happen when you open the door, you don't want it flex the rack.
I have about 200 flavors on hand, always in search......

Sounds great! This is what I would like. One thing about the nail polish racks is that they have a little "guard rail" at the front edge of the shelf to hold them in. Maybe you could attach some trim to the front of your shelves that creates a low enclosure to keep the bottles more secure? Or mount some cup hooks on the inside front edges that support the shelving a little above each shelf and stretch a small bungee cord across? I agree, whatever ends up holding a couple hundred little bottles must be mounted very securely. I'd love to see your shelving - got a pic to share?

 

[misswish1]

Hey, Janet! I'm a long time beader also! I have 8 of the 6 drawer carts full of beads. If you take the wheels off, you can stack them.....I'm on a hunt for labels for my flavorings. So far I haven't found any that will stay on the side of the caps, which I would prefer. In the meantime, I will try the round ones for the top - thanks for that idea! Oh, a medicine cabinet would be fun!

 

[GatorzGirl]

I'm just starting out mixing my own juices. What I'm using right now is very basic, but somewhat functional.
I have a smallish 4 drawer plastic unit (about 24" tall) and in one of the deep drawers, I have ice cube trays holding my little flavoring bottles. They don't lay over totally, so it helps prevent leaking. (The trays will still sort of stack for my ever growing collection!) I also keep my nic in that drawer, so it's handy and out of danger of being dropped or knocked off a counter top.
In one of the shallow top drawers, I toss empty bottles to be reused. In another, I keep scissors, blue painters tape and a sharpie marker, (for temp labels of juices I'm developing), syringes, etc.
In the other deep, bottom drawer, I keep extra bottles of VG and my cleaning supplies, etc.
I pour off the PG from the gallon jug into a smaller, squeezable bottle with a capped-nozzle top (like you would use for ketchup/mustard), and pour a couple small bottles of VG into another. This way, I don't have to handle the big, gallon jug repeatedly, or constantly be reaching for another little bottle of VG. I also keep one of pre-mixed 70/30 PG/VG,so, when I get a new flavor, I can quick mix up a tiny bit to tell if it's worth mixing a bigger batch or just saving for later. I keep those in a paperboard beer bottle 6-pack holder to keep them upright and contained. It sits on top of the drawer unit, next to my Brother P-touch labelmaker for finished product labels.
I also use a large, daily dose pill box to store spare coils. Keeps them contained and organized.
Mind you, this is all temporary until my husband and I have time to settle on a final design and layout for my new work station! Until then, I'll be watching this thread for great ideas!!

 

[DingerCPA]

Yes, my shelves have edges. I can fit about 33 15mL bottles per shelf. I have a number of 8mL duplicates as well, so I'll tuck them in between. I'll get a pic up as soon as I'm done. Just got done cutting grass and moving a woodpile, so I'm kinda whooped right at the moment

 

[DingerCPA]

OK. Here goes.....

Three more shelves on the other door (can't crop enough to fit). Will need the dots n numbering scheme as well. But more organized than sitting in a box!

 

[Shiggles]

Hey Janet, do you like antiques or vintage stuff? Something that comes to mind is old printer drawers or type trays. They could be easily affixed to a wall, and there a pretty common item to come by. Here's a couple from a quick search on Etsy...

Antique Letterpress Printers TYPE TRAY by TurnersCollectibles

and

Antique Printer Drawer by VintageRelics802 on Etsy

While you're checking out Etsy, another idea would be having someone create a custom order to fit you needs. Most of the shop owners I've dealt with are pretty accommodating when it comes to custom orders. For instance, the shop below takes custom orders. Please note that the following shop was selected at random, so I cannot vouch for the quality of their work, haha. Anyhow, hope this helps.

Lifeofshelves on Etsy

 

[jambi]

It's a spice cabinet, made of 1x3 "furring strips". Should be really cheap and easy to make/have one made with shelves spaced however you like. I like how thin it is. Include the door or not, as suits your desires. This one's mounted on a cabinet, or it should mount nicely with minimal screws on any wall in your kitchen.

The plastic hot wheels cases are nice, but they're, ya know...plastic-icky.

 

[Papillon61]

I'm in the process of buying 4 of these on ebay. They'll take 96 of my 10ml flavours, which is less than I own but the most important ones can definitely sit there and hopefully I will be able to read the names without having to lift each and everyone of them out of the art box that now houses them.

24 trapezoid clear makeup display lipstick stand case cosmetic organizer holder | eBay

 

[Janet]

I'm just starting out mixing my own juices. What I'm using right now is very basic, but somewhat functional.
I have a smallish 4 drawer plastic unit (about 24" tall) and in one of the deep drawers, I have ice cube trays holding my little flavoring bottles. They don't lay over totally, so it helps prevent leaking. (The trays will still sort of stack for my ever growing collection!) I also keep my nic in that drawer, so it's handy and out of danger of being dropped or knocked off a counter top.
In one of the shallow top drawers, I toss empty bottles to be reused. In another, I keep scissors, blue painters tape and a sharpie marker, (for temp labels of juices I'm developing), syringes, etc.
In the other deep, bottom drawer, I keep extra bottles of VG and my cleaning supplies, etc.
I pour off the PG from the gallon jug into a smaller, squeezable bottle with a capped-nozzle top (like you would use for ketchup/mustard), and pour a couple small bottles of VG into another. This way, I don't have to handle the big, gallon jug repeatedly, or constantly be reaching for another little bottle of VG. I also keep one of pre-mixed 70/30 PG/VG,so, when I get a new flavor, I can quick mix up a tiny bit to tell if it's worth mixing a bigger batch or just saving for later. I keep those in a paperboard beer bottle 6-pack holder to keep them upright and contained. It sits on top of the drawer unit, next to my Brother P-touch labelmaker for finished product labels.
I also use a large, daily dose pill box to store spare coils. Keeps them contained and organized.
Mind you, this is all temporary until my husband and I have time to settle on a final design and layout for my new work station! Until then, I'll be watching this thread for great ideas!!

Sounds like you've already got everything under control GatorzGirl! Love the ice cube tray idea - agree that storing bottles at an angle is another good way to store them. I really like those condiment bottles too - I found translucent ones at Walmart for $1.00. I use them to store my bases (PG/VG/Nic) - one bottle for my "good" base and another for my base with "less than good" nic; i.e. before VapersTek. I think I should throw out all the inferior nic, but it is not that bad and maybe I should just keep it in the freezer for emergencies. I keep my 100mg VapersTek nic in the freezer always. I love good labels and had a Brother label maker (bought years ago), but battery acid leaked in it so I threw it out. I think I should get a new one. Which one do you have? I'm a sucker for good office supplies. I've been using white electrical tape for labels - a fine point Sharpie works pretty good, but I would definitely like good labels from a label maker. I'm so glad you and others are responding to this thread!

 

[Janet]

Hey, Janet! I'm a long time beader also! I have 8 of the 6 drawer carts full of beads. If you take the wheels off, you can stack them.....I'm on a hunt for labels for my flavorings. So far I haven't found any that will stay on the side of the caps, which I would prefer. In the meantime, I will try the round ones for the top - thanks for that idea! Oh, a medicine cabinet would be fun!

You are a serious beader MissWish - It's great that we beaders already have most of the tools needed for building coils (something I still have not tried yet, but I know I could do it). I used to have a bunch - two towers about 6 ft. tall - of those plastic stackable drawers for all kinds of art/craft supplies. After about 8 years they wore out and the drawers would not stay in their tracks very well, including the ones on the tops of the towers. I threw out all the art/craft stackable drawers (emptied) before moving to my current home. I imagine those stackable drawers are made better now. I still have a couple filled with sheet music that I keep on a bookcase shelf. I did not have the kind with wheels and I imagine those were sturdier to begin with. I still have not made a trip to Home Depot - when I do, I will check out medicine cabinet possibilities.

 

[Papillon61]

I have an excel spreadsheet for each flavor/number. The spreadsheet has a column for quantity on hand too. So each time I use some from a bottle, I deduct that amount. It helps when I'm placing a new order. It's a bit tedious I suppose; because I have to look at spreadsheet to get the bottle number to find the flavor. But it has its value for me !

There is a way of doing it automatically - mine does. Not that I am any sort of IT and/or excel expert but I found a tutorial online that has a step by step way of doing it. And you don't even need to number your flavours, you can go by its name. Let me see if I can find the tutorial for you.

Here you go - I think it's this.

Excel Magic Trick 348: Formula for Unit Inventory Total SUMIF function Trick - Free Excel Tutorials & Help - TeachExcel.com

The way I have worked this is that I have entered recipes for 10ml of juices I like to make into my spread sheet. Then all I do is copy that recipe again every time I make it (multiplying by the quantity I make - also using simple ecxel formula) as stores do when you punch in whatever you buy. Works a treat.

 

[Janet]

Yes, my shelves have edges. I can fit about 33 15mL bottles per shelf. I have a number of 8mL duplicates as well, so I'll tuck them in between. I'll get a pic up as soon as I'm done. Just got done cutting grass and moving a woodpile, so I'm kinda whooped right at the moment

No wonder you were whooped - especially If it were as hot and humid in IN as it was in OH this weekend. I don't do well with hot and humid weather. The weather wasn't that bad - I am such a wimp. For May, it just doesn't seem right for it to be in the 80's yet.

 

[Janet]

OK. Here goes.....

View attachment 457510

Three more shelves on the other door (can't crop enough to fit). Will need the dots n numbering scheme as well. But more organized than sitting in a box!

Oh, thanks so much Dinger for the pic! That looks like a great system!

 

[Janet]

Hey Janet, do you like antiques or vintage stuff? Something that comes to mind is old printer drawers or type trays. They could be easily affixed to a wall, and there a pretty common item to come by. Here's a couple from a quick search on Etsy...

Antique Letterpress Printers TYPE TRAY by TurnersCollectibles

and

Antique Printer Drawer by VintageRelics802 on Etsy

While you're checking out Etsy, another idea would be having someone create a custom order to fit you needs. Most of the shop owners I've dealt with are pretty accommodating when it comes to custom orders. For instance, the shop below takes custom orders. Please note that the following shop was selected at random, so I cannot vouch for the quality of their work, haha. Anyhow, hope this helps.

Lifeofshelves on Etsy

Thanks Shiggles! I have thought of Etsy and old printer trays too. I do like the look of them. It's been a while, but when I looked at them a couple years ago, all those separate compartments didn't have the right dimensions for what I would like. I would love to just have someone build it for me. I live near Amish and Mennonite communities - I imagine there is a very high possibility to find a carpenter who would do quality work at a good price. With all the people making their own juice now, I'd think there is a good demand for shelving units and cupboards made to store little bottles at a shallow depth. Thanks for all the links!

 

[440BB]

I bet the Amish/woodworker approach will work. The sizes of most of what we need are of such thin dimensions they could use some of their scrap pieces up!