Is a 'base' pg/vg/nic mix possible?

[meetzer]

I was just thinking today that it would be so much easier to test flavor mixes if I could pre-mix a larger batch of base liquid (nic/pg/vg), then use 3 or so ml's of it at a time to test flavor combinations in.

I usually vape at 18mg. I know that whatever strength the base is mixed at would then be lowered after adding anything to it to develop a flavor, and that's fine with me as long as i'm not ending up with a very low nic strength (at least for now). I don't think I would be happy under 11mg at all, though weaning off of nic entirely is something I'd like to accomplish someday.

Being new to vaping and DIY, i'm not certain if this is a viable method for testing flavor combinations. I'm also not sure if there would be a way to calculate the nic strength in a finalized recipe using this 'base' mix. Obviously, I would know what strength the base is, but how could I calculate down from that depending on how much (and what) was added to obtain a flavor I like?

Another question I have: When people say they use a 30/70 or 20/80 or whatever vg/pg mix, does that take into account the pg that is in the nic? Or does that refer to how much straight pg and vg is added to a mix in addition to the nic?

Any insight on the subject is really appreciated.

 

[oldsoldier]

I like to mix single flavor bases at known percentages for use in experimenting. For example 10% cinnamon redhots 18mg 80/20 and 10% wintergreen 18mg 80/20. Then I can play with the ratios without changing the nic level of the resulting juice.

This technique does require that you already know what percentages work for your flavors and that you have plenty of nicotine to prepare your bases. I find it useful because a lot of flavors I own can be vaped as single flavors already...

 

[Shantia]

Hmm, this is do-able but you will need to know your percentages for flavors. Best way to do this is download ejuice me up, and use the nic combine tool. Lets just say you like 12 MG nic juice, and you want 20% flavor.

Start with your premix base at 5ML, you will be adding 1 ML of flavoring. So that basically means your already combined PG/VG/NIC base will need to be 14.5MG. The end result will be 6ML of flavored nic juice at 12MG 20% flavor, and your desired PG/VG Ratio. (when using the nic combine tool, you leave one at 0, and how many ML of flavoring your desired concentration will be. Then find that 'sweet' spot on the strength of nic you will need to achieve your desired nic strength.)

Also take into account that most flavorings are PG BASED, and say you want 80PG/20VG you will have to find out how much extra VG you will need to add to compensate for the final product after your ML of PG flavoring is added. Since i dont know if your nic is PG or VG based i cant really help you with this one. But to answer your question, yes most calculators take into account the base your nic is in in the final PG/VG ratio. Ejuice me up even takes the PG or VG of your flavors into account. I just set all flavors as 100% PG.

I hope this post makes sense to you lol.

 

[MaxUT]

I usually vape at 18mg. I know that whatever strength the base is mixed at would then be lowered after adding anything to it to develop a flavor...

Not as much as you might think.

If you mix the base at 20mg, then 10% flavoring would bring the nic down to 18mg and 20% flavor would drop it to 16mg.

Being new to vaping and DIY, i'm not certain if this is a viable method for testing flavor combinations.

Sure it is. I started premixing FlavourArt tobacco flavors to use as bases for my tobacco concoctions since they have a long (several weeks) steeping time at the higher concentrations. Very handy.

I'm also not sure if there would be a way to calculate the nic strength in a finalized recipe using this 'base' mix. Obviously, I would know what strength the base is, but how could I calculate down from that depending on how much (and what) was added to obtain a flavor I like?

Well, if you don't mind keeping exact notes, making exact measurements and doing some calculations...

Say you started with 10% Cinnamon, 6% French Vanilla and 4% Sweet Cream and filled the little 3mL bottle up to the shoulder with your base liquid. You let it sit for 24 hrs and then test it. It's pretty good when dripping in your atomizer, so you decide to fill a cartomizer and head off to work.

By the time you get home, you've decided that it needs a bit more cinnamon. You take your trusty 3mL (or 5mL) syringe and pull up the remainder of the juice in your test bottle to measure it -- 1.9mL is left. [write that down] You decide on using 2% more cinnamon, so multiply 1.9mL x 0.02 = 0.038mL, or a little more than one average drop. You add one drop, call it 1.5% and write that down.

When you settle on the balance of flavors, then you can refer to your notes to calculate how the percentages came out in the final mix.

Another question I have: When people say they use a 30/70 or 20/80 or whatever vg/pg mix, does that take into account the pg that is in the nic? Or does that refer to how much straight pg and vg is added to a mix in addition to the nic?

I just add up the amount of VG I used, calculate the percentage it amounts to, then assume that the rest is PG. If you want say, 25% VG in your final mix, then just use 30% VG in your base liquid and it'll be fairly close.

 

[sjohnson]

I make up 250 ml of base at a time, mixing base is not fun for me so I try to make a big batch to get the chore over with. 50% PG (includes the nicotine in PG), 30% glycerine and 20% water/alcohol. Dilution with flavor, as MaxUT states, decreases the nicotine content very little. I find no need to be precise in my nicotine mg/ml as long as I'm near my target concentration it all works.

 

[MaxUT]

Hey bud, how ya been? Haven't seen you around for a while.

 

[meetzer]

Thanks so much for the explanations! This is wonderful information to start working with. You guys rock!!

Incidentally, the nic I am currently using is 60mg in PG, but I just ordered a 500ml bottle of Nic(PG - 100mg) and a gallon each of PG and VG to start working with (plus a slew of different complimentary FA flavors, & some tobacco absolute, tobacco extract, & maltol crystals from PA). Sounds like a lot, but I'll likely be supplying about 7 people with juice, and the prices were really good on those sizes...

That said, I like DIY, but I don't want to have to mix liquids up constantly. I'd like to find a tobacco flavor and then 2-3 other flavors that I like well enough to mix large batches at a time. I haven't found the perfect tobacco flavor yet, but I did get sidetracked in the tobacco extraction thread last night and found it quite interesting.... as if I need another DIY project. LOL.

If I'm not mistaken, ejuice me up doesn't work on a mac, but I'll take a look at it again to be sure. I don't mind keeping detailed records of my progress. I like spreadsheets. With the info you good folks have given me, I think I can muddle through. I'll be back with more questions, though, I'm sure.

 

[sjohnson]

Hey bud, how ya been? Haven't seen you around for a while.

I've started a new job, working 6PM-6AM nights. It's only been just recently that I've gotten my "second wind" and got used to the grind, so finally have time to do something other than work and sleep! Good to be around once in a while, and thanks for asking