Is It Bad Advice For Beginner DIY To Mix Small 5ml Batches

[Blueser]

I'm still waiting on all my DIY supplies to be delivered. In anticipation of getting started, I'm somewhat concerned that for a beginner the accuracy of mixing small 3-5ml batches is going to be more difficult as opposed to mixing a 10ml batch of juice. I would think the measurements of the flavors would have to be pretty exact and the margins of error much more unforgiving in small batches.

I'm planning on starting on the low end of the recommended percentage on flavors and working up to taste. I understand this is going to be mostly trial and error but in working with small batches it would seem to me that a drop or two/or 0.1ml too much in flavoring would result in having to increase the pg/vg/nic percentages for a larger batch to compensate.

Only asking...well, because I dunno just trying to cut down on wasting too much pre-DIY

 

[Hoofhearted62]

if nothing else, even if it is easier for you to do the math using 10ml. do test batches without nicotine. that way if its a bust you wont waste the most expensive part.

 

[thatguy2]

1) Ask yourself this - Would I rather flush 5ml of yuck juice or 10ml of yuck juice?

2) Don't measure by drops.. REPEAT.. Don't measure by drops.. Go to Walmart or CVS
and get a few 1ml syringes or maybe .5ml syringes. Ask for them "without sharps" and
there are normally no questions asked. If you have a Tractor Supply store near you,
they have 1ml for 21 cents. Go to the animal health section and you'll see them.

3) Start low on flavor percentage. My first attempt was 12 bottles of 5ml each in 12 different
flavors. Mixed them all at 10%, waited a week and tried them. Those that weren't totally in
your face strong, had no flavor by having to much flavor. 60ml of yuck!
Do that and you'll find yourself throwing them away, or like me, mixing unflavored base and cutting
them in half (making them 5% flavor). Now I have 120ml of unknown Wait another week and try them
again. All too weak in flavor..
Add another 1%, wait another week and try again.. Better, but not just right.. Add another 1%, wait
another week and try again.. hmmm.. I know - IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T TRY TO FIX IT!
Ended up 7% was my idea of good, everyone has different tastes..

Above all else, read the blogs by DannyV45 and Hoosier - much to be learned from those 2.. Keep lots of notes!

 

[rdwilliamson]

^^^^ +1

I do 5ml test batches on all my new recipes. Keeps a person sane when he mixes something up and it turns into gag juice.

 

[Blueser]

My concern is the low margins of error in small batches...and I didn't mean my reference to "drops" taken literally. I was just implying that it could be difficult (at least to me) in precisely measuring minute percentages in a 1ml syringe. Evidently is it easier than I'm making it out to be.

 

[Griff]

--Evidently is it easier than I'm making it out to be.

It is. Don't overthink it. Make sure you use a good calculator (like ejuicemeup) and follow the %'s. You definately want to make sure the recipe is going to be something you like before making a large amount.

 

[Harlen]

Hello
I'm a bit dumb and slow so I keep it simple a10ml bottle is better for me to mix up .
What I do is mix my nicotine up all at one time .
Then make what I know is good ,I like the fruit flavors .
I end up with 250ml to play with and make combo juice .
Some are better then others but haven't had a yuck batch yet.
There are some great recipes here on this site .
Try what works for others you may fined some thing you really like ?
Best wishes

 

[thatguy2]

My concern is the low margins of error in small batches...and I didn't mean my reference to "drops" taken literally. I was just implying that it could be difficult (at least to me) in precisely measuring minute percentages in a 1ml syringe. Evidently is it easier than I'm making it out to be.

Yes it is easy.. The 1ml syringes are marked at 0.1 ml/cc intervals. Your calculator will tell you how much..
And there are 10 sub-divisions in between so you can measure as small as 0.01 ml.

Oh, by the way.. put clear tape over the markings (or clear nail polish) and the syringes will last a really long time.
Another hint is use a 20 gauge needle to draw the flavoring right through the dropper tip if yours are in dropper bottles.
You can buy those at Tractor Supply also. Be sure to dull the tip on the needle a little so you don't stick yourself. Use
the fine side of an emery board and drag the point of the needle across it 4 or 5 times and your good to go..

 

[Landosnotasystem]

+1 to everything Thatguy2 said

The only thing I would add would be, don't be afraid to make a few batches of the same flavor at different percentages. Instead of, as he already said, mixing at 10%, diluting down to 5%, adding 1% to your new batch size, and keeping it all straight, try three 5 ml batches at 5%, 7% and 10%.
And, of course, no matter how many bottles you have, you'll want more. Search Amazon for '2 Dram Glass Vials' - very reusable, and fit a 5 ml batch with room to spare.

Finally, without nic, I think a test batch costs me less than a dime. I don't give a second thought to dumping a failed batch (I guess there's no such thing as a failed batch, just a valuable learning experience)

 

[Griff]

--I guess there's no such thing as a failed batch, just a valuable learning experience

Speaking of which....the most important thing to remember is to take notes. Mark down what you like / dont like about a recipe. Nothing worse than making a killer liquid, then wondering exactly how you did it (been there).

 

[WillyZee]

For now, considering I am new to DIY ... I make 10ml samples ... the stuff is cheap enough to make ... therefore, throwing out the odd batch I cannot tweek into something is no big deal for me

 

[john333]

It's not hard making a accurate 5ml batch. I prefer 10ml on first try recipes. 10ml will give you enough liquid to try over the course of several days while the juice changes from the steeping process. Smaller batches, especially 3ml, is pretty much a one shot deal and wont give you the chance to vape it over time. Good luck

 

[dannyv45]

Is It Bad Advice For Beginner DIY To Mix Small 5ml Batches

No thats actually some great advice. Also doing some reading is also good advice. Start with these

Read my blogs before getting started

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

then read hoosier's blogs.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

this will explain a lot of the how's and why's.