Is it really that simple?

[NeilSwift]

I am about to embark on my DIY e-liquid journey and am sure it can't be this simple.

I have used a link posted on here to locate what I think I will need;
PG base fluid with 52mgs of nicotine.
PG fluid.
Flavour concentrate.

I put some flavour in the PG fluid and mix it 50/50 with the base fluid and end up with 26mg e-fluid?

Obviously the amounts need to be correct and a few items to measure it would be required (and some gloves) but doing the maths I reckon it would save me 80% on what I now pay at the store.

Does that sound right?

Cheers in advance.

 

[markfm]

You got it

The final nicotine level is just the total mg of nicotine divided by the total ml of final eliquid. If you did one part nic base to two parts other, you would end up at 17-1/3 mg/ml.

A 100% PG eliquid is a little rare, most people like at least some VG as it produces more vapor. In the US we can get Glycerin USP Skin Protectant at most pharmacies, near the bandaids -- it's clear, very thick, the only ingredient should be Glycerin USP (or EP in Europe?). About 80% PG, 20% VG, is a pretty popular starting point, though many people will shift to a bit more VG over time (unless they have sensitivity to VG).

On the flavorings, some are better to use than others. The Stickeys at the top of this forum area include some good discussions about various flavorings.

Good luck!

 

[Zurd]

Yes it's that simple, you probably save closer to 99% instead of 80% though, cost me around 1 cent per ml. Put your liquid nicotine in the fridge! with time the nicotine will evaporate, just put it somewhere safe, make sure nobody can drink it.

 

[NeilSwift]

So if I throw a bottle of VG into the equation based on how much I use and spend on fluids now, I get five years worth of fluid for the equivalent price of six months of what I'm paying now?

That's just insane!.

The site I'm getting the DIY stuff off is obviously making a profit so the store I buy it from must be making a killing.

Cheers for your quick response Mark.

I will have a look at the Stickys and no doubt experiment and add my 2c somewhere down the line.

 

[NeilSwift]

Put your liquid nicotine in the fridge! with time the nicotine will evaporate, just put it somewhere safe, make sure nobody can drink it.

No problem.

1 cent per ml equates to about £5 a year (in real money ) for me.

Again cheers for the quick response Zurd.

 

[Couture]

OMGosh I need to start doing some reading.

 

[YKruss]

Neil,

You don't have to use your math skills - just use ejuice calculator:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/scubabatdan/693-v13-ejuice-calculator-here.html

 

[NeilSwift]

OMGosh I need to start doing some reading.

I know.

Cheers Russ. That will help.

 

[markfm]

The calculator is good, and scubabatdan has an excel spreadsheet which has a bunch of mixes already listed.

For me, total cost for high flavor eliquid, using organic flavorings, is all of $2.50/30ml, rising to a whopping $3 if I make it at 24 mg/ml strength (I vape 10 mg/ml nowadays). Every 10 days I make a fresh 60 ml batch of my all day vape, it's down to a total of 5 minutes,, including cleaning (large batches are faster, I use plastic 15ml graduated beakers).

DIY isn't for everyone, but if you can put in a bit of time, take good notes on mixes to pick your own personal winners, and are careful in measuring and cleaning, it's pretty fast, saves money, and is fun. I get 100% consistent product, tasting exactly the way I want it to.

 

[DJ RyckRak]

Only addition is-
Please wear safety goggles or glasses...please !
You don't want the nic base in your eyes.

But it's not that hard, you get the flavors you want...and it cost pennies.
All of the money you save goes into fancier mods !!!

Best to You !

 

[NeilSwift]

Only addition is-
Please wear safety goggles or glasses...please !

My age dictates the necessity for optical enhancement when anything smaller than a barn door needs to be observed with some degree of accuracy.

Cheers though DJ. Duly noted.

 

[BillLouisiana]

This is the ejuice calculator that I use. It works like a charm!

E-Liquid Calculator Ten Flavor's With Nicotine Plus PG/VG Adjusting

 

[BakuPeg]

Is DIY really that easy? Are vendors making a killing?

Yes. and Yes. Juice Vendors are just DIYers on a larger scale.

DIY just takes time to learn and make your own recipes. Ohh wait a moment.. E-Liquid Recipes
Theres a whole forum of DIYers who have shared their wisdom with the world.
Can I add that some vendors have picked some of these very recipes and are selling them for lots of money right now at this very moment?

WHy are you still reading, go order some flavors and get mixing!

 

[Zurd]

I was quite surprised after reading markfm post saying it's costing him 2-3$ for a 30ml bottle, so I recalculated what it's actually costing me, taking into account that those are real orders I made in the past : 125ml of flavors for 33.05$, 500ml of PG for 11$, 1000ml of VG for 20.72$, 500ml of nicotine @ 100mg for 125$.

I then calculated the price for 100ml of VG and PG, 10ml of nicotine for a liquid at 10mg and 10ml of flavors for a liquid at 10% of flavor. Grand total of 9.42$ for 100ml, or 0.09$ per ml or 2.82$ for a 30ml bottle. A bit more expensive than my first calculation but if I go through 5ml of liquid a day, that's about 45 cents a day, I think I can afford it

 

[markfm]

Yes, the cost is real I just recalculated my numbers this past week -pretty cool.

I definitely don't knock the commercial vendors, as doing things as a business you get the costs for the labels, general inventory management, Web site development/maintenance, the joys of customer and supplier communications, posting any help, the time/$ didn't coming up with new, good, blends, ... Add a decent bottle and label, the little bit of surrounding paperwork, etc., you will be about $4/bottle material, leaving $11 on a $15 bottle to cover your labor costs and overhead. Decent money, but the total overhead cost is not trivial to run a small business with a lot of individually shall orders.

Anyhow, I really enjoy DIY, but am very happy to recommend multiple suppliers to people who don't want to deal with it

 

[BakuPeg]

Ohh I certainly understand a vendor's overhead. I am very happy for them, they keep the industry going. They employ many people in the good ol USofA. and a lot of people don't have the time or patience to DIY. Some of their blends are very complex and they keep US guessing what is in them

I was telling my Mother earlier (She lives just outside Detroit) Ahlusion is about a 30-45 drive away. If she doesn't like the DIY I send her its only a short trip

 

[eHuman]

60mg Nicotine - 250ml $21.29
PGl - 250ml - $5.49
VG - 250ml - $5.49
200ml flavoring - $37.25
________________________
= $69.52
Yields 900ml of 16% flavored 17mg juice @ 7.7¢ per mil or $2.32 for 30ml bottle.
Or yields 750ml of 16% flavored 20mg juice @ 9.3¢ per mil or $2.78 for 30ml bottle. (With left over PG/VG and flavoring)

 

[NeilSwift]

Tried to buy what I needed today but the guy has shut the site as he has "man flu".

Did some looking and there are more sites in the UK than I initially thought.

I can't remember the figures but am sure it equated to £1.16 ($1.81) per 10ml at around 24mg on the original site.

Found one that I can quote figures,
100ml 54mg base £24.95
100ml PG £3.50
20ml flavour £7.00
Gives 220ml of 23mg (ish) juice. £35.45.
£0.16 per ml. £1.60 per 10ml. ($2.53 per 10ml)

You guys are getting it for a ball park $1 per 10ml.

Sheesh.