Is it really this easy?

[bazmonkey]

My advance apologies if this is an over-asked question...

I've found unflavored nic-liquid (2.4% or 3.6%) on ECF-sponsored stores, 100mL+ for under $10. Enough flavoring (if I understand the approx. proportions) for all of that is also under $10.

So... I can buy pre-mixed liquid that isn't dangerously concentrated, add flavor, and I can get 100+mL for the same price I pay for 30mL mixed???

The question I'm getting at is: is that all it takes? Why is there a 500% markup for... finding a good flavor and putting it in a little bottle? I'm not asking because I think pre-mixed juice is a rip-off; I'm asking if there's a catch or something I'm missing. Is making a decent flavor harder than it seems? Is it really that easy to make vaporizing incredibly cheap?

 

[gthompson]

If you're just looking to vape cheap, sure, you've found the way to go, but good luck making something as good as some of these vendors make.

 

[mostlyclassics]

If any of the flavors you can buy suits your tastes, that's about all there is to it. You can save some semi-serious money DIYing.

DIYers either stick to simple flavors (for instance, menthol or Key lime or cherry or whatever) or try to duplicate favorites, but the latter with varying degrees of success. A very few turn out to have a real flair for crafting novel and complex flavors, plus the skills and meticulous recordkeeping to reliably duplicate their best efforts. And some of those make the leap (if they can find the investment) to become an internet e-liquid operation.

I DIY some of my basic flavors (menthol, a spearmint-wintergreen-menthol blend, some fruits), but I buy lots of artisanly-crafted e-liquids as well. Stuff like Mt. Baker's White Out I won't even try to duplicate, since I have no idea what's in it. All I know is that it's delicious!

 

[gthompson]

That's a good point. A lot (most?) of the vendors out there started out as DIYers.

 

[boog]

yep, it is easy. and cheap.

I like the juice I make much better than any vendor's juice.

 

[Caridwen]

If you can make something vapable, it is fairly easy and definitely cheaper.

It takes some practice and make sure to write everything down as you go.

There are lots of recipes in the DIY section. I consider myself fair. I make most but still buy one or two. I vape pretty simple 1 or 2 flavor liquids though.

If you look, you can find a couple videos. Here's one.

DIY E-Juice - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwh5rQdaTbU

 

[boomerdude]

After a few months of DIY I can say it is not easy. I can go through 6 6ml bottles of one mix at varying percentages. Then throw them out and start again because they tasted like mule taint. Just trying to get one recipe vapable, never mind good can take weeks. The folks that mix and sell good juice must have a lot of time invested as well as money.

 

[DuaneNeveu]

If you can make something vapable, it is fairly easy and definitely cheaper.

It takes some practice and make sure to write everything down as you go.

There are lots of recipes in the DIY section. I consider myself fair. I make most but still buy one or two. I vape pretty simple 1 or 2 flavor liquids though.

If you look, you can find a couple videos. Here's one.

DIY E-Juice - YouTube

DIY E-Liquid by Spliner - YouTube

VapingMonkey's juice is at 46% flavour!?!?!?! That'd blow my head off!

 

[Caridwen]

You have to start simple. Don't use a lot of flavoring at first and let it steep. Some flavoring are really overpowering so you have to use them sparingly. Flavors like coconut, vanilla, cherry just a drop or that's all you'll taste. Sweetners too- don't add too much.

Just start small, maybe 5 ml. until you get the right ratios. I bought the nicotine base very close to what I already vaped and there wasn't a lot of mixing to do.

 

[Caridwen]

VapingMonkey's juice is at 46% flavour!?!?!?! That'd blow my head off!

I know! I saw that too. I use like 10%.

 

[Caridwen]

I'll move this to DIY so you'll get more hints from the experts.

 

[bazmonkey]

If you're just looking to vape cheap, sure, you've found the way to go, but good luck making something as good as some of these vendors make.

Thanks, that's what I thought. I figured the price markup was because making a palatable flavor is easier said than done.

So it sounds like I could replace the simpler flavors (vanilla, menthol, berry) after some trial-and-error, but a "tobacco" flavor or something complicated would be difficult. I'm not a big flavor snob... yet, and there's some combinations (vanilla-menthol) that I enjoy in just about any proportion, so this might be a good idea.

 

[DuaneNeveu]

I know! I saw that too. I use like 10%.

I think that even if I vaped something mild like TPA Graham Cracker at 46%, I'd feel like I needed to shave my tongue afterward.

 

[bazmonkey]

Just start small, maybe 5 ml. until you get the right ratios. I bought the nicotine base very close to what I already vaped and there wasn't a lot of mixing to do.

That's what got me thinking of this. I discounted DIY at first because the stickies warn of the (very real) danger of handling concentrated nicotine. When I saw cheap pre-mixed liquid I was like "Well, *now* what's stopping me?"

Thanks for the advice, BTW. Everyone. I think I'm going to buy a 60mL bottle (still supa-cheap) soon and a couple flavorings and see how it goes.

 

[Caridwen]

Try it! I think my first DIY was Orange Dream Bar. Turned out pretty good. I usually go by the ratio they tell you.

When you're using tanks and vv devices you go through a lot of liquid. If you can just make a couple it's a big help.

 

[DuaneNeveu]

My advance apologies if this is an over-asked question...

I've found unflavored nic-liquid (2.4% or 3.6%) on ECF-sponsored stores, 100mL+ for under $10. Enough flavoring (if I understand the approx. proportions) for all of that is also under $10.

So... I can buy pre-mixed liquid that isn't dangerously concentrated, add flavor, and I can get 100+mL for the same price I pay for 30mL mixed???

The question I'm getting at is: is that all it takes? Why is there a 500% markup for... finding a good flavor and putting it in a little bottle? I'm not asking because I think pre-mixed juice is a rip-off; I'm asking if there's a catch or something I'm missing. Is making a decent flavor harder than it seems? Is it really that easy to make vaporizing incredibly cheap?

Beyond the research and development involved in great flavours, there's also:

• The cost of bottles
• Warehousing overhead
• Customer service and "mixologist" wages
• Indexing and labeling
• Maintenance/replacement/cleaning of mixing equipment
• Web presence and maintenance

...and probably stuff I haven't even thought of.

I've even found that DIY isn't quite as inexpensive as I'd expected. Don't get me wrong, it's cheaper, but not exponentially so. I'm still going to keep doing it though. The control freak in me wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[bazmonkey]

Beyond the research and development involved in great flavours, there's also:
...
...and probably stuff I haven't even thought of.

I've even found that DIY isn't quite as inexpensive as I'd expected. Don't get me wrong, it's cheaper, but not exponentially so. I'm still going to keep doing it though. The control freak in me wouldn't have it any other way.

I can see it getting expensive quick if I was trying out new flavors constantly, or trying to "make" a flavor I already had in mind. I'm hoping to keep it simple.

It's hard to sort out the multitude of recipes here... are there some simple-to-mix flavors that are well-understood good ones? Assuming I get proper measuring devices and keep records of what I mix, could I realistically expect to be able to whip up a little bottle of something reasonably good within a couple tries?

 

[Caridwen]

I ordered the ingredients to try this.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...bishys-peppermint-ice-cream-modification.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-liquid-recipes/259405-bishys-peppermint-ice-cream.html

If you want simple, sure. I mix pineapple with a couple drops of koolada (cools) and vape that all day.

 

[Caridwen]

Here's a good calculator

eJuice Me Up - Best eJuice Calculator

http://www.todmuller.com/ejuice/ejuice.php

 

[scarf-ace]

Obviously the more complex the flavor, the more trial and error you will have to go through. Once you get a recipe you like, then it will be easy, but you might make a heck of a lot of unvapeable swill until you get it right.

Of course, if you find a single flavoring that works for you, then you've got it made

If you ever decide that you want to make natural tobacco or tea flavors, check this out: Slow Cooker Extraction of Tobacco and Tea .

It is definitely more involved than using concentrated flavorings. But if the spirit moves you, the results are worth it.