Is separation normal?

[Myzzeri]

I just got all my stuff in for my first DIY order. Although I still need to get a bottle of PG.

I started out mixing with my 60mg nic 50/50 pg/vg mix, with VG and my flavoring. I followed the amounts on the online calculator to end up with 16mg nic.

After I added everything and shook it up, I added it to a brand new carto, and it tastes really good.

I noticed after the bottle sat for a couple hours that the juice is separating, is it normal for it to separate after mixed and just give it a shake before I refill my cartos again?

 

[Moonflame]

I'm in the habit of shaking the bottle before I refill or drip, just in case, even if I don't see any visible separation. I figure it can't hurt and might help.

 

[MaxUT]

I've had cinnamon seperate out of a Cinnamon Pear recipe but it tasted fine after shaking the bottle. It turned a little cloudy though.

Citrus flavors can also seperate. I've seen that happen with Perfumers Apprentice Lime.

 

[Myzzeri]

It's cinnamon redhots that is separating, so maybe thats it.

 

[slypknot]

I use cinnamon redhots in quite a few mixes and do not experience any separation like what you're referring to...though I'm sure it happens. How long has the juice steeped? I normally mix mine up, shake em and let em sit for a day, then shake again and repeat for a couple more days... after 3-4 it's ready for vaping and again, I see no separation.

 

[Wench]

I've had problems with some of the TPA flavors that list Triacetin as a ingredient separating when mixed with VG.
(cloudy, oil droplet look when shaken together- separates when it sits awhile)
It's only with high % of VG it happens,(30% and highier)
No separating or problem when mixing with PG.
Something about the mix of Triacetin and VG that don't play nice together.

 

[Myzzeri]

That sounds like exactly whats happening, Wench. I guess the question is, if I shake it up and fill a carto with it, it will be ok to vape? I am getting some PG later this week hopefully that will solve my problem

I'll know in the future! Thanks for the help guys.

 

[MaxUT]

It must be due to the VG base, which is what I was using. It was okay for the first week or so, then the seperation started.

 

[Liv2Ski]

It may be the vg. I just looked at a 1/2 full 15ml DIY bottle of TPA Cinnamon Redhots that is mixed with 10% flavor at 80pg/20vg. I mixed this batch over 6 weeks ago and it has sat for at least 4 weeks on a shelf. There is NO seperation at all in mine. Sounds like Wench has a point about the cause of 30% or higher on the vg being the issue.

 

[MaxUT]

That VG, she is a pesky one, eh?

 

[Liv2Ski]

MaxUT what was your pg/vg ratio? Was it above the 30% mark on vg? I wonder if a drop or two of PGA would solve the issue.

 

[ByStander1]

Myzzeri,

I use VG primarily (at least 60%-70%). Remember, most of your flavorings are PG based, so if you're using high flavoring and PG nic base, your PG % is pretty high already (if you flavor @ 20%).

-- I'm not very patient, so I'd already be at the store getting VG to see how it goes.

Separation is normal with quite a few flavorings in my experience, but with regular shaking throughout the first day I'm using it, it disappears. Like Moonflame, I shake before I drip without even thinking about it when a mix is freshly made. I've never had any permanent separation though. Of course, in all fairness, not sure anything sits long enough

Hope this helps!

 

[Wench]

I ran a simple experiment with mine that ya'll can do also if you have any suspect flavors before mixing a whole bottle and wasting supplies if you have a flavoring that maybe a issue. ( this is how I figured out it was just the VG reacting)

Ziplock bags over white paper (or black) Used seperate pipettes for each so no cross contamination.
16 drops of pg on one, 16 of vg on another. Add 4 drops flavoring to each.
With mine it dissolved instantly in the PG and no issues when stirred together. Clear mix.
When the flavor was added with the VG it sat on top, (oil and water effect) same cloudy oil droplet effect when stirred.

After that I simply started at a 90pg/10VG and worked up to see how much it could tolerate before separating and solubility became a issue.

Hope this helps : D

 

[ByStander1]

Extraordinary idea! Will be using this one. Thanks!

 

[breaktru]

When I'm adding my 100% VG Nicotine to my eJuice in a Graduated Measuring cylinder, you can see the Nic go right to the bottom. VG is heavier so... Shake Shake Shake. Shake your bottle, shake your bottle. Hey isn't that a song By KC?
Any way, I'm in the habit of shaking between adding drops when I am dripping with ALL my eJuices, DIY or premade.

 

[MaxUT]

MaxUT what was your pg/vg ratio? Was it above the 30% mark on vg? I wonder if a drop or two of PGA would solve the issue.

VG was at 63%, the rest was 10% PA Cinnamon, 27% PA Pear (a little too high on both). Yes, next time I would try premixing Cinnamon and PGA in the bottle and letting it combine overnight before adding the Pear and VG.