Lesson learned in DIY

[Burn_notice_fan_NY]

I learned a valuable lesson tonight when I did my DIY. I was rushing to get two mixes out to test. Had everything set up nicely. In my speediness, I did not check the syringe on my VG needle and did not know it was loose. It popped off when filling a bottle. I made sure to put extra in as I'd rather my nic mg be under than over my amount. This problem annoyed me a little but I continued on. Then I knocked over one of my flavorings as I pulled out my syringe. Managed to save some flavoring for next time. For those who are new, myself included, remember to take your time... Accidents will happen if you're rushing.


Don't make the same mistakes I did. Fortunately I prepare my space on a cookie sheet with paper towels underneath so it was an easy clean up.

 

[Hoosier]

My worst was not checking that the syringe plunger moved easily in the barrel. 30ml bottle of Blueberry Extra was flung across the room due to the plunger freezing and causing me to jerk the plunger. Lever action flung that bottle like it was thrown from a catapult. Couldn't save a drop and the dining room smelled like blueberry for weeks.

Always move the plunger up and down the entire length now days. That second of time has saved me flavoring on more than one occasion.

 

[Boletus]

My first time I did not realize the needle and syringe I was using were threaded, so I just had it pressed on. Lucky for me it did not fall off, but I was getting air in the syringe trying to draw up VG until I figured out what was going on. And absolutely, slow and steady wins the race.

 

[Moodyfisherman]

My worst was not checking that the syringe plunger moved easily in the barrel. 30ml bottle of Blueberry Extra was flung across the room due to the plunger freezing and causing me to jerk the plunger. Lever action flung that bottle like it was thrown from a catapult. Couldn't save a drop and the dining room smelled like blueberry for weeks.

Always move the plunger up and down the entire length now days. That second of time has saved me flavoring on more than one occasion.

I can vouch for that as I always lube up my plunger with VG and make sure it moves feely....a slow install of each flavor/nic etc is important to safe mixing.

 

[DenaInWyo]

Thanks for the reminder. No mixing unless I am set to do only mixing and have plenty of time.

And a squirt bottle close at hand for curious cats.

 

[b.m.]

My worst was not checking that the syringe plunger moved easily in the barrel. 30ml bottle of Blueberry Extra was flung across the room due to the plunger freezing and causing me to jerk the plunger. Lever action flung that bottle like it was thrown from a catapult.

Haha,i could definitely picture that.I almost had that yesterday.I got a bottle of ripe bananna,i had a pippette set out just for that flavor,but while trying to keep track of what i was doing,i put the syringe right into the rb,people weren't kidding when they say that stuff will lock up a syringe fast haha

 

[zoiDman]

...

Don't make the same mistakes I did. Fortunately I prepare my space on a cookie sheet with paper towels underneath so it was an easy clean up.

Working over a Stainless Steel Sheet Pan was something I had to Learn the Hard Way. Because I have only had 2 Major Chemical Spills while doing DIY.

The Last one was when a 250ml Bottle of Nicotine Pre-Mix decided to fall over. It went Glug-Glug-Glug as it laid on it's side. But I calmly righted it and after Evacuating every, I was able to Pour the Pre-Mix back into the Bottle from the Corner of the Sheet Pan.

The First one Wasn't so good. And when the Bottle went Glug-Glug-Glug, it created an ever Widening pool of Nicotine base on the Top of my Kitchen Table.

 

[dannyv45]

I've had as we all have had the same experience. I've knocked bottles over several times because I was in a rush and disregarded my normal procedures. I recommend to slow down, think twice and do once and avoid interuptions.

Hoosier I can't tell you how many times I've been nailed by the sticking plunger which reminds me it's time to replace my 3ml. Dipping the plunger in VG before use aint doing it for this one any longer

 

[Damrin]

My worst was not checking that the syringe plunger moved easily in the barrel. 30ml bottle of Blueberry Extra was flung across the room due to the plunger freezing and causing me to jerk the plunger. Lever action flung that bottle like it was thrown from a catapult. Couldn't save a drop and the dining room smelled like blueberry for weeks.

Always move the plunger up and down the entire length now days. That second of time has saved me flavoring on more than one occasion.

Ha! I almost did the same exact thing the other day!! Let that be a less on to others... The worst part is, its not like I'm a noob or anything. I was just in a hurry!

 

[zoiDman]

I've had as we all have had the same experience. I've knocked bottles over several times because I was in a rush and disregarded my normal procedures. I recommend to slow down, think twice and do once and avoid interuptions.

...

Yeah... Rushing while doing DIY is a Recipe for Disaster.

Both of my Mishaps could have Been Avoided if I had done One Simple Thing. Put the Frigging Cap Back on the Bottle When Your Done Pouring! But I was in a Rush. And thinking More about a Flavor work-up then about a Chemical Spill.

Putting on some Smooth Jazz, Taking your Time, and Making Detailed and Accurate Records of what you do is a Much Better way to do DIY.

 

[williebb123]

knock on wood but i never had a plunger fail i bit the bullet and bought glass syringes in the beginning but have had more than 1 fail when after cleaning and drying 30 plus plastic bottles not getting the correct spout / cap together and when finished mixing a new bottle of juice spout and cap back on even thinking it fit nice and tight after shaking only to find crazy juice lines strung across the room like some famous painter creating a new work of art

 

[Boletus]

This is turning into a great thread. It's really nice to hear about people's successes, but hearing about mishaps is probably more immediately useful. And it can help us not feel bad about our mishaps when others share theirs, and it is entertaining as well (but we are laughing with you, not at you, of course). Put the cap back on the dang bottle, check the plunger movement of the syringe, make sure the right caps go back on the bottles... these simple things are all gems of advice that can help us all avoid real problems.

 

[zoiDman]

... Put the cap back on the dang bottle, check the plunger movement of the syringe, make sure the right caps go back on the bottles... these simple things are all gems of advice that can help us all avoid real problems.

Yeah... These are All Good Advice that Any DIY-er should Heed.

Unfortunately, people like Me can't seems to Remember all these Tips Until I Actually make the Mistake. I guess I have to Spill Nicotine Base (Twice!) to Remember to put the Cap Back On After Pouring. LOL.

BTW - For anyone Using Syringes. After you Clean a Syringe, Never leave the Plunger Depressed all the way when you put it away for Storage.

Always leave the Plunger Pulled Out a Bit so there is an Air Space between the Plunger and the Inside End of the syringe barrel.

 

[DetraMental]

Great stories....the best advice are really the stories with errors! Thanks for sharing and yes I've pretty much done the same as you all .

 

[Thraizer]

Fingers crossed, no mishaps yet for me. Awesome tip about the syringes zoidman

 

[Boletus]

Great stories....the best advice are really the stories with errors! Thanks for sharing and yes I've pretty much done the same as you all .

Aw c'mon, you sure you don't have one that's worth sharing for posterity?

 

[K31Scout]

No mishaps for me yet but I've only been mixing for a week. I do a lot of handloading for benchrest competitions at my sportsman's club and you have to concentrate on every step in the process to make safe ammo. I apply that discipline to mixing e liquids.

One tip I learned here is to clean your syringes and then put a light coat of VG on the rubber stop.

I bought some syringes and needles at my Tractor Supply and they are real needles with the sharp end. I blunted those all down with a Dremel tool to prevent getting stuck with one. That's my newbie tip!

 

[David1975]

No mishaps yet here, but I tried to avoid all the potential mishaps I foresaw myself making..... many of which were listed here
One thing I did was buy these Amber storage bottles size 120.mL, amber glass, PTFE/silicone septum, O.D. × H 49.mm × 114.mm, pkg of 12.ea, thread 22-400 | Sigma-Aldrich for use with a syringe and sharp needle.
The second I did was get these http://www.amazon.com/Dispensing-Sy..._indust_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1FX8EGAZYD81G9S97YR3 and dedicate syringes to specific liquids. IDK if it's right or wrong, but I generally don't clean the syringes with these, their air tight and as the syringes were sterile before I used them, and nothing but "that" liquid has ever been in it, and is trapped in it when closed. Figure it's the same as PG/VG in a bottle. Would love to hear any thoughts on that though, just cuz it make sense to me, don't mean its right

 

[dannyv45]

DArn talk about screwing up. After I answered this thread I mixed up a couple of test batches pulled out my test attys and sampled the mixs. Then I steeped and now this morning I can't remember which atty I used for each flavor so now I have to wash them and do it again. I usually attach the atty to the bottle with a rubber band but I was in to mucn of a hurry to watch falling skies

 

[Rickb119]

I store my nicotine in 4oz (118ml) bottles and have a few mixes that I make 100ml at a time (in the same size bottles). Finished a mix one time, held it up to the light (amber bottle) and noticed that it was fuller than it should have been. I went over my recipe trying to figure out how I could have put too much of something in there. It was only when I turned the bottle around that I saw the 100mg nic label.

I had taken the correct amount of nicotine out of the nicotine bottle and put it into the mix bottle. I then got busy doing something else (can't remember what) and when I came back, added my flavor and PG/VG in to the nicotine bottle.

Guess I could have measured the total, figured how much "extra" nicotine was in there and diluted accordingly, but it was easier just to dump it and start over.