Making unflavoured base for an easy diy life...

[Noahfence]

Hey all,

I was wondering how I could make DIY mixing easier for myself.
Currently, I measure out my base, bit by bit, then add flavourings.

But if I'm making several bottles, maybe 3 bottles or maybe 8 bottles, measuring out my base for each one becomes very time consuming.

If I were to mix up 500ml of 3mg 70/30 vg/pg unflavoured base, I could just pour out what I need, then add flavourings right?

But adding my flavours would then lower the original 3mg nic content, depending on the %.

My question is, if my total flavouring in my mixes is between 17-22%, how much extra nicotine do i need to compensate for this?


I'm hoping this will not only save time, but also the amount I handle nicotine, since I only need to add it once to the big bottle of 500ml base instead of measuring it out a bunch of times.


I hope that makes sense.

Thanks!

 

[Cool_Breeze]

3.5mg/ml base with 16.67% added flavoring will yield 3mg/ml eliquid
3.6mg/ml base with 20% added flavoring will yield 3mg/ml eliquid
3.7mg/ml base with 23.33% added flavoring will yield 3 mg/ml eliquid.

Perhaps you can extrapolate the precise level of nicotine in the base for other levels of flavoring.

Above is erroneous in the context of the OP's query. See post 5.

 

[DaveP]

^^^^ This, what CoolBreeze said.

You can also create a recipe in your ejuice calculator, figure the flavorings into the recipe at the level you normally add, but not add them at the time you mix it. Your unflavored juice would be a little stronger in nic strength, but once you added flavorings it would settle back to normal as long as your flavoring is added at the strength of the original recipe.

I've started doing a 120ml bottle of unflavored nic for unflavored vaping and for toning down any juice that's a little too flavored when I'm trying new flavors. It's at my normal nic strength and vapes fine by itself and doesn't change the mix when I use it to tone down a strong mix. It just cools down an overly strong flavor when I add it.

Small errors in the mix don't necessarily make juice unvapeable and it's nice to have some base around to fix strong mixes or vape by itself.

 

[Cool_Breeze]

If one's rage for flavoring was 17% to 22%, mixing a 3.6mg/ml base would make very little difference in the amount of nicotine consumed over the flavor range.

See below...

 

[Cool_Breeze]

3.5mg/ml base with 16.67% added flavoring will yield 3mg/ml eliquid
3.6mg/ml base with 20% added flavoring will yield 3mg/ml eliquid
3.7mg/ml base with 23.33% added flavoring will yield 3 mg/ml eliquid.

Perhaps you can extrapolate the precise level of nicotine in the base for other levels of flavoring.

Thanks for the 'likes' folks, but I'm off a bit. Above I indicate (eg.) 20% 'added flavoring.' That's not quite the same thing as '20% flavoring.'

I'll rework this and get back.

 

[mcclintock]

Don't fill a 500 ml bottle to the top and expect to adequately mix it by shaking. I was using pre-mixed base for 10 ml bottles but recently started using it for larger bottles too. I mix 60 ml in a 120 ml bottle which allows me to get it mixed better. It should be shaken before using though, one advantage of using straight PG and VG is you don't have to shake those.

 

[SteveS45]

I don't bother mixing up bases in advance because from what I know it is the flavoring which must infuse and there is where the time to age comes in. Just my opinion and personal experience. YMMV

 

[puffon]

I premix the base also.
To figure nic results, I use E-Juice Me Up> Tools> Nic Combine screen.

enter the mg of your base 7
enter 0 mg for the flavor
Making a 30ml bottle, with 3ml of flavor
Gives 6.3mg/ml juice

I vape mostly 7mg unflavored, but when I mix flavored, I just put the flavor in the bottle, then top off with the base....let it steep about a month.

 

[SteveS45]

But doing it that way means you mixes are continually different depending on the amount of flavors although minor differences I will admit. Also other things to consider is exposing the Nicotine to air. I mix when I need at as close as I can humanly possibly get my 3MG.

 

[puffon]

But doing it that way means you mixes are continually different depending on the amount of flavors although minor differences I will admit. Also other things to consider is exposing the Nicotine to air. I mix when I need at as close as I can humanly possibly get my 3MG.

The minor pg/vg or nic variation doesn't bother me. I usually only use 2-8% flavoring.
No nic exposure. My nic is frozen in 100mg 125ml bottles. Every 8 months I take one 100mg out and mix it down to 7mg.
Put the 14 bottles of 7mg 125ml bottles back in the freezer. Take out and use as needed.
Have had no problems in a few years working this way.

If you want to be exact with VG/PG and nic this way won't work for you.
I don't like mixing and would rather only mix the base every 8 months and flavored every few months.
Works for me...

 

[SteveS45]

Yes @puffon what works you the person mixing is all that matters! Like I said in my first post it is my opinion and YMMV!

 

[dannyv45]

^^^^ This, what CoolBreeze said.

You can also create a recipe in your ejuice calculator, figure the flavorings into the recipe at the level you normally add, but not add them at the time you mix it. Your unflavored juice would be a little stronger in nic strength, but once you added flavorings it would settle back to normal as long as your flavoring is added at the strength of the original recipe.

I've started doing a 120ml bottle of unflavored nic for unflavored vaping and for toning down any juice that's a little too flavored when I'm trying new flavors. It's at my normal nic strength and vapes fine by itself and doesn't change the mix when I use it to tone down a strong mix. It just cools down an overly strong flavor when I add it.

Small errors in the mix don't necessarily make juice unvapeable and it's nice to have some base around to fix strong mixes or vape by itself.

That is a great suggestion and the way I make my 500ml bottles of base. I base it on 10% added flavor as I very rarely go over 10% total flavor.

 

[dannyv45]

But doing it that way means you mixes are continually different depending on the amount of flavors although minor differences I will admit. Also other things to consider is exposing the Nicotine to air. I mix when I need at as close as I can humanly possibly get my 3MG.

I find storing the premixed base in the refrigerator preserves freshness regardless of air exposure for the amount of time it takes me to use it up. Usually 6 weeks to 2 months.

But there's nothing wrong with preparing base for each mix and as you mentioned it is the best way to be exact with the nicotine levels especially at lower MG strengths. I just find it more of a time saver to have base ready to go especially when you have several batches to prepare at the same time.

 

[SteveS45]

If you add up the time invested in preparing bases and making the final recipes you are not saving time only splitting the work into 2 sessions and possibly spending more time in the end.

 

[mcclintock]

^^-- my premix method is extremely fast so it's kind of a tossup at 25 ml sizes but is definitely easier when doing 10 ml (which isn't efficient but has other advantages). The big advantage is reducing mistakes (and the "did I do that or not?") especially when doing multiple bottles by splitting the subjects of base mixing and flavoring. It helps I rarely use more than 5% flavor and actually I do a custom mix on my rare 20%+ flavor/high nic clearo blends even if only making a little.

 

[28if]

I have changed over to a Base also. I usually just add it to the end of a long mixing session. Steve is correct with simply splitting up the time involved. But I find that if I want to try a quick mix it simplifies things a bit.

It's a 6 in one hand, half dozen in the other kinda thing. To each his own. Whatever makes mixing and staying off smokes more enjoyable, I'm in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[mhertz]

I don't agree with the sentiment expressed that no time is saved on premixed base usage. If e.g. mixing up a liter of your preferred nic and pg/vg ratio and store in your fridge or whatever, then that's a one time job which just needs added flavoring upon each new mixing session, in equation to continually making the PG, VG and nic part on each and every mixing job before reaching the flavoring stage. Of-course the very first mix made will be the same time taken, as the premix needs making in the first place, but every other mixing job get cut in half from then on roughly, before running out of said premixed-base and needing another batch fabricated. Anyone thinking there's no time to save I highly encourage to take this approach for a test spin to see for yourself. Of course as also expressed clearly, this method isn't for people wanting exact PG, VG and nic amount each and every time. Also if you're that kind of person, then I recommend actually trying blindtesting some small variations and see if you can tell any difference for yourself, and/or how minuscule/neglible said difference is.

 

[SteveS45]

Well some take accuracy in a way that they criticize using syringes versus scales for accurate measurements. So if going to that extreme why would they settle for less than the perfect nicotine level at the even milligrams and not what it comes out to after adding flavoring. To mix up 180 ML's recently the total time from start to finish with unpacking, pulling out recipes, dispensing, cleaning of materials and putting away stock was 15 minutes for 3 different flavors.

 

[mhertz]

Well, if they think syringes is less accurate than scales for DIY, then they're wrong, but my point relates to that pretty well, because imho premixed base usage makes for a more effortless mixing session as likewise scales also does in regards to less cleanup afterwards, but of course to each his own and everyone can do what they want in the end.

For me using scales is a given btw, but premixed base usage is also nice, but isn't mandatory in my personal reasoning. I always strive for finding the best/efficient way to do things, no matter which area. If accuracy is important, then of course premixed base isn't an option there, and if it sounded like I was suggesting premixed base usage should just be used by everyone then i apologize .

 

[OlderNDirt]

It would seem to me that the amount of time saved is dependent on what/how one is mixing, several test batches to several large quantity known mixes. Either way, thankfully time is not a big factor for me.