Might try my hand at DIY

[JLeigh]

I'm having trouble with the quality of juices available out there. I'm a little amazed that I've come across such prolific amounts of not-great eliquid. I suppose that's because most of it is Dekang. I've got some Tasty Vapor stuff on the way that I have high hopes for, but even so I love creating and mixing things (I make all my own skin care stuff), so I'm thinking that DIY liquid will be fun as well as cost-effective. Plus, I'm good in the kitchen (if I do say so myself! ) with foods and pastries/desserts etc., so I understand flavor building and blending. I'm hoping that with a little practice, I could make some very nice eliquids for myself.

I've been poring over this subforum for a few days now, but I need to go over it even more. It's a little overwhelming though! Could I have some recommendations for a good 48mg PG-based unflavored nic? I vape 12-16mg liquid, and I think that 48mg would be a good place to start. If it's NOT a good mg to start with, someone please tell me.

As for flavorings, I'm still unsure about what brand to start with. I've seen Lorann's, Capella's, Bickford, Faeries (sp?) Finest (I think that's what it is), Flavourart, and I'm sure there are a few others I've missed. Lorann's seems far and away the most popular, but I've seen many posts saying that have this underlying chemical taste to them. I suppose most of this will be trial and error.

If anyone has any words of wisdom or advice for me, I'd love to hear it!

 

[Guineahill]

My Freedom Smokes has a nice selection of unflavored nic liquid.

I use LorAnn, Capella, and FlavourArt flavorings. You might be able to find LorAnn locally. You will need to order the others online. In general... I like the FlavourArt (I get it from Happy Vaper) the best, Capella second, and LorAnn last. But that is just my tastes. And it doesn't hold true for all flavors! So, in short, experimentation is the only way to find out what works best for you.

I suggest you buy a couple flavors from various brands and see how they work for you.

Have fun and TAKE GOOD NOTES! LOL

 

[Kattdaddy]

I'm having trouble with the quality of juices available out there. I'm a little amazed that I've come across such prolific amounts of not-great eliquid. I suppose that's because most of it is Dekang. I've got some Tasty Vapor stuff on the way that I have high hopes for, but even so I love creating and mixing things (I make all my own skin care stuff), so I'm thinking that DIY liquid will be fun as well as cost-effective. Plus, I'm good in the kitchen (if I do say so myself! ) with foods and pastries/desserts etc., so I understand flavor building and blending. I'm hoping that with a little practice, I could make some very nice eliquids for myself.

I've been poring over this subforum for a few days now, but I need to go over it even more. It's a little overwhelming though! Could I have some recommendations for a good 48mg PG-based unflavored nic? I vape 12-16mg liquid, and I think that 48mg would be a good place to start. If it's NOT a good mg to start with, someone please tell me.

As for flavorings, I'm still unsure about what brand to start with. I've seen Lorann's, Capella's, Bickford, Faeries (sp?) Finest (I think that's what it is), Flavourart, and I'm sure there are a few others I've missed. Lorann's seems far and away the most popular, but I've seen many posts saying that have this underlying chemical taste to them. I suppose most of this will be trial and error.

If anyone has any words of wisdom or advice for me, I'd love to hear it!

You can practically look up any bakery supplier, candy shop supplier for flavorings.. There are literally hundreds of suppliers out there but the only thing I pay attention to first is contacting them and making sure that the flavorings are water based and If they are oil based, then you need to make sure that they have a low percentage of oil in them. Oil is bad for atties.. but you can use oil flavorings .. you just have to emulsify them with alcohol ( 80 proof or above clear alcohols like vodka, PGA, everclear, or absynthe) ... all it takes is two drops of the alcohol per every ml of flavoring that you plan on adding. Do this seperately at first, mix the drops of alcohol with the flavoring and set it aside for ten minutes to make sure it fully emulsifies the oil... Then, continue with your mixing. This will ensure that the oil can not build up on the atty and blow out the atties.

 

[Kismayaz]

I agree with taking good notes. I have no experience with flavourart, but LorAnn's to me taste just fine in juices and so do Capella's. I believe I have found flavourart in America as well at liberty flights, though it may just be the tobacco flavors I'd have to go back and check. eliquidxpress also had some flavors I've been wanting to try as well. Good luck and have fun!

Edit: Thanks for the kattdaddy. If I run across any oils in my flavors I'll definitely be giving that a shot.

 

[JLeigh]

Excellent tips, thank you! Oh and thanks for reminding me to take notes...I absolutely would have forgotten that. LOL!

 

[sattec]

I've had great sucess using gator aid or kool aid as my base flavor..it's cheap and water based...

 

[slybootz]

i bought a kit from Dawn at DIYflavorshack. The kits come stuffed full of everything you need to mix and DIY. You get empty bottles, droppers, gloves, syringes, measuring cups, blue foam, cart filler, an apron, bottles of VG, PG, she has Lorann's and Faerie's Finest flavorings, I think when she opens today, the 18th, she will be stocking 100mg flavorless!

I recommend getting a kit!

 

[JLeigh]

Placed my first orders for DIY stuff last night! I'm terribly excited. I got four 3ml sample flavors + Magic Mask from HappyVapor, and then I got some PG and 48mg unflavored nic liquid from MFS (I have VG already), and I have plenty of empty 5ml bottles here from all the samples I have tried over the past few months. I have a simple ejuice calculator that I can use, so I think I have a good start on what I'll need.

Does anyone know how long it takes to get product from HappyVapor to the US? I don't expect it in 2 days, but I was hoping for a rough estimate.

 

[beast775]

i already made that mistake,made a great juice and did not write dwn what i did.big mistake because i tried to make it again and it was no good!kool aid really interests me sattec-how do you mix it first?thanks.

 

[Kurt]

I've had great sucess using gator aid or kool aid as my base flavor..it's cheap and water based...

Gatorade? Not sure I would use that, since it has sugar and electrolytes in it in large quantities, neither of which will vaporize well and will possibly shorten the atty life. Koolade without sugar might be ok.

Jleigh, DIY is way fun! And a great way to make exactly what you want for a lot less money than buying premade flavored juices. Sounds like you are getting set up, but I thought I would throw in something else, and that is I use a syringe for all dispensing of pre-mix liquids and mixing the DIY juice. Accurate, fast, and safe, although your 48 mg is not a big issue. And I use Scubabatdan's ejuice calculator.

I have several Capella's and many Loranns...you know how it is when you decide to buy: Click on this, click on that, oh that looks good, how about this? Next thing you have 20 of those little bottles showing up. Fave Loranns: English toffee, keoke coffee, caramel, pralines and cream, licorice. Fave Capellas: caramel, pralines and cream (very different than loranns, so is caramel), vanilla custard, double chocolate, and toasted almond. The dbl choc and toasted almond together is heavenly.

My juices are 10% flavor and 20% distilled water for thinning, since I use VG-only juices, no PG. Some use 10% vodka or PGA or 151 rum for thinning, but I don't want the alcohol.

Another flavor I use is Frontier's Vanilla Flavor, available at Whole Foods, which is vanilla extracts and VG, no alcohol. I use it as in place of pure VG for diluting my unflavored sometimes, and then add vanilla custard or other similar flavors. Its very mild in flavor, so it won't overpower, more just adds a quiet background for other flavors. Also, if you don't mind using alcohol, most extracts are flavor and alcohol, so can be used in place of added alcohol to thin the juice.

Have fun, and let us know how you do! Its like cooking with vapors!

 

[JLeigh]

Jleigh, DIY is way fun! And a great way to make exactly what you want for a lot less money than buying premade flavored juices. Sounds like you are getting set up, but I thought I would throw in something else, and that is I use a syringe for all dispensing of pre-mix liquids and mixing the DIY juice. Accurate, fast, and safe, although your 48 mg is not a big issue. And I use Scubabatdan's ejuice calculator.

I have several Capella's and many Loranns...you know how it is when you decide to buy: Click on this, click on that, oh that looks good, how about this? Next thing you have 20 of those little bottles showing up. Fave Loranns: English toffee, keoke coffee, caramel, pralines and cream, licorice. Fave Capellas: caramel, pralines and cream (very different than loranns, so is caramel), vanilla custard, double chocolate, and toasted almond. The dbl choc and toasted almond together is heavenly.

My juices are 10% flavor and 20% distilled water for thinning, since I use VG-only juices, no PG. Some use 10% vodka or PGA or 151 rum for thinning, but I don't want the alcohol.

Another flavor I use is Frontier's Vanilla Flavor, available at Whole Foods, which is vanilla extracts and VG, no alcohol. I use it as in place of pure VG for diluting my unflavored sometimes, and then add vanilla custard or other similar flavors. Its very mild in flavor, so it won't overpower, more just adds a quiet background for other flavors. Also, if you don't mind using alcohol, most extracts are flavor and alcohol, so can be used in place of added alcohol to thin the juice.

Have fun, and let us know how you do! Its like cooking with vapors!

Thanks for the great tips, Kurt! I do have some syringes, but I forgot to mention that. I really am looking forward to DIY'ing the liquid. I'm just not that impressed with what's out there already (although I haven't tried every vendor), and it's too expensive to buy juice when you end up hating most of it. Or maybe I'm just too picky. Anyway, I'll be able to make small batches to test without wasting a lot of money, and I'll really enjoy the creative side of it.

The only downside I can see is that I'm strictly a cartomizer girl, so testing won't just be a matter of a couple of drops on an atty. I'll have to fill a carto, or at least put enough in there to soak the filler a bit to try it, so I imagine that will be a bit of a pain.

 

[Kurt]

Thanks for the great tips, Kurt! I do have some syringes, but I forgot to mention that. I really am looking forward to DIY'ing the liquid. I'm just not that impressed with what's out there already (although I haven't tried every vendor), and it's too expensive to buy juice when you end up hating most of it. Or maybe I'm just too picky. Anyway, I'll be able to make small batches to test without wasting a lot of money, and I'll really enjoy the creative side of it.

The only downside I can see is that I'm strictly a cartomizer girl, so testing won't just be a matter of a couple of drops on an atty. I'll have to fill a carto, or at least put enough in there to soak the filler a bit to try it, so I imagine that will be a bit of a pain.

No problem! Yeah, DIY with cartos will probably be a bit tedious, but still fun. Even if you prefer the cartos for normal vaping, you may consider getting a 510 kit for cheap to just have the option of dripping while you fine tune the juice. Cartos are more expensive than 510 carts, and a bad DIY, which in the beginning is common, may end up using up cartos more than the $35 spent for a 510. Or an 801 or 901, as you can drip with either of those too. Just a thought. Either way, it will be great fun, and you will learn a lot!

 

[Guineahill]

I use a Kr8 as my primary PV, but I use an M401 for mixing. The exposed bridge makes it easy to test flavors!

My shipments from Happy Vaper ususally take about a week to ten days. I seem to always order when delivery will be impacted by a USPS holiday however!!!

 

[JLeigh]

Thank you both! I may look into getting another ecig just for DIY purposes. For now, I'll just do some serious rinsing on an old carto or two for DIY purposes.

Now I'm just chomping at the bit to get my stuff. It's driving me crazy. lol.

 

[Guineahill]

I bet you will love it... It can be addictive!!!

 

[JLeigh]

I have all my stuff now! *rubs hands together in anticipation*

I'm off to make a cinnamon liquid --I've been dying for a decent cinnamon vape, and this Spicy Cinnamon Candy from FlavourArt smells exactly like what I'm looking for.

 

[48lowes]

JLeigh
Do yourself a favor and get Scubabatdan's Excel v10 ejuice calculator. If you don't have MS excel you can get open office for free.OpenOffice Suite - Your Total Free Office Solution.
Dan has done most of the work for us. His calculator is very comprehensive, there's recpies, (look at the bottom of the page) all the flavors from (I think) 5 vendors. I've tried most of the vendors mentioned in the above posts but now I'm strictly DIY. Good luck and good vaping to you.

 

[Cali]

I'm a very casual mixers. I use the calculator to figure the math (cuz i hate math) and then just pick flavors I think will taste good together. The flavorings themselves are relatively inexpensive and i mix small quantities and then just figure up a larger batch if i like it. I'm pretty easy to please when vaping anyhow so I vape everything I mix until it's gone. lol

 

[Guineahill]

I have all my stuff now! *rubs hands together in anticipation*

I'm off to make a cinnamon liquid --I've been dying for a decent cinnamon vape, and this Spicy Cinnamon Candy from FlavourArt smells exactly like what I'm looking for.

I hope you have fun mixing! Scubabatdan's calculator is a wonderful tool and great way to keep notes on what you have created.

 

[Shan123]

...If they are oil based, then you need to make sure that they have a low percentage of oil in them. Oil is bad for atties.. but you can use oil flavorings .. you just have to emulsify them with alcohol ( 80 proof or above clear alcohols like vodka, PGA, everclear, or absynthe) ... all it takes is two drops of the alcohol per every ml of flavoring that you plan on adding. Do this seperately at first, mix the drops of alcohol with the flavoring and set it aside for ten minutes to make sure it fully emulsifies the oil... Then, continue with your mixing. This will ensure that the oil can not build up on the atty and blow out the atties.

Kattdaddy, does this add any alcohol flavor to your mix? I know some people add liquor to their juice but I can't quite imagine that not being foul [I like the effect of alcohol, but not the taste!]. Plus I'm looking at an oil-based flavoring, cinnamon oil, for someone who does not drink and would definitely not like an alcohol flavor/scent.

Gonna go back and erase half the question I just posted above... who knew a major answer about oil flavors [as in, has anybody every actually tried using oils] was just a couple of posts down. Thanks.