Mixing By Weight: Basics 101

[Mactavish]

Pyrex glass was from EBay.

Plastic bottles from: Container & Packaging Supply, Inc. | Plastic containers & bottles, glass jars, and more! (they have a small order fee, and overcharge on slow shipping) but they had HDPE, which is harder to find in the selection they offer.

Pipette article on my blog:
Using a medical Pipette for ejuice mixing and device review: Gilson Distriman Repeater Pipette | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[Capt.shay]

I tried using the Liquix android app, but for some reason, I could not figure out how to convert the ml into grams

Changing between drops,weight,volume and percentage with liquix is super easy. After you have entered your recipie, press calculate and along the bottom are four symble buttons that switch the read out between the modes.

 

[Charlieh1]

That label Johns juice, can you tell me more about how to create labels that look that good? Maybe its an Avery program? Any info would be appreciated. I am using this real basic label machine and man its expensive to buy tape for this thing.....

 

[Capt.shay]

Hey now! What do you know, we are now the DIY's newest sticky! I don't know when that happened but thanks to the mod who pinned it for us. I hope this thread gets used to continue helping folks get their mix on. Ask any questions you may have on weight or mixing.

 

[Capt.shay]

That label Johns Juice, can you tell me more about how to create labels that look that good? Maybe its an Avery program? Any info would be appreciated. I am using this real basic label machine and man its expensive to buy tape for this thing.....

The labels are standard envelope return address sized. I found the Avery labels were not aggressive enough and had to be covered with tape. I eventually settled on a product from Online Labels .com called "aggressive" white matte 2.625 x 1. There are many pre-made templates out there and I used a couple that looked pretty good but finally I had a friend say he could do me a spread sheet of them with what ever I wanted on it so for 200ml of juice I got a cool label template that I open in Acrobat.

 

[Charlieh1]

The labels are standard envelope return address sized. I found the Avery labels were not aggressive enough and had to be covered with tape. I eventually settled on a product from Online Labels .com called "aggressive" white matte 2.625 x 1. There are many pre-made templates out there and I used a couple that looked pretty good but finally I had a friend say he could do me a spread sheet of them with what ever I wanted on it so for 200ml of juice I got a cool label template that I open in Acrobat.

Thank you for the link.

 

[Mactavish]

The labels are standard envelope return address sized. I found the Avery labels were not aggressive enough and had to be covered with tape. I eventually settled on a product from Online Labels .com called "aggressive" white matte 2.625 x 1. There are many pre-made templates out there and I used a couple that looked pretty good but finally I had a friend say he could do me a spread sheet of them with what ever I wanted on it so for 200ml of juice I got a cool label template that I open in Acrobat.

I went back a few pages in this thread, but since the poster that asked the question about the label did not include the proper link I could not find it?

 

[ghola1was]

I went back a few pages in this thread, but since the poster that asked the question about the label did not include the proper link I could not find it?

Are you asking about the label in the pic on first page first post?
Photo by John Dudek

 

[Mactavish]

Are you asking about the label in the pic on first page first post?
Photo by John Dudek

I guess that's the one, I had NO idea it was in a long message in the first post. Good idea to include a link when asking a question! Thanks for jumping in.

I use a handheld Brother P-Touch for all my labels, since I'm not selling them, they don't have to look fancy, just the born on date and pertinent info. They also make some versions of their tape with extra adhesive, but I do my labels after my ultrasonic steeping so I don't bother with those.

 

[Kenna]

I guess that's the one, I had NO idea it was in a long message in the first post. Good idea to include a link when asking a question! Thanks for jumping in.

I use a handheld Brother P-Touch for all my labels, since I'm not selling them, they don't have to look fancy, just the born on date and pertinent info. They also make some versions of their tape with extra adhesive, but I do my labels after my ultrasonic steeping so I don't bother with those.

Green painters tape!

 

[Alter]

Green painters tape!

Thats what I use but I put a few strips onto a piece of old kitchen tile so I have a solid base to write on, use a fine sharpie and cut pieces off with a olfa knife. The tape stick really good and no residue. Regular masking tape doesn't stick as well as the green painters tape.

 

[DaveP]

I guess that's the one, I had NO idea it was in a long message in the first post. Good idea to include a link when asking a question! Thanks for jumping in.

I use a handheld Brother P-Touch for all my labels, since I'm not selling them, they don't have to look fancy, just the born on date and pertinent info. They also make some versions of their tape with extra adhesive, but I do my labels after my ultrasonic steeping so I don't bother with those.

I use the Brother labeler also. If you haven't already, check Amazon for aftermarket print tape at 1/2 the price in packs of 4. Adhesion of the Brother tape is great on glass bottles and it survives a water wash if needed. I haven't received my aftermarket label tape yet, so I don't know if it will be water resistant. Reviews say it's matte finish instead of shiny.

 

[IDJoel]

Hey now! What do you know, we are now the DIY's newest sticky! I don't know when that happened but thanks to the Mod who pinned it for us. I hope this thread gets used to continue helping folks get their mix on. Ask any questions you may have on weight or mixing.

Congrats Capt.! Good information, well presented... good thread. It is indeed sticky worthy!!

 

[sonicdsl]

Hey now! What do you know, we are now the DIY's newest sticky! I don't know when that happened but thanks to the Mod who pinned it for us. I hope this thread gets used to continue helping folks get their mix on. Ask any questions you may have on weight or mixing.

You're welcome.

 

[Kickingthesticks]

Thanks for the info. So far I've been making unflavored mixing by volume. Can't wait for my scale to get here. Got flavors just sitting around ready to be mixed by my lazy bum.

 

[IDJoel]

Thanks for the info. So far I've been making unflavored mixing by volume. Can't wait for my scale to get here. Got flavors just sitting around ready to be mixed by my lazy bum.

The only thing I might suggest, if this is your first time using a scale, is to practice a bit first. Before you start mixing actual recipes. Use a clean container and practice (one at a time) with each bottle/tip type you will be using. You can easily poor the contents back into the bottle when you are finished.

The only learning curve I had switching from volume to weight was controlling my pours. I personally had a bit of a challenge with over-pours at first until I learned to control tilt and/or squeeze. And these vary dependant on dispensing bottle material type (like PET vs. HDPE/LDPE plastic), bottle size (large are generally easier to squeeze and gravity "pushes" more/faster when tilted vertically), and tip size (smaller, more restrictive, tips require greater pressure vs. larger/faster flowing yorker caps). And, of course, different viscosities will affect the flow as well.

Just a thought...

 

[Kickingthesticks]

The only thing I might suggest, if this is your first time using a scale, is to practice a bit first. Before you start mixing actual recipes. Use a clean container and practice (one at a time) with each bottle/tip type you will be using. You can easily poor the contents back into the bottle when you are finished.

The only learning curve I had switching from volume to weight was controlling my pours. I personally had a bit of a challenge with over-pours at first until I learned to control tilt and/or squeeze. And these vary dependant on dispensing bottle material type (like PET vs. HDPE/LDPE plastic), bottle size (large are generally easier to squeeze and gravity "pushes" more/faster when tilted vertically), and tip size (smaller, more restrictive, tips require greater pressure vs. larger/faster flowing yorker caps). And, of course, different viscosities will affect the flow as well.

Just a thought...

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Alter]

Controlling your pours, especially if your pouring too fast you get too far ahead of the scale(mine is a cheaper scale) it could give a inaccurate reading trying to catch up. Another downfall of my scale is that it has a 30 second shut off so I have to reset my scale and tare with every ingredient or it shuts off in mid pour. I don't bother transferring my VG and PG into anything smaller than the quart bottles they came in.
My sample mixes of a new flavor is usually 30mls, making 5 and 10ml mixes is a pain. I vape almost exclusively tobacco flavors so the new tobac concentrate is smelt first then a small drop is tasted on the back of my hand and if its still OK then I'll make a sample batch. There is so many tastes and smells that I don't like from buying vendor juices I now don't waste base on something that to me is YUK as soon as I open the jug.

 

[DaveP]

Clear condiment/cake decorating squeeze bottles work really well for me. VG works great, but PG can be a little drippy if you aren't careful.

The technique sensitive part is judging the scale settling time. It's easy to go a little over, but a fraction of a milligram here and there doesn't ruin a 50ml recipe. If you are doing tiny sample mixes of ten ml or less, it's critical to get it right.

 

[DaveP]

Controlling your pours, especially if your pouring too fast you get too far ahead of the scale(mine is a cheaper scale) it could give a inaccurate reading trying to catch up. Another downfall of my scale is that it has a 30 second shut off so I have to reset my scale and tare with every ingredient or it shuts off in mid pour. I don't bother transferring my VG and PG into anything smaller than the quart bottles they came in.
My sample mixes of a new flavor is usually 30mls, making 5 and 10ml mixes is a pain. I vape almost exclusively tobacco flavors so the new tobac concentrate is smelt first then a small drop is tasted on the back of my hand and if its still OK then I'll make a sample batch. There is so many tastes and smells that I don't like from buying vendor juices I now don't waste base on something that to me is YUK as soon as I open the jug.

My AWS LB-501 scale hasn't cut off in mid pour, but it has cut off between pours. Scale cut off isn't so bad unless it's a mid pour cutoff. Mine was supposed to have the AC adapter included, but didn't. I haven't heard from them about that yet. I commented in my Amazon review because I couldn't find the vendor contact info.

Cutoff between pours isn't so bad. I just hit the power on button and it tares with the bottle sitting on the scale and I continue with the next pour. Most of the time I just hit Tare and continue. I'm guessing that the tare button resets the time out period.