New DIYer, worried about nicotine and need some recipes

[FinallyQuit]

If you are concerned about handling 100 mg/ml nic base, cut the concentration in half by diluting it. For example, carefully measure out 10 mls of 100 mg/ml nic solution and dilute it down with either 10 mls of PG or VG. You'll now have 20 mls of a 50 mg/ml nic base. Using equal volumes of nic base and dilution liquid is easiest to calculate, but you could ratio it any way that you prefer.

+1 I practice what you preach. I buy 100 mg and store it in the freezer full strength, it takes up less room that way. I keep my "working bottle" diluted to 50 mg by measuring 25 ml of nic and 25 ml of vg in a graduated cylinder, then pouring into my working bottle. As little as I mix I run through that 50 mls in about a month, so it doesn't have time to get old and change colors/taste.

I would say don't be "afraid" of 100 mg but definitely "respect" it and know what's safe when it comes to handling. Good luck!

 

[Danoman]

I've been ordering from here... no problems at all so far.

Buy Unflavored Nicotine Base, USP Grade

 

[lindsay1126]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I just did a quick calculation for a single flavor (5ml) I entered all the prices and it equaled $.53. Is that correct? If so that is crazy. That means 50ml could be as low as $5. That is freaking amazing! My local B&M charges $11 for 15ML! Sorry I hope my calculation was right. Thanks

 

[lindsay1126]

I've been ordering from here... no problems at all so far.

buy Unflavored Nicotine Base, USP Grade

Thanks I will order from there next time, it was a lot cheaper than ecigexpress.

 

[dannyv45]

+1 I practice what you preach. I buy 100 mg and store it in the freezer full strength, it takes up less room that way. I keep my "working bottle" diluted to 50 mg by measuring 25 ml of nic and 25 ml of vg in a graduated cylinder, then pouring into my working bottle. As little as I mix I run through that 50 mls in about a month, so it doesn't have time to get old and change colors/taste.

I would say don't be "afraid" of 100 mg but definitely "respect" it and know what's safe when it comes to handling. Good luck!

I will generally keep my 100mg nic undilute in the freezer. I vape 18mg + or - 2mg so I make 250mls of 20mg base knowing I very rarely exceed 10% total flavor and that's what I keep out for everyday use. So I don't need to keep mixing base every time I need a juice. I just add 27 - 28 mls of premixed base into my 30ml bottle add the flavor and steep or not steep depending on what I'm making.

 

[Danoman]

Thanks I will order from there next time, it was a lot cheaper than ecigexpress.

Also, if you need some USP/VG in an emergency, Walmart has it in the pharmacy area near the eye drops and Band-Aid area. If you have a local "Tractor Supply Co" you can get the USP/PG there. I believe it was only like $22.00 a gallon here at the one we have in town.

 

[dannyv45]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I just did a quick calculation for a single flavor (5ml) I entered all the prices and it equaled $.53. Is that correct? If so that is crazy. That means 50ml could be as low as $5. That is freaking amazing! My local B&M charges $11 for 15ML! Sorry I hope my calculation was right. Thanks

That sounds about right. My mixes usually come out to about $3.50 per 30ml.

 

[Danoman]

A lot of Pharmacies will just give you syringes if you show them your VAPE machine. (most are intrigued with it I've seen) When you are using Nicotine in those strengths, it tends to be an ink remover on your syringes ml markings.

Also, Tractor Supply Co has them for really cheap too in ALL sorts of sizes... Most will come in a covered tube, which if you do any liquid extraction (i.e. tobacco/coffee/tea/vanilla) these make good tubes for putting your stepped filters in when making a juice from raw products.

 

[lindsay1126]

That sounds about right. My mixes usually come out to about $3.50 per 30ml.

That is crazy. I just hope I can do it without wasting too much. So when starting out should I make a pre-made base first or stick to the calculator and making it individually each time until I get used to it? Which would be a better route for a beginner? So for Capella flavor, would 10% be a good place to start? Thanks again for all this wonderful advise.

 

[FinallyQuit]

That is crazy. I just hope I can do it without wasting too much. So when starting out should I make a pre-made base first or stick to the calculator and making it individually each time until I get used to it? Which would be a better route for a beginner? So for Capella flavor, would 10% be a good place to start? Thanks again for all this wonderful advise.

Capellas are good at 10 to 15 percent, I've seen people take them up to 20 percent. If I were you, just starting out, I would start out low then taste test and adjust up if needed. You'll know if it's "too weak" and Capellas are very forgiving when you go "too high" in that they don't completely lose flavor or get nasty/chemical-ish/perfumey. Start at 10%, it that doesn't taste perfect try 12%, etc. until it tastes the way you like it. It's time consuming but necessary. Once you find what that flavor's perfect percentage is for you, you never have to fiddle with it again.

Take notes. Notes, notes, notes, notes. This cannot be repeated enough times!

Also have fun!

 

[Danoman]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I just did a quick calculation for a single flavor (5ml) I entered all the prices and it equaled $.53. Is that correct? If so that is crazy. That means 50ml could be as low as $5. That is freaking amazing! My local B&M charges $11 for 15ML! Sorry I hope my calculation was right. Thanks

What I LOVE about making my own... on top of making it in flavors I 'actually' like. Hehehehe...

 

[dannyv45]

That is crazy. I just hope I can do it without wasting too much. So when starting out should I make a pre-made base first or stick to the calculator and making it individually each time until I get used to it? Which would be a better route for a beginner? So for Capella flavor, would 10% be a good place to start? Thanks again for all this wonderful advise.

I don't use capalla flavors but I've herd mention that 10% is about right. My suggestion is Get a lot of 5 or 6ml bottles, I just bought a case of 72 from here for $30.00 with free shipping.
6ml,1.5 Dram Glass Vials Teflon Caps (16x50mm)

Then make several 5ml test samples of the same flavor at different percentages (8,9,10,11,12%) then taste and decide which you like best. It's always a good idea to start with single flavors because it's always a good idea to know what your individual flavors taste like before getting into more complicated multi flavor combinations.

Have you read my blogs or hoosers Blogs yet? If not start with mine. Just look to the left of this post and under my picture you will see Blog entries: Just click on the number "5". These blogs will clear up a lot of confusion and give you the basics.

 

[Caridwen]

I don't happen to like a lot of flavoring (did when I first started vaping though) but I like Capella's between 7% + 10%. Do a little test first. You could even do it without the nicotine. You can always add more, it's hard if it's too much.

 

[lindsay1126]

Have you read my blogs or hoosers Blogs yet? If not start with mine. Just look to the left of this post and under my picture you will see Blog entries: Just click on the number "5". These blogs will clear up a lot of confusion and give you the basics.

Yes, I am working my way through, sorry I meant to thank you for the link. It has been very helpful. I just thought about bottles. Can I clean some of my used ones and use those too, or will it mess with flavors? I will order some too though. I am reaching my vaping budget for now, as I ordered myself a MVP2 also.

 

[dannyv45]

Yes, I am working my way through, sorry I meant to thank you for the link. It has been very helpful. I just thought about bottles. Can I clean some of my used ones and use those too, or will it mess with flavors? I will order some too though. I am reaching my vaping budget for now, as I ordered myself a MVP2 also.

Any bottle you have laying around will work just fine. Just make sure to clean them well. Also make sure you use 5mls for each test any more would be a waste. 5mls is also a nice number to calculate up so if you wanted to make 30 ml's just times it by 6.

 

[Danoman]

Any bottle you have laying around will work just fine. Just make sure to clean them well. Also make sure you use 5mls for each test any more would be a waste. 5mls is also a nice number to calculate up so if you wanted to make 30 ml's just times it by 6.

I boil all of mine from time to time for about 10 minutes... along with my syringes and blunt needles. Especially my plastic ones where cinnamon or a caustic flavor has been mixed. Just to make sure there aren't any residue flavors that have 'burned' into the plastic.

Oh, just remembered... at the Dollar Tree, you can get 60ml maximum capacity plastic containers and really good fitting lids that comes in packs of 10 per bag for a buck. I've taken and measured out increments of 10ml and used a permanent black marker to mark the levels and it seems to stay on there pretty well, even after boiling them a few times. They are clear with bright white tops so it's easy to write on them and keep record of what's in them. (Good for steeping and are nicely stackable)

 

[Caridwen]

Eventually, pick up some glass bottles. Amazon carries them and several suppliers do too.

1/2 Oz Amber Glass Bottle with Glass Eye Dropper (15ml) - Pack of 10: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[dannyv45]

Eventually, pick up some glass bottles. Amazon carries them and several suppliers do too.

1/2 Oz Amber Glass Bottle with Glass Eye Dropper (15ml) - Pack of 10: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Love glass bottles. It's all I use expecially if you UC or heat steep.

 

[lindsay1126]

I have heard juice doesn't steep well in glass, is that true? If so would it be better to let steep in $1 plastic container then move to glass bottle? Also, I assume normal steep procedure is the same for DIY? Thanks again for all the great advise.

 

[dannyv45]

I have heard juice doesn't steep well in glass, is that true? If so would it be better to let steep in $1 plastic container then move to glass bottle? Also, I assume normal steep procedure is the same for DIY? Thanks again for all the great advise.

That is false. If steeping in an ultrasonic cleaner glass is better then plastic as waves pass through much easier. If heat steeping glass may take a bit longer to initially heat up but will produce the same end result. If naturally steeping glass is not as porous as plastic so there is no leeching of undesirable plastic elements over time.