New to DIY and Steeping

[28if]

First off I would like to say THANKS to all of the participants in the DIY forum. I have read and learned a lot about the correct (and safe) way to DIY. I have my first order from WL on the way, I have a juice Calculator and a few one flavor recipes ready to go.

My single stumbling block centers around steeping. I have read of two highly regarded techniques for steeping. Ultrasonic Cleaner and a simple Heat Soak.

One method that comes to mind to me instantly is using a small power mixer (link below). I have worked production liquid paint lines for years and mechanical mixing is what we do to disperse different paints, reducers, etc.

So I guess my question is why isn't this a more accepted way? Isn't an Ultrasonic in its basic form simply mixing the eliquid??

Amazon.com: Badger Air-Brush Co. 121 Paint Mixer: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

 

[MorpheusPA]

If it ain't high tech, it ain't worth usin'.

But seriously, I wouldn't see why that wouldn't work. Personally, I'm even more Stone Age. I shake the bottle for a while then put it on the bookshelf to steep itself without my intervention. It works, but is perhaps a bit slower.

 

[Tinker Ray]

Interesting idea. Heat seems to be a very important part of steeping from what I've read so far. Maybe mount the mixer on a stand like a milk shake blender and hold the mixing jar in warm water?

 

[28if]

If it ain't high tech, it ain't worth usin'.

But seriously, I wouldn't see why that wouldn't work. Personally, I'm even more Stone Age. I shake the bottle for a while then put it on the bookshelf to steep itself without my intervention. It works, but is perhaps a bit slower.

Thank you for the reply. That is exactly how I have been steeping my store bought juice with great results. My issue with DIY is the time from mix to taste being soooo long.

 

[28if]

Interesting idea. Heat seems to be a very important part of steeping from what I've read so far. Maybe mount the mixer on a stand like a milk shake blender and hold the mixing jar in warm water?

Thank you for your response and I must say what a great idea. Yup, that is what is used commercially for paint. Off to Home Depot!!

Do you think that over mixing could lead to problems? Perhaps injecting too much air? I reason that a very slow mix has to be beneficial, but I am a noob to all of this.

 

[Tinker Ray]

Good question. I'm a noob too. I'm not sure about the air, especially when warm. Some have expressed concern over possible evaporation of flavor and nicotine. The only way to find out would be to try it. I think you might be on to something. I don't know if this method has been tried before, there has been some discussion of using a magnetic stirrer. Letting the juice air out during steeping seems to be important, but most only do it on the shelf without heat.

 

[Nibiru2012]

First let me state that I have NOT done any DIY eliquids. However I believe I have some answers regarding the UC method of steeping.

UCs operate at around 20-400KHz frequency (inexpensive models are around 40KHz). This works at the molecular level and agitates the liquids.

From Wikipedia:

An ultrasound generating transducer built into the chamber, or lowered into the fluid, produces ultrasonic waves in the fluid by changing size in concert with an electrical signal oscillating at ultrasonic frequency. This creates compression waves in the liquid of the tank which ‘tear’ the liquid apart, leaving behind many millions of microscopic ‘voids’ or ‘partial vacuum bubbles’ (cavitation). These bubbles collapse with enormous energy; temperatures and pressures on the order of 5,000 K and 20,000 lbs per square inch are achieved.

Usually one will notice more of a change in eliquid when steeping NET-based ones such as GoodEjuice's Vita Bella, Organic Tobacco #1, etc., same with Ahlusion's Smooth Criminal, Desperado, Sahara and so on.

Plus I also use my UC to clean new RBAs when I get them in the mail. Two 8 minute cycles with warm water and a few drops of Dawn liquid really clean them spotlessly. Amazing how much machining residue and oil are left in hidden crevices of the RBA devices.

 

[28if]

Nibiru2012, thank you for the response. Definitely puts things into perspective for me.

 

[MorpheusPA]

Thank you for the reply. That is exactly how I have been steeping my store bought juice with great results. My issue with DIY is the time from mix to taste being soooo long.

That it can be. My DIY is menthol/cinnamon, neither of which are particularly hard to steep. Really, the stuff is fine the next day, but having a week or so to steep it certainly helps, when possible.

More complex flavors will take longer, even a lot longer...

 

[03FXDWG]

I've have read other threads where DIYers swear by the frothing attachment from a cappuccino machine and a few that use some type of dremel tool.

Tobacco, coffee, chocolate & multi-flavor combinations take longer to reach maturity just like a good soup, chili, marinara, etc.

 

[groovy]

After I'm done mixing up my batches, I shake them for a short while and then heat them in the microwave for about 15 seconds.

 

[twizted]

Molecules in motion generates heat. That's how a microwave works. A ultrasonic cleaner not only vibrates your juice more than you could do by hand, it also heats it up. Think of it in terms of babyback ribs. Would you rather quick cook them in a hot skillet (microwave your juice) or slow cooking in a smoker grill (ultrasonic your juice). My ultrasonic cleaner on a 30 minute run will heat up cold tap water & my juice to 126 degrees. This my opinion only but it works for me. My juice will turn from almost clear to a golden orange color after 3 or 4 cycles at 30 minutes each.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

 

[Art Mustel]

I put my just made bottles over an old fish tank aerator (not the pump kind, the one that vibrates) and let them vibrate and step for a couple of days. Oh well, i want to believe this works great for me...

 

[Blueser]

I put my just made bottles over an old fish tank aerator (not the pump kind, the one that vibrates) and let them vibrate and step for a couple of days. Oh well, i want to believe this works great for me...

By golly, I think you just hit on something there "want to believe" with just one little sentence :~) ...but I'm not going out and buy a fish tank...I got my own 'want to believes"

 

[Art Mustel]

As long as your "want to believe" won't break your bank, Blueser, all is good!

 

[Blueser]

As long as your "want to believe" won't break your bank, Blueser, all is good!

Haha...my "want to believes" don't cost a nickle. I don't worry bout no speed steeping, especially since I'm looking at around 25....30ml bottles of juice and various pieces of bottles, I spect' they'll be done by the time I get around to all of em'.... ...cheers