New weight mixer question

[blisscloud]

Hi all,

I'm new to diy mixing by weight and have couple questions:

Q1: I would like to buy a American Weigh Scales LB-501, but it is currently OOS at Amazon. Which of following scale would you recommend? I will only mix juices with 30ml or 60 ml bottles just to try out some recipes. ( the DIY e-liquid here is very helpful & amazing!!)

A. American Weigh Scales ACP-200 Digital Pocket Scale, 200 by 0.01 G
Amazon.com: American Weigh Scales ACP-200 Digital Pocket Scale, 200 by 0.01 G: Digital Kitchen Scales: Kitchen & Dining

B. American Weight 100g x 0.01g Digital Scale
Amazon.com: American Weigh 100g x 0.01g Digital Scale: Educational And Hobby Weighing Scales: Kitchen & Dining

Q2: Does American Weight 100g scale good enough to mix a 60ml bottle?

Thanks all!

 

[Katmar]

Hi Alex, and welcome. Let's bump you up for some help...

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I don't understand why you want to DIY by weight when just about the whole vape world mixes by percentages. Why spend the money on a scale when a few syringes are dirt cheap. Good luck with your quest if you are that determined.

 

[dhood]

I personally just go by volume using syringes. But if you know the specific gravity of the individual components, it is very accurate. I've seen a few videos where they show them. VG is much denser than PG, obviously.

 

[kaahn]

I don't understand why you want to DIY by weight when just about the whole vape world mixes by percentages. Why spend the money on a scale when a few syringes are dirt cheap. Good luck with your quest if you are that determined.

Because it's easier, cleaner, quicker, not to mention more accurate and consistent, and less waste. I could add cheaper in the long run after the initial purchase of a $20 scales.

Edit: I use dropper caps to add my flavors. After each flavor I pop the dropper out of the cap and toss it into a cup with a little PGA. No mess at all. And no waste. The only thing I may throw away is a pipette for my nic solution which the last several times I've mixed I've used a dropper.

 

[Kaezziel]

Because it's easier, cleaner, quicker, not to mention more accurate and consistent, and less waste. I could add cheaper in the long run after the initial purchase of a $20 scales.

Edit: I use dropper caps to add my flavors. After each flavor I pop the dropper out of the cap and toss it into a cup with a little PGA. No mess at all. And no waste. The only thing I may throw away is a pipette for my nic solution which the last several times I've mixed I've used a dropper.

I agree with easier, cleaner, and quicker... I disagree with accurate. Accuracy would be true if all liquids had the same weight and specific gravity. They do not. To get a truly accurate mix you must measure liquids by volume... unless you want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on measuring equipment.

 

[Zurd]

It is accurate since we know the specific gravity of PG and VG. It's accurate to the drop!

 

[kaahn]

I agree with easier, cleaner, and quicker... I disagree with accurate. Accuracy would be true if all liquids had the same weight and specific gravity. They do not. To get a truly accurate mix you must measure liquids by volume... unless you want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on measuring equipment.

Know your weights

PG = 1.038g
VG = 1.26g
100mg nic in PG = 1.035g
Flavor = 1g

With flavors I always use a value if 1g in all my recipes that way they will always turn out exactly right no matter how big of a batch thats made. Make sure you make these adjustments in your calculator. I use pg nic base. I can not tell you how much VG nic base weighs. Accurate every time

 

[Kaezziel]

Know your weights

PG = 1.038g
VG = 1.26g
100mg nic in PG = 1.035g
Flavor = 1g

With flavors I always use a value if 1g in all my recipes that way they will always turn out exactly right no matter how big of a batch thats made. Make sure you make these adjustments in your calculator. I use pg nic base. I can not tell you how much VG nic base weighs. Accurate every time

I'm not trying to start a fight or anything... I just disagree with the logic.

TFA DIY Thread
Start at post 9788 and follow what ItTechy says about applying dry measurement to liquids... weights of liquids will vary depending on altitude, temperature, and a host of other factors. And there is no flavoring that will weigh the same as another to be exactly accurate. You may get decent results by using weights, but that does not make the measurement "accurate".
Like ItTechy said... "When was the last time you bought a pound of milk or a gallon of bacon?" Dry measurement (weight) is for dry ingredients... liquid measurement (volume) is for liquid ingredients...

Measure however you want, but I'm sticking to volume... it really isn't that difficult to me, and I mix my juices a quart at a time in mason jars... graduated cylinders make it a fairly simple process, and I know that my percentages are being translated accurately into the volume that I am mixing.

 

[Zurd]

Altitude & temperature. Actually, you're right, it does make a difference.

I just feel that it should be so low as to not make a difference. To each his own

 

[Kaezziel]

Altitude & temperature. Actually, you're right, it does make a difference.

I just feel that it should be so low as to not make a difference. To each his own

Completely understandable. As long as you know that mixing liquids by weight is "close enough". But there's a big difference between "close enough" and "accurate"... LOL...
If you're shooting at Earth from the moon, you might be close enough to hit the planet... but if you were aiming for a specific city, you're gonna need a bit of accuracy!

 

[blisscloud]

Hi Alex, and welcome. Let's bump you up for some help...

Thanks for your help!

 

[blisscloud]

Many thanks to BigCatDaddy, dhood, kaahn, Kaezziel & Zurd for sharing your thoughts.

Still cannot decided to go mixing by weight or volume at this moment. However, I think ItTechy's post "...Dry measurement (weight) is for dry ingredients... liquid measurement (volume) is for liquid ingredients..." makes perfect sense to me.

I may end up with buying syringes as well to compare the result with mixing by weight.

Happy vaping everyone!

 

[Kaezziel]

Ultimately it is up to you on how you want to mix, Alex. Syringes are all well and good, but for me I use the graduated cylinders for most of my measurements.
Just a quick search on Amazon, and here's a 6 piece set for about $22 KeL Scientific Graduated Cylinder Set

If you look through that link that I posted earlier, you'll find a LOT of really good recipes in that thread as well... Happy mixing!

 

[blisscloud]

Ultimately it is up to you on how you want to mix, Alex. Syringes are all well and good, but for me I use the graduated cylinders for most of my measurements.
Just a quick search on Amazon, and here's a 6 piece set for about $22 KeL Scientific Graduated Cylinder Set

If you look through that link that I posted earlier, you'll find a LOT of really good recipes in that thread as well... Happy mixing!

Thanks so much for the TFA DIY Thread and Amazon link, Kaezziel. I was browsing amazon and trying to find syringes this morning...so many choices.
The KeL Scientific Graduated Cylinder Set looks like a great choice and the price is right!!

I also find a nice DIY tutorial on Youtube:

Cannot wait to get my feet wet into juice DIY

 

[kaahn]

I'm not trying to start a fight or anything... I just disagree with the logic.

TFA DIY Thread
Start at post 9788 and follow what ItTechy says about applying dry measurement to liquids... weights of liquids will vary depending on altitude, temperature, and a host of other factors. And there is no flavoring that will weigh the same as another to be exactly accurate. You may get decent results by using weights, but that does not make the measurement "accurate".
Like ItTechy said... "When was the last time you bought a pound of milk or a gallon of bacon?" Dry measurement (weight) is for dry ingredients... liquid measurement (volume) is for liquid ingredients...

Measure however you want, but I'm sticking to volume... it really isn't that difficult to me, and I mix my juices a quart at a time in mason jars... graduated cylinders make it a fairly simple process, and I know that my percentages are being translated accurately into the volume that I am mixing.

I am speaking to the fact of wanting your juice to taste the same no matter the batch size. The only way IMHO to stay consistent is by weight. It is by far the most "accurate" ...splitting hairs aside. If you mix by any other method there are to many variables that could change from beakers/flasks coming in with various markings, syringe measurements not being right especially if you order from several different companies, to your naked eye not really being exact. Even droppers vary. You want consistency...mix by weight.

 

[Poeia]

I have the Ozeri Pro Digital Kitchen Food Scale. It is $13.60 at Amazon, weighs in metric and American and is accurate. I assume it could be used for weighing e-liquid.

Amazon.com: Ozeri Pro Digital Kitchen Food Scale, 1g to 12 lbs Capacity, in Stylish Black: Kitchen & Dining

 

[Kaezziel]

I am speaking to the fact of wanting your juice to taste the same no matter the batch size. The only way IMHO to stay consistent is by weight. It is by far the most "accurate" ...splitting hairs aside. If you mix by any other method there are to many variables that could change from beakers/flasks coming in with various markings, syringe measurements not being right especially if you order from several different companies, to your naked eye not really being exact. Even droppers vary. You want consistency...mix by weight.

I can see benefits of measuring by weight, and do agree that you can get consistent results by doing so. I just have a differing opinion and prefer to measure by volume. I use the same graduated cylinders every time, I buy syringes in bulk and use the same brand (though I'm looking for a nice set of glass syringes to re-use indefinitely). Bottom line is? I'm happy with my results, you're happy with your results, and there is no harm in sharing both sides of the opinion so that Alex can make his own decision as well.

 

[Alien Traveler]

I'm not trying to start a fight or anything... I just disagree with the logic.

TFA DIY Thread
Start at post 9788 and follow what ItTechy says about applying dry measurement to liquids... weights of liquids will vary depending on altitude, temperature, and a host of other factors.

Yes, they do depend on these factors. But very, very little. For example, changing water temperature from freezing point to 90 F changes its specific gravity only by 0.5% (negligible for DIY). Altitude changes are even smaller.
From the other side volume of syringe is increasing with temperature increase...

Bottom line: for DIY proposes, for as long as it is done not in a stove or a freezer, all temperature/pressure changes are negligible.

Disclaimer: now I am using syringe only for nicotine measurements. I prepare the base solution always in the same bottle (120 ml) and I know it good enough now, so that I can just to pour VG and VG from their containers. Easy, no headaches.
:

 

[SaferVaping]

Thanks, this is a good thread with good info, helped me out.