Nicotine Comparisons

[Glinda]

I've said this elsewhere at ECF, but I've been a Settler for the past few years (settled happily into using evods & spinners, stopped exploring tanks after Nautilus, never intending to DIY), but now that things have changed, so must I. I've been stocking up on mods and tanks, buying everything needed to build my own coils, and I'm about to invest in the nicotine part of the equation this week.

To make the right choice, I have literally spent the past 8 hours reading this thread and taking copious notes. You guys really know your stuff, and I'm so grateful for that. Because of what you've contributed here, I finally feel confident regarding which brand of nicotine will likely be best for me. Thank you!

Elsewhere in the forum, I've seen recommendations that people who are new to DIY e-liquid stay away from 100mg. I understand the reason for it, but since we're down to the wire, is it entirely foolish to eschew that advice, go for the 100mg, and just work extra carefully and covered up?

I vape about 5ml per day at 3mg, and I've graduated to 0 nic at night just so I can chain vape if I feel like it, and then easily fall asleep later. With this in mind, I start thinking, "Maybe I should just buy a lower nic by the liter since I'm not as addicted as I once was..."

You see the quandary I'm in (great need w/ little to no experience), so your further input here would be super appreciated.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I've said this elsewhere at ECF, but I've been a Settler for the past few years (settled happily into using evods & spinners, never intending to DIY), but now that things have changed, so must I. I've been stocking up on mods and tanks, buying everything needed to build my own coils, and I'm about to invest in the nicotine part of the equation this week.

To make the right choice, I have literally spent the past 8 hours reading this thread and taking copious notes. You guys really know your stuff, and I'm so grateful for that. Because of what you've contributed here, I finally feel confident regarding which brand of nicotine will likely be best for me. Thank you!

Elsewhere in the forum, I've seen recommendations that people who are new to DIY e-liquid stay away from 100mg. I understand the reason for it, but since we're down to the wire, is it entirely foolish to eschew that advice, go for the 100mg, and just work extra carefully and covered up?

I vape about 5ml per day at 3mg, and I've graduated to 0 nic at night just so I can chain vape if I feel like it, and then easily fall asleep later. With this in mind, I start thinking, "Maybe I should just buy a lower nic by the liter since I'm not as addicted as I once was..."

You see the quandary I'm in (great need w/ little to no experience), so your further input here would be super appreciated.

You could approach it a couple of ways. Yes, you could always lower the strength of the nic but if you are still buying a litre then the space for storage remains the same.
Or you could buy 500ml of 100mg and it requires a smaller bottle and less space.
Either way, you should be good to go. The 100mg is the better price for you get more bang for the buck.

 

[Glinda]

I'm buying a freezer chest that will be dedicated to nic storage, so space isn't so much an issue, just...I guess it's my confidence level, in all honesty. It's a new frontier, I'm not good at math, and being under the gun to carefully handle a potentially lethal liquid while learning how to DIY at an accelerated pace is a little nerve wracking. Maybe I'll get a liter of 100mg, a liter of 48mg, and then something in a just-add-flavor strength to play with (a dress rehearsal!) before I jump into the deep end. That will likely be my best bet.

 

[sketchness]

I'm buying a freezer chest that will be dedicated to nic storage, so space isn't so much an issue, just...I guess it's my confidence level, in all honesty. It's a new frontier, I'm not good at math, and being under the gun to carefully handle a potentially lethal liquid while learning how to DIY at an accelerated pace is a little nerve wracking. Maybe I'll get a liter of 100mg, a liter of 48mg, and then something in a just-add-flavor strength to play with (a dress rehearsal!) before I jump into the deep end. That will likely be my best bet.

You could simply mix down some 100mg immediately to something you are more comfortable handling.

By the time I had finished my first 120mls of 36mg I was ready to move up in strength. The math is so much easier at 100mg as is the flexibility to make whatever ratio pg/vg you desire.

100mg nic is definitely to be respected, and of course careful around pets/kids. However it is fairly easy to handle and control. A few drops on your skin is easily washed and rinsed before any harm comes to you. A spill on carpet would be a huge pain but overall it is pretty simple. All the reading I did made me super nervous. But it is a piece of cake.

 

[Mactavish]

You could simply mix down some 100mg immediately to something you are more comfortable handling.

By the time I had finished my first 120mls of 36mg I was ready to move up in strength. The math is so much easier at 100mg as is the flexibility to make whatever ratio pg/vg you desire.

100mg nic is definitely to be respected, and of course careful around pets/kids. However it is fairly easy to handle and control. A few drops on your skin is easily washed and rinsed before any harm comes to you. A spill on carpet would be a huge pain but overall it is pretty simple. All the reading I did made me super nervous. But it is a piece of cake.

All true, it's the way to go!

 

[Glinda]

Whoa! When you put it like that, it's a lot less intimidating. I was imagining that if any dropped on my skin at 100mg the consequences would be horrible and immediate. I'm actually pretty excited about this now. Thanks!

 

[Mactavish]

Whoa! When you put it like that, it's a lot less intimidating. I was imagining that if any dropped on my skin at 100mg the consequences would be horrible and immediate. I'm actually pretty excited about this now. Thanks!

Just ALWAYS wear eye protection!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I did some reading up on using nicotine being used as a pesticide. What they basically said is that once it lands on a surface and dries, it takes only a few minutes for a complete breakdown and is then rendered harmless. Guess that is why when the lawn guy comes to spray for bugs they always tell you to wait until its dries before walking on it.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Whoa! When you put it like that, it's a lot less intimidating. I was imagining that if any dropped on my skin at 100mg the consequences would be horrible and immediate. I'm actually pretty excited about this now. Thanks!

I always mix right next to my kitchen sink, that way if I get a drop on my skin it can be rinsed off immediately. I always wear gloves but am guilty of not always wearing long sleeves. Accidents will and do happen. Just be prepared to act immediately and you will be fine. Since my hands are not the greatest anymore, I did have a minor slip and a few drops got on my forearm and the rest of the spill went into the flat pan I had underneath the bottles that I was working with. I expected to feel something. But I did not. Of course, I rinsed it off immediately and changed gloves(threw the ones I had been wearing away) and resumed working.
I admit that at first I was too nervous to even try 100mg. So I started with 60mg and worked my way up. Whatever you feel comfortable with is where you should start. No matter what anyone says.

 

[Glinda]

Whatever you feel comfortable with is where you should start. No matter what anyone says.

Good call. And I appreciate your telling me about your "work station" too- I imagine I'll be setting up as close to the sink as possible as well, but only after I kennel my dogs and cats. They're too curious for their own good.

 

[Dreamer13]

I'm buying a freezer chest that will be dedicated to nic storage, so space isn't so much an issue, just...I guess it's my confidence level, in all honesty. It's a new frontier, I'm not good at math, and being under the gun to carefully handle a potentially lethal liquid while learning how to DIY at an accelerated pace is a little nerve wracking. Maybe I'll get a liter of 100mg, a liter of 48mg, and then something in a just-add-flavor strength to play with (a dress rehearsal!) before I jump into the deep end. That will likely be my best bet.

I have the same thoughts. Feeling like we're in hurry up mode and praying DIY has good results with the products choosen. I'm going with a liter of 100mg for my next nic purchase. My freezer is pretty filled up with food already and not too big so I need to think of storage as well. I've already purchased 12, 120ml glass bottles with proper caps for storage now all I need to do is sanitize them and buy some more nic.

Speaking of nic left out for mixing, how much does one generally leave out for a time? I've been going over bottling options and can't settle. I'd like to put it in glass but can't seem to find a topper for the bottle that will make mixing by weight easiest and good seal fot storage while not in use. Are plastic bottles with twist caps the best option? Can't squeeze a glass bottle with twist cap very well [emoji6] Will the nic degrade the rubber on a dropper if I transfer it to a standard glass bottle?

 

[Bob Chill]

I have the same thoughts. Feeling like we're in hurry up mode and praying DIY has good results with the products choosen. I'm going with a liter of 100mg for my next nic purchase. My freezer is pretty filled up with food already and not too big so I need to think of storage as well. I've already purchased 12, 120ml glass bottles with proper caps for storage now all I need to do is sanitize them and buy some more nic.

Speaking of nic left out for mixing, how much does one generally leave out for a time? I've been going over bottling options and can't settle. I'd like to put it in glass but can't seem to find a topper for the bottle that will make mixing by weight easiest and good seal fot storage while not in use. Are plastic bottles with twist caps the best option? Can't squeeze a glass bottle with twist cap very well [emoji6] Will the nic degrade the rubber on a dropper if I transfer it to a standard glass bottle?

As a loose and general rule of thumb, you keep about 3 months of nic out of the freezer in a working bottle at a time and keep it in dark place. You need to do the math yourself to figure out how many mg's you use a day/month. There are 12,000mg's of nic in a 120ml bottle. Just multiple your mls per day x strength and divide into 12,000. Example: 5mls of 12mg strength = 60mg/day. 12,000 / 60 = 200 days.

I have had a working bottle out for 6 months and the only thing it did was turn "slightly" yellow. No change in flavor though.

 

[JeremyR]

Whoa! When you put it like that, it's a lot less intimidating. I was imagining that if any dropped on my skin at 100mg the consequences would be horrible and immediate. I'm actually pretty excited about this now. Thanks!

Yeah with proper mixing equipment, a clean uncluttered work space, and taking your time to be careful; it's no problem.

Put the lid back on the nic bottle soon after decanting.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Put the lid back on the nic bottle soon after decanting.

May be it's because of my English, but I did not get the part about decanting.

 

[JeremyR]

Pouring the nic from the bottle.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I have the same thoughts. Feeling like we're in hurry up mode and praying DIY has good results with the products choosen. I'm going with a liter of 100mg for my next nic purchase. My freezer is pretty filled up with food already and not too big so I need to think of storage as well. I've already purchased 12, 120ml glass bottles with proper caps for storage now all I need to do is sanitize them and buy some more nic.

Speaking of nic left out for mixing, how much does one generally leave out for a time? I've been going over bottling options and can't settle. I'd like to put it in glass but can't seem to find a topper for the bottle that will make mixing by weight easiest and good seal fot storage while not in use. Are plastic bottles with twist caps the best option? Can't squeeze a glass bottle with twist cap very well [emoji6] Will the nic degrade the rubber on a dropper if I transfer it to a standard glass bottle?

There is no reason for you to not put working nic base into squeezable plastic bottles. I do and I keep mine in the fridge when not using it. Just let it warm to room temp before measuring.

 

[aikanae1]

I use an old lunch tray that I picked up at a thrift store when working with nic. That way if there is a spill, it's contained and doesn't go everywhere. I think one of the main reasons for ordering nic in a diluted strength is KIDS. Even visiting grandkids. It's impossible to take too many precautions.

Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk

 

[Rossum]

Speaking of nic left out for mixing, how much does one generally leave out for a time?

I don't leave any 100 mg/ml base out. I take a 120 ml bottle of 100 mg/ml base out of the freezer, let it come to room temperature overnight, then mix it down to a vapable strength of unflavored base. For me, that's 15 mg/ml, so I end up with 800 ml. That gets rebottled into 120 ml bottles, all but one of which go back in the freezer.

 

[Glinda]

I don't leave any 100 mg/ml base out. I take a 120 ml bottle of 100 mg/ml base out of the freezer, let it come to room temperature overnight, then mix it down to a vapable strength of unflavored base. For me, that's 15 mg/ml, so I end up with 800 ml. That gets rebottled into 120 ml bottles, all but one of which go back in the freezer.

This sounds close to what I'm envisioning for myself. Kids don't figure into my equation, so I don't worry about wee humans getting into my cache and harming themselves.

 

[Rossum]

This sounds close to what I'm envisioning for myself. Kids don't figure into my equation, so I don't worry about wee humans getting into my cache and harming themselves.

I don't do it for safety either. I do it it that way because my experience with opened bottles of 100 mg left at ambient temperatures last year were not the best. I had four different bottles of premium nic open at the same time from running the blind test you'll find around page 140 of this thread. All of them ended up substantially discolored after a couple of months. The nic was still usable and I ended up vaping it all, but I really prefer my nic fresh and colorless.