Now You All Have Gone & Done It!!

[Newwell]

Yeap, you all have inspired me to start DIYing my own juices. I've been checking this part of ECF since I started vaping. So tonight, with my DH's blessings, I placed my first order. (He's so good to me )

Here is my list of goodies (hope I did this right):
250 ml - 36 mg nic juice 70/30 PG/VG (wanted to start on the lighter side until I get the hang of it)
250 ml PG
120 ml VG
10 different FA flavors
Syringes (10)- 1-10 ml sizes - didn't know how many I would need & they were pretty cheap, same with blunts
14 & 16 ga blunts (3-14' & 7-16's)
3 ml pipettes (15) - disposables
Graduated cylinders (10 & 50 ml)
Flask (50 ml)
10 ml & 30 ml bottle - 5 each
Nitrelle gloves (I have aprons & safety glasses)

Any & all advise is appreciated to a noobe to DIYing! I am so excited to venture forward.
One question: The site for the flavoring recommended no more than 5%, then adjust. Is that 5% of total volume? Or 5% of each flavor if mixing 2 or more?

 

[AzPlumber]

FlavourArt flavors will vary from 1% up to 18% or 20%. Typicaly the tobaccos will be on the lower end.

If your FA is The Flavor Apprentice you will be in the 15% to 20% range

 

[tidegirl]

That is 5% total volume. My advice- download the ejuice me up app from breakthru software. It is free and will do the complicated math for you. You can also easily tweak recipes. I would look for it to link but I'm typing on my phone so not so easy to do.

From a fellow new diy'er I would also say start small- in volume of juice and in the number of juices. They can change when they steep so you don't want 10 batches of 30 ml juice that are all unvapeable. I made 2 today that I think are gonna be really good then I had to make myself stop to wait and see how they come out.

Hope you love diy!

 

[Newwell]

Thanks!
Tidegirl, I've already checked out the breakthru software. Looks like something that would make the process much easier.
I purchased 10 ml bottles so I could sample instead of going too crazy & making huge batches of sink drain fluids.
I am looking forward to making some of the recipes that are in the EJuice Recipe link here. I love V4L's Caramel Macchiato Frap, so anything comparable to this would be great. I LOVE a good cup of coffee. I did also invest in some fruity type flavors which I am beginning to enjoy more.
Again thanks for any advice.

 

[GoodDog]

Much, much better than any coffee flavoring is infusing your own. It looks complicated but once you do it it's very simple. If you haven't already, I recommend you read this thread. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/239733-coffee-flavor.html

 

[Newwell]

Much, much better than any coffee flavoring is infusing your own. It looks complicated but once you do it it's very simple. If you haven't already, I recommend you read this thread. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/239733-coffee-flavor.html

Thanks GoodDog, I will definitely check this out

 

[Str8V8ping]

Thanks!
Tidegirl, I've already checked out the breakthru software. Looks like something that would make the process much easier.
I purchased 10 ml bottles so I could sample instead of going too crazy & making huge batches of sink drain fluids.
I am looking forward to making some of the recipes that are in the EJuice Recipe link here. I love V4L's Caramel Macchiato Frap, so anything comparable to this would be great. I LOVE a good cup of coffee. I did also invest in some fruity type flavors which I am beginning to enjoy more.
Again thanks for any advice.

FOr the first dozen or so tries i recommend making 3ml samples . Your gonna be dumping a bunch in the sink when you first start even more so with any other flavorings but capellas and 10ml batches is a lot to dump . Make sure you test each flavor indiviually before mixing juices too . It sucks when you mix a bottle of juice and realize one of the flavors used in it sucks . To test a flavor put 20 drops of pg/vg in a bottle and 1 drop flavoring . that =5% .Then vape then add a drop (10%) then vape then add a drop (15%) then vape and so on to find the sweet spot and see if you like the flavor . DO that for all the flavors so you will know how each flavor tastes and works . Doing this a pretty much a MUST for making good juices .

 

[Lyndagayle]

I'm sure you feel a bit overwhelmed, which is normal at this point. TPA sells flavors in dram bottles for app. $1.50 per bottle. Pick out several you think you will like and test them before buying larger sizes. Don't expect your first mix to taste the way you imagine it, to keep yourself from getting discouraged. I dumped more than I kept when I first started. Be sure to order some sweetener. You'll need it to sweeten some of your mixes. Ethyl maltol is a must have IMO. I have a bottle of TPA Cotton Candy, which is EM mixed to 10% and also have the crystals to mix myself (much cheaper to mix your own). Good luck! but most of all, relax and have fun.

 

[bmwjen]

i use a weekly pill box set up to taste test new flavors. No reason to make an entire 5ml, or 10ml when just .3, and .2 of that will do for a mix to test vape.

 

[Shilo]

Congrats on your new adventure. You've been given great advice here- don't get discouraged, let things steep overnight or longer with tobaccos before making a final decision, EM is a must have and you will be disappointed in some flavors that is inevitable no matter how tiny your sample batches are or what percentage you try at. There is a learning curve that I think is never ending because your tastes may change over time too. This section of the forum helps a great deal to gather info and opinions from those of us in the same boat.

Since your ordered in 70/30 make sure you enter that exact ratio into the top of the calculator under the base nicotine ratio as the flavorings you add will of course change the final nic result and the final pg/vg ratio and you may need to adjust the VG or PG accordingly to get your target ratio (so you did good by getting extra of each.)

Start by testing each flavoring individually as mentioned allready so you can asssess it before using it in a full blown recipe.
So what flavors are you getting? We're nosy...lol

 

[Newwell]

I am so excited about starting my newest adventure. Thanks for the wise advise & encouragement.

AZ - Yes, they are all Flavor Apprentice. All flavors are PG, I think. All bottles are 8 ml in glass. That was the only size they had. I don't think that the price was bad either, $1.49 each.

Tidegirl - Found the Breakthru software, and will start small.

GoodDog - I checked out the coffee thread...wow, sounds awesome. I've gotta try the Kahlua coffee extract. I subscribed to the thread so I could stay up to date.

Str - I really like the flav testing method that you recommended. I will try to make my 1st batches in 3 ml increments. I really don't need too much drain fluid right now. On the flav testing, do you let tests steep overnight?
A quote from the site where I bought the flavs -We only sell undiluted concentrated flavorings direct from the manufacturer. Some flavorings are extremely potent and may need to be diluted down to less than one percent before direct application. Most flavorings reach their peak between 5-10% with a few exceptions. Begin with a baseline of 5% and adjust up or down depending on results. None of our concentrated flavorings contain Diacetyl, or any of the related flavoring chemicals that are known. That's where I came up with the 5%. So I will use your method.

Lyndagayle - Yes I do feel a bit overwhelmed, but I think my excitement is offsetting any nervousness. From all that I've read on ECF so far, I am expecting to make a few batches of drain fluid. But I'm very stubborn & really want to DIY. I DIDN'T order any Ethyl maltol. NUTS!!! Can you buy it any place other than the web? I'd hate to pay shipping on just a bottle of EM. What do you mix EM crystals with to make the solution?

BMW - How do you use a weekly pill box set up to taste test new flavors? Do you add X amount of drops of PG/VG & Y amount of flavs in each section and then taste?

Shiloh - My list of flavorings are: Almond Amaretto, Bavarian Cream, Caramel Candy, Blackberry (sounded good), Chai Tea, Cola, Double Chocolate, Hypnotica (loved the name but have no clue), & Plum. Oops, 9 flavs not 10. They were out of coffee flavs, but I am going to use the extraction method that GoodDog directed me to. From what I have read so far in ECF, it seems that 70/30 was the most recommended blend.

Again, thanks everybody!

 

[GoodDog]

Maybe you could email them and see if you can add EM to your order. It's not available offline that I know of and you really will need it for your mixes.

Be glad TFA was out of coffee flavorings. LOL Once you infuse your own you won't be able to stand any of the flavorings sold.

You'll want probably lemon (in the lemon shaped container) for your Blackberry. I make a good one using TFA Blackberry, a good amount of EM, stevia and Tart & Sour (but lemon will also work). The key to my blackberry is the amount of EM, it makes it very good.

If you decide to try bakery flavors Capella has the best so consider them when you're ready to buy more flavorings.

Love your excitment and the only reason to fail at DIY is giving up, so you'll do great and be teaching newbies real soon.

 

[Newwell]

Maybe you could email them and see if you can add EM to your order. It's not available offline that I know of and you really will need it for your mixes.

Be glad TFA was out of coffee flavorings. LOL Once you infuse your own you won't be able to stand any of the flavorings sold.

You'll want probably lemon (in the lemon shaped container) for your Blackberry. I make a good one using TFA Blackberry, a good amount of EM, stevia and Tart & Sour (but lemon will also work). The key to my blackberry is the amount of EM, it makes it very good.

If you decide to try bakery flavors Capella has the best so consider them when you're ready to buy more flavorings.

Love your excitment and the only reason to fail at DIY is giving up, so you'll do great and be teaching newbies real soon.

I already checked their site & they don't have EM available. So...do you have any recommendations for a good place to start my search?
"You'll want probably lemon (in the lemon shaped container) for your Blackberry." Lemon is a lemon shaped container???? How do I use or get Stevia? I know that I can get stevia in a powder, but do they also sell it in liquid?
Oh gosh, the questions are now reeling in my little brain.
Thanks GoodDog!!

 

[Sundrinkr]

Oooh, good idea! Thanks for sharing this tidbit.

i use a weekly pill box set up to taste test new flavors. No reason to make an entire 5ml, or 10ml when just .3, and .2 of that will do for a mix to test vape.

 

[micksf]

www.ecigexpress.com for EM as well as a good supply of different flavors. Good luck.

I already checked their site & they don't have EM available. So...do you have any recommendations for a good place to start my search?

 

[Newwell]

OK, I ordered the EM thru TPA. I also ordered some lemon as per GoodDog (don't think it's in a lemon shaped container though) AND some peach too, as per me, I love peach . Eeegads!!! I'm already turning into a DIY maniac & I haven't even really started yet. I do have a real neat locking tool box that I cleaned out today to store my goodies in when they get here.
I've got to get my spending spree under control. Somebody PLEASE take my credit card away!!! There goes any of "my no more cig" savings account.

Blessings & vape on

 

[tidegirl]

I'll hold the credit card for you. Pay no attention to the charges that show up.

The e juice me up app is terrific, the only feature I wish it had is some sort of testing... where you could adjust quantities a little better when building your perfect juice without having to do so much dang math! You know, add more flavor, but that changes the other %s, so you have to add more other stuff to get the right balance again, before you know it your 3 ml test is a 10 ml test LOL. It would be nice if you could do some reverse calculations where you put how much flavor you add and it gives you a new % of everything. But maybe I am overthinking things. Again. I tend to do that. Besides, when you are workin with drops (0.0-something mls) its hard to be that accurate anyway.

 

[MadValleyVapingMama]

I did the coffee extraction using Hazelnut Vanilla OMG it is so good, and the process is very easy. I wish I could find coco beans so I could make my own chocolate extract.

 

[mgordon1100]

This might help you, Newwell. When you're just testing flavors for amounts, you may want to just use plain PG, instead of trying to use nic at first. The nic added later will change the flavor, but you'll have a ball park figure to tweak. Reason I'm saying this, is I just made a newb mistake. I was testing out my butterscotch, and I dripped all of my pg content from the nic bottle. Didn't even realize I was doing that, although the bottles are different. Now I'm dizzy from vaping a near 60mg/ml of nic.

 

[Newwell]

This might help you, Newwell. When you're just testing flavors for amounts, you may want to just use plain PG, instead of trying to use nic at first. The nic added later will change the flavor, but you'll have a ball park figure to tweak. Reason I'm saying this, is I just made a newb mistake. I was testing out my butterscotch, and I dripped all of my pg content from the nic bottle. Didn't even realize I was doing that, although the bottles are different. Now I'm dizzy from vaping a near 60mg/ml of nic.

I was thinking the same thing, but intend to make my mixes about 80/20. Str suggested a "drop" method for doing flavor testings that I think I am going to try.
Ooooo, so much great advice. Just checked & my goodies are on the way. (Of course I always seem to order on a holiday weekend - MLK Day this time.)