Once again, I'm about ready to give up

[djdavies]

When you have lots of flavors and experiment a lot, I'm not sure a 10% success rate is all that bad. I often throw together recipes in 5 or 10ml, and they are usulaly "meh". Smokeable for sure but nothing that great. But that 10th one-truly special is then added to the rotation. With 8-10 winners to vape, continued experimentation to find another longshot makes it all worhtwhile.

 

[Mr.Mann]

Saltracker,

Without me looking up your old threads, if you wouldn't mind answering a few of these questions I'd appreciate it:

What is your most used flavoring company? What is your average total percentage? What measuring tools do you use? How do you sample a new flavoring when you receive it, e.g., in a mix, straight, tiny percentage/medium/heavy? Of the 10% that have worked for you, what is it about that 10% do you think is better than the other 90%?

Not to poo on posted recipes, but honestly, I find many recipes I've made to be like trying on someone else's shoes -- even if we wear the same size, they are specifically formed to the foot (taste) of that other person. One reason why I don't really bother with posting recipes is becasue my recipes are tailored to suit my tastes, and that's it. I do take some advice on flavors though, that's different.

 

[Tadeo47]

This makes me scared to start making my own juice!!

 

[Mr.Mann]

This makes me scared to start making my own juice!!

If you are a vaper and was able to navigate the convoluted terrain of the ecig market, you'll find DIYing eliquid to be one of the more simple endeavors. It can be as challenging or as simple as you want it to be. If you can drip your eliquid into your carto, tank, RTA or RDA (or whatever), you can make your own liquid. Fine tuning the liquid to your tastes is what is challenging, but that's also depending on finicky your taste buds are.

 

[CoilMeister]

A few weeks back, I posted that I was getting fed up with DIY because no matter what I did I could not mix a decent juice. You all encouraged me to keep trying and I appreciate that.

Well, I have been trying and I'm again ready to throw in the towel. I've downloaded dozens of recipes, from ECF as well as other sources, I have followed recipes to the letter, I have read comments on the threads, I have watched tons of YT videos. I have bought tons of flavors, I have steeped, I have shaken...and for what? Of the dozens of recipes I have mixed, maybe 10% have come out OK. Not OMG, That's Good!, but OK. All of those have been simple mixes like a single fruit or two. Not exactly what I was after, but I'll take 'em! Almost all of the juices I have mixed are "meh," some downright awful. Like I've said, only a very few have been vapable and even those haven't been all that great.

So now I'm pretty much stuck. I'm stuck as to what to do. I'm stuck with what I apparently am not doing right. I'm stuck with a liter of nic, big bottles of PG and VG, and flavors scattered all over my workspace. I honestly don't get it. I wish there was someone I could turn to locally, but there isn't anyone. So, once again, I am turning to my friends on ECF.

I know that experimentation and tweeking are part of the game. What I don't get is what I'm not doing right.

Sorry for the rant.

Saltraker,

I haven't seen that you have replied to any of our questions.....in order to be able to provide any kind of help it would be appropriate to respond to some of our questions, or maybe you threw in the towel already.... either way it would be nice to get a response as we have taken the time and effort to help.

In short, be "interactive" so that we may help.

Kurt

 

[dannyv45]

OK I mix simple flavours and 70% are OK 20% are bad some I throw and about 10% are great so I tend to stick with the great and muck about with the other, but you aren't even getting this and I bet it's getting really annoying. The thing I would suggest is to stop, if you have anything you do that you really like do that, but stop experimenting take a break from it and let yourself chill. When you feel like trying again come back to it and using premixed juices you might pick up a few ideas in the meantime, I think if you keep trying to push on you will spoil this totally for yourself. Pity you have no one to help you, I'm the same, but maybe someone who has a really good one could send you a sample with the directions and you could try to get that copied? Hope you find a solution that makes you happy though.

Great advice, When you get fustrated walk away and come back later.

 

[dannyv45]

This for sure. I was raised on using the scientific method, so when I started DIY I bought several brands each of the flavors I started with. The difference can be totally amazing, and there is no one brand that is all good or all bad. Since each flavoring cost less than a small bottle of commercial juice it doesn't bother me at all to have some that I'm never going to use again after the first trial.

That and starting at low levels of flavoring. I've been happiest at or below the suggested starting levels for all but one of the flavors that I've ended up using much. I see some of the recipes with 20 or even 30% flavoring and I just can't imagine it.

WoW more great advice,

Not all flavors are created equal. A cherry flavor from one manufacture can taste totally different then anoth manufactures cherry. I've found many flavors from one vender that just would not work but found the same flavor from a different manufacture excellent. So take that advice and pick a flavor and buy one each from each of the major manufactures and compare.

Hangsen
inawera
TFA
FA
capella
etc...

you will be very suprized as to the differences.

 

[dannyv45]

What does a flavorless mix at your typical nic level taste like?

Really great advice and advice that is coming from an expert around here.

Your mix will taste like crap regardless of the flavor you use if your base tastes like crap.

Try vaping just the base with no flavoring and if that taste like crap. Then try vaping just the PG alone and if thats ok then try vaping just the VG alone and if thats OK then it's harsh NIC.

Process of elimination, It works every time

If it all taste like crap (VG alone, PG Alone, and the base when PG and VG are combined) Then it's time to examine the hardware your vaping with.

 

[Saltraker]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Yes, maybe I am being a little too hard on myself. Someone mentioned setting the bar too high. Maybe so. But those "pretty good" mixes are few and far in between! OK...so I won't quit. But I think I will take a break for awhile.

 

[Moodyfisherman]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Yes, maybe I am being a little too hard on myself. Someone mentioned setting the bar too high. Maybe so. But those "pretty good" mixes are few and far in between! OK...so I won't quit. But I think I will take a break for awhile.

So you start another thread about throwing in the towel....people ask you to provide answers to questions to help you and you respond with ....................nothing.....hmmmm

 

[mimi0725]

I've just started DIY and it is a journey like anything new we try! I love being able to come to ECF and get some informational motivation lol!! Awesome advice on this thread! I get bored with the same juice easily so I made 15 different flavors the other day (some single flavors, and some mixes) did lots of shaking, went back, tasted, added a little something something if I thought it needed it. A couple are really good, some are ok, and some need work. But I made them, and that makes me proud
I will continue this journey with the help of my fellow vapers here. I figure I'm saving lots of money, and it doesn't take me any longer to make a batch than it takes to get in the car and drive to my local B&M, which I still do sometimes because I get a hankering for something I don't have!

 

[Saltraker]

Saltraker,

I haven't seen that you have replied to any of our questions.....in order to be able to provide any kind of help it would be appropriate to respond to some of our questions, or maybe you threw in the towel already.... either way it would be nice to get a response as we have taken the time and effort to help.

In short, be "interactive" so that we may help.


Kurt

Sorry, Real life reared its ugly head and I've been busy. Yes, I am going to walk away from DIYing for awhile. It has been too frustrating for me and I have other things to do besides getting frustrated. Maybe I have set the bar too high. I want to come back to this but I'm taking a break. Vaping should be fun! Thanks for your input...I really appreciate your willingness to help. And when I'm ready I'm sure I'll be seeking further advice.

 

[wheelie]

I like simple flavors. My favorite and daily vape is 18% Rootbeer from Flavor Concentrates and of 2% RY4. My other is 20% Vanilla Custard. Find a single flavor you enjoy then to can add a small amount of another flavor that makes it a little better. My wife's favorite is 20% Cappuccino from Flavor Art. Bought her Cappuccino from about 5 vendors but she always liked mine better. You can't tell if a flavor is good from a vape or two. I mix a new flavor I vape it all day and see if my flavor buds start to like it over a day. Keep it simple. CHEERS

 

[Saltraker]

So you start another thread about throwing in the towel....people ask you to provide answers to questions to help you and you respond with ....................nothing.....hmmmm

As I stated in another reply, I'm sorry for not replying. I guess I'm just not ready to continue at this point. I do appreciate your willingness to help. I'll come back to it, I'm sure. Don't hold it against me.

 

[GaryInTexas]

No need to rush back into it but do keep up with threads in this section. It will not only educate you in mixing but will motivate you to come back and try again.

 

[Moodyfisherman]

As I stated in another reply, I'm sorry for not replying. I guess I'm just not ready to continue at this point. I do appreciate your willingness to help. I'll come back to it, I'm sure. Don't hold it against me.

Just trying to help brother....If the FDA starts cracking down you will be back.........and with a vengence...

 

[hurricanegirl100]

I hate to be rude, but when you compare the price of say, three bottles of e-juice to get you through a month, compared to a pack a day habit of cigarettes, I simply don't get DIY juice. The hell with that..go with people who know what they're doing and forget turning one room in your house into a laboratory that could be potentially dangerous to the people who live there. Just nuts...

 

[Mr.Mann]

As I stated in another reply, I'm sorry for not replying. I guess I'm just not ready to continue at this point. I do appreciate your willingness to help. I'll come back to it, I'm sure. Don't hold it against me.

I get the need to vent, throw your hands up and, generally speaking, just wanting to yell to the heavens, "what am I doing wrong?" I went through a similar thing with rebuilding awhile back. That said, talking about your struggles does not have to involve continuing. I mean, even if you do totally give it up, which is fine, something can be said in this thread by you that ends up giving voice to many others like you that opted to not voice their struggles, but also are not willing to give up.

Good luck though with whatever you decide.

 

[GaryInTexas]

I know what I'm doing. I can alter a juice to fit my personal taste. It's consistent in content and flavor unlike some of the professionally made juice. My laboratory consist of one drawer. No rooms have been lost to DIY.

 

[Mr.Mann]

I hate to be rude, but when you compare the price of say, three bottles of e-juice to get you through a month, compared to a pack a day habit of cigarettes, I simply don't get DIY juice. The hell with that..go with people who know what they're doing and forget turning one room in your house into a laboratory that could be potentially dangerous to the people who live there. Just nuts...

I'd be willing to bet that a lot of DIYers are comparing the cost of DIY vs. pre-made eliquid rather than the cost of DIY over the cost of cigs (which is insanely incomparable on its face). But, nah, it's not rude in this case for you to say what you think -- obviously many people think like that. I used to think like that too and I bought prefilled cartos for my whole first year back in 2010 (at about $18 for a pack of 5). Yikes!!!!!!!!! I felt that eliquid was dangerous and should be kept contained -- and I didn't even know that I could make eliquid myself.

Wow! How times have changed. For sure it's been a ride, but at least I ain't being taken for one anymore.