PG/VG question

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esibby

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I'm looking into diy for after I figure out some flavors that I like and have a question. I know vg adds more vapor production and i'm thinking about trying an 80/20 pg/vg but I don't understand how I would do that based on the spreadsheet or online calc. I would be using a 50mg/ml pg based nic juice, and making 6ml bottles. I'm sure it's something simple I'm missing, I just dont see it.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Switched

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Final product = 10mg or 10 didvided by 50 = 20%

so for an 80/20 mix you need:

  • 20% 50 mg nic liquid;
  • 20% VG;
  • 60% PG; and
  • if you add flavours, since most flavours are suspended in PG, substract your flavouring % from the PG %.
For a 10ml bottle of 10mg liquid with a ratio of 80/20 and 15% flavour:

  • 20% 50 mg liq or 2ml
  • 20% VG or 2ml
  • 45% PG or 4.5ml
  • 15% flavouring or 1.5 ml
 

MaxUT

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Also, consider the type of flavor you'll be using, because the percentage needed can vary quite a bit. tobacco flavors like FlavourArt require only 1-3% flavoring, but some fruit flavorings are weak and may need as much as 25% to suit your taste.

A large percentage of flavoring will reduce the nicotine strength and also thin the liquid if the flavorings have a water or alcohol base.

This calculator works well for simple recipes:
eJuice Recipe Calculator

Using the calculator, these inputs:
Nicotine Base: 50mg/ml
Target Nicotine Level: 10mg/ml
Amount to Create: 6ml
Water Added (optional): 0%
Flavor Percent: 10%

Yield these results:
PG or VG with nicotine: 1.2ml 24 drops 20%
PG or VG (no nicotine): 4.2ml 84 drops 70%
Water: 0.0ml 0 drops 0.0%
Flavoring(s): 0.6ml 12 drops 10.0%

Since you want 20% VG in the final mix, just multiply 6 (mls of total mix) x .2 to get the amount of VG needed: 1.2ml.

Subtract this from the "PG or VG (no nicotine) row above; this leaves 3.0ml, which will be plain PG.

Your recipe would look like this:
PG or VG with nicotine: 1.2ml 24 drops 20%
PG (no nicotine): 3.0ml 60 drops 50%
VG (no nicotine): 1.2ml 24 drops 20%
Flavoring(s): 0.6ml 12 drops 10.0%

I recommend using a 1cc syringe to get accurate measurements.
 

Switched

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Yup! great calculator you listed there, for a single flavour recipe, inadequate when you start using more complex flavourings. I use this one now

E-Liquid Recipe Calculator

What I like about it is that you can - not unlike Dan's spreadsheet change the ratio of drops/ml. All my equipment = 22 drops/ml.

Although this is all subjective. Have you tried Fa tobacco flavours at 8%, IMHO that is where it is at. They will come out slightly dry, but a drop or 2 of EM or marshmallow will fix the dryness.
 

Switched

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Thanks for the calculator link. I bookmarked it for later.

I've used FA tobaccos at concentrations up to 15%. Virginia, Dark Vapure and Cuban Supreme are my favs so far. That's a little strong but I like a pipe tobacco type taste.

I have the new Ultimate flavors Camtel and Maxboro to try this weekend.
... please continue. What PG/VG ratio are you using? Any PGA thrown in there, or just the straight backy flavours? What's your sweet spot with each of them? I may be missing out on something here, being an X pipe and cigar smoker.
 

MaxUT

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Switched, let's see if I can answer some of your questions.

What PG/VG ratio are you using?
Typically I use 80%PG/20%VG. This is an attempt to balance throat hit - vapor production - time to maturity.

Any PGA thrown in there...?
Not lately. I dilute the VG with distilled water prior to mixing. First I heat the bottle of VG to reduce its viscosity; standing it in a container of hot water for a few minutes does the trick. I find it much easier to measure accurately since I use pipettes and the warmed VG clings less. It would also draw more easily into a syringe.

Using a 30ml bottle, I mix 25ml of Vg and 5ml of distilled water. In percentages it is 83% VG and 17% DW, and seems a little thicker than pure PG.

What's your sweet spot with each of them?
First, I must say that I like strong flavorful tobaccos. I enjoyed the intensity of pipe smoke (though the 'bite' of many blends limited my enjoyment of them) and also preferred Dutch Shag rollies to ordinary American cigarettes. English Ovals were the lightest-tasting cigarettes I liked.

That said, here are some of the mixes I've enjoyed:

Cuban Supreme -- 16 drops* per 5ml of base
Complex, with cocoa and hay, a bit sweet.

Dark Vapure -- 15 drops* per 5ml of base
Rich and robust; cocoa body with a touch of prune.

Virginia -- 14 drops* per 5ml of base
Most like cigarette tobacco; some sharp high notes at this strength. Might benefit from a drop of Vape Wizard.

Ultimate Marlboro -- 10 drops** per 5ml of base
Mellow body with spicy high notes, esp. at 5V in 510 atty. Can be perfumey when freshly mixed.

*3ml dropper bottle from Happy Vaper
**5ml dropper bottle from Freedom Smoke USA
 

Switched

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Max,

Thanks a bunch I am going to give those whirl, because I can always dilute. I use the same ratio 80/20 but do not dilute my VG, I add one or two % distilled water for increased vapour production without sacrificing taste. The h20 is taken away from the PG side when cutting.

VG cut down 4/1 with distilled h2o gives it the same consistency as PG, if you are worried about clogging attys, as IMHO high VG is responsible for premature atty failure.
 

Switched

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Woohoo! Thanks Max.

Mixed a bunch last night 12-13% in an 80/20 base of 25mg, with one drop of Wizard. Oh yeah baby they rock and roll.

  • dark vapure, cocoa
  • mellow sunset cictrussy
  • latakia
  • virginia I was using 8% brings it to the surface
  • burley not a vape alone, needs to be mixed with something
  • desert ship, ooooooooh yeah baby, damn fine pipe base, straight or flavoured.
 

Orion

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"I find it much easier to measure accurately since I use pipettes and the warmed VG clings less."

Thank you MaxUT!!! :thumbs:

I have been so annoyed waiting for the VG to drain down out of the pipettes. I kinda started feeling like the people in those ketchup commercials. I will definitely be warming up the VG beforehand from now on!
 
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