I appreciate it thanks. When adding flavors such as vanilla, can you add vanilla extract or does it have to be a vanilla "flavoring"?
Pipe tobacco and Cigar extraction
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I appreciate it thanks. When adding flavors such as vanilla, can you add vanilla extract or does it have to be a vanilla "flavoring"?
I've never used vanilla extract myself, just vanilla flavoring (Cappella's Vanilla Custard). It would probably work though, as most vanilla extract is an alcohol-based extraction. You will probably need more than when using Vanilla flavorings, as the flavorings are generally MUCH more concentrated.
...might have to give that a try in the future...one of my favorite long-term vapes is a Vanilla Custard recipe (based on Capellas).
You can use just about any food-grade flavoring in e-juice... but many are not really suitable to atomize (like Cocoa or popcorn [acetyl-based] flavorings). In some cases, the resulting juice might not be pleasant, but it certainly can't be any worse than inhaling burning leaves & paper for forty-plus years..... (but please reference the text in the yellow box at the top of the page)
JMHO....
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RE: dried out tobacco, I would think that dry would work better than moist as the PG/VG would not have to displace the moisture to get the extract. OTOH it might get more of the undesirable stuff.
Or does dry remove some of the essence we are after?
Anyone done it both ways?
Or does dry remove some of the essence we are after?
Anyone done it both ways?
Without any question, fresh and moist tobacco is better than old and dried-out tobacco for our purposes, namely, extracting good flavor to make eliquid. Way, way better.
Wouldn't it give a better yield since the tobacco wouldn't soak up so much PG trying to rehydrate. It seems more efficient at least.
Maybe, but the reason the old, dried-up tobacco wouldn't "try" to rehydrate is that it's dead. The "plant-ness" has been reduced to a crumbly, dessicated shadow of its former self. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. To steal from the famous Monty Python Parrot Skit, it's "ex-Tobacco" that has shuffled off this mortal coil and gone to meet its Maker, taking with it much of the inherent flavor.
Absorbed PG/VG can be mostly squeezed out of maceration solids. Nothing can be done, however, to restore the true or vibrant flavor of freshly cured and blended tobaccos. I'd much rather have a couple milliliters less of a really tasty extract than have more of an extract with either diminished or corrupted flavor.
PG and VG are relatively inexpensive---roughly 20¢ per ounce (30mls) when purchased in bulk---so efficiency in maximizing yield is the least of my concerns. I mean, a very small quantity of tobacco produces a significant amount of extract, when then makes three to ten times that much DIY NET eliquid.
With some wines or cheeses, age may be a good thing, and steeping can help meld and mature the flavors of both juices and extracts, but the source tobacco is best when fresh.
Don't take my word for it, though. Get yourself some old, dried up tobacco and try extracting it. I did that once, and I'll never do it again, but your results might be different from mine.
I'll be trying it when I get my base solution in the next few days. I'd hate to waste all those cigars. I'm rehydrating them. I'm not concerned with replicating the original flavors but just want a decent tobacco flavor. I'll keep you posted. 
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Typically, dead tobacco is dead tobacco. I've had some success with reviving cigars that have begun to dry out (not completely cripsy and brittle, those are toast...literally) with Boveda humidity packs: The surest method of reviving dried cigars
It takes a while, but a slightly dry cigar can be saved. Conversely, over humidifying tobacco can be just as perilous as letting it dry out. Too much moisture and the tobacco can begin to mold, even in the right storage conditions. Just like e-liquid store any of your tobaccos in a cool dark place. Pipe tobacco in mason jars, and cigars in a humidor. I did some of my first cigar extractions by reviving some sticks in this way, but I will tell you with certainty that something is definitely missing in the flavor dept. Fresh cigars and pipe tobacco will produce better results in an extraction 100% of the time.
It takes a while, but a slightly dry cigar can be saved. Conversely, over humidifying tobacco can be just as perilous as letting it dry out. Too much moisture and the tobacco can begin to mold, even in the right storage conditions. Just like e-liquid store any of your tobaccos in a cool dark place. Pipe tobacco in mason jars, and cigars in a humidor. I did some of my first cigar extractions by reviving some sticks in this way, but I will tell you with certainty that something is definitely missing in the flavor dept. Fresh cigars and pipe tobacco will produce better results in an extraction 100% of the time.
Got my base today and decided on using some Early Morning Pipe as my first extraction.
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Need some advice guys. I have about 30ml of extract after microwaving for three 5s intervals then resting for about an hour. I vaped a few drops and it actually tastes great but I'm wondering how much I should dilute it. It is strong but not ridiculously strong. With that time frame is it too weak to do the standard 5-10% or should I bump it up to 25 or 50?
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Bump it up to 25% or 50% or whatever is required to make it taste right. There are no hard and fast rules, and many variables. It would make sense that a fast (microwave) extraction would require less diluting than a 12 hour heat extraction, for example.
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OK, I don't mean to be a jerk, and I have no wish to offend you (or anyone else), but people new to home extracting ask all sorts of questions on these threads as if those of us who are slightly older hands (meaning that we already have some successful extractions under our belts) were wizards, authorities, or---more to the point---were standing next to the questioners, not only tasting what they're tasting but also magically knowing precisely what they want or expect as an end result. Nothing could be further from the truth. Including a photo was a nice touch, but I can't vape the computer screen. If your extract had been a puke green color, I might advise starting over, but the color is well within the normal range for a tobacco extract.
I've never done a quick microwave extraction---my heat-assisted macerations are all placed in a warm water bath for 1-3 days, depending. That's what I like, so that's what I do. In my personal experience, cigar extractions tend to be lighter in color and flavor; pipe blend and cigarette extractions are usually darker, with more robust flavor, but many variables affect both color and flavor.
As Ian444 stated, no hard and fast rules exist for extractions or DIY juice-making. A pragmatic bottom line is to not poison yourself, of course. Beyond that sensible caution, however, pretty much anything goes. We're all experimenting here and learning as we go. Our successes may embolden us, but our failures are often just as instructive, if not more. Luckily, our playground is really very inexpensive and involves only a small investment of time and energy, so "do overs" don't cost us much.
No fixed percentage applies for how much of a given extract to use, whether it's a homemade natural extraction or a retail flavoring purchased from a vendor. Sometimes "recommended" percentages are way off the mark. The only way to evaluate how much extract to use is your own taste buds. A useful rule of thumb is to start low and, if necessary, add more. You'll get a feel for this as you gain experience and confidence. Granted, an element of uncertainty exists, for homemade extracts and the DIY juices made from them are likely to change with steeping over time. But a good general guideline is that if an extract/DIY juice tastes good to you when it's fresh, it will probably continue to taste good as it matures, even if the flavor profile changes, as it may.
You are the sole and absolute judge. Make a decision. If you choose wrong, you'll know soon enough, but you can do another batch exactly the same way and make a different decision, or you can change the different elements---procedure, source tobacco, base blend, etc.---to see how the results change.
Don't worry, be fearless, and have a good time. That's what home extraction should be about. [End of sermon. LOL.]
Based on your method of extraction I would start at 50% dilution. I haven't used that particular method for awhile. As a matter of fact I used that method for my first two or three try's but decided to use slow cooking for my heat extracts. I find that a cigar extraction is best using the slow cook method. So, if 50% dilution still tastes good go down to forty then thirty, etc. Once you get it to your liking write it down. Good advice from the previous two posters and Bill has quite a bit of experience.
Thanks man. I appreciate your response rather than getting a lecture as posted above yours. This will be the last time I post in this thread and will find what works for me.
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WOW!
I finished this epic thread, and my hat's off to all of you! I'm still testing the waters as far as DIY, and this sounds like something I'd like to attempt. Thanks for the awesome thread!
-Kingboomer
I finished this epic thread, and my hat's off to all of you! I'm still testing the waters as far as DIY, and this sounds like something I'd like to attempt. Thanks for the awesome thread!
-Kingboomer
I extracted my first cigar tobacco last night, and it came out awesome!
1 - Chopped up 1 gram of cigar tobacco in a shot glass.
2 - Poured 15ml of PG over the tobacco.
3 - Microwaved it for 5 seconds, then mixed it for 2 minutes. (repeated 10 times)
4 - Strained through a syringe with cotton in the end. (yielded 11.5ml)
5 - Mixed up a batch at 10% and cut with some VG.
6 - Super smooth and taste just like the cigar I used!
1 - Chopped up 1 gram of cigar tobacco in a shot glass.
2 - Poured 15ml of PG over the tobacco.
3 - Microwaved it for 5 seconds, then mixed it for 2 minutes. (repeated 10 times)
4 - Strained through a syringe with cotton in the end. (yielded 11.5ml)
5 - Mixed up a batch at 10% and cut with some VG.
6 - Super smooth and taste just like the cigar I used!
I'm doing 3 extract of RYO tobacco I bought. They've been sitting in the crockpot on low for 24 hours. They all smell nasty, is that normal or does it mean I won't like it once I filter and steep it?
It all depends on what the tobacco was, how much you used, how much of your chosen extract liquid you used and the temperature of the pot.
I hated the smell of a few of my cigars as they were "cooking". Cooling and steeping can temper some tobacco pungency. Also could be just nasty tobacco to begin with. What brand are you working with?
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