When you are mixing, how precise are you?
Do you measure everything with 1/10 ml precision or just count drops? Or something else?
Do you measure everything with 1/10 ml precision or just count drops? Or something else?
Precision in DIY
- Thread starter dandellion
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I use syringes, never drops. Drop sizes vary depending on the dropper hole size and the viscosity of the liquid. Syringes are far more precise, safer, accurate and fast.
I try to be precise and use a syringe or flask. But if it's a slight hair over or under the little notch on either item, I think it's all relative anyways and is not biggie. I don't have the patience in counting drops and it doesn't work well for me either, like Kurt said.
For flavorings, I try to be as precise as I can. For some small test batches I am measuring hundredths of a ml (easy to do with a 1ml syringe).
Drops are very imprecise, and difficult to keep track of in larger mixes. "One hundred and twenty six, one hundred and twenty seven (PHONE RINGS) Oh no...."
Turn your phone off, and close the door to pets/kids/distractions if you can, this will help accuracy as well!
Drops are very imprecise, and difficult to keep track of in larger mixes. "One hundred and twenty six, one hundred and twenty seven (PHONE RINGS) Oh no...."
Turn your phone off, and close the door to pets/kids/distractions if you can, this will help accuracy as well!
I am accurate-ish. I'm not trying to sell the stuff so QC isn't nearly as big a deal as it could be. Use syringes (2ml, 5ml, 6ml, 10ml) and marked 1ml droppers, though I'm sure there's some variation that's more pronounced on small batches. I figure a small variation in % won't completely break it, so long as flavour is right and nic% is close then it's good enough for my personal use.
Only been at this diy stuff for a few weeks but what I'm doing, and I think I'll stick with this, is just every so often I need to mix up another big bottle of base. I dilute my 100mg nic with pg and vg to what would be 12mg/ml juice if it had 10% flavor in it. I don't put the flavor in. I make a 50ml bottle of this, this large size eliminates a lot of error in the nic mixing. Then when I want to make something, I take my pre-made base and squirt it into in a 3ml or 10ml bottle and just add 10% flavor with a 1ml syringe.
Eliminates a lot of error with the nic, and also makes it so I'm only handling the 100mg/ml stuff every couple weeks, only having to load up a juice calc every couple weeks. I can mix up new flavors any time using my pre-diluted without as many nicotine safety concerns.
Eliminates a lot of error with the nic, and also makes it so I'm only handling the 100mg/ml stuff every couple weeks, only having to load up a juice calc every couple weeks. I can mix up new flavors any time using my pre-diluted without as many nicotine safety concerns.
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The only time I use drops is when I'm using/adding the concentrated flavs. The rest of the time I'm using syringes or graduated cylinders.
I've only been mixing for @ 5 weeks but, I have found for me, I use syringes to meter out the Nicbase, PG and VG and then I use the dropper that came w/ an old order of Totally Wicked's Titanium Ice for adding flavors. This particular dropper gives a nice, fat, drop! The tip is offset/bent a little...have no idea if it makes any diff in drop size but I have other droppers & they are smaller and don't give me what I am shooting for flavor/taste-wise.
For some reason, when I was trying to use a syringe for adding flavors I was struggling to get the taste %'s I wanted or liked. Might've just been noobish-ness on my part. Whatever, to each his own & there are certainly more experienced folks here that will pipe in with what works best for them. For now, this seems to work out great for me...don't know what I'll do when this thing gets dropped and shatters into a million pieces!
For some reason, when I was trying to use a syringe for adding flavors I was struggling to get the taste %'s I wanted or liked. Might've just been noobish-ness on my part. Whatever, to each his own & there are certainly more experienced folks here that will pipe in with what works best for them. For now, this seems to work out great for me...don't know what I'll do when this thing gets dropped and shatters into a million pieces!
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I use
for my drops. 2 in a pack, glass, one straight tip one bent @ around 45deg, with 1/4mL markers.
I'm really picky because I want to be able to create the exact same flavor at some other point.
That said, I use nearly all the methods imaginable. (I do not use the "pour in stuff till it looks kinda close" method, but someone who does mix that way I blame/attribute one of my recipes that I do use.) My PG and VG is premixed by filling VG to a line marked on a bottle and then PG to the next line on the bottle. (There are mixers that make their entire juice this way.) I use syringes from 1ml to 10ml in size. I use graduated cylinders. I use drops. (Mostly drops for butterfly fart stuff.)
The only method that really works is the one that works for you and is fairly repeatable. I think precission is based more on the mixer's tastebuds than anything else.
That said, I use nearly all the methods imaginable. (I do not use the "pour in stuff till it looks kinda close" method, but someone who does mix that way I blame/attribute one of my recipes that I do use.) My PG and VG is premixed by filling VG to a line marked on a bottle and then PG to the next line on the bottle. (There are mixers that make their entire juice this way.) I use syringes from 1ml to 10ml in size. I use graduated cylinders. I use drops. (Mostly drops for butterfly fart stuff.)
The only method that really works is the one that works for you and is fairly repeatable. I think precission is based more on the mixer's tastebuds than anything else.
I'm still of the mentality that if ya keep notes, ya can adjust and replicate whatever recipe you're developing! Just use da same measuring devices each time, take small incremental steps and KEEP NOTES!!!
BTW, did I mention keeping notes...?
BTW, did I mention keeping notes...?
I don't get fanatical-accurate either. I use the same equipment for measuring each time and make notes about what I used ie 3 drops small pipette.
What works for me is making my pg/vg base in a large bottle. Then use 1 to 3 ml base in a small bowl and start messing with flavors until I hit something I like. Once I have something workable, I add about another 6 ml of base and corresponding flavoring, mix well, then bottle and label the flavors with no nic. I keep a book of notes and recipes (written in pencil to make adjustments easily).
Since I use a bottom feeder that has a 3 ml bottle, I use a dropper to put in my flavor and then add nic to suit and shake well. Then I can have strong nic, minimal nic, whatever I feel like and don't have to have a range of nics in repeat flavors.
What works for me is making my pg/vg base in a large bottle. Then use 1 to 3 ml base in a small bowl and start messing with flavors until I hit something I like. Once I have something workable, I add about another 6 ml of base and corresponding flavoring, mix well, then bottle and label the flavors with no nic. I keep a book of notes and recipes (written in pencil to make adjustments easily).
Since I use a bottom feeder that has a 3 ml bottle, I use a dropper to put in my flavor and then add nic to suit and shake well. Then I can have strong nic, minimal nic, whatever I feel like and don't have to have a range of nics in repeat flavors.
Syringe... They just make it so much easier
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
I can’t tell the Difference between 17mg or 18mg. Or 19mg for that matter.
So when I do DIY, I make “Pre-Mix” by Diluting 60mg or 100mg Nicotine down to 20mg. I use a Graduated Cylinder and get it Within .2ml or so. 20mg leaves about 20% of room to added Flavors/Sweeteners.
When I go to make Flavored e-Liquids, I Measure out the 20mg Pre-Mix into a Graduated Cylinder and then add Flavors/Sweeteners using Drops. The Drops come from the SAME Dropper Bottles. So the Drop Size is the Same for each Mix. Thus the Recipe is Completely Repeatable.
The HUGE advantage to this Technique is there is Very Little to Wash. Only a Graduated Cylinder.
Measuring Everything on the .1ml Level, or Less, is cool if you want to. And if you like washing a Bunch of Syringes, Eyedroppers and Misc. Glass Lab Ware.
But many people have found that there comes a Point where the Level of Accuracy of Measurement Exceeds the Ability to Taste a Difference.
BTW - I just made this Reply in another thread about Precision and Accuracy.
I completely Agree.
Many people think these Two Concepts are Interchangable. They are not. Here is a Simple Graphic I use to Explain the Concept of Accuracy and Precision.
I completely agree, I finally got my order in of all my glass bottle with the same droppers etc. I put all my tastes in those bottles and this just works out very fast like you described. I even took slow droppers, and if you all have the same size, it does not matter how many drops from this or that ... Now for the new flavors I still have bottles left, but I just use them from the bottle it came from, to give it a first test. If this holds i'll later put it in a glass bottle with a nice label etc
This thread reminds me of...
... "measure with a micrometer, mark with a crayon and cut with an ax."
... "measure with a micrometer, mark with a crayon and cut with an ax."
This thread reminds me of...
... "measure with a micrometer, mark with a crayon and cut with an ax."
Love It!
Yeah, sometimes there are times when Measuring to certain levels can be Overkill.
I mix in graduated cylinders if I need a dropper I use glass ones I don't keep notes, use syringes or pipettes, I use a splash of this and a dash of that just like the way I cook
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