Quicky, easy way to get started in DIY eliquid.

[Ragman]

Im looking for the quickest easiest way to get into mixing.

a quick and easy guide would be nice for those who arent sure if they want to get into the whole mixing thing.

So what Im looking for is the bare minimum to start.

What are some absolute essentials and where can I get them?

So far I have this list of supplies needed. Can someone tell me what else I need? Perhaps this thread could help others?

I have... 125ml of 50mg VG Unflavored. (Xtreme vaping)
10ml of tobacco Absolute Flavoring (Perfumer's Apprentice)

What else is needed? I heard I need alcohol and maybe some plain PG/VG?
I just wanna make a few 5ml bottles to start out with. So obviously I need some empty 5ml dropper bottles. But what else should I need for mixing, dropping, measuring?

All help, comments are appreciated.

 

[Nikhil]

You can get just about everything else you need here: JuicyLiquid.com, DIY E-Liquid and Accessories!
Some things you might want are bottles, pipettes, syringes, PG, VG, menthol drops, etc. I'd also recommend getting distilled water and latex gloves, both available cheap at local stores. Distilled water helps to dilute the thickness of the VG - most people use it in a ratio of 1 part water : 4 to 5 parts VG. You'll want a separate, larger than 5ml dropper bottle to mix that in. Extra bottles always come in handy.

You do not need alcohol, but if you want to try it to spruce up your juice go for as high a proof as you can get (such as Everclear). Lower proofs should work as well, but like my name, I like things pure...

EDIT: I added a short mixing guide for beginners to my DIY flavoring guide (down in my signature).

 

[Ragman]

Thanks PV.

I bought some Caramel, Tobacco absolute, Vanilla and some 555.
Are there local stores that would sell the droppers and syringes and stuff?
I mean a place I could walk in and buy what I need?

Thanks again.

 

[bobbysox10]

you can go super easy and buy a 1oz bottle of liquid with your choice of Nic. and a 4oz bottle of liquid 0 nic. from tastyvapor.us

 

[curiousJan]

Thanks PV.

I bought some Caramel, Tobacco absolute, Vanilla and some 555.
Are there local stores that would sell the droppers and syringes and stuff?
I mean a place I could walk in and buy what I need?

Thanks again.

Are these 0mg nicotine?

Because if they're not, you're going to have some _very_ strong juice mixing what you've listed.

I went to my local farm supply store and bought vet syringes and some small tubing (to fit the syringes -- it's easier drawing liquid up out of the bottle and you can cut it to the right length). Smaller bottles and pipettes are necessary too early on when perfecting your recipes.

You could check medical supply stores for droppers as well.

Jan

 

[Nikhil]

When you post about the flavors you should always mention the brand and whether they are pre-mixed or not to avoid confusion.

I buy my stuff online so I don't know much about getting the stuff at local stores, but many DIY instruments are dangerous in the wrong hands (.... labs, needle sharing) so the government generally doesn't let a shop just carry a ton of syringes for anyone to buy. I have heard the people have used these Sweet Breath bottles for carrying liquid around:

 

[P-Funk]

Best way to get started is to buy all the materials and jump in. It will be confusing at first, you will hit difficulties and obstacles, and you will have to ask a few questions. This is OK. The members of this board are a very helpful and informative bunch, and they have been a wonderful help to many others who have traversed this path before.

About two weeks ago, I was conducting my first experiments with DIY mixes, and it has taken me almost this entire time to get to a level where I feel comfortable mixing up and vaping my own juice. I am now confident that I will have a tasty, vapable end product when I sit down to mix, unless of course I am trying something new.

For starters you will want:

1. At least 60mg unflavored high nic juice in the variety of your choosing. I used 100% VG unflavored, 36nic strength.

2. A large quantity of plain old PG/VG to cut your high nic juice.

3. Distilled water or pure grain alcohol, if you want. For pure VG mixes, this is necessary.

4. Flavorings. I recommend FlavourArt, as they are cheap, strong, and have received good reviews from everyone I have seen on this board. I conceed I personally have not used any other brand of flavoring.

5. Bottles for mixing. A few larger ones 50-100ml for basic ingredients (PG, VG, water) and a bunch of smaller ones 5-20ml for your final mixes.

6. Measuring tools. Graduated cylinders are best, but I have heard talk of syringes being used for this as well. I have not purchased these yet, and have done fine by counting droplets. Soon I will be getting these.

7. A healthy sense of adventure! Like anything else, this will require time and patience to get right. You might waste a few batches making crap at first. We all start somewhere.

There is much material already posted here on the forums. I encourage you to read through it. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck and happy vaping!

Edit: You will also want to check out scubabatdan's mix calculator in the top sticky on this board. At this point in my DIY career I find v3 linked in the first post in that thread to be more useful than the more complicated v11 linked in Dan's sig.

 

[whimzkool]

Craft stores, like Hobby Lobby and Micheal's, have a "science" section. There you should find a kit for about $2.50 that has five pipettes and two droppers made by "Be Amazing Toys." Farm and Tractor supply has various types of syringes for like .20 each. You may also ask your pharmacist for a blunt-nose syringe (luer-lock). If they are curious and you don't wish to specify why you want them, say you just need a couple to carefully dose medicine to your pet/kid, etc.

 

[Brewster 59]

Well I guess it depends on how precise you want to be but really all you have to have is

Nic juice
pipettes
eye dropper
pg and or vg
flavoring.
sweetner is nice to have but not necc
Malto same as above.
bottles but I just clean out my empty ones and reuse them.

It is actually easy to DIY and make most of my own juice now.

 

[Lab]

What else is needed? I heard I need alcohol... this is not required.. it is for use if you want a stronger throat hit.. and is used in small amounts.. it also thins out the liquid distilled water will do this too..

and maybe some plain PG/VG? yes you need this.. unless you are trying to make close to 50mg nic juice.. vg makes more vapor..

But what else should I need for mixing, dropping, measuring? you can buy syringes at cvs or any other pharmacy you just need to sign a paper.. if you are making 5ml bottles 1cc and 3cc would work fine..

i just eyeball mine since it is just a 50/50 for me on the nic/pg so if im off its going to be around 22mg-26mg

 

[Nikhil]

I didn't know you could buy syringes at pharmacies by signing a paper. Do they let you buy multiple syringes?

 

[Lab]

yes they come in packs of 10 or 12.. ask if they have ones with no needle at first because those are better for what you need them for..

if they ask what they are for just tell them that you need to measure small amounts of liquids.. they shouldnt give you any trouble unless you are under 18 or go in and look like you shoot up ...... or speeds..

there are also needle exchanges in all major cities.. there they will give you free bags of needles but you get signed up on a list that you wouldnt want to be on.