Random DIY mixing and More

[CapeTownCloudChaser]

Thanks for the mention @FranC and @Skeebo, not sure if the second tag is correct, nonetheless let me fire away.

Background info: I am a new mixer, roughly 1 month old with a ton of flavors(287 and counting).

I am having a hard time mixing decent juices, so far I have been copying recipes off major platforms to no avail, these recipes were filtered via ratings and the vast majority had 50+ 5* ratings.

Even when I mix them as per the recipe they are horrific. But mostly on the fruity side, the desert/bakery seem to be doing well after steeping.

My question is, how does one make progress by mitigating large volumes of waste. I do not expect every recipe to work, and I understand I need to learn a hell of a lot in this game. But surely if you use high rated recipes, the outcome should be on par with flavour and at least produce a pleasant vape, which in most cases is not the outcome. I see a lot of these recipes are old, around 2014-2018, I don't see how these can drastically change with time. I know that some of the brands update their flavour profiles, but the amount of failures vs successes is just brain boggling for me.

I do not mind putting in the time or effort, I just want to be directed into the right path of mixing a decent juice for my personal consumption.

Regards,
CTCC

 

[FranC]

Thanks for the mention @FranC and @Skeebo, not sure if the second tag is correct, nonetheless let me fire away.

Background info: I am a new mixer, roughly 1 month old with a ton of flavors(287 and counting).

I am having a hard time mixing decent juices, so far I have been copying recipes off major platforms to no avail, these recipes were filtered via ratings and the vast majority had 50+ 5* ratings.

Even when I mix them as per the recipe they are horrific. But mostly on the fruity side, the desert/bakery seem to be doing well after steeping.

My question is, how does one make progress by mitigating large volumes of waste. I do not expect every recipe to work, and I understand I need to learn a hell of a lot in this game. But surely if you use high rated recipes, the outcome should be on par with flavour and at least produce a pleasant vape, which in most cases is not the outcome. I see a lot of these recipes are old, around 2014-2018, I don't see how these can drastically change with time. I know that some of the brands update their flavour profiles, but the amount of failures vs successes is just brain boggling for me.

I do not mind putting in the time or effort, I just want to be directed into the right path of mixing a decent juice for my personal consumption.

Regards,
CTCC

Getting into DIY is a slow progress. You will find that you can’t taste some flavors and that you don’t like some flavors. Just because a recipe is popular it doesn’t mean everyone will like it. Simple recipes is a good way to start and find out what you like best.

 

[Territoo]

Thanks for the mention @FranC and @Skeebo, not sure if the second tag is correct, nonetheless let me fire away.

Background info: I am a new mixer, roughly 1 month old with a ton of flavors(287 and counting).

I am having a hard time mixing decent juices, so far I have been copying recipes off major platforms to no avail, these recipes were filtered via ratings and the vast majority had 50+ 5* ratings.

Even when I mix them as per the recipe they are horrific. But mostly on the fruity side, the desert/bakery seem to be doing well after steeping.

My question is, how does one make progress by mitigating large volumes of waste. I do not expect every recipe to work, and I understand I need to learn a hell of a lot in this game. But surely if you use high rated recipes, the outcome should be on par with flavour and at least produce a pleasant vape, which in most cases is not the outcome. I see a lot of these recipes are old, around 2014-2018, I don't see how these can drastically change with time. I know that some of the brands update their flavour profiles, but the amount of failures vs successes is just brain boggling for me.

I do not mind putting in the time or effort, I just want to be directed into the right path of mixing a decent juice for my personal consumption.

Regards,
CTCC

Take notes on what has worked for you and what hasn't. If fruity recipes aren't cutting it, but bakery recipes are, then focus future searches on bakery. Also, mix tester batches in small volumes, say 5-10 ml, so if it doesn't work, you aren't throwing away a large batch. Some people do sft (single flavor tests) on the ingredients to give them an idea of how an ingredient will taste. Again, keep notes on what ingredients have worked for you, both in sft and in recipes.

 

[CapeTownCloudChaser]

Getting into DIY is a slow progress. You will find that you can’t taste some flavors and that you don’t like some flavors. Just because a recipe is popular it doesn’t mean everyone will like it. Simple recipes is a good way to start and find out what you like best.

Thanks, I am going to mix 10x 10ml samples of 2-3 ingredient recipes now to give it a go.

It's not even that the mix is unpleasant, it's just that there is no flavour. I am not sure if it is muted, over saturated, or just my own stupidity. I have had 3 various vapers also try the mixes and the conclusion is the same. I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it is just frustrating when you spend time and money and have nothing to show for it, except a plastic container filled with aroma therapy oil, I'll revert back post sample mix.

 

[FranC]

Could someone post Zazie’s blog please.@CapeTownCloudChaser @Zazie has a blog with recipes that came from the folks on this thread.

 

[dennism]

I assume you are steeping your recipes, especially the custard and creams. Like Fran said keep with 2 and 3 flavor mixes until you find what you like. Check out the blog that zazie has set up. lots of good recipes there. Good Luck!

 

[englishmick]

Got a couple more tanks set up with TC and I like it. Would do more but I don't have much wire, only a 30' spool which is old with not much left on it. I always got my wire from Kidney Puncher. They have a separate web site just for wire now, from a company called KP Wire. There's a message on that site saying they had to close down their facility for health reasons, presumably CV. They are back open now as of Jan 24 and processing backorders, when that's complete they will start taking new orders. Guess I have to wait a while.

Good thing is now they have the new site their wire no longer contains nicotine. Although if you buy KP wire on Amazon it still contains nicotine??? But Amazon doesn't have the SS anyway.

 

[CapeTownCloudChaser]

Take notes on what has worked for you and what hasn't. If fruity recipes aren't cutting it, but bakery recipes are, then focus future searches on bakery. Also, mix tester batches in small volumes, say 5-10 ml, so if it doesn't work, you aren't throwing away a large batch. Some people do sft (single flavor tests) on the ingredients to give them an idea of how an ingredient will taste. Again, keep notes on what ingredients have worked for you, both in sft and in recipes.

Thanks for the reply @Territoo, I have been keeping notes since day 1. I have a feeling my notepad will be filled vastly with what does not work as opposed to what does work well together xD. I suppose this is part of the learning curve.

 

[FranC]

Thanks, I am going to mix 10x 10ml samples of 2-3 ingredient recipes now to give it a go.

It's not even that the mix is unpleasant, it's just that there is no flavour. I am not sure if it is muted, over saturated, or just my own stupidity. I have had 3 various vapers also try the mixes and the conclusion is the same. I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it is just frustrating when you spend time and money and have nothing to show for it, except a plastic container filled with aroma therapy oil, I'll revert back post sample mix.

Another thing is steeping. It could be why you get poor flavor. I steep everything 30 days whether it needs it or not, I realize a 30 day steep is rough for a new mixer though.

 

[CapeTownCloudChaser]

I assume you are steeping your recipes, especially the custard and creams. Like Fran said keep with 2 and 3 flavor mixes until you find what you like. Check out the blog that zazie has set up. lots of good recipes there. Good Luck!

Thanks, I'll have a look at zazie's blog. Yes I am steeping and I am testing everyday during the steep and taking notes when I taste there are changes in the flavout profile, e.g Blueberry started to become more pronounced after day 14.

 

[CapeTownCloudChaser]

I

Another thing is steeping. It could be why you get poor flavor. I steep everything 30 days whether it needs it or not, I realize a 30 day steep is rough for a new mixer though.

Interesting, I thought this was only true for non fruity mixes. I have kept the Frankenstein monsters with hopes that time will heal all. So we shall see how they fair at the 30 day mark.

 

[FranC]

Thanks, I'll have a look at zazie's blog. Yes I am steeping and I am testing everyday during the steep and taking notes when I taste there are changes in the flavout profile, e.g Blueberry started to become more pronounced after day 14.

Blueberry is one I can’t taste at all.

 

[FranC]

I

Interesting, I thought this was only true for non fruity mixes. I have kept the Frankenstein monsters with hopes that time will heal all. So we shall see how they fair at the 30 day mark.

If just fruit it really doesn’t need a steep but I don’t vape just fruit. My cheesecakes, custards and bakery usually has fruit in it though,

 

[CapeTownCloudChaser]

Another random question, during my new venture, I thought that my method of mixing was maybe at fault. So I looked into magnetic mixers and ultrasonic cleaners, but settled for a cheap hand blender/frother. This tool most definitely mixes everything very well, but does the huge amount of micro bubbles affect the flavour? I have tried mixing with bubbles, without as well as a little bit of both. Just curious on how y'all perceive this method and what do you guys do.

 

[FranC]

Another random question, during my new venture, I thought that my method of mixing was maybe at fault. So I looked into magnetic mixers and ultrasonic cleaners, but settled for a cheap hand blender/frother. This tool most definitely mixes everything very well, but does the huge amount of micro bubbles affect the flavour? I have tried mixing with bubbles, without as well as a little bit of both. Just curious on how tall perceive this method and what do you guys do.

The mixing is supposed to shorten steeping. I don’t do it. I just give it a good shake and put it awa6.

 

[Skeebo]

Thanks for the mention @FranC and @Skeebo, not sure if the second tag is correct, nonetheless let me fire away.

Background info: I am a new mixer, roughly 1 month old with a ton of flavors(287 and counting).

I am having a hard time mixing decent juices, so far I have been copying recipes off major platforms to no avail, these recipes were filtered via ratings and the vast majority had 50+ 5* ratings.

Even when I mix them as per the recipe they are horrific. But mostly on the fruity side, the desert/bakery seem to be doing well after steeping.

My question is, how does one make progress by mitigating large volumes of waste. I do not expect every recipe to work, and I understand I need to learn a hell of a lot in this game. But surely if you use high rated recipes, the outcome should be on par with flavour and at least produce a pleasant vape, which in most cases is not the outcome. I see a lot of these recipes are old, around 2014-2018, I don't see how these can drastically change with time. I know that some of the brands update their flavour profiles, but the amount of failures vs successes is just brain boggling for me.

I do not mind putting in the time or effort, I just want to be directed into the right path of mixing a decent juice for my personal consumption.

Regards,
CTCC

Welcome to the Random DIY thread.

Just to add to all the great advice above, when I started I was disappointed with the "mouth feel" of a lot of my mixes. All of them were very basic, dry on the tongue, and lacked "fullness" for lack of a better term. Learning how creams, ice creams, cookie, etc. could add body to a mix really made a difference for me.

 

[ShamrockPat]

Not counting the Caliburn G2 pod I haven’t used yet.

FranC, you might wanna carefully watch that Caliburn G2 when you use it.

My brand new Caliburn G2 pod leaks right over by the airflow adjuster. I spotted it was wet at the first refill.

I contacted UWell and they said
"Sorry for the inconvenience.

I will pass on all to engineers to check and control the quality of the pods.
Unfortunately, the accessories such as cartridges, coils, o-rings, and glass tubes are not on the list of the warranty. Pasted the link for your reference Warranty Policy - UWELL. I'm sorry I can't be able to apply for the replacement of the pods. Sorry about that."

So my brand new device, WITH NO SPARE in the package is DEAD till my newly purchased pod arrives from FT (who also gave me the finger for a defective product)

 

[FranC]

The B is missing next to @Zazie name. Not sure how to get to her blog without it.

 

[FranC]

FranC, you might wanna carefully watch that Caliburn G2 when you use it.

My brand new Caliburn G2 pod leaks right over by the airflow adjuster. I spotted it was wet at the first refill.

I contacted UWell and they said
"Sorry for the inconvenience.

I will pass on all to engineers to check and control the quality of the pods.
Unfortunately, the accessories such as cartridges, coils, o-rings, and glass tubes are not on the list of the warranty. Pasted the link for your reference Warranty Policy - UWELL. I'm sorry I can't be able to apply for the replacement of the pods. Sorry about that."

So my brand new device, WITH NO SPARE in the package is DEAD till my newly purchased pod arrives from FT (who also gave me the finger for a defective product)

I guess I’ll have to try it.

 

[englishmick]

Thanks for the reply @Territoo, I have been keeping notes since day 1. I have a feeling my notepad will be filled vastly with what does not work as opposed to what does work well together xD. I suppose this is part of the learning curve.

Back in 14 vaping gear was a bit feeble compared with later gear so juice had to be stronger. The older a recipe is the more likely it is to be overly strong for modern equipment. Something to watch out for.

Some people can't taste certain flavors, like I can't taste most fruits. But you said your mixes tasted bad rather than having no taste, which is more likely to mean too much flavoring rather than stuff you can't taste.

I never used published recipes much, just made my own. I don't know the exact numbers but probably one in ten flavors I tried really worked for me. If just one of the flavors I don't like was in a recipe it would taste bad to me. I started off by using flavorings that people said worked on their own. Like TFA Banana Nut Bread and TFA Creme De Menthe. That way the only variable is the % you use so it's simple to figure out what works for you.