I buy wire from WireOptim (used to be Lightning Vapes) and also TEMCo. No nicotine warnings from either one. It's just wire and wire has many other uses.
WIREOPTIM - Precision Winding For Optimal Performance
TEMCo Industrial LLC
That should work nicely.
Also @englishmick, when ordering from Wireoptim if there is no sale going on LV15 will get you an extra 15% off.
Hi CTCC, and welcome to ECF.
For many years I've been using a paint mixer for my mixes. This one:
It's much more thorough, and quicker, versus shaking the crap out of a bottle by hand. Another person here, who hasn't been around in some time, IDJoel, used the same one.
It's much like the hand blender or frother you are using. I use it for ~2 minutes. Cap the bottle and then set it aside to steep.
The micro bubbles are normal and they do not affect the flavor at all. The micro bubbles disappear after about 30 minutes (give or take).
I would never go back to shaking mixes by hand. It's a pain in the azz.
ETA: That mixer fits in 15ml and 30 ml bottles perfectly.
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Using the mixer I just posted about doesn't shorten steeping. It just does a more through job of mixing all the ingredients together. More than anything it saves me time.
I have the same thought that @englishmick did. The equipment back in 2014 was not near as good as it is now and am wondering what the total flavor percentage is in the recipes you're finding. As a rule of thumb I try to stay under 15% flavor and have many that I've tried that are good less than 10%. Also it seems like with some flavors having too much is just as bad as not having enough. It's kind of like the flavor level gets so high that it is just muted. You might start out doing simple mixes of 2-3 flavors that you know you like. If you look on ELR then when you enter a flavor into a recipe it will give you a suggested percentage. They aren't always right but will give you a starting point most times. Also, it's been my experience that the same recipe can taste quite different depending on the tank you're using.
Welcome CapeTownCloudChaser
(I could have missed it, but) can you tell us about your setup, like atty, coil and the watts you use. And finally, can you post an example or 2 of one those highly rated recipes you found weak.
Couple things. I think you mentioned you bought many used from someone else. Some flavors will weaken over time, like citrus as an example.
(I could have missed it, but) can you tell us about your setup, like atty, coil and the watts you use. And finally, can you post an example or 2 of one those highly rated recipes you found weak.
A good shake can blend just fine for me.Using the mixer I just posted about doesn't shorten steeping. It just does a more through job of mixing all the ingredients together. More than anything it saves me time.
While percentages were mentioned it should be noted that some flavors are very concentrated. My Jammy Donut recipe has only 2.5% flavor.
Welcome!
As mentioned, small testers, and you're on board with that already
You haven't said what PG/VG ratio you're targeting. Higher PG tends to deliver more flavor (and, maybe, more throat hit), VG gives bigger clouds.
Maybe post a failed recipe or two to help us out?
Yeah I use that now to. When I started out mixing I used to tape the bottle to my reciprocating saw blade....foamed that juice up in flashHi CTCC, and welcome to ECF.
For many years I've been using a paint mixer for my mixes. This one:
View attachment 969535
It's much more thorough, and quicker, versus shaking the crap out of a bottle by hand. Another person here, who hasn't been around in some time, IDJoel, used the same one.
It's much like the hand blender or frother you are using. I use it for ~2 minutes. Cap the bottle and then set it aside to steep.
No, the micro bubbles are normal and it does not affect the flavor at all. The micro bubbles disappear after about 30 minutes (give or take).
I would never go back to shaking mixes by hand. It's a pain in the azz.
ETA: That mixer fits in 15ml and 30 ml bottles perfectly.
@CapeTownCloudChaser, it might help you, and be in your best interests, to take your flavors and mix them as single flavor tests (SFT's). Start with flavors you think you will like the most. That will help you.
When you were enjoying retail juices, what flavor profiles did you like best?
Finding similar mixes here or at ELR etc. should be helpful to you.
Start doing SFT's with those kinds of flavors. You will find, for example, that you might not like one company's strawberry but really like one or two from another company or two. Same is true for every flavor you have. Everyone likes different flavors. Not all flavors are created equally.
Some flavors just suck!
When I do SFT's I always start low with the %'s and do 5ml's. I set those aside to steep. A 5ml SFT will not require a month steeping time. Doesn't matter what kind of flavor it is (unless it's a Medicine Flower flavor). 2 weeks steeping for a 5ml SFT for cream and bakery flavors is fine. Why? Because you are only adding drops for any given flavor to 5ml's. The majority of fruits are shake and vape.
I start as low as 1% in 5ml base. Of course that depends on what flavor from what company. Sometimes it's less and sometimes it's more. It all depends on what flavor from what company.
There are exceptions to that. If I'm doing a flavor from Flavorah (FLV) or Medicine Flower (MF) I will only do a single drop or two. FLV and MF are very highly concentrated flavorings. Those are ultra concentrates. And those are two examples where you don't need much at all for an SFT (or in a mix). The same is very true for some flavorings by other companies.
The maximum % I've done an SFT for any flavor is 3%. And that's only for flavors that are considered non ultra concentrates. But again, it all depends.
I'm of the opinion that less is more with DIY. Other folks are different. Most of my mixes are less than 10% total flavoring. Many are less than that. Some are very low but those use ultra concentrated flavorings.
Some people like a higher total percent of flavoring in their mixes. There is no right or wrong. However, there is a point with every single flavor where if too much is used it will turn out bad (either taste like crap or be muted).
Doing SFT's is the only way you are going to know if you like an individual flavor. There are no shortcuts to learning which flavors you prefer. You could always do 2 or 3 flavor mixes (but...). Nothing beats getting to know your flavors individually.
I was taught from the beginning of my DIY journey to take very detailed notes. I still do that to this day with individual flavors and mixes. Nothing beats good notes.
Eventually everyone finds their favorite flavors and what works best for them with DIY. It takes time and much patience.
What works for me might not work for someone else and vice-versa.
When you were enjoying retail juices, what flavor profiles did you like best?
Finding similar mixes here or at ELR etc. should be helpful to you.
Start doing SFT's with those kinds of flavors. You will find, for example, that you might not like one company's strawberry but really like one or two from another company or two. Same is true for every flavor you have. Everyone likes different flavors. Not all flavors are created equally.
Some flavors just suck!
When I do SFT's I always start low with the %'s and do 5ml's. I set those aside to steep. A 5ml SFT will not require a month steeping time. Doesn't matter what kind of flavor it is (unless it's a Medicine Flower flavor). 2 weeks steeping for a 5ml SFT for cream and bakery flavors is fine. Why? Because you are only adding drops for any given flavor to 5ml's. The majority of fruits are shake and vape.
I start as low as 1% in 5ml base. Of course that depends on what flavor from what company. Sometimes it's less and sometimes it's more. It all depends on what flavor from what company.
There are exceptions to that. If I'm doing a flavor from Flavorah (FLV) or Medicine Flower (MF) I will only do a single drop or two. FLV and MF are very highly concentrated flavorings. Those are ultra concentrates. And those are two examples where you don't need much at all for an SFT (or in a mix). The same is very true for some flavorings by other companies.
The maximum % I've done an SFT for any flavor is 3%. And that's only for flavors that are considered non ultra concentrates. But again, it all depends.
I'm of the opinion that less is more with DIY. Other folks are different. Most of my mixes are less than 10% total flavoring. Many are less than that. Some are very low but those use ultra concentrated flavorings.
Some people like a higher total percent of flavoring in their mixes. There is no right or wrong. However, there is a point with every single flavor where if too much is used it will turn out bad (either taste like crap or be muted).
Doing SFT's is the only way you are going to know if you like an individual flavor. There are no shortcuts to learning which flavors you prefer. You could always do 2 or 3 flavor mixes (but...). Nothing beats getting to know your flavors individually.
I was taught from the beginning of my DIY journey to take very detailed notes. I still do that to this day with individual flavors and mixes. Nothing beats good notes.
Eventually everyone finds their favorite flavors and what works best for them with DIY. It takes time and much patience.
What works for me might not work for someone else and vice-versa.
I got my beads today and I finished my rosary.
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