Yeah... Nothing Screams Mad (DIY) Scientist like an Erlenmeyer Flask.
With the possible Exception of an Erlenmeyer Flask and a White Lab Coat.
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Yeah... Nothing Screams Mad (DIY) Scientist like an Erlenmeyer Flask.
With the possible Exception of an Erlenmeyer Flask and a White Lab Coat.
The amount of washing up needed if I took that path would probably kill the DIY spirit in meYeah... Nothing Screams Mad (DIY) Scientist like an Erlenmeyer Flask.
With the possible Exception of an Erlenmeyer Flask and a White Lab Coat.
Oh, that's why. Your scale is 0.1g. 0.01g scales at <$50 don't seem to go that high.
Thanks
In the Context of DIY, worlds like "Consistent" or "Accurate" are Relative.
And I learned a Long Time ago that if I Can't Taste the Difference between one mix to another, then my Consistency and Accuracy are High Enough. And more is just Chasing Numbers.
Pre-Mix doesn't save time or effort for everyone. But for someone like your Girlfriend who it sounds likes uses the Same mg/ml and VG to PG Ratios, it would.
And if you Really want to get Fancy, you can Build in the Reduction of mg/ml and the Slight Change in VG|PG Ratios to the Pre-Mix when an Average amount of Flavorings/Sweetener are added.
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There will be many. 
To answer your title question, "So why is mixing by weight better than mixing by volume?" - IMO, it's not. Neither method is "better" than the other, for everyone. Which method someone uses is simply a matter of personal preference. Great tasting DIY can be made using either method.
However, I've found it interesting that there has been a separate "tacked to the top" thread on Mixing by Weight for years, but there never has been 1 for Mixing by Volume. Unless DIY newbies read other threads and see info on mixing by volume in them...they wouldn't even know it was another, and less expensive, mixing method option.
I've always mixed by volume and have taught many DIY newbies how to also, in the last 5 years. I already had scales myself, that would work well for mixing by weight, but I still chose to measure by volume.
Reasons:
1) Minimal materials are necessary, and they're cheap, readily available, and easy to use/reuse.
2) I use just these to make each DIY batch:
1 syringe w/10ga. blunt needle tip - to measure the nic base
1 syringe w/a tip cap on and no plunger - to measure flavorings
1 marked mixing bottle, based on my final PG/VG ratio of 40/60, for my usual batch sizes of 10mL, 30mL, 50mL, and 100mL (I can vary the final nic mg outcome with no problem, and still use the same bottle to make those batches.)
Clean-up involves rinsing those 3 things with warm/hot water... maybe 1-2 minutes total at the most.
Measuring by volume is my own chosen method, that works well for me. The accuracy is fine by me, and I can easily replicate any/all of my recipes with no problem. But, that doesn't mean I think it's "better" than any other method, for everyone else.
I am of the opinion that you should use what you want and I have tried both. I didn't enjoy mixing with a scale, but I also use premixed base because I know my flavoring will be from 5--10% and that makes my life easy.
I also since I tend to use ratios and whatnot, well, I use CUPS to make my larger base and mix to 20% nic VG and PG. Then, I line up all my flavors, write down the ratios in ML and since I am using base ratio or 10, it's easy to figure out how many ML I need of each. I take all the lids off, line them up, and add the correct amount using a syringe of either 5 or 10 ml, dump, shake and then I call it a day.
I have one syringe to clean for each mix, and I get the added pleasure of using ratios which I happen to find EXTREMELY handy because I always like them in school. So... I have the enjoyment of knowing my mix will be pretty accurate, I get to be a bit of a mad scientist but it's not really very hard. I guess I am fortunate my nic and flavor level hit those ratios but if I'm a bit off I am pretty unlikely to notice unless I really mess up like the time I mixed gin and tonic and a margarita mix into the SAME bottle. I usually try to fix my failed mixes but NOT that one. LOL.
Still have not worked up the courage to try again but I should. Etc.
Anna
The worst part of mixing for me is FINDING my flavors I am now a the point I can see I will need an organizational system. LOL.
I also since I tend to use ratios and whatnot, well, I use CUPS to make my larger base and mix to 20% nic VG and PG. Then, I line up all my flavors, write down the ratios in ML and since I am using base ratio or 10, it's easy to figure out how many ML I need of each. I take all the lids off, line them up, and add the correct amount using a syringe of either 5 or 10 ml, dump, shake and then I call it a day.
I have one syringe to clean for each mix, and I get the added pleasure of using ratios which I happen to find EXTREMELY handy because I always like them in school. So... I have the enjoyment of knowing my mix will be pretty accurate, I get to be a bit of a mad scientist but it's not really very hard. I guess I am fortunate my nic and flavor level hit those ratios but if I'm a bit off I am pretty unlikely to notice unless I really mess up like the time I mixed gin and tonic and a margarita mix into the SAME bottle. I usually try to fix my failed mixes but NOT that one. LOL.
Still have not worked up the courage to try again but I should. Etc.
Anna
The worst part of mixing for me is FINDING my flavors I am now a the point I can see I will need an organizational system. LOL.
I keep looking in elr and I can’t find inputs for density that are programmed in. I do see where the user can input their own densities.
I looked at one of my recipes. It looks like they are using densities for some flavors. You can see my circled flavors and VG. If they are using a density of 1 g/ml, the mls and grams are the same, while others including VG are different. Interesting. So if you wanted to mix by weight, you can just let the elr program do the calculating for you in a close enough approximation.
I looked at one of my recipes. It looks like they are using densities for some flavors. You can see my circled flavors and VG. If they are using a density of 1 g/ml, the mls and grams are the same, while others including VG are different. Interesting. So if you wanted to mix by weight, you can just let the elr program do the calculating for you in a close enough approximation.
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I keep looking in elr and I can’t find inputs for density that are programmed in. I do see where the user can input their own densities.
I looked at one of my recipes. It looks like they are using densities for some flavors. You can see my circled flavors and VG. If they are using a density of 1 g/ml, the mls and grams are the same, while others including VG are different. Interesting.
Yeah... Because VG is Denser per unit Volume than PG or Flavorings or Water.
And that makes Sense. Because a Liter of VG weighs a Lot More than a Liter of PG. About 30% More.
ie:
10.09 / 8.0 = 1.2613
and
194.2 / 154.0 = 1.2610
So with Round Off, many say VG and VG Based Nicotine Base is 1.3g/ml and call it a day.
I'll add my 2 cents
. I started DIY by weight. I mix anywhere from 5ml's to 120ml's depending on testing mixes to ADV's.
For Flavors I use a 5ml syringe with a 14g.
My 100mg Nic is in a 120ml with a twist top. Rest in the Freezer in bottles (Thanks everyone for that info)
My VG/PG is in 1L plastic that I use with an old Dawn dish soap screw on top (When mixing).
So my only washable items are the syringes.
It also helps that the only other thing I have to store is the AWS LB-501.
It works for me and I'm happy.
. I started DIY by weight. I mix anywhere from 5ml's to 120ml's depending on testing mixes to ADV's.For Flavors I use a 5ml syringe with a 14g.
My 100mg Nic is in a 120ml with a twist top. Rest in the Freezer in bottles (Thanks everyone for that info)
My VG/PG is in 1L plastic that I use with an old Dawn dish soap screw on top (When mixing).
So my only washable items are the syringes.
It also helps that the only other thing I have to store is the AWS LB-501.
It works for me and I'm happy.
AHA! I found it! It looks like if they have a density from the manufacturer they do program it in elr. If not, they assume 1.
Right, I want to get a 0.01 scale for use with other things non-vape. Otherwise I'd get a 0.1 scale since it would work just fine for me, too. I'm a simple vaper and not a recipe junkie in the slightest.
I personally mix by vol. I just give me nicotine if I'm adding it to my flavors measure out my PG and then fill the rest up with VG. I usually make 500ml at a time and it's easy. With my recipe that I make the most I don't notice minor variations so it doesn't seem to be making any difference and I don't have as much patience as I would need because the recipe has like 12 different flavors in it and my scale was sort of on the cheap and even though it goes .00 and it doesn't always register when you're all the way back
I've mixed juice using an electronic scale for years now. I find it to be the easiest way to mix, but we all have our own set of preferences for how we do things. I put the bottle on the scale, tare the scale to zero, and add ingredients one at a time, taring to zero as I start the next ingredient. I work from recipes that I found on the internet and those that I created myself.
My PG and VG are in condiment bottles that allow me to squirt PG, VG into the bottle on the scale, zeroing the scale at the start and after each add to the mix. I add the Nic using a dropper because it's a small amount and doesn't require using a condiment bottle. Once I'm done, I cap the bottle and start on the next bottle.
We all have our own preferences on how best to mix. Weight is easy for me. I don't have to mark the bottles with a magic marker or tape to set the levels. The scale keeps up with amounts for me. I just tare the scale with an empty bottle at first and then zero it after each addition of ingredients.
An easy tutorial for learning to mix by weight. BotBoy covers it all in detail.
Botboy141 Guide to Mixing By Weight : DIY_eJuice
My PG and VG are in condiment bottles that allow me to squirt PG, VG into the bottle on the scale, zeroing the scale at the start and after each add to the mix. I add the Nic using a dropper because it's a small amount and doesn't require using a condiment bottle. Once I'm done, I cap the bottle and start on the next bottle.
We all have our own preferences on how best to mix. Weight is easy for me. I don't have to mark the bottles with a magic marker or tape to set the levels. The scale keeps up with amounts for me. I just tare the scale with an empty bottle at first and then zero it after each addition of ingredients.
An easy tutorial for learning to mix by weight. BotBoy covers it all in detail.
Botboy141 Guide to Mixing By Weight : DIY_eJuice
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Mixing by weight makes Soo much sense as people already explain...too bad i threw away my scale in an attempt to get rid of everything that has to do with drugs addiction in the past..... and now I need to buy another and I always just forget....Soo I mix by volume ATM
Mixing by weight makes Soo much sense as people already explain...too bad i threw away my scale in an attempt to get rid of everything that has to do with drugs addiction in the past..... and now I need to buy another and I always just forget....Soo I mix by volume ATM
Amazon has a large assortment of digital scales. Most any of them are good for mixing ejuice.
Amazon.com : scale for mixing ejuice
No, mixing by volume can make an equal amount of sense. And Taring to zero for a forgetful person can make it so like well with weight I always worry about have I forgotten to add something or added it twice. There are probably remedies for that like setting the flavor aside.
I just don't like it. I am FINE with those of you who love it, but there are tons of ways to make mixing by volume easier too.
I must say I am almost ENTIRELY unclear why folks complain about washing up. A very large basin of hot water in which you dump whatever implements you use and then a nice clean rag to wipe them up is perfectly fine. I mean I'm SORRY but there is no need to autoclave anything. Yeah I wash them with Dawn at the end but no, I don't get flavor transfers although I use at MOST two syringes per mix. I drip the flavors straight into the single syringe I use.
Anna
I just don't like it. I am FINE with those of you who love it, but there are tons of ways to make mixing by volume easier too.
I must say I am almost ENTIRELY unclear why folks complain about washing up. A very large basin of hot water in which you dump whatever implements you use and then a nice clean rag to wipe them up is perfectly fine. I mean I'm SORRY but there is no need to autoclave anything. Yeah I wash them with Dawn at the end but no, I don't get flavor transfers although I use at MOST two syringes per mix. I drip the flavors straight into the single syringe I use.
Anna
That's an example of a typical statement posted, as if it's factual, when it's just your opinion. To those who've chosen to mix by weight...that opinion is likely shared. On the other hand though, to those of us who mix by volume....our method likely "makes Soo much sense" to us.
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That's an example of a typical statement posted, as if it's factual, when it's just your opinion. To those who've chosen to mix by weight...that opinion is likely shared. On the other hand though, to those of us who mix by volume....our method likely "makes Soo much sense" to us.
Ok yes sorryyyyyyy I should say makes sense to meeeeeeeeeee....that's what I wanted to say btw just didn't write it correct.... it's not I mind wash some containers or syringes...I actually only use syringe for vg and pg ATM and I add flavorings by drops and nics are in 10ml bottles cause Europe suks hahahaha but a scale would be nice to just add and not even care for syringes just straight from the bottles....peaceeeee
Volumers and weighters we are all the same
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