Starting out DIY Juice

[Pandemic Vapor]

So I have some questions regarding syringes and needles.

I have been trying to do some research and get a lot of mixed answers.


If your needles are metal, do you reuse them or once you are done do you throw them away? IF you reuse them, do you throw them in a pot of water, and boil them for a while to sterilize them before using again?

I realize with PP needles, they are much cheaper at about 10$ for 100 compared to about 20 for 100 if you got the metal ones, and would seem to me like the PP are a use and toss item. I'm just trying to figure out the most cost effective way instead of buying 12k needles so I'm not constantly ordering them for a while.

The same question applies to your syringes, do you clean them, sterilize them and reuse? Or just toss them after an afternoon of mixing?

My other question, if you are making small batches by drop counts, would pipette droppers be the better way to go with that? using droppers for flavoring since you don't use a lot of it unless you are making a big batch in a beaker?

My first couple test batches I used the same needle for the PG, VG and nic(3 seperate ones), but the flavors was where I ran into problems with needing to use a different needle tip to avoid contaminating the original flavor.

My last question regards initial sterilization of your needles and syringes. I know the syringes came packed in a sterilized packing, but the needles didn't.

This DIY kit came with a bunch of needles, but it seems that all the small ones are used since my initial tests involved about 5 flavors for 4 different test batches. I hate being wasteful, but I'm wondering if maybe some chemistry glass equipment might be the way to go as well, and only using needles if I had to..

Thanks for taking the time to read, and any comments you might have for me!

 

[Kaoself]

I rarely use the needles as I have different sized syringes that will usually fit inside the neck of whichever bottle I'm extracting from. I've never bothered sterilising either, just give them a wash under hot water, plunge some water in and out, remove the plunger section and the needle (if used) from the syringe and let them dry. I use them until the markings can't be read anymore. Obviously use a couple of syringes when needed to avoid contaminating a subsequent liquid.

Personally I don't do much mixing and only mix up a bottle when I do, so your needs may differ if you're mixing up a large quantity, or a variety of flavours or strengths at the same time. I've never used pipettes or measured in drops either; I find a 1ml syringe with markings of 0.02ml small enough for my needs for nic, and 3ml, 5ml, 10ml, and 50ml appropriate sizes for flavourings and PG / VG. Some beakers will be handy if mixing in large proportions or experimenting. For smaller amounts or specific recipes just mix in your bottle, shake, and give it a few days with some sporadic shakes along the way before vaping. If you're doing a lot of DIY and are going to continue doing so, an autoclave will be a really handy investment.

 

[schatz]

Hello I reuse my needles, just give em a hot water bath and throw them in my ultrasoni cleaner with some heat. My syringes get clear packing tape over the numbers, and so far have lasted over a year. I also just mix mostly in the bottles, although occasionally use my beakers and graduated cylinder. I also use the same syringe for PG and the VG, and also same needle. I have found for flavors, just swap out needles and keep using same syringe for the juice I am currently making. However I switch syringes for the next juice batch. hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[classwife]

Moved to DIY E-Liquid from General E-Liquid Discussion

 

[Robert Cromwell]

I use the blunt tipped metal needles. Work great and I just rinse out with hot tap water and reuse. Eventually the lettering comes off of the plastic syringe covering the lettering with tape helps with this issue. If you want to sterilize fully just rinse in PGA or Isopropyl alc and let dry.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Do you sterilize you forks and spoons?

 

[Robert Cromwell]

Do you sterilize you forks and spoons?

I even boil my socks!

 

[Alter]

I got a pile of syringes 1ml-60ml and a all kinds of needles at my vet. I went in, showed and educated them a bit on PV's, that I quit a 35 year smoke habit overnight and that I'm making my juice. I read that some of those overseas syringes and glassware aren't accurate so you have to calibrate them. The ones I have are for vets so these ones are accurate. I just blunt the needles myself with a bench grinder.
I got tired of my 1ml syringes, the lettering wearing off so I have some clear varathane and a foam brush applied a few coats over the lettering and so far they have been used and rinsed several times and the numbers are still crisp.
I just rinse my syringes and needles with hot water but tobacco absolute left a black ring so I have 1 syringe for TA only

 

[Pandemic Vapor]

Thanks everyone for the informative responses! Basically some ISO-alcohol or hot water to clean needles and syringes after use is the most effective way from what y'all are telling me?

Looks like investing in a ultrasonic cleaner or autoclave will be the next investment. My biggest thing was since I make a lot of small batches at the moment, for testing and mixing purposes, testing flavors, PG/VG/nic content, that I would go through a lot of needles, and need a lot of syringes and needles. But since it seems that a hot water bath, and alcohol cleaning/sterilization will remove whatever substance was on them before, is a lot cheaper than buying a lot of needles, and syringes.

I think once I go to making bigger batches, making more bottles of just one particular recipe, the amount of tools needed will decrease?

I'll have to see if I can find a medical supply around me to get this equipment as well. I have a bench grinder, and would be really easy to blunt a tip too.

Thanks again for all the replies! I guess it'll all come with practice and time, figuring out the best way to make each batch with a limited amount of tools.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

I can't buy needles here in KY unless blunt or I get them from a vet for animal use with a prescription.

 

[Pandemic Vapor]

I wouldn't use sharp ones anyway! Too much liability being in the Army.. Somebody would get the wrong idea.

 

[Kaoself]

I can't buy needles here in KY unless blunt or I get them from a vet for animal use with a prescription.

What do junkies in your state use? How about diabetics? Aren't there any needle exchanges under an iv drug use harm minimisation policy? Not that you need sharp, of course, I'm just curious.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

What do junkies in your state use? How about diabetics? Aren't there any needle exchanges under an iv drug use harm minimisation policy? Not that you need sharp, of course, I'm just curious.

They(the Gummit) are arguing now about starting up a needle exchange program. Diabetics get their needles with prescriptions.

 

[Deryan3]

I give my syringes and blunt tips a hot water rinse and let dry.

 

[Fauve]

I use blunt needles too, and after an afternoon's mixing, I clean them with hot water and let them soak in a stainless steel pot with more hot water and a drop of vodka for a 30 minutes, and dry them thoroughly with some kitchen towel.

I am far from an expert on this, but I believe that PG has sterilizing properties.

 

[Pandemic Vapor]

Thanks for the tips! I'm finding that hot water cleans well, and then I'll put them in 91% Isopropyl to eat away any oils the flavor left behind, then water one more time to remove the alcohol remnants and then put them in a sterilizer box for a little bit. After that, I just put them in plastic bags to keep outside contaminants from getting in. Maybe I'm adding too many steps to this, but so far it's working.