Starting up DIY, a few Questions?

[HgA1C]

Ok, so I am planning on making an order for my DIY supplies, I am only supplying myself, my wife, and possibly some friends and never going into business (legal liability and planned future profession). However, I approach my hobbies in a business like fashion to save money. I know I am doing it on the more expensive side and I am fine with it unless someone sees a potential problem and or has a better suggestion?. So here is my overall plan I am going to buy the Nic in 1L 100/mg/ml in VG. I then plan on decanting into 50ml Euro bottles at full strength with child safety caps and heat shrink bands around caps and bottles. Then I will apply computer printed labels to shrink wrap on bottles, and place them in the freezer for long-term storage. I am buying 5ml, 15ml, and 100ml Euro bottles for testing and producing my liquids. I will buy PG and VG in bulk sizes and decant into glass containers for storage, and place in freezer. My misc suppliers are syringes, blunt needles, funnels, gloves, goggles, large low height container to do my mixing, and protective clothing. Am I missing anything obvious or convenient?

As far as making flavors I plan on buying smaller amounts of flavoring to try. I will add my preferred ratio of PG/VG into my 5ml bottles and then add flavoring without nicotine. I will speed steep in hot water and taste the flavorings on a dripper after running pg/vg on the wick to remove flavor. I will than make notes in a lab book/computer to document the flavor and percentage. Does the nicotine substantially change flavor or is it usually an enhancer?

After establishing my flavor profiles and PG/VG ratios I will mix juice in the 15ml containers with nicotine, and then speed steep. I will trial the flavor on the dripper and RTA then make notes. Once a flavor is approved for production, via making 2-3 15ml bottles and using the liquid, I will start producing it in 100ml quantities.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Lastly, thanks for your time.

 

[Antwoord]

You seem to have most things very well planned out. A lot better than what I do. To answer your question about nicotine changing flavors, it does for me. It can take away subtle floral type notes, but it adds a smooth body to the flavor usually. The only suggestion I can make is to invest in some large measuring equipment for when you find an all day vape, or two, and you want to be able to make over 100 mls of it fast. Once you have your general flavoring to flavoring ratio and the percentage of flavoring in your total liquid volume, making your favorite flavors is a snap as long as you can measure out your quantities in large amounts.

Your overall flavor percentage may change when making large batches. In my experience you use less flavoring when making large batches. 2-3 percent less for me, but I never go over 10 percent flavoring.

I wanted to add that if you do start making large quantities of e-liquid to always wear gloves and other protective gear when handling large amounts of nicotine, and dilute it, or bottle it quickly because it will get into the atmosphere.

One more thing. This may seem very unsanitary to you, and I'm hoping you or someone else has come across a better solution, but I store 250mls of ready to serve e-liquid in olive oil bottles. They are great because they pour slowly, and are easy access for refilling personal sized bottles.

 

[HgA1C]

You seem to have most things very well planned out. A lot better than what I do. To answer your question about nicotine changing flavors, it does for me. It can take away subtle floral type notes, but it adds a smooth body to the flavor usually. The only suggestion I can make is to invest in some large measuring equipment for when you find an all day vape, or two, and you want to be able to make over 100 mls of it fast. Once you have your general flavoring to flavoring ratio and the percentage of flavoring in your total liquid volume, making your favorite flavors is a snap as long as you can measure out your quantities in large amounts.

Your overall flavor percentage may change when making large batches. In my experience you use less flavoring when making large batches. 2-3 percent less for me, but I never go over 10 percent flavoring.

I wanted to add that if you do start making large quantities of e-liquid to always wear gloves and other protective gear when handling large amounts of nicotine, and dilute it, or bottle it quickly because it will get into the atmosphere.

One more thing. This may seem very unsanitary to you, and I'm hoping you or someone else has come across a better solution, but I store 250mls of ready to serve e-liquid in olive oil bottles. They are great because they pour slowly, and are easy access for refilling personal sized bottles.

Thank you for the compliment. I have been debating about making a photo documentary on my process, equipment, and where to purchase after I get everything purchased (I do not want a run on my supplies before I get them). I then will post it to e-cig to help this community. I will have around a chemistry minor after Biochem, and used to be in manufacturing of industrial components. This background allows me to conceptualize and stream line manufacturing processes. I am going overboard with precautions on the sealing and labeling. However, I would hate to think my stash could kill someone if I died, and nobody knew better.

I have been a little surprised that there is no good focused photo guide to storing and making DIY juice here. I am concerned about the FDA and the upcoming regulations. I would prefer to have a sizable stable stash prior to any monstrous changes, but do not believe it will be requirement. I am just a cheap a** and would like to save money. Hence going to DIY juice.

Anyway, thanks for the tips I will probably buy some larger jars. I was just not sure if I wanted to do that with my start-up costs.

My only concern with olive oil bottles is its relatively low flash point of 405F. You should rinse with alcohol several times and then empty, and wash with water. This is for your safety while vaping. Almost all organic smokes would probably be labeled as a carcinogen. Labeling and packaging is your personal choice, and I listed my reason for being extra precautious as I have kids and family.

 

[David1975]

Sounds like a good plan you've got going into DIY. I've been doing about the same as what your planning, with the exception of heat shrink on the caps and printed labels (I use a dedicated small freezer with a lock). One suggestion would be to bump up your 50ml bottles to 125ml bottles, if you make a few large batches at a higher strength... 50ml goes quick. The other items I use for my DIY are pierceable top caps on my liquids (where I can). I use them so I cut contamination to near zero, and accidental spills to zero as well. I found one site so far that sells them individually and another that sells a case of 12 125ml bottles with caps (I.M. me if your interested ). One warning with the caps I use, sharp needles are needed. For most of my small batches, I use syringes, one with needle for each ingredient and toss when done. For lager batches, I got a set of graduated cylinders (500ml, 250ml, 100ml and 50ml)... I would suggest using a flask or beaker style instead so you can stir the liquids rather than cork them and shake.... will be my next purchase.

 

[mattiem]

Sounds like you have pretty well covered all your bases. I don't think it is necessary to freeze your bulk pg and vg though. The reasoning behind freezing your nic base is to prolong the freshness and potency of the nicotine.

I went one step farther with my nic. Once decanted into 120ml blue glass bottles, properly labeled. I wrapped each bottle in bubble wrap and then put them in vacuum seal bags. In my case 3-120ml bottles per sealed bag.

Good luck with your diy venture. It is very satisfying when you find that you can make a very good tasting e-juice for just pennies a ml.

 

[dannyv45]

It sounds like you have it figured nicely. I did not see it mentioned but make sure your test bottles are also glass if your going to hot water steep. Also NIC does influence the taste of the final mix. So it is very important to get the base right before adding flavor. I would suggest mixing up your base and vape it without flavoring added so you get an idea on how the NIC taste and make sure your happy with the throat hit the NIC concentration delivers. If your NIC is to high it will deliver to strong a throat hit and may introduce a peppery taste that may mask the flavoring so get the NIC concentration right before mixing flavoring into it. When flavoring start with the lowest recommended percentage and work up. Start with 1 flavor so you know that flavors profile. I say this because not all flavors taste as you expect them to. For example Some blueberry flavorings taste like natural blueberry and others taste like jolly rogers candy. You want to know this before you start mixing.

Read my blogs expecially supplies for the new DYI'er.

Read my blogs before getting started

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

then read hoosier's blogs.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

this will explain a lot of the how's and why's.

 

[Boletus]

I always suggest starting out with making a batch of unflavored juice (with nicotine) and trying that,and vape a bit if the VG and PG by themselves to get to know their flavors as well. This will also ensure there is nothing wrong with the nic, VG, and PG (not that that is very likely) before you commit a bunch of time and resources.

As mattiem says, freezing the VG and PG is probably not necessary, but if that is a convenient way for you to store them, there is nothing wrong with that. But do be aware the VG will be very thick (but not solid) when it is cold. And anyway, you may want to let your fluids warm to near room temperature before opening the containers to minimize condensation of water into them.

 

[dannyv45]

As I buy PG and VG by the gallon I refrigerate my base Liquids for the long haul. If your buying enough for a few months then it's really not nessessary as Boletus has pointed out. If your storing NIC for the long haul I highly recommend freezing.