Taking the plunge...advice, suggestions...tips/tricks appreciated!

[Nyte]

So, being on the tight budget that I am, I decided to delve into the realm of DiY. In the two months that I have been vaping, I've learned that I am a flavor junkie...sometimes going through eight or nine different flavors a day.

I purchased the bases (PG/VG/36mg nic) and am hoping to produce (somehow) a 50pg/50vg mix at or around 12mg nic.

Now, on to the fun stuff...Flavorings! I will be researching and hopefully buying some flavorings today that I know I like, then eventually start trying different flavors down the line. So far, my favorites are:

• Bubble Gum
• Peach
• Watermelon
• Pineapple
• Marshmallow
• Green Apple

I'm only going to try mixing up simple flavors at first...the more complex ones...I'll leave up to my favorite vendor. Any advice on where to get these particular flavors would be most welcome.

Confession time: I do have to admit though...this is rather daunting and I can't shake that little nagging feeling that I'm making a huge mistake and wasting my money. That little devil on my shoulder keeps telling me "You'll never make stuff as good as the professionals! Plus, don't you love to try out new flavors from different places? You've only been vaping for 2 months, what do you know?"

Any methods of silencing that nagging voice are most welcome as well

 

[AaronB]

Its not a mistake. I can't personally tell you whether or not you are ready but don't give up on it once you start. It took me over a year to give this a try and glad I did. A good cost effective start for the flavors you mentioned might be found at Good Prophets as I believe they have all you mentioned in 3ml for .69 cents of TPA.

Also ecig express has a variety of flavorings in larger sizes with different vendors.

 

[Nyte]

Thank you Aaron! I think I might have cleaned GP out of their samples... (Plus picked up a long coveted purple eGo battery for a great price.)

 

[qlcantu]

Hi Nyte... I'm hardly an old-hand as I've only been at it 4 or 5 months... But, I'm enjoying the experience and am glad that I took the leap... As Aaron mentioned above Quality brand e cigarette and e cig liquid from ecigexpress.com is a great site to go to for supplies and flavors... Selecte "DIY Supplies" from their categories tree... All the flavors you mentioned above are available from the flavor suppliers... You'll need a calculator... There are many out there... The one I use is the "e juice me up" from Payroll Software BREAKTRU SOFTWARE Shareware Freeware Business Family Payroll Withholding ... It's a free download, very configurable, comes with a recipe database plus lets you save your own recipes... The calculator will take the "somewhere" and "around" out of your mix recipes... My biggest lesson so far? - For me, when it comes to flavoring it's definately a "less is more" situation... Keep your flavoring at between 10% & 20% of finished mix... Good luck and have fun... Quintin

 

[AaronB]

Awesome, glad to here. Don't forget to check out one of the many calculators available. Currently I'm using e juice me up.

Thank you Aaron! I think I might have cleaned GP out of their samples... (Plus picked up a long coveted purple eGo battery for a great price.)

 

[Iffy]

Confession time: I do have to admit though...this is rather daunting and I can't shake that little nagging feeling that I'm making a huge mistake and wasting my money. That little devil on my shoulder keeps telling me "You'll never make stuff as good as the professionals!

Bingo! You just described my situation and fears to a tee. Just received a few basic supplies and will dive into DIY this weekend.

 

[LMP]

• Bubble Gum
• Peach
• Watermelon
• Pineapple
• Marshmallow
• Green Apple

I recommend adding these to your flavoring list.

Perfumers Apprentice - Cinnamon RedHots Flavor **

Perfumers Apprentice - Peppermint Flavor

Perfumers Apprentice - Sweetener

 

[davelog]

This so SO not a mistake. I started doing DIY for financial reasons (I can knock out 30ml of juice with a bottle for about 3 bucks) but as I learned through trial and error, I really enjoy the creative aspect of it as well - putting together a good juice is as satisfying as cooking a good meal. Don't expect to nail it on the first try, keep copious notes, and enjoy the process of getting better.

It's a great hobby, and if you're feeling industrious, you can turn it into a small business pretty easily. I mix in quantity once I have a recipe down, and sell my overstock to friends and co-workers to keep it all at a break-even level. Basically, thanks to DIY, I vape for free.

 

[Keesie]

So, how has teaberry flavoring? Looked at ecigexpress and nada. Thinking about diy myself but I mainly vape teaberry and violet, hard to find...

 

[r77r7r]

Mrs t's has it I believe and Loranns suppliers.

 

[r77r7r]

https://www.lorannoils.com/c-6-super-strength-flavors.aspx


http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/where-can-i-get/64179-lorann-surprise-walmart-3.html

 

[debb]

I also jumped into diy when I was fairly new...did lots of research tho...and I really enjoy it...I would add vanilla to your flavors...it's a great flavor that goes with most everything you could mix it with...and have fun with it!

 

[Nyte]

Thank you everyone for the fabulous advice! I purchased the basics yesterday and spent about 14 hours reading and researching. I spent some time messing around with ejuicemeup... learned that I probably already made a mistake but I'll know better next time. (I ordered 100% PG for my nic fluid and that required a little more math to get the percents correct in the program. Next time I'll find a place that sells a mixture.)

My doubts are slowly waning as I learn more about it, but I'm more excited about the prospect of creating than I was before.

In between my researching, I experimented mixing up pre-made juices to make them more to my liking. I am proud to say I made some very yummy (to me) stuff! So much so I even named and labeled my first little creation. (Peach State! hehe)

Again, thank you everyone. Now I have to get to back to reading and try to stop myself from buying every flavor I find.

 

[emus]

I mix 1ml samples to determine the ones I like.
Don't like to waste liquid.

 

[r77r7r]

Maybe a labeler?

Amazon.com: brother p-touch label maker

 

[debb]

I bought my label maker at walmart...Dynamo...works great!

 

[MaxUT]

For your nic liquid, try using one that is about twice the strength you vape, like 36mg if you want to make 18mg juice. Pretty simple-- you will always use 50% nic liquid for each recipe. You can then add for example, 20% flavor and still have room for 30% VG to make plenty of vapor.

I tend to make mostly 6mL batches and for these, 1mL and 3mL syringes work great for measuring.

A labelmaker is very good to have. The labels are legible, stay on the bottle and don't smear if you get juice on them.

Keep notes! Very important! I write the recipe down before mixing, check the percentages and nic strength, then mix exactly to the recipe.

Keep paper towels handy, you'll need them. I use Charmin Ultra Strong toilet tissue for cleaning up drips and wiping down cartos, also cleaning out drip tips; the sheets are sized just right for this and one roll lasts for months.

Handy things to have:
Good VG- don't go cheap on this, flavoring and nic are much more expensive. I use NOW brand.
Cotton Candy flavoring, which is basically ethyl maltol dissolved in PG.
Bavarian Creme flavoring, which can add richness to the juice.
Menthol flavoring, used in small amounts can 'wake up' a boring fruit flavor juice.
Distilled Water, for thinning VG.
PGA (Pure Grain Alcohol) can be used for thinning juice and is good for wiping down your vaping devices.

 

[Nyte]

Wow! Thank you Max... Looks like i have a little more shopping to do. (Aww....shucks! /grin)

I'm not familiar with NOW brand VG. I'll go look it up. Also, damn...I went right past a big gallon jug of Distilled water at CVS today. Should have gotten one.


(Edit: Forgot to add that being a huge nerd that I am...I am the proud of owner of not one...but two label makers!)

 

[debb]

I always keep wipes on hand, they are cheap and are great when mixing..

 

[MaxUT]

You're welcome!

I found NOW glycerin (VG) at the local health food store. The last bottle cost $8.99 for the 16-oz size.