The Flavor Apprentice Flavoring Thread
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MY BRIEF PIPETTE REVIEW
Thanks, I don't use syringes. I find using them and cleaning them a hassle. I don't like trashing the cheap disposable plastic pipettes either. I figured there must be something better, there are those cheap $8 mechanical Pipettes, but they only use the extremely long 8-12" glass syringe tubes. I kept looking, after a TON of research, once again found some things in the medical/chemistry business, are perfect for mixing ejuices. I couldn't find much in the way of other mixers using medical pipettes, probably due to the added costs.
This is what I found.
There are tons of medical pipettes on the market. Two basic designs, one uses air to push out the liquid, the other is really just like a regular syringe, with a plunger inside, but no replaceable needle tips. The 2nd type is the best for mixing purposes as in general they can handle larger volumes and thicker liquids. There are less parts, no liquid can get up and inside this type. Repeater pipettes are the less common ones, but they do larger volumes. There are less choices, which was a good thing. All of these medical pipettes are crazy priced, $300 to over a $1,000 for digital types. Even the refurbished one I bought for $150, can still be found new for over $500. When you look at them, in hand, you realize how much those medical device markups are! There's not a lot to them, though they are EXTREMELY ACCURATE in dispensing liquids. I use HDPE bottles with a Yorker twist cap, for my VG-NIC, 100% VG, ang PG solutions, it's just easier for those thicker base solutions and while repeater pipettes claim to handle thicker liquids, it was too hard to draw up 100% VG, though PG would work. For everything else, flavors, additives etc., I use the pipette. I use 4-6 reusable syringes on average in a mix.
Out of the 3-4 pipette models and brands I researched, the Gilson Distriman Repeater Pipette seemed like the best choice. It only uses three sized syringes, the smallest of which would be useless for our needs, volumes too small. The largest holds 12.5 ml, the medium holds 1.25 ml.
I contacted Gilson to ask a few questions, and they offered me a demo unit, didn't even ask for a credit card, had it a week later. Tested it for two weeks and returned it, they offered it as a sale item for $300, but I told them I was going to get a cheaper refurbished one. What was super nice was they asked me what size syringe I wanted to test with the repeater, and I said the 12.5 ml size, expecting one or two, but they sent the entire box of 25, to keep. Cheapest I've seen those was on Amazon for $45. After I bought my own repeater, I did buy a box of 25 of the 1.25 ml, for approx. $38 on Amazon. You could get by with just the largest size.
Like a BIG syringe, but only two parts, the body, and the internal plunger, no tip to clean. I pull them apart, and toss them in the ultrasonic cleaner, or a bowl filled with hot water and dawn, then rinse them off. Seems they can be reused over and over, and I feel it's easier to clean and deal with then regular syringes, if you can afford the higher cost of this setup. You can't do it much cheaper then what I've come across unless you scour EBay for used pipettes, which was my 2nd option. I knew getting a guaranteed refurbished one from a site that sells these devices was the best choice for me for not much more then dealing with an unknown eBay seller.
It's not for everyone, but the speed of which I can quickly make up a new batch of juice and cleanup, motivates me to do it more often, that alone made pursuing this worth it. I mix by weight, so I'm not even taking advantage of the main benefit of a medical pipette, the volume accuracy! These things are accurate to the DROP, with one push of a button. So if you are a volume mixer, it would be ideal.
I know the idea of using a medical pipette will appeal to very few due to the higher costs over regular syringes and disposable ones, but I wanted to streamline my process, and it worked out great for me, no regrets. And I thought I'd share what I've learned here.
I found the "Gilson Distriman Repeater Pipette" certified, refurbished, with 90 day warranty here:
F164001, Gilson Distriman Single Channel Repeater Pipette 1 µl-1.25 ml
Yep, mine too. And their 30ml blends are in blue glass.
Oh, so if you buy the larger sized 30ml flavors, you get GLASS bottles. Good to know, as all these sites seem to do it differently.
No only their blends and their flavors they make. When I have purchased fw, or tfa I get plastic bottles.
eta...When I have purchased directly from tfa, I have only ever received plastic bottles, including their 4oz(120ml) bottles.
No only their blends and their flavors they make. When I have purchased fw, or tfa I get plastic bottles.
eta...When I have purchased directly from tfa, I have only ever received plastic bottles, including their 4oz(120ml) bottles.
That's odd my first order of mostly 15ml flavors directly from TFA, was all glass bottles, about 25 of them.
The small 4ml and 15ml i have always gotten in glass from them,but anything bigger has been plastic.I usually order the smaller sizes from Bull city now though because the price is so much cheaper,but the 4oz. i still go to Tfa directly.
Bummer! Sorry you had such a rough experience. I have only purchased Inawera from Wizard Labs and Bull City and never had an issue. I trust both of these sites to only sell unadulterated, authentic, re-bottled product so that is not a concern for me.
Ok, so if you buy directly from TFA you can expect:
4ml Glass bottles
15ml Glass bottles
60ml and above Plastic bottles.
So to save money, buying anything 60ml and above, may as buy from resellers, as you are going to get Plastic bottles. Freshness is the only other variable, resellers buy in larger quantities and then decant into their own bottles whether glass or plastic, and then a flavor could sit on the shelf awhile too.
I've read enough to confirm, at least for me, that glass bottles with polycone caps are the best way to store flavors. I'm attempting to get them that way to avoid the time to decant them myself, into my own glass bottles. It may be unavoidable with the larger sizes. And then you have to figure all this out per vendor. I know some of you use your flavors quickly, so it's not as big a concern, others don't care period. I do.
4ml Glass bottles
15ml Glass bottles
60ml and above Plastic bottles.
So to save money, buying anything 60ml and above, may as buy from resellers, as you are going to get Plastic bottles. Freshness is the only other variable, resellers buy in larger quantities and then decant into their own bottles whether glass or plastic, and then a flavor could sit on the shelf awhile too.
I've read enough to confirm, at least for me, that glass bottles with polycone caps are the best way to store flavors. I'm attempting to get them that way to avoid the time to decant them myself, into my own glass bottles. It may be unavoidable with the larger sizes. And then you have to figure all this out per vendor. I know some of you use your flavors quickly, so it's not as big a concern, others don't care period. I do.
If looking to get the smaller ones in glass,then yes that sounds like the right idea.As for the larger bottles,they have always been in plastic pretty much everywhere i have ordered from,and on the bigger ones,direct from Tfa seems to be cheaper.I buy my small bottles from Bull city,but they are 50 cents more than Tfa on the large sizes.If i am getting both small and large bottles at the same time,then i will pay the .50 cents extra to save from having an extra shipping charge,but if i am only ordering large sizes,it's directly from Tfa.
As far as glass for storage,i am pretty much right there with you.Most of my small stuff is in plastic because i don't reasonably expect a 10ml bottle to last a long time,but i put all of my 4oz. bottles into glass as soon as i get them.
EVERYTHING I have received from Wizard Labs has been glass. This includes 8mL, 30mL, and 4oz/120mL bottles.
Correction... 120ml 100mg/mL nic was amber PET. But ALL flavors have been glass.
Correction... 120ml 100mg/mL nic was amber PET. But ALL flavors have been glass.
Good to know.I haven't ordered from Wizard since they started selling all the other brands and different sizes.The last time i ordered from them the only options were Tfa and Lorann,and the only size available then was the 8ml.EVERYTHING I have received from Wizard Labs has been glass. This includes 8mL, 30mL, and 4oz/120mL bottles.
Correction... 120ml 100mg/mL nic was amber PET. But ALL flavors have been glass.
Haha,it has been a while,although not all that long ago.They really upped their game in the last year or so.The last time i ordered from them was probably late 2104-early 2015.Holy cow! That must have been more than a couple of years ago.
Oh,and i forgot,they had seedmans then too haha.
EVERYTHING I have received from Wizard Labs has been glass. This includes 8mL, 30mL, and 4oz/120mL bottles.
Correction... 120ml 100mg/mL nic was amber PET. But ALL flavors have been glass.
Thanks, that's where I'll go next!
I'm not going to bother reading through dozens or pages to find out, but has anyone else encountered TFA's "hazardous material" charge that they're now adding to some flavorings?
I just ordered several flavors. I buy in bulk (120ml) so I only buy from them once every 8-9 months. I selected their Peppermint, got the warning about the charge, but figured a couple of extra dollars wouldn't be any big deal. I was blown away when their Hazardous Material charge was $42 for a single 4oz bottle. Quickly removed that from my cart, that charge was as much as the entire rest of my order.
Guess I'll stick to FA for my Peppermint needs from now on.
I just ordered several flavors. I buy in bulk (120ml) so I only buy from them once every 8-9 months. I selected their Peppermint, got the warning about the charge, but figured a couple of extra dollars wouldn't be any big deal. I was blown away when their Hazardous Material charge was $42 for a single 4oz bottle. Quickly removed that from my cart, that charge was as much as the entire rest of my order.
Guess I'll stick to FA for my Peppermint needs from now on.
The last time I ordered from them they had a note that they had to start charging for that. That was months ago and my last order from them. I made sure it was a big one.
Lot of vendors have the 4oz bottles of flavors at reasonable prices.
I wouldn't mind finding some 8-10ml glass bottles. For recipe samples I use plastic and neither the flavors fully come out in washing or I am just using so many. I only make 5ml, but I like to shake the juice.
Oh, I made the Sucker Punch clone from several pages back. Dragonfruit is a little bit different that the average fruit. The creams settle it a bit. Thanks for posting it.
Oh, I made the Sucker Punch clone from several pages back. Dragonfruit is a little bit different that the average fruit. The creams settle it a bit. Thanks for posting it.
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