The Process...

[Hoosier]

I saw a post in another thread where a poster said it would be nice for experienced mixers to explain what they do when they mix, the process of it. That seemed like something worth folks sharing.

My process is kinda' routine anymore and I don't really think about it, but here it goes.

I figure out what I HAVE to mix. The recipes I'm currently stuck on. The recipes for my family. The recipes that I'll give away.

I grab the flavorings for the stuff I HAVE to mix and put them in a group on my left side.

I also grab some flavorings I want to experiment with and put them behind the HAVE-to-mix group.

Then I dump out some bottles from my drying basket and throw some from storage directly in front of me, but behind the computer.

I place a very large end grain cutting board down directly in front of me and wipe it down. (It's 30" square and I have routered a groove in it that keeps things from rolling off. I don't think you can buy a board like this, but it's not too difficult to make if you have some basic woodworking tools.)

I place my laptop on the board so the majority of the board space is directly in front of me and it's a slight reach to get to the keyboard.

I place my label maker directly to the right of my laptop.

A pile of 1ml syringes is very close to my left and I work each one up and down.

I get out 3 120ml bottles that have different ratios of PG/VG in them.
A bottle of nicotine that looks nothing like my PG/VG bottles. These bottles are on my left and on the board so they are close, but I don't have to brush them to bring up a recipe on the laptop.

Uncap a PG/VG bottle and insert a stepped stopper in it and insert a 10ml syringe in the stopper.

Uncap the nicotine bottle and insert a stepped stopper in it and insert a 10ml syringe in that stopper too.

I stand and prep some bottles and position the flavorings I'm going to use between the laptop and myself. Just one recipe of flavorings at a time.

Flavorings are measured out and dispensed in the bottle(s). One flavoring at a time and the flavoring is immediately capped. If I plan on using that flavoring again during this session, it goes to my right next to the laptop on the board. If it is the last time I plan on using the flavoring for this session it goes on my far left off the board.

This is when I always realize I forgot my glass of water for my syringes so I get up and get a glass of water and then pull apart the syringes that were used for the flavoring and drop them in the water.

I measure the PG/VG and squirt it in the bottle(s). Since I use the dosing syringe in the stopper, I don't have to worry about capping this. This bottle goes back to the spot I pulled it from.

I double check the amount of nicotine shown on the laptop for the recipe. I measure the nicotine and triple check the amount. Then I dispense it. Nicotine goes back.

juice bottles are capped.
Shake and set to the right close to me.
I stand up and start with the bottle prep and flavoring moving again.

I find that I think of more experiments when I'm standing and moving flavorings around than any other time, so I like to keep standing up to do some moving of bottles and flavorings fairly regularly.

That's pretty much my mixing routine. Flavoring is always first and nicotine is always last. I wipe my board down after mixing too.


So, what's your mixing process?

 

[Colleen3429]

Thank you for posting this. I just started mixing and your post will really help me and other noobs.

 

[RocketPuppy]

It's funny how we all have our own little manners in which we do things. There are many similarities but surprisingly quite a few differences. I guess like all things diy (and life in general)...subjective.

sticky maybe?

 

[Hoosier]

I'd like to see RocketPuppy's process...?

 

[RocketPuppy]

I'd like to see RocketPuppy's process...?

That implies that I have a strategic and consistent process.

 

[RocketPuppy]

Will do soon. I'd like to take photos in addition.

 

[marshbunny]

For what it's worth this is how I DIY. I usually do several recipes at a time. I spread out the printouts of my recipes on my kitchen table (it's almost 9ft long). On that printout I place all the flavorings for that recipe, an amber glass bottle (the size that I have selected for that particular recipe) and a colored rubber band (I have a variety of small bands of different colors). I use the rubber bands on the necks of the bottles to temporarily identify what juice is in what bottle making sure to note which color band I use on the recipe printout.

On my kitchen bar I have the VG and PG bottles set out about a foot apart setting each next to a 2 cup Pyrex glass measuring cup with a 35ml syringe dedicated for each. I half fill one Pyrex cup with VG, the other with PG and place a 35ml syringe in each cup. I do not have to use a needle with the 35ml syringes (saves a lot of hassle). I have 3ml, 5ml &12ml syringes setting to the side for the flavorings.

I take one printout to the kitchen bar along with the flavorings for that mix and the amber bottle around the neck of which I have placed a colored band and noted the color on the printout. I mix the flavors for that recipe & return the printout, flavorings and amber bottle to kitchen table, repeating these steps for each recipe.

After all amber bottles contain all the flavorings for that particular recipe, I then take each of those bottles individually back to the kitchen bar to add the PG and VG for that recipe using the syringe contained in the separate Pyrex cups holding the PG and VG.

The next step in the mixing is adding the nicotine. I have already diluted the 100mgVG base nic to 50mg and allowed it to come to room temp from the freezer. The nic is contained in a separate Pyrex cup which I then add as needed to each recipe using the appropriate dedicated syringe.

The bottles (with the colored bands around the necks) then go into my ultrasonic which has a 90 minute timer. I start out with cold water, but by the time the 90 minute cycle has finished, the water is hot (about 150 degrees). I let it sit till cold and pretty much forget about it, but will repeat the cycle when I get around to it. I will do this several times for tobacco's, chocolates and creamy recipes. Fruits do not really need this so I just run them in the ultrasonic for one cycle (don't even think they need that).

Finally, I have put away the flavoring, VG and PG, but left the printouts and amber bottles on the table. I then check the printouts to see which color rubber band goes to which recipe and label the bottles. Using duplicate labels, I label a 20ml bottle for each flavor I have made and put some of each recipe into an appropriate 20ml bottle for testing and/or daily use. I put the finished amber bottled recipes in a box that is tucked away in a cool dark section of my office desk. I take the box out time to time to shake them and refill the 20ml testers as needed.

 

[clh2121]

Y'all make me feel like my mixing thrives on chaos...
I'm not near as organized persay... But for the most part I keep a 14mg 50/50 base premixed and handy. Whatever sounds interesting gets thrown in (I can guestimate %'s for almost all my flavors at this point, and I do measure with syringes 1,3,5,10ml depending).
Recipe gets scribbled on whatever is handy... usually a cardboard box or envelope (USPS & UPS <3 me). I do color code with rubber bands on the necks as well... Then it's shake and vape or into the UC... and it all depends on my mood.

Mixing the base from higher mg nic... Then I break out the technique and finesse.

 

[ENAUD]

I am relatively new to this stuff, started back in March, but am pretty meticulous when mixing. I mix on a cutting mat so I can write my label and apply the tape to it on the board. Pre-mix 8mg base in a 250ml bottle with a twist spout on the table off the mat. Flavors in a baggie to the left off the mat. Empty bottles out in front. Notebook off to the side. First thing I do is make the label and tape it to the board, grab a bottle and place the label onto it, measure the base into a graduated cylinder, and then get the flavoring bottle out of the baggie double checking against the label. I measure and add the flavoring to the bottle, pour the nic base on top, cap and shake. After a good shake the bottle goes into the closet at the back of the line. I then record the date and any notes in my recipe book. Next I clear the mat, flavor goes off to the right, rinse syringe etc, open the book to the next flavor and do the exact same process. I'm pretty much only working with tobacco flavors so I try to be at least a month ahead on juice, if I want one sooner, later on when I am done I will take that bottle out of the closet, pour the contents into a 50ml cone vial, and pre heat it, then place it into a 1litre thermos bottle stabilized to 150° for four hours or so.



Mixing my nic base I am even more meticulous. I do the math and double check it and cross check it. I break out the volume of pg and vg into a check off list ie: pg 100ml 100ml 60ml
vg- 100ml 100ml 60ml
nic- XXml

I mix my nic in a 500ml Erlenmeyer flask working in a pyrex baking dish with paper towels lining it, and work next to the sink on an empty counter top. first the nic goes into the flask and gets crossed off the list. Then I measure each volume of the next thing and cross each value off the list as it is added to the flask. A quick visual inspection to insure the proper final volume, then a short warm water bath after initial shake and settling, then a vigorous swirling shake up to really mix things well. While warm it pours out nicely into the amber bottle with very little waste.

 

[Bryong70]

I will explain my process for testing of recipes. I think this would be helpful, many people ask about how to test.

Starting Recipes:

I start my recipes by using the internet and searching for real bakery, fruit juice, liquor, or be creative and come up with something on my own.​

Using my own excel spreadsheet I build a recipe, using small percentages of flavorings to start with. In building a recipe you need to know what the dominate flavor will be, with supporting flavors, or a balanced recipe. So for a dominate flavor I start with 1% flavoring (I use mostly flavourart which are more concentrated than most others), then for supporting flavors I start with half the dominating flavor, 0.5%.​

Testing:

First I start with a basic pre-mixture of 50pg/50vg. I don’t test anything with nicotine, in my opinion it is optional. For me I normally vape 0-2mg/ml, so easier to test without.​

Using a syringe, I measure 6ml of the pre-mix and put this in a bottle. (I use 6ml because when measuring test flavors I use drops, and the bottle I use will give me 30-34 drops per ml. Therefore, if I need 0.5% of a flavor, that will be 1 drop if I start with a 6ml test mix.)
I start adding my flavors that my recipe calls for, using drops. I don’t use syringes for adding flavors, especially for testing.​

After adding drops of flavor that my recipe calls for I test it in a 510 Joyetech Atomizer, or one of my RDA's.
Joyetech 510 Atomizer - MyFreedomSmokes.com​

From there I adjust flavorings to my liking. At the same time I adjust my spreadsheet recipe to record my adjustments. This part will require some patience, lots of trial and error. It will take some time tweaking the flavors, starting small allows me to build it up, some flavors require more drops than others. After some experience I usually know how much will be good to start with.​

Once the test is completed, I will vape the recipe for a little. Then maybe tweak a little more. When I’m satisfied, I’ll turn the recipe into a larger 15ml batch. (I use 15ml batches at the most for myself)

 

[Bob Chill]

I'm methodical in my own way.

I mix on a large plastic cutting boad and have a foam tray with holes that hold my nic/pg/vg/flavor vials/mix bottle firmly and upright.

I pull all the flavors I'm going to use that day from my stock (alphabetical and by vendor) and line them up on the back of the board.

I make labels with name, strength, and date and stick them on my bottles.

I grab my first recipe and place the flavors in my foam tray along with the proper sized pre-labeled bottle

I line up the flavors in the same order they are on the recipe

I always add nic first. I know exactly what each strength looks like in the mix bottle so it's a double check of sorts. I also like getting the only part of the process where errors can cause harm out of the way first. Then I do pg/vg/flavors, shake, cap and put off to the side. Then turn the recipe over and start the next one.

I have a small pyrex pan that I put a couple paper towels in the bottom so I can lay my syringes point side down and propped on the edges. Nice glass of warm distilled water and rinse cup next to that for flushing between flavors.

That's about it. Just a methodical system that works for me.

 

[Huckleberried]

I'm methodical in my own way.

I mix on a large plastic cutting boad and have a foam tray with holes that hold my nic/pg/vg/flavor vials/mix bottle firmly and upright.

I pull all the flavors I'm going to use that day from my stock (alphabetical and by vendor) and line them up on the back of the board.

I make labels with name, strength, and date and stick them on my bottles.

I grab my first recipe and place the flavors in my foam tray along with the proper sized pre-labeled bottle

I line up the flavors in the same order they are on the recipe

I always add nic first. I know exactly what each strength looks like in the mix bottle so it's a double check of sorts. I also like getting the only part of the process where errors can cause harm out of the way first. Then I do pg/vg/flavors, shake, cap and put off to the side. Then turn the recipe over and start the next one.

I have a small pyrex pan that I put a couple paper towels in the bottom so I can lay my syringes point side down and propped on the edges. Nice glass of warm distilled water and rinse cup next to that for flushing between flavors.

That's about it. Just a methodical system that works for me.

What I do is very close to this, without the foam tray. I need to go to Hobby Lobby. Home Depot?

 

[zoiDman]

...

So, what's your mixing process?

Add 30 or 60 or 90ml of "Pre-Mix" Nicotine Base into a Bottle.

Add Flavoring/Sweetener via drops from the Flavoring/Sweeter Dropper Bottle Tops.

Shake and Place in a Cool Dark place for 5~7 Days.

Vape.

 

[Bob Chill]

What I do is very close to this, without the foam tray. I need to go to Hobby Lobby. Home Depot?

I made it. I bought some foam remnants from a fabric store for a couple bucks. 1.5" thick works well. Then just used spray adhesive and basic craft store foam board.

Cutting the holes in the foam for the larger diameter bottles is a little difficult to make nice and neat. I used a razor sharp fillet knife. For small 10ml flavor vials you only need to cut and X in the foam.

 

[Hoosier]

Hmmm, no weigh-er's yet. I was hoping at least one of those would post.

 

[SingedVapor]

I'll share my process as I have been going at it for a bit now and have a pretty standard routine built now.

1st I clear off my desk of all clutter and tiny pieces of kanthol. I get my Out my tackle box and set it up as far away but within arms reach as I can. I pick out my flavourings I'm planning on using an set them to my left along with my VG and 100mg VG nic. At this point I turn my moniter screen towards my desk and load up ejuicemeup and begin to enter in all the required information. Once I have my calculations and check them a few times to make sure I'm right I pull my 50ml gradualated glass cylinder to the middle of my desk. I remove my syringes from my tackle box and look through to pick out the ones I have labeled for what so that no cross contamination occurs. From there I start with VG. Put that in the cylinder, then flavourings, then lastly nicotine. From there I get eye level with it and check and make sure I measured correctly (as in my experience when I first put them in they all sit on top of each other easily able to be recognized which is which) then I take my glass bottle and carefully pour it in, shaking it vigorously afterward. From there I carefully wash everything I used and hang them upside down to dry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lurch]

I love seeing how everyone does it!

One difference I see in how I do it is, I always do the nicotine first. I want to make sure I get it absolutely right, use it, seal it up and put it away so I don't knock it over!!!

 

[Ld3441]

I always mix more than one recipe. So I gather all my supplies and mix in the kitchen. I have recipes on a note pad and labels made out for finished product.

I place empty bottles in front of me with the flavors for each behind the empty. Check my notes and make sure I have all flavors. Check percentages and add each flavor to the bottle. As I add each flavor the syringe used goes in the sink. If I am done with that flavor it goes to the side and if not it is moved down to the next bottle for use.

Once I have all flavors in the bottles I then check notes again and add PG/VG. Once those are added all bottles will be off to the side and I get the nicotine out of the fridge. I check my notes again and add correct amount of nic to each bottle. Then the nicotine is capped and returned to the fridge. I then place the labels on the bottles, cap and shake. I also shake all my flavors and nicotine before using.

I then place fresh made juice in a warm bath and clean up the syringes in the sink. It is then time to enjoy my efforts.

 

[HeadInClouds]

I keep Post-It Notes in business. When I get a new idea or I have new flavors to try - I write it on a Post It and stick it in my box of flavors. Each note says the name, ingredients and percents, and nic strength to use (I mix for more than myself).

Mixing time, I grab that box. Decide which Post-It to do and stick them in a line on the counter.

Set appropriate-sized bottle on each Post-It, write and stick labels.

Measure out flavorings, marking off each on the Post It as I add it.

When all flavors are marked off all the Post Its, I add the nic base (already pre-mixed to the right PG/VG ratio and nic strength).

Cap bottles, set 'em all in hot water.

A few minutes later, everything gets a good shake, dried off, onto the 'Vape Me' shelf.
-----
Refills of existing recipes are easier. I just scan the 'Vape Me' shelf for anything low. Grab the bottle, grab the box of flavors, same basic routine. My favorite finished recipes are in bottles with the name and recipe right on them. Saves time for me.

 

[RocketPuppy]

Hmmm, no weigh-er's yet. I was hoping at least one of those would post.

I'm a weigh-er! I just really need to get some mixing time!