Think I am ready to start mixing my own. tip, pointers?

[nastos.]

Ok, so i've been vaping for awhile now. I currently have a few ego batteries and I bounce back and forth between tanking and dripping with regular atties. I have recently became interested in mixing my own both for the hobbiest in me and also to be more econimical.

I am looking for suggestions on what I need to get set up and maybe some general mixing guidelines. Where should I get my supplies? I enjoy tobacco flavors most so I would like to start there. I have been looking at the totally wicked concentrates but was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy my PG/VG elsewhere? Whats the best deal on a bigger bottle of pg or vg, how much concentrate do I need to correctly mix with a nic free solution to get between 18-24 mg? so many questions and there are so many different vendors it's hard to even know where to start.

Advice from veterans is what I am looking for but all suggestions/ comments, concerns will be reviewed and appreciated.

 

[markfm]

Take a look here: DIY e-liquid

With the flavorings I use, I end up with 12 - 22% total flavoring in a mix (3.6 - 6.6 ml out of each 30ml). Some flavorings are stronger than others, and people's tastes vary.

Personally, I tend to buy most of my nic base (60 mg/ml strength) from VoidMist, they often have 50% off sales and their nic liquid has been good (PIF Deals and Steals thread captures a lot of current specials).

I liked tobacco, especially initially. My favorite is Seedman Commercial concentrate, at about 12% (3.6 ml in a 30 ml final liquid). It's available directly from Seedman (Tobacco Flavorings for Home Grown Tobacco), and BlueMist also carries it (at least in the 1/2 ounce size). Use it as-is, don't dilute it.

Add about 4 drops per 10ml of the perfumers apprentice (TPA) Tobacco Absolute diluted (with alcohol) and you'll get a pretty firm tobacco flavor. BlueMist also sells a tobacco absolute, I just haven't used it.

Add about 3% (0.9 ml out of 30 ml) TPA hazelnut, and cut the TA in 1/2, and you'll get a mellower vape, with the hazelnut smoothing it nicely.

In the DIY section you'll find links for things like Scubabatdan's excellent calculator.

The math isn't too hairy. If you start with 60 mg/ml nicotine base, want to make 30 ml of 24 mg/ml liquid, then in total you need 30 ml x 24mg/ml = 720 mg of nicotine. If you have 60 mg/ml nic base, then you need 720/60 = 12 ml of that base. That means you have 30 - 12 = 18 ml to use for flavorings and filler PG/VG.

Good luck!

 

[Levitas]

I too have been interested in DIY, I've held back due to lack of time, but, check this list of suppliers that offer all of the materials and flavorings you may want/need. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/133074-diy-vendor-supplies-list.html

 

[markfm]

For vg, i just buy glycerin usp at local pharmacies. I have been happy with the rite aid store brand glycerine usp, runs about $5 for a 6 ounce clear bottle, near the bandaids. The only ingredient should be glycerine 99.5%.possibly followed by the word anhydrous.

Pg I pick up from the diy supply vendors, again it should be usp. About $1 per ounce. Some tractor supply stores reportedly have it for about $25 a gallon, but that is too much for me to want to bother storing.

 

[AttyPops]

Well, I can't really tell you what's best for you, but I can tell you what I do and maybe we'll see if we get some overlap.

Many people swear by the USP Glycerin that you can pick up locally. But... since I'm ordering DIY supplies with nic anyway, I just get the VG (and also the PG) from the DIY supplier along with the nic-juice and flavors. The thing with me is that I have some food sensitivities and have had minor reactions to some flavors/supplies. So for me, it works out to get it all from a vendor that I know gives me quality ingredients that are the same every time at a reasonable cost.

I've had some VG from a different vendor that I ordered when low... and couldn't vape it without getting irritation on lips/mouth/tongue. When I switched it out, but kept everything else (Flavor, nicquid, PG) the same... it went away. I've not tried the local store VG or tractor supply PG yet. It works for many very well. Just note that all VG, at least, is not created equal. You may not care.

As to other advice... just keep it simple. A good example of simple.... let's say you want grape flavor (substitute any single flavor here) at 24 mg and 75% PG/ 25% VG. Here's what I do:

I order 48mg 50/50 nicquid. The volume of the result will be double this for my 24 mg. So 1 30 ml bottle = 60 ml.
8 oz Container of PG
4 or 8 oz Container of VG*
bunch of flavorings (small)

Then I mix it as follows
fill empty 10 ml bottle 1/2 full of niquid.
add 5 drops flavor (say Grape)
fill rest of bottle to "top" (the other 1/2 of liquid volume) with PG.

That's it. Shake and steep a bit. Easy. I often do this with an RY4, Grape, Vanilla, whatever. You can move into more complicated recipes later, and experiment with other additives like sweetners or "mist" or "mask" stuff.

Keeping it simple to start with is the easiest way to be successful and save money at the same time. I can often get my juice costs down to < 20 cents per ml with quality ingredients that I trust that I won't have a reaction to (particularly when the vendor has a nicquid sale).

* Also note that the VG is just for having "extra" around. I didn't need it since the nicquid is 50/50 before cutting with PG. So VG lasts me forever anyway.

Of course, if you want to end up with 18mg e-liquid, just order 36 mg instead of 48 and when you cut it in 1/2 you get 18.

 

[nastos.]

thanks for all the tips. i will take all into consideration. also ty for the helpful links.