This just has to be easier...

[DexO]

Hi all!

Ok, so I have received all of my flavoring and nic juice. I have also ordered polypropylene plastic class B graduated cylinders, glass bottles...etc.

Well, when trying to follow the ejuice me Up calculator, I realize that "Drops" of VG are different that drops of flavoring. I also realize that "Drops" out of the plastic bottles, which the flavoring came in, are different that the glass droppers that I have. I just change the drops/ml to figure it all out.

The problems I am having are:

I always seem to come up short when making 10ml while following the instructions.

The VG is THICK and very hard to "Drop" or even get it out of the graduated cylinder.

Is there something I can to to make this process easier or equipment I missing something? It really is a PITA.



Thanks!
[h=1][/h]

 

[glasseye]

Syringes. You can get the bigger ones at a pharmacy. I usually use the 3ml or 5ml size for VG and PG. 1ml or 3ml for nic and flavorings. They may or may not sell you 1ml syringes at a pharmacy since they usually come with needles and require a prescription. You don't need the needles anyway.

eta- the bigger syringes can be found by baby or children meds too.

 

[Spazmelda]

I use syringes to measure. I just use them like tiny graduated cylinders (no needle, pour the liquid in from the top with my finger over the hole) then use the plunger to squirt the stuff in my bottle.

Yes, drops is not a very accurate method of measurement. As you've experienced, drop volume can vary widely based on the viscosity of the liquid, the size of the dropper, etc... Even the temperature of the liquid can make a difference as it affects the viscosity. Droppers can be 'calibrated' by dropping liquid into some sort of measuring device and calculating drops per ml, for THAT particular liquid with THAT particular dropper. This is useful when measuring tiny amounts (sub ml) for small samples, but it does take some work and record keeping, and even then it can vary somewhat.

 

[Spazmelda]

And, for the record, even with syringes you'll probably end up somewhat off in total volume. Syringes aren't super accurate either, but they are much better than drops.

 

[HeadInClouds]

In the interest of making your mixes right now, with the equipment you currently have: Set the VG in warm water, which will make it thinner and easier to work with. Use one of your glass droppers to measure everything: VG, PG, flavoring. The plastic dropper bottles for the flavorings have removeable droppers, so pop them off to measure with the glass droppers. There will still be a minor difference in drop size as thicker liquids will form slightly larger drops, even from the same dropper, but with the VG warm and thin, I promise this will work reasonably well for now. Remember to rinse the dropper after each different liquid.

Longer term....what everyone else said: syringes.

 

[DexO]

Ok, syringes make sense and I have some that I forgot I ordered. I was banging my head waiting for the VG to pour out of that cylinder!

I imagine you reuse the syringes. Maybe wash them out with vodka or Everclear?

 

[odysseysteve]

Ok, syringes make sense and I have some that I forgot I ordered. I was banging my head waiting for the VG to pour out of that cylinder!

I imagine you reuse the syringes. Maybe wash them out with vodka or Everclear?

I just rinse mine in warm water - easy and quick.

 

[glasseye]

I just rinse mine in warm water - easy and quick.

Me too. Unless it's a particularly potent flavoring then I might draw and expel some everclear a few times through the syringe.

 

[DexO]

Thanks all! You have just made my life a little easier!

 

[Spazmelda]

Yup! I mix in my bathroom and I have a sink full of warm water. When I'm done with a syringe I toss it in the water, then give them all a second rinse when I'm done.

One advantage of using syringes and pouring from the top is that you don't have to use a clean syringe for each component. If I'm careful and don't get liquid on top of the syringe I don't have to worry about contaminating one liquid with another since I'm not sticking the whole thing down in the bottle. Makes clean up easier.

 

[Thunderball]

Nothing left on the bone here for me to chime in with, All has been said and said well !! Carry on......

 

[mxrdrver]

U will never be truly accurate with drops or syringes. The closest U can get is by weighing your recipes.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

This is what I use to put on the end of the syringe to close if off.

Luer Lock Closed Tip Cap (5pk) - MyFreedomSmokes.com

I too use the syringe to measure liquids and then I can either take the tip off or usually I just pour the measured amt into the bottle I am mixing. No plunger needed.
Fits all the syringes I have.

 

[yellowsnow]

Your local Tractor Supply may have syringes mine does and there quite reasonable.

 

[JulesXsmokr]

gram scale all the way.........

 

[Crunktanium]

Mix 5-8% distilled water and or PGA with your VG (before mixing) and it will help not only to thin it out but it will improve vapor. I mix 250ml of juice at a time with syringes and pipettes but my nic is pre-mixed as is my VG/PG. So all I do is shoot flavor in the flask then measure out my nic and dilute to the desired strength with minimal measuring required. It saves time and lots of hassle not having to start from scratch with every mix.

 

[Iffy]

 

[Svt54]

Your local Tractor Supply may have syringes mine does and there quite reasonable.

Yep. I picked up several 3ml syringes from Tractor Supply the other day for 29 cents each. Cheaper than online vendors.

I wash all of mine out, but I have noticed that you can still smell the flavor you used in the tube if you sniff it. I haven't noticed it effecting flavor, and since the tubes are dry at that point, I figure there can't be much there to change it much anyway.

 

[yellowsnow]

Yea they are cheap enough. For the stronger flavors like Banana and others I wash the syringe out good and just put that one in a separate baggy marked Banana etc.

 

[Truetopath]

I use syringes for accuracy and they work perfect for me.


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