Tips/suggestions for a new DIY'er

[purelyscientific]

I would like tips and suggestions on what I can/should do to optimize my DIY experience. Heres what I ordered-
60mg 120mL PG based nicotine solution- 11.39$
250mL Propylene glycol- 5.49$
250mL Vegetable glycerine- 5.49$
Ethyl Maltol crystals(TFA)- 1.49$

Safety Goggles- 2.99$
Griffin Beaker Bomex glass 250mL- 3.79$
Nitrile gloves

20ml Luer Lock Syringe- 1.19$
10ml Luer Lock Syringe- 0.69$
(2)14ga Blunt Tip Luer-Lock Needle 1.5"- 1.30$

(5)10ml LDPE Dropper Bottle with Child Resist Cap- 2.45$
(2)30ml Cobalt Blue Glass Bottle w/ Glass Dropper Top- 1.98$
60ml Amber Glass Bottle w/ Polycone Cap- 1.19$

Flavoring concentrates(each one cost 1.49$ and contains 8mL of concentrate)-
Blackberry
Boysenberry
Blueberry
Cotton candy
Huckleberry
Dragon fruit
Cherry blossom(TFA)
Raspberry
NY style cheesecake(for my girlfriend)
Watermelon(for my girlfriend)

TOTAL- 66.47$
Not bad for a starter kit.

My dad says he can get me face masks and gloves from work. Should I order more of something?
Maybe more VG? My target juice ratio is 70/30 PG/VG. Any tips?

 

[purelyscientific]

Wow, my post came out all messed up. Sorry about that :/

EDIT- fixed it

 

[zoiDman]

Wow, my post came out all messed up. Sorry about that :/

Yeah... Kinda hard to read. LOL

Here the Biggest Tip you can get for DIY.

KEEP DETAILED AND ACCURATE RECORDS OF EVERYTHING YOU DO.

That and don't change a recipe until it has sat for at least 3 days.

 

[MiamiMom63]

Wow, I've been DIY's for quite awhile and you probably have more than I do already. LOL. Easiest way to start is download the free EJuiceMeUP calculator and watch a video on Youtube about how to use it. It's really easy. Then I would pick one of the extracts and do just a simple 3 ml bottle of it to try out. I would do say Blueberry (just one flavor til you get the hang of it, and some of those flavors aren't good by themselves). I don't think I saw in your order any VG? Are you going to do all PG juices? If not, you need to get some. Depending on where you are, some drugstores or grocery stores have it and it's fairly cheap. I would start at 10% flavor and see how it is and go from there. You might prefer more flavor, or less flavor, but that's a good starting point. You will find some flavors are real strong and require less flavor than others. I would practice on just using one flavor until you get used to it, then explore with 2 flavors, etc. Also, maybe I am wrong but I use 48 mg nic and I have never worn goggles and gloves. I don't think I would mess with all that at 60 Mg of nic. Just be careful and if you get any on you, wash your hands right away. If you were using 100 mg nic, then probably gloves or goggles would be good. Good luck and I hope this helps! DIY is alot of fun and fairly easy to do once you get the hang of what you like.

 

[purelyscientific]

I got 250 mL VG and 250mL PG. Sorry for the confusing op. Ill edit it as soon as I can get on a computer.

 

[zoiDman]

I got 250 mL VG and 250mL PG. Sorry for the confusing op. Ill edit it as soon as I can get on a computer.

Another tip.

Here is a Not So Old thread in which I posted the Concept of making "Pre-Mix". It's tool long to retype and there is other info in there about Drops which I thinks is a Good Read.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/254761-drop-equal-1-ml.html

 

[purelyscientific]

Edited it.
It came out to a total of 66.47 including priority shipping.

Ok so to recap-
Start with less flavor than I think I need
Work with one flavor at a time
Let the juice steep before changing the recipe
Take lots of notes and document everything
Make small sample bottles to test out flavors
Measure by mL, not by drops

Anything else?

 

[zoiDman]

Edited it.
It came out to a total of 66.47 including priority shipping.

Ok so to recap-
Start with less flavor than I think I need
Work with one flavor at a time
Let the juice steep before changing the recipe
Take lots of notes and document everything
Make small sample bottles to test out flavors

Anything else?

Dunno where your getting all your stuff but I would look around and see if they have any Liquid Sucralose.

This is a Sweetener than many people like Better than Cotton Candy (Ethyl Maltol). It's cheap and a 15ml bottle goes a Long Way.

 

[YorkieGirl1]

looks like your on your way! I use gloves, but have never used safety goggles or mask with even 100mg nicotine - but thats up to you =). Youll have so much fun!! I have learned so much myself. At first i read everything i could then started experimenting. Youll soon find some neat little secrets yourself as you gain experience too! It can be so addicting - I love to make my own (problem is i make more than i can realistically use, lol).

 

[purelyscientific]

Dunno where your getting all your stuff but I would look around and see if they have any Liquid Sucralose.

This is a Sweetener than many people like Better than Cotton Candy (Ethyl Maltol). It's cheap and a 15ml bottle goes a Long Way.

Wizardlabs.us
He has the best prices.
Plus I heard that he has good customer service and reliable products.
Thanks for the tip

 

[gimmieshelter31]

I have a few things to mention .
A. Previously mentioned , yet worth repeating. Do not mix when tired or distracted.
B. Have both the recipe your are using and all your supplies at the ready on a flat , non-cluttered surface.
C. Only have open the container you are currently using i.e. flavoring , nic etc. Spills happen regardless of how careful you are.

Some like to mix new flavors without the nicotine , adding it after finding their desired flavor percentage so as to not be flushing and thus wasting the nic we so crave in less than desirable mixes . I do not do this personally as I feel nicotine affects the taste of the final mix.
I'm relatively new to DIY myself and have learned there are no shortcuts to understanding flavorings in ejuice. Read Hoosiers blogs. Tremendous information.

Also if you find you like DIY , you are going to need a lot more bottles Even if you did not smoke menthol cigarettes , in a future order get either some menthol crystals or drops and/or some koolada. This can wake up a flavor that seems a little dull.
Finally, have fun , be safe and keep your supplies away from pets and children. They haven't the tolerance to nicotine we do.


Russ

ETA: A 10 ml glass graduated cylinder is a nice tool to have . Not necessary per se , just nice to have.

 

[purelyscientific]

Excellent post/tips^^
Thanks a bunch!

 

[MiamiMom63]

I agree with gimmieshelter31. When I do my DIY, I put a paper towel down on my dining room table and fold another paper towel off to the side. I set up my nic to the right, then my PG towards the left of it, then my VG, and then my flavors. I set my flask on top of my paper towel and have my syringe handy. Nowadays, I like to fill a regular size bowl with water and have it to my right. It's handy to have to flush my syringe in between liquids I am using. I saw some guy do a DIY video and use a bowl of water and it works for me. I was getting up and going to the kitchen to flush my syringe all the time in between before then. And I go by ml and not drops also. I never could get any drops from anything to equal 20 drops for one ml like the calculator states. And when I adjusted the drops to whatever my syringe was on the calculator, I qould come short and instead of my batch being 10 mls, it would be more like 8 mls, etc. I don't allow any distractions and have my recipe to my left as I do it. I know I sound .... but that's how I DIY. It is real frustrating if you are making juice and you get interrupted and come back and wonder where you were and have to dump it. The nice thing with DIY also is you can make 10 mg nic juice or whatever. What frustrates me the most in premade juice is that usually I don't want the amount of mgs. of nic they are selling it at. And I have also been able to slowly go down on my nic by 2 mgs. at a time over the past year.

 

[singu]

The best advice i've gotten when i first started out was have more bottles that you think you need. If you think you need 10, get 20.

 

[Hydrophoid]

Im totally new, vaping on my first 2 flavors and I have a question. I see here to measure out mils, not drops. I get this, it makes sense to me to be exact (especially when dealing with the nic, but exact flavor amounts make for good recipes).

What are you all using to measure your sub ml items. I was using an insulin syringe, it is a 1 ml syringe with graduations for each .10 ml. It worked but will not draw due to the small gauge needle, so I ended up removing the plunger, dripping into the top to get my measurement, then popping the plunger back in and hoping my 100mg/ml nic didn't spray anywhere but the bottle. Again it worked but there has to be a better way, and someone in this forum knows what it is

 

[jim829]

i use a 3ml syringe with a blunt 16ga (i think? i've had it a while) needle. its one of those twist lock deals. graduations every .2ml. i've never had drawing problems. I also have a couple smaller graduated cylinders that work pretty nicely. they might not be ideal suggestions for your situation, but they've worked without fail for me. Wizard labs had both, last i checked.

 

[Hydrophoid]

i use a 3ml syringe with a blunt 16ga (i think? i've had it a while) needle. its one of those twist lock deals. graduations every .2ml. i've never had drawing problems. I also have a couple smaller graduated cylinders that work pretty nicely. they might not be ideal suggestions for your situation, but they've worked without fail for me. Wizard labs had both, last i checked.

Cool, .2 graduations would be perfect. I didn't even look when I hit them up for my nic juice cause I had the diabetes, but they have a 25 ga needle and will not draw at all.

 

[Oinotna]

get lots and lots of 3ml and 5 ml bottles and do keep good records I repeat, KEEP GOOD RECORDS. its no fun trying to replicate ur formula not knowing ur ratios and percentages . that was my first mistake anyway live long and happy vaping/DYIng. I know I'm having fun

 

[Cookster]

Use the 60ml amber bottle and 1 of the 30ml blue bottles to store your nic in the freezer. Then use the other 30ml bottle to make your pg/vg preferred base, so that all you'll have to do is mix your base with flavors in the 10ml bottles. Much easier than individually mixing each little bottle.

 

[hoofhearted74]

Like previously stated, get plenty of bottles.