Trying DIY Again

[wickedalibi]

I have vaped for almost 8 years now. I have one everyday all day vape. It is hard to get sometimes.
San Francisco by the Vapor Station 70vg/30pg
A very intense, rich, nutty base. A mature graceful tobacco flavor. A hazelnut overtone that really completes this astounding blend.
In a pinch I will vape Volt 555 by Smokeless Image ?vg/?pg
Slightly sweet with nutty undertones.
I have no intentions of not buying these in the future. I need something similar to get me through the times when both are unavailable.
I have the palate of a brick. I tried DIY 4 years ago didn't go so well. Put it away for a year and tried again no go. I think the problem was the nic I had, peppery taste. I PIF'D all of my supplies. I have tried thousands of other liquids but I know what I like and those two are it.
I want to try again, but would like some advice on where to start with the flavors. If you DIY and have tried either of these help would be greatly appreciated. I would even be willing to send samples of each for taste comparisons.
Thank you in advance for any help!

 

[stols001]

It can be hard to clone a recipe. Might want to check the DIY forum and other DIY resources to see if one is already available though.

If the "peppery taste" of nic is disliked, I might consider nic salts. They aren't harsh or peppery, but smooth and almost tasteless. I use Nicotine River nic salts, but most manufacturers will send a sample for the price of shipping, if you'd like to try out a few different vendors. Best of luck,

Anna

 

[Letitia]

I'll look and see if I can find a couple of clone recipes. Tobaccos aren't my go to.

 

[wickedalibi]

I think the nic I had before was already oxidized when I got it. I got the cheapest I could find. I think that nic is a important part of the formula for these juices. Nic salts maybe down the line. Any suggestions on the cleanest tasting nic?
Thanks for the suggestion Anna

 

[Nikhforos]

USA Liquid Nicotine

Haven't tried it but I have read countless reviews for this product. Everyone says its awesome so it probabaly is.

 

[wickedalibi]

Ty so much

 

[wickedalibi]

Ok I need to say that I have vaped 36mg nic until January then I went down to 24mg. They only have 12mg not quite ready for that yet.

 

[JCinFLA]

IMO, based on purchases of their 100mg/mL nic base from them, all of these are good and not the least bit "peppery":

Heartland Vapes
Liquid Nicotine Wholesale
Wizard Labs
Nude Nicotine

ETA: I just bought their standard, regular 100mg/mL nic base, not any of the other varities they offer that cost more.

 

[wickedalibi]

Ty JC

 

[wickedalibi]

Been looking at nic.... I used 100mg in PG before. I think that my vape will end up between 70Vg/30Pg & a 50/50 mix. If I get 36mg nic @ a 50/50 mix then add the flavorings or more vg should be somewhere between 36mg and 24mg. Which is ok. I am not stuck on a #. Or get the 100mg in vg just for the ability to adjust it easier?

 

[Nikhforos]

Been looking at nic.... I used 100mg in PG before. I think that my vape will end up between 70Vg/30Pg & a 50/50 mix. If I get 36mg nic @ a 50/50 mix then add the flavorings or more vg should be somewhere between 36mg and 24mg. Which is ok. I am not stuck on a #. Or get the 100mg in vg just for the ability to adjust it easier?

Supposing you store your nic in the freezer( which you should) , I highly recommend not to get the nic in VG. VG is thick, nic from freezer will be even thicker, and 100mg/ml nicotine is dangerous enough already. No need to make it even harder for you.

 

[stols001]

I personally find it less expensive and to take up less room in my freezer using 100 mg/ml in one base. Yes, there are a few extra mixing steps, although there are certainly folks who buy their nic "premixed" into the PG/VG percentage they want and just add flavoring. It tends to be more costly doing it that way, most likely and VG and PG store easily (cool away from light) for a fairly long time. Of course, I also stockpiled nicotine in the event that it may become harder to find and/or more expensive down the line....

Anna

 

[wickedalibi]

Ty both. The storage makes sense. Also I remember how thick vg is. Thinking 100mg in PG. That way there is wiggle room. I can mix it the way I want.
Anna ty for the siren 2 recommendation. I love it.

 

[stols001]

I buy my base in VG (I have to) and I must say, I wish I could buy it in PG instead, as it can be pretty hard to "work with" high nic strength in a VG base. Oh I make it work, but if I were given the choice, I would 100% purchase PG nic instead. It WILL be easier to work with.

@wickedalibi , glad you like it! It remains my favorite RTA to date, by a wide margin. I know not everyone loves it, but for the price and what it does. It beats all the Kayfuns (although to be fair, I should point out that mine are all clones) but I haven't been a huge fan of the Kayfun, like some. Glad I tried out the clones first....

Anna

 

[wickedalibi]

Ok next questions.......flavorings. Nutty 555 sweet tobacco base and some good nut flavors? I know I will need some helpers em and such. Any other things?

 

[Beamslider]

Try the Purilum Sweet Tobacco from Nicotine river. That is delicious.

Purilum Sweet Tobacco

 

[wickedalibi]

In the shopping cart

 

[IDJoel]

A couple of random thoughts:
Regarding nic: 100mg/mL nic does provide greater versitility for arriving at final percentage than say 36mg/mL. It also requires less product (per total volume); which leaves more room for other ingredients (can be important if nic base is PG; and you are shooting for a higher VG ratio).
Don't forger to pick up some plain PG, and VG, to balance out desired final PG/VG ratio.

Regarding flavor(s)
Early in my own DIY journey, I stumbled across an older recipe (here on ECF), that seemed to have a solid fan base. The recipe was created by @tc1; and the original thread can be found here.

(Note: In the image; the DX (bav. cream) is my sub. Original calls for regular BC)

As is, the recipe may be (much?) too sweet, and not be tobacco-forward enough for your desired outcome. (TFA DRY4 is not very tobacco-y to me). However; I found this recipe to be incredibly friendly to variations. I have substituted various (and even multiple) tobaccos. I have reduced and/or varied the caramel and butterscotch components. And I have tried virtually every nut concentrate I could get my hands on. ...All with very enjoyable/successful results.

I used this recipe, as a starting point, to arrive at a similar tobacco & nut e-liquid, for a friend's spouse. It took a few iterations of trying a couple different tobaccos, and subbing a different nut (she was a pecan fan), and a reduction to the sweeter ingredients. But, along the way, each revision was still a pleasant vape for her.

This is not a subtle/delicate recipe. It is rich, assertive; confident being what it wants to be (aka: strong). At 20% total flavoring, I find it best suits more "classic" atomizers (higher-ohm; lower power; more juice-sipping types of atties). If, it is being vaped in the popular devices (ultra-low-ohm; high power; juice-guzzling atties) common today, lowering percentages while preserving concentrate ratios, may be in order.

 

[wickedalibi]

Do you have a favorite hazelnut?

 

[IDJoel]

Do you have a favorite hazelnut?

I have only used TFA Hazelnut, and TFA DX Hazelnut (an Acetoin & Acetylpropionyl free version), but they are both good. The DX version may be a touch "drier," but still good. Because i was happy with those I didn't feel any need to look further (for hazelnut).

TFA also does good/realistic/true versions of pistachio, toasted almond, and pecan.

FA (FlavourArt) has an interesting one called Nut Mix. It is a combination of almond, walnut, hazelnut, cashew, and filbert nuts. It can add another nut dimension to nut centric recipes.