Trying squonking and possible implications on how to DIY..or "when to add nicotine?"

[Tamer El-Meehy]

This may come across as a stupid question, but here it goes

So far I've been predominantly using regular RTAs and rarely subohming..and accordingly I've mixing my e-juice @ 12 mg nicotine. The way I used to do it is to mix all ingredients at once (flavors, nicotine, PG, VG) and then shaking and steeping. So far the results have been great and I haven't bought e-juice for a few months.

Lately however I landed a Reo that was advertised in the classies and decided to use my drippers and subtanks more often; all of which imply that I have to use lower nic levels with these toppers. I will still use my regular RTAs for going out and about of course (which is most of the day).

This means that I need to have the same juice with different nic levels. Since I'm too lazy to mix different batches of the same juice with different nic levels I was wondering:

- Is it possible to mix and steep all the ingredients except for nic, and then add the nic later?
- If the answer to the above question is positive, once I add the nic, do I have to re-steep the liquid? for how long?

Thank you for your help

 

[Dixie1954]

Yes you can do it that way and adding the nic after a steep will not mean more steeping, I'd think a good shake would do it.

 

[Alter]

Thats how I make my mixes. I use a magnetic mixer so I add all except the nic and then mix for a couple hours, set aside for up to weeks if its a tobacco juice, after that I add the nic and remix for a short time and sit for several days to a week before I vape it.
It may take weeks for some flavors to mature but only a few days for nic to incorporate into a juice.

 

[Tamer El-Meehy]

Yes you can do it that way and adding the nic after a steep will not mean more steeping, I'd think a good shake would do it.

Thats how I make my mixes. I use a magnetic mixer so I add all except the nic and then mix for a couple hours, set aside for up to weeks if its a tobacco juice, after that I add the nic and remix for a short time and sit for several days to a week before I vape it.
It may take weeks for some flavors to mature but only a few days for nic to incorporate into a juice.

I've been using the UC with great results...normally I would put the batch in the UC for about 4 hours and then let it sit and breathe for a day. Those periods are longer of course for tobacco mixes.

So would a couple of hours in the UC after I add the nic be sufficient (just to be on the safe side)?

 

[dannyv45]

This may come across as a stupid question, but here it goes

- Is it possible to mix and steep all the ingredients except for nic, and then add the nic later?
- If the answer to the above question is positive, once I add the nic, do I have to re-steep the liquid? for how long?

Thank you for your help

If it tastes good to you steeping without NIC then it's fine to do it that way but steeping with nic adds to the overall flavor of the juice. After all you wouldn't stir your ice tea first then add sugar and lemon would you?

 

[Tamer El-Meehy]

If it tastes good to you steeping without NIC then it's fine to do it that way but steeping with nic adds to the overall flavor of the juice. After all you wouldn't stir your ice tea first then add sugar and lemon would you?

Actually I was talking about making my ice tea with lemon, stirring it, and then offering it to the guests with sugar on the side ;-)

So..would steeping it again after adding the nic take shorter time?

 

[dannyv45]

Actually I was talking about making my ice tea with lemon, stirring it, and then offering it to the guests with sugar on the side ;-)

So..would steeping it again after adding the nic take shorter time?

NIC is the component that causes ozidation which is a crutial part of the steeping/maturing process. So I would say the best practice approach is to mix all components of a juice then steep. But as far as shortening I would say not really because oxidation takes up a good part of the steeping time. This may be a good approach if your intent was to take the edge of a particularly harsh NIC. But other then that not much more of a benefit.

There are ways to shorten this process. Read my blog on steeping for more info. You may want to read some of my other topics on DIY while your at it. All located in my blog section.

Everything you wanted to know about steeping and then some. | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[Tamer El-Meehy]

Thanks @danny45... your blog is among the essential readings I went through before I started DIYing..and the thread on the UC was particularly instrumental..Guess the way to proceed is to mix different batches with different nicotine strengths right from the start.

 

[AzPlumber]

Guess I don't understand how adding nic after steeping helps with the lazies? Your still making the liquid at different nic strengths that requires the same effort.

 

[Tamer El-Meehy]

Well...if you're preparing two or three batches you'd be doing twice or three times the work. You'll be measuring and adding each ingredient 2 or 3 times instead of once.


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[dannyv45]

Thanks @danny45... your blog is among the essential readings I went through before I started DIYing..and the thread on the UC was particularly instrumental..Guess the way to proceed is to mix different batches with different nicotine strengths right from the start.

There's no easy solution for making different strengths for different people. Some make a full strength then dilute it after steeping but that also dilutes flavor. To be consistent you need to make batches separately. OR teach those your making it for to make it them self

 

[AzPlumber]

Well...if you're preparing two or three batches you'd be doing twice or three times the work. You'll be measuring and adding each ingredient 2 or 3 times instead of once.


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Maybe you misunderstood. Separating your big batch and adding nicotine before steeping is the same effort as doing it after steeping.

 

[dannyv45]

Maybe you misunderstood. Separating your big batch and adding nicotine before steeping is the same effort as doing it after steeping.

Your right I misunderstood. Make one big batch without NIC. Separate and add NIC as each requires then steep them all at once will work just fine.

 

[Tamer El-Meehy]

There's no easy solution for making different strengths for different people. Some make a full strength then dilute it after steeping but that also dilutes flavor. To be consistent you need to make batches separately. OR teach those your making it for to make it them self

Try to say this to my wife. I mix the liquid, roll the coil, clean the atties, charge the batterie...and take the blame. LOL


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[93gc40]

What makes you think a change of battery case, the mod, would require a change in nicotine???? I get that if you are going to vape at higher power levels or use more juice, you might want to adjust the nic. But just changing the mod shouldn't do that. Nic levels at least for me more affected with the how hot and fast I vape not the tools I use.

Whether you need to age/steep after adding you nic... Kinda depends on how much diluting of the nic you need to do to get the levels you want. I suppose if the nic base is 5% maybe as much as 10% of total mixture, you might not need to fully steep. More than 20%, I would start the aging/steeping clock at time of final mixture. But then my nic base is 50-70% of my juices.

 

[Tamer El-Meehy]

What makes you think a change of battery case, the mod, would require a change in nicotine???? I get that if you are going to vape at higher power levels or use more juice, you might want to adjust the nic. But just changing the mod shouldn't do that. Nic levels at least for me more affected with the how hot and fast I vape not the tools I use.

Whether you need to age/steep after adding you nic... Kinda depends on how much diluting of the nic you need to do to get the levels you want. I suppose if the nic base is 5% maybe as much as 10% of total mixture, you might not need to fully steep. More than 20%, I would start the aging/steeping clock at time of final mixture. But then my nic base is 50-70% of my juices.

It's not because I'm changing the mod as much as it is because I'll be using RDAs and Subohm tanks...hence part of my vaping will be at higher power and that's why I will need different nic concentrations of the same liquid.