VG% PG% water% alcohol% ???

[neededandwanted]

First posting from noob. Been vaping 3 days on a "nicstic" that I bought for $25 at a gas station. It was an impulse buy then, unlike all of the $69-$99+ offers on web sites I have seen.

I am happy with it in practice now, not just the theory: I feel like I can replace analogs 100% as soon as I get some juices I like with the right t-hit and the right nic level.

After reading about 1000 posts in this forum in the last 3 days, and being too impation to wait for mail order, I went to Michael's (craft store in USA) and picked up some Wilton (brand) VG. While I was there I saw another bottle: Wilton "Clear Butter Flavor" with ingredients listed as: Water, PG, Artificial Flavor.

It appears to have more water than PG, so I was wondering how much water is too much? Other than being too liguid-runny, how much water in a recipe will cause damage to atomizers, lungs, etc?

Also for alcohol, same question. I have seen people say they are vaping with Kahlua added. Not sure it it's really "kahlua flavored PG" or the actual beverage being dropped in the mix. How much alcohol in a recipe is a bad idea?

For example, a juice mix with about 10% actual real vanilla in it -- gonna cause a big problem?

How about a max on VG? Could you vape straight glycerin without damage (to atomizers, lungs, etc) - ?

Thanks!

 

[CaptJay]

I dont know much about DIY but I do know people can have 100% VG liquids premade and Ive seen a few posts from people vaping unflavored straight VG or PG (they want vapor or TH but not nic or flavoring). VG can be quite viscous though I wouldn't be too confident about it not gunking up the atty but I have no experience personally of using the USP grade type from the pharmacy.
There is a section in the forum for DIYers (DIY liquid tips and recipes) but you'll need 5 posts before you can post there yourself.

 

[neededandwanted]

So, right now I am vaping a 50/50 mix of those two bottles: VG and water+PG butter flavor.

Cool taste, strong throat hit, (0 nic while I wait for real 36 juice to arrive)

Am I gonna ruin my only atomizer with this?

50% this: wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=708-14
and
50% this: wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=604-2040

 

[Hoosier]

Experimenting when you only have one atomizer with DIY juice is either a very brave or very stupid thing.

I am assuming that you've read the http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/1783-read-first.html

And gotten an good overview of what is available from DIY e-liquid - E-Cigarette Forum

Plus you know what to look for in PG and VG because you read http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/52669-pg-vg-labeling-purity-please-read.html

To answer some of your questions:
Too much water is the amount of water to make the mix so runny that it floods the atty. Anything less than that, if it works for you, is the right amount.

Too much alcohol /\ see above.

I use rum in one of my recipes. Everclear in a few others.

As for flavorings, what we watch out for is covered in the threads I linked. Sugar will gunk up an atty and kill it. Some folks have trouble with oils, but I don't. (See Everclear above.) Gums & Pictin are good ways to gunk up an atty. And, no, I do not use Wilton's butter flavor. I do use The Perfumers Apprentice butter flavor and it is the only one I like.

10% clear vanilla should not hurt anything. 10% natural vanilla might. (See sugar, gums & pictin above.)

I use a certain atty for testing unknown flavorings and when I kill that one, I replace it with another used one. I have killed 6 attys experimenting with juice mixing and all but one was due to sugar being in the flavoring, but not listed on the label. (But quite a few more just vaping.)

Hopefully things go smooth for you and you have a great future as a DIY juicer. It is a fun and rewarding hobby.

Have fun!

 

[ChuckB]

For my DIY vanilla I use McCormicks clear imitation vanilla at 10%. I wouldn't use any of their other vanillas as most of them have either sugar or syrup in them.

Most of my e-juice is mixed 70/30% PG/VG so I don't really worry about thinning it as it still wicks well. When I've made pure VG juice, I usually use a little 151 rum and water, mostly water. Personally I don't really care for pure VG juice as it covers the taste too much.