When DIY straight VG e-liquid mixing, (non-pg), do you need to add water?

[MickiO]

I had to switch stop using PG, so I'm using VG unflavored nic, and then adding more VG, plus flavoring, do I also need to add water? .


If, how much water do you add for 30mL ?


Will using straight Vegetable Glycerin and flavoring clog atty's?

 

[Kurt]

I had to switch stop using PG, so I'm using VG unflavored nic, and then adding more VG, plus flavoring, do I also need to add water? .


If, how much water do you add for 30mL ?


Will using straight Vegetable Glycerin and flavoring clog atty's?

You generally need to add something to thin the juice some. My VG juices are generally 10% vodka (80 or 100 proof). Some use pure grain alcohol (PGA), but I can't get that in PA. Water works too, and I am now exploring this as I don't want to necessarily be vaping ethanol all the time! YMMV, but 10-20% distilled water is a common amount. This all depends on how much flavor you use too, as flavors are generally a mix of flavor compounds, PG and/or alcohol, so if you make a 30% flavor VG juice, you may not need to add anything.

And, yes, just VG and 10% flavor may clog the atty and keep the juice from wicking properly to the bridge. I killed a few attys in the beginning before I started thinning. Clogs will force the atty to run too hot and shorten its life, not to mention sometimes the clogs cannot be cleansed out.

 

[MickiO]

You generally need to add something to thin the juice some. My VG juices are generally 10% vodka (80 or 100 proof). Some use pure grain alcohol (PGA), but I can't get that in PA. Water works too, and I am now exploring this as I don't want to necessarily be vaping ethanol all the time! YMMV, but 10-20% distilled water is a common amount. This all depends on how much flavor you use too, as flavors are generally a mix of flavor compounds, PG and/or alcohol, so if you make a 30% flavor VG juice, you may not need to add anything.

And, yes, just VG and 10% flavor may clog the atty and keep the juice from wicking properly to the bridge. I killed a few attys in the beginning before I started thinning. Clogs will force the atty to run too hot and shorten its life, not to mention sometimes the clogs cannot be cleansed out.

Thanks for the info, I have MS and don't tolerate pg very well, I've been using unflavored nic (pg) pre-made, and then adding my own VG, But I just got some unflavored nic (vg), and added my vg and 20% flavoring as usual, and now my atty's keep quitting.



My hubby just stopped smoking and switched to vaping recently and I need to mix this so he doesn't have these issues tomorrow at work,


I already made 30mL, 20% flavoring, so it's pretty thick, how much water should I add you think?.

 

[Uncle Pennybags]

Make sure it is distilled water. I would say try 10-15 drops and shake it up and see how that is.

 

[MickiO]

Make sure it is distilled water. I would say try 10-15 drops and shake it up and see how that is.

I'll give that a try, "thankyou".

 

[stormy1]

You really need to use syringes to create your mix.
I add .25ml distilled water to 5ml. all vg mix.
So I would recommend 1.5ml for distilled water for 30ml

Works great in both kr808 and 510

 

[Kurt]

Thanks for the info, I have MS and don't tolerate pg very well, I've been using unflavored nic (pg) pre-made, and then adding my own VG, But I just got some unflavored nic (vg), and added my vg and 20% flavoring as usual, and now my atty's keep quitting.



My hubby just stopped smoking and switched to vaping recently and I need to mix this so he doesn't have these issues tomorrow at work,


I already made 30mL, 20% flavoring, so it's pretty thick, how much water should I add you think?.

MickiO, your issues with PG and MS make total sense, since PG metabolyzes into lactic acid in the body, which can cause aches. I wonder if the nic helps you? I had Guillain-Barre syndrome and still have fundamental nerve pain problems, but nic is my drug of choice for nerve pain. Never thought I would ever be able to quit analogs, but my 510 is quite the weapon against the horrible bouts, which I have not had one of since I started vaping!

For a 30 mL juice with 20% flavoring, I am thinking about 30 drops, but work up to it. You eventually can tell if it is thin enough by just looking at how it moves in the bottle, but that takes a while to learn. And yes, it should be distilled water. Actually it technically should be distilled-deionized water, but only us chemists can generally get that...maybe I should start selling it! Distilled is not necessarily free of ions, but it mostly is, and should be fine.

 

[MickiO]

You really need to use syringes to create your mix.
I add .25ml distilled water to 5ml. all vg mix.
So I would recommend 1.5ml for distilled water for 30ml

Works great in both kr808 and 510

thanks stormy1,.

 

[Scubabatdan]

Hi Miko,
As a standard when making a straigh VG mix I always add 20% thinning agent to the total quantity of VG being used. A fast way to check for visosity is to do the drip test. Drip one drop of your VG mix next to one drop of standard store bought PG mix. Then tilt the mirror at a 45 degree angle and see how fast and far the drips run. If they are the same you are good. If the VG drip is slower and shorter add more thinning agent.
The thinning agents can be either distilled water or a high proof vodka. The benifit of the vodka is it adds some to the throat hit. And does not diminish the vapor production as much IMO. But the distilled water works for those that do not want to use alcohol.
Hope this helps
Dan

 

[MickiO]

Thanks Dan, that helps too. Not sure what "wirror" is, do you mean, tilt the eye dropper at 45° ? ?

 

[HippyGirl]

Pretty sure he meant "mirror".

 

[MickiO]

Pretty sure he meant "mirror".

hmmmm......ok I guess that makes sense, lol thanks!

 

[Scubabatdan]

Thanks Dan, that helps too. Not sure what "wirror" is, do you mean, tilt the eye dropper at 45° ? ?

LOL... ummm Yes it was mirror
Dan

Pretty sure he meant "mirror".

Thanks for my pseudo interpreter
Dan

 

[MickiO]

LOL... ummm Yes it was mirror
Dan



Thanks for my pseudo interpreter
Dan

ok, that would make it easier, lol, thankyou Dan..

 

[xxspikexx]

this is actualy something that i was wondering myself. I was went threw alot of my juice and i wanted to stretch it bought some vg and was like this is thick.. distilled water is what i used. good thing i stumbled upon this topic.

 

[MickiO]

this is actualy something that i was wondering myself. I was went threw alot of my juice and i wanted to stretch it bought some vg and was like this is thick.. distilled water is what i used. good thing i stumbled upon this topic.

Just curious, about how much water did you use, ya think? any known issues from using water that you know of?

 

[Scubabatdan]

Just curious, about how much water did you use, ya think? any known issues from using water that you know of?

I typically use 20% of the total VG minus flavorings. So on a straight VG batch with 10% flavoring, I add 9% water.

So roughly
8.2ml VG
.8ml Water or vodka
1ml Flavoring

It all depends on the VG as some are thicker than others. That is where the visosity check comes in.

If it is distilled then there is no problems, I use vodka or PGA as it provides a little better throat hit.
Hope this helps
Dan

 

[mckdragon29464]

Hi Miko,
As a standard when making a straigh VG mix I always add 20% thinning agent to the total quantity of VG being used. A fast way to check for visosity is to do the drip test. Drip one drop of your VG mix next to one drop of standard store bought PG mix. Then tilt the mirror at a 45 degree angle and see how fast and far the drips run. If they are the same you are good. If the VG drip is slower and shorter add more thinning agent.
The thinning agents can be either distilled water or a high proof vodka. The benifit of the vodka is it adds some to the throat hit. And does not diminish the vapor production as much IMO. But the distilled water works for those that do not want to use alcohol.
Hope this helps
Dan

That is a fantastic idea, ill keep that in mind! Thanks