Why Get Less Than 100mg

[Scott_Simpson]

I was wondering about this myself. I bought some 60mg over the weekend. So it won't hurt anything if I go ahead and cut it down to my 18mg, and store it that way? Thought it would be easier and safer. Also, why the freezer? Does that help keep it from deteriorating?

Freezing is recommended for long-term storage (months to years); nicotine will slowly deteriorate over time if kept at room temperature (the evidence will be darkening or coloration of the nic solution), but freezing keeps nic stable for long periods. A conservative estimate would be at least two years. It also helps that it's dark in the freezer; light, especially sunlight, will accelerate nic breakdown, which is one reason to choose dark amber or blue glass bottles for nic storage.

 

[WillyZee]

my first nic base was 48mg because that was most readily available ... I was fine with that as I wanted to err on the side of caution.

I bought some 100mg on Black Friday from myfreedomsmokes... I now know what I am dealing with and just work slowly as I had never used a syringe before.

48mg was my learning curve

 

[dedi]

Personally, I vape 36 mg, so I just order 36 mg. Then add a few drops of flavor which might knock it down to 32 mg. I can't tell the difference.

No mess, no measuring. Very simple.

Yes, you can save some money ordering 100 mg, but it's not much, and not worth my time or worrying about handling it.

DYI is incredibly cheaper than buying pre-mixed juices either way.

Do you order this from WL? What PG/VG ratio or does that apply? Do you ever vape it straight?
Thx

 

[SoUnique]

I go 60 because I feel more comfortable using that. I don't mind spending the extra couple bucks to feel safe. I also have 3 small dogs, there's always the "what if" going on in my head. LOL

 

[Renolizzie]

I like 60mg. Just seems safer to handle although I still wear gloves and have my work space carefully set up. I have two dogs and a non-smoking husband and I wouldn't want either of them to get hurt by accident. I am just more comfortable using the 60mg.

I like having 24mg, 18mg and 12mg available. 60mg lets me do that and it is pretty easy to figure out. I use the ejuice me up calculator to figure out my recipe. That way I am sure to get the right amount of nic/pg/vg on my batch.


I freeze my extra nic in blue glass bottles. That I label carefully and wrap in cushy plastic and put in a cardboard box. I put it in the big freezer. Should last for years that way.

 

[Kurt]

If you have not done DIY yet, even if you are used to working with chemicals, it can be very messy the first several times. It is generally recommended to use 48 mg or less while you are learning the ropes and getting your work habits together. Rubber gloves are a good thing, but not if they are so thick that they make you clumsy. Better for me is latex or nitrile medical exam gloves.

I am very experienced with chemicals, but I do not like to have an open bottle of 100 mg...knock it over and you have a real toxic mess on your hands...and carpet and maybe legs. I use amber glass bottles with eurodropper inserts from SpecialtyBottle.com:

Specialty Bottle - Amber European Dropper Bottles

Mine are 30-50 mL. The insert acts like a septum (the pierceable cap MFS has on their bottles) so the nic can be syringe-dispensed without any fear of spilling, and it does a good job of keeping air away from the liquid. No problem if I accidently knock the bottle over while the cap is off...something I have done more than once, and would have been a disaster without the insert. I use these for most of my DIY liquids, since for me syringes are the way to go for everything. I equally do not wish to knock over an open flavor bottle!

For long term storage, freezer is best. I prefer not to dilute mine down before freezing, since that will introduce a lot of O2, which is fairly soluble in water naturally). Better if the diluent is just VG or PG, but I only make VG juices. I prefer to make enough for a few weeks fresh, vape it up, and then make more. Keeps everything fresher, and I don't vape just one concentration. I make what I want when I want it, and my tastes vary over time. But making a bunch at a nic level close to what you vape is not a bad idea at all, and for a new DIYer, a more once-and-done approach might be a better way to go.

Be careful, be calm and focused, ask lots of questions, and have fun making your own juices!

 

[Wow1420]

I've been getting 48mg all along. I'm less paranoid about handling 48 than anything higher. And it doesn't really cost more once you consider the extra PG (or VG) you're getting.

Using WL prices, 250 ml of 100mg is 29.99, add $5.49 for 250ml of their PG, it works out just about the same as 500ml of 48mg, which they sell for 34.29. Either way, you right around $35 for 500ml.

Yes, I know you can get PG cheaper in bulk, but not enough cheaper to make me change my thinking on this. And yes, I'm being sloppy with comparing 48mg to 50mg (cut 100mg), but I don't want to drag out the calculator to get this worked out down to the penny.

Besides, at some other vendors, the end cost per ml shifts even further to 48mg vs. 100mg. At RTS, 500ml of 100mg is $80 and 1000ml of 48mg is only$69. The cost savings of 100mg looks even more like a myth at RTS.

 

[CommaHolly]

mostly safety reasons,,,,,,,,,

 

[LoveVanilla]

Not meaning to be reactionary, but I would truly and strongly discourage DIY'ers from anything over 50mg/ml. And, if already purchased, encourage all stock be diluted (carefully following all precautions, including ventilation).

DIY is great! But there's little reason to purchase above 48mg/ml (and many reasons not).

 

[bcollier9253]

I am new to DIY myself. I was going to go the 48 mg route in the planning stages for fear of the higher mg nic but since I vape 18 mg and the wife at 24 I decided to go the 250ml-100 mg/100%PG route. I figured I could cut with 250ml of VG and have 500 ml of 50mg/50/50, that way I could mix her mix, my mix and most any pg/vg ratio with EjuiceMeUp calculator. Please correct me if I am wrong. I have all the safety precautions in place and there is no kids or animals running around.

 

[Shilo]

I have used 100 mg from the very first mixing two years ago. It was the most economical at the time. I do believe most people start out lower and thats fine but for me using gloves and following precautions was all that was needed. Everyone has to work within their own comfort zone and use common sense and read up before mixing.

 

[mantiz]

When I am close to running out of base I buy two 250 ml PG bottles of 100mg strength. One I dilute down to 2 bottles of 250ml PG at 50mg strength(makes it pretty easy for mixing and much safer to handle), then I freeze the other 100mg bottle of 100mg and one of the 50mg bottles I diluted.
I would only use the straight 100mg for mixing if I wanted to make a very high % VG mix.
I always clearly mark my bottles with mg strength and "POISON" in big letters. I have a small lock box that I keep in my chest freezer for this.

 

[MissAmerican]

I have 2 small kids and 3 dogs running around the house so while I'm dealing with them and I'm mixing I can sometimes lose count of things since I mix using drops. I like to use lower nic just incase I lose track in the middle of mixing and can then add an extra drop or two of nic without having to worry that the nic level is too high. When I'm mixing for other people I lock myself in a room and let my guy keep an eye on our kids just to be extra safe that I'm making their desired amount.

 

[Moodyfisherman]

I like to buy 60mg nic liquid, makes it very simple to mix 1 part nic with 2 parts VG/PG to get 20mg to vape. I just buy 250 mL bottles of each, nic and PG and mix it up in an used glass 750 mL bottle I seem to have around a lot...(Makers Mark..)

Can someone clarify what Stosh is saying please....I don't see where he says if what the base of the 60mg he is using (vg/pg) to get to this 20mg

 

[dannyv45]

not knowing what vg/pg ratio is being vaped you can not figure out his example.

If his example is to get a 20mg PG nic base then mixing 1 part 60mg PG nic liquid with 2 parts plain PG will give you 20mg PG Nic Liquid.

So to get a 30ml bottle of 20mg PG Nic liquid

mix

10ml 60mg PG nic liquid
20ml plain PG

To get a 30ml bottle of 20mg 50PG/50VG nic liquid

Mix

10ml 60mg nic liquid
5ml plain PG
15ml plain VG

 

[Stosh]

Can someone clarify what Stosh is saying please....I don't see where he says if what the base of the 60mg he is using (vg/pg) to get to this 20mg

The base can be 100% VG or 100% PG your choice, and then add PG or VG to get whatever ratio you prefer. I was more pointing out that if you start with a 60mg concentrate and add two parts PG/VG to 1 part nic concentrate you get a easy 20 mg.

What I do is use a 250 mL 60mg 100% PG, added into a 750 mL glass bottle, add enough pure PG to fill the bottle 1/2 way, and add pure VG for the other half. for a perfect 50/50 20mg base mix. Then it just a matter of dispensing into smaller bottles and adding flavor....

 

[Fizzpop]

I use 36mg nicotine base, which is the highest concentration considered "safe to handle." As others have said, I do this mainly for safety reasons. The extra bulk isn't a problem for me - I have enough to last over a year and it is only taking up a small corner of the freezer. I still take all the appropriate safety precautions - gloves and eye protection. That being said, I know that if I have a spill I don't need to call in a hazmat team or if I get a stray drop on me, I'm not putting myself in serious danger.

My wife actually has a great deal of experience working with all sorts of nasty chemicals. She has worked in clean rooms making prototype silicon wafers which involves some truly frightening chemicals. If I had a full-on lab with vent hoods, I'd cut her loose. Given I am mixing at the kitchen table, I'll err on the side of safety.

As an added bonus, cutting the 36mg in half gets me 18mg which is my preferred vape.

 

[mantiz]

I have a question and I'm not trying to downplay the safety aspect of handling nicotine in higher strengths (ALWAYS TREAT IT LIKE IT WILL KILL YOU).
Has anyone had a reaction from spilling some on themselves? I got some 50mg on the back of my wrist "once" by stupidly turning my chair and bumping the table, knocking over my mixing cylinder). I washed it off pretty quickly and had no issues... No headache, no dizziness, no upset stomach. What gives? Was I lucky or something? It did scare me though.

WARNING: I am not responsible if you mishandle your nicotine! Always use proper safety equipment, attire and handling procedures... Gloves, apron, face mask and/or goggles... Wear a hazmat suite if you have one.

 

[vaperature]

I have a question and I'm not trying to downplay the safety aspect of handling nicotine in higher strengths (ALWAYS TREAT IT LIKE IT WILL KILL YOU).
Has anyone had a reaction from spilling some on themselves? I got some 50mg on the back of my wrist "once" by stupidly turning my chair and bumping the table, knocking over my mixing cylinder). I washed it off pretty quickly and had no issues... No headache, no dizziness, no upset stomach. What gives? Was I lucky or something? It did scare me though.

WARNING: I am not responsible if you mishandle your nicotine! Always use proper safety equipment, attire and handling procedures... Gloves, apron, face mask and/or goggles... Wear a hazmat suite if you have one.

If someone is going to be really careless about it and spill it all over themselves and not wash promptly I'd say yes, they are going to get sick. When I first started I got some juice (can't remember what mg it was, somewhere between 24 and 36) on my fingers while fiddling with this and that and yes, I ended up sort of losing some equilibrium and feeling nauseous. I do DIY right next to my kitchen sink using a protective covering for the surface. I admit I'm lazy. At first I planned to use protective eyewear and rubber gloves and all of that but soon found my hands are a lot steadier than I thought they were, especially now since I stopped drinking (lol), but I make sure I'm right there at the kitchen sink. Something spills I wash immediately. Especially since I'm using 100mg base. (Not encouraging others to do what I do; I'm taking risks and really I should be using more protection.)

 

[mantiz]

Agreed, Caution and care should always be taken and you should have plans ahead of time in case there is a spill. No matter how careful you are, mistakes can and do happen. I am quite close to my sink also and another 2 steps to the full shower. I also use a spill tray (cookie sheet) that I do all my mixing on. I also wear tight latex gloves and glasses. I NEVER want to get any in my eye... That reminds me. I need an eye wash thingamabob. I will get one asap. Doesn't hurt to have one.