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decssiz

decssiz

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Howdy folks. I will be making my first attempts at DIY this weekend. I figured I should introduce myself as I plan on using this section of VU for help with this. I just received my first order of DIY supplies from ecigexpress.com. The order took almost 2 weeks to get to me. I might have to try a different supplier next time. 2 weeks seems a bit long. But its all showed up in good condition.

20170216_183604_1487288188762_zpswi9caur1.jpeg


I am also waiting on an order of nicotine from www.CarolinaXtract.com .

So here are the Flavors I picked up.
1. Black Pepper by FA
2. Italian Relax by FA
3. Caramel by FA
4. Catalan Cream by FA
5. Cinnamon Ceylon by FA
6. Dark Bean by FA
7. Custard by FA
8. Forest Mix by FA
9. Fresh Cream by FA
10. Artic Winter by FA
11. Meringue by FA
12. Mild Winter by FA
13. Bourbon (Vanilla) by FA
14. Madagascar by FA
15. Vienna Cream by FA
16. Red Summer by FA
17. Whipped Cream by FA
18. UP by FA
19. MTS Vape Wizard by FA
20. Honeydew Melon by Jungle Flavors
21. Watermelon by TFA
22. Acetyl Pyrazine by TFA
23. Koolada
24. Ethyl Maltol
25. Erythritol
26. Sweetener (sucralose)

Hmm don't remember ordering so much. When something is worth doing it is worth doing right! I also have various syringes for measuring. 100 5 ml bottles to makes test samples of each flavor with. A bunch of 60 ml bottles to make final recipes in. VG and PG. I will most likely be making everything at 70% vg 30% pg. So I have a few questions.
1. When I makes the test samples of each flavor what % of flavor should I make them at?
2. At what time intervals should I try the test samples?
3. Should I put nicotine in the samples so they will taste more along the lines of how I will be mixing them?

I am sure to have more questions and will ask as they come up. Any advice or recommendations appreciated. There are a couple juices I will be wanting to try cloning. So I will have to make another flavor order. 1. is Peaches and cream by the pound and 2. Cool Melon by Chill. Hands down my 2 favorite. I also like custards and coffee vapes. Thanks in advance :)
 
Huckleberried

Huckleberried

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decssiz said:
1. When I makes the test samples of each flavor what % of flavor should I make them at?
2. At what time intervals should I try the test samples?
3. Should I put nicotine in the samples so they will taste more along the lines of how I will be mixing them?
Click to expand...
1. I generally mix FA samples at 2%, BUT... not that black pepper, you don't lol. Seriously DEAD ON flavor. Either trust me on that, or mix up a sample of it at 0.5%. ZERO POINT FIVE, yep. If using it to add to a fun dessert, or a tobacco, you can even dip a toothpick in the bottle of flavoring, then swirl it around in your finished mix, then shake up. It definitely adds an interesting flavor to mixes. It's that strong, but it's good.

With TFA flavors, I typically start at 5%, unless I've heard otherwise, but NOT with that Acetyl Pyrazine. That one at 4% is exaclty Fritos Corn Chips. Not kidding. For me, that flavoring is the devil, for others, it's an angel in disguise of a corn chip. You don't really wanna sample that one by itself, IMO, BUT others love it. It's typically used at 0.5% to 1% as an "additive", so to speak. It can give a nutty, bready note, then it was discovered by our own HeadInClouds, to sweeten chocolate mixes. For many, that broke barriers, but for me, that gave me chocolate corn chips, light on the chocolate.

2. Intervals. Fruits are good, typically right away :)
The best way to know is to try it now, save some to try later. Single mixes don't typically take much time. Mix, shake, vape. Let it rest overnight, if you like, try it again. MIXES, you can mix a 5ml now, mix another to save. Your taste buds will tell you when it's ready. You can try the fancy dancy mix methods and aging methods, if you choose, but I personally find them to be overkill. Someone literally frothed the flavor out of his mix. My personal fave for mixes that taste best, after the fact, is just forget the bottle for a little bit. Time, just give it time.

3. I do prefer to mix samples with nic, just as I'd vape them. Nic has come a long way, from the harsh, bitter stuff from a few years ago. Lately, nic is clear, clean, not harsh, not bitter. Pretty shocking, and a welcome change for many. I do like throat hit, so I never complain when I get nic that has it.

Your most important lesson: SHAKE YOUR NIC WELL, SHAKE YOUR FLAVORINGS WELL!! prior to mixing.
Next most important lesson: Have some fun. :)


Additional notes on some of the items in your order.

1. Black Pepper by FA (covered)
5. Cinnamon Ceylon by FA (up to 2% for a sample)
6. Dark Bean by FA (up to 2% for a sample, but lower is usually very good)
7. Custard by FA (not your typical custard, this is lightly citrusy)
9. Fresh Cream by FA (not much flavor on it's own, but is WONDERFUL in mixes up to 1%)
14. Madagascar by FA (my fave vanilla!)
17. Whipped Cream by FA (if not the re-formulated, it's strong, 1% sampler, or 0.25% to 0.5% in a mix)
19. MTS Vape Wizard by FA (if you figure it out, let us know)
20. Honeydew Melon by Jungle Flavors (no idea, never tried this, let us know)
23. Koolada (all it adds is COOL, no flavor, fades kinda fast - no sample required - up to 1% in mixes)
24. Ethyl Maltol - (cotton candy, doubles as a sweetener, typically used up to1% as a sweetener)
25. Erythritol (a sweetener)
26. Sweetener (sucralose)

If you're looking for a different vendor, I do like ECX, but I like Bull City Flavors for my preferred vendor. Super reliable, I typically get orders in a couple days, from shipping, and their customer service is TOP NOTCH. I can't recall ever having anything missing, or leaking. I've contacted them AFTER hours, after my order was placed, and received everything in one package. Rarely have I seen someone post an issue, then turn right back around, happier with the final result. They do good, lol.

Other vendors... RTS Vapes, Nicotine River, Vaperstek, Gremlin, DIY Vapor Supply, One Stop DIY Shop, One on One, DIY Flavor Shack, Wizard Labs, Eliquid Mart. DIY vendors have exploded since I started mixing. I used to list maybe 3, I'm sure I've still missed some.

Rule #3, and we'll call it good.... any and all recipes you mix, that you like, you simply must share with us :D
 
Rickajho

Rickajho

Gold Contributor
Member For 3 Years
ECF Refugee
Wow - all that what HB said and:

Keep it simple when you start. As you can see there is no hard and fast rule which says all "x flavors" will be mixed at the same percentage. Start with single flavors, both to figure out what percentage of any given flavor works best for you and to figure out how those individual flavors taste before combining things. It can be extremely frustrating - and wasteful - for a beginner to jump right on complicated multi-flavor mixes and end up with only a mess of yuck.

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING YOU DO! Nothing worse than hitting the perfect recipe - and then not being able to duplicate it. Memory is a fickle thing when it comes to mixing.
 
decssiz

decssiz

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
So looks like I will be getting a scale. The syringes are to much of a PITA for me. Can someone recommend a good scale for this?

Huckleberried said:
I generally mix FA samples at 2%, BUT... not that black pepper, you don't lol.
Click to expand...
I have not mixed this one yet. I will try at .5 to test. I really got it because I seen a recipe I want to try HIC's BLACK PEPPER ICE CREAM Maybe I will find some other uses for it too.

Huckleberried said:
Acetyl Pyrazine. That one at 4% is exaclty Fritos Corn Chips.
Click to expand...
I made HIC's DOUBLE CARAMEL CAPPUCCINO last night. I have not tried vaping it yet. Does not smell ready. I can definitively smell the "Corn Chips" in the mix. I hope that settles down.


Huckleberried said:
I do prefer to mix samples with nic, just as I'd vape them. Nic has come a long way, from the harsh, bitter stuff from a few years ago.
Click to expand...
I made all the samples at 2mg/ml nic just how I plan on making my juice.

Huckleberried said:
Koolada
Click to expand...
Huckleberried said:
(all it adds is COOL, no flavor, fades kinda fast - no sample required - up to 1% in mixes)
Click to expand...
When you say fades fast what do you mean? After it is mixed it does not last long? or something else?


Rickajho said:
Wow - all that what HB said and:

Keep it simple when you start. As you can see there is no hard and fast rule which says all "x flavors" will be mixed at the same percentage. Start with single flavors, both to figure out what percentage of any given flavor works best for you and to figure out how those individual flavors taste before combining things. It can be extremely frustrating - and wasteful - for a beginner to jump right on complicated multi-flavor mixes and end up with only a mess of yuck.

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING YOU DO! Nothing worse than hitting the perfect recipe - and then not being able to duplicate it. Memory is a fickle thing when it comes to mixing.
Click to expand...
Great advice. I picked up a notebook to keep track of everything. Also in the pic you can see the label maker I used to label the bottles.

The Vape Crusader said:
What's that website you're going to? :p
Click to expand...
As long as it's not the website that was showing in the first pic I almost posted. Whew. Ha JK

Huckleberried said:
Woot!! You're in for some fun, there. You're gonna need a bigger desk, in the next couple months ;)
Click to expand...
We're going to need a bigger boat.
 
Huckleberried

Huckleberried

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decssiz said:
I really got it because I seen a recipe I want to try HIC's BLACK PEPPER ICE CREAM Maybe I will find some other uses for it too.
Click to expand...
Here's another that HIC posted. http://vapingunderground.com/threads/hics-german-christmas-cookies-braune-pfeffernüsse.37358/
decssiz said:
Can someone recommend a good scale for this?
Click to expand...
I use this one, but there are others that members like, as well. Mine does have auto shut off, but it's never been an issue. Plus, it's small.
Horizon Ds-19 Digital Pocket Scale, Precision Jewelry Scale, 500g By 0.01g
You do want one that measures to .01, no matter which you choose.
decssiz said:
When you say fades fast what do you mean? After it is mixed it does not last long? or something else?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't, necessarily go mixing something that would be around for a month, or more. Maybe something you'd vape in a week, or two. The cool effect seems to fade out. I personally don't use it much, at all. It makes me cough, severely. Didn't start out that way, though.
decssiz said:
We're going to need a bigger boat.
Click to expand...
LOL, we all go through that. I used to keep my flavorings in a really small craft box. Looks like a miniature tool box. I now have stackable boxes that lock together, more than 200 flavorings and can't fit them all in those anymore. Trust me, my flavorings are small in comparison to a few others, here.
 
decssiz

decssiz

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Scale, some large dropper bottles for VG/PG, and pipettes should be here in a couple of days.

Where is a good place to get 30, 60, and 120 ML unicorn bottles at a good price? Also I ordered 4oz dropper bottles but would like to get 8oz ones for the PG/VG. Where can I find these?

gopher_byrd said:
Everything you need to know about mixing by weight! http://vapingunderground.com/threads/guide-to-mixing-by-weight.22891/
I use the scale listed there, but so long as it can measure 0.01 grams you are good.

Nice setup you got there, that cabinet and desk will fill up quickly the further you go down the rabbit hole! :giggle:
Click to expand...
Thanks you for the link. This is some good info. I will be going back to it after my scale arrives.

Huckleberried said:
LOL, we all go through that. I used to keep my flavorings in a really small craft box. Looks like a miniature tool box. I now have stackable boxes that lock together, more than 200 flavorings and can't fit them all in those anymore. Trust me, my flavorings are small in comparison to a few others, here.
Click to expand...

I am still working out how I want to store them. I have some cheap plastic tubs for them now that I got at HomeDepot. Will need to work out something to keep more organized.

Thank you everyone for your help so far it is very appreciated!
 
Huckleberried

Huckleberried

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decssiz said:
Where is a good place to get 30, 60, and 120 ML unicorn bottles at a good price? Also I ordered 4oz dropper bottles but would like to get 8oz ones for the PG/VG. Where can I find these?
Click to expand...
I picked up some 8oz twist top bottles from One Stop DIY shop. http://www.onestopdiyshop.com/product-p/bts-twists.htm They also have unicorn bottles, but only in the 15ml and 30ml sizes. I've never used them, so I really don't know where to send you for those. You can also find 8 oz at hobby shops, in the cake baking/candy making section, sometimes in the wedding cake section, too.
 
gopher_byrd

gopher_byrd

Cranky Old Fart
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decssiz

decssiz

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Thanks Heartland has the 30 ml bottles I was looking for. Now If I can find the spout tops that will fit right on the VG and PG bottles.
 
decssiz

decssiz

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Carmmond said:
Nicotine River has a better price on the chubby gorilla bottles.... best price I could find.
https://www.nicotineriver.com/colle...ts/chubby-gorilla-unicorn?variant=27525039491

I put small amounts (16oz) of VG and PG in containers like these for mixing.
https://www.nicotineriver.com/collections/diy-tools/products/cylinder-bottles?variant=20179225283

Works great for me and only have to fill the VG every month or so.
Click to expand...
These are perfect. Just what I was looking for. Thank you Carmmond!
 
decssiz

decssiz

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Huckleberried said:
Oh that's a good price for those. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...
Yes good price and since I am ordering from them I guess I will add a few new flavors too. You know since I am paying for the shipping anyway. I want to try and make Peaches and Cream by The Pound. It is hands down my favorite premium e juice. Flavorah is the only one I see there that has a pound cake flavor. So I am getting that, their peach and the 3 creams they have. Seems as good a way as any to start a clone.
 
V

Vapin-Dave

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Member For 4 Years
Hey there ... I just jumped on the DIY waggon myself. I have a couple mixtures that seem to be working out for me but others not so much ... yet. LOL Definitely get the scale. I picked up the AWS LB-501. Great little scale with batteries and power cord. Also the bowl that comes with it has a little lip around the bottom so it won't easily slide off the scale. Using the bowl will help protect the scale from any spills.

I did exactly one mixture with the syringes and then my scale arrived. Using the scale is by far the easier way to mix with less cleanup IMO. And I've still got the syringes for emergency situations. ;)

Good luck with your mixing and I look forward to seeing any cool recipes that work out for you! :D
 
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