graduated cylinder vs syringe?

CgS_Drone · Dec 28, 2014

We still haven't received our PG/VG yet and when we do start it will be on small bottles so this really wont matter until then.

One thing I was wondering about, we bought a graduated cylinder for when we do start making up larger batches of juice or the base, I'm wondering if I would have been better off getting a 100ml syringe. I know VG is pretty thick and I would imagine that it will stick to the sides of the cylinder and take a while to drain down where the syringe would pretty much clean itself out pretty quick so I'm not sitting there waiting for the walls of the cylinder to drain.

What do you use on the larger scale when DIY, cylinder or syringe?

chickenmonkey · Dec 28, 2014

CgS_Drone said:
We still haven't received our PG/VG yet and when we do start it will be on small bottles so this really wont matter until then.

One thing I was wondering about, we bought a graduated cylinder for when we do start making up larger batches of juice or the base, would I have been better off getting a 100ml syringe? I know VG is pretty thick and I would imagine that it will stick to the sides of the cylinder and take a while to drain down where the syringe would pretty much clean itself out pretty quick so I'm not sitting there waiting for the walls of the cylinder to drain.

What do you use on the larger scale when DIY, cylinder or syringe?

I use both. I use the syringes for flavours and flasks or cylinders when I mix my base or add the base to flavour bottles. I use a 10ml syringe dedicated to the nicotine only. 1ml and 3 ml syringes for flavour. I get them all from amazon. To make 5ml testers I just use drops from flavour bottles. The largest bottles I make are 60 ml glass. I don't do any larger as sometimes the flavor can become muted towards the dregs in a large batch. Hope this helps a bit.

CgS_Drone · Dec 28, 2014

We still have to get some larger syringes and some smaller bottles. We just started getting supplies for this so we still have a LONG way to go.

For something that was suppose to be cheaper than cigs. I haven't seen any savings yet.

AmandaD · Dec 28, 2014

I bought a bunch of 60cc syringes thinking they would be just the ticket - in reality they were a nightmare, and way too big for my hands. I think you'll find graduated cylinders much more practical and easier to use - or you can just do what I used to do and use a little shot glass with measurements on the sides for smaller amounts!

CgS_Drone · Dec 28, 2014

The drain time is one of my biggest concerns with the graduated cylinder, do you find you have to stand there and hold it in order to get it all out? I mean if it was a very thin skin left that is one thing on the VG but if its very thick that could throw the % off. Again be gentle here I haven't even tried this stuff yet.

AmandaD · Dec 28, 2014

CgS_Drone said:
The drain time is one of my biggest concerns with the graduated cylinder, do you find you have to stand there and hold it in order to get it all out? I mean if it was a very thin skin left that is one thing on the VG but if its very thick that could throw the % off. Again be gentle here I haven't even tried this stuff yet.

I know what you're saying, but no - a few seconds is all it takes!

Also, you may find it easier to do what many of us do and that is just to make a big bottle of nic in your usual level plus a bit. For instance, I vape 6mg, and so I make a big bottle of 7mg. My flavoring percentage is usually 6-8%, so this way I'm close enough when I add flavor. I like that I don't have to break out the nic bottle very often, and it's much faster for making test mixes!

Lefty · Dec 28, 2014

I use graduated flasks/beakers for large batches. I pour until the drops slow down then set it down at a little tilt (something under the back edge) and walk away from it for a few. Then do it once or twice more depending on what I think is left and call it good.

CgS_Drone · Dec 28, 2014

AmandaD said:
I know what you're saying, but no - a few seconds is all it takes!

Thanks, that's what I was looking for there. I know this stuff has probably been asked a thousand times and a search on cylinder vs syringe didn't bring anything up so that's why I asked.

CgS_Drone · Dec 28, 2014

Lefty said:
I use graduated flasks/beakers for large batches. I pour until the drops slow down then set it down at a little tilt (something under the back edge) and walk away from it for a few. Then do it once or twice more and call it good.

Thanks. I had considered making a base with a rod coming up and putting a slide clamp on it to hold the cylinder so it would drain without having to stand there and hold it but if it drains fairly quick and leaves minimal amounts in the cylinder then I can just hold it until if finishes or lean it to it's side like you recommended and drain it once more.

Lefty · Dec 28, 2014

Running some hot tap water over the base helps as well.

AmandaD · Dec 28, 2014

CgS_Drone said:
Thanks. I had considered making a base with a rod coming up and putting a slide clamp on it to hold the cylinder so it would drain without having to stand there and hold it but if it drains fairly quick and leaves minimal amounts in the cylinder then I can just hold it until if finishes or lean it to it's side like you recommended and drain it once more.

Unless you're mixing for other people, I think you'll find that absolute precision is less important than you think. Don't get me wrong - I measure my nic in a syringe, and I end up with the total volume I want (I used to use a glass measuring cup - now I use weight), but a few mls off of pg/vg makes no difference in personal mixes. In my opinion, of course!

CgS_Drone · Dec 28, 2014

AmandaD said:
Unless you're mixing for other people, I think you'll find that absolute precision is less important than you think. Don't get me wrong - I measure my nic in a syringe, and I end up with the total volume I want (I used to use a glass measuring cup - now I use weight), but a few mls off of pg/vg makes no difference in personal mixes. In my opinion, of course!

Exactly I was figuring to do the VG/PG with the cylinder and then use syringe to add the Nic in to get my ratio. I'm probably just over thinking this like I usually do on things, but I figure better safe than sorry. If I see what others are doing then I can try to keep from making mistakes that others have in the past while learning the best ways.

Take for instance I was on the fence on ordering the Nic with a PG or a VG base. I read until I thought my eyes would pop out and there never was a true consensus on it so this time around I ended up ordering it with a PG base but where I intend to run to a higher VG base I probably should have gotten it with the VG. Either way I can make it work with my ratio's.

AmandaD · Dec 28, 2014

CgS_Drone said:
Exactly I was figuring to do the VG/PG with the cylinder and then use syringe to add the Nic in to get my ratio. I'm probably just over thinking this like I usually do on things, but I figure better safe than sorry. If I see what others are doing then I can try to keep from making mistakes that others have in the past while learning the best ways.

Take for instance I was on the fence on ordering the Nic with a PG or a VG base. I read until I thought my eyes would pop out and there never was a true consensus on it so this time around I ended up ordering it with a PG base but where I intend to run to a higher VG base I probably should have gotten it with the VG. Either way I can make it work with my ratio's.

We all started somewhere, so don't feel badly for asking! I use a PG base because I vape higher PG than VG. And also because it's slightly easier to work with! I've still made 80% VG mixes using my PG base, so your PG base should be fine to start with.

Time · Dec 28, 2014

If you want a visual, here is a video that shows it. The VG part is at around 11.49.

CgS_Drone · Dec 29, 2014

Time said:
If you want a visual, here is a video that shows it. The VG part is at around 11.49.

That was spot on showing me exactly what I was looking for THANK YOU for the link. Just like everyone explained to me. I want to thank everyone for being so helpful.

FL_David · Dec 29, 2014

For something that was suppose to be cheaper than cigs. I haven't seen any savings yet.

There is always a start up cost for any craft or hobby.
I started DIY'ing about 6 weeks after I started vaping. While researching e-liquids I read in a forum someone claimed making e-liquid for 50 cents a 10ml bottle. I once paid a tad over $10 for a 10ml bottle of e-liquid which also was the last bottle of ready-made e-juice I have bought. It has been almost a year since I bought that Totally Wicked Cherry flavor e-liquid. It was a good cherry flavor, but not worth over $10 to me.

My first bottle of nicotine was VG based because I wanted to vape high VG mixes. Good thing I only bought a 60 ml bottle. That has been the last VG based bottle of nicotine I have bought. Even using a 14 gauge needle it was a tug to get the right level every time. Using a 14 gauge blunt needle with PG based nicotine is a breeze to get the correct level every time and now I only buy 100mg nicotine since it cost less in the long run. Don't forget to wear gloves. If you buy less then 60mg nicotine then you can skip the gloves.

I thought about how cool beakers and cylinders would look, but then I reminded myself of how fumblingly I can be. I use pipettes and count the drops for any flavor under 35 drops, over that I use 3ml syringes with blunt needles. I only have 3 recipes that I use 30ml bottles, so I have a big bag of pipettes that I use one for each flavor during a session of mixing. Then they go into the "dirty bag". Once that bag is full I clean them and use them again.. I have two 10 ml syringes, one each for PG and VG clearly labeled on different colored labels. The nicotine syringe is 5 ml and also labeled.

If you know what flavors you like to vape, then your cost savings will build quickly. If you're like me and other DIY'ers here and want to explore new flavors and recipes then it may seem like you're not saving any money, but you will enter into the magical world of flavor crafting which I feel is worth every penny I spend on trying new flavors.

CgS_Drone · Dec 29, 2014

FL_David said:
There is always a start up cost for any craft or hobby.
I started DIY'ing about 6 weeks after I started vaping. While researching e-liquids I read in a forum someone claimed making e-liquid for 50 cents a 10ml bottle. I once paid a tad over $10 for a 10ml bottle of e-liquid which also was the last bottle of ready-made e-juice I have bought. It has been almost a year since I bought that Totally Wicked Cherry flavor e-liquid. It was a good cherry flavor, but not worth over $10 to me.

My first bottle of nicotine was VG based because I wanted to vape high VG mixes. Good thing I only bought a 60 ml bottle. That has been the last VG based bottle of nicotine I have bought. Even using a 14 gauge needle it was a tug to get the right level every time. Using a 14 gauge blunt needle with PG based nicotine is a breeze to get the correct level every time and now I only buy 100mg nicotine since it cost less in the long run. Don't forget to wear gloves. If you buy less then 60mg nicotine then you can skip the gloves.

I thought about how cool beakers and cylinders would look, but then I reminded myself of how fumblingly I can be. I use pipettes and count the drops for any flavor under 35 drops, over that I use 3ml syringes with blunt needles. I only have 3 recipes that I use 30ml bottles, so I have a big bag of pipettes that I use one for each flavor during a session of mixing. Then they go into the "dirty bag". Once that bag is full I clean them and use them again.. I have two 10 ml syringes, one each for PG and VG clearly labeled on different colored labels. The nicotine syringe is 5 ml and also labeled.

If you know what flavors you like to vape, then your cost savings will build quickly. If you're like me and other DIY'ers here and want to explore new flavors and recipes then it may seem like you're not saving any money, but you will enter into the magical world of flavor crafting which I feel is worth every penny I spend on trying new flavors.

Thanks, I did buy 100mg nic in PG. The reason we ended up going with that is because we had read somewhere that the PG will store longer than VG and we really where not sure how much of it we would be using. Our plan was to use no nic to learn the flavors on BUT try a few recipes already on here with nic in order to find something we like to keep us from having to buy juice until we come up with others we like after being tweaked to our taste.

FL_David · Dec 30, 2014

Looks like a good plan. I am pretty sure you will enjoy making your own e-liquids.

CgS_Drone · Dec 30, 2014

Time said:
If you want a visual, here is a video that shows it. The VG part is at around 11.49.

I watched through this video and then looked at his first video and he starts talking about using glass syringes because some flavors can melt plastic syringes. Are there juices that in the short time they are in the syringe that can affect the plastic syringe? I see him mixing and rinsing them out after he is done measuring with them and that I can understand, I just cant imagine anything affecting the plastic that fast, but I have no idea.

He talks about it starting at 6:25

AmandaD · Dec 30, 2014

I've never had anything affect my syringes. However, there was one flavor (I completely forget what it was - maybe TFA cinnamon red hots?) that I was very careful and very fast working with. It's rarely an issue, and I went through a ton of syringes before switching to weight only. I think there's a TFA banana (that I don't use) that is supposed to do a number on syringes. But it's rare that flavors do this, so I just wouldn't worry at this stage!

InMyImage · Dec 31, 2014

I don't know what kind of cylinder @AmandaD is using that she can get VG out of it in "seconds" but I started out use serioligcal pipettes and after waiting for minutes for the VG to drain, I finally switched to syringes and haven't looked back.

I use TFA cinnammon red hots for my all day vape and it would soften the plastic of the pipettes really quickly, so I was careful to find syringes that were designed for highly corrosive liquids like gasoline and other automotive products.

I found that 15 guage needles were too small for VG so I got some 12 guage needles (note that these shipped from China and took about 30 days from when I ordered them) Blunt dispensing needles are great because they are not sharp

I use 1ml, 3ml, 5ml, and 10ml syringes and have recently stopped using the flasks that I bought and simply inject the ingredients into a 30ml glass dropper bottle. Makes it really easy to mix by shaking, and when I'm done, I don't have to transfer the liquid to anything, but I also use a syringe for filling my RBA's.

Oh, you QUICKLY recover the money from investing in your DIY supplies once you find a good ADV mix. I chain vape all day so my results probably are not typical, but I recovered my investment in less than 2 months.

Time · Dec 31, 2014

CgS_Drone said:
I watched through this video and then looked at his first video and he starts talking about using glass syringes because some flavors can melt plastic syringes. Are there juices that in the short time they are in the syringe that can affect the plastic syringe? I see him mixing and rinsing them out after he is done measuring with them and that I can understand, I just cant imagine anything affecting the plastic that fast, but I have no idea.

He talks about it starting at 6:25

I personally have not had a problem but I haven't done much with known tank cracking flavors like cinnamons. I have read a bit about it. I also have allot of experience with syringes. I've melted a bunch of syringes. It's usually the black plunger that melts with some chemicals and this is what people describe when a flavor melts their syringes. What I have found with syringes is that the plunger will get hard to push(it will swell inside the chamber) if a chemical is effecting them. I have had chemicals melt them immediately.

I guess the best answer from me is that yes, they can melt quite fast but I don't have personal experience with flavors doing it. I only use regular plastic syringes so far. For everything.

Time · Dec 31, 2014

InMyImage said:
I don't know what kind of cylinder @AmandaD is using that she can get VG out of it in "seconds" but I started out use serioligcal pipettes and after waiting for minutes for the VG to drain, I finally switched to syringes and haven't looked back.

I use TFA cinnammon red hots for my all day vape and it would soften the plastic of the pipettes really quickly, so I was careful to find syringes that were designed for highly corrosive liquids like gasoline and other automotive products.

I found that 15 guage needles were too small for VG so I got some 12 guage needles (note that these shipped from China and took about 30 days from when I ordered them) Blunt dispensing needles are great because they are not sharp

I use 1ml, 3ml, 5ml, and 10ml syringes and have recently stopped using the flasks that I bought and simply inject the ingredients into a 30ml glass dropper bottle. Makes it really easy to mix by shaking, and when I'm done, I don't have to transfer the liquid to anything, but I also use a syringe for filling my RBA's.

Oh, you QUICKLY recover the money from investing in your DIY supplies once you find a good ADV mix. I chain vape all day so my results probably are not typical, but I recovered my investment in less than 2 months.

I use syringes for VG too but I don't use a needle.

CgS_Drone · Dec 31, 2014

Thanks all, I will just have to keep an eye on the plungers then.

On a side not though, I GOT MY PG and VG in the mail today. Now we can start playing.

Time · Dec 31, 2014

Cool. Have fun and don't take it too seriously. I'm still having a blast mixing and trying new flavors and recipes. Still doing TFA's and today's 'new to me' mix going into my tank is a Time Bomb clone I mixed a couple weeks ago.

graduated cylinder vs syringe?

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