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Help with DIY Mixing

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Shiminifonglay

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Hello everyone, I'm new to DIY and i just wanted to ask how do you guys mix your DIYs?

Do you guys Mix flavorings and PG first then put VG then Nic?

Replies are greatly appreciated! :)
 
Jimi D

Jimi D

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I mix in my PG, VG, nic first. I swirl them together. Once combined. I swirl in the flavorings. No bubbles for me. Yes, I'm nuts. :D
 
Jimi D

Jimi D

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I use Unicorn bottles. I flip them up and down. Takes a few minutes to combine everything. I'm just weird about air bubbles and flavoring molecules.
 
Jimi

Jimi

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Most of the time, if its for my personal use, I make a pre-mix of my base materials (nic Vg & pg ) in a bottle, usually 200 ml total. Then when I want to mix I just put the proper flavoring %'s in a bottle, shake my base mixture and fill it up. Hope this helps you!
 
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Jim_MDP

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Ditto on the pre-mixed base. Usually a few hundred mls of PG/VG/Nic.

As for the final bottle mix... the order doesn't matter, nor air bubbles. LOL you guys.
If I ever get to making larger batches or using much more of complex recipes, I'll use HIC's great suggestion of pre-mixing flavors (keep a note of the final total percentage to use, and you're good to go).

The only thing I wouldn't pre-mix is flavor and nic.
If there's any true aging/chemical reaction... that's when it starts.
 
Markw4mms

Markw4mms

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I mix my PG, nic, and flavors first, shake, then add VG and shake it up really well then.
 
PatheticMr.

PatheticMr.

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Whilst we all have our own rituals - it really doesn't matter. As long as you have everything in there at the right percentage and mix it all together properly there should be no difference. I sometimes use a milk frother to mix everything together - and I think that helps with the steep process somehow. It takes ages for the mix to settle down after that though - it's cloudy as hell for about 6 hours! Usually though, I put everything in in a random order (cause I'm that wild mofo!) and shake the bottle hard for about 2 minutes. I've found no noticeable difference based on what order my Nic/flavouring/pg/VG goes in. :)
 
martnargh

martnargh

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I start with nic, then flavors, then vg and last pg, for no apparent reason thats just how i roll.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
 
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Shiminifonglay

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Wow, thanks guys for sharing! I never thought anybody would reply at this time of the hour :D

I just started making me juices, just wondering if there's a trick to it or everything is of personal preference.

Thanks again everyone! I'll keep in mind on how you guys do your DIYs :)
 
lirruping

lirruping

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Jimi D said:
I mix in my PG, VG, nic first. I swirl them together. Once combined. I swirl in the flavorings. No bubbles for me. Yes, I'm nuts. :D
Click to expand...

Do you have a theory about air bubbles and flavor molecules? Sounds like it might be interesting.
 
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Shiminifonglay

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Great, thanks! Any suggestions to go with Custard? I'm planning on making one and using ultrasonic cleaner to speed up the aging. :D
 
AmandaD

AmandaD

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One of the simplest ways to steep custard is to pop it in a crockpot on low with the lid cracked for about 4 hours. The temp should stay around 150F with the lid just popped open a little (you can test this with a candy thermometer). Use glass bottles with the caps on, and then I generally let the mix rest for about 24 hours after it comes out.
 
Alter

Alter

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I use a magnetic mixer instead of shaking. I add the PG and flavors, let it spin for a couple minutes then add the VG and spin it again for a hour or two as fast as it will spin without throwing the stirbar out of sync. Cover it , let it rest overnight to dissipate all the air bubbles and the next day I add the nic and spin it slowly not to add any unnecessary air.
 
SteveS45

SteveS45

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For my DIY mixes I start with the PG first then add the Nicotine, Flavor and top off the volume with the VG last. Then I use the frothing mixer, pour it into the bottle or bottles and heat to 140 degrees for up to an hour or long enough for it to clear. Vape ready in 3 to 4 hours maximum.

Good Luck in your DIY adventures and hope my procedure is helpful to others. YMMV
 
kwtony

kwtony

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It has to be stirred in counter clockwise direction or else it wont mix right. Clockwise air bubbles are not good for the molecular chemistry of the nicotine and will cause it break down approx 96% faster.
 
PatheticMr.

PatheticMr.

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Shiminifonglay said:
I see, one tip I got is using your washing machine/dryer after shaking? What does it do?
Click to expand...

I would recommend against this. Where did you hear this one?

Someone put up a post in here recently talking about steeping liquid in the dryer - but I'm pretty sure it was a joke!
 
SteveS45

SteveS45

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I believe it was an accident leaving it in the clothing but it apparently went thru the wash and a dry cycle. It was also stated by the poster it is not recommended if my memory serves.
 
PatheticMr.

PatheticMr.

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SteveS45 said:
I believe it was an accident leaving it in the clothing but it apparently went thru the wash and a dry cycle. It was also stated by the poster it is not recommended if my memory serves.
Click to expand...
That's the one
 
SteveS45

SteveS45

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There has been some wacky outlandish devices posted for DIY mixing if you Google it.
 
SteveS45

SteveS45

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And the poster put in a very lengthy disclaimer if someone decides to try using the dryer for aging.
 
RonJS

RonJS

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Shiminifonglay said:
Any suggestions if using a blender would be feasible if making large batches of e-juice?
Click to expand...

A well regarded mixer once said..
"I taste fish slime and copper from oxidized nicotine"

Before recapping, some mixers go as far as spraying their just used bottle of nic. with gases to expel air and retard oxidation. (stuff like Private Preserve Wine Preservation Spray)

Purposely injecting air by whipping your juice in a blender (or frothing it) seems to me as a fine method for accelerating oxidation.

So...I guess it might depend on what kind of juice you are desiring. If you are mixing say a Anchovy Pizza juice, frothing it or whipping it up in a blender seems a good way to highlight it's anchovy attributes.

Ron
---
"Just as no one can be forced into belief, so no one can be forced into unbelief."- Sigmund Freud
 
PatheticMr.

PatheticMr.

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RonJS said:
A well regarded mixer once said..
"I taste fish slime and copper from oxidized nicotine"

Before recapping, some mixers go as far as spraying their just used bottle of nic. with gases to expel air and retard oxidation. (stuff like Private Preserve Wine Preservation Spray)

Purposely injecting air by whipping your juice in a blender (or frothing it) seems to me as a fine method for accelerating oxidation.

So...I guess it might depend on what kind of juice you are desiring. If you are mixing say a Anchovy Pizza juice, frothing it or whipping it up in a blender seems a good way to highlight it's anchovy attributes.

Ron
---
"Just as no one can be forced into belief, so no one can be forced into unbelief."- Sigmund Freud
Click to expand...
Surely this is oxidation at its extreme though?

We all shake like hell, mix with a frother and/or 'air out' with the cap off. I imagine mixing in a blender would have similar effects as the milk frother. I know oxidation is one more variable to consider but I see no reason to believe it will be accelerated to the point of being anywhere near noticeable from a few minutes in a blender. Perhaps a few days in a blender might cause a problem.

There is always the option to add the nicotine after blending flavouring and pg/VG if this is a real concern anyways.
 
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Jim_MDP

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"Shaking"... no matter how vigorous, is not introducing additional oxygen.

Of course... if you turn out an incredibly tasty juice, reducing its' shelf life may not matter.

:p
 
SteveS45

SteveS45

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I use one of these.
Frother.jpg


Here is a site that may be of interest to all.

http://forum.e-liquid-recipes.com/t...ormal-and-accelerated-e-liquid-steeping/21024
 
Last edited:
RonJS

RonJS

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PatheticMr. said:
We all shake like hell, mix with a frother and/or 'air out' with the cap off.
Click to expand...

Use a "frother"? Not me. Not now.. not ever.

I shake and leave the cap on until I either want to vape it or take a test sniff. I don't think I have any alcohol based flavors.

With the constraints of means and motivation I'm just trying to make the best juice I can. That does not include accelerating nic. oxidation on purpose. I can't stop oxidation but do what limited things at my disposal to keep it at bay.

How much nic. oxidation is acceptable is for us each to decide.

Ron
---
“There is nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency something that should not be done at all.”- Peter Drucker
 
PatheticMr.

PatheticMr.

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RonJS said:
Use a "frother"? Not me. Not now.. not ever.

I shake and leave the cap on until I either want to vape it or take a test sniff. I don't think I have any alcohol based flavors.

With the constraints of means and motivation I'm just trying to make the best juice I can. That does not include accelerating nic. oxidation on purpose. I can't stop oxidation but do what limited things at my disposal to keep it at bay.

How much nic. oxidation is acceptable is for us each to decide.

Ron
---
“There is nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency something that should not be done at all.”- Peter Drucker
Click to expand...
I didn't mean everyone uses a frother - was just making the point that we all have different methods of mixing our liquids up and pretty much any method introduces oxygen. Furthermore, methods such as using a frother which tend to bring in more oxygen don't have any extreme consequences (that I'm aware of).
 
lirruping

lirruping

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kwtony said:
It has to be stirred in counter clockwise direction or else it wont mix right. Clockwise air bubbles are not good for the molecular chemistry of the nicotine and will cause it break down approx 96% faster.
Click to expand...
Woah! Could this possibly be true--or are you joking? I'm going to have to look that up. (What I don't know about chemistry could fill ... well, all the books on chemistry.)
 
S

Shiminifonglay

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Thank you everyone for sharing your experience in DIY. I think it was the guy that sold me the raw materials for DIY that told me about the dryer and I read it here also, but that part was an accidental thingy.
 
RonJS

RonJS

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lirruping said:
Ok, phew! (All the rest of you gullibles out there can thank me for being the nimrod who had to ask :))
Click to expand...

Thanks! :thanks:

Reading over this thread I think I've got it now. Or.... mixing your juice in a washing machine is fine as long as it's drum rotates counter clockwise. :headbang:

Ron
---
“You know, most men would get discouraged by now. Fortunately for you, I am not most men!” ― PePe Le Pew, (The Stink of Love: Pepe Le Pew's Guide to L'Amour)
 
SteveS45

SteveS45

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With a crock pot it is very slow heating and in the time it takes to reach 140 degrees my e-Liquids are done being heated. I heat only long enough for them to clear after mixing.
 
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AmandaD

AmandaD

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Shiminifonglay said:
Ok, now I need a crackpot. Any suggestions how long would I need to "steep" my Custard?
Click to expand...
I got a small one for $10. Most common advice 4 hours: lowest temp, lid cracked, check with candy thermometer till it's around 150F. I use hot water to heat it faster! And use glass bottles with the lids on.
 
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