newbie! what am i doing wrong???

[paul1978]

Hi guys,

Been diy'ing for a couple of batches now with capellas and dont seem to be getting a full flavour!
not like the ones i buy anyways, i realy like buddah vapes ( im british ) blackcurrant menthol to the point of craving it when i run out.

Tried a couple of batches with capellas using blackberry and a strawberry but the flavour seems muted somehow its just not as intense as i want, the menthol(capella) isnt strong enough. I've tried using 5% 7%
9% nd 12% menthol and its not strong enough.

I find this with other mixes too, i did try 20% flavour on my first batch which turned out no good(except creamy vanilla almond) then 15% on my second batch which was better.

Have ordered some flavour art concentrates, fruity ones as i heard that capella are best at custard n creams
but not so at fruity?

Started using some EM at1% aswell as ive read some recipies with it in, not sure if thats muting things?

Im mixing 70/30 at 2% nicotine.

Can anyone give some advice with my mixing? I want full flavours and a strong menthol hit.
My wife would also like a nice strawberry milikshake.

Many thanks.

Paul.

 

[Heabob]

Hi guys,

Been diy'ing for a couple of batches now with capellas and dont seem to be getting a full flavour!
not like the ones i buy anyways, i realy like buddah vapes ( im british ) blackcurrant menthol to the point of craving it when i run out.

Tried a couple of batches with capellas using blackberry and a strawberry but the flavour seems muted somehow its just not as intense as i want, the menthol(capella) isnt strong enough. I've tried using 5% 7%
9% nd 12% menthol and its not strong enough.

I find this with other mixes too, i did try 20% flavour on my first batch which turned out no good(except creamy vanilla almond) then 15% on my second batch which was better.

Have ordered some flavour art concentrates, fruity ones as i heard that capella are best at custard n creams
but not so at fruity?

Started using some EM at1% aswell as ive read some recipies with it in, not sure if thats muting things?

Im mixing 70/30 at 2% nicotine.

Can anyone give some advice with my mixing? I want full flavours and a strong menthol hit.
My wife would also like a nice strawberry milikshake.

Many thanks.

Paul.

CAP does have a few fruits that are slightly stronger like Sweet Tangerine & Juicy Peach.
But INW seems to have strongest ones like Peach, Mango, Cherimoya, Pinacolada, Shisha Strawberry, & Coconut Cookies.
I've heard the Pineapple is good also.

CAP Blackberry is kinda strong even at 4% IMO.
But FE Blackberry(from ECX only), & VZ-SC Blackberry are even stronger, like 1.5-2% max.
CAP Strawberry is kinda weak compared to INW Shisha Strawberry at 2% which is also stronger/better than FA Strawberry..
CAP Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Vanilla Custard V1 are both quite good.
INW Shisha Vanilla is another great Vanilla.
TFA Dairy Milk, TFA DX Bavarian Cream, Hangsen Cream, & CAP Sweet Cream are all great creams to have.
(The Creams & Vanillas are the best for Ice Cream types and other mixes)

You might be better off using CAP Super Sweet or TFA Sweetener rather than EM for less muting issues.
(Start with 1-3 drops and give it some steep time as they tend to get sweeter after a few days IMO).

Don't have any idea about Menthol but you should mix that one up stand alone to get the amount nailed down first.
You may need to try another brand or mix your own by using the crystals.

 

[Heabob]

It's best to try single flavor mixes at first until you find your desired flavor amount.
Each brand will vary in amounts needed, and even equipment, wattage, etc. have some effect.

Recently quitting smoking will impact your taste buds and it takes some time to recover.
Many here have been vaping/mixing for some time now and have lowered the amounts used compared to when we started.
Although a few still have trouble tasting things, but sometimes it's just certain flavors and others are fine.

Most vendor juices will have higher amounts of flavoring, sweetener, and/or other additives used.
Sweeteners sometimes help some with tasting flavors but also varies by individual.

 

[Foggz]

FlavourArt's Black Currant is very good and fairly strong .. could be a good one to try.

I'd check out some recipes here to see approximate percentages per brand of flavoring as well. While CAP and TFA generally work well with high percentages of flavor .. adding MORE flavor doesn't always = more flavor .. The ratio's can be key to getting the flavor right..

 

[paul1978]

Thanks guys,

I quit smoking jan 2015 only used tabacco to make joints! the good old days.......
vaping my only sin now. So taste buds shoukd be fine now, its my lack of mixing experience
thats giving me flavourless vape's.

I have recieved my fa concetrates today, will check percentages for these and do some test batches
in probably 5/10ml.

Do you think i should use my digi scales for small batches, been using per ml methid so far.

Many thanks

 

[AndriaD]

It's best to try single flavor mixes at first until you find your desired flavor amount.
Each brand will vary in amounts needed, and even equipment, wattage, etc. have some effect.

Recently quitting smoking will impact your taste buds and it takes some time to recover.
Many here have been vaping/mixing for some time now and have lowered the amounts used compared to when we started.
Although a few still have trouble tasting things, but sometimes it's just certain flavors and others are fine.

Most vendor juices will have higher amounts of flavoring, sweetener, and/or other additives used.
Sweeteners sometimes help some with tasting flavors but also varies by individual.

This exactly. It's taken me 2 yrs to even start lowering the amount of flavoring and sweetener that I use, and i still use more than most DIYers -- the Inawera Shisha strawberry is strong and sweet, best true fruit flavor I've ever tasted, and I still use more than 14% just of that, with over 10% more of creams, vanilla, and still a little sweetener, though a LOT less than I used to use.

If you can't really taste anything in your mixes, 1) use more flavor, compound flavors by using a couple or three versions of a flavor you want to be strong, 2) try increasing the sweetener; that was what first did the trick for me when I first started, to be able to taste flavors at all; 3) increase the amount of PG -- the more VG you use, the harder it is to get it fully mixed, and it needs more steeping time. I would also suggest an atty with a tighter draw, to concentrate the flavor better.



Andria

 

[Heabob]

Do you think i should use my digi scales for small batches, been using per ml methid so far.

Measuring by weight is even more important when making smaller batches.
Drops can be quite different in size between brands, flavors, and bottles.

 

[dmagicp]

Hey Paul. I have found that using a scale is the best method for me. It's clean, accurate and fast. I started out on a scale and I could never see myself using syringes at this point. Grab yourself one of these from Amazon and I think you will find it a joy to use.

amazon.com/American-Weigh-Scales-LB-501-Digital/dp/B005UGBG20

Make sure you get the 500 Gram one. It measures down to .00 grams for better accuracy. It features a power cord so that it won't shut off while you are using it. This came in really handy while I was learning to mix. It even has a button for a back-light. I tossed the included batteries in mine and replaced them with some Duracell's.

If you haven't gotten this app yet, download this:

http://ejuice.breaktru.com/

You will need to add a grams set to it to make your mixes more accurate. Input these measurements into the Grams set and save it.

Nicotine: 1.00925
PG: 1.0373
VG: 1.2613
Flavoring: 1.0373

As far as flavorings go, If you are having issues, you can try Lotus flavorings. They are extremely concentrated. I use Lotus strawberry and let me tell you. At 2.7% it is almost overwhelming. Generally, you can mix those between .25 and 1% You can find a full selection of Lotus by Medicine Flower at ecig express. Also, with Flavourart, I like to mix mine at 2% as they are a little more concentrated. Some of Capela's flavorings need to be mixed kind of high to get anything out of them like Sweet Strawberry for example, I usually find myself having to mix it between 7 and 10%.

I hope this information helps buddy! and good luck okay?

 

[paul1978]

Thanks for all the help, very much appreciated!

I already bought a scale but just havnt opened it up yet but will do tonight when i get the mixing gear out.

Have realy been after some good menthol a s i love it, just opened a bottle of inawera menthol and dripped
2x drips into my tank and its good stuff, got the hit ive been looking for.

Will check out the app later on when kids go to bed i can work on things.

Thankyou.

 

[Foggz]

Take Notes.

 

[Jimmy1life]

Plus 1 on using tfa sweetner rather then EM. EM smells good but does mute flavors. After trying tfa sweetner is like sugar in juice for real lol.

 

[paul1978]

Yeah wasnt sure about em! But thought if i used it at 1% couldnt hurt too much..

Just realised ive been using vg based nicotine, not pg. Had my bottle wrapped up so well i couldnt see
then when i was drawing up i thought it was thick for pg. Schoolboy era!

So if i make a 3ml test batch then use some to test on the dripper but need to adjust how do i go about that?
considering that the 3ml test batch is now 2. Something? Any methods please.

Many thanks

 

[Jimmy1life]

Im sure thats probably ok 1% em. Try ur pg or vg or both by there selfs I got 1 gal of pg thats yuck tasting. All the juice i made just sucked and if it was vapeable totally not as good. I picked up more pg and bingo made few that i cant stop vaping. I been reading some reviews and FA blackcurrant seems super concentrated and may suit u better idk everyones different and that review is all i kno i havnt had it. Get ya a few brands and keep trying if u nailed that flavor at first where would all the fun be lol.

 

[Heabob]

I been reading some reviews and FA blackcurrant seems super concentrated and may suit u better idk everyones different and that review is all i kno i havnt had it.

That's one I actually thought was pretty good myself, has a unique flavor.
2.5% FA Blackcurrant
1% TFA Dairy Milk (or CAP/TFA Sweet Cream)
0.75% INW Shisha Vanilla (or your favorite Vanilla, but you may need to go a bit higher)

 

[paul1978]

I have some fa blackcurrant menthol any idea what % as i cant find any info?
Maybe new product? Got cherry methols aswell.
cheers

 

[Heabob]

I have some fa blackcurrant menthol any idea what % as i cant find any info?
Maybe new product? Got cherry methols aswell.
cheers

If it's Flavour Art try 2.5%

If it's Flavor Apprentice start around 5%

Most of the Cherries are pretty strong so I'd start at 1% to test the strength first.

 

[paul1978]

its flavourart.
Thanks

 

[Jimmy1life]

Hey sugar makes everything good lol. Play with some different sweeteners.

 

[KDodds]

Hey sugar makes everything good lol. Play with some different sweeteners.

Hell yeah. I've pretty much given up on corn syrup beverages. Throwbacks, limited editions and Sweet Teas for me.