Besides time, what's the best machine to cut steeping time ? I've heard of milk frothers, paint shakers , magnetic stirrer, ultra sonic cleaners ECT. What do you use and where's the cheapest place to get it? Thanks for your time and help 
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Anyone use a paint shaker or milk frothing machine to shorten steeping time?
- Thread starter Wylde_77
- Start date
I just started DIY a few weeks ago but I just got the Norpro Mini Mixer from Amazon and it seems to help with the mixing.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RD8ZPSY/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_3_w
The 'STICK' looking attachment fits in the bottles and spreads open a bit with mixing. I've also found that you can adjust the speed of the mixer by how hard you press on the button. I've been reading a fair bit on steeping and have come to the conclusion that nothing will beat time. What I've recently been doing is adding all of the ingredients except the nicotine and giving it a good mix with the mini-mixer. (30 seconds or so) Then I place the bottles in warm water - I'm using plastic so I don't want the water to be too hot - tap water warm/hot is how I've been doing it. I refresh the water several times after it has cooled. Then once all the bubbles are out I add the nicotine and use the mini-mixer at a lower speed so as not to introduce very much oxygen.
From my very limited knowledge on this process your juice will still need to steep depending on which ingredients you used. But I've read that a thorough mixing and a nice warm bath gets it to maybe a days worth of steeping/aging. It seems to have helped my juices a bit anyways and the mixer is very inexpensive and actually works better than I thought it would.
So from my few weeks experience and lots of online reading this is what works for me. My process may change a bit as I learn more though.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RD8ZPSY/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_3_w
The 'STICK' looking attachment fits in the bottles and spreads open a bit with mixing. I've also found that you can adjust the speed of the mixer by how hard you press on the button. I've been reading a fair bit on steeping and have come to the conclusion that nothing will beat time. What I've recently been doing is adding all of the ingredients except the nicotine and giving it a good mix with the mini-mixer. (30 seconds or so) Then I place the bottles in warm water - I'm using plastic so I don't want the water to be too hot - tap water warm/hot is how I've been doing it. I refresh the water several times after it has cooled. Then once all the bubbles are out I add the nicotine and use the mini-mixer at a lower speed so as not to introduce very much oxygen.
From my very limited knowledge on this process your juice will still need to steep depending on which ingredients you used. But I've read that a thorough mixing and a nice warm bath gets it to maybe a days worth of steeping/aging. It seems to have helped my juices a bit anyways and the mixer is very inexpensive and actually works better than I thought it would.
So from my few weeks experience and lots of online reading this is what works for me. My process may change a bit as I learn more though.
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wllmc
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lol I have used one of these before to mix withI just started DIY a few weeks ago but I just got the Norpro Mini Mixer from Amazon and it seems to help with the mixing.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RD8ZPSY/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_3_w
The 'STICK' looking attachment fits in the bottles and spreads open a bit with mixing. I've also found that you can adjust the speed of the mixer by how hard you press on the button. I've been reading a fair bit on steeping and have come to the conclusion that nothing will beat time. What I've recently been doing is adding all of the ingredients except the nicotine and giving it a good mix with the mini-mixer. (30 seconds or so) Then I place the bottles in warm water - I'm using plastic so I don't want the water to be too hot - tap water warm/hot is how I've been doing it. I refresh the water several times after it has cooled. Then once all the bubbles are out I add the nicotine and use the mini-mixer at a lower speed so as not to introduce very much oxygen.
From my very limited knowledge on this process your juice will still need to steep depending on which ingredients you used. But I've read that a thorough mixing and a nice warm bath gets it to maybe a days worth of steeping/aging. It seems to have helped my juices a bit anyways and the mixer is very inexpensive and actually works better than I thought it would.
So from my few weeks experience and lots of online reading this is what works for me. My process may change a bit as I learn more though.
. I think it was a baby formula mixer brand anways very similar attachment pieces.
Did you find it worked well for you? Do you still use it and if not what method do you use now?
wllmc
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I just hand shake it anymore. if it needs to steep i just let it sit. quick steep methods dont really do a lot for the amount of extra effort. in my opinion anyways. I constantly change my mind on my " best methods" though. maybe next year Ill be into elctro shock steeping or something lol. the mixers do a nice job of mixing it up but also introduces a crap load of O2 into the mix. personally i feel like its more harsh for a few days till all those little air bubbles go away. I think slower on the speed is better and just mix it nice and smooth if your going to use a mixer of any sort. that might be all in my head to though
Maybe I'll try a small batch with and without the mixer to see if there's any noticeable difference.
I did see a funny post on one of the forums ... can't remember which one though. Somebody asked what's the best way to mix up your DIY juice. Some guy responded with ... 'I just tape the bottle to my wrist and go for a WANK.'
I may stick with the mixer!
I did see a funny post on one of the forums ... can't remember which one though. Somebody asked what's the best way to mix up your DIY juice. Some guy responded with ... 'I just tape the bottle to my wrist and go for a WANK.'
I may stick with the mixer! 
I remember a post here, somewhere, where a guy used a frother, said his juice lost it's flavor completely. He mixed a second batch, not using the frother, and made the decision not to use the frother again. Can't say that's everyone's experience, though.
I've used a crock pot - hassle.
I've put a bottle in a thermos of hot tap water - done only when I get totally lazy and run out of the one juice I vape that does need more time, but typically, I mix ahead, shake it by hand, and put them in the cabinet.
I also fix some that are best without a steep.
I've used a crock pot - hassle.
I've put a bottle in a thermos of hot tap water - done only when I get totally lazy and run out of the one juice I vape that does need more time, but typically, I mix ahead, shake it by hand, and put them in the cabinet.
I also fix some that are best without a steep.
gopher_byrd
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Like James Bond likes his Martinis, I prefer my juice shaken not stirred...
And for aging, Time Is On My Side...
And for aging, Time Is On My Side...
I'll tell you, the steeping aspect of DIY was for me the most frustrating of all. This was mainly due to it's purely anecdotal nature combined with a lack of experience and confidence to know if it was working or not. What a relief it has been these past few weeks now that I've got enough juice sitting in my closet to keep me in clouds for the next 5 months. On top of that, I've been mixing a bunch of HIC's recipes and most of them are good to go in 1-7 days.
The other day I mixed up some custards that need a month minimum and it felt good putting them away knowing that I don't need them, and when I get to them, they'll be quite "mature".
The other day I mixed up some custards that need a month minimum and it felt good putting them away knowing that I don't need them, and when I get to them, they'll be quite "mature".
I generally heat it until the VG thins, shake the crap out of it, put it on a shelf and let time do it's thing.
I was using my drill with a home made stirrer thingy that I made from a plastic butter knife. Worked very well, stirred the hell out of the juice. However, as time went on, I got more patient and kind of got a routine set up so that now I shake by hand, and put it in a box for however long it needs steeping. My biggest problem is that I don't go through the stuff as fast as a lot of people do, so I end up making too much because I love the whole mixing aspect of this hobby so much. Better too much than too little I suppose..
I get using a machine to help mix would get things blended quicker but steeping is more a reaction over time where the flavours come together and mature. Some heat them one way or another but I gave up on trying to make things happen quicker. I've found nothing beats patience and a nice dark cupboard. Give em a shake every few days or so and wait. They always taste better left to mature naturally.
gopher_byrd
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I like that one. ?
I used to use a paint shaker to mix with. I still use it from time to time to mix up some tasters for people since it can shake up a few small bottles at once. Now I mix my most of my juices one liter at a time and let it age naturally. Even if I get over anxious and break into it early, there is no way I'll vape the whole liter before the flavor has fully developed.