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What am i getting myself into????????

KittyVapes

KittyVapes

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:eek: I have been talking to my husband about wanting to start to make juice for myself. He said "Sure babe just let me know the cost" I am obsessed with reading everything DIY on VU,. I get up in the morning, grab my coffee and vape then off to the laptop we go. Hours and hours of research every day aaaaaallllllllllllllll day lol. On VU we are always seeing questions for help being answered by the most kindly people. By the end of most days I feel like I am literally stalking some of these nice people for all their advice and experiences. I narrowed down recipes from some of the best contributors here. I got my orders ready with my credit card in hand and PANICKED.I made myself complete the orders and took a deep breath and clicked the final button. Shear Terror hit me so badly that I had to "medicate" myself. Don't worry, I am approaching that age where doctors just ask "So what type do you want? and then they send you away with a notebook of prescriptions. I am just to terrified that everything I will make will taste like the tootsie rolls that comes out of my dogs' butt.
If any other DIY'er has gone through this I would really love your advice and hear your story. My wallet oops I mean loving,caring,supportive Husband wont be helping me so this will all be on me. Sorry this is such a long post. If anyone could just tell me they were as terrified as I am and yes this can be done, I would love to hear anything you would have to say.
 
Discobob

Discobob

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No reason to be terrified, your mixing juice, safety with the nic and your good to go, it's fun and it's going to save you money in the long run big time.

Start simple then start more complex, you'll be fine:)

Think of how many 30mls of premium it would take to equal your first order and you will feel better:)
 
Huckleberried

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Yep, about 20 months ago, I did what you wrote about. I got all my stuff, got my recipes together, looked at it all and didn't touch it for another month. My first mix was TERRIBLE!! The next round went much better. I chose recipes that got rave reviews from people, cautiously mixed them up and had good juice! Yay me! Actually, it was yay everyone else that made juice before me. They taught me by leaving footprints.

Today... I mix other people's stuff still, I make a few of my own and I'm still saving money, still not smoking cigarettes, and I'm having the time of my life. You will, too.
 
KittyVapes

KittyVapes

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Huckleberried said:
Yep, about 20 months ago, I did what you wrote about. I got all my stuff, got my recipes together, looked at it all and didn't touch it for another month. My first mix was TERRIBLE!! The next round went much better. I chose recipes that got rave reviews from people, cautiously mixed them up and had good juice! Yay me! Actually, it was yay everyone else that made juice before me. They taught me by leaving footprints.

Today... I mix other people's stuff still, I make a few of my own and I'm still saving money, still not smoking cigarettes, and I'm having the time of my life. You will, too.
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Thanks Huckleberried. I love reading your posts. They are always good for a laugh :p
 
KittyVapes

KittyVapes

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misswish said:
I think a lot of us panicked at first. It is all so new and what if I do something wrong? Don't worry, it is really very easy! Use a good juice calculator, good recipes, good ingredients. Ask all the questions you want. :D
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It helps my confidence to know others have freaked out also. Most of my recipes are from HIC and his store. He seems to have so many great comments on his recipes.
 
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OBDave

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I wanted to try DIY at least a year before I did - kicking myself for being scared and wasting money so long (my wallet drainer...err...loving, caring, supportive wife used to go on $50 liquid shopping sprees twice a week until I started mixing) ever since...though I did learn a lot about coil building instead, which has also served me well.

Just go for it! Start small, choose a few flavors you think would be good standalone and a couple recipes posted here you think you'd like, get small 3-10 ml flavor concentrates to mix those with, and bottles of PG, VG and nic, and have at it!

If you really have time to burn, read the Flavour Art chat thread start to finish, then go back to the old forum and read the one there...I invested a couple hours a day for a month solid with that, picked up tons of great tips and felt better for having done it at the end even though I'm not the type to jump in and get social much...
 
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Jim_MDP

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KittyVapes said:
It helps my confidence to know others have freaked out also. Most of my recipes are from HIC and his store. He seems to have so many great comments on his recipes.
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First, let me get this out of the way... I'm in lust with your OP.
I can picture, no... feel, the proof/edit cycle. I'm just... uuuhhhgggghh. o_O
:oops: Oops.
(more CRs though)

Okay, second... this ain't rocket surgery. :)
Complex premium retail juices have a number of "accent" flavors that can make clone makers tear their hair out. But we can all, honestly, just throw together a moderate recipe with barely a glance and have a truly flavorful vape. Anxiety not required.
Sure, like many hobbies, just bull your way in at first (gently), but then you quickly realize... there was no real barrier there at all. :D

Jump in, gently (your wallet will forgive you). You'll quickly find... what works, where to economize, equally important... where not to, how to adapt recipes to your tastes, etc.
Most important, perhaps, to be able to discern whose retail juice looks... well, juicy.
Welcome to the rabbit hole. :p


And if you continue the posts with that feel, that hand, that sensibility, well...

... tell yer hubby I'm comin' fer ya... and I'm bringin' my the'rus wit' me. :mad:

:p
 
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KittyVapes

KittyVapes

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BigNasty said:
Walk before you fall face first, no running.
Try the smaller batches, custom to your taste. You might find less is more and just be off and mixing with the best of us.
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Good advice....buuuuut I wanna run with SCISSORSSSSSSSS! My supplies for starting out have been ordered and are on their way. I even bought extra 10ml bottles so I can try the flavors on their own before mixing complex recipes or combination bases.
 
Lost

Lost

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Think of it this way...
It's only measurements. Hard numbers/percentages/ratios. It takes the guesswork out.

Plus, if you make a batch of something and it doesn't taste all that great, you just use that as a base for something else. For example, you can rescue a so-so coffee juice with a vanilla juice.

If I was going to panic over doing anything in the kitchen, it would be related to something with flour. Like bread. What a fickle nightmare.
 
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soulshine

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You are going to do just fine. How do I know? Because you are the RARE (and I mean VERY rare) newbie that cared enough to actually do some reading and research. HIC's recipes are a wonderful way to start and will never steer you wrong. By making them, you will be learning how the flavors work together and soon you'll be posting your own recipes. And of course, we're all here to answer any questions you have along the way :) Welcome to DIY!
 
KittyVapes

KittyVapes

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soulshine said:
You are going to do just fine. How do I know? Because you are the RARE (and I mean VERY rare) newbie that cared enough to actually do some reading and research. HIC's recipes are a wonderful way to start and will never steer you wrong. By making them, you will be learning how the flavors work together and soon you'll be posting your own recipes. And of course, we're all here to answer any questions you have along the way :) Welcome to DIY!
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Thanks soulshine. I DO read all I can find here on VU in regards to DIY juice. I try not to ask questions that can be found by using this forum properly. Anything doing deserves the proper research for the best outcome.
 
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OBDave

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LostHasher said:
Think of it this way...
It's only measurements. Hard numbers/percentages/ratios. It takes the guesswork out.

Plus, if you make a batch of something and it doesn't taste all that great, you just use that as a base for something else. For example, you can rescue a so-so coffee juice with a vanilla juice.

If I was going to panic over doing anything in the kitchen, it would be related to something with flour. Like bread. What a fickle nightmare.
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Nice observations, particularly about baking. While I've graduated from "I can cook anything you want, as long as you want red meat barely cooked over an open flame," this whole mixing-things-with-flour-that-isn't-a-base-for-breading is sure a head-scratcher.
 
Markw4mms

Markw4mms

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OBDave said:
Nice observations, particularly about baking. While I've graduated from "I can cook anything you want, as long as you want red meat barely cooked over an open flame," this whole mixing-things-with-flour-that-isn't-a-base-for-breading is sure a head-scratcher.
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I can bake pretty damn well. I used to bake all my own bread, pastries, etc. maybe I'm worried over nothing.
 
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OBDave

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Markw4mms said:
I can bake pretty damn well. I used to bake all my own bread, pastries, etc. maybe I'm worried over nothing.
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If you can bake, that makes you a wizard. You'll own your own liquid line within a month of starting DIY.

In all seriousness, it's so easy you'll be amazed you waited as long as you did - if you've got any kind of interest in food you've already got a good idea as to how to tweak a recipe with a little more of this, a little less of that, and maybe some of this stuff over here for good measure...or maybe because I always do that it's the reason I can't bake.
 
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Chrispdx

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I felt pretty much the same way when I clicked the order confirmed button. Got all my supplies in, used my my juice calculator, mixed my first recipies, and bam...not good.

The part I have never shared is I thought this was all a conspiracy and HIC worked for FA. I was like, "seriously I spent all this money and the juice just was not good, and I fell into a trap with all this pg/vg and flavoring...what a waste...and all these people said FA was the best, and here are all these FA recipies that are just fantastic." Then I remember...everyone kept saying the first few times mixing your own may not be super great, and everybody has their own taste preferences.

I hit the books hard (different recipies) moved away from recipes that didn't work for my personal taste preferances...and BAM POW, great juices. From there nothing but great mixes (well maybe 1 out of 10 isn't good because I mix a few off the wall mixes hoping to stumble across something amazing...who knew mixing with zen garden would be so difficult )

Moral of the story, if you or anyone stumbles, just remember, it will get better if you stick with it. It gets better faster if you ask questions, even when it shows the newbie colors because we have all been their. And thankfully everyone here is nice enough to help.
 
MichelleTearsofCrimson

MichelleTearsofCrimson

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Hiya Kitty! Outside of the nicotine (which I treated like a time bomb waiting to explode) I jumped in head first a few months ago and just keep piling flavors to my list on a weekly (sometimes bi-weekly basis). I'm sure I did things all the wrong way but it's my vape and I decided to do it how I wanted LOL. Got off the smokes in August, was mixing my own early October. I think the hobby of doing this has kept my mind in the right place. Sometimes I make a good recipe other times they suck donkey butt and get tossed but I'm having the best time and to me that's what really matters. Always been a super creative person so this is just a new way to be creative for me. Have a blast and play with flavors you've got this :)
 
HeadInClouds

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KittyVapes said:
If anyone could just tell me they were as terrified as I am and yes this can be done, I would love to hear anything you would have to say.
Click to expand...

I spent a small fortune on flavorings and felt like a complete failure pouring the crap I made down the drain. I nervously spent $$$ on lousy DIY while still spending $$$ on vendor flavors for something better-tasting. Then I tried FlavourArt flavorings (creamy coffee stuff first). Holy cow, within a few attempts I had DIY I liked better than vendor liquids. I bought more and more FA flavors, replacing a cig addiction with a flavor mixing obsession hobby. I've saved heaps of money over smoking now, and who can put a price on improved health. If I hadn't found FA flavors, I'd still be smoking. Or maybe hospitalized. Nope I don't work for them - just a big fan. :)
 
MichelleTearsofCrimson

MichelleTearsofCrimson

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HeadInClouds said:
I spent a small fortune on flavorings and felt like a complete failure pouring the crap I made down the drain. I nervously spent $$$ on lousy DIY while still spending $$$ on vendor flavors for something better-tasting. Then I tried FlavourArt flavorings (creamy coffee stuff first).

I find that so funny when you say you made crap because you're the guru in mixing as far as I'm concerned LOL. There's hope for us all if you made a bad recipe LOL
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Twiztidwoundz

Twiztidwoundz

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I agree with you on all the reading, and getting fascinated with everything, after your first order comes in and you start playing around with everything you'll get the hang of it, I find it enjoyable, I also read to much here and I have 2 shopping carts full just waiting for payday. And I have a list for some after that. I really, really should stop reading.


Sent from cat hair using Tapatalk
 
KittyVapes

KittyVapes

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HeadInClouds said:
I spent a small fortune on flavorings and felt like a complete failure pouring the crap I made down the drain. I nervously spent $$$ on lousy DIY while still spending $$$ on vendor flavors for something better-tasting. Then I tried FlavourArt flavorings (creamy coffee stuff first). Holy cow, within a few attempts I had DIY I liked better than vendor liquids. I bought more and more FA flavors, replacing a cig addiction with a flavor mixing obsession hobby. I've saved heaps of money over smoking now, and who can put a price on improved health. If I hadn't found FA flavors, I'd still be smoking. Or maybe hospitalized. Nope I don't work for them - just a big fan. :)
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To know that some of your early mixes failed takes a HUGE weight off my shoulders. The same for MichelleTearsofCrimson. I am anxiously waiting for my first of two orders to come in. Should be monday. My second order, the big one that I have to intercept before my husband sees how much it cost, is still processing. Is ecigexpress normally slower on their orders?
 
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Chrispdx

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ECX is normally quick for me, but I live acouple hours from their location. Most of my orders I've submitted they processed and ship 1-3days. Just like with all orders when they come in double check everything made into the box.

They've been pretty good for me. Recently they missed something, but I called and they shipped it right away without any hassle. I didn't even have to say all that much...the guy was just like ok and it wasdone which was pretty nice. I even tried telling him to just give me a store credit since I would be a returning customer and quickly he just said its on the way.
 
Teresa P

Teresa P

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I dunno, on my end ECX has really stepped up their shipping game. My last order was placed with Bull City (North Carolina) and ECX (Washington) on the same day. And they both arrived in my mailbox here in Tennessee the same day. I was impressed....:)
 
O

OBDave

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Teresa P said:
I dunno, on my end ECX has really stepped up their shipping game. My last order was placed with Bull City (North Carolina) and ECX (Washington) on the same day. And they both arrived in my mailbox here in Tennessee the same day. I was impressed....:)
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This - I usually end up doing at least two orders at once because one vendor or another doesn't have everything I want - BCV and ECX both take about the same amount of time (3-5 days) to get from their respective homes to SoCal. This time I went with Nic River and BCV, NR beat the BCV by a day (but they're only traveling about 150 miles).
 
C

Chrispdx

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I'd be surprise if it wasn't boxed up and shipped out on Monday.

Typically I submit my order on a Friday or Saturday...basically a week after dreaming and planing new recipies that I don't have flavors for. So normally my final order step is Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and it usually has a shipping label printed Monday and picked up by usps on Monday. After that I normally get my box Wednesday or Thursday since I do the free shipping and then I just go crazy mixing on the following Saturday morning.
 
Teresa P

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Shark Vape said:
That's what I hear.
drool.gif


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:rolleyes:
 
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OBDave

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Teresa P said:
And you'll think of soooo many more things you need before then....;)
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I just realized I left TFA Strawberry Ripe off my last order list and that my inventory spreadsheet lied to me about there being a backup FA Forest Mix waiting in the back of the closet...time to start putting together a new order, I can't live without those! :rolleyes:
 
sclobernocker47

sclobernocker47

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Im in the same boat as yall...
Been contemplating DIY for at least a year. I think what set me back was having a new coworker that is a DIYer. He sold me his goods for a profit, but still vastly cheaper than I could get at a B&M ($10 for 30ml).

Now, with my sister-in-law moving in, and the though of also funding her vape habits, has me teetering back to DIY.
Got that cart full. Just need to pull out the CC.
 
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