Few quick questions. But first, let me set the table.
I want to begin to make some small batches of juice for myself. Money crunch incoming, so I'd like to spend less on my juice over time. Plus, nothing I have bought so far has achieved what I am truly looking for in a juice.
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Besides what is in flavorings, do I need to use PG? I can just use vodka or distilled water to thin out the VG, right?
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I don't feel a need to use nicotine, especially just starting out. Is that a good way to think, or since I AM just starting out, should I get at least some nicotine in it to inspire what could be something I like, rather than knowing that something is missing and I am not getting the full experience?
That's good for now. Thanks in advance.
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You don't absolutely need pg, and yes you can thin it out with a few drops of distilled water. You may need to bump up the flavoring a little to compensate. Most flavorings are carried in pg, so you'll have some in the mix already.
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Do you use nicotine now? If so, get some nicotine solution at least double the strength that you're vaping at. You can make small test batches of juice without the nicotine to make sure you like it first. If you buy nic solution, get it in pg, that will add a little more pg to your final mix.
Edit: you can get nic solution in 50/50 pg/vg if you think all pg carrier would add too much pg.
PG works because it provides a decent throat hit while carrying flavours well. VG doesn't carry flavours in the same way, although it provides lots of visible vapor.
You could make mostly VG juice with a small amount of vodka or distilled water. There are a few vendors who specialize in VG only juice, I am sure they manage in a similar manner. Probably VG-based flavourings are harder to come by, but as your primary consideration seems to be budgetary, probably you will get PG-based flavourings (most common, probably cheaper).
Do you use nicotine currently? It is not required for e-juice, it is required for nicotine addicts and aficionados. Where are you at with that? Don't feel you need to use it if you don't already.
If you do want/need nicotine, you can get it in PG or VG or pretty much any ratio of PG and VG. You could be adding PG to your mix that way. A 40:60 PG:VG mix can be made with just PG nicotine base, PG flavourings and VG. You wouldn't be required to have pure PG on hand to accomplish that.
I would like to point out that PG is cheap... much cheaper than nicotine base, much cheaper than flavourings. Cheaper than VG, sometimes (my drug store just ordered me 500ml of VG for $14, I paid only $17 for a liter of PG).
PG or VG is like $11 a quart from Essential Depot.
Free shipping if you spend $35 which I pretty much make sure I do (even if I order food/batteries or something I know I'll eventually use)
It's good stuff, many people in DIY use it (including me.)
You can get a gallon each of PG and VG from them for under $60 shipped, that is insanely cheap. http://www.essentialdepot.com/servlet/the-218/1-Gallon-Veg-Glycerin/Detail
Edited to insert last link.
I use pg80/vg20 for a ratio.. Flavorings are pg based. So is my nicotine. All ordered from wizard labs.
It's easy to fix juice that you over flavor when starting out. I simply took some pumpkin spice juice and cut it with 5 ml of pg/vg/nic and added a few more flavor drops. It turned out perfect.
It's easy to add more flavor and if it's over done simply add more base.. I don't cut my vg with anything because I only use a small amount of course.
Wizard labs has tons of pg Flavors for $1.50 / flavor. I also ordered my pg, vg, and pg nic base fluid from them.
DIY is seriously the only way to go.. Compare $17-$18 for 30ml juice compared to like $2 for 30ml of DIY juice.
Then again this is also how vendors can stay in business.
The profit on making excellent ejuice is super high. Buying in bulk I'm sure they make 30ml of juice for way less than $2.. Of course when you factor in a brick and mortar store and paying employees it gets different... Sorry geez.. I'm rambling.. I'm going to go vape now.
Good luck!