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What are the "DO NOTS" that you wish you knew when starting to DIY?
submitted almost 11 years ago by Davadam27

Title says it all

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15 points
 
by Forgot_me_toothbrushalmost 11 years ago

Do not buy 4oz bottles of flavoring if you've not tried it before. No matter how much money you think you're saving... I've got enough FW strawberry to last a decade and I hate it.

5 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

FW has a lesser known sister website (diyjuice.com) that you can order tiny bottles from, and they also have a ton of other flavors that don't get sold on the main website because they are less popular.

I'm sure you could get tiny bottles elsewhere, just putting it out there.

3 points
 
by Forgot_me_toothbrushalmost 11 years ago

Thanks! I'll def give it a look, to be honest I've been less than impressed with the FW I've bought. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't keep trying. My favorite thing since moving to DIY is the experimentation, you never know until you try...

2 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

FW is the most hit/miss company for sure. They have a few good ones and a lot of crappy ones. I own a bunch but the only ones that I actually use are extreme ice, cinnamon roll, toasted almond, and jungle juice (thug juice).

2 points
 
by a2quikalmost 11 years ago

FW has some really good flavors. the b&m iv always gone to almost only uses FW for their mixes and lot of them come out great!

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Lol thanks. Makes sense. Sorry for your loss. :)

1 points
 
by ogimbealmost 11 years ago

Haha. I have 3 oz of TFA coconut extra I'm never going to use.

1 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

It's pretty good stuff if you use it at about 0.5%.

1 points
 
by tha_dankalmost 11 years ago

Hmmm...interesting, I tried it the other day at like 4-5% and holy shit was it bad. I finally figured out what it was about some adirondack juice I couldn't stand. I'll have to try it out real low like you said.

1 points
 
by HexCoilsalmost 11 years ago

Interested in selling some or all?

1 points
 
by ogimbealmost 11 years ago

The shipping would probably be as much or more than I'd want for it. Does TFA not sell bulk anymore to consumers?

1 points
 
by Raiden395almost 11 years ago

THIS. I have about $300 worth of TFA that's going to just rot until I find some use for it as an additive. Pay the extra per ml and buy the small bottles first!

1 points
 
by TheSlovakalmost 11 years ago

Which flavors are just sitting there?

1 points
 
by YnotTomorroalmost 11 years ago

What stuff do you have left over? I'm always willing to buy/trade...

1 points
 
by Elemetrixalmost 11 years ago

Yea I have about 99ml of Graham Cracker something or other going spare..

14 points
 
by wizard10000almost 11 years ago

JMO but if you can't do the math don't mix 100mg nic. Nothing in this sub makes me cringe more than someone asking how much 100mg nic base they should use to get X mg finished product.

6 points
 
by slamingalmost 11 years ago

Surely 100mg although the most dangerous to go wrong with is kinda the hardest to go wrong with. 1ml in 10ml gives 10mg of nicotine.

7 points
 
by tent405almost 11 years ago

It gives you 100mg of nicotine dissolved in 11mL of solvent and a concentration of 11mg/mL. Not like it matters, I don't think anybody would notice such a small difference.

5 points
 
by vigg-o-ramaalmost 11 years ago

I think he meant 1ml in a total of 10ml solution (so 1ml added to 9ml of other).

4 points
 
by judasbluealmost 11 years ago

er, uh, it gives you 100mg of nicotine dissolved in 11ml of solvent and a concentration of 9.09 mg/ml. You reversed the formula.

Not that it matters ;)

-1 points
 
by slider162almost 11 years ago

Kind of my reasoning to not pre-mix. It is easy math with 1ml syringes. .1ml is 1mg/ml, which is what I vape.

3 points
 
by A_Goonalmost 11 years ago

I am absolutely horrible with math but I only use 100 mg nic, and a juice calculator.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

The math is the easy part in my opinion. (Target nic÷ base nic)* mLs you're making.

2 points
 
by toolongtospellalmost 11 years ago

Math is really easy is you use a program like ejuicemeup

1 points
 
by wizard10000almost 11 years ago

> The math is the easy part in my opinion. (Target nic÷ base nic)* mLs you're making.

Agreed. The math is easy and I don't use a calculator; with 100mg nic it's pretty easy to do the math in my head.

But - there are people working with high-strength nic base with no idea what they're doing. As mentioned, it makes me cringe. I have to bite my tongue every time I see one of those posts :)

edit: The way I calculate nic requirement is (target nic * quantity) / strength of nic base

2 points
 
by squiredalmost 11 years agoMixologist

Yup, that's another reason I like working with 60mg nic. Every 1ml in a 10ml bottle is 6mg. Want 18mg juice? No problem, 3ml in your 10ml bottle.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

I wouldn't bite your tongue. I'm sure it is tough to see over and over but people need to be aware of the danger they could put themselves in. That being said they also should read before getting started. I just posted this for some more anecdotal advice. Maybe some more uncommon issues people ran into.

1 points
 
by corbs132almost 11 years ago

same formula, just moved around a bit

13 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

Do not follow flavor recommendations like they are some sort of rule. They are just the opinion of one or two people, and they are often WAY off IMHO. When I first started, I thought a good juice should always have at least 20% flavor. I now realize that you can make some amazing stuff with as little as 3% flavor depending on what you are using.

2 points
 
by Shark_Trainalmost 11 years ago

I kept using 20%, for the longest time and couldn't figure out for the life of me why it kept tasting like burnt tires. Ejuice me up has a default setting of 20% so I didn't know any better, but damn that shit was nasty.

7 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

Yup, I wasted a lot of time and supplies doing this. I also got scared away from using certain flavors because some goober posted that it tasted the best at 25% when in actuality it was better used at 5% or less.

4 points
 
by cjinctalmost 11 years ago

Gotta upvote for 'some goober'

1 points
 
by JoeyFromTheRoc2almost 11 years ago

Same exact thing happened to me. I thought the flavors I got from nude nicotine were just garbage but the menthol and Shirley Temple weren't bad after I dropped the flavoring in half.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Interesting. I tried to make a root beer float last night. I know it needs time to steep so im being patient but I went with 9% root beer and 6% vanilla. Almost got a burnt graham cracker taste reminded me just a touch of horchata. Maybe too much flavoring. I'll try it in a week and see what's up

2 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

Some root beer flavors just kind of suck. What brand did you use?

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

My mother owns a store which sells Lorann. I got the flavoring for free from her to see if I would like doing this in the first place.

1 points
 
by [deleted]almost 11 years ago

9% of any root beer is to much. I use 5% of TFA RB Float for a very strong mix.

1 points
 
by redbeard1083almost 11 years agoMixologist

i agree with you. i try to keep my stuff around 10% max. personally, i enjoy lighter flavors, but i also find they gunk up my coils less than stronger mixes.

1 points
 
by Airsinneralmost 11 years ago

Do you mean when one flavour is being used up to 20% or when all the flavours added together all added up to 20%?

1 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

Both really. I rarely go over 20% in any recipe, most are around 12% or lower. Also, I can't think of a single flavor that needs to be anywhere close to 20% on it's own. There may be one or two that I am overlooking, but in general 20% is way high IMHO.

8 points
 
by neverbeentovegasalmost 11 years ago

Do not underestimate the number of bottles you'll need. I suggest more than you'll think in the 10-15 mL size in particular.

Do not mix a large batch of something you think you'll like. Mix small first, large later.

Do not underestimate the number of syringes you think you'll need.

Last, but not at all least, do not think you'll be the one to tame crab, bread crust or roasted chicken flavors. Many a man has come before you and all have failed for good reason. Accept defeat before you start the fight.

2 points
 
by slamingalmost 11 years ago

Bacon. Don't even bother. But for real who wants to vape that shit. I took one hit and was instantly sick.

1 points
 
by tranceinatealmost 11 years agoMixologist

You should try TFA Pizza & report back.

Alternatively put hot sauce on a pancake and let me know how it is.

2 points
 
by slamingalmost 11 years ago

Its gonna be easier to skip out the middle man and just stick my fingers down my throat

1 points
 
by rave420almost 11 years ago

TFA pizza tastes like a weird fusion of basil tomato and peperonni. Not in a good way either. It's not offensive, at the same time you wouldn't exhale and say "that tasted good".

The most positive thing I could picture someone saying upon vaping pizza juice is "mhhh... That was interesting"

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

All good tips I'll stay away from those three land mines lol

7 points
 
by cu_ntalmost 11 years ago

Buy vg and pg separately, not a pre made mix. Also 100% vg or pg nic.

6 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

I would recommend not buying 100% pg nic because this eliminates any option of making a max VG juice if you ever wanted to.

3 points
 
by cu_ntalmost 11 years ago

I agree.

1 points
 
by a_randomless_chefalmost 11 years agoTobacconist

well so do the flavorings, no?

1 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

No, not always.

Natural flavors will be based in alcohol, VG, or a mixture of both. See Nature's flavors and Nude Nicotine for examples. Usually they are very strong so they are used sparingly. Depending on what you use, you can end up with a juice that is 95% VG or more if you want, but not if you are using nicotine with PG in it.

You can also run into a situation where you want to make a 70% or 80% VG juice, but you have already used 20%-30% PG based flavor. If you want nicotine in it and you are using 100% PG nicotine, you are never going to be able hit that 80% mark. If you run into this situation you are probably using too much flavor, but it could happen.

Downside is that it's a pain in the ass to work with VG.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Cool my average nudist came with both but only 36% 50/50 nic.

I'll get on the 100

2 points
 
by vash469almost 11 years agoMixologist

You can request 100% I got all vg with my kit

2 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

All ready received my order. No biggie I can get more stuff

7 points
 
by j5c077almost 11 years ago

i was doing this for too long before i fully grasped overflavoring. it doesn't make it more flavorful, it makes it taste like crap.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Ive seen many recipes that call for 10-20% so I shot for 12-15. Maybe it's too much

2 points
 
by captaincannibalalmost 11 years ago

Some recipes are fine up to 20%. Some recipes don't require more than 10% tops. HeadInClouds from VapingUnderground does a lot of really great recipes with FlavourArt and he never goes over like 10% or so. They still come out ridiculously flavorful.

2 points
 
by Beastaclesalmost 11 years agoFrugivore

I have a couple recipes that are less than 2% flavor. My biggest saving grace is looking at sidebar to find starting point for flavor percentages. TFA Caramel Cap being one. So happy I didn't start out with a 10% blend of that one.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Cool thank you

5 points
 
by NotCharlesMansonalmost 11 years ago

This is something I'm struggling with at the moment. When I'm making a recipe, I keep wanting to add another flavor or two to it, thinking it will round out, or balance the overall flavor. It ends up tasting like shit. Sometimes less is more.

5 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

This is probably good advice and I can trust you. Because you're not a creepy cult serial murder guy.

3 points
 
by NotCharlesMansonalmost 11 years ago

Exactly. Just do it, man. For me.

2 points
 
by thecultisalivealmost 11 years ago

try adding some cyanide to the mix. it really makes the flavors pop.

2 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Not like arsenic does.

1 points
 
by SumDudeYouKnowalmost 11 years ago

I know it's tough, but its best to mix the minimal amount of flavor that it takes to make a good base. Poor it in your tank or drip it, and give it a taste. Note what it needs, and poor your tank back in the mixing bottle. Add a few things, shake, then try again. Figure out what else it needs, dump it back in, add things, mix, taste, repeat. Got a good base now? Great, now move on to your middle notes using the same technique. Once that it done, finally finish with your top notes.

5 points
 
by BongleBearalmost 11 years ago

DO NOT expect your juices to taste great from the word go.

The number of fuck ups and great ideas that don't work in practice will outweigh the good stuff.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

This is a good tidbit. If at first you don't succeed.....

3 points
 
by ogimbealmost 11 years ago

Don't buy small bottles of VG/PG when you can get big bottles on Amazon. Don't buy a bunch of syringes and crap when you can just mix by weight.

1 points
 
by brienzeealmost 11 years ago

Can you give a breakdown on mixing by weight? I see people saying this is the way to do it, but everything I've seen in tutorials is by volume. Is the weight of VG and VG with nic the same? Are weights of flavors all different depending on the content? I have a kitchen scale, is that sufficient for doing 5ml test batches?

3 points
 
by ogimbealmost 11 years ago

No, VG is heavier. Flavors are about all the same. No, you need a scale that reads hundreths at least. You can find them on Ebay or at your local convenience store that sells drug paraphanelia :).

http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY_eJuice/comments/2lxum2/mixing_by_weight_video/ http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY_eJuice/comments/2iq3km/botboy141_guide_to_mixing_by_weight/ https://godofsteam.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/getting-started-diy-102-mixing-by-weight/

2 points
 
by shutdown924almost 11 years ago

Do not measure by drops alone. And don't be afraid to mix something "weird."

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Using syringes here. I hear people talk about mixing by weight but that confused me a bit in my novice status. Also do you have any"weird" combos that surprised you?

2 points
 
by meanrockSDalmost 11 years ago

Mixing by weight implies that you have an empty beaker/container on a scale. Then you Tare the scale to 0 ( zero out for the weight of the beaker ) - then you add liquid to measure by weight, for example VG weighs 1.26 grams per ML. This is more precise, but usually indicates that you are making LARGE quantities of juice.

See BotBoys guide here http://www.reddit.com/r/DIY_eJuice/comments/2iq3km/botboy141_guide_to_mixing_by_weight/

2 points
 
by rave420almost 11 years ago

Not necessarily.

I have a scale that reads to 0.001 grams, and even if I have a bottle that's half full I can easily add 0.211 g of any flavour ingredient. Instead of using a syringe to measure 0.2 ml, going by weight gives you better precision.

You don't have to do large scale to go by weight. I do 5 ml batches when I'm experimenting, and going by weight is the greatest thing.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Cool thank you

1 points
 
by ogimbealmost 11 years ago

There's a couple mixing by weight guides. Some friend swear by a mix with like 30 percent ethyl maltol. I think it tastes weird like sugar-free gum, but whatever.

1 points
 
by shutdown924almost 11 years ago

I meant by drops alone (I edited my post to reflect that now). I use syringes as well, have not jumped into by weight yet. I've mixed so many random recipes at this point I couldn't remember them all haha. But one I liked was some vanillas and creams with a little, like 0.1% TFA absinthe. Also TFA musk candy with random fruits, it's a bit like incense, bit herbal-ish at around 5-7%.

2 points
 
by captaincannibalalmost 11 years ago

Diversify your flavor stock. I also highly recommend that the first flavors you buy are to make a couple of recipes that you found here or elsewhere.

When I first started DIY it was to try and help with the ECF Boba's clone megathread. I followed it for two weeks making iterations based on other people's thoughts and giving feedback. That made me hate DIY. I was trying shitty experimental recipes over and over and making my own shitty experimental recipes. After two weeks I was left with a bunch of TFA flavors that I didn't like and no desire to ever bother with DIY again. Eventually I found this sub and wanted to get back into it. I bought flavorings for different recipes I found, mixed those up, and realized that DIY is actually pretty awesome if you stick with it.

I'm all about experimenting and coming up with your own creations but doing it right off the bat just burns some people out.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

I found some clones I wanna try. SJ Andromeda and some others so I'll keep that in mind thanks

2 points
 
by meanrockSDalmost 11 years ago

Mixing 5ml test batches - I find that its difficult to measure in an accurate reproducible way for batches under 10-15 ml.
Expecting things to taste like they smell- there are exceptions.
Rigidly chasing after one particular flavor blend/recipe- it helps to take a break, work on something else- just to come back to developing a flavor after some time has passed.
Mixing by drops- even in small batches. This isn't accurate unless you are measuring by weight.

Be prepared to fail... repeatedly.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Failing to replicate a flavor is fine by me as long as the failure is palatable. I would hate to waste but I'm prepared to fall down.

1 points
 
by meanrockSDalmost 11 years ago

Well....then start low with your % of flavor and work upwards. Some flavors become unpalatable above 5%, others become unpalatable after a few drops per 10 ML ( Some Coffee flavors are seriously THAT strong ).

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

I may have gone to strong on my root beer

1 points
 
by rokinlobsteralmost 11 years agoMentholatier

Ahh this is why my 1% TFA mexican coffee tastes like burning tires and asphalt. Seriously am going to try 1 drop in 10 mls.

1 points
 
by Beastaclesalmost 11 years agoFrugivore

Been meaning to take pictures of dumping out some failures. Those poor bastards over at /r/Vapeitforward cringe at that shit.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Settle down Satan

1 points
 
by thejoelslackalmost 11 years ago

Don't mix over 6mg when making a juice for dripping or otherwise, you'll get horrible dry mouth and your flavors just won't shine.

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

I dint buy juice over 6 so im good there. Thanks though

1 points
 
by thejoelslackalmost 11 years ago

Sure thing brew

1 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

Brew? Cheers :)

1 points
 
by MRMiller96almost 11 years ago

Don't mix your base at your desired ratio and nic level before adding flavoring. I only did it once, but it was 500ml.

1 points
 
by I_Dont_Get_Your_Jokealmost 11 years ago

What happened? Tasted like crap?

1 points
 
by MRMiller96almost 11 years ago

too weak nic-wise, too harsh PG-wise, very little vapor.

1 points
 
by I_Dont_Get_Your_Jokealmost 11 years ago

Strange, I buy premix with nicotine in it and I make some good shit with it.

1 points
 
by [deleted]almost 11 years ago

The recent Nana cream recipe taste like crap. I wasted almost $5 on it. In other words don't believe everything you read. Speed steeping is not a replacement for time, the majority of my mixes need 1-2 weeks (some more, few less) to achieve optimal taste. I wasted a good bit of juice early on by not waiting for it to mature.

1 points
 
by KoopaTroopazalmost 11 years ago

what was the nana cream recipe that tasted like crap? I made a version I found on here and it was pretty good.

1 points
 
by [deleted]almost 11 years ago

Fizz's.

1 points
 
by LippencottElvisalmost 11 years ago

Have you ever tried the real deal?

1 points
 
by superaloha87almost 11 years ago

Damn I just ordered 100mg vg nic base as my $2 sample from nude nic. Am I screwed?

2 points
 
by PinheadXalmost 11 years ago

not at all

2 points
 
by Davadam27almost 11 years ago

To mix do this for the math (target nic level÷base nic level) x amount you're making. For example to make 30ml of 6mg with 100mg base you do (6÷100)=.06 then .06x30=1.8. 1.8 ml of nic in a 30ml batch gives you 6mg juice. Sorry for the drawn out explanation. I'm drunk but my math is legit. I double checked it.

Unless your question was pertaining to another facet of making juice. If so ask away.

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