I READ THE SIDEBAR -- Still have a question for getting into DIY

submitted about 10 years ago by mcflyjr

So a lot of people advocate mixing by weight.

A lot of people also still mix by volume.

Regardless, I looked through the comments and I see comments about how they either throw away plastic cause it absorbs the flavor, or they use one plastic syringe/etc for certain flavors...

Every DIY kit comes with mainly plastic components...

So, is there a real reason why I shouldn't just go buy glass components? It seems it'd be cheaper than having to throw away stuff, and it's a lot easier to clean...

What's y'alls experience?

I was gonna buy the Heartland kit but I'm leaning towards just buying the glass pieces off Amazon, and the PG/VG/Nicotine off of one of the other websites.

I searched but didn't see any huge advocates for glass vs plastic, other than the comments about how people just throw away plastic all the time...

Comments

5 points

by RobertDF902about 10 years ago

When I started I bought all 10ml dropper bottles of flavors. Once I found one I knew I would use again I would just order a big bulk bottle and keep topping up the dropper bottle. This made switching to mixing by weight a breeze since now I just drop directly from the bottle until I reach the required weight. Super easy, quick, and efficient. I even got a flip spout cap for my bottle of VG and a 140ml dropper bottle for my PG. For the nic base I keep topping up a 30ml dropper bottle from the bulk bottle. I never have to use syringes or pipettes anymore and it's great.

4 points

by mcflyjrabout 10 years ago

I think I'm seriously overthinking what I need.

I try to be a "buy it for life" kinda investor, so I like researching and seeing what works best...

So far, for mixing by weight, I have the LB 501 scale in my cart, I'll have to pick a good PG/VG vendor, and source some decent nicotine. Flavorings I'll probably go to TFA.

For hardware though, I'm still really unsure what I need...

3 points

by ThirdWorldOrderabout 10 years ago

This is exactly what you need.

1 points

by mcflyjrabout 10 years ago

Thanks for this!

I was looking at the vast amount of stuff that's out there and available and was kinda scared by the huge amount of options.

Is there a reason to use plastic pipettes over glass?

I think I decided I'm just gonna go full glass for the re-usability and environmental friendliness factor.

1 points

by RobertDF902about 10 years ago

I bought the LB 501 too, it's a fantastic scale. You can usually find it on sale too, with shipping to Canada plus some plastic pipettes I was still under $50 CAD.

As for the flavours, you won't want to limit yourself to one company. TFA/TPA is great and is probably the majority of my flavours, but I have lots of Flavor Art, Capella, and LorAnn as well. There's a link in the sidebar for recommended first order flavours which is what I went by when I first started and it's a solid list.

2 points

by [deleted]about 10 years ago

I promise you. You will never regret starting with weight and not volume.

2 points

by DrMclovensabout 10 years agoThe Mad Alchemist

Oh absolutely. almost all my personal mixing is done by squeeze bottles/pipettes into my glass graduated cylinders.

Way better than messing with syringes. WAY better.

people yell about weight being better than volume. Only thing I have used my scales for is for making Ethyl Maltol and Citric Acid solutions...so twice.

other than that. it's just a question of would you rather watch scale numbers or lines on a cylinder. your choice.

(you will need tiny funnels for this method)

1 points

by vapingrammyabout 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

The only plastic I throw away are the disposable syringes. I use glass and plastic bottles and reuse them.

1 points

by BuryMeInSmokeabout 10 years ago

Most folks mixing by weight store their concentrates in plastic bottles with drip tops and just drip the flavourings directly into the bottle. No pipettes or syringes needed.

1 points

by aimlessfocusabout 10 years ago

I didnt buy a kit when i first started and im fine. Find a couple recipes you like at least 3 . Buy needed flavors. Get a scale its way easier and little to no clean up. I use ecigexpress or bullcity vapors sometimes wizardlabs. You can get enough stuff to mix a gallon for under a $100 .

1 points

by Shiby92about 10 years ago

I have glass for long term steeping. 10ml plastic bottles for on the go refilling. Bottles r cheap. Stock up!

1 points

by shrine399about 10 years agoMixologist

I have glass labware for mixing stuff I sell, due to it's easiness to clean. Glass is expensive, that's the downside. Plastic is cheap and easy to use a few times then toss it, or be like me and just use it until the markers have rubbed away (only use in mixes for myself). I just don't care enough that an extra molecule of X flavor got into my Y juice. Yes, i can smell residual aroma molecules even after cleaning; No, I can never taste them in the end product.

1 points

by ThirdWorldOrderabout 10 years ago

Yes, and it's sorta wasteful to throw away plastic bottles after each use

1 points

by 2stupidabout 10 years ago

get a 500 count box of 1ml pipettes for 10 bucks on amazon for flavors. 1 syringe for pg, 1 for vg, one for base. tell us how it worked out next summer.

1 points

by sthprk33about 10 years ago

Just mix by weight and you won't have to worry about any of it.

0 points

by bigted209about 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

I mix by volume with plastic syringes.... Once my plastic ones run out, I'm getting glass syringes. The plastic ones hold up for me maybe 3-5 mixing sessions before they get really stiff/sticky on the inside. Glass won't have that issue. Yeah everyone says mixing by weight is the way to go.... I'm a stubborn old man, and this is how I've always done it :/. Besides, is have to relearn how to make 60ish finished recipes. Really, there is no right nor wrong...there are just ways. Which is right for you? The one that works best for you I'd say. Welcome to the other side btw, it's much nicer here :D

1 points

by mcflyjrabout 10 years ago

Haha I just started vaping again this week, and I went through half a $20 bottle in a day...

I was like, yep, there's gotta be a cheaper way...

Building up the Amazon cart now and ordering soon...

1 points

by coop34about 10 years ago

Just wanted to throw this out, bull city vapor for flavors. They do have a problem on being out of stock on some flavors, sometimes. But their customer service and shipping are second to none. Oh, and cheap place to get empty bottles, unless you will be ordering a large quantity.

1 points

by bigted209about 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

This. Bull city is one of my go to sites, OSDIY and ecig express. Wizard labs on occasion, they are a bit pricier than the others mentioned, but they are normally well stocked on 4oz bottles and higher

1 points

by NOifsANDSorBUTZabout 10 years ago

Have a cup of filtered clean water next you, I use a coffee mug. When switching flavors, fill the syringe with water a couple of times and empty it out. Keeps your syringe's clean and prevents them from getting sticky

1 points

by bigted209about 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

I do something quite similar, but it only helps me so much. They still degrade and get "sticky" inside after repeated use. In the end, I just got a 50 pack of 10ml syringes off amazon for $15, it is what it is.

1 points

by NOifsANDSorBUTZabout 10 years ago

Maybe its because I rarely use syringes, I have like 5 10ml syringes. I have used the same one for about a month now. Just thought i would throw my 2 cents in.