Making large quantities and staying consistent.

submitted almost 10 years ago by Bigskix

So I received a bunch of orders for a flavor I made.

I want to make five gallons for convenience.

Is there anything I should know about making five gallons at one time? Would one gallon be the same as a five gallon mix as long as your measurements are precise?

I was planning on making it in a sterile five gallon bucket and shake it in a paint shaker and then let it steep for two weeks and then add nicotine to each 120 ml bottle as I bottle it up.

I've never made a batch that large before and I don't want to waste it. Any and all advice is greatly, greatly appreciated. 😊😊

Comments

3 points

by CloudAlchemistalmost 10 years agoMixologist

For those curious, like I was, 5 gallons is roughly 19000ml (rounded up). That's five years, 75 days of eliquid at 10ml per day.

2 points

by Bigskixalmost 10 years ago

I'm selling 120 ml bottles

2 points

by CloudAlchemistalmost 10 years agoMixologist

Can't say I'm terribly surprised. Are you mixing bases first or mixing raw flavorings directly into the bucket? What sort of measuring gear/lab equipment do you have?

Edit: also, are you doing multiple nic levels or several pg/vg ratios?

2 points

by Bigskixalmost 10 years ago

What's the best way to do this?

My plan was to add VG, then add flavoring, mix in a shaker for a minute, then let it sit for two weeks. Then, when I go to bottle, add the nicotine as its bottled. Only one Nic level 3%

Any advice, never mad a batch that large before.

Oh, and as far as safety equipment, I'm using gloves, mask lab coat and a clean room with stainless steel surfaces. ( not iso)

Thanks for the help

2 points

by iwillnoteatgreeneggsalmost 10 years agoLemon Party Man!

Do you really have so many orders that you need to mix 5 gallons? The margin or error is risky and the possiblity of waste if you make an error is expensive.

I sell a SHITTON of juice, I'm running right around 5 gallon a month in various sizes. I mix and presteep flavor concentrates in 240ml bottles, that would make 10 120sat 20% flavoring. At least then, you would have error coverage.

1 points

by ConvertsToMetricalmost 10 years ago

^(Mouseover or click to view the metric conversion for this comment)

1 points

by TheVapeScapealmost 10 years ago

I'm holding you accountable for my 8 pixie sticks ;P

1 points

by bigbows1985almost 10 years agoMixologist

240ml bottles of concentrates all day. Makes life way easier.

1 points

by Python4funalmost 10 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

There is a margin of cost on a mess up that is more substantial with larger batches;however the 1900x scale would mean that 1 drop difference in a 10ml batch would scale to 190 ml difference in the 5 gallon batch. Your accuracy % will be inherently better in larger batches. Also the consistency from bottle to bottle will be better as long as the bucket is well mixed when you are filling bottles. If the bucket settles then the first bottle and last bottle will likely be very different as some separation Wil likely occur (also depending on time between).

1% error in a 30ml is 0.3 ml the same margin in 5 gallons is 190 ml

I based the scaling on trust of another comment (/u/cloudAlchemist) saying that 5 gallons was roughly 19000 ml and while I'm only 1 month into diy, I do have an engineering degree which helps with math.

Tl;dr if you are careful with measurements and keeping the batch mixed before you bottle then it will be better in larger batches.