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Confused about vegetable glycerin :/
submitted almost 10 years ago by Kamtre

Hey guys so I've done some research and i have flavors and nic on the way but i was hoping to get vg locally.

But I've gotten confused about the different types available. Sorry if this is discussed often, my searches of the sub didn't turn up much.

One shop i found has 99.7% usp and they sell it for cosmetic use. I've also found claims by some people that the glycerin found in your average drug store is not the same as vegetable glycerin.

I thought this would be easy and i want to buy local as I've stopped buying juice in anticipation of getting this order of stuff.

And just to clarify my lungs really don't like pg so I'm trying to go max vg so that's why i need help.

Thanks guys!

Comments
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6 points
 
by nomacjackalmost 10 years agoPâtissier

As long as its both food grade and usp I vape that shit

3 points
 
by chuxsuxalmost 10 years agoFrugivore

You preferably want USP grade. Food grade is below USP standards.

3 points
 
by nomacjackalmost 10 years agoPâtissier

The shit I been buying is both

3 points
 
by chuxsuxalmost 10 years agoFrugivore

USP means it was packaged in a class eight clean room, and is also required to have a lot number on it. Obviously if something is at USP designation of purity then it is food grade and above quality as well.

2 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

Ok sweet lol. Thanks for the tip :)

1 points
 
by IDSMBalmost 10 years ago

That's the way I approach it too :-)

5 points
 
by trecentersalmost 10 years ago

Just order some from a known popular internet retailer unless you can tell us the brand name. I myself would probably vape it but I would probably research the brand first.

2 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

Here's a link to it. Looks promising and it is kosher too so I'm leaning towards it but i don't feel like feeding myself something that i shouldn't lol

https://www.the-apothecary.ca/mobile/Vegetable-Glycerin_p_269.html

4 points
 
by trecentersalmost 10 years ago

looks fine, the other percent is water because you can't isolate 100% glycerin.

2 points
 
by commi_furiousalmost 10 years ago

This is where I began to buy from after hearing about another store that sources only from this place. Im am pleased with the quality...and the price is great.

1 points
 
by IDSMBalmost 10 years ago

I have ordered USP and bought locally in a few shops (including Boots in the UK) and they have all seemed the same to me, no issues at all.

2 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

Ok cool. There's a b&m in my city that sells vg but i was hoping to be able to find something more accessible, and the apothecary (a much more accessible shop) said some people have bought their vg for that purpose but they haven't had any feedback nor do they remember whether they have had return customers lol.

2 points
 
by TheAlmightyDalmost 10 years ago

The majority of all VG is produced by the same company, it's redistributed into smaller and smaller amounts as the chain goes down. If you buy 10 different brands of vg, chances are all of them came from the same company originally.

1 points
 
by IDSMBalmost 10 years ago

No problem at all, I pretty much only use this now, just got used to the ease of buying it from them:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000ml-Cosmetic-Vegetable-Glycerine-Glycerol/dp/B008S9KGKO

1 points
 
by NASAguy1000almost 10 years ago

If you have amazon you can get vg from essentials depot. I think a quart is like $12? I have used walmart vg in a pinch before.

1 points
 
by Skikaalmost 10 years ago

Last I checked I got two gallons for like 26 bucks or so.

1 points
 
by raphboalmost 10 years ago

If you're in Canada like I it seems you are because of your link you should just order from either fusion flavours or canvape. Canvape is quicker than fusion if that matters and I think a bit cheaper with more selection too.

2 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

I will probably do that later on but my orders are coming in on Monday and i need a relatively quick fix lol

1 points
 
by turkourjurbsalmost 10 years agoFrugivore

Then go to your nearest Shoppers Drug Mart if you're in Canada. They sell a suitable glycerin in the first aid section; 250ml/$6.

1 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

See that's the thing i wonder is whether that stuff is the right stuff. I think I'm gonna check out the apothecary tomorrow though. Flavor and nic arriving tomorrow!

1 points
 
by raphboalmost 10 years ago

Cool!

1 points
 
by onions_can_be_sweetalmost 10 years agoMixologist

Most (probably all) glycerin you can buy in a drug store comes from vegetable matter. Since vegetable source glycerin is very cheap to make it is the most common variety.

99.7% USP is fine to use for vaping, in fact any just USP glycerin is fine.

Other sources of glycerin (animal, mineral) are usually not manufactured for the glycerin, rather are by products from other processes. Generally they are not refined to food or USP grade.

1 points
 
by ShutUpTurkeyalmost 10 years ago

I buy it on Amazon using prime for free shipping. Wizardlabs and other online retailers gouge on shipping cost if you order any of the larger sizes of vg/pg. For instance, a combined liter of vg/pg increases my shipping cost by $16 at wizardlabs.

1 points
 
by TheOnlyMomoalmost 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

Walmart has a 99.5% vg. It's under the brand Humco. It's like $3.68 or something for 177ml of it. I used to go there in a pinch. Now I order from essential depot.

You will find it in the pharmacy under the first aid section

1 points
 
by grrumble66almost 10 years ago

You're the first person I've noticed mention the first-aid section (where I saw it) instead of the skin care aisle. :)

1 points
 
by TheOnlyMomoalmost 10 years agoOne of "The Damned"

I honestly didn't even know they had glycerin but figure what's the hurt in asking and was pleasantly surprised when the lady I asked actually knew what I was looking for and directed me to the first aid section

1 points
 
by sinnersaint9almost 10 years ago

Hell, if I don't have time to order any, or just need a small amount, I go to Wal-Mart and by the humco brand. It's always worked out well for me.

1 points
 
by PalefaceVaperalmost 10 years ago

The thing that confuses me about VG, is why some seem to be thicker than others... And in not talking about grocery store or "local" VG. I'm talking about buying VG from online places that specialize is DIY vape supplies.

I want the thickest VG I can find (I know right, sounds dumb).... But I love super thick max VG juice. Some VG just seems thinner than others,

Who knows we're to get the thickest damn VG around (vapable of course)?

1 points
 
by RabidMuskrat93almost 10 years ago

I always buy my VG from walmart. It's in the beauty aide isle around the bug bite stuff and calamine lotion.

99.7% USP grade glycerine. Costs like 4 dollars for 177 ML. It's probably not the cheapest source outside of internet distributors, but its the easiest place to buy it since I go through the VG much much faster compared to my nicotine and flavorings.

1 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

So cosmetic grade vg will work just fine?

1 points
 
by RabidMuskrat93almost 10 years ago

Well, it hasn't killed me yet! Lol. If I had to guess, you'd be fine. Everything I've read here and elsewhere has said that as long as its USP grade, you're golden.

1 points
 
by jonest27almost 10 years ago

I buy stuff from my local pharmacy (probably equivalent to US drug store) it's cheaper than anywhere else. http://www.boots.com/en/Value-Health-Glycerin-B-P-200ml_852418/

1 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

And you have no issues eh? I just heard there were different grades and types so I'm just trying to avoid a lungful of disappointment lol.

1 points
 
by jonest27almost 10 years ago

Nah, none whatsoever it's Pharma grade stuff so it's fine :)

1 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

Ok sweet. Just picked up a bottle from a local organic soap shop. Says palm/coconut derivative so i think I'm set. So excited to try out the new flavors when i get home :D

1 points
 
by Osiasyaalmost 10 years ago

I read this from someone commenting on Essential Depot's PG;

> These carriers are made in four grades: Pharmaceutical Grade - for human consumption including by inhalation Food Grade - for human consumption by ingestion but not inhalation Agricultural (Farm) Grade - for use in connection with animals Industrial Grade - for use in machinery, manufacturing and similar purposes All of these grades except Pharma Grade contain contaminants, in increasing amounts as the grade quality reduces. This is the difference in the grades. DO NOT BUY FARM GRADE OR INDUSTRIAL GRADE MATERIALS FOR INHALATION - THEY ARE CONTAMINATED. Even Food Grade should probably not be inhaled, because the digestive system can handle the contaminants in it that the lungs may not be able to. An example of this kind of difference is the flavoring chemical diacetyl, which has a very strong butter popcorn aroma. It is safe for ingestion (eating) as the digestive system can neutralize it; but it can be fatal when inhaled over a period of time as it causes a degenerative lung disease called 'popcorn lung', Bronchiolitis Obliterans. This is a rather extreme analogy, admittedly, but it does illustrate the very wide difference between the digestive tract and the lungs. PG and VG are both sold in good quality and are labelled: Propylene Glycol, USP (or BP or EU) Glycerine, USP (or BP or EU) It is possible that a USP product can be either pharma grade or food grade. The USP designation only refers to a general production regime and does not cover the exact contaminants as long as the minimum standard is met. So a USP product might be considered safe for inhalation; or it might, on test, prove inadvisable to inhale. The only product that is guaranteed to be suitable for inhalation is a product that is (a) designated by the manufacturer as Pharmaceutical Grade, and that (b) also has a provable license for inclusion in a specific inhalable medicine. Needless to say this is virtually impossible to locate for the individual buyer. A vendor would be able to buy e.g. Dow Optim glycerine in quantity, for mixing down (or its PG equivalent), and be assured the material is suitable. This however doesn't take into account the nicotine base carrier PG or glycerine. As a practical example, the FDA has warned that glycerine marked USP may contain toxic components from biodiesel byproduct manufacture, and currently there appears to be no way of determining whether or not a USP product contains biodiesel byproduct glycerine. Only synthetic pharma grade glycerine can be be assumed to be free of such contaminants at this time. PG Only propylene glycol of pharma grade should be inhaled, no other grade is suitable. All other grades contain contaminants. VG Glycerine should only be inhaled in pharma grade, which is often synthetic. The use of the term VG to describe the glycerine we use for inhalation is probably obsolete now, and stems from the early days of e-cigarette use when there was little use of Glycerine USP and DIYers had a choice between vegetable-source glycerine and animal-source glycerine [1]. Pharma grade glycerine for inhalation - the only type that should be used - is frequently synthetic [2] and therefore absolutely pure, so its origin is irrelevant. [1] Glycerine can be made from a multiplicity of sources including animal carcases, biodiesel manufacture byproduct, palm oil, coconut oil, a combination of vegetable sources, or synthetically. [2] To see more info on pharma grade glycerine, google 'dow optim'.

Edited to format a bit. Sorry it's a giant paragraph don't know how to put in breaks e___e. You can look up 1 Quart PG from Essential Depot and find the original comment on the question "What is the purity of this product?"

1 points
 
by Kamtrealmost 10 years ago

That was a really comprehensive response and pretty much exactly what i was looking for. Thanks!

1 points
 
by Osiasyaalmost 10 years ago

No problem, I stumbled upon this and have been trying to share it whenever I get the chance. :)

-1 points
 
by ScoopDatalmost 10 years ago

99% of the VG we vape is food grade, thus not meant for inhalation. There is no medical grade VG, there is medical grade Glycerin. What you want to look for is a lot number and expiration date. If it doesn't have that, than its simply food grade. To save you the trouble, here is one for example. Pretty much some of the highest grade, and cleanest glycerin you can buy (outside of having connections in the medical field) as a consumer. PM me if you want the link.

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