I'm bored...I wish there was a nightly thread for stuff like this. But uuuh, what are you guys' favorite non-essential DIY tools? Mine would have to be an ultrasonic cleaner that I use for heating VG pre-mix and a 25min shaking post-mix. It probably doesn't do anything significant, but it has become a part of my mix ritual lol.
The Norpro Cordless Wand Mixer This little bad boy with the plastic wand head can get a mix well blended and frothy quicker than a sexually frustrated teen boy with the latest Sears catalog. I have nerve damage in my neck and repetitive motion tasks like shaking juice just kills me-The last time I shook a batch of juices I couldn't get off the couch for two days and both arms felt like they were on fire. Enter the Norpro to save the day! I give my mixes a 30 second stir after adding the next-to-final ingredient of warmed VG(Hot water bath to assist with blending) After that, I cap the juice bottle and let them sit for 24 hours to 2 weeks, depending on the flavors used. I then add my nicotine, cap and shake for 10-20 seconds. I add the nicotine last because the mixer adds a decent amount of air into the mix and I don't want the nicotine to oxidize while the juice is steeping, so I leave it out until I'm ready to vape the juice.
I went and got a $20 milk frother when I first started mixing a couple years ago. Works great if you're making a recipe to split and vape immediately. I used the shit out of mine. Any more, I just mix it in the bottle, shake it, and encourage a proper steep. It's a fun toy, but I cannot say it makes things any better than an intense 30 second handshake and a week or two in the cupboard.
Edit: Can't even find a link to what I have, but most similar models now sell for $8-13 This is as close as I can find.
That little thing can froth?! No way lol
I'd avoid mixing to the point where there's bubbles forming on the surface. Takes far too long to settle and leaves a gross film on glassware that makes me wonder wtf. I just use a mini slow-cooker half full with water on its lowest setting (hotter side of warm) for 20mins. If your heat treating juice its important to realize that it mutes fresh fruit flavors, so add those after for best results. I should note that candy fruit flavors are unaffected.
Na I don't heat my juices at all anymore. Before, I was giving them the ol water bath and was basically ruining all of my mixes. One day, I just said fuck it and mixed about 1500mL of 20 different juices with fast cure times so I could focus on making custards and pastry mixes that take 2-3 weeks before they've matured. I really wanna try heat treating with a magnetic stirrer but I don't have $200 to blow when patience is just as affective.
Not really a tool, but life got much easier when I got one of those nail polish racks for my flavors. Before I got that it was such a pain in the ass finding things because I didn't have anything organized besides "tobaccos, other." I think I'm going to need another one though because my desk is still full of flavors that don't fit.
Those racks are great for making the bottles visible and easy to pick. My current project is building a shallow cabinet with fold-out doors which will contain 4 racks and have a benchtop base.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GBC0JVG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I just use a few clear shelves. I'm definitely going to need another one soon, though. I have all of my bottles ordered by manufacturer and then in alphabetical order. Makes finding bottles a breeze.
I go Tobaccos->Manufacturer->alphabetical. Then the bottom row is random other flavors. I need another for all my non-tobaccos. I just don't think my desk will be big enough to hold it. Might have to get creative. Or hang something on the wall.
That thing you normally use for making milk foam for cappucinos. I use it to stir my juices :)
Microsoft Excel and Access. I can track my inventory levels of juice and supplies, I can add links to every site needed to resupplying (along with company phone numbers and customer service names). Diketone levels in each juice in PPM, batch numbers, ect. I have all my recipes and methods, password protected and ready to go.
I do all of that within this: http://diyjuicecalculator.com/
My save file is on Dropbox in case of a PC failure.
Magnetic stirrer. Set it to medium speed so no air gets sucked down (or very little atleast) and let it run for 10 min and then it's all properly mixed up and superb!
Oh and if you do a thick mix with high vg just heat the bottle using warm tap water since heat changes the viscosity of the vg and also some people claim it reduces steeping times aswell 🤔 but I have not seen any difference worth noting.
I really like my little handheld spinny milk frother thingymajig for blending my larger mixes together (500-1000ml) as I mix a lot for friends and such. Small batches I just shake though. And I also wouldn't want to live without my ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning my hardware and personal bottles with :)
I set my 120ml glass bottles full of freshly shaken juice next to the exhaust from a video projector, and rotate them and move them around for a few hours. Guaranteed to clarify and bring out the colors.
heat will degrade nicotine and destroy flavors. in some cases it can reduce steep times but at the cost of flavor life. but if that works for you then ok.
you have to weigh everything though. Is a few hours at 100F and then being in my pocket and in the car and outside going to make any difference in the longevity?