Mixing question

[esmecullen]

In preparation of starting making my own I've been reading the hints and tips on here and find them really informative.

One question springs to mind............ regarding mixing the various liquids............... on most of the e-juice calculators it has a section for the amount of water or alcohol to be included with the mix............ is this really necessary? I did think that a juice mix was the nic base, PG/VG or just PG or VG and then the flavour............. do I need to go and buy some de-ironised water and/or vodka to mix in my concoction or can I just use the base, VG/PG & flavour?

Sorry if it sounds such a silly question but any advice is appreciated

[DiscoDes]

Water & Vodka is added to a) thin thick liquids and b) in the case of vodka contribute to the throat hit.

If you use VG heavy liquids you will often have to add either/both of the above to thin it. It just depends on how your mixes come out.

[lobeydosser]

Is that also the case with "Aqueous Glycerine"?

[DiscoDes]

Any mix that is too thick can be thinned with Vodka (my preference) or water.

[lobeydosser]

At what point in the mixing does one decide that the mixture is "too thick"?

And because this is part of the initial calculations, I take it that it that it is something that is only factored in after you have made up a mix and then decided to make a second mix because the first one was considered too thick?

Sorry for seeming pedantic, but I too have just started mixing and it seems to me that I would only need to dilute mixes if I was using Glycerine that was not made for e-juices.

[Roger]

VG by itself is too thick, it should be diluted with water (or vodka) by 10-15% to make Aqueous Glycerine (AG). It should then be the correct consistency.

When mixes talk about PG/VG, they really mean PG/AG most of the time.

ETA

When mixing, add the Nic Base last, if the mix looks too thick, you can adjust accordingly before adding the Nic. If you have totally cocked it, you have not wasted the more expensive Nic.

[lobeydosser]

Thanks rogerh.
It is just that I am going up to town today and if I needed to buy any distilled water, I would have needed to buy it today as I am making my first VG mix tonight.

[Roger]

Just to add, if you don't want to thin your own VG, cig-eliquid sells AG. It's VG diluted 10% with distilled water.

[Roger]

Oct 19, 2012 9:39:06 GMT lobeydosser said:

Thanks rogerh.
It is just that I am going up to town today and if I needed to buy any distilled water, I would have needed to buy it today as I am making my first VG mix tonight.

Let us know how it goes Lobey. Are you making a 100% VG?. I'm interested cos I've never tried an all VG mix, would be difficult anyway as my Nic base is PG.

[lobeydosser]

Afraid not rogerh.
I bought a kit initially and it came with both nic base and PG as 70PG/30VG.
I have just bought more pure PG and AG so I will have to use the 70/30 nic base until I send away for VG nic base and PG nic base.
Any shop made e-juices that I have tried up until now have been 50/50 ones and I am trying to replicate these in my own mixes.

[Roger]

Oct 19, 2012 9:59:47 GMT lobeydosser said:

Afraid not rogerh.
I bought a kit initially and it came with both nic base and PG as 70PG/30VG.
I have just bought more pure PG and AG so I will have to use the 70/30 nic base until I send away for VG nic base and PG nic base.
Any shop made e-juices that I have tried up until now have been 50/50 ones and I am trying to replicate these in my own mixes.

OK, gotcha. I usually mix at about 70/30. That for me is a nice balance.

BTW, quite enjoying those eliquid labs flavours, do you get any sort of chocolate undertaste with them?

[Perpetua]

I always keep a small bottle of VG pre-diluted with Vodka normally, ready to go, so I don't have to worry about an extra stage in the mixing process.

Works very nicely for me.

[Roger]

Oct 19, 2012 10:49:37 GMT Perpetua said:

I always keep a small bottle of VG pre-diluted with Vodka normally, ready to go, so I don't have to worry about an extra stage in the mixing process.

Works very nicely for me.

I always pre-dilute my VG, then I know I have the correct consistency.

[ChillerVapes]

Sorry to thread hijack but instead of using vodka, could bacardi be used instead? I was thinking mainly to create a more genuine flavoured bacardi and coke or mojito or even pina colada.

[Roger]

Oct 19, 2012 12:16:59 GMT ChillerVapes said:

Sorry to thread hijack but instead of using vodka, could bacardi be used instead? I was thinking mainly to create a more genuine flavoured bacardi and coke or mojito or even pina colada.

Vodka is used to increase the throat hit and because it is a 'purer' spirit. Bacardi etc contain flavourings which may muck up an atomiser.