Another dumb question..

[kickit]

OK, let me just make it clear that I'm not planning to do any mixing YET. However, it has come to my attention whilst reading some of the very interesting thread on mixing, and looking at the recipes so generously shared by those far more expert than I ever imagine I'll be, that I could save quite a lot of money by doing my own thing.

"No s**t, Sherlock!" I hear you cry

Ah, but. Yes, there is a "but".

At the moment, I am vaping juices which, in general, have no more than 4-5mg nicotine. This started out as a stupid mistake on my part, but I have now been vaping away quite contentedly on low nic juices ever since I began, and seem not to be chain vaping, nor indeed fighting off any terrible nicotine cravings.

So, when I looked at the recipes, I quickly noticed that the most expensive ingredient is, of course, the nicotine. And that led me to realise that if I'm buying premade juices with such a low content, I'm actually spending even MORE money I needn't spend than someone who is vaping higher nic juices. Because generally the prices don't vary with the nic content.

My question is this, therefore... If I want to start mixing my own zero nic juices, is it basically a question of getting some PG, some VG and some flavours plus possibly a bottle of Vodka and mixing away? Obviously, I realise it won't be quite that simple, but you get my drift..

Thank you in advance for answering a really dumb question, but I'm sitting here at the moment thinking "What could possibly go wrong?" and I am pretty sure that someone out there will be willing and able to tell me!

[giles]

I just started mixing a couple of weeks ago, with no intention of doing any fancy recipes - my OH doesn't like the smell of boiling VG so I wanted to make some pure PG juices, and also save some money. It worked fine.

And yes, at that level you just buy flavours, dilutant (PG and/or VG with no nicotine), PG or VG with nicotine (usually at about 50mg), mix them according to the recommendations on the websites, steep a few days and vape.

To mix them you will need a syringe and some dropper bottles. I read somewhere that it is easiest to mix a decent quantity of your dilutant with the nicotine first, to get something about 10% or so stronger than your target nic level, and then mix a little of that to make much smaller quantities of the flavoured juice; so that is what I do.

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

Oct 22, 2012 16:50:25 GMT kickit said:

My question is this, therefore... If I want to start mixing my own zero nic juices, is it basically a question of getting some PG, some VG and some flavours plus possibly a bottle of Vodka and mixing away? Obviously, I realise it won't be quite that simple, but you get my drift.

Yep, you have it right… BTW, you don’t need Vodka as a thinning agent, de-ionised water will do OK, cheaper still, but if you are going for higher PG ratio juices then you might not even need the water as PG flows and wicks OK (or at least I find it is OK in my equipment)..

Nicotine although advertised as flavourless, still has a little flavour / sweetness, especially if it is in VG, so you may need to tweak a little to compensate for the lack of…

To explain, let’s look at a reworked recipe at 0% Nicotine:-



See how it works…. and at less than £0.30 per 10mls….. Good init!!!

BTW, just want to point out this is not the one I sell on my website, this one is a general recipe.... but still nice

[Deleted]

kickit, its unbelievable isnt it, i had the same feelings as you, thinking surely it cant be that easy, its interesting finding flavours on the internet, finding the cheapest costing, buying & trying the different flavours, mixing flavours, its given my something to do in my spare time and im loving it .

if it wasnt for Frogsters thread i would be £250 better off by now.......he he only joking

[kickit]

Thank you so much! Frogster, if I can trouble you further with another question: if the nicotine has an inherent sweetness that won't be present in a zero nicotine mix, presumably I can, if necessary, adjust for that by the addition of a sweetening agent if I think I'd prefer it sweeter?

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

Yes, indeed you can, just add it in to your calculations. (always record it so you can replicate it next time).

[Sandra (aka Chillax)]

Oct 22, 2012 22:52:11 GMT Frogster (The Alchemist) said:

Yes, indeed you can, just add it in to your calculations. (always record it so you can replicate it next time).

Something I must remember to do

[Roger]

Am I correct in thinking that you should never allow VG to boil, cos it changes into something a bit not nice to your elf?

[giles]

I'd have thought it boiled when you vape it?

[Perpetua]

Oct 23, 2012 1:33:15 GMT Sandra (aka Chillax) said:

Oct 22, 2012 22:52:11 GMT Frogster (The Alchemist) said:

Yes, indeed you can, just add it in to your calculations. (always record it so you can replicate it next time).

Something I must remember to do

Ditto.

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

Oct 23, 2012 15:22:05 GMT Roger said:

Am I correct in thinking that you should never allow VG to boil, cos it changes into something a bit not nice to your elf?

Correct rogerh,

The concern for pure VG is that when heated above 280 degrees Celsius (536 degrees Fahrenheit) is it chemically converts to the HIGHLY toxic acrolein.

Acrolein is one of the major toxic products found in cigarette smoke.

Typical setups that we vape with heat the juice at about 250 degrees Fahrenheit, plus the VG is diluted with other substances that have differing boiling points, so "My Opinion" is that it SHOULD be OK.

Don't let VG boil when making extractions with it, as I have already stated in my method instructions, for this very reason.

[giles]

Thanks for that Frogster. Do you know what the situation is for PG?

[Roger]

Oct 23, 2012 17:40:30 GMT Frogster (The Alchemist) said:

Oct 23, 2012 15:22:05 GMT Roger said:

Am I correct in thinking that you should never allow VG to boil, cos it changes into something a bit not nice to your elf?

Correct rogerh,

The concern for pure VG is that when heated above 280 degrees Celsius (536 degrees Fahrenheit) is it chemically converts to the HIGHLY toxic acrolein.

Acrolein is one of the major toxic products found in cigarette smoke.

Typical setups that we vape with heat the juice at about 250 degrees Fahrenheit, plus the VG is diluted with other substances that have differing boiling points, so "My Opinion" is that it SHOULD be OK.

Don't let VG boil when making extractions with it, as I have already stated in my method instructions, for this very reason.

Thanks for that Froggy, I thought I'd read it somewhere (Griz probably). I know you said don't let it boil, but not why. Just thought it needed emphasizing with peeps doing tobacco extracts. It shouldn't happen doing it the 'Bain Marie' way, but there is always some silly bugger who will try to cook it in the pan

[Roger]

Oct 24, 2012 12:26:05 GMT giles said:

Thanks for that Frogster. Do you know what the situation is for PG?

Let me Google that for you

Linky

Sorry Giles, but I've always wanted to do that.

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

There you go Giles......... Loads to read up on!

Thanks Rogerh, saved me doing it!