Steeping test

[Super-Shiny]

Used:
100% PG 54mg
Cupcakes Strawberry
Perfumers Hazelnut
Perfumers Caramel Original
70%pg
30%vg
30 drops per 1ml

Reasoning behind making 2ml and 5ml was because when I started going down to making 2ml instead of 5ml I noticed that the flavors of the mixes was not standing out, I don't know if it was due to such little fluid and not enough for air bubbles etc etc to move around to mix things up but it just was not right.

2ml Test

Test 1a:
Made 2ml mix using drops only with natural steeping (1 week)

Test 2a:
Made 2ml mix using syringe only with natural steeping (1 week)

Test 3a:
Made 2ml mix using drops only with Ultrasonic Cleaning (3hrs+ until exact same color as the 1 week natural steep)

Test 4a:
Made 2ml mix using syringe only with Ultrasonic Cleaning (3hrs+ until exact same color as the 1 week natural steep)

Outcome for test (A) for flavor/throat hit/vape in order from best too worst:

2a, 1a, 4a, 3a

2a and 1a was very close but 2a had a slight edge
4a and 3a was very close but 4a had a slight edge
2a and 1a had quite a big edge over 4a and 3a

5ml Test

Test 1b:
Made 5ml mix using drops only with natural steeping

Test 2b:
Made 5ml mix using syringe only with natural steeping

Test 3b:
Made 5ml mix using drops only with Ultrasonic Cleaning (3hrs+ until exact same color as the 1 week natural steep)

Test 4b:
Made 5ml mix using syringe only with Ultrasonic Cleaning (3hrs+ until exact same color as the 1 week natural steep)

Outcome for test (B) for flavor/throat hit/vape in order from best too worst:

2b, 1b, 4b, 3b

2b and 1b was very close but 2b had a slight edge
4b and 3b was very close but 4b had a slight edge
2b and 1b had quite a big edge over 4b and 3b

Conclusion:

Back to the bit about 2ml mixes and 5ml mixes, 2a beat 2b yet they are made both the same apart from how much ml which makes me wonder again that 2ml has not got enough liquid to form a good mix...jury is out on this one.

Based on test (B) ultrasonic cleaners do work at the coloring side of things and getting flavor but lack behind natural steeping for flavor, also found that with ultrasonic cleaning it gets to a point that the coloring comes to a stand still and won't get darker no more and the flavor does not intensify no matter how much longer you do it....jury out on this one aswell.

Based on test (B) syringes versus drops.......So little between them but it is noticeable, I done this test filling one Evod with syringe version and one Evod with drops version as I needed to relax with this and take my time.

The difference between them was the balance, the hazelnut and caramel stood out a fraction bit more and felt a fraction more balanced and overall better with the syringe version, nothing to write home about but better.

Final outcome:

Will I use the Ultrasonic cleaner still? Yes, for quick testing on simple and standalone recipes.
Will I make 2ml mixes anymore, No, does not work for me.
Will I still use drops anymore, Yes, but for potent flavors like hazelnut or rhubarb and big mixes I will use syringes.

This is all based on me mixing and in no way any intention for others too follow, it was just something I was testing.

[duke]

Interesting test Romelee, all food or juice for thought.

I have found that mixing small quantities ie 2ml are not quite as flavoursome as 5mls and up.

I only mix menthol and a bit of spearmint now, HOOKED, and it's 10mls @ a time.

Duke

[Karma]

I CBA to mix anything under 10mls

[Super-Shiny]

Forgot too add that the above is only when i am creating new mixes, if it is a mix i know and is good than 30ml minimum like these puppys, front row new 5ml mixes, back row my lovely puppies steeping:

[Pezz]

Interesting results.

I've only just started mixing and have to say I enjoyed my first batch of liquid (Which wasn't steeped or ultrasonic'd) more than the second batch which I did use an ultrasonic to speed steep.  (May have more to do with my set up than the liquid)

My thought is that ultrasonic is going to be good for mixing the ingredients together but only time is going to allow the flavour to develop fully.


I think I need to settle on my vaping set up and stop changing everything and then I'll really be able to taste the differences in the juices I concoct.


Super-Shiny I've bookmarked your syringe website ready for my next order.
Personally I use a syringe as much as I can.  With drops as I have difficulty counting above ten without being distracted and losing track of where I was up to.

Finally strawberry, hazelnut and caramel sounds like something I'll have to try... yum

[Super-Shiny]

Recipe here Pezz if you want to try it:



Or here: allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/thread/12015/aae-members-recipe-collection?page=2

[chrisjw]

Interesting thread Romelee...........I'm waiting on some strawberry concentrate from LL & didn't know what I was going to do with it, but you've given me ideas now...................

[a1laserboy]

Out of interest Romelee, how did you use your ultrasonic cleaner? I just made up some black liquorice (that always splits) into a plastic bottle, put it into my cleaner with hot water in it and ran it for 3 sets of 30 mins, and it didn't help the splitting (first time i tried it). I thought maybe using a glass bottle would transmit the waves better maybe?

[Super-Shiny]

a1laserboy

Done a thread here that might help: allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/thread/22695/ultrasonic-cleaner-results

[Perpetua]

Don't they look lovely as well Rom . . . all those bottles of yours.

I haven't got into using a UC for steeping mainly because I think it will be like the difference between a naturally ripened tomato and a forced one. It's no hardship really to give mixes some natural steepage time, I don't think anyway. I know others feel differently.

And I never make smaller volumes than 5ml, too much faff for so little of a end result, even if it isn't a brilliant one.

[Super-Shiny]

May 31, 2013 18:50:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Don't they look lovely as well Rom . . . all those bottles of yours.

I haven't got into using a UC for steeping mainly because I think it will be like the difference between a naturally ripened tomato and a forced one. It's no hardship really to give mixes some natural steepage time, I don't think anyway. I know others feel differently.

And I never make smaller volumes than 5ml, too much faff for so little of a end result, even if it isn't a brilliant one.

To be honest my UC has took a bit of a back seat, can't keep up and i am ending up with too many mixes, so i am sticking to a rule, make 10 x 5ml new mixes and leave them to steep for two weeks, buy the time the two weeks is up i should of vaped the previous two weeks worth, plus i am trying my damm hardest to vape all the juices i have bought since starting vaping...phew it's hard work

[Super-Shiny]

Plus the more older i get the closer i will need to use the UC for false teeth so all is not lost

[Perpetua]

May 31, 2013 19:13:36 GMT Super-Shiny said:

 plus i am trying my damm hardest to vape all the juices i have bought since starting vaping...phew it's hard work

Tell me about it Rom . . . I stocked up for a Zombie Apocalypse on ready mades, then got into mixing. The rest is history, there aren't enough vaping hours in my day.

[zeldamum]

Good test Romelee. I was thinking about investing in a UC but won't bother now.

[Super-Shiny]

Jun 1, 2013 6:58:26 GMT zeldamum said:

Good test Romelee. I was thinking about investing in a UC but won't bother now.

My next test is gonna be:

Steeping with lid on
Steeping without lid on
Steeping with lid on and shaking once a day
Steeping without lid on and shaking once a day (gonna have to put lid on ofc to shake)

Love all this testing thingy ma jibs

I wonder if Frogster (The Alchemist) can confirm any of my findings or will he just think i am mad