Need to move to mixing a bit promptly :o(

[Ancient Hermit]

Oh dear, I just saw the other thread about 28vapes. Looks like that will cause my plans to change quite a bit. Mixing may also become unaffordable after all. Damn.

[fred]

Jul 14, 2013 19:22:33 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

That's got to help a lot! Nice job.

My only deviation is that I rolled up my sleeves and dug into the "nic combine" function and tweaked out my own version in there using data for the crystal54 and also for no nic VG - seems to have tamed it all now as it has a "transfer to main form" function. As long as you don't then manually specify a target mg level it knows what to do with it all! Very nice to use it like that too! You could endlessly mix it up in that section with 3 "bases" at once 

I've been hatching out a shopping list! One corner of my kitchen will look like a pharma lab soon! LOL 

I'll get a standby order in place, and then back on track and take a little more time and trouble over this shopping list I think, I need some time to plan it just right, time spent there might well pay off productively. 

The nic combine feature is really useful for diluting or strengthening juices - I would steer clear of it for the moment, as it seems that you are possibly over-complicating it for yourself by doing that.

If you're using 54mg base nic, just type it in the box I labled before. Once you give it all the other parameters, it will tell you how much VG (from boots) and PG (from ebay) to add, to give you the specified strength and PG/VG ratio.

I would not suggest mixing different strength bases to try and achieve a certain strength -

• once you add flavours, it will put the strength and PG/VG ratio out of kilter
  
• It is easier to dilute using VG & PG according to what the software determines
• It is cheaper to dilute with PG or VG than with base nic of another strength.

Jul 14, 2013 21:57:47 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Oh dear, I just saw the other thread about 28vapes. Looks like that will cause my plans to change quite a bit. Mixing may also become unaffordable after all. Damn.

The initial outlay can be pretty hefty, but mixing your own juice will always be cheaper per ml than buying premade juice. I suppose the same as vaping in general. 
I will have been vaping for 4 months at the end of July, and then I will break even on what I would have spent on tobacco. HOWEVER, I have enough supplies to last me almost 3 years. Mrs fred was gobsmacked that I've spent £300 in 3 months, but when I explained to her about the supplies, and I won't be spending on tobacco each month, she's earmarked the savings for a new kitchen 

Jul 14, 2013 15:08:20 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Jul 14, 2013 14:30:52 GMT fred said:

Ancient Hermit Download e-Jucie me up from here

It will calculate all your ratios and flavours and tell you how much of each to add

So far it is just confusing me - I am apparently too thick to enter numbers which it does not interpret as negative ones, despite them not having been entered as negative as reality has it. Every time I try to even learn to use it it claims negative numbers no matter what I do.

That does not look like going anywhere but I will keep trying. I guess it must be me. Surely it can't be defective software with so many saying they use it? I have seen one or two folk say it does this to them.

I can't even try running the numbers by for that LT liquids stuff so far. I don't know what a lot of the answers might be here but the liquids come as being like 94.6% PG and say 5.4% Nic. I can't see a place to enter diluents at all so far.

Right, I think you're misinterpreting the numbers from LTE. The 5.4% nic means it is 54mg/ml. As far as the calculator is concerned that particular juice is 100% PG and 54mg (just as in my pic). No dilutents needed for base nic.
Negative quantities in the mix mean that you can't achieve that particular mix with the ingredients you have (I can try to explain that better if you need me to or maybe breaktru could explain better than me).

---

If you tell me what VG/PG ratio you want and if you are using VG or PG 54mg base, I can do you a screenshot of the easiest way to achieve your mix.

And, I'm not sure that deionised water for batteries is suitable. I think you may need distilled water? I don't use anything to dilute VG, but would use vodka if i needed to. Someone will clarify the deionised/distilled water thing.

[Ancient Hermit]

Jul 14, 2013 22:45:12 GMT fred said:

Jul 14, 2013 19:22:33 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

That's got to help a lot! Nice job.

My only deviation is that I rolled up my sleeves and dug into the "nic combine" function and tweaked out my own version in there using data for the crystal54 and also for no nic VG - seems to have tamed it all now as it has a "transfer to main form" function. As long as you don't then manually specify a target mg level it knows what to do with it all! Very nice to use it like that too! You could endlessly mix it up in that section with 3 "bases" at once 

I've been hatching out a shopping list! One corner of my kitchen will look like a pharma lab soon! LOL 

I'll get a standby order in place, and then back on track and take a little more time and trouble over this shopping list I think, I need some time to plan it just right, time spent there might well pay off productively. 

The nic combine feature is really useful for diluting or strengthening juices - I would steer clear of it for the moment, as it seems that you are possibly over-complicating it for yourself by doing that.

If you're using 54mg base nic, just type it in the box I labled before. Once you give it all the other parameters, it will tell you how much VG (from boots) and PG (from ebay) to add, to give you the specified strength and PG/VG ratio.

I would not suggest mixing different strength bases to try and achieve a certain strength -

• once you add flavours, it will put the strength and PG/VG ratio out of kilter
  
• It is easier to dilute using VG & PG according to what the software determines
• It is cheaper to dilute with PG or VG than with base nic of another strength.

Jul 14, 2013 21:57:47 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Oh dear, I just saw the other thread about 28vapes. Looks like that will cause my plans to change quite a bit. Mixing may also become unaffordable after all. Damn.

The initial outlay can be pretty hefty, but mixing your own juice will always be cheaper per ml than buying premade juice. I suppose the same as vaping in general. 
I will have been vaping for 4 months at the end of July, and then I will break even on what I would have spent on tobacco. HOWEVER, I have enough supplies to last me almost 3 years. Mrs fred was gobsmacked that I've spent £300 in 3 months, but when I explained to her about the supplies, and I won't be spending on tobacco each month, she's earmarked the savings for a new kitchen 

Jul 14, 2013 15:08:20 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

So far it is just confusing me - I am apparently too thick to enter numbers which it does not interpret as negative ones, despite them not having been entered as negative as reality has it. Every time I try to even learn to use it it claims negative numbers no matter what I do.

That does not look like going anywhere but I will keep trying. I guess it must be me. Surely it can't be defective software with so many saying they use it? I have seen one or two folk say it does this to them.

I can't even try running the numbers by for that LT liquids stuff so far. I don't know what a lot of the answers might be here but the liquids come as being like 94.6% PG and say 5.4% Nic. I can't see a place to enter diluents at all so far.

Right, I think you're misinterpreting the numbers from LTE. The 5.4% nic means it is 54mg/ml. As far as the calculator is concerned that particular juice is 100% PG and 54mg (just as in my pic). No dilutents needed for base nic.
Negative quantities in the mix mean that you can't achieve that particular mix with the ingredients you have (I can try to explain that better if you need me to or maybe breaktru could explain better than me).

---

If you tell me what VG/PG ratio you want and if you are using VG or PG 54mg base, I can do you a screenshot of the easiest way to achieve your mix.

And, I'm not sure that deionised water for batteries is suitable. I think you may need distilled water? I don't use anything to dilute VG, but would use vodka if i needed to. Someone will clarify the deionised/distilled water thing.

I can't seem to make quotes work correctly, so will have to reply here, one bit at a time

I found the nic combine worked fine for me, all I do is in the first box state the normal base, that was 54mg, and whatever quantity say 100ml for example, then adjust it for 100% PG.

Then take the second box, make it zero mg, say 100ml (to halve it in theory) and make that one 100% VG, ask it to calc it and there we go!

Now I made it use other numbers, and with very little playing about it came in at 18mg spot on!

I actually find that approach to be intuitive, and felt some confidence in doing it that way.

Next part:

As for costs, it's that hefty outlay that may prevent me. I just don't have a budget that shape to work with. Shall see what can be worked out of course, but it's not looking too good. My break even won't be until October, and that's depending on it being possible for things to be delivered at all after tomorrow. (Thanks a bunch Royal Mail!)

Next part:

The deionised bit came from the excellent post by Grizwald about how to mix the way he learned and why. I got a feeling that guy may know his stuff! LOL So I felt inspired to use what I learned from reading that thread. He says they differ and don't go with distilled. Who am I to argue? 

Thanks for what you did though, it was greatly appreciated and will be for some time to come by loads of newbies like me! 

[chykensa]

Ancient Hermit - something that no-one's mentioned thus far is that the vast majority of flavourings are suspended in PG, which affects the final product.
I also had problems initially with the brat ejuicemeup, nut have now tamed it simply by mixing at 50/50 PG/VG, which does me.
It is possible to buy nic base in both PG and VG, which might make a difference too. I'm not sure which vendors but I'm sure someone can supply a link!
Persevere, as once you sit vaping your own mix (after sufficient steeping, of course!), you will never go back to buying commercially-made juice ever again.
I can mix for about £1/10mg, which means I vape about £2/wk, not counting the £1 I spend recoiling a couple of wicks per week. Grand total = £3/wk - how much tobacco could you buy for that!?
Andy

[chykensa]

You mention outlay - for £40 you could buy sufficient gear, flavourings and base/diluents to make about £80-90 of shop-bought juice, and you will have the syringes, bottles etc. to reuse over and over again.
I don't know what your weekly spend on tobacco used to be (and I don't want to, either!), but this modest outlay will supply you with juice for a good couple of months I reckon.
I spent over my tobacco budget for the first few months, stocking up on hardware and flavourings, and now can operate on very little outlay.
Go for it if you can, it will quickly break even for you, and soon you'll be well in profit, and able to craft your juice to your own taste and strength
Andy

[fred]

No probs mate, I'd go with Griz over most (including myself - don't know why, but I thought distilled was purer than deionised?) on the water front

Yep - using the nic combine sounds like its working well for you that way - might get a bit complicated when (if?) you start combining several flavours?

As for costs, if its just Caramel, and high(ish) VG you're after, shouldn't be too much.

To make 450ml- 42/58 PG/VG @ 12mg
LTE:
100ml 54mg - £13.56
10ml Inawera Caramel - £1.80 (9 needed in total)
1ml syringe £0.30
5ml syringe £0.30
14gauge needle £0.36
+ postage???
Boots:
200ml Glycerol £1:29 (2 needed but 160ml to spare)

Sum total £33.30 +LTE shipping => 10ml juice costs 74p

You could only buy 1 bottle of flavour and 1 bottle of VG initialy, which would then only set you back £17.61 (about the price of a pouch of baccy & a couple packs of papers). That would be enough flavour to make 50ml of juice. Then you could buy more flavour later on, but would obviously incur more shipping costs.

Good luck whatever you do. (LTE still seem to be shipping for £3.00 )

ps - I can't comment on the caramel flavour as I've not used it. CCW is OK though.

[Roger]

Nice guide to EJMU fred, but the basic guide is already on the site in the beginners guide to mixing.

Just to add, if anyone comes up with any improvements to the guide, please contact Ash or a mod to have it incorporated.  If you think fred's EJMU guide explains better than the section currently in the guide, then speak up!!    The guide is there for new mixers to refer to for help, anything that improves the use of it is welcome.  It was always intended to be an ongoing, evolving thing.

I thangyow.

[Ancient Hermit]

Well, first part is done, followed Dragon's advice and grabbed a whole bunch of bottles I spotted on Amazon. Amber glass, glass droppers, 10x10, 5x30 and 5x100 ml. That should cover most things for quite a while to come I think!

[Jen]

Jul 15, 2013 15:53:11 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Well, first part is done, followed Dragon's advice and grabbed a whole bunch of bottles I spotted on Amazon. Amber glass, glass droppers, 10x10, 5x30 and 5x100 ml. That should cover most things for quite a while to come I think!

If you like your glass bottles (as do I), you could always check out these guys. Very good they are, but you have to get a fair few to justify the P&P

I always find myself in need of more 10ml bottles for those first experimental mixes! I only make 30ml of ones that turn out nice

[Ancient Hermit]

Jul 15, 2013 21:51:40 GMT Jen said:

Jul 15, 2013 15:53:11 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Well, first part is done, followed Dragon's advice and grabbed a whole bunch of bottles I spotted on Amazon. Amber glass, glass droppers, 10x10, 5x30 and 5x100 ml. That should cover most things for quite a while to come I think!

If you like your glass bottles (as do I), you could always check out these guys. Very good they are, but you have to get a fair few to justify the P&P

I always find myself in need of more 10ml bottles for those first experimental mixes! I only make 30ml of ones that turn out nice

ok, thanks very much for that link, looks interesting!

I figured to get 10 small ones but only 5 of each of the larger sizes. I will still want to get some 5ml samples bottles, and plastic will do fine for making up early flavour only samples I'd imagine. Or at least that is my plan for now! LOL 

[fred]

I think they do smaller ones as well, but I just picked up 100ml brown glass childproof bottles in Boots for 35 pence a pop

[Ancient Hermit]

Jul 15, 2013 21:51:40 GMT Jen said:

Jul 15, 2013 15:53:11 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Well, first part is done, followed Dragon's advice and grabbed a whole bunch of bottles I spotted on Amazon. Amber glass, glass droppers, 10x10, 5x30 and 5x100 ml. That should cover most things for quite a while to come I think!

If you like your glass bottles (as do I), you could always check out these guys. Very good they are, but you have to get a fair few to justify the P&P

I always find myself in need of more 10ml bottles for those first experimental mixes! I only make 30ml of ones that turn out nice

Jen, have you ordered from those bottle chaps before? I was wondering what they are like to deal with. I see some aluminium bottle caps there and need some so was wondering how they might be with such a small order, say 25 of them. ???

[Jen]

Jul 20, 2013 22:00:52 GMT Ancient Hermit said:

Jul 15, 2013 21:51:40 GMT Jen said:

If you like your glass bottles (as do I), you could always check out these guys. Very good they are, but you have to get a fair few to justify the P&P

I always find myself in need of more 10ml bottles for those first experimental mixes! I only make 30ml of ones that turn out nice

Jen, have you ordered from those bottle chaps before? I was wondering what they are like to deal with. I see some aluminium bottle caps there and need some so was wondering how they might be with such a small order, say 25 of them. ???

Yep, I got about 30 bottles in 10ml and 30ml size with droppers so I feel like an alchemist The droppers do make filling your tank a breeze, I think they're well worth it. Just take the P&P into account when calculating costs, it still works out around £1 - £1.50 a bottle IIRC, depending on the cap type you get. I don't think they have a minimum order or anything, so why not give them a go?

[googled]

Another juice calculator for the iphone/ipad that I use :
itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ejuice/id350502065?mt=8

[Perpetua]

Jul 21, 2013 4:05:37 GMT googled said:

Another juice calculator for the iphone/ipad that I use :
itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ejuice/id350502065?mt=8

Thank you Googled, I've added that calculator link to Rom's sticky.


allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/thread/23334/mixing-supplies-vendors-sellers?page=1&scrollTo=425271