Newbie to mixing would love some advice

[holtyh]

as the title says, I'm hoping to try to mixing and as tomorrow is payday   I would love some advice!

I'm hoping for a 50/50 PG/VG mix with 18mg Nic.
should I go for PG based Nic or VG ? 

I'm hoping to make this experiment as easy as possible, as excited as i am I don't want to be wasting money!

also... whats the deal with de-ionised water? is it essential??

Please share you're wisdom! 

Thank you fellow mixers 

[holtyh]

also....
found this mixing kit. seems to have everything i need...

DIY Mixing Starter Kit
1 x Liquid Crystal 54 - Nicotine Liquid in PG - 100ml £15.95
1 x Aqueous Vegetable Glycerin (VG) 120ml £3.99
1 x Propylene Glycol (PG) 120ml £3.99
1 x Syringe-10ml £0.55
1 x Syringe-5ml £0.40
1 x Syringe-2ml £0.25
1 x Syringe-1ml £0.30
2 x Blunt Filler Needle-18G £0.70
1 x Blunt Filler Needle-14G £0.40
1 x Bryan's plastic drawing needle £0.55
1 x Dropper Bottle-30ml £0.65
3 x Dropper Bottle-10ml £1.35
1 x 3ml Graduated Pipette £0.15
1 x 30ml Measuring Cup £0.15
1 x Nitrile disposable gloves (Pair) £0.30

all for £30.00 ....

seems like a good deal to me? please advice!

[Postmodern Smoking]

If you go for that kit holtyh, I'd deselect the nicotine in the mixing kit and order Liquid Crystal nicotine in VG separately.
(As the flavours will contribute to the PG content if you are mixing 50/50).

It includes aqueous glycerine, so no need for extra deionised/purified water.

[holtyh]

Jan 23, 2014 22:42:24 GMT Postmodern Smoking said:

If you go for that kit holtyh, I'd deselect the nicotine in the mixing kit and order Liquid Crystal nicotine in VG separately.
(As the flavours will contribute to the PG content if you are mixing 50/50).

It includes aqueous glycerine, so no need for extra deionised/purified water.

Thanks for the reply... did you recognise the kit from you're site!?

I've read that nicotine in VG doesn't hold too well? and that its lifespan before 'going off' as such isn't too great.. would you agree?

Im hoping to experiment with the mix just thought 50/50 would be a good place to start.. 

[OneDay]

You will almost certainly need VG nic base to achieve 50/50 mixes. The flavours are PG based so they add to the overall PG percentage

[holtyh]

Thanks @oneday

[Postmodern Smoking]

I personally prefer nicotine in PG and a ratio of 70PG/30VG, as PG holds flavour generally better than VG, but opinion/tastes vary. (At 70PG/30VG get nicotine in PG, anything approaching 50/50 get nicotine in VG).

PG - Carries flavour well, creates some vapour and throat hit
VG - Creates more vapour and is slightly sweet, doesn't carry flavours as well

Stored in a cool dark place both nicotine in PG or VG should be good for around 2 years. If frozen, many believe that it will last considerably longer with little degradation. I personally think nicotine in PG may last better LONG term than nicotine in VG, as nicotine in VG has water added by the manufacturer to enable proper mixing of the nicotine (as pure VG is very viscous). This MAY contribute to the breakdown of nicotine.

For a 100ml bottle and starting mixing I don't think longevity will be an issue for you.

[holtyh]

Jan 23, 2014 23:05:58 GMT Postmodern Smoking said:

I personally prefer nicotine in PG and a ratio of 70PG/30VG, as PG holds flavour generally better than VG, but opinion/tastes vary. (At 70PG/30VG get nicotine in PG, anything approaching 50/50 get nicotine in VG).

PG - Carries flavour well and creates some vapour
VG - Creates more vapour and is slightly sweet, doesn't carry flavours as well

Stored in a cool dark place both nicotine in PG or VG should be good for around 2 years. If frozen, many believe that it will last considerably longer with little degradation. I personally think nicotine in PG may last better LONG term than nicotine in VG, as nicotine in VG has water added by the manufacturer to enable proper mixing of the nicotine (as pure VG is very viscous). This MAY contribute to the breakdown of nicotine.

For a 100ml bottle and starting mixing I don't think longevity will be an issue for you.

Thanks- I didn't realise it would last that long! from what I read it implied a much shorter span- a few weeks to a month.

Thanks for you're advice- any discount codes available?! 

[clivealive1]

just started mixing a couple of weeks ago and got pg nicotine 72mg 100ml and half of its gone already and yours would go quicker as u need to use more.
I only mix at 12 mg micotine too.
so 100ml wont last long but is a good starting point if u want to see if u get on with mixing.
your need more bottles too.
good luck iam enjoying it and only tried 2 juices i have made so far and they both came out well.
the rest are steeping away.

[holtyh]

thanks clivealive1 glad to hear its going well.
would it be better/easier to find a PG or VG with a higher nicotine mg?

Or not really matter too much for my first time?

apologies for all the questions but I have no one else to turn to apart from you lovely people here!

[clivealive1]

i use boots VG 200 ml for £1.29 have to use syringe without needle though as its thickish

[clivealive1]

long term its better/cheaper to use 72 mg nicotine but first time its ok.

long term u can get pg on ebay 1000ml for £7.48
Ebay 1000ml 1L MPG Propylene glycol USP/EP 99+% Pharmaceutical grade £7.48 - ordered 6/01 came 9/1
as you can see the saving long term compared to
1 x Propylene Glycol (PG) 120ml £3.99

[holtyh]

ok thanks.

I've been messing around with the calculators and its confusing me.

If I have VG based nicotine and PG based flavour.

the calculator on this forum is telling me to add
104 drops nicotine based liquid
150 drops PG
46 drops VG

so even though the nicotine based liquid is VG would I need to add more VG, non nicotine based?

[Postmodern Smoking]

It is likely that whatever ratio and mix you choose that you will have to add some more plain VG and plain PG to achieve the ratio that you desire.

[clivealive1]

not easy for me to answer as i do every thing in ML not drops i would suggest u do the same.
a drop isnt really accurate enough as they all come out different.

what are u trying to mix at 70.30 or 50.50 ?

if nicotine is pg or vg it is likely you will have to add some i will add a recipe for an exampe hang on