DIY Newbie

[stu1873]

Hi guys and gals.

Been trying to read up on mixing as i have been vaping for over 3 years and have never tried it (to my shame) yet. I think i have a rough idea on what i need but i am struggling on deciding where to buy it all and it is starting to nip my heed!

I believe i need to buy Nitrile gloves, syringes, pipettes, bottles, Nicotine base at 72mg, PG & VG. Is this correct?

I am just going to start mixing some concentrates of flavors i have enjoyed through the years from my favorite vendors and see how i get on before trying to dabble on mixing up some stuff from scratch with various flavorings.

Can someone please lend me a hand in shopping for the things i need to start this mixing malarkey up?


Cheers
Stu 

[Get Off My Cloud]

The best thing if you just wanna give it a go is to buy a kit.
Everything Liquid do a good range.
everythingliquid.co.uk/product-category/diy-mixing-kits/

[Postmodern Smoking]

Personally I don't use pipettes, but do use blunt large bore (14 gauge) needles with the syringes.
Nitrile gloves are optional for home mixing, a bit of care and washing hands before, after mixing and in the event of getting nicotine on you should suffice.
Usually people get their nicotine base, PG and maybe VG/AVG from the same company (VG also available in 200ml bottles from your chemist/Boots; called "Glycerine").

Kits can be handy starting out, as suggested above, or buy stuff separately.

[ETA] Also remember that you'll need empty bottles to mix into.

[Richard46]

stu1873 agree with all said by Postmodern Smoking plus the thing I use most is measuring cylinders like this

Small funnels are handy too

[chykensa]

Personally, I don't bother with gloves, just do the hand-washing stuff as Postmodern Smoking mentions above.
I've also never succumbed to mixing by weight, just using syringes for small quantities, and mixing beakers which cost me about £1.50 each on eBay.
One-shots are a great way to start off mixing; make a couple of desserts which need more standing time, and some fruity/mentholly type juices which can be vaped almost immediately, although these will improve with age too.

Set of 5 mixing beakers from eBay

[stu1873]

Ok so i have looked on one site for the majority of my syringes, bottles & measuring cylinders. Anything else i can add that will help?


I have also been looking at getting my Nic Base (72mg) from Darkstar as well as my VG & PG. I usually vape a 50/50 mix, sometimes 70/30 VG/PG at 12mg. If i buy 500ml of VG Nic Base how much PG and VG should i buy to go with it?

I plan on making some 10ml bottles first with the concentrates i buy before eventually mixing up some 100ml bottles.

I really appreciate the help guys. Almost forgot just how helpfull this site was when i first started and it seems it hasn't changed through the years

[Postmodern Smoking]

500ml of 72mg/ml nicbase will make 3000ml (3 litres) of 12mg/ml eliquid.

As VG and PG will not be affected by the TPD regulations, I'd order a couple of hundred mililitres of each and see how you get on, you can always order extra fresh supplies later. (But in answer to your question: at 50/50 you'd need around a litre of each to your 500ml of nicbase; at 30/70 PG/VG it would be closer to 500ml PG and 1.5L of VG.... assuming flavouring at around 15%... which is usually PG based).


[ETA] - a couple of 1ml syringes can sometimes be useful for flavour concentrate measuring, although not essential.

[Q]

Totally agree about not needing gloves, all you need is common sense.

Disagree about a kit, it's an expensive way to start, much better to buy seperates, Darkstar for your VG/PG/nic, it is sensible to buy a larger quantity than you need, postage works out better, supplies work out cheaper and there is less chance of you running out in the middle of a mix
I bought 5 litres of PG & VG with my last order, decant it into 1 litre bottles for ease of use.

If you get the bug you will almost certainly want to upgrade to mixing by weight (so much easier & quicker) so dont go too mad on the syringes and such, I bought mine from creamsupplies dont be fooled by cheaper ones that look exactly the same on Ebay, they are NOT the same (I have both), the more expensive ones enable you to turn off the auto-off feature, and you wont believe how important that is until you haven't got it

[Perpetua]

I don't ever use needles stu1873 . . . . all my mixes are VG heavy, if you're the same then you may also find it easier without.

If one shots are going to be your starting point ( the best way in my humble ) then you can afford to be a little more adventurous than making 10ml as these are tried, tested and generally well liked blends - perhaps 20ml or 30ml would be good?

Chefs are a great site for flavours and our AAEC discount code will give you a 10% discount on most of the concentrates, although some ranges are excluded. Shipping is also free if you spend over £30.00.

www.chefsflavours.co.uk/25-concentrates

www.chefsflavours.co.uk/88-chefsvapour-concentrates

If you're shopping at Darkstar, then you may also like to try out some of their one shots - the ones I've had have been very nice:

www.darkstarvapour.co.uk/shop/one-shot-concentrates

[jevans]

Dec 6, 2016 7:37:43 GMT Perpetua said:

I don't ever use needles . . . . all my mixes are VG heavy

Have you tried using a piece of aquarium airline instead of a needle Mandy?

Jim

[Deleted]

Dec 6, 2016 9:13:06 GMT jevans said:

Dec 6, 2016 7:37:43 GMT Perpetua said:

I don't ever use needles . . . . all my mixes are VG heavy

Have you tried using a piece of aquarium airline instead of a needle Mandy?

Jim

That is what I use Jim when the syringe won't reach the bottom of the bottle or is too wide to fit in at all.

[Q]

I have a 100ml syringe and hose, really builds up your muscles weighing is so much easier

[Perpetua]

Dec 6, 2016 9:13:06 GMT jevans said:

Dec 6, 2016 7:37:43 GMT Perpetua said:

I don't ever use needles . . . . all my mixes are VG heavy

Have you tried using a piece of aquarium airline instead of a needle Mandy?

Jim

Nope . . . . as I don't have the need Jim and I really couldn't be bothered to be perfectly honest. 

If/when I get to the end of a bottle and a syringe won't reach - then I just decant into a measuring cup and draw up from there.

Thank you for the suggestion though.

[charliehorse]

When I started mixing I got a starter kit and after time moved on to mixing by weight.
For low volume mixing to start off I would go for

Nic Base
PG
VG
Empty bottles (mix straight into the bottle)
a couple each of the following syringes should be enough for just about every eventuallity
10ml syringe
5ml or 3ml syringe
1ml syringe with blunt needle (for flavour concentrates)
Some flavours

I used to decant the Nic, VG and PG into some old shot glasses and sook straight into the syringe without a needle

Its really easy once you get into it and youll be so chuffed when you vape your first home made juice

[TJ]

I've never understood the questions on F'bk sometimes when people ask how do you get to the bottom of the bottle when the syringe doesn't reach, surely common sense dictates you tip it out into a container?

Personally I've never used direct from a bottle, always decant into a glass and use from there, much easier for me and seemed normal from the get go to do it.

Good luck stu1873, you will have so much fun and reap the enjoyment from your first successful mixes. But mind that rabbit hole that we have all fallen down buying concentrates as they take over your cupboards...............