Dumb newbie question on steeping

[Tykess]

So according to suggestions from all over this board (thank you thank you thank you) I've got my stuff together and the final bit of my mixing kit is out for delivery today (scales - I'm starting by doing it by weight) so I'm about to roll up my sleeves and mix my first potions.  I'm cackling because this feels so beautifully witchy. 

I need to find a comfortable PG:VG ratio for my personal tastes; so far all my bought mixes are 50:50 or 60:40 (where I can tell. The bottles don't always say.)

I've found a calculator that suits.  Worked out my first two recipes.  So here's the question:

I'm mixing these flavourless, ie. just nic, VG and PG.  Does it need to steep, or is steeping only necessary when you've put flavourings in?

Thanks!

[Richard46]

To start with Tykess you can make do with one of these to speed up the process

www.cs-catering-equipment.co.uk/robot-coupe-blender-mixer-blixer-10?inclvat=true&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=prodfeed&utm_campaign=gosho&gclid=CjwKEAiA_9nFBRCsurz7y_Px8xoSJAAUqvKCger5ozgmyV8l4Pco0osWIEAzR1ck5bmWN3objIhiSRoCBVbw_wcB

Seriously I have never vaped unflavoured but I doubt it would need much/any steeping. A few good shakes and a few hours perhaps?

I could be wrong.

Well done with the vaping progress BTW

[Tykess]

Love the mixer! 

Actually, I quite like vaping unflavoured, I find it pleasant and smooth and surprisingly close to a rollup.  Thanks for quick response.

[Richard46]

Mar 1, 2017 11:23:45 GMT Tykess said:

Love the mixer! 

Actually, I quite like vaping unflavoured, I find it pleasant and smooth and surprisingly close to a rollup.  Thanks for quick response.

I have been meaning to try it as it happens. May mix some today, thanks for the reminder. Nothing to lose.

[lobeydosser]

When you first start off mixing, steeping can be a right pain because you naturally want to try out your mix asap.
Once you get into mixing and have a few on the go, steeping time is not so important as you have other mixes ready to vape.
Personally I have found that one shot mixes, IE ones that come ready made, need very little steeping time. A few days at the most and they don't get any better with a longer steep time.
Of the one shot mixes I make, I mix a new batch when I am down to my last 20ml and that way the new batch is ready by the time the last lot is used up.

Another thing I do is that I dilute my VG with 20% distilled water. Others use alcohol, but I don't drink, so it is water for me. This makes the VG easier to measure out and it does not seem to make much difference to the final e-juice.

[DaveJ]

Mar 1, 2017 11:03:49 GMT Tykess said:

....


I'm mixing these flavourless, ie. just nic, VG and PG.  Does it need to steep, or is steeping only necessary when you've put flavourings in?

Thanks!

Unflavoured?

Mix, shake and vape!

It's primarily the flavours that require steeping to bring out their best.

Down the track, you may find adding a "trace" of some flavours (like just a teeny tiny little bit of menthol) might be sufficient variety for you. But unflavoured is certainly an option for some. I have an atty with unflavoured on the go in with my regular daily rotation of flavours.

[Tykess]

Brilliant!  Thanks everybody.

Oh, and I do intend to get into flavours fairly soon - I have a collection of 12 lined up like little soldiers standing to attention awaiting orders.  But I wanted to establish my preferred base ratios first.  After all, mixing your own is all about personalisation, innit?

Oh how I Lurve a new learning curve   (and I love the smileys on this forum)

[Deleted]

Hi Tykess

The rule of thumb is that VG (thicker) creates more vapor and PG (thinner) adds more flavour and "throat hit". At this stage for typical mouth to lung vaping in a standard tank I don't think you can go far wrong with a straight 50/50 ratio. It provides good wicking (thinner), good flavour and enough vapor to mimic a normal ciggie.

It's all about personal preference of course, but I have been using 50/50 in several MTL tanks for a year or so now and I have found no reason to change it. You could try 60VG-40PG for a little more vapor production, but 50/50 works great for me. Have fun mixing :-)

[Perpetua]

Mar 1, 2017 11:56:47 GMT Tykess said:

Oh, and I do intend to get into flavours fairly soon - I have a collection of 12 lined up like little soldiers standing to attention awaiting orders.  But I wanted to establish my preferred base ratios first.  After all, mixing your own is all about personalisation, innit?

Don't forget that adding any flavouring will also alter your end PG/VG ratio Tykess - by how much will depend on the level that you use. ( The vast majority are suspended in PG. )

So it's helpful if you can be a little flexible with your preferences.

[beedee]

No-one will think your questions are dumb here, Tykess , I found people on this forum really helpful when I started and still do.



You sound very organised - scales, calculator, bottles lined up... brill.

Some, (me included) have been a bit more, erm, random I think is the word...

[Tykess]

Well that was interesting. Learned a lot.

1. Oh my gosh that VG is gloopy stuff! Even tho the label says it's aqueous vg I ended up having to chop the narrow end off a plastic pipette in order to suck it up and squirt it out.

2. measuring by weight is a lot easier than syringes. The little scales are fab (sorry, can't link to them because I'm a numpty like that, but they were recommended and linked to Amazon by some lovely person on this forum somewhere in mixology.)

3. Just nic, pg and vg does need a little bit of steeping. I tried it straight off and it was horrid, nothing like the ready made flavourless I've used. Also I used 2.4% nic (my usual is 1.2) intending it for those times when I'm craving a smoke. Nearly blew my head off and ripped my throat out (apologies to those with a vivid pictorial imagination). Not nice. However, 8 hours later it has improved to the point of being vapable. Definitely could do with a drop of flavour though. Thought I might try a drop of Flavour Art's Wizard enhancer stuff to begin with. But it's all good, I'm just playing at this stage and if it ends up down the sink it's ok (what's a few drops matter when I have 2 litres stashed in the freezer and only myself to mix for? It's called 'NABLE' - Nicotine Aquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.)

4. I'm not intending to mix up a load of base and then add flavours to it. As Perpetua pointed out, that would muck up my proportions - and mess with my Virgo-OCD tendencies. But when I've found the pg/vg ratio I'm happy vaping at I'll then feed those numbers into the calculator (I'm using e-liquid-recipes.com because it gives grams as well as mls and I can understand it) along with flavours, nic, etc., and do what the calculator tells me.

5. The reason I think I might need something other than 50:50, which is what I mostly vape at, is because altho I'm happy with the throat hit and vapour production I'm finding that my lungs feel a bit tight. Now this could be a slight reaction to pg, or it could be the fact that I have asthma and a cat and a dusty house and an un-hoovered carpet... I have to eliminate possible culprits (apart from the cat, I could never eliminate my cat!) and playing at mixology first is more fun than the other options.

6. I'm keeping notes. So if ('when' - think positive) I hit on the magic mix for my tastes I'll be able to replicate it.

And so endeth my first baby steps into mixology. Thank you all for your collective wisdoms. Real World stuff claims me tomorrow and Friday but come the weekend I'll be cackling over my cauldron again. Well, small plastic beaker actually.

[Postmodern Smoking]

Mar 2, 2017 0:31:25 GMT Tykess said:

Well that was interesting. Learned a lot.
...
And so endeth my first baby steps into mixology. Thank you all for your collective wisdoms. Real World stuff claims me tomorrow and Friday but come the weekend I'll be cackling over my cauldron again. Well, small plastic beaker actually.

Looks like you're stomping into mixology.... well done you. 



[ETA] Aqueous VG (AVG) varies by supplier, usually 10-20% water ... if you think that it is viscous to work with .... you should try 100% VG ! 
(Note: particularly if using syringes/pipettes, warming the bottle in a hot water bath will make it more runny and easier to work with) 

[DaveJ]

Tykess ... Well done!

Yep, lots of learning in the early days and there is some experimenting required to find what best suits you.

You've made a great start.

[Richard46]

Mar 2, 2017 0:31:25 GMT Tykess said:

,,,,

3. Just nic, pg and vg does need a little bit of steeping. I tried it straight off and it was horrid, nothing like the ready made flavourless I've used. ,,,,,,.

Running hot/warm water over the bottle can speed steeping process I have heard.

[Perpetua]

There's no substitute for a little time for me Tykess . . . . . you'll find steeping methodoloy a semi controversial subject!

Heat, will oxidize any nicotine ( changing the colour ) which in turn can give the appearance of a mix being steeped, when it isn't.

( Remember any pre-made eliquid you've used, even if it's just been freshly mixed has had a couple of days at the least ' in transit ' before it reaches you to use. )

Do what suits you best, which you'll find out by trial and error.