Regarding recipes and calculations

[Jason McRoy]

I wanted to know something about changing ratios on the PG/VG, nicotine mg amount when using a pre-written recipe from someone else.

In other words, if they are using 50/50 pg/vg mix and 16mg nicotine (and say a 36mg nicotine base) yet I want 70/30 and 24mg nicotine (using a 48mg nicotine base) is that going to change anything in regards to me using their flavoring %s? I would not think it would matter, but I wanted to check with some more experienced folks.

Thanks

-Jason

 

[Hoosier]

No.

Another's recipe is a starting point anyway. It is a rare event when a recipe works for me exactly like it works for the OP. But they make great starting points!

 

[MiamiMom63]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[nanovapr]

Unless you are good at math, and writing down lots of notes, I would recommend one of the many juice calculators. There are several that work only online, and I like the ejuicemeup spreadsheet calculator. I am bad at math, spreadsheets are good at math, so it's a match made in heaven for me!

But seriously, keep lots of notes as you go (spreadsheet also has plenty of notes space). You will find what is best for you. The bad part is just 'winging it' without notes, and coming up with something you really like, but can't replicate it. All of the calculators will let you easily change the PG/VG ratio as desired.

I would also suggest using syringes or graduated cylinders to measure, instead of drops. Drops are a coarse and imprecise method of measuring. Especially at the beginning, you should be making small test batches.

It's very easy to exactly measure 0.26 ML of something in a one ML syringe. It's very hard to do that accurately with drops.

 

[Jason McRoy]

Thanks everyone.

I am using a calculator. I have ejuicemeup and I use syringes for measuring. I feel like I am wasting a lot of PG with testing my flavors. It seems really tedious to make 1ml of something to test it and 3ml seems to be wasteful since I am so new to this I have a LOT of learning to do.

My TPA Orange Cream testing has cost me at least 5ml of PG going from 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% with only a light taste of it. I hope I don't have to go through this with every flavor I try.

I found a good recipe for TPAs 555 type DK tobacco that only uses that flavor and Apple Cider Vinegar, but the originator's PG/VG mix and nic mg usage is different from mine, so I just wanted to make.

My test with it on my own at 15% was way too strong, but I liked the flavor, just too strong so I wanted to try his with my PG/VG ratios.

Thanks again

-Jason

 

[nanovapr]

Jason, sounds like you are doing everything right, just keep doing it. PG is very cheap if you are buying any quantity at all, 5ml isn't too much to waste in testing. Even though I prefer cartos for everyday use, I keep some bridge-less attys around just for testing juice. They are easy to clean out, and don't retain flavors like most cartos can. Flush them out with grain alcohol or 91% rubbing alcohol (let them dry well, won't take long). Then just vape a couple of drops of straight PG to get it working again, then try a few drops of your mix.

If I am groping in the dark on something completely new, sometimes I mix zero-nic test batches, to get the flavor in the ballpark (remembering that nic will add much more throat hit). If you keep good notes, and are only testing a few drops, you can use the same base test batch to check on adding flavorings.

Print out the spreadsheet (or adjust on the fly) mixes at 10%, 15%, etc. Try a few drops @ 10%, then add the difference in flavorings to make it 15%, etc. You can only do this a few times before your total volume is no longer accurate, but it helps to get close, to start with..

Keep some aside to test a few days later, sometimes it will improve with steeping.

 

[Jason McRoy]

Thanks for the tips. I can use all that come my way!

I have been mixing my test batches without the nic as well. At the moment I am only working with one flavor mixes until I get the hang of this stuff.

Thanks again.

-Jason

 

[MiamiMom63]

Unless you are good at math, and writing down lots of notes, I would recommend one of the many juice calculators. There are several that work only online, and I like the ejuicemeup spreadsheet calculator. I am bad at math, spreadsheets are good at math, so it's a match made in heaven for me!

But seriously, keep lots of notes as you go (spreadsheet also has plenty of notes space). You will find what is best for you. The bad part is just 'winging it' without notes, and coming up with something you really like, but can't replicate it. All of the calculators will let you easily change the PG/VG ratio as desired.

I would also suggest using syringes or graduated cylinders to measure, instead of drops. Drops are a coarse and imprecise method of measuring. Especially at the beginning, you should be making small test batches.

It's very easy to exactly measure 0.26 ML of something in a one ML syringe. It's very hard to do that accurately with drops.

I totally agree with Nanovapr about measuring by ml's rather than drops. I found that different things I was using had different sized drops. Then I tried using drops at first just from the same dropper and the batch came out smaller than it was supposed to be. Then I tried changing the drops per ml on the ejuicemeup calculator. Finally I got a flask and it's been sooo much easier, plus I just hate counting 120 drops, etc. lol. I use a 10 ml flask. Another thing I have found helpful is I have a bowl of water so that I can rinse my syringe between items if I am using my syringe alot, especially if I am using 3 different flavors to make one flavor, etc. It makes it alot easier. I wish I had DYI'd earlier because honestly I love my own flavors better than any I bought because I can adjust them, plus it's so much cheaper.

 

[Jason McRoy]

I totally agree with Nanovapr about measuring by ml's rather than drops. I found that different things I was using had different sized drops. Then I tried using drops at first just from the same dropper and the batch came out smaller than it was supposed to be. Then I tried changing the drops per ml on the ejuicemeup calculator. Finally I got a flask and it's been sooo much easier, plus I just hate counting 120 drops, etc. lol. I use a 10 ml flask. Another thing I have found helpful is I have a bowl of water so that I can rinse my syringe between items if I am using my syringe alot, especially if I am using 3 different flavors to make one flavor, etc. It makes it alot easier. I wish I had DYI'd earlier because honestly I love my own flavors better than any I bought because I can adjust them, plus it's so much cheaper.

Yes, I have tried doing it both ways- drops and measuring with the syringe. I like the syringe much better. I was concerned at first because it seemed like my measurements would be off by the amount of juice left in the tip area that exists just before the first line of measurement. John at Wizard Labs told me not to worry about it because the space between the plunger and the end of the syringe will displace itself correctly so I stopped worrying about it. I picked up 6 more 1ml syringes today too for the smaller test batches. I am using a different one for each ingredient.

By the way- I am VERY excited to have made a new batch tonight using the TPA 555 Type DK Tobacco and it has come out to my liking! I mixed it at 10% with 3 drops of Apple Cider Vinegar per a recipe in another thread. It may be my new favorite vape! It almost has a hint of a cornflakes taste and I love cornflakes! lol I am vaping some of it right now. I want to let it steep over night and try it again tomorrow to see if it's even better.

I also picked up 5 more flavors from Wizard today. I am getting excited now about trying some of those. I was worried yesterday based on my results so far, but I see some hope!

-Jason

 

[nanovapr]

{snip}
plus I just hate counting 120 drops, etc. lol.
{/snop}

This ^^^

(me counting drops): "One hundred and seventeen, One hundred and eighteen (PHONE RINGS) Oh crap....."

Now I mix with the phone off, the door shut. No pets, no people. I sit on a stool with my elbows resting on the edges of a stainless steel sink, and have much less "dump it out" DIY.

 

[Rimau]

Jasonmcroy -- this is the best calculator I have found thanks to Scubabatdan:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...e-calculator-added-quantity-calculations.html

It will tell you in drops (depending on the dropper) and ml, you can change all the variables, and even pricing of your final product. In otherwords, it does it all.

Good luck and happy mixing.

 

[Stucco Jedi]

I prefer syringes as well but I have lots so I can wash them all at the end of mixing. I also mix directly into the glass bottles that I store them in. I also steep my fluids for a min of a week after mixing as I have found that f they seem to taste better. That said tobacco flavors seem to take longer, don't know why as I am no chemist.

Just my thoughts


Happy vaping

 

[Jason McRoy]

Jasonmcroy -- this is the best calculator I have found thanks to Scubabatdan:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...e-calculator-added-quantity-calculations.html

It will tell you in drops (depending on the dropper) and ml, you can change all the variables, and even pricing of your final product. In otherwords, it does it all.

Good luck and happy mixing.

Thanks- I did download that one before I ever made my first order. I became obsessed about how much I would be saving by starting to DIY. lol That calculator comes in very handy for certain things. I have been using ejuicemeup for my actual calculations so far though.

-Jason

 

[Jason McRoy]

I prefer syringes as well but I have lots so I can wash them all at the end of mixing. I also mix directly into the glass bottles that I store them in. I also steep my fluids for a min of a week after mixing as I have found that f they seem to taste better. That said tobacco flavors seem to take longer, don't know why as I am no chemist.

Just my thoughts


Happy vaping

I agree with your system. I have a separate syringe for each liquid I am using in a mix. I probably don't have to do it that way, I just like the idea of not cleaning each one after every measurement.

Steeping so far has been 24 hours for me so far and seemed to work well for the two flavors I have used so far. I am also very impatient and probably should allow more steeping time! lol

-Jason