Warm water steeping

[Carl2]

I've been making my own e liquids for quite a few months, and had no problems mixing tobacco flavors and vaping them. Not long ago I tried mixing some flavors that just had no taste and I put the bottles aside. About a month or so later I came across the bottles and tried them again and there was some flavor. I got into steeping and watched some YouTube videos on steeping. Warm water steeping seemed to give the best results in the video so I choose this as my method. I put warm water, about 130 F into a bowl then put in some bottles to be steeped. The water stayed warm about an hour so I decided this isn't going to work. I want to keep this water warm for a few hours at least and maybe we can do this in a reasonable time. I used an electric skillet, set the temp at warm. about an inch of water in the skillet then a bowl of water in that. I let the temp stabilize and placed the bottles to be steeped in the bowl. I had made 2 bottles of tobacco flavored e liquid, I actually used less flavoring than I'd normally use and steeped them for 6 hours. The flavors from both bottles were stronger with less flavoring used and I didn't wait weeks or months.
Anyways I am new to this, I spent some time watching YouTube vids on steeping. I've built a wooden box that can keep the water at 130 F and have just steeped 4 more bottles of e juice but will wait till the tank empties before I can try them. I'm interested in comments or suggestions on this method of steeping.

 

[IDJoel]

I'm just curious; if you now have a heating box, why do you still need the water bath? What is the water doing for you that the warm ambient air would not? (genuine question; not trying to be snarky)

 

[Carl2]

Water holds a lot of heat, when I first started building the box with the light bulb heater and mercury switch temp control, I gave that a try with just air and the temp went from 110 to 140 degrees. With a plastic tray of water in the box the water temp remains fairly constant at 130 F plus minus only a few degrees. For this I'm not sure how important the temp swing is but in general they try to keep it fairly small.
The box has just been replaced by a Presto Kitchen Kettle, multi cooker, steamer and I have just been testing it with water. The temp controller is similar to one I have on an electric skillet which I originally used to heat water. I came across some post in this forum from 2012 about heating e liquids to speed up steeping times and many methods were tried.

 

[englishmick]

I used to use a crock pot, with the lid slightly open it would keep the temp at around 150. And an ultrasonic cleaner, starting with hot tap water that will keep it around 110.

Some people reckon that high temps can degrade the nic or mess up some flavorings. May be true, not sure anyone really knows. The crock pot and the UC both definitely reduce the steeping time needed. I rarely do it any more just because I stay ahead on juice making and I can wait for it to steep on the shelf.

 

[Carl2]

I use mostly tobacco flavors and when I first started making e liquids I didn't do any steeping. When trying to add a sweetener I didn't get any flavor so it needed steeping. I started steeping everything and found even the tobacco came out better. I get a stronger flavor even when I use less tobacco flavoring. I'm having a hard time with sweet flavors, sugar and honey at this time, I really feel they don't taste as they should.

 

[Mrdaputer]

I prefer time steeping, with that said with a new recipe I will make from 10 to 30 ml of flavors in glass bottles. I use a soup thermos. I put in the desired temp water, shake the bottle put it in the thermos close it up and a few hours later it is done.

 

[Carl2]

A very good idea, since I already have the equipment I'll use it, the 6 hours I use is just a guess and the temp 130 F was recommended to not degrade the nicotine. There was a post on the water steeping back in 2014 by Dannyv so it's nothing new

 

[G and C]

I prefer time steeping, with that said with a new recipe I will make from 10 to 30 ml of flavors in glass bottles. I use a soup thermos. I put in the desired temp water, shake the bottle put it in the thermos close it up and a few hours later it is done.

Now that is a fantastic idea.

 

[dannyv45]

Water temp from 130 - 150F is fine for most steeping needs. 5 hours at 145 - 150F is good for most tobaccos. Anything above 5 hours is not necessary because the results for anything above 5 hours as compared to exactly 5 hours would be minimal at best.
After heat steeping just letting the mix sit at room temperature for 2-3 days to rest will make a big difference in taste. If the flavoring is alcohol based then the 2 - 3 days rest can be done with the cap off to evaporate any excess alcohol if desired.

 

[DaveP]

I'm vaping juice right now that I mixed back in April and May. They have spent most of their time in a shoe box in a dark closet and the flavors are good. If you mix several months ahead you will always have steeped juice ready to vape. I found that out by accident when I went overboard with trying new flavors and mixed more than I needed. Now, I'm reaping the rewards of having ready to vape juice at hand when needed.

 

[Carl2]

Nice of Dannyv45 to stop in, he's actually in charge of the Tobacco Forum I joined, I've been learning from him and other members. In attempt to learn more about the warm water steeping I started this. Seems I'm on the low temp side and the time is about right. The long time period bothers me at this time since I trying to learn from the experience. A few months latter I may be saying why did I do this or that. For now I'll probably continuing with the warm water.

 

[DaveP]

Nice of Dannyv45 to stop in, he's actually in charge of the Tobacco Forum I joined, I've been learning from him and other members. In attempt to learn more about the warm water steeping I started this. Seems I'm on the low temp side and the time is about right. The long time period bothers me at this time since I trying to learn from the experience. A few months latter I may be saying why did I do this or that. For now I'll probably continuing with the warm water.

Warm water steeping does work well. I just try to stay a month or two ahead of my DIY juice needs and mix more than I need so that there's always some steeped juice maturing when I need it. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner you can steep it more quickly with warm water and vibration. The UC boosts the heat in the water and holds it through time while the cleaner is operating.

My UC is just one of those smaller jewelry cleaners from Harbor Freight, but if you start off with warm water it keeps the water hot if you walk by and press the start button frequently. Mine just has a 3 minute timer.

 

[stols001]

I love the soup thermos idea, I may well try that one. It seems delightfully low maintenance, and I would like to try hot water steeping at some point. I've been holding off on mixing juice until I got more bottles from FT. That's not working out so well, LOL. Time to figure out some container-ige...

Anna

 

[Carl2]

Anna,
I've used Fastech and my latest China order was with 3FVape, In fact I got bottles from them, not similar to the ones I have but they will do. Stock problems. Anyways Good prices and much faster shipping since 3F sent to New York which I'm close to.

 

[stols001]

I have used 3F once and did find it a little faster, LOL. But, it's too late now... I have some old dripper bottles, they're just 10 ml size and that's a bit small for my taste, but I will have to make Do I guess...

Anna

 

[tazzle]

Anna, do you have a place around you that sells stuff to people who deal with essential oils? My husband gets my amber glass dripper bottles in various sizes (and also 100ml and 200ml non-dripper bottles) from such a place.

 

[G and C]

I have used 3F once and did find it a little faster, LOL. But, it's too late now... I have some old dripper bottles, they're just 10 ml size and that's a bit small for my taste, but I will have to make Do I guess...

Anna

Bottles good for mixing in are pretty cheap on Amazon... and if you're a Prime member, they get to you in 2 days or less. I got way more bottles than I'll ever need for about $20.

 

[dc99]

I have tried pretty much every way to speed steep juice and to be honest the warm water is as good as any but to me almost all these methods make up for 4-5 days steeping at best. When it comes to juices that require more than a week to steep, well time just cant be cheated. As long as your blends steep within the 4-5 day window the warm water should be fine.