A few years ago, the idea of making your own vape juice was an obscure concept reserved only for the most avid vapers. Now that many areas have restrictions on vaping products, DIY e-juice has become an essential part of vaping for some smokers who are switching. DIY e-juice opens up a whole new world of customization for vaping. Whether you're looking for a special flavor profile or just want to save money, DIY e-juice is a great option. In this post, we'll cover the basic steps to creating your first mix.
Basic components
No matter what flavor profile or nicotine strength you want to mix, you start with the same basic ingredients. E-juice is made on the basis of vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). Depending on the desired vapor production, throat hit and vapor device, these ingredients must be used in different proportions. These essentials are very affordable when purchased in bulk, so stock up and find the ones that best suit your vaping style. A good starting point is 70:30 VG:PG for direct to lung (DL/RDL) vaping and 50:50 VG:PG for mouth to lung (MTL) devices. From now on you can experiment a bit. For example, adding VG increases the amount of vapor and reduces the throat hit. If you want a stronger throat hit, lower viscosity and less vapor, increasing the PG ratio will help achieve this. You should always check that VG and PG are pharmaceutical grade to ensure they are of high quality. The applicable salary range depends on where you live.
Nicotine
Other regions have their own rules regarding liquid nicotine, so be sure to follow local laws and always buy nicotine from a reputable seller who can document the quality and origin of their product. Whether you are using TPD compliant nicotine injections or a higher nicotine concentration, it is very important to measure the correct amount of nicotine for your e-juice. We will cover this in the next section. If you are not sure which type and strength of nicotine is right for your needs. Equipment and environment
Using the right equipment in the right environment is essential to safely mixing quality DIY juice. Always wear protective gloves when mixing e-liquid as this prevents skin contact with nicotine and other irritating ingredients. It should also be mixed in a clean environment, on a stable flat surface, so that the e-liquid is free of impurities. Next, you need to consider how you measure the ingredients. There are two common ways to do this: measuring by weight and by volume. Either way, using an online e-juice calculator will help you determine the exact numbers.
Measure by weight
Measuring by weight is the preferred method because it is accurate, fast and requires less equipment cleaning. To measure weight, you need to buy a digital scale with an accuracy of 0.01 g. Many experienced mixers recommend the American LB-501 scales for its reliability and accuracy. If you mix by weight on a digital scale, you can drop the ingredients directly from their containers into your e-liquid bottle until the weight indicated by the online calculator is reached. This greatly reduces the risk of spillage of ingredients.
Measure by volume
Measuring by volume requires less initial investment as there is no need to purchase a digital scale. However, it is less accurate, slower, and requires more equipment cleaning than measuring weight. To measure the volume, you need to buy a set of blunt syringes with a volume of 1-10 ml and blunt tips. The online e-juice calculator shows the required amounts of each ingredient to make the blend. Syringes can take time to get used to accurately and you must clean them thoroughly after each use. That's why we recommend buying a scale and measuring by weight if possible.
Count and mix
Once you have the right ingredients, the right equipment, and the recipe, it's time to count and start mixing!
Once you have selected the calculator, carefully enter all the relevant values and it will display the exact amounts of each ingredient needed to create the mixture. After adding all the ingredients, close your e-juice bottle and shake it vigorously for about a minute until everything is well mixed. When the solution is properly mixed, it should be uniform in color and have no streaks. Dip
Once you've mixed your first DIY e-juice, it's very tempting to start vaping right away. In any case, you should wait at least an hour for the air bubbles to disappear. Some flavor profiles are delicious almost immediately, especially less complex blends and lighter flavors like fruit. The DIY e-juice community often refers to these flavor profiles as “shake and vape”. Other flavor profiles require "soaking" to reach their full potential. Simply soak the liquid, leaving it sealed in a cool, dark place. Different flavor profiles may require different degrees of soaking. For example, many light cream recipes benefit from 1-2 weeks of steeping, while heavy cream can reach its full potential after a month or more.