Calling all DIY'ers
- Thread starter Viper_SA
- Start date
Volume, always. As you note, all recipe percentages are by volume, not weight. If a juice is 70/30, the 70% VG is by volume. If we went by weight, VG would be >70% because it is heavier than PG.
However, even though DIY recipe creators formulate volumetrically, they never verify volumetrically. Instead they verify by weight because a scale is more accurate than gauging liquid level in a pipette or syringe by eye. So if a recipe creator adds 5% of flavour X to a 100ml tester of juice, he won't verify that he has added 5ml. He will instead get his recipe app to calculate what 5ml weighs, and will then verify that he has added that weight. Because most use 1ml = 1g and because almost no concentrates actually weigh 1g per ml, recipes will always be volumetrically inaccurate.
For those who mix by weight, this inaccuracy is irrelevant provided they use the same 1ml = 1g assumption as the recipe creator. But those who mix by volume will always be slightly out. Fortunately, the variance is so slight (for most concentrates) that the inaccuracy won't significantly affect the taste/balance of the juice. But theoretically it could.
Let's say that Wayne formulates a Hpno and Cherry Cappuccino, all with TFA flavours. Disgusting, I know, but I've chosen those three flavours for a reason. Wayne does a thumbsuck recipe, based on his experience of those flavours, of:
6% Hpno
8% Cherry
10% Cappuccino
He makes up a 100ml test batch of the juice. To reflect the recipe accurately by volume in the juice, he should add 6ml Hpno, 8ml Cherry, 10ml Cappuccino using a pipette/syringe for each. But he uses a scale and a 1ml = 1g conversion formula, so he adds 6g Hpno, 8g Cherry, 10g Cappuccino. But the real weights of those concentrates are:
Hpno: 0.81g per ml
Cherry: 0.9g per ml
Cappuccino: 1.08g per ml
So he is actually adding:
Hpno: 6/0.81 = 7.4ml instead of 6ml
Cherry: 8/0.9 = 8.9ml instead of 8ml
Cappuccino: 10/1.08 = 9.26ml instead of 10ml
In order to be volumetrically accurate, his recipe should actually read:
Hpno 7.4% instead of 6%
Cherry 8.9% instead of 8%
Cappuccino 9.26% instead of 10%
This is now a different recipe. The Hpno has been bumped by almost 1.5%, the Cherry by nearly a full percent, and the Cappuccino has been dropped by .75 of a percent. It's irrelevant to those who mix by weight, we will all make the same 'mistake' as Wayne so we get the same juice. But the guys who mix by volume will get a different juice from the one that Wayne mixed and tested, even though they are following the recipe faithfully.
Of course, those three flavours represent the extremes in the variance scale, and those percentages are also high. For 99% of recipes on the market, the variations between volume and weight will be so small that they can safely be disregarded.
Edit: I just went through all my concentrates in DIY Juice Calc and changed them to 1. My OCD is finally at rest. As long as I avoid that Hpno Cherry Cappuccino, I should be OK. Although I'd recommend avoiding a juice like that anyway.
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yup the fridge will slow it down dramatically. Freezer would work but your juice will get very thick
But I can take it out the freezer and after a day or two it will be normal?
It was discussed here. Seems the concensus is that you can never really stop the steeping process - it may slow it down but not arrest it completely.
An easy fix is to make smaller batches more often.
I'm interested to know which juice you have that works best immediately. Do you want to stop the steeping because of flavour fade or because the juice is actually best freshly mixed and steeping alters the taste/balance?
I was just thinking the same thing. If it fades then up the % a bit.
I was under the impression that EVERYTHING taste better after a steep.
I'm with @RichJB. Very interested in what juices you are using. Everything that I've mixed so far have got a very sharp taste when it's fresh. After steeping for a week it's all smoothed out and doesn't change if you leave it longer. I've had some steeping for 2 months and it tasted the same as the 1 weeks.
It's actually XXX.
When I first got it I instantly got a few months supply, and got restocked long before I had used it up, so I have been vaping well-steeped XXX for a long time.
The other day I got a bottle and had left my regular stock behind, so cracked open the brand new bottle with clear juice inside (as opposed to my normal yellow XXX), and I realised that it was instantly better! Ironically I have been looking for a new juice, and now I kinda found it
When I first got it I instantly got a few months supply, and got restocked long before I had used it up, so I have been vaping well-steeped XXX for a long time.
The other day I got a bottle and had left my regular stock behind, so cracked open the brand new bottle with clear juice inside (as opposed to my normal yellow XXX), and I realised that it was instantly better! Ironically I have been looking for a new juice, and now I kinda found it
Interesting, thanks @Stosta. I don't know XXX at all so can't offer anything specific. However, I have noticed that prolonged vaping on a particular flavour causes it to become dull. Not because the juice is changing but because my palate gets into a rut. I don't know if you vape XXX a lot and I'm just spitballin' here but might it be that fresh XXX is a sufficiently different feel from what you're accustomed to (well steeped XXX) to qualify as "a change is as good as a holiday"?
Could it not be the nicotine oxidizing?It's actually XXX.
When I first got it I instantly got a few months supply, and got restocked long before I had used it up, so I have been vaping well-steeped XXX for a long time.
The other day I got a bottle and had left my regular stock behind, so cracked open the brand new bottle with clear juice inside (as opposed to my normal yellow XXX), and I realised that it was instantly better! Ironically I have been looking for a new juice, and now I kinda found it
I only mix small amounts so not even the bad stuff lasts long enough for that to be an issue.
I don't know if it affects flavour, but you might have to worry more about exposure to air than steeping.
Maybe one of the more knowledgeable guys can chime in.
J
Just want to ask and know this have been posted before. I make my juice 30/70 nic3mg after steeping longer than 3 weeks it gets that dark yellow colour for me its a sighn the stuff is ready to Vape. But lately some off it is so strong its actually burning my mouth.
Just want to ask if someone is experience the same problem. Make my juice 30/70 and Nicotine 3mg. After 3 weeks my juice is that dark colour so in my book its time to vape it. But lately I get a hell of a throaght hit. I use PG nicotine. Yes I shake it before I mix. I don't open my juice in 3 weeks time. Shake it a little bit daily my nicotine is kept in dark cool place. I thought its my coil and wicking but that is spot on. It must be the Nicotine. Must I drop my strength to 2mg. So afraid to make a 50ml again.
Sorry ignore first post
I've found that my nic sweetspot is between 1.5% and 2%. I accidently made a mix at 4% and can really tell.
After steeping for that long, why not try letting it breathe a bit? No more than 4 hours. I've found that this helps considerably.
I mixed a bottle of the famous Unicorn Milk recipe on ELR and could not stomache it because it was so sweet. A hot water bath and left a while to breathe with the cap of the bottle off made a world of difference. Went through 300mls of the stuff I was ready to give away/flush before I tried this.
Thanks for reply
So the milkshakes are in and the judges were well pleased. My two favourite entrants in the comp are both through to the final three so I'm well chuffed and totally stoked for Em after the derisive comments when she was nominated. ID10-T wasn't a surprise, he is always strong.
As always, Rule 1 applies and I can't make any of the recipes, bleh. Additionally, the missing concentrates are not ones I will buy: FA UP, FW Razzleberry, TFA Coconut Candy, FW Creme de Menthe, TFA Malted Milk. I will sub for some but they are making such specific additions that I will only get an approximate facsimile. Still, the Coconut Rum shake sounds the business.
As always, Rule 1 applies and I can't make any of the recipes, bleh. Additionally, the missing concentrates are not ones I will buy: FA UP, FW Razzleberry, TFA Coconut Candy, FW Creme de Menthe, TFA Malted Milk. I will sub for some but they are making such specific additions that I will only get an approximate facsimile. Still, the Coconut Rum shake sounds the business.
Thanks for keeping us up to date. I just cannot sit through those long videos.
That Coconut Rum shake does sound good. And Law 1 does not apply for a change!
Banana Mint Milkshake... what. I have to make that. I am intrigued 
I also like the look of that coconut rum one, I'm sure it'll be better with FA's coconut. Well, that's my favorite coconut so's I'm just gonna make it with that!
Banana Mint Milkshake... what. I have to make that. I am intrigued
So, I whipped this baby up earlier and it is a keeper! Instant creaminess thanks to the banana cream and fresh cream with no steep time!
The flavours work surprisingly well together and not one flavour dominates another, making this a perfect ADV.
The Creme de menthe blends seamlessly to produce a perfectly balanced mouth-orgasm.
The biggest pro here is off course that I have another use for me Creme de Menthe after the Caprian hangover!
Give it a go, you will not regret it...
How is the Creme de Menthe, I see it's at 3.5% in this recipe. I found it over powering in the Cuprian recipe (and that has Cd'M at a lower percentage) - while I could enjoy the first tank of it by half way through the 2nd I'm gatvol of the creme de menthe
I'm hoping and praying you say the other flavours help balance it because I have an almost full bottle of Creme de Menthe at home and there aren't any other recipes calling for it.
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