kitsune

I did try a carto and Its good--but, I still prefer dripping when I am able. The cartos are great for driving and times when I can't drip. actually, at the moment I really need to slow down-I am getting my first nic headache in a very long time. oooh--time to try some 0 nic......

forgot the pics.... Sharpie, VP-Turbo, Ego 900mah, Ego 650Mah, standard 510 Sharpie, VP-Turbo, Ego 900Mah, Ego 650 Mah

The pics turned out very nice. Nature really is truly amazing when we get the chance to stop and admire it !!! especially after a hard day.

Sounds wonderful !!! This industry is growing by leaps and bounds. I love all the choices. never get bored thats for sure. Congrats MM

I have had pretty good luck with LR atty's. They do heat up faster and need a bit of cool down time so they don't die out. I really love the LR's. Very glad you are getting back on track.

Thank you !!! If you see anything that needs to be clarified, changed or added please speak up...... I find DIY fun and would love input from others, success or failures, tips and tricks.

I finally decided on the VP-Turbo-AV from vaprlife. 3.7-6.5v. Dang, this thing packs a very nice punch and it comes is a very pretty pink. (I know, my girly side is showing). They also had red, black and silver. Very simple to adjust--The screw is pretty tiny (thank goodness for reading glasses) Fits very nicely in my hand and did I mention I really like the pink.... I have had my VP-PT for a year and not had any problems, so decided to stick with vaprlife. Ordered on Saturday and had it in my hand on Wednesday. Still playing with my perfect voltage--currently seems to be between 4.5 and 5--then again, I have been using it for less than 24 hours. nice solid unit, tons of vapor and throat hit. Battery life at 5v is about 4 hours for me--don't know if that is good or bad, but I can live with it !!! Ego for work (12 hour shifts), Mark Mod for home (would cry if anything happened to it), and my VP-turbo for everything else. I am a very happy vaper Thank you Vaprlife !!!!

Menthol (just a few drops) is what I use to increase the throat hit, just a little doesn't taste like menthol, but adds to the hit.

I am pretty sure cats are actually an alien species.....

Congrats !!! its amazing what a difference the right equipment can make. I still trying new flavors---so many options !!!

The flavoring you add will be enough to thin the VG. The grape and VG as a 0 nic should work well. If you don't get the throat hit you want--get some menthol flavoring or liquid, helps alot with throat hit. Its good to have nicotine liquid on hand--just in case......

Hopefully Last but not least...... Supplies: 1.Empty dropper bottles- 3ml, 5ml, 10ml sizes are great for mixing. 2. Pipette or syringe with blunt needle. Personally, I prefer using a syringe for mixing--More accurate. 3. paper towel or rag for handling any spills or messes 4. Labels are good for identifying your new mixes. If using paper labels I have found that applying scotch tape over the label keeps the label legible. 5. mixing calculator helps with acheiving the correct nicotine strength. There are other calculators out there, but I like Todd Muellers: http://www.todmuller.com/ejuice/ejuice.php . I usually put my flavor at 30 - 40%. I like lots of flavor. Mixing -can be simple (combining premixed liquids to create a new flavor) or more complicated, mixing from scratch. Or somewhere in between. 1. Always start your mixing or experimentation with small amounts. Its much easier to throw out a small amount of liquid if it turns out bad. The 3ml bottles are great for experimenting. 2. Its a good idea to keep track of what and how much you have added to your mix--just in case you want to make more. **It is easy enough to mix 2 or more premixed liquids together to get a new flavor. This is easiest if you are using the same nicotine strength. i.e.- Tobacco 18mg/Watermelon 18mg/menthol 18mg/pina colada 18mg. The amounts would depend on taste. Start with 5 drops of each in a 3ml bottle, shake and vape--can adjust the flavor as you want by adding more of one of the flavors. with the menthol--using just 1-2 drops/3ml will give a nice cool throat hit without tasting like menthol. ** Can use PG/VG or both to cut a higher strength liquid. i.e.- 24mg premixed liquid 1ml can be mixed with 1ml PG or VG to make 12mg/ml liquid. If cutting a premixed flavor, keep in mind, it will also decrease the flavor. If you don’t want the flavor loss you can cut with 0 nicotine strength in the same or a different flavor. You can also use flavorings to boost the flavor. use the calculator to determine how much PG/VG to use to achieve the desired strength. Just put 0 in the water and flavor boxes. ** Adding Flavoring to premixed liquids This is actually one of the easiest forms of mixing and is a great place to start the DIY journey. We all have flavors we don’t really care for, but by adding flavoring you can create a flavor you like. Keep in mind--when adding flavoring it will dilute the nicotine strength of the premixed liquid. one way around this is to get some unflavored higher nicotine liquid- i.e. 36mg that can be added to your mix to keep the nicotine strength at your desired level. My preferred nicotine level is 12mg/ml--so I will use that dose for mixing examples. i.e.-- cappuccino 36mg/ml, 1.7ml + FlavourArt apple pie flavoring 1.5ml + VG 1.8ml for a total of 5ml 12mg/ml. This is where the calculator comes in handy. Just put in the numbers, hit enter and the calculations are done for you. This is where having a syringe is helpful. However if you are using drops, I have found that 30 drops of PG = 1ml and 20 drops of VG = 1ml. You can use more than one flavoring: cappuccino 1.7ml + apple pie flavoring 1ml + Vanilla 1ml + VG 1.3 ml = 5ml 12mg/ml Don’t be afraid to mix more than one flavor. When cooking, most dishes require more than one flavor to get the right taste. ** mixing from scratch You will need PG and/or VG Unflavored Nicotine liquid ( I usually use 36mg/ml) Flavorings of choice i.e. Easy Watermelon 12mg/ml 3 ml PG or VG 1 ml Lorann Watermelon flavoring 2 drops Menthol flavoring (Flavourart) 2 ml 36mg/ml Unflavored liquid i.e. using multiple flavors: Apple Pie (6ml) 18mg/ml 3 ml 36/mg unflavored 1 ml FlavourArt(FA) Apple Pie 6 drops (Flavourart) Irish Cream 2 drops (FA) perique black (tobacco) 3 drops (FA) menthol .5ml PG .5ml VG 3 drops hazelnut 6 drops vanilla ** Misc Notes Tobacco Flavorings are very, very strong--a little goes a very long way. A couple drops to 5ml will give a nice background flavor. If using more, add a drop or 2 at a time to taste. Lorann flavorings are very concentrated. You would use less Lorann than you would with other flavorings. Avoid flavorings with oils or sugars--both can damage your atomizer. If you find your mix needs to be sweeter there are a couple of options: 1. Loranns cotton candy or Marshmallow flavorings are great for adding sweetness. 2. DIY flavor shack carrys Eythol Malto which is a sweetener. 3. I actually prefer the Lorann--overall sweeter tasting. 4. I add a few drops of Menthol to all my mixes-adds a cool throat hit and enhances the flavor. Just a little does not taste like menthol. If you like menthol, just add more. 5. always start mixing with small amounts and keep track of what and how much. 6. For taste testing--dripping works best. Mixing is a lot of trial and error in the beginning. Add flavoring a little at a time until you find the balance you like will help keep waste to a minimum. I am hoping others will be able to add their tips and ideas. the above is just my own opinion and my own experience. If all or part of this is confusing please let me know-writing documents is not my strong suit !!!! Merry Mixing

FlavourArt: Food Flavoring. Very wide selection of flavorings. Not as concentrated as Lorann, but has a wider variety of flavoring and less artificial coloring. Variety of Tobacco flavorings. Freedomsmokeusa and liberty flights both carry a very good selection of FlavourArt flavorings. Freedomsmokeusa :Liberty-Flights Decadent Vapors/Totally Wicked: The Decadent vapor line is produced in the UK. Decadent Vapors There are other products and suppliers out there. These are just the ones I use most often and am familiar with. Schilling and Mccormick flavorings will also work--they are just not as concentrated.

Lorann: Candy Flavoring. Very concentrated flavoring. Best for sweet flavors. 2. Can be purchased from the Lorann site. Avoid Flavors that are oil based. If you click on the 'item detail' button it will tell you if it is water soluble or insoluble. You want only water soluble flavorings. The oils can burn out the atomizer and are harder to mix. 2. Can be purchased from the Lorann site. Avoid Flavors that are oil based. If you click on the ‘item detail’ button--it will tell you if it is water soluble or insoluble. You want only water soluble flavorings. The oils can burn out the atomizer and are hard to mix. Lorann 3. Can Also be purchased from many vaping suppliers that carry DIY supplies. DIY flavorshack Totally wicked

DIY Tips and Info I know this is a lot of information, but I hope it helps those looking at trying their hand at DIY. Keep in mind, This is just my own experience. PG- Propylene Glycol : It is a colorless, nearly odorless, clear, viscous liquid with a faintly sweet taste, http://en.wikipedia....ropylene_glycol VG-Vegetable Glycerin(Glycerol): In foods and beverages, glycerol serves as a humectant, solvent and sweetener, and may help preserve foods. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol PG and/or VG are both used as the base of the E-Liquid. PG/VG can be purchased from most E-Liquid suppliers with or without Nicotine. Unflavored PG or VG with Nicotine can be purchased for the purpose of mixing your own liquids and can be purchased is many strengths. PG/VG without Nicotine is necessary for mixing your own liquids. Glycerin can also be purchased from most pharmacies-over the counter. Humco is one brand of Pharmacy Grade (USP) glycerin. It is sold as a skin protectant. It is a clear, slightly thick liquid and has a sweet taste to it. There is also a Food grade VG- Wiltons- sold at Craft stores in the baking sections. Can sometimes be found at Walmart in the craft section. The information will have to be put into a couple posts--The server doesn't like the long version....

Are you using premixed liquid as a nicotine base?? With 10ml of VG you could start by adding 1ml and then adding more if needed. I mix and cook to taste. The Lorann Grape is fairly strong, but not as strong as the strawberry, raspberry and Watermelon. but if you start with 1ml--its easy enough to add more. I used to like adding flavor to the tobacco flavors--once I ran out of tobacco flavors I just didn't buy any more. Like Nana said--its harder to remove flavor. your best best is to start with a 1ml of VG(20 drops or so) or premixed liquid and add .2ml (6 drops or so)..... Thank You Snubber !!!! Lots and Lots of trial and error.

Ofortuna really is Wonderful--Great review. I love that feeling when you find an amazing flavor !!!

I love pet stories !!!! Cats are by far the nuttier of the 2 creatures--can never figure out a cat...... Uma--I can tell you right now--my dog is soooo jealous. what an ingenious idea!!!

I love DIY !!! lots of trial and error involved, but so many flavors to create. If you have questions, just ask, love to help. Mind you, even after 1 1/2 years of playing with DIY its still a work in progress. Its alot like cooking--a little of this and a little of that and maybe a pinch of the other thing. I actually started with DIY because the flavors were never strong enough for me. I used the flavorings to increase the flavor in my existing liquids. Many of the new liquids and flavors are much stronger than they were even a year ago. Happy vaping and merry mixing !!!

Wives were created to make men miserable !!!!! The flavoring you found sounds like it will work just fine. I have even dabbled with schilling and McCormick--both also do work. The schilling and McCormick are just less concentrated. The best place to look for Lorann is at a craft store--hobby lobby or michaels. either in the cake decorating isle or candy making isle. The selection is a bit small but a nice place to start. You can actually check out the Lorann site(huge selection). Freedom smoke usa--I use a lot of flavourart--love the apple pie, tiramisu and forest fruit. Yes, the USP skin protectant stuff is the right stuff. I actually just tried it last week. prior to that I was using wiltons food grade glycerin (cake decorating isle). Just start mixing with small amounts and add to taste. you can even use the flavoring and add to any existing liquids you have to change or enhance the flavors. I also highly recommend menthol flavoring (I use flavourart)--a couple drops to any mix will really enhance the flavor and add a bit of throat hit without tasting like menthol. Just my 2 cents. Lots of trial and error.

Very glad you have made the leap !!! I promise It will be a nice soft cozy landing !!! Waiting is brutal I love our safe Haven---

Finding the bits and pieces that work for you and then actually being able to stock up on them is a time consuming process--but once all the pieces come together life is good again !!! Hang in there !! This too shall pass.....

Jolly Got you pretty much covered. I will add my 2 cents about a couple of things: 1. One of the hardest things to stop doing is comparing vaping to smoking--The number of draws, amount of nicotine etc as compared to smoking is kinda like apples and broccoli. It ends up boiling down to what works best for you. you will have a period of trial and error ahead of you trying to figure out what works for you. 2. My personal preference really is dripping--I get a much more consistent flavor, throat hit and vapor. It does take a bit of practice to get the hang of dripping, but overall it gives me the best experience. 3. I am one of the few left that prefer carts to cartomizers (only use them when I am driving or unable to drip). I use the blue foam found at most pet shops in the aquarium section, or you can get some precut foam from strictly ejuice (fairly cheap). Yes you can remove the filler, wash, dry and reuse. to refill the carts--pull out the filler--add liquid (about 8-10 drops), until below the top the cart--push filler into cart using paper clip, tweezers or what not.--pull the fill back to the top level with the cart rim--fluff a bit--add a couple drops to the top if needed. Most liquids come in dropper bottles--so you really don't need syringes etc until you get ready for DIY. topping carts--as the vapor and flavor drop off when using carts--remove the cart--add a couple drops the top of the filler and maybe an extra drop to the atty--replace cart and vape. It is almost impossible to get all the liquid out of a cart--if you allow 5-10 minutes between draws--more liquid will wick to the atty. The problem most of us have with carts is that we vape faster than the liquid can wick---this is when dripping comes in handy. Whe using carts I actually end up using a combination of dripping and carts--like stated above I just add a drop of 2 to the atty and the top of the cart and vape--usually I can get about 10 draws before I feel the need to add more liquid. I know its all a lot to take in at the beginning. You will soon find there is no single way to do things--its a matter of finding out what works best for you. Trial and error. You will know when the atty is getting dry--gets a burned type taste to it--just don't let it stay dry and hot and your atty will be fine. Check out the DIY section--information is scattered around, but there is lots of info. ask away. I am working on a DIY guide--but its still a work in progress--hoping to have something in the next couple weeks. Backups, Backups, Backups--Batteries, Atomizers and liquids !!!! always carry extras with you when possible. don't rely soley on carts--always have some extra liquid on hand. Happy vaping

I can at least answer a few of you questions. 1. not sure what atomizer comes with the kit, but more than likely a standard 510--which means you will have to direct drip or use the cartridges that come with it--which does require more frequent liquid addition. you may want to look at the cartomizers--since I don't use them often I will leave that info to somebody with more experience. 2. The cone is just a cover that fits over the atomizer or cartomizer and screws onto the ego--gives it a nice sleek look. 3. yes, you will need more liquid--never good to run out--causes all kind of stress !!! BTW--congrats on ordering an Ego--you won't be dissapointed !!

Greek will very soon become your second language--if something doesn't make sense you can certainly ask.... The how to videos are great however-- I was a 1 1/2 pack/day smoker with no intention to quit--that was 17 months ago. finding the right flavor and nicotine strength is key--you will have plenty of experimenting ahead of you--it really is half the fun.