Getting into DIY

[DrGilgamesh]

I've been watching videos on how to make juice and I believe I have a pretty good understanding and I am going to buy the Liquid Barn starting kit. Is this a good place to start? Also if possible, can some people post good recipes from their flavors? I don't really have many ideas since I am still pretty much 100% new to this.

Also, where else should I buy juice flavors from?

 

[SteveS45]

What flavors did you get from Liquid Barn? Because that is what I mostly use. I always recommend that started kit because it is everything you need for 1,400 ML's of e-Liquid and all the labware you will need for a while.

 

[RonJS]

I've been watching videos on how to make juice and I believe I have a pretty good understanding and I am going to buy the Liquid Barn starting kit. Is this a good place to start? Also if possible, can some people post good recipes from their flavors? I don't really have many ideas since I am still pretty much 100% new to this.

Also, where else should I buy juice flavors from?

Welcome!

LB & starter kits? see (for example):
http://vapingunderground.com/threads/starter-kits.350915/#post-1878944

Good recipes?
You can probably find some here:
http://vapingunderground.com/forums/diy-e-liquid-recipes

It is often suggested you find a recipe you think you may like and Then buy the flavors to make it.
Where to buy flavors at depends on where you wish them shipped to. In your case it's

Ron
---
"What’s in store for me in the direction I don’t take?"-Jack Kerouac

 

[DrGilgamesh]

What flavors did you get from Liquid Barn? Because that is what I mostly use. I always recommend that started kit because it is everything you need for 1,400 ML's of e-Liquid and all the labware you will need for a while.

I have yet to buy any. Note: "I am going to"
I have yet to decide.

 

[SteveS45]

Well LB offers a few easy to use flavors like Orange Banana and Strawberry Cheesecake so basically follow the recommended percentage and wait for it to infuse!

 

[Teresa P]

If I were starting from scratch and had it to do all over, I would definitely browse through recipes here, ELR, All the Flavors, maybe a few more sites, and pick out recipes that appealed to my preferred flavor profile. I had none of these starting out, all I had was a handful of tiny bottles of Lorann's flavoring that someone had given me and I was minus a couple of clues.
Anyhow, once I got a few simple recipes in mind I'd go to www.wizardlabs.org. I suggest them because they carry a wide array of flavors from different vendors in small, 8ml bottles for $1.49 or less. This makes it very easy to try different flavors without taxing one's budget too heavily on flavors you may or may not like. They also sell PG, VG, and nicotine in small amounts to get started with.
Labware, IMO, is highly overrated. I've mixed in medicine cups, plastic shot glasses, little measuring cups from Kroger, you name it. Long as it's clean, it makes no difference if it came from lab supply or the Dollar Tree.
Syringes? If you aren't using a scale, syringes are grand, but your local pharmacy will often give you a handful of oral syringes. You can also get them from eBay for a song.
If you're more comfortable buying a kit, that's cool. There's always the chance that you won't use half of what's in it but then again, you may. Totally your decision.

 

[Khassy]

I wouldn't buy a starter kit. You'll end up with a bunch of crap you don't need and won't ever use. It's better, and cheaper, to buy things individually.

 

[SteveS45]

The Liquid Barn starter kit is the best way to start DIY and nothing in the kit goes to waste. I can't talk about other suppliers but having bought the LB DIY Starter kit it was the best value. I hate hearing people who never bought it say crap you will never use.

 

[RonJS]

I hate hearing people who never bought it say crap you will never use.

It's not necessary to buy the kit to determine what might not be used.

On LB's web site they list what is in the kit.

Glad I could help.

 

[SteveS45]

Still nothing goes to waste...............

 

[Mykreign]

When I started, I did the same thing. Bought the same kit from liquid barn because it was the easy thing to do. Looking back I regret it.

The only flavor I still use is the vanilla ice cream. The rest are covered in dust. That doesn’t really matter because flavor is subjective but for me, I was disappointed.

The main regret I had was the lab stuff you get. I used it for a couple weeks, said screw this and bought a scale. It’s so much easier. All the beakers, graduated cylinders and syringes went into the trash. Having to clean all that when you’re done was a pain in the ass to me. With a scale you just drip from the flavor bottle into your 10ml/30ml bottle and you’re done.

If you want to order from liquid barn I’d just get flavors, pg/vg and nicotine. (Idk if they sell nicotine)

Also if you’re ordering from LB you’ll need pipettes if you’re using a scale. I got 300 on amazon for $3-$4. If you want LB flavors, bull city flavors carry them and put them in dripper bottles so you won’t need pipettes.

As others suggested, I’d find recipes that sound good to you and buy those flavors.


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[BKTOAD]

The Liquid Barn starter kit is the best way to start DIY and nothing in the kit goes to waste. I can't talk about other suppliers but having bought the LB DIY Starter kit it was the best value. I hate hearing people who never bought it say crap you will never use.

Does it have syringes?

I have never bought it. But syringes are “crap I will never use.”

Also on the “crap I will never use” list are:
Graduated cylinders
Safety gloves
Electronic mixer

See there, Steve, I gave my first hand experience on a product I didn’t personally use. It is possible!
You say the liquid barn is “the best way to start? Did you try starting other ways? Or was this the only way you started? Do you have personal experience with all vendors? And all available starter kits? If not, you are discrediting them before you tried them. Which, if I am not mistaken, you preach against. Fiercely. And belligerently.

To the OP- get a scale. Measure (weigh) straight into your juice bottle. No muss. No fuss. No cleanup. More accurate and faster than syringes.

The 2 things I wish I knew before jumping into diy are both on this thread. Find a tried and true recipe that appeals to you and order those flavors. And skip syringes, get a scale.

 

[Mykreign]

@BKTOAD told me to get a scale and I didn’t listen should have...


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[SteveS45]

1 5ML syringe has lasted me more than a year and if the lettering did not get worn off (from alcohol in flavorings) it would be headed for the recycling bin soon. Yeah sure use your scale but they break more often than a syringe and much cheaper to replace. Oh wait a second I have bunch of brand new ones just waiting for when I need one. Clean up? Wow rinsing out a graduated cylinder or beaker is so much work! A couple of pulls and squirts and a syringe is cleaned.

 

[BKTOAD]

1 5ML syringe has lasted me more than a year and if the lettering did not get worn off (from alcohol in flavorings) it would be headed for the recycling bin soon. Yeah sure use your scale but they break more often than a syringe and much cheaper to replace. Oh wait a second I have bunch of brand new ones just waiting for when I need one. Clean up? Wow rinsing out a graduated cylinder or beaker is so much work! A couple of pulls and squirts and a syringe is cleaned.

Do you have personal experience with scales breaking? You, personally? Have you, personally, made juice by weight? No, you haven’t. Or we would not be having this conversation. Please stick to only personal experience. That is your dogma.

Rinsing between each flavor? Or never rinse and just weigh? Which seems exponentially more efficient?

Still cross contaminate your flavors after rinsing. Zero chance you don’t. Unless you have a dedicated syringe for every flavor.

 

[Teresa P]

I've used the same scale for nearly two years. I have a couple of brand new backups still in their boxes, but my old reliable is still accurate and chugging along. I do have electrical tape over the "tare" button since I cracked it from overuse, but the scale itself is tough as nails. Great $18 investment...

 

[Squonk]

http://vapingunderground.com/threads/guide-to-mixing-by-weight.22891/

 

[Huckleberried]

When I first started out, I only purchased what was suggested. If kits were available at that time, I wasn't aware of them, but I never purchased cylinders, beakers, mixers, or any of that jazz. I've always just mixed directly into the bottle that will be used, I time steep, and I just shake the heck out of the bottles.

I switched to mixing by weight after a little while. It's just so easy. Really no clean up, unless the flavor bottle doesn't have a dropper tip. Like Teresa, I've been using the same scale I started with, nearly 3 years now? Maybe 2, I'd have to look it up, LOL. Same batteries, in it, still, too.

VU has some really fantastic recipes posted, ELR has a ton, but I must admit, I've not tried many there. I'm one of those that finds one I like, and kinda get stuck on it.

So, anyway... welcome to VU. DIY can seem overwhelming in the beginning, so just let us know how we can help.

 

[Heabob]

I've been watching videos on how to make juice and I believe I have a pretty good understanding and I am going to buy the Liquid Barn starting kit. Is this a good place to start? Also if possible, can some people post good recipes from their flavors? I don't really have many ideas since I am still pretty much 100% new to this.

Also, where else should I buy juice flavors from?

How many recipes around here do you see using LB flavoring.
I've never counted the recipes posted here but they're must be at least a thousand.
Guessing that 98-99% of them aren't using LB flavorings.
When starting DIY your far better off using some of the popular recipes around here, or elsewhere.
Make a list of the flavors/brands in the recipes that sound good to you.
You will end up with many different brands and flavors.
It just goes with the territory of DIY and you will discover which ones you like and don't like along your journey.
Buy the smaller size bottles of flavoring starting out because some you may not like.

Would you try baking a cake for the first time without using a recipe?

 

[SteveS45]

@DrGilgamesh I say stick with your original plan getting the Liquid Barn DIY starter kit and dive into DIY before you start ordering from multiple site and searching for recipes. Keep it simple and you will enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole.