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New to DIY and VU. Need help on Nicotine choice

Detroit Primetime

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Hello,
I am very new to DIY and need help on nicotine selection(s). Do I buy PG or VG based? How much should I buy? What vendor is best? What strength is most common, 48mg or 100 mg? I normally vape at 3mg nic and would like to start making juice in 120ml batches. Please help.


Thank you
Prime
 

NineNine

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welcome, I am not sure about the answer, so there will be someone else to help you.
 

bobnat

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1. Pg based Nic is much easier to work with so unless you plan to go PG free, get it in 100% PG base.

2. How much you buy depends on how much you plan on using; how much you want to spend; how often you want to deal with a vendor and shipping; how committed you are to vaping; how sure you are of the quality of Nic you're buying. If shipping and wait times are not an issue, start small until you're sure of the quality. After that, buy big to minimize all of the above. You can freeze Nic for years.

3. Buying in 100mg is overall the best way as it cuts down costs. You can immediately cut in half with PG to 50mg and then store it in the freezer. Take out 30ml at a time and you'll be fine. At your specs and with Nic at 50mg you'll need 7.2ml per 120ml of juice.
 

Mykreign

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Welcome. Bobnat pretty much nailed everything so i'll just throw in my 2 cents. For vendors, i've been using nicotine river for the last year and have had no issues in the quality department. My next purchase, i'll probably try vaperstek. Heard a lot of good things about them.

I use 100mg VG based nicotine found here https://www.nicotineriver.com/collections/e-liquid-nicotine/products/100mg-liquid-nicotine

I buy VG based because my recipes are 75-80% VG. So if a recipe uses a lot of flavors (which are pg based) I might not be able to hit that mark if i was using PG based nicotine.
 

eStorm

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I do also buy VG based nicotine from nicotine river, but I'm very sensitive to pg, my juices are normally 80/20 or higher, I do sometimes mix 75/25 but I can't vape that a long time without having severe throat and breathing issues.

I did purchase a while back nicotine rivers diy starter kit, its amazing, if you add 2 or 3 extra flavors or order the kit without nicotine, and buy an extra 100mg nic you'll get free shipping. Its defiantly at $49 one of the nicer kits and trust me I got plenty of these kits from different places lol.

Shipping is fast, but since they triple check your order, this processing time can take a couple days. Good luck on your journey :)
 

Detroit Primetime

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1. Pg based Nic is much easier to work with so unless you plan to go PG free, get it in 100% PG base.

2. How much you buy depends on how much you plan on using; how much you want to spend; how often you want to deal with a vendor and shipping; how committed you are to vaping; how sure you are of the quality of Nic you're buying. If shipping and wait times are not an issue, start small until you're sure of the quality. After that, buy big to minimize all of the above. You can freeze Nic for years.

3. Buying in 100mg is overall the best way as it cuts down costs. You can immediately cut in half with PG to 50mg and then store it in the freezer. Take out 30ml at a time and you'll be fine. At your specs and with Nic at 50mg you'll need 7.2ml per 120ml of juice.

If I plan to mix 2-3 120ml batches per week @3mg nicotine, how much Nicotine should I initially buy?
 

eStorm

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If I plan to mix 2-3 120ml batches per week @3mg nicotine, how much Nicotine should I initially buy?

There's plenty of software out there you can install, as well as online calculators. If you take a look at this link, you'll be able to get a good number or guideline. However if you're new to mixing, your ambition might be higher than the actual practice and outcome. It takes a while to make good enough product, that's worth making 120ml or higher off.

Start with 5-15ml and see how you like it, for that you won't need a gallon or liter of nicotine. I would say get a 250 or 500 ml of 48 or higher if you so choose and then after you got some experience, either order higher strength, different VG or pg base and bigger bottles.
 

Detroit Primetime

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There's plenty of software out there you can install, as well as online calculators. If you take a look at this link, you'll be able to get a good number or guideline. However if you're new to mixing, your ambition might be higher than the actual practice and outcome. It takes a while to make good enough product, that's worth making 120ml or higher off.

Start with 5-15ml and see how you like it, for that you won't need a gallon or liter of nicotine. I would say get a 250 or 500 ml of 48 or higher if you so choose and then after you got some experience, either order higher strength, different VG or pg base and bigger bottles.

Thanks a ton eStorm. That link is great. I initially wanted to copy some of the recipes I’ve found at that site so I could get the hang of it. I dare not try my own recipe until I get used to the process because as you said, I’m very very new to this. :). I will definitely start off at 5-15ml. That is great advice.
 

gopher_byrd

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Another hint is when starting out buy your flavors in the 10 ml size. It's not good if you buy a 30 ml or 120 ml and find out you hate the flavor. Bull City Flavors Community Recipe packs are a good option. You get all the individual flavors to mix the recipes you choose at a discount. They don't sell nic since North Carolina has draconian tax laws on nicotine.

Welcome to VU and welcome to DIY!
 

Ishkabibble

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I get my Nicotine from Levy at xtremevaping.com. Best and cleanest NIC on the market IMO. I've tried virtually all of the others and his is still the best that I've found. It's a little more expensive but totally worth it.
 

Detroit Primetime

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I get my Nicotine from Levy at xtremevaping.com. Best and cleanest NIC on the market IMO. I've tried virtually all of the others and his is still the best that I've found. It's a little more expensive but totally worth it.
Thank you for the info. Have you tried Vaportek nicotine? I am seeing a lot of posts stating that they are the best?
 

Ishkabibble

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Thank you for the info. Have you tried Vaportek nicotine? I am seeing a lot of posts stating that they are the best?
Yup, switched from VT to Xtremevaping because to me it was even cleaner. Unreal how clear and clean this stuff is. Nothing against VT as it's good stuff, it's just that Xtremevaping NIC is a league of it's own IMO. Worth the price and it's been on sale for a while at 50% off.

Levy is the man and their customer support is awesome.
 

Detroit Primetime

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Yup, switched from VT to Xtremevaping because to me it was even cleaner. Unreal how clear and clean this stuff is. Nothing against VT as it's good stuff, it's just that Xtremevaping NIC is a league of it's own IMO. Worth the price and it's been on sale for a while at 50% off.

Levy is the man and their customer support is awesome.
Thank you very much Ishkabbible. I will definitely consider them when I’m ready to take the leap.
 

Ishkabibble

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Anytime buddy. You could always get a little off both, and then do A/B testing. VT is great stuff regardless, is my second favorite. And in all honesty if your juice is super flavored you might not tell a difference.

I can just pick out peppery NIC, even the slightest hint and it grosses me out so I invest in the highest quality I can find.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

Teresa P

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Yup, switched from VT to Xtremevaping because to me it was even cleaner. Unreal how clear and clean this stuff is. Nothing against VT as it's good stuff, it's just that Xtremevaping NIC is a league of it's own IMO. Worth the price and it's been on sale for a while at 50% off.

Levy is the man and their customer support is awesome.
Based on your comments, I've just ordered a sample to try myself - thanks!
 

Ishkabibble

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Based on your comments, I've just ordered a sample to try myself - thanks!
Awesome! You won't be disappointed! Been using his stuff for years now. And not a spokesman either by any means, but almost all other NICs except VT make me feel bleh, taste peppery, and have a major harsh throat hit. I think I'm just more sensitive to it probably.
 

Ishkabibble

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Hmm never tried NicSelect actually, I'll need to grab some since I give everything a go it seems. BTW Teresa P this forum is a godsend and a breath of fresh air from ECF. Thank you for all you do for the forum! Great community you've got here!
 

Teresa P

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Hmm never tried NicSelect actually, I'll need to grab some since I give everything a go it seems. BTW Teresa P this forum is a godsend and a breath of fresh air from ECF. Thank you for all you do for the forum! Great community you've got here!
Thank you! It's "home" and I love being here. We have a wellspring of knowledge from vapers around the globe and we're happy to have you as well!

NicSelect was made especially for vaping and can be found at Nicotine River and ECigExpress. I'm sure there are other suppliers, but these are the only two that come to mind. ;)
 

Detroit Primetime

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Thank you! It's "home" and I love being here. We have a wellspring of knowledge from vapers around the globe and we're happy to have you as well!

NicSelect was made especially for vaping and can be found at Nicotine River and ECigExpress. I'm sure there are other suppliers, but these are the only two that come to mind. ;)
I was wondering what NicSelect was. I didn’t wanna ask about it and look like an idiot. Lol
 

Ishkabibble

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Another question.. what are the advantages and disadvantages of a 50/50 Nicotine? I plan to mix mainly at 70/30 VG PG
Well if you plan on ever doing higher VG ratios you'll need Nic that is 100% VG. It's all I use and I'm still at 30/70. I know that if I want to bump up the VG I can.

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jojosvapes

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Go with salt nics! and as others have suggested PG is easier to work with, especially if you store it in a freezer/fridge not to mention you dont have to fight needles... pipettes work just fine even with cold PG. But seriously just go with salt nics :) I see people debating all the time about how smooth one vendor is than another or how clean the taste / throat hit is-if that is the case just walk away from freebase in the first place.

I am sure some may have some reason to stay with freebase-I just personally dont know what they are.
 

Detroit Primetime

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Go with salt nics! and as others have suggested PG is easier to work with, especially if you store it in a freezer/fridge not to mention you dont have to fight needles... pipettes work just fine even with cold PG. But seriously just go with salt nics :) I see people debating all the time about how smooth one vendor is than another or how clean the taste / throat hit is-if that is the case just walk away from freebase in the first place.

I am sure some may have some reason to stay with freebase-I just personally dont know what they are.

I’m not familiar with Nic Salts too much? Isn’t that for people who want a higher nic strength? I normally vape at 3 mg or less.
 

Ishkabibble

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Go with salt nics! and as others have suggested PG is easier to work with, especially if you store it in a freezer/fridge not to mention you dont have to fight needles... pipettes work just fine even with cold PG. But seriously just go with salt nics :) I see people debating all the time about how smooth one vendor is than another or how clean the taste / throat hit is-if that is the case just walk away from freebase in the first place.

I am sure some may have some reason to stay with freebase-I just personally dont know what they are.
Well then the question is what brand of salt nic lol. I'm totally oblivious to using salt nic so this is interesting. Well I've used it for upping the nic back in the day but never as a sub for freebase completely.

Where do you get yours? Any cons?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

Ishkabibble

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Go with salt nics! and as others have suggested PG is easier to work with, especially if you store it in a freezer/fridge not to mention you dont have to fight needles... pipettes work just fine even with cold PG. But seriously just go with salt nics :) I see people debating all the time about how smooth one vendor is than another or how clean the taste / throat hit is-if that is the case just walk away from freebase in the first place.

I am sure some may have some reason to stay with freebase-I just personally dont know what they are.
Also I just read "To make nicotine salts work in e-juice, benzoic acid is added to the mix."

So if DIYing this, not sure how that all works, or if I'm just googling wrong info here.

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Ishkabibble

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Also I just read "To make nicotine salts work in e-juice, benzoic acid is added to the mix."

So if DIYing this, not sure how that all works, or if I'm just googling wrong info here.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Disregard I got caught up on some other posts about it. Seems there still is a taste involved, and I don't really trust it yet so I'll pass but that's just me personally. Plus I have no pods and vape pretty low ohm. For me if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

However for pods it seems the way to go. And who knows maybe I'm being asinine on the topic.

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jojosvapes

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Understood if you do feel you want to give it a try Nude Nicotine will send you a sample and its only a few dollars for shipping. https://www.nudenicotine.com/nicotine-sample-request/

However, myself and others would prolly suggest Nicotine River and Liquid Nicotine Wholesaler over them.
 

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