mixing scales recommendations?

[Simon G]

I should be up and running in no time. The ebay link is chocka with scales, get some glassware and a big wild white wig!

Semi-related question. How do you all track your mixes and experiments?

I know there are a handful of apps and sites that you can use to track recipes and the like but I've never really nailed how to label the actual mixes. In the past when I've had my little adventures I did things like wrote on reclaimed bottles with a marker, used sticky labels and a biro, even the old sniff and guess. I would invariably end up with bottles that looked like the inside of a bus station toilet cubicle or covered in glue that would never really fully come off. I thought about getting one of those label makes, assuming the little strips they put out were easier to clean up after. I also thought about the cost of bottles and throwing them when they got too... disfigured but the plastic consumption/waste would weigh heavy on my hippy-heart.

I used soft bottles and mark them with a sharpie (usually just a number 1,2,3 etc) ... then when I need to do a big clean, I put them all in a pillow case, elastic band the top and chuck in it in the washing machine... they come out clean as new.

Then I just have a doc on the comp telling me what's in 1,2,3 etc and any notes related to what I'm doing.

 

[MarylinC37]

Some other people may know some better ideas than me but I just like to use a spreadsheet which makes all the calculations a lot faster and easier as well as being able to keep a record of all my recipes and also information such as the specific gravity figures for all my flavours.

 

[ObiWanVaponi]

I use this Juice Calculator http://diyjuicecalculator.com/ which I find handy because its got a database to track your juices and see how your stock levels are. I suspect I'm used to it now though, its probably more powerful than it needs to be.

You can use websites like https://e-liquid-recipes.com/ and https://alltheflavors.com/ too. If you enter all your concentrates in them they can suggest recipes, as well as having rough tasting notes and percentages.

As for bottles I use the boston bottle type with a wide lid and mix directly into that (less washing up) then use cut up bits of address stickers from the printer and stick it down with sellotape so its waterproof.

 

[memzey]

Like @Simon G I prefer the softer bottles. Here’s an example of what I do:

The recipe name, the version and the date I mixed it (v3 is delicious after three weeks so this one has another week and a bit to go). I keep my stash and calculate all my recipes on ELR. Works a treat for me.

 

[memzey]

I used soft bottles and mark them with a sharpie (usually just a number 1,2,3 etc) ... then when I need to do a big clean, I put them all in a pillow case, elastic band the top and chuck in it in the washing machine... they come out clean as new.

Then I just have a doc on the comp telling me what's in 1,2,3 etc and any notes related to what I'm doing.

I’m interested in this cleaning regime @Simon G - do you rinse them out or anything afterwards? Does it clear out all the residual aroma and flavour of the previous mix?

 

[Yohoto]

I used soft bottles and mark them with a sharpie (usually just a number 1,2,3 etc) ... then when I need to do a big clean, I put them all in a pillow case, elastic band the top and chuck in it in the washing machine... they come out clean as new.

Then I just have a doc on the comp telling me what's in 1,2,3 etc and any notes related to what I'm doing.

I'm curious about the washing machine method. I assume it's on a lower heat wash and no detergent/whathaveyou?

I use this Juice Calculator http://diyjuicecalculator.com/ which I find handy because its got a database to track your juices and see how your stock levels are. I suspect I'm used to it now though, its probably more powerful than it needs to be.

You can use websites like https://e-liquid-recipes.com/ and https://alltheflavors.com/ too. If you enter all your concentrates in them they can suggest recipes, as well as having rough tasting notes and percentages.

As for bottles I use the boston bottle type with a wide lid and mix directly into that (less washing up) then use cut up bits of address stickers from the printer and stick it down with sellotape so its waterproof.

More powerful than it needs to be. I like the sound of that. I've been fairly reliant on LiqCalc on android in the past and there's always the chance that vape-related apps get removed so I should definitely look for something less likely to vanish. The sites linked with recipe suggestions are going to be a great help as well. Finding a jumping-off point should be a lot easier.

 

[Simon G]

I’m interested in this cleaning regime @Simon G - do you rinse them out or anything afterwards? Does it clear out all the residual aroma and flavour of the previous mix?

I rinse them quickly under the tap before chucking them in the pillowcase, just to get any left over bits of liquid out of the bottom, then I chuck the lids, tips and bottles in the washing machine... I use just a tiny amount of washing powder (like a tea spoon), then use the 'extra rinse' option... you are essentially just giving them a really good wash out, after a spin they are pretty much dry too and they don't smell, the sharpie comes off too. It's just a lazy way of washing a load at the same time.

 

[Simon G]

yeah, temp I have at 30 degrees C ... it's nowhere near warm enough to melt them or anything.

 

[memzey]

I rinse them quickly under the tap before chucking them in the pillowcase, just to get any left over bits of liquid out of the bottom, then I chuck the lids, tips and bottles in the washing machine... I use just a tiny amount of washing powder (like a tea spoon), then use the 'extra rinse' option... you are essentially just giving them a really good wash out, after a spin they are pretty much dry too and they don't smell, the sharpie comes off too. It's just a lazy way of washing a load at the same time.

That’s really interesting - lazy sounds good to me! I used to wash by hand at the sink and then USC but that was too much of a faff (see “lazy” comment). Last time I gave them all a rinse and left them to soak in some Milton solution, as per a recommendation from here on squonk bottles. That worked a treat but your method seems even easier. I might give that a go once I pluck up the courage to ask the wife how the washing machine works

 

["Misfit"]

Washing bottles
Fuck that
I just put the same flavour in them.