DIY Basics- What you NEED to know... Part 1

OK, so you're feeling slightly silly because you just found out that 30ml is equal to a shot glass, right?
And...you just spent 26 bucks on a shotglass full of eliquid that tastes totally different from what you tasted in the store.
And...you have no recourse- the old 'Taste is Subjective' line just bit you right in the ass...somewhere in the vicinity of your wallet.
You're pissed, and rightly so; the eliquid market, unregulated and unchecked, has swelled to about 10 THOUSAND companies nationwide, and growing every day.
There are no prerequisites for the creation and sale of eliquid; no price guideline, no certificate of merit, nothing.
Just mix a bottle and put a pretty label on it- somebody will buy it...at least once.

So what are you going to DO about it? Suck it up?
Hell no! You're going to learn to make your own and be self-sufficient.
You will amaze yourself, your family and your friends but most importantly, you will be weaned off the corporate tit.

So let's get started!

First things first- the nic, or nicotine solution.
This was the thing I had the most trouble envisioning in the beginning. It simply made no sense at all to me; was it a powder, a magic substance? Did they squeeze tobacco leaves out somewhere?

In a nutshell, the nicotine solution we use in eliquid is manufactured by the same companies that produce the same product for pharmaceutical applications, such as patches and gum.

Nicotine in its concentrated form is potentially hazardous, even fatal, and you are going to learn everything you can about handling it properly before starting up, right?

AEMSA is an organization that has exacted standards for industry use; while currently not mandatory, many companies belong to AEMSA, and their publication is well worth a read.

Another preparatory source for you to learn some more about the nicotine we use is an audio recording of a show on Vapersplace.
Nicotine 101 is chock full of the things we NEED to know about nicotine.

So now you've done your research and you're ready to go, right?

Go over to Onestop DIY Shop and get yourself a DIY Kit.
It will be the best money you have ever spent on vaping.

If you want to buy bigger quantities of nicotine solution
Wizard Labs
Heartland Vapes
NicVape
Azure Vaping
OneStop DIY Shop
Are just a very few of many reputable companies.

How do you know what's good?
Refer back to those AEMSA guidelines. Your nicotine supplier should have all the information on your nicotine posted on their site. If they don't, then refer back to those trusted sellers I just listed.
Here is a Certificate of Analysis from Wizard Labs.

Your nicotine solution will be easier to blend if you get it in a Propylene Glycol (PG) carrier.
If you insist upon Vegetable Glycerin (VG), PLEASE be sure to BLEND it throughoughly when you dilute it down (with PG and/or VG) to your desired strength.
Nicotine does not blend as evenly in VG as it does in PG, especially in colder temperatures.

After you order all that, go ahead and get this calculator.

When you get all your supplies, go ahead and Google everything everywhere about DIY.
It is NOT easy, it is NOT simple.

But doable? Hell, yes.