Introducing the GC, Game Changer Homogenizer

[muth]

@SmilingOgre

It’s a long small diameter probe.

What kind of probe. For homogenizing?

[muth]

I suppose the digital style is nice because you don’t have to wipe it down but 3x expensive, ey?

[SmilingOgre]

Yes, exactly.

BTW, you don’t have to use a homogenizer to heat the VG. The concept here is that the VG gets thinner and closer to the viscosity of PG as you heat it. Therefore, regardless of how you “blend” your liquid, the two components, PG and VG will blend better. There’s no magic or voodoo in this.

[muth]

@SmilingOgre

There’s no magic or voodoo in this.

Is it acceptable to heat all your ingredients together before homogenizing? Some argue about heating flavors and some argue the opposite.

[SmilingOgre]

I’m not going to dive into that. Many heated (intended) arguments have developed around that question. I find it acceptable. I’ll leave it at that. There is no harm in leaving out the nic until after blending and cooling. Regarding flavors, I have not found one that has been effected.

[muth]

@anon36682625

high tech jelly jar with lid I use also.

I have two of those, big and little

[Dan_the_Man]

@SmilingOgre

I have not found one that has been affected.

Nor have I and I have to use Flavorah and MF and have not found one that is affected and I have taken it to 250 F but I have not taken it to 512 F which is the boiling point of VG. (I think) lol.

[muth]

I just found and bookmarked the post by @anon36682625 instructing to add all your materials (except nic) before heating and homogenizing and that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t add my nic until I’m ready to vape anyway. Plus, what’s the sense of wasting nic on a recipe it turns out you don’t like? Another point was made by @Dan_the_Man iirc, that flavors were made to use in baking, etc. Never have I heard a cake recipe instruct you to add the vanilla after you’ve baked the cake

[Dan_the_Man]

@muth

Never have I heard a cake recipe instruct you to add the vanilla after you’ve baked the cake

Good one. LOL, I think I’ll use it.

[muth]

@Dan_the_Man

Good one. LOL, I think I’ll use it.

Good morning, Dan. Just found out I’m not working today so it’s time to make some coffee. Have a great morning and see ya later

[muth]

Btw, what’s the diameter of the two sized probes? And what’s the distance between the two bottom holes?

[Rdubu]

Dan, thanks for the photos of the stand; you also answered a couple other questions I have. How do you clean the probe and is it sufficient to run in distilled water and not get cross contamination from the previous batch; the other was how long do you run the GC. Thank you for information, I have been disassembling the probe between mixes, sounds like that may be overkill? Also been running the probe for 30 to 45 seconds, again overkill?

[anon36682625]

@muth

Hi Dan, how’s your knee coming along? Are you doing Double Dutch rope skipping with your grandchildren yet?

Thanks, I’m getting along pretty good. I have one knee replacement and now I suspect will eventually need another. My grand kids probably wouldn’t know what Double Dutch skipping even is. Too busy trying to do a mind meld with their cell phones.

@muth

I’ve been reading various posts and everyone has their preferred way of doing things. I’d like to choose a way that’s most convenient but appropriate like homogenizing right in the bottle so I don’t need to transfer anything.

I’m all in favor of people doing what works for them. What I don’t get is that when people are adding 140F VG to a mix they are heating everything anyway. Except for testing, and really the design concept, was to put everything in the bottle, heat, homogenize, degas, and be done with it. Either way, the entire mix temp will be within a few degrees F.

@muth

Some argue about heating flavors and some argue the opposite.

@SmilingOgre

Many heated (intended) arguments have developed around that question… Regarding flavors, I have not found one that has been effected.

Walt has used a homogenizer for a couple of years. Along with him there are now well over 100 mixers using GC’s in conjunction with the heating method. In over 4 years and hundreds of flavor concentrates, I have yet to find any that have been negatively affected. Zero. Each have unique chemical structures and without a concise analysis which pinpoints the purported “harm” and/or “degradation,” caused by temperature changes within my working (tested) parameters, my belief is that these claims have no basis whatsoever. However, controlled testing (only one variable) demonstrates that heat will oxidize nicotine which is where I believe these prohibitions find their origin.

Its time for me to start a thread about this and many other things associated.

[Rdubu]

I have been heating VG and flavors (not the nic) for close to two years and doing the shake thing before getting a GC. I have been doing what Dan the Man is doing heating the entire mix in the microwave for a few seconds. I see no degradation.

[SmilingOgre]

@muth

Some argue about heating flavors and some argue the opposite.

That is the theater we call a forum. All opinions, assertions, and thoughts do not agree…

Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colours from our sight
Red is grey is yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion

Moody Blues…

[anon36682625]

I’ve long thought about posting comparisons of homogenizers on the market. My reluctance has been solely on the fact that the retail prices of these will take your breath away and I have been reluctant to write anything that may seem to disparage their products. I have been dealing in and repairing high end laboratory units for awhile now which has been a great learning experience. What works…and what doesn’t.

There are clean in place units along with the type I am producing which are very hard to disassemble. I disassemble at the end of my mixing session but honestly don’t know that it is necessary. Running water through it should be adequate.

I also have plans to introduce “generation 2” models along with some accessories for the new year. I’ll start a separate thread.

[anon36682625]

@Rdubu

how long do you run the GC

It depends on quantity and the VG/PG ratio. Also I have seen differences in VG viscosity. I often run for a minute and sometimes longer. I think it best to use the gas bubble formationn as a guide to tell when all liquids have passed through the workhead. Once degassed, you can take a flashlight and inspect the mix for any separation. 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes is I think a good guideline. Plus it can be helpful to lift the probe up slightly . Normally I am 1/2 to 2/3 down in the bottle but heavy mixes can benefit from lifting up to assure that the top liquid has passed through the workhead.

[anon36682625]

@Rdubu

I have been heating VG and flavors (not the nic) for close to two years and doing the shake thing before getting a GC

Many have said the same. Most, in fact.

[SmilingOgre]

I’ve been trying to bring this point out for some time now and I just don’t seem to be able to get there from here. I can watch the more viscus liquid “stream” through the working head at the beginning of application of the homogenizer. I can also move the working head vertically and see how far down it draws into the container. As the session progresses the batch fills with gas bubbles and the streaming liquids dissipate. One can visually understand when a mix is complete.

[Rdubu]

All good info and much appreciated! Since my experience with an homogenizer is only months, I understand, Walt, what you are saying regarding the appearance of the mix. Since my experience level is only months my level of confidence is somewhat lacking.