TLDNR: cheapskate vaping
My specialty is cheap. How to vape for the lowest possible $/mo. and lowest effort input. The result is juice that is in no way special, and isn’t particularly consistent. I think I can do it for about $usa20/month though.
Cheapskate dos:
1. Get only the stuff you need.
Don’t bother with the DIY kits. They’ve got a bunch of stuff in em you don’t really need and may never use. You will need measurement equipment, but those and possibly some funnels and juice bottles is more or less it. Even 100mg nic base can be washed off if dealt with promptly. It doesn’t affect instantly. Paper towels are handy.. there will be spills. Mix over an impervious hard (like in a kitchen) surface and you can wipe anything off.
2. Buy wholesale.
Juice components can have very long lives if properly stored and don’t take a lot of space. You can often get away with buying in bulk. The savings can be huge.
3. Buy off label.
“Vape” supplies often get a major bump for being vape, but are often the same. USP Food grade kosher VG and PG is the same no matter whether it’s meant for restaurants, livestock, health and beauty, or vaping. For vaping frequently doubles the price though. SS316L wire of a given diameter is used for lots of things. It’s just tough marine grade stainless. Candymaking flavoring is often vastly cheaper, but you need to make sure it doesn’t contain stuff that can be eaten but not breathed. Like oils or diacetyl. They’ll sell butterscotch or cinnamon stuff for example that you don’t want to go near. (Well maybe occasionally a little cinnamon. Cinnamon oil is mighty good in vapes if not good for you. It needs to sit mixed for a loooong time)
4. Don’t go nuts with measurements.
Using single flavors makes things much simpler as the ratio is already worked out. I eventually stopped using measurement devices as my bottles were always the same. I could do it by eye. Made things a lot faster. Less consistent, but faster.
5. Storage matters.
Nic base lasts a whole lot longer in the freezer. Unprotonated Nic is broken down by light and heat. Freezers block both. I keep Nic in the freezer, flavors in the fridge, and bases under the sink in gallon jugs. Their unrefrigerated shelf life is years.
6. Squeeze bottles rock.
I got a bunch of empty squeeze bottles at the dollar store. I transfer bases to them as needed. Their spouts make getting things into little juice bottles easy.
