In the uncertain times ahead, sadly probably certain that FDA will eventually get around to eliminating our little endeavor, a lot of people are wisely thinking ahead about stockpiling.
First what do you even need to stockpile?
Food Flavors and PG/VG will continue to be available, no problem.
tobacco flavors, I don't see how they can regulate if they contain no nicotine, but I will wait on that one and see what the proposed regs say when they come out. You might want to take up DIY if you have not already, because Tobacco flavors are really weird, and most people will probably not like most they try. I really don't see how they can regulate them, but the whole notion is so oppressive, they do whatever the f*%k they want. May be wise to err on the side of caution while you still have time to find some flavors you like if you are into Tobacco styles, I dunno.
Not sure how to read things like carts and batteries, but my guess is that they will also continue to be available, although maybe not so widely and probably more costly. Personally I am not too worried about hardware, even if it is no longer available in the US, it is not something that I think can be easily regulated or subject to Customs seizures if there is no nicotine in it. Jeez, it's just a battery.
I think batteries and carts etc will still be easy to get although you may want to stock some extras because if your last battery kicks, and you can only get them from Czerniy or Hong Kong, you are gonna be waiting a while.
So ...
Nicotine base is the main and maybe only issue, and that will definitely become an issue. I don't advocate unlawful activities, not gonna discuss how you can and can't game the Customs system, but I can tell you if in the future the stuff is only available offshore, bottles of Nic base are definitely not gonna make it through.
If they regulate and you have not already stockpiled, you are gonna be SOL.
The good news is nicotine base is not as prone to oxidation as some may think. Amines invariably turn pink or brown when they oxidize. I had a bottle that had gotten too low to get a syringe in. So I poured it into a 10 mL PET bottle and used it down to about a mL or so left. That has been just sitting around at room temp for weeks now and is still clear as glass. So with proper storage you should have a long shelf life - I would say years is not unreasonable.
The bad news is the proper storage part, assuming you want to stockpile quantity. It is gonna take some work and some $$$ to do it right.
You may not have room in your freezer, and this stuff is dangerous, you don't want to break a bottle in a domestic environment. If you don't have adequate/safe freezer space, refrigeration is probably almost as good. Buy a small dorm size fridge off Craig's list, an added bonus if you have kids is these are easily fitted with a padlock too.
Next, storage. You will want to use amber glass bottles and I strongly recommend the safety coated ones. Cap type is VERY important, only use PTFE lined caps. The best type are the Qorpak Green F217 PTFE lined caps. You can get them here
http://www.amazon.com/Qorpak-GLC-02...8&sr=1-9&keywords=safety+coated+amber+bottles
Depending on your needs you may want to collaborate with a buddy to reduce the $$$.
Now, how to do it. I am assuming you want to stockpile multiple liters. What you want to do is portion into smaller bottles so you can leave most sealed and undisturbed. I suggest you go for the 480 mL as a good size. You will also want to have smaller working bottles, these you can reuse if you wash them immediately after one is cashed, and keep the tops in good condition. 120 mL is a good size, you should be able to work out of that and use one up in a time frame short enough without any real degradation issues.
The basic idea is you seal 480 mL bottles for "permanent" storage at low temp. As you work you open a single 480 mL bottle split it into say five 120 mL bottles, seal four of them for semi long term storage at low temp and work out of one until it is done. After you have gone through them all, you crack the next 480 mL bottle, portion it out into the 120s and repeat.
Now that you have the basic program, I will give you some tips on how to execute it in Part 2 to follow.
First what do you even need to stockpile?
Food Flavors and PG/VG will continue to be available, no problem.
tobacco flavors, I don't see how they can regulate if they contain no nicotine, but I will wait on that one and see what the proposed regs say when they come out. You might want to take up DIY if you have not already, because Tobacco flavors are really weird, and most people will probably not like most they try. I really don't see how they can regulate them, but the whole notion is so oppressive, they do whatever the f*%k they want. May be wise to err on the side of caution while you still have time to find some flavors you like if you are into Tobacco styles, I dunno.
Not sure how to read things like carts and batteries, but my guess is that they will also continue to be available, although maybe not so widely and probably more costly. Personally I am not too worried about hardware, even if it is no longer available in the US, it is not something that I think can be easily regulated or subject to Customs seizures if there is no nicotine in it. Jeez, it's just a battery.
I think batteries and carts etc will still be easy to get although you may want to stock some extras because if your last battery kicks, and you can only get them from Czerniy or Hong Kong, you are gonna be waiting a while.
So ...
Nicotine base is the main and maybe only issue, and that will definitely become an issue. I don't advocate unlawful activities, not gonna discuss how you can and can't game the Customs system, but I can tell you if in the future the stuff is only available offshore, bottles of Nic base are definitely not gonna make it through.
If they regulate and you have not already stockpiled, you are gonna be SOL.
The good news is nicotine base is not as prone to oxidation as some may think. Amines invariably turn pink or brown when they oxidize. I had a bottle that had gotten too low to get a syringe in. So I poured it into a 10 mL PET bottle and used it down to about a mL or so left. That has been just sitting around at room temp for weeks now and is still clear as glass. So with proper storage you should have a long shelf life - I would say years is not unreasonable.
The bad news is the proper storage part, assuming you want to stockpile quantity. It is gonna take some work and some $$$ to do it right.
You may not have room in your freezer, and this stuff is dangerous, you don't want to break a bottle in a domestic environment. If you don't have adequate/safe freezer space, refrigeration is probably almost as good. Buy a small dorm size fridge off Craig's list, an added bonus if you have kids is these are easily fitted with a padlock too.
Next, storage. You will want to use amber glass bottles and I strongly recommend the safety coated ones. Cap type is VERY important, only use PTFE lined caps. The best type are the Qorpak Green F217 PTFE lined caps. You can get them here
http://www.amazon.com/Qorpak-GLC-02...8&sr=1-9&keywords=safety+coated+amber+bottles
Depending on your needs you may want to collaborate with a buddy to reduce the $$$.
Now, how to do it. I am assuming you want to stockpile multiple liters. What you want to do is portion into smaller bottles so you can leave most sealed and undisturbed. I suggest you go for the 480 mL as a good size. You will also want to have smaller working bottles, these you can reuse if you wash them immediately after one is cashed, and keep the tops in good condition. 120 mL is a good size, you should be able to work out of that and use one up in a time frame short enough without any real degradation issues.
The basic idea is you seal 480 mL bottles for "permanent" storage at low temp. As you work you open a single 480 mL bottle split it into say five 120 mL bottles, seal four of them for semi long term storage at low temp and work out of one until it is done. After you have gone through them all, you crack the next 480 mL bottle, portion it out into the 120s and repeat.
Now that you have the basic program, I will give you some tips on how to execute it in Part 2 to follow.
