OK i'm getting a little freaked. Tell me what nic to buy NOW!

[Moonbogg]

OK, so I saw some states are already charging 45% tax on e-juice and its only going to spread and get worse. Its happening and i'm a believer now. Consider me a vape prepper. I never DIYd before, but that doesn't mean I can't have the most important ingredient on hand when the day comes - nic. I can do my own research as to what brands are good I guess, but I need to know how long it lasts in a freezer? Whats best for storage? 100mg base?

 

[Dave_in_OK]

Heartlandvapes has a sale 1 liter for $45 I haven't tried it but have heard it's good. Other places RTSvapes and wizardlabs.

 

[r77r7r]

Ah, pre-made still might be affordable, vape shops will just have to get used to not being able to mark it up 350%.

 

[thomas l]

iv'e seen post of 5 years in freezer no light no air in glass

 

[Tmebs]

Well, I prefer and can use pg....
How much space do you have to store nicotine?
48 mg is "safer" to use but 100 mg will yeild you the most in the same footprint of the freezer.....

 

[four2109]

I buy either 60 or 100mg. Better price, cheaper shipping, less space. I cut it in half as soon as I open the bottle. Then cut from there as needed for whatever strength I'm vaping at the time. Just make sure you are careful about labeling, immediately. Don't rely on memory.

Edit: You might want to buy a lower nic first, like 36mg, but save your empty bottles to cut your next order into. Who me? Frugal?

 

[issy]

I've been pleased with my 100mg/ml from Heartland vapes, but it's the only one I've tried. I made the purchase because of glowing reviews and an awesome sale. I figure a liter of it will last me a loooooong time I bought a glass bottle to transfer it into for freezer storage as well.

 

[Rat2chat2]

I would say go for the savings with the 100mg nic.

I am of course careful but I do my mixing by the kitchen sink so the water is handy if I need it but really not scared of it. I don't worry about gloves and whatnot.

I have also heard many good things about Heartland and will buy it next. I have tried several but I prefer RTSVapes nic so far. I like to find it on sale of course.

I prefer freezing my 100mg nic in a pg base. I use amber glass bottles and fill them up. I then put them in a thermal lunch bag. Not because it is necessary but because in case of a fire. . . I wanna grab the important stuff.

I just changed over to all glass DIY stuff because I have been reading about plastics ruining your juice and putting some bad stuff in them. (#4 plastic bottles are LDPE and are the best from what I have read). I just like the glass better myself. Here is a great place to get them. I just got a bunch and even with the shipping it still just ran about $1.20 a bottle for what I got.

Specialty Bottle - Amber Boston Round Glass Bottles

If you search in the top right box "nic freezing or storage", ecf has lots of great threads on this subject. Good luck to you.

 

[Bob Chill]

You can start will 100mg/ml nic and not worry. All you have to do is be careful not to dump a bunch on your lap. And even if you do, an immediate trip to the shower takes care of it. I've never spilled more than a drop of nic in the 15 months I've been mixing my own. I keep my mixing nic in a small bottle and also use a foam rack to secure my nic and ingredients when mixing.

Break a liter down into smaller bottles (I use 60 or 120ml glass for long term storage). That way I only have what I'm going to use over the next 2-3 months out of the freezer at a time. Poly seal caps and filled just below the rim will keep nic good for years I can't tell any difference whatsoever when I break out a year+ old nic bottle from the freezer. Not sure how long it can freeze but I think 5+ years with little if any loss of strength or oxidation if stored properly.

Another nice thing about 100mg/ml strength is it's easy to memorize how much goes in any size bottle when mixing. I vape 10mg strength in my tanks and 5mg strength in drippers. It's not hard to remember ,5 or 1ml of nic for every 10mls of juice. I always use a calc and have my recipe in front of me but also having nic memorized is good for safety and not making oopsies. I screwed up one of my recipes using a calc and I knew right away my nic amount was wrong when I was at the mixing table.

As for what nic to use, any recommendation you see in this subforum is fine. Wizard Labs, RTS, Heartland, MFS, or VT are all good. If I was buying nic right now I would get a liter from Heartland and not think twice. That price is sick.

 

[dannyv45]

Consider me a vape prepper. I never DIYd before, but that doesn't mean I can't have the most important ingredient on hand when the day comes

Some good suggestions but my question to you is. Why are you waiting to start DYI and just stocking up for the approaching vape apocalypse. Why not start now and when you decide on where to buy your NIC buy some flavoring, PG/VG, a few syringes and small bottles at the same time and just do it. You can even just start collecting bottles that you normally would discard or recycle. Most DYI venders and NIC venders sell all the mixing hardware you'll need. The initial investment in the beginning will save you a bundle in the long run over purchasing premade juices. I buy in bulk and it cost me an average $1.30USD per 30ml bottle and I have enough NIC stockpiled in the freezer to last well over 7 years. Nicotine freezes very well so buy a big bottle break it up into 120ml glass bottles and store it in the freezer. The reason you want to rebottle into smaller bottles is 120ml's of 100mg NIC lasts me 3 months so I only keep out 120ml's at any one time assuring my NIC is always fresh while the rest of my NIC waits quietly in the freezer for when I need more. There's lots of info here to get you started. Here's some recommended reading.

My blogs will give insight into all aspects of DYI, from steeping to what supplies to have on hand to a basic walk through mixing your first E-juice.

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

Then read hoosier's blogs. These blogs concentrate on fine tuning your mix and give insight on additives.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

Then read Boletus's blog's. These blogs concentrate on formulation of nicotine bases regarding proper calculations methods for figuring Nicotine concentration as well as safety.

E-Cigarette Forum - Boletus - Blogs

Then read Ginger's book "E-Cigarettes 102: DIY E-Liquid". It is a book which I've contributed to that delivers an in depth easy to follow guide in the art of DYI.

E-Cigarettes 102: DIY E-Liquid

I recommend viewing VPLive Vape Team Episode #82: DIY Safety and bookmark it for future reference. It explains safety in all aspects of DYI.

VPLive Vape Team Episode #82: DIY Safety

then read the stickies at the top of the page.

this will explain a lot of the how's and why's.

 

[TaketheRedPill]

If my math is right, Wizard Labs seems to have the best prices around right now for Lorann, Capella and TFA flavorings at $0.19/ml, rounded up. They've been around forever. But seriously, Moonbogg, click on the forum suppliers link up there and go thru some banners.

most sample sizes of nicotine base can be had for the same price as a bottle of ready-mix e-liquid, so if I can, I like to order the sample in the same mg/ml I usually vape. If I like it and I go back to order dilution strength in PG base, I'll also buy that vendor's plain PG or VG mixer which I already know I like from their sample and I know works with their particular nic. And when you're beginning, that's one less thing to worry about. At least, that's what works for me. Oh, and I like to order base in PG because I think it is easier to work with right out of the freezer.

 

[Art Mustel]

I've been a vaper for years, and a few years too in DYI.
My advice won't be liked by most here, but is my preference (after purchasing nicotine in every concentration). What works best for me is ordering nicotine in approx. the strenght I use. Flavoring will make it a bit lower but nothing too noticeable.
Anyway nicotine is cheap now, and apocalypse seems to be very far away. Forget about diluting, storing, freezing, etc. Again, I know most will be against me on this but it is really working for me.

 

[Rossum]

Anyway nicotine is cheap now, and apocalypse seems to be very far away. Forget about diluting, storing, freezing, etc. Again, I know most will be against me on this but it is really working for me.

Pre-diluted nic at the strength and PG/VG ratio that you like really is quite handy for current DIY needs, but it's no long-term solution.

A true apocalypse may never come, but I think high taxes are a near certainty.

 

[GaryInTexas]

A couple of liters of 100mg nic in your freezer properly stored is an excellent insurance policy against what may come and provides peace of mind. IF or WHEN the state and fed government decide to gore our ox you won't be in that last minute panic buy. I also doubt that we will see prices on nic this cheap in the future with the added taxes likely coming.

 

[Strangebrew]

I have seen stated, "Lower mg. amounts will retain the nicotine mg. longer in freezer storage." Long term storage nicotine base which has been argon sealed may also have the benefits of longer storage time over non-argon sealed.
Personally, I have considered 24mg @ 125ml. amounts for long term storage, mixing one complete jug amount into my desired mg. Which would last me (at my present mg.) appr. a month and some..

Edit: MANY small amounts of nicotine in 24mg. 125ml. for storage already sealed with argon doesn't come close to the cost of my past tobacco budget.

If someone is wanting to be cost conscience of DIY liquid consider the largest expense, flavor.

 

[Astron]

This thread is very affirming. Just received my first liter of 100mg today and ordered those poly-seal amber bottles to separate and freeze. I only use 3mg so this should be enough for me...even if husband decides to start Vaping I know it will take a long time to go through a liter.

As an aside...last night I used the remnants of a liter of VG and some PG. Ended up making four 30ml and six 15ml bottles of pretty tasty juice. I did my math and see that the gallon of VG and 250ml of PG I ordered today should last me around four months. Likely I will stock up some more, just in case. I am in WA, BTW.

 

[four2109]

I think by the time our stockpiles run out, most of us will have dropped the nic, and our legislators will be trying to find an excuse to tax VG & PG.
I have already told mine, they aren't getting a dime from me. I will build and mix my own. All they are doing is keeping another smoker from quitting. So much for cutting health care costs.

 

[stevegmu]

OK, so I saw some states are already charging 45% tax on e-juice and its only going to spread and get worse. Its happening and i'm a believer now. Consider me a vape prepper. I never DIYd before, but that doesn't mean I can't have the most important ingredient on hand when the day comes - nic. I can do my own research as to what brands are good I guess, but I need to know how long it lasts in a freezer? Whats best for storage? 100mg base?

Is this recent? Which states charge 45% tax on e-liquid?

 

[HazyShades]

Is this recent? Which states charge 45% tax on e-liquid?

Hi Steve.
I can't answer your question precisely but,
Wyoming, Tennessee, New York and Colorado are among states that have already included e-cigarettes into the tobacco product category
and taxing statutes.
To my knowledge Arkansas, New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida are all working on amending their present tobacco law tax statutes
(Edit: Add Utah and Washington State)
to include nicotine and nicotine delivery devices including tanks and self contained batteries.
As I've pointed out before, in Florida that's 60% wholesale/manufacturer and 25% retail.

Not to be cynical but I'd venture in most cases all of these proposals will pass
and though they will be sold as being for the public health and interest the real reason is of course, money.
So there is a reason for alarm for vapers.
Our hobby/habit is going to get more expensive, probably even if you get your juice online.
Remember that the taxes are applied at the wholesale/manufacturer level
so juice will cost more all around. If Joe's nicotine factory has to charge Charlie the Juice Cook more
then Charlie has to charge more and on...

Also keep in mind that many people quit smoking because of the cost increase due to taxes.
Soon we're about to get hit in our habit pocket again, and it will happen

Regards,
Hazy

 

[stevegmu]

Hi Steve.
I can't answer your question precisely but,
Wyoming, Tennessee, New York and Colorado are among states that have already included e-cigarettes into the tobacco product category
and taxing statutes.
To my knowledge Arkansas, New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida are all working on amending their present tobacco law tax statutes
(Edit: Add Utah and Washington State)
to include nicotine and nicotine delivery devices including tanks and self contained batteries.
As I've pointed out before, in Florida that's 60% wholesale/manufacturer and 25% retail.

Not to be cynical but I'd venture in most cases all of these proposals will pass
and though they will be sold as being for the public health and interest the real reason is of course, money.
So there is a reason for alarm for vapers.
Our hobby/habit is going to get more expensive, probably even if you get your juice online.
Remember that the taxes are applied at the wholesale/manufacturer level
so juice will cost more all around. If Joe's nicotine factory has to charge Charlie the Juice Cook more
then Charlie has to charge more and on...

Also keep in mind that many people quit smoking because of the cost increase due to taxes.
Soon we're about to get hit in our habit pocket again, and it will happen

Regards,
Hazy

I know there are proposals, but I haven't heard of any passing yet, except Minnesota, which ended up being not so bad. Sometimes it is tough to get through the misinformation. It's why I don't believe the calls to action...