I just started DIY a few weeks ago to cut some costs and control the quality of my own liquid to my tastes. Unsure of where to go, I purchased nearly everything from Wizard Labs. While I got everything I needed at what I thought was a reasonable price and all is going well, I still calculate my cost per mil to be about $0.43. I've seen some DIYers down to $0.1 per mil. $0.30 isn't a big deal, but I'm curious: where can I find the best deals on Nic, PG/VG and flavors without sacrificing quality? Or is the trick in buying bulk? Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Where do you buy your DIY materials?
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Bulk helps. Buying PG/VG by the gallon really reduces cost. Buying your nic in 60mg or 100mg in bulk helps also.
My cost is really low because I buy in bulk, and I vape really low nic levels (2mg). I also use small flavor percentages (2% for tobaccos, many others in 2-6% range, anything else very rarely exceeds 10%).
I buy my TFA from Wizard Labs
TFA in bulk from RTS Vapes
FlavourArt from RTS Vapes
My cost is really low because I buy in bulk, and I vape really low nic levels (2mg). I also use small flavor percentages (2% for tobaccos, many others in 2-6% range, anything else very rarely exceeds 10%).
I buy my TFA from Wizard Labs
TFA in bulk from RTS Vapes
FlavourArt from RTS Vapes
My cost is about $0.086/ml for 10 mg/ml, 20% total flavoring. The breakdown is below.
I typically get my nic from goodprophets on sale, $14 for 120ml of 36 mg/ml, $0.117/ml of 36. I vape 10 mg/ml, so my nic cost is about $0.0325/ml.
My all day vape uses 20% flavoring, 10% tpa tob blend that I get from goodprophets, and 10% vanilla from natures flavors, 0.1 ml/ml of each. The tpa is $7/30ml, so $0.23/ml, or $0.023/0.1ml. The vanilla I get 8 ounces (240 ml) at a time, but their shipping is high, ends up about $47/240 ml = $0.20/ml = $0.02/0.1ml. So, total flavoring cost is about $0.05/ml. (I orund up on this one, just to capture extra shipping gludge -- it's actually slightly cheaper.)
Nic base + 20% flavorings = $0.0825/ml.
Nic base is about 0.3 ml, and flavorings are 0.2 ml, so I have about 0.5ml/ml filler. If my nic base is VG, then the filler is PG. I use a gallon of tractor supply store PG USP, $23/128 ounces = $23/3840 ml = $0.006/ml, so $0.003/0.5ml.
Grand total = $0.0825 + $0.003 = $0.0855/ml ($2.57/30ml) for high flavor (20%), 10 mg/ml, using well regarded TPA and Natures Flavors flavorings. I vape about 6 ml/day consistently, so run about $0.5/day eliquid cost.
I typically get my nic from goodprophets on sale, $14 for 120ml of 36 mg/ml, $0.117/ml of 36. I vape 10 mg/ml, so my nic cost is about $0.0325/ml.
My all day vape uses 20% flavoring, 10% tpa tob blend that I get from goodprophets, and 10% vanilla from natures flavors, 0.1 ml/ml of each. The tpa is $7/30ml, so $0.23/ml, or $0.023/0.1ml. The vanilla I get 8 ounces (240 ml) at a time, but their shipping is high, ends up about $47/240 ml = $0.20/ml = $0.02/0.1ml. So, total flavoring cost is about $0.05/ml. (I orund up on this one, just to capture extra shipping gludge -- it's actually slightly cheaper.)
Nic base + 20% flavorings = $0.0825/ml.
Nic base is about 0.3 ml, and flavorings are 0.2 ml, so I have about 0.5ml/ml filler. If my nic base is VG, then the filler is PG. I use a gallon of tractor supply store PG USP, $23/128 ounces = $23/3840 ml = $0.006/ml, so $0.003/0.5ml.
Grand total = $0.0825 + $0.003 = $0.0855/ml ($2.57/30ml) for high flavor (20%), 10 mg/ml, using well regarded TPA and Natures Flavors flavorings. I vape about 6 ml/day consistently, so run about $0.5/day eliquid cost.
Great! I haven't looked at RTS yet. I vape 12mg and purchased 48mg VG to cut down with PG, but for the cost difference it would probably be worthwhile to pick up 100mg next time and cut that down even further, since it is one of the most expensive things. Thanks!
Awesome breakdown! You are really saving money on that PG over me! Plenty of tractor supply stores here in Kansas. Might have to check them out.
Wizard Labs seems to have a higher price on flavors than most, but thats because they sell smaller amounts and pretty certain they repackage them in house.
E-Cig Express has far and away the largest selection of flavors I've seen (as they've got 4-5 different brands). Reasonable prices & larger quantities than WL.
I also got my PG & VG from Essential Depot.
But my bookmarks folder of DIY just keeps growing.
E-Cig Express has far and away the largest selection of flavors I've seen (as they've got 4-5 different brands). Reasonable prices & larger quantities than WL.
I also got my PG & VG from Essential Depot.
But my bookmarks folder of DIY just keeps growing.
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