Why do some people continue to buy premade coils and juice?

[Vaslovik]

It's really a matter of personal choice and priorities. Many people are very busy and leading demanding lives that leave them no time to get involved in DIY or building, and then there are those who are simply not inclined to get into that. For them it's convenient enough to just buy coils and screw them into their atty, then fill it with ready made juice, and it fits within their budget.

That's not what I did.

I make my own juice, and keep half a liter of it on hand, and I use nothing but gennies on mechs, built with mesh and kanthal the old school way. I need nothing from the B&M's at all and I vape dirt cheap, while very much enjoying my hobby.

 

[AndriaD]

DIY is one of the things I didn't even want to get involved with. It's always seemed like a huge headache to develop a great flavor on top of calculating nic content and solution concentrations and making sure that it's consistent from one batch to the next. Maybe it's easy and I should take the plunge. Maybe I just had to calculate % fraction, molarity, and molality one too many times in what seems like an endless string of chem labs.

Vaping calculator handles all that, you just need to know what percentages you want to use for given ingredients in a recipe. I use this calculator, which is great because it allows you to specify PG/VG and nic level for EVERY ingredient in the recipe, which is great for combining pre-mades, adding WTA (or other additives) to the mix, or straight-up from-scratch DIY. Scale up, scale down, change nic or PG/VG ratio... it stays consistent.

When I first started building coils, there was a period in which I *wished* I could get some "stock" coils for my Kayfun. I got over it pretty quickly; experience means it takes a very few minutes to make and mount a new coil. Those who use really gunky juices really don't have a lot of options, building coils is just kinda part of the territory, so they're very easy to dry-burn and re-wick as frequently as needed -- mine need dry-burning and re-wicking about every other day. Those with clean-vaping juices whose coils last weeks... be happy!

Andria

 

[dmwalker24]

Vaping calculator handles all that, you just need to know what percentages you want to use for given ingredients in a recipe. I use this calculator, which is great because it allows you to specify PG/VG and nic level for EVERY ingredient in the recipe, which is great for combining pre-mades, adding WTA (or other additives) to the mix, or straight-up from-scratch DIY. Scale up, scale down, change nic or PG/VG ratio... it stays consistent.

When I first started building coils, there was a period in which I *wished* I could get some "stock" coils for my Kayfun. I got over it pretty quickly; experience means it takes a very few minutes to make and mount a new coil. Those who use really gunky juices really don't have a lot of options, building coils is just kinda part of the territory, so they're very easy to dry-burn and re-wick as frequently as needed -- mine need dry-burning and re-wicking about every other day. Those with clean-vaping juices whose coils last weeks... be happy!

Andria

Maybe I should give it a shot when I get moved in to my new place. Just set aside some time and enjoy it. I am picky about flavors and I've spent a ton of money trying to find pre-made juice that hits all the right notes. As for coils you're absolutely right about, burn/re-wick/and go. I got over trying to wrap the crazy coils too. For a lot of my stuff it's still just kanthal and a little blue screwdriver. Some things are just reliable.

 

[AndriaD]

Maybe I should give it a shot when I get moved in to my new place. Just set aside some time and enjoy it. I am picky about flavors and I've spent a ton of money trying to find pre-made juice that hits all the right notes. As for coils you're absolutely right about, burn/re-wick/and go. I got over trying to wrap the crazy coils too. For a lot of my stuff it's still just kanthal and a little blue screwdriver. Some things are just reliable.

There *is* a bit of a learning curve with DIY, no lie about that, but it mainly consists of identifying which flavors by which brands suit your own tastes better -- I use a lot of TFA, mainly for the "base" flavors (cream, vanilla, sweetener, though I use Capella Sweet Cream), but I'm kinda democratic on other flavors/brands -- I like some Inawera flavors, but some of theirs don't hit me right. Wizard Labs and bullcityvapor.com both offer a pretty wide assortment of brands and flavors, and have small sizes so you can test a lot without going broke. I also recommend checking out The Flavoring Apprenctice thread; lots of genius mixers in there, lots of tips and tricks and wonderful recipes. It's a huge thread, so don't feel you have to read every last page -- you can find great stuff all thru that thread. When you finally do create a recipe/ejuice that suits you perfectly, it's the greatest feeling -- like freedom! It takes a little investment for all the necessary "stuff", and trying out different flavors, but once you get really into it, the savings over bought ejuice are just immense.

Andria

 

[Raziel2047]

For some ppl money is simply not an issue. As simple as that . For them , they either dont want or dont need to DIY or make their own coils. Maybe they like to spend their time and effort do something else, like making even more money. Different strokes for different people.

 

[Douggro]

Compare DIY versus pre-mades to either home-brewing your beer or picking up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at the store. There's nothing wrong with either. Just do what suits your tastes, needs and desires.

 

[jacob bonilla]

coils not really sure why as to me it makes no sense to buy pre made coils unless your new they are much cheaper overall to make yourself and are easy. if i can make my own im sure anyone else with the tools and knowledge can. i went through a LOT of wire learning to build standard microcoils but it is cheap and saved me a lot of money in the end. juice wise i can understand it is hard to replicate a lot of favorite juices and sometimes just because you got a similar flavor doesn't mean the person cant tell the difference. i rarely buy pre made juices anymore unless it is a DIY juice from someone else which in that case i still pay a lot but no where near $15 a bottle well over here it is $20 a 30ml bottle for the decent known brands everything else is about $15-18 and those typically are garbage. other then that simply try out DIY i mean it's only based on imagination. some flvors work well others dont i still vape them regardless

 

[Bacong]

so just to specify, I could buy some flavorings, buy some unflavored juice, and add those flavorings to it, right?

 

[Miata GT]

I guess everyone new starts out doing it. Once you start making your own this hobby costs next to nothing.

I couldn't imagine paying $15 for 30ml of juice again that often tastes like garbage.

I won't buy a car unless I can rebuild everything on it myself. How about you? It all comes down to interest and disposable time.

Keep in mind that most vapers are people who came from smoking cigarettes. I smoked for 30 years and never rolled my own. Don't be so quick to judge.

 

[440BB]

so just to specify, I could buy some flavorings, buy some unflavored juice, and add those flavorings to it, right?

You are correct, and that is how many people get started. If it works for you, moving to buying the nic, vg and pg separately is an option that gives you more control of the contents and saves some money.

 

[reddog01]

I started many years ago before all the rbas and make your own stuff came out and buying is much easier and quicker, but I am cheap these days. No doubt there are a lot of good stuff out there, but it is more fun to do it yourself. Control of outcome is another good reason.

 

[AndriaD]

so just to specify, I could buy some flavorings, buy some unflavored juice, and add those flavorings to it, right?

You could do it that way, though it's a very expensive way to go about it, and would leave you with some uncertainty as to exact nic level -- if you buy unflavored juice in the nic level you use, the flavorings will weaken it; if you buy unflavored juice in a higher nic level, it may still be higher than you want or need after you add the flavorings.

Best way is to use an ejuice calculator -- this one allows you to specify nic level and PG/VG for every single ingredient, so you can end up at whatever target level you choose.

Andria

 

[VNeil]

I understand why people may value time over money. And I certainly spend a fair amount of time on DIY (juice and coils). But I would never go back to premades. That's just me. I also appreciate the better understanding I have of what I'm inhaling, and I can endlessly adjust nic, VG/PG ratios, and flavor ratios. And new recipes whenever the desire arises. But I guess at that point it's getting into a hobby

I spent a bit of money on DIY supplies in the beginning, but now it's almost free. I don't mind one time up front starting costs, verses endlessly spending money on juice. The cheapest I found juice when I started DIY was $10/oz and I vape a half ounce or more a day. I thought that was way too much, especially considering the gov't hasn't gotten around to doubling or tripling the cost via taxes (and that is coming if juice isn't outright banned).

Being independent and owning a multi-year supply of all my consumables is just a bonus, but a bigger bonus as the FDA gets geared up for deeming.

 

[AndriaD]

I understand why people may value time over money. And I certainly spend a fair amount of time on DIY (juice and coils). But I would never go back to premades. That's just me. I also appreciate the better understanding I have of what I'm inhaling, and I can endlessly adjust nic, VG/PG ratios, and flavor ratios. And new recipes whenever the desire arises. But I guess at that point it's getting into a hobby

I spent a bit of money on DIY supplies in the beginning, but now it's almost free. I don't mind one time up front starting costs, verses endlessly spending money on juice. The cheapest I found juice when I started DIY was $10/oz and I vape a half ounce or more a day. I thought that was way too much, especially considering the gov't hasn't gotten around to doubling or tripling the cost via taxes (and that is coming if juice isn't outright banned).

Being independent and owning a multi-year supply of all my consumables is just a bonus, but a bigger bonus as the FDA gets geared up for deeming.

As big a tightwad as I am, I do understand the valuing of time, for those with too many things to do and not enough time in which to do them -- when my son was small, and I was working, I always ran out of day before finishing all the things I needed to do, and it was always hurry, hurry, hurry. Which drove me right around the bend to the point that I quit and haven't worked full-time since -- so now I have all the time I need for pretty much anything, which is nice, with vaping, since it can be a lot more time-consuming than just setting fire to a tube of tobacco -- so now I can concentrate on saving money rather than time. I much prefer it this way!

Andria

 

[Alien Traveler]

Thanks to vaping I have one more ugly place in my house - my not used for a long time desk (who needs desk nowadays with so many computers around?) It is clattered with mostly not used stuff and a few things useful for rebuilding and DIY. With my style of vaping (low flavors) it takes about 10 min for rebuilding and 5-10 min for DIY per month. Or less. Not a lot.
Plus I like to make/repair things by myself even when it is not economical (taking in account hourly wages also).

P.S. I should to clean my desk... There are a few iClear 16 among other things.

 

[Tommy-Chi]

I guess everyone new starts out doing it. Once you start making your own this hobby costs next to nothing.

I couldn't imagine paying $15 for 30ml of juice again that often tastes like garbage.

My question to those saying they don't understand buying anything for convenience did you also roll your own cigarettes? I didn't.

Also for those predisposed to "go in to the wilderness and experience all that life would give you" did you ore and smelt your own wire? Make your own mod boxes? Roll your own batteries?


I'm just getting in to DIY. Have not got the complete lab yet. Maybe by the end of January, and then all of my juice purchases will fall off as I learn.

Regardless, I like the new flavors, and I need to know what to copy, so I buy some of the flavors. Within the four months that I've been vaping, I may have 75 to 100 premade bottles here. I needed to buy them in order to find nothing but a top 25 (according to my tastes) so that I can then try to make them.

In January I'll probably be buying a Twisted Messes or 13 Heavens RDA, and I hear it req some really stout coils, so I'll probably buy some trick coils...and then try and make them.

1st you buy all the things, then when you can, you make all the things.

 

[Tortus]

Just getting back to this thread.

As far as time, it takes far LESS time to whip up a 30ml batch of juice than to drive to the store and pick some up. Or play the waiting game with shipping. Once you have a free calculator like ejuicemeup down, it tells you exactly how much of what to put in. Suck up the amounts in a syringe, squirt in a container, shake it up, and there you go. It takes less than 5 minutes.

Price isn't the only plus side. You can customize the flavors exactly to your taste. Make them as strong or weak as you want. And premade coils...I've tried a bunch. The flavor always starts to weaken after a couple days. With DIY coils, just yank out the cotton, do a dry burn, replace the cotton. You have a fresh coil without relying on Chinese made junk with who knows what on it.

Just my opinions and why I do it.

 

[VNeil]

...
1st you buy all the things, then when you can, you make all the things.

Not necessarily. Before I started DIY I bought maybe a half dozen different flavors. I then proceeded to spend about $400 buying around 100 different mostly TFA concentrated flavorings, plus some nic, PG and VG. From that I probably made 50-100 different recipes I found in the DIY section here, settling on a half dozen I make regularly now. We probably spent roughly the same amount of money but I have a nice stock of flavors from my expenditures. I'm about to spend about $70 to replace some of my most frequently used flavors. It's the first money I've spent on juice since late July, except some stockpiled Nic I won;t need for years and maybe a gallon of VG.

In total I've spent maybe $650 on flavorings (the last $250 or so mainly replacement flavors and occasional new flavors). The non-flavoring portion of eJuice costs maybe $100/year. The money is all in the flavorings and your expenditures will depend on how much experimenting you do and how carried away you get with the hundreds of recipes available just on this site, let alone elsewhere. But this is for a full year of vaping, during which I spent $20 on commercial juice (a bottle of Mother's Milk because I was playing with a bunch of clone recipes and wanted to know what I was cloning). I've also made a fair amount of juice for friends and family. Everyone that tries my juice wants me to make them some.

I probably vape 15-20ml of juice a day. That's a $1500/year habit at the low end of commercial juice pricing at $10/oz or so.

 

[VNeil]

Furthering the discussion of finding flavor mixes you like, consider that buying one bottle of a new commercial flavor will run $5-$15 for a 15ml bottle. You can buy 8ml vials of single flavoring from Wizard Labs for $1.49, for example. So for the cost of a single new juice commercial juice trial you can buy 3-10 sample vials of concentrated flavoring and from that you can make multiple different recipes.

Personally I think speculating on commercial juice by "randomly" buying commercial mixes is very cost prohibitive. One of the reasons I got into DIY is that I did the math and figured out how cheap it is to experiment, relative to commercial juice.

I'm not arguing against experimenting with commercial juice if time is more important than money. I'm just suggesting that DIY is a very cost effective way to try a lot of different juice mixes.

 

[tj99959]

My question to those saying they don't understand buying anything for convenience did you also roll your own cigarettes? I didn't.

Also for those predisposed to "go in to the wilderness and experience all that life would give you" did you ore and smelt your own wire? Make your own mod boxes? Roll your own batteries?


I'm just getting in to DIY. Have not got the complete lab yet. Maybe by the end of January, and then all of my juice purchases will fall off as I learn.

Regardless, I like the new flavors, and I need to know what to copy, so I buy some of the flavors. Within the four months that I've been vaping, I may have 75 to 100 premade bottles here. I needed to buy them in order to find nothing but a top 25 (according to my tastes) so that I can then try to make them.

In January I'll probably be buying a Twisted Messes or 13 Heavens RDA, and I hear it req some really stout coils, so I'll probably buy some trick coils...and then try and make them.

1st you buy all the things, then when you can, you make all the things.

Still have a couple of Supermatic's in the cupboard. Haven't been used in five years, but I still have them.
Some of us RYOed some of the time.

Complete Lab!!! What complete lag??? You mean the Pyrex measuring cup & the Kerr canning jar????
You can make mixing juice as simple or as complicated as you want too. I choose to use the KISS method.