Did a small amount of looking didn't really see anything recent so thought I would ask. How much money do you actually save by making your own? What's the up front cost? How much time does it take (not including seeping)?
Become a Patron!
economics of DIY E-liquid
- Thread starter formernuke
- Start date
Depends on what you normally pay for juice, what strength, ratio.... You can spend $100 or less and get everything you need to mix for months and months. Making juice takes minutes.
This - $100 on your initial equipment, nic bottle, PG and VG bases, and a handful of flavors and you're set to mix a few liters. It gets cheaper from there.
I could set up a clean mixing area, mix a couple single-flavor bottles, clean up, sterilize, and put away my equipment in 15 minutes - 10 of that is cleaning.
So I guess the correct question is, has anyone calculated out what the materials cost is for say a 80/20 mix? In other words how much are you paying in ingredients per 30ml once the hardware is purchased? I'm guessing there will be some fluxuation if your mixes need seeping (more bottles) and small bottles for testing and bigger for once the flavor is dialed in etc. I'm just looking for ball parks. Due to life circumstances I need to cut expenses as much as possible.
My local shop has the flavors I like for around 20 a 30ml and 60-70 a 120ml. Online I'm finding and sampling some that are around 8 a 30ml or 30-35 a 120ml.
My local shop has the flavors I like for around 20 a 30ml and 60-70 a 120ml. Online I'm finding and sampling some that are around 8 a 30ml or 30-35 a 120ml.
Aside from the frugality, it's also fun. 
To give you sense of what you can save with DIY after awhile, Here are 2 examples of my everyday vapes 1 has 8 ingredients (including 6Mg Nic, 70/30 PG/VG I keep several 60ml bottles in rotation and my cost to make 1 is $1.27. Another with 7 ingredients costs $.58 for 30ml. It did take a while to get it that low. I have been at for 4 years and the way I did it was to buy small samples of flavors then when I found a recipe I liked I would get bigger bottles of those ingredients. Also used and reused glass bottles (long since paid for). Your best bet is to find a few recipes you think you might like and order the flavors for those. When I first started I bought some 120ml bottles of nic,PG, and VG and some flavors which I believe ended up costing $40 now I buy liters of NIc and gallons of PG/VG. But when trying a new recipe I still get the smallest of samples I can even those recipes only cost between $1 and $2 dollars for 30 ml.
My typical response.
http://vapingunderground.com/threads/guide-to-mixing-by-weight.22891/
Get started and you'll never look back.
http://vapingunderground.com/threads/guide-to-mixing-by-weight.22891/
Get started and you'll never look back.
Here's the breakdown for 300ml of my ADV, 10mg nic, 2/3PG 1/3 VG, 10% flavoring:
300ml Hypermint
30ml flavoring 9.00
100ml VG 1.50
30ml 100mg nic 1.25
140ml PG 1.75
Total cost 13.50
Cost/ml .045
These amounts are based on smaller quantities (quarts) of PG and VG from Essential Depot, approx $40/liter 100mg nic and single 30ml bottles of flavoring. Using larger quantity price breaks on VG, PG and flavoring can drop the cost from about 4.5 cents/ml to about 3 cents/ml.
DIY is worth it! Good luck getting started!
300ml Hypermint
30ml flavoring 9.00
100ml VG 1.50
30ml 100mg nic 1.25
140ml PG 1.75
Total cost 13.50
Cost/ml .045
These amounts are based on smaller quantities (quarts) of PG and VG from Essential Depot, approx $40/liter 100mg nic and single 30ml bottles of flavoring. Using larger quantity price breaks on VG, PG and flavoring can drop the cost from about 4.5 cents/ml to about 3 cents/ml.
DIY is worth it! Good luck getting started!
My typical response.
http://vapingunderground.com/threads/guide-to-mixing-by-weight.22891/
Get started and you'll never look back.
The scale you linked to has different max weights which one to you recommend?
Also where is the cheapest place to find the rest of supplies?
You want the 500g scale(LB-501). It will weigh down to .01g. I get these bottles http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4BQXVW...UTF8&colid=243KGUKIKVMXH&coliid=IGBYEOIJLKKUL
This works great for VG & PG
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5138SO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
I just use a 30ml dropper bottle for NIC.
This is what I do. I'm sure everyone has their own way of doing things, so take it for what it's worth.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5138SO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
I just use a 30ml dropper bottle for NIC.
This is what I do. I'm sure everyone has their own way of doing things, so take it for what it's worth.
gopher_byrd
Cranky Old Fart
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
Two popular flavor vendors are ecigexpress.com (ECX) and bullcityvapor.com. (BCV)
Here's some coupon codes:
ECX, underground10 gets 10% off your order. They have free shipping on orders over $59.99.
BCV, VU6 gets 6% off your order. They have free shipping on orders over $74.99
Here's some coupon codes:
ECX, underground10 gets 10% off your order. They have free shipping on orders over $59.99.
BCV, VU6 gets 6% off your order. They have free shipping on orders over $74.99
Buying PG/VG in 500 mL and flavors in 120 mL or better and mixing to 1.5 or 3 mg, my personal ADVs cost me $0.035/mL to make.
@formernuke
just made a fresh 500ML batch my total cost $19.76 and the reason why it came out so expensive is that this batch has 5 flavors instead of just 1 or 2
however still not to shabby $19.76 for 16.6 bottles of e-juice @30ML each instead of $20 for 30ML at my local shop especially when i use up to 60ML daily.
just made a fresh 500ML batch my total cost $19.76 and the reason why it came out so expensive is that this batch has 5 flavors instead of just 1 or 2
however still not to shabby $19.76 for 16.6 bottles of e-juice @30ML each instead of $20 for 30ML at my local shop especially when i use up to 60ML daily.
i like using a dif kind of lid on some complete flavors,, i have found the Dishwash soap bottle flip cap fits many of my bottles. so when i commit to making a large batch for myself for my tank set up.. i will put that flip cap on the bottle because it allows me to drip out or squeeze out in decent speed. (i really like it on a Harmless Harvest coconut water bottle i have)--this post may belong more in the vape junkie posts lol,, always looking around at 'what can be used for vaping' lol
What size syringe do you guys use for the flavors or is a dropper good. Depending on seep times and how long the stay good for will effect how large of batch I do once I get the recipe dialed in. I plan to start with 15ml and possibly up to 120s
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I buy from ECX https://www.ecigexpress.com/ AND BCV http://www.bullcityvapor.com/
The flavorings come in a dropper bottle. If your going to mix by weight you won't need any syringes.
How's the nicotine they sell and what base is best for the nic, I like lots of flavor but don't want a big throat hit either. Looking for the best balance and I've gathered that the flavors are in PG. Getting my order ready now.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I, personally, use 1 mL and 3 mL syringes for the flavors and nic. For PG and VG I usually use a glass/borosilicate graduated flask or cylinder. Since I'm already a cartridge reloader, I'm considering just moving over to by weight mixing because I have good scales but, to be honest, I really am a "meh, close enough" guy when it comes to the base PG/VG so my nic content and flavor might be a smidge weak.
I reload as well the only problem is my electric reloading scale doesn't have a stay on option.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
ECX NIC is good. If you like a higher VG juice get VG base or vice versa.
Figure out what you want to buy and from where. Then go here where they have calculators in which you can enter what you want to make and what the cost of everything was. It will tell you how much it is costing you!!
http://ecigvape.com/
I buy in bulk and spend about 5 cents a milliliter on juice. I'm a year out from initial purchase so that is no longer in my equation for cost as it was factored in my cost per milliliter during the first year. Now, I place a flavor order once every two months; always including replenishing my go to flavors and a few new ones to play with. So in addition to my regular cost per ml I'm spending about $50 every 2 months on flavors to experiment with. Sometimes they work out and sometimes they dont and I give them away. But I write that off as an entertainment expense because at this point that exactly what it has become: a deeply satisfying hobby!
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Mine is averaging about .06 (6 cents) per ml, and I use rather expensive ingredients (and 30% total flavoring!) -- INW shisha strawberry, and still a little bit of WTA in there, though it's now down to .15% -- a 50ml mix has about 10 cents worth of WTA in it, at such a low level of usage.
Those who use less expensive ingredients and less flavoring should be able to get to 3 or 4 cents per ml.
Andria
Those who use less expensive ingredients and less flavoring should be able to get to 3 or 4 cents per ml.
Andria
Based on your thread's title.....What you might actually save (if anything) could be primarily based on your opportunity cost.
Not so much on your purchased assets, but on your time.
Ron
---
"So you all will know the seriousness of my warning, I shall say this in English."-O-Ren Ishii
My ejuice calculator shows the price of each mix. This is what it generally comes up to. Note it says usd, but is really cdn.
Up front cost is alittle high cause you need to buy in bulk to save alot. It's about 200$ cdn worth of PG/VG/NIC
Takes me 2mins to mix
Up front cost is alittle high cause you need to buy in bulk to save alot. It's about 200$ cdn worth of PG/VG/NIC
Takes me 2mins to mix
Economics 101
Initial Investment - $75
E-Liquids in stock right now 120 ML if store bought $70 to $80
Equipment, bases, flavors and nicotine remaining 1,280
Return on investment? You do the math!
Liquid Barn DIY Started Kit
https://www.liquidbarn.com/
Initial Investment - $75
E-Liquids in stock right now 120 ML if store bought $70 to $80
Equipment, bases, flavors and nicotine remaining 1,280
Return on investment? You do the math!
Liquid Barn DIY Started Kit
https://www.liquidbarn.com/
I think I have the same appMy ejuice calculator shows the price of each mix. This is what it generally comes up to. Note it says usd, but is really cdn.
Up front cost is alittle high cause you need to buy in bulk to save alot. It's about 200$ cdn worth of PG/VG/NIC
Takes me 2mins to mix
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Cigarettes are a lot cheaper in GA than most other places, but it's pretty close; here, at the price I was paying per pack when I quit ($5.39), it comes to about 27 cents per cig -- it's probably a lot more now though, that was over a year and a half ago. My ejuice cost is 6 cents per ml, and I vape about 5ml per day, so that's about 30 cents per day -- so it's only a few cents per day more than the cost of ONE cigarette -- of which I usually smoked about 20 a day!
Which is why I just crack up when someone says they can't afford to vape. If you can afford to smoke, you can EASILY afford to vape!
Andria
Where I've noticed the vape gets pricey is in equipment upgradesCigarettes are a lot cheaper in GA than most other places, but it's pretty close; here, at the price I was paying per pack when I quit ($5.39), it comes to about 27 cents per cig -- it's probably a lot more now though, that was over a year and a half ago. My ejuice cost is 6 cents per ml, and I vape about 5ml per day, so that's about 30 cents per day -- so it's only a few cents per day more than the cost of ONE cigarette -- of which I usually smoked about 20 a day!
Which is why I just crack up when someone says they can't afford to vape. If you can afford to smoke, you can EASILY afford to vape!
Andria
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
gopher_byrd
Cranky Old Fart
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
I look at it as my DIY savings are funding my shiny stuff purchases... Soon I'll have enough... NOT!!!
Lol, I'm pretty well set. Finally found a tank I really like (griffin) running a snow wolf mod. My problem is I keep finding recipes to try out
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
gopher_byrd
Cranky Old Fart
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
Yeah the Griffin is a nice tank with lots of build room, but it sucks down the juice even with a pretty conservative build. They have a 25 mm Griffin coming out that will hold more, so less refilling. Ditto on the recipes to try, of course there is always at least one flavor that I don't have...
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Yes, exactly. Juice, makings for juice, wire/wick, etc... those are the expenses. Hardware are the infrastructure capital investments. I've had to replace a couple mods; an iStick that stopped holding a charge, a Kbox mini that I dropped and killed, but those investments have decreased with each succeeding purchase. IF YOU COULD AFFORD TO SMOKE, YOU CAN AFFORD TO VAPE, VERY EASILY AFFORD IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andria
Another 30 MLs added to my stock of juices since my last post.
I must admit to being an e-Liquid hog since starting my DIYing but the amount of e-Liquid I have vaped in the last 5 days would have cost me more than the investment in my DIY Kit! Also since I started the DIY I cut my nicotine level in half.
Cost - $75
Return on investment - PRICELESS
I must admit to being an e-Liquid hog since starting my DIYing but the amount of e-Liquid I have vaped in the last 5 days would have cost me more than the investment in my DIY Kit! Also since I started the DIY I cut my nicotine level in half.
Cost - $75
Return on investment - PRICELESS
Last edited:
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
See, this is why I don't really understand the cloud chasing thing; it means you're going thru a lot of juice, and inhaling a lot of chemicals. Sure they're safer than smoke, but still... makes no sense to me at all. Speaking as an asthmatic. I wish I could get to a point where I don't need to vape at all, my asthma would like it a lot better... but I fear I may never get to that point.
Andria
I chase flavor, clouds look cool but I am coming off a pack and half a day in middle of a very messy divorce with custody battle cold turkey not going to happen. I'm at 3mg nic when to zero I will on habit
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I also just mixed a ml to see dial in key lime pie
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
If you're going thru all that, 3mg seems extremely low, after smoking that much. I smoked a pack a day or less, of ultra-light cigarettes, and 20 months after quitting smoking, I'm still at 4.5-5 mg -- and I only dropped that low to find out if it would help my cold hands and feet in the winter (which it did).
Nicotine is the least dangerous thing in a vape. It's the other stuff I wish I didn't have to inhale on a regular basis, but I already know that patches don't work for me at all, and dental problems forbid gum.
Andria
The whole point of my vaping was to quit cigarettes which I did and the recommendations of people when I switched from Cig-A-Likes to a MOD was to cut my Nicotine. So now with DIY e-Liquids I am consuming more so twice the liquid is twice the nicotine. 3MG is working out good for me. I am now close to 5ML's a day. How many ML's a day for you at 5MG Andria?
I like to get as much clouds as possible. To me it's just more satisfying a vape. I don't run anything insane just 50w, id go higher but nothing I have found keeps up with the wicking from me chain vaping.
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Something less than 5ml... it varies, but never more than 5ml. 30ml doesn't last me quite a week; 40ml lasts longer than a week, but not usually 10 days. Though over the last week-ish, it's probably been closer to 4ml than 5ml, just because I've been under the weather; the vape still tasted just fine, but sometimes the smell of the vapor wasn't pleasant -- my sense of smell has been completely haywire, EVERYTHING smelled bad. But I didn't want to go without vaping, because when I did that after my appendectomy, I lost my "taste" for vaping completely and went back to smoking -- never want that to happen again.
Andria
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
For me, that would be VG; I can't use more than about 16% VG or I can't breathe at all. For some, it's PG, because it irritates them badly. Other than that, I'd have to say, some of the chemicals in some flavors, about which not enough is known. The only persons to whom nicotine would be dangerous might be those with runaway, uncontrolled hypertension, just because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor -- or also, those with Reynaud's syndrome, which is also a problem with narrowed blood vessels, particularly in the extremities. But I don't believe inhaling nicotine poses any particular problem at all, to the lungs -- or none of us would have survived smoking.
Andria