Best Buy Supplies

I decided to dedicate this entry to the supplies needed or wanted for polish making, specifically where you can buy these supplies for the best price. Pigments I’ve covered/will be covering in other entries so we’ll move on to 4 ounce and 30 gram containers, empty bottles and nail displays. Suspension base is covered here. Most pictures of the items listed came from the respective stores, links provided. Prices and options updated 4/22/16... -MK

4 oz. containers

Who doesn’t like the 4oz containers that Coastal Scents sells their pigments in? The size is perfect for 1 ounce pigments (and sometimes more), it makes them relatively tip-proof and the lids keep the pigment inside the containers and not outside the threads. You could buy these 4 oz jars at $0.95 each which really isn’t terrible but if you need 57 like I did, that adds up fast. This forced me to search for an equal but cheaper alternative. The company I purchased from was SKS-Bottle, the ones shown below, used for all my TKB Trading pigments.

Clear PET plastic jars w/white plastic unlined lids, sold per package of 24 for $11.38 which breaks down to $0.47 each. 0604-04

30 gram containers

On to 30 gram containers. Now for the record a 30 gram container is NOT large enough to hold 1 ounce of pigment (I made that mistake) but it is the perfect size for storing color recipes (or, I suppose, a finished loose product) which is what I use mine for.

If you want a 30 gram container that looks like TKB Trading’s 30 gram container, buy their containers, I did. The prices aren't bad 20 for $15.00 ($0.75 each), 40 for $25.00 which breaks down to $0.62 each. Or if you need a lot, 80 for $48.00, $0.60 each. But I’m a bargain hunter so next time I’ll be shopping elsewhere because I don’t care what they look like so long as I can see through them. In this case, probably SKS-Bottle because they have a few cheaper options. See below.

#2 Clear PET Jars w/ White Ribbed Lined, Caps, 1 oz, 48 for $21.60 ($0.45 each) 0605-32

#3 1 oz. plastic jars, Clear Styrene Jars w/ Dome Caps, 48 for $29.66 ($0.62) 0624-14

#1 Clear 1 oz. PET Straight Sided Jars w/ Black Smooth Plastic Lined Caps, 48 for $19.78 ($0.41) 0605-47

Same as style shown here

 Empty Polish Bottles

Empty bottles are an essential supply for frankening but all bottles are not created equal. As much as you must think about price, you must also consider size. The average full size bottle is ½ fl.oz. or 15 ml but bottles also come in miniature. The average size of a mini like Bon Bons is 1/8 fl.oz. or 3.6 ml.

Miniature size bottles

TKB Trading sells 3 types of mini bottles, the Elizabeth, shown below, Caroline and Justine- but I've always favored the Elizabeth because it holds slightly more than the standard mini. Remember that the average mini bottle holds 3.6 ml but the Elizabeth holds 6 ml. By comparison, the Justine (the fanciest design) holds approximately 4 ml.  



The Elizabeth 

TKB Trading For quantities of 40 or 80 bottles, the caps/brushes are sold separately.

40 (slightly tall) Elizabeth (NO caps or brushes)  $5.50 + 6.00 = .28 each
80 (slightly tall) Elizabeth (NO caps or brushes)  $11.00 + 11.00 = .28 each
40 Basic Black Caps with Brushes  $6.00
80 Basic Black Caps with Brushes  $11.00

Glitter Unique is #2, selling a mini bottle that looks identical to the Elizabeth but unlike TKB, the caps and brushes come with the bottle.
12 - $5.00
48 - $15.00 = $0.31 each
162 - $50.00
486 - $145.00

Full size bottles

As of 4/22/16, your #1 best option for empty full size polish bottles is Glitter Unique. The bottles are 15ml, round clear glass with round black caps. For this, I used the 48 bottle price of $20.00 which breaks down to- $0.41 each.
12 - $6.00
48 - $20.00
135 - $52.00
540 - $199.00

#2 is TKB Trading sells two different styles of full size bottle, in this case we're using the 15ml "Le Barrel" bottles. These can be purchased with white or black caps, singly or in quantities of 30 or 108 (caps and brushes bought separately with the 108 option). The 30 bottle option is $14.00 which is $0.47 each

Nail Displays

Nail wheels or display wheels aren’t exactly a required supply but they are nice to have for a visual just the same. If you’re looking to purchase some, you can find the best deal is at Trans Design. The link is to their main page, just look under the Nail Art Displays category- and they have more than nail wheels.

TKB Trading has recently added a 60 Color Sample Chart to their line of frankening supplies, a tray with 60 shallow wells or 60 nail tips (depending on what side you choose to paint) for $4.50 which works out better than the above price-wise but since it is different in design, I have included both.

TKB sells another style too, check the Tools page. This is listed as a Nail Display on a chain. and comes as two nail displays on a single 24" metal chain, each display having 12 nails for $1.95.

Related Entries:

Best Buy Supplies 2

Best Buy Supplies 3: Vials and a Silicone Sheet

Supplies: Other Good Ideas...