TKB's Suspension Bases and Luminette Bottles

When I received my Christmas order from TKB Trading I was pleased to find that they've changed the bottles their base is sold in from metal and glass to plastic. This might not have been a recent change because I hadn't had to order base in a while but those plastic bottles are much easier to work with.

Shown here are the former metal cans the 16 oz base was sold in and the newer plastic bottle my 32 oz base arrived in. The plastic cap on the bottle is a lot more manageable by comparison.

The smaller colored bases were also changed and again, it is an improvement. You can squeeze these little ones and that helps because the new base is thicker than the old (but just as concentrated). 

Another part of my order was a set of the newer Luminette bottles which are full size. Normally I prefer the mini size Elizabeth bottles but they were out of stock and I thought these were the next best choice.

 

My only complaint, and its not really a complaint, is that mixing polish that is a thicker consistency takes a little longer because the side profile is so narrow. I included one of the Elizabeth mini bottles for scale.

And the bottles in use...

The Luminette bottles are sold in sets with the cap and brush included.

1 Luminette Bottle with Matte Black Caps and Brushes $0.49
30 Luminette Bottles with Matte Black Caps and Brushes $12.00
120 Luminette Bottles $46.50

 -MK

December 2013 Site Updates

Believe it or not, I do come around here once in a while although I quickly become bored when I do. Just the same, I've made some effort to update prices, having gotten done every entry with the $$$ tag but haven't gotten to the pages yet.

Some dead links have been removed or updated where applicable. That's still a work in progress. Today, 12/12/13, I worked all day and fixed links on all but a few entries. Pages will be next.

I found some new suppliers for suspension base (new to me anyway) and listed those on the Suspension Base Suppliers page. I'm amazed at how many there seems to be now.

I've trolled the internet for one of my favorite things- duochrome pigments- and listed the suppliers I found on the Automotive Suppliers page, a couple others on Color Shifting Pigments (Part 3) and (Part 2)

I also fixed my Franken Book, going back to the original version which seems to function just fine as long as I don't update it.

During my absence, I've also made countless color recipes but since most of them are more impressive in dry form and less so in polish, I haven't decided whether I should post them. I must say I find it a bit more difficult without using any of TKB Trading's discontinued Pops pigments.

Speaking of TKB Trading, for my Christmas present from hubby, one of the things I ordered from them was a sample set of the Shimmer Pops, their "ready to wear" pigments so I'll then be able to visually compare them to the Pops and show them to you. Along with that, I also ordered some of their Luminette bottles so I'll have those to show you as well.

I've also discovered I'm no longer notified via email about comments made so I've missed out and not replied on quite a few- my apologies to those of you that left one.

Until you hear from me again, everyone have a happy and safe holiday season -MK

Highlights of the Day

Links checked 12/12/13

Yes, highlights of the day, that’s what I said despite the fact that it’s only 7:34a- but I’ve been up since 6a.

My first Ah ha! moment came this morning while removing my franken Holo Green over San Fran; I used the “foil method” I’ve read about on the blogs and heard about on You Tube because removing it the old fashioned way is a pain and takes forever. The idea requires wrapping your fingertips in foil with cotton balls soaked in remover and looks ridiculous but don’t underestimate it because that was the most effortless removal I’ve ever done.

My second moment came while I was sitting at the table, card swatching my SpectraFlair holos. The polishes are very thin in consistency but they still needed to be mixed up so I started to shake one of the bottles when I felt something hit my cheek. I look down, I see polish coming out of the bottle but I can’t figure out why because the cap is screwed on tight, right? I check it to make sure and it snaps off in my hand. It’s not a loose cap, it’s the glass neck actually snapping off, the broken piece of neck still stuck in the cap. I’m not sure what annoys me more, the wasted bottle or the wasted polish. I was able to salvage most of the polish along with the cap and brush but the bottle is history.

Then the second bottle broke while I was shaking it, even more gently than the last, not roughly, not tapping it on my palm, just gently shaking it… and I felt polish on my hand, again. Rather than breaking at the neck, this one has a tiny hole at the top where the seam is.

Both are from the same 50-bottle batch I purchased recently from Nailite Inc. but these are different from the first set I ordered last year. Last year's were square in design, the brushes fitting securely inside their black caps. This set has issues. Rather than the nice squared bottle, they are round, the seams are sometimes quite visible (which is really an aesthetic thing), the brushes don’t always stay in their cap and fall out when you open the bottle. I updated the pics on my entry Best Buy Supplies when Nailite changed bottles but I didn’t think the quality would go down while the price stayed the same.

Left is the newer round bottle from Nailite, right is one of the square bottles I bought last year from them. Both are supposed to be “high quality Italian glass”, same price, same volume but one is inferior.

I don’t mind the self assembly but I mind the cheaper manufacturing. I emailed them a little while ago, not to ask for a refund but to make them aware of the bad batch or the bad few as the case may be. You should be aware too if you order these. My dealings with Nailite Inc in the past have been fine so I don't think it's the company, it’s the product. -MK

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...