I imported a few different brands from China and they're actually not horrible but I had a failure (and you know how warranty is) and one of them has a weird inconsistent speed fluctuation that can annoy anyone listening (like a tiny screaming ambulance). Two of them had probes that didn't shear homogenize, they just mixed so they were basically $300 Dremel tools that were useless.

My Pro200 from Pro-Scientific is excellent -- check for "Doctor Discount" on eBay, that guy is an e-liquid industry dude. Give him a ring, he's freaking hilarious. His are used but refurbished and usually $200-$400 and so far anyone I've sent that way has said they work and haven't had any problems. The Pro200 can be "rebuilt" if needed (except for the motor assembly of course).

The downside still is the probes are freaking expensive. If you buy a used probe, make sure to clean, sterilize and autoclave it if you can. All my generator probes were bought on auction (not eBay) over a period of time and it is a freaking hassle to find one at a reasonable price -- some of them cost $2000 retail, for one probe!

I love homogenization, especially with Medicine Flower and PG-free compounds. My homogenizers are on stands, kinda high, and I use a "lab jack" ($50 on Amazon or less) to raise the container up to the level needed and let it spin for 30-60 seconds. No nicotine, VG solution heated to 60C. I actually like to homogenize the VG first by itself, then add the flavors, then homogenize again, then throw a rubber stopper on the Erlenmeyer, then toss a magnetic stir rod in and drop it on the heater stir plate.

It definitely takes some of the harshness out and helps settle those heavier compounds -- vanilla, caramel, butterscotch really do well with it, and that elderberry loses some of the top notes which makes it less florally.

Nothing beats time, of course, but this is a great way to increase shake and vapeability.

I'm getting internet at my new space today or tomorrow finally, so I'll throw some videos up this week for sure to show how I homogenize.

It's absolutely possible to get a homogenizer for just a few hundred dollars. For instance, you can get a new Scilogex D160 for just $176 (w/o probe) and the probes start at $377, although the probe you'll want will depend on the volume you're working with.

Ref: http://homogenizers.net/collections/rotor-stator-homogenizers/products/d160-homogenizer http://homogenizers.net/collections/d160-homogenizer-accessories/products/scilogex-d160-homogenizer-generator-probes

@abdada is right that the PRO units are awesome, but if cost is a concern then pray that you never need a new probe, because they start around $1000.

For general reference, another thing to think about if you're not overly cost conscious would be an ultrasonic homogenizer. Really what you're trying to do is reduce the particle size as much as possible, and an ultrasonic homogenizer (not an ultrasonic bath, which is a totally different thing) can achieve much smaller particle sizes. I never hear people in the e-liquid community talk about them much, but then again I don't exactly have my ear to the ground. FYI, the cheapest you could get a new ultrasonic homogenizer would be for around $1500, but I'm sure there are used units out there just like for anything else.

That's actually not nearly the worst kinds of things that a homogenizer might be used for in a lab. Biological samples might sound gross, but chemical samples are way more nasty.

For real, though, there's nothing that a good cleaning and sterilization won't take care of. Just make sure you get a copy of the decontamination certificate with whatever you purchase. YOU don't want to be the one doing the decontamination of who-knows-what.