Just wondering about the safety of using cheap glass (ie. a glass vase or flowerpot) for extractions with NaOH as the base.

Looking up the issue online gives me mixed signals. Some people say chemicals may leach into the solution from the glass, others say prolonged exposure to a strong base will make glass prone to cracking, and everyone else says there's no cause for concern.

My main worry is that the glass will weaken and potentially crack over time, what with all the heat baths and high pH (less so the leaching, which I find unlikely to be a significant risk). If the glass were to suddenly fail during an extraction, the mess would be of an unparalleled calibre, and just the thought of having to clean up something like that makes me sad.

Should I keep using just any old glass vase, or is it worth it to buy some proper lab glass for these extractions?

My first year of extracting I used this glass juice bottle. Bought at grocery store for a few bucks and the juice was very good. I've used this bottle for numerous extractions with excess lye at times. I still use it when I've got more mother liquor than will fit in my 1000 ml Pyrex Erlenmeyer (this is the tool I recommend for these extractions, it can be found for ten bucks or so, it won't break the bank). Both have helped me produce very amazing and awe inspiring dmt. Love.

I have used the same glass for over 2 years and countless extractions.

Not a single issue, although I do understand your concern. Just two cents from an owner of a weary set of glasswear.

glass shouldnt be leaking any chemicals. high ph CAN cause glass to crack, but i have yet to see it after years of lye/glass.

Something to note is that type of glass is not rated for high temperature use, so don't put it directly on a hot plate and be cautious mixing lye and water in such glass as the rxn is very exothermic. Heating with a water bath is fine and cautious mixing of lye and water slowly (in cold water bath best to cool the glass) is fine.