I know lots of people who use them to good effect.  Don't go cheap.

My two cents:

Yes, they do work. But you CANNOT smoke the leftover crap that's in the chamber.

People claim you can re-smoke it, but it is one of the most foul smelling substances in the universe. I can't even begin to describe the smell.

You can get one for less than you were anticipating (or maybe since LV has a head shop on every corner, the prices are more competitive here).

It's nice to have one, because your bowl of weed is only ignited when it makes contact with the heating element. That saves enough weed to make it worthwhile.

I don't have one, because of my kids and all, but I think you would enjoy it.

Why are all of you smoking that Hippie crap?

MSG Tripps wrote:

Thank you.

Is there opinions on something like this?

That looks like a wonderful way to spend your retirement.

Seriously!

http://www.vapefiend.co.uk/epages/es115421.sf

For a real breakthru in vaporizers check out.

http://www.my-iolite.com/

It makes all previous designs obsolete. It's expensive ($210-250), but
it's the best I've ever seen in totally portable vaporizors.

It has no batteries to replace or recharge, requires no flame or
external ignition, runs on butane with clever bimetal temp regulation
and crystal ignition. It's nicely disguised and can be used in
semipublic circumstances. It's a real combination of creative
solutions.

MSG Tripps wrote:

[Are] there opinions on something like this?

I think the remote control is a wasteful gimmick, but the auto shut off seems essential if you get baked, leave, then OCD about whether you turned the unit off or not.  Furthermore, if you find you don’t like huffing vapor out of an oven bag like the Volcano, you can still hit it like an old school vape.  My biggest question is about the digital temperature control.  The Vaporbrothers just has a knob/potentiometer while the digital ones have pre-set temps.  Digital is harder to fuck up, but you loose fine control.  Plus, I’ve heard complaints that the Extreme doesn’t get hot enough.  I also think the heating element in the Extreme comes into contact with the weed, which is something the Volcano does not do, and something I remedy with the Vaporbrothers by inverting the unit while inhaling.

I don’t know much about the new iolite, but it’s portable, cheap plastic, and has NO temperature control.  It might be interesting as a back up for when you’re on the go, but it will never beat the functionality of a home unit.

sofaking wrote:

People claim you can re-smoke it, but it is one of the most foul smelling substances in the universe. I can't even begin to describe the smell.

Didn't think anything trumps bongwater.

edit: And still no cure for dirt weed.

Last edited by choad (2009-06-28 15:57:55)

I have made two of the lightbulb variety of vapos for friends.  Saw a YouTube video and was fascinated.

They used them and reported that it was an interestingly different high.  They still enjoy them.

MSG Tripps wrote:

Do any of the other ones get hot enough?

They both get plenty hot, but the Vaporbrothers heating is also controlled by the rate of inhalation.  The Volcano uses forced air at a constant rate, so it’s idiot proof.  Also, the weed needs to get as hot as possible without combustion.  A lot of rookies fuck up the Vaporbrothers by igniting instead of vaporizing.

Are you the kind of person who puts a screen in the bowl, breaks up their weed, and enjoys the subtle control a bong offers, delivering what you want at the rate you want it?  Or, do you just stuff a nug in there and tug with reckless abandon till it’s a charcoal briquette?  You should try a vaporizer, if you haven’t already, to see if it’s for you.  It’s a big change and doesn’t work for everybody.  And an oven bag is different from a whip/bong.

The Volcano is amazing.  Hand made in Germany, it’s the H&K of vaporizers, but it’s more complicated and has moving parts.  US made, the Vaporbrothers is the Remington 870 of vapes; a simple, entry-level unit.  Plus, if you hate it, you’re not out >$500.  I’m really cheap, so I might not be the best source of info. 

Keep us posted.

For starters, vapor is the superior high. When you suck back a nice bong or pipe hit, that rush you feel is trauma inflicted on your body when billions of tiny white hot cinders sear the delicate pink tissues of your lungs. In contrast, vapor does not offer you that experience, only the highly concentrated flavor of THC.  The high is a steadily increasing onramp for about an hour, then it plateaus for several hours before winding down. When it wears off, you feel normal, not stupid stoney or tired. I like that I can go out in that state without having the liability of paraphernalia on my person. Some people are habitually attached to the rush though. . . for them it's part of the ritual behavior.

The vapor is stronger. When you smoke marijuana, you actually incinerate most of the THC. I notice the intensity of the vapor high freaks some people out, to the extent that they lay off the demon weed. The vapor process works pretty well regardless of the quality of your strain, even with cheap dirt weed it releases only the THC. You get a solid concentration of the good stuff, and very little of the bad stuff. . . The glassware cleans easily because the usual tar residue is not a byproduct of vaporization.

A vapor unit pays for itself very quickly. You use less green matter. Sure, you can keep hitting it, but it won't get you significantly more high. You are already there. As mentioned before, the high lasts for hours.

Forced air is the way to go. The Volcano is definitely top of the line and works great. I use the more old school VripTech system that requires a separate thermocouple-controlled heat gun. Just like the Volcano you dial in a precise air temperature. I recommend the Makita heat gun, but you can go Bosch, Craftsman, or top of the line Steinl (from Switzerland). The total set-up costs you less than $200, including the Makita, and pays for itself quickly. For the VripTech every smoker gets their own bowl of fresh and two hits. When it tastes like golden roasted popcorn, you know you are done.

The units that use a proximity heating element vary in effectiveness, often times they still scorch the weed, resulting in ineffective volatization and bad smells / tastes. The Vapor Brothers unit works OK, but I still advocate a forced air system versus proximity. You do not want it to get too hot, otherwise you burn it. If it smokes, you have fucked up.

Portability of these units is challenging. That's one advantage of the Vapor Brothers. Generally I do not feel the need to carry this gear out of home. VripTech makes the portable Vapor Bat, it works OK. I recently came across the Vapor Genie, which is uses a proximity ceramic element. That's the best I'm seen so far for the portable version, but I have not tried any of the portable forced air units.

Load carcass is my name for the golden roasted leftovers and it's far from depleted. You can sell it to high school students if you desire. I run mine through a flour sifter and sauté it in butter, which I then strain and use to make oatmeal chocolate chip cooks. Works great.

Choose science!

Last edited by lechero (2009-06-29 15:59:44)

Like I said. . . all of the good stuff, none of the bad stuff.

You can use your own waterpipe with VripTech, no problem. That saves even more coin. The only thing you need to buy from them is the bowl, which is designed to perfectly fit the standard snout of a heat gun at a precise distance to achieve the requisite temperature. Buy the bowl for $45 plus a Makita heat gun for $70 and you're good to go. It will pay for itself with the first quarter baggie of weed. Vriptech boasts that their bowl is patented. Local headshop glassblowers make their own imitations, but they're not as durable. I've cracked one from the heat. The VripTech bowl is thicker glass and I'm guessing made of Pyrex. It's also designed to keep your weed from blowing out.



Now if only they would make one without the offensive rasta hippie graphic. . . that fucking paint is baked on and impossible to remove. Trust that I've tried.

Regarding the heat guns. . . you absolutely want a thermocouple controlled gun. You can adjust the Makita anywhere between 200 and 1100 degrees. The piece of shit heat gun Home Depot sells only has two temperatures: slow or fast lung scorch.

Last comment about the VripTech waterpipes. . . they have internal nibs so you can fill them with ice. But your local headshop probably has those too. . . without the hippie graphic.

Last edited by lechero (2009-06-29 18:20:38)

Um, I'm having trouble making up my mind about all of this right now.  I'll get back to this later, maybe, if I can remember it.

lechero wrote:

All ya need is some dirt weed and that cheap plastic bong you kept since junior high school

Yeah, my mom found that the fall after I lit out for the territories, the leaves fell and a local network affiliate arrived for a standup in front of my treetop garden of suspended clay pots and syphon hose. By then I was safely hidden in CO. Thank you most kindly.

George Orr wrote:

choad wrote:

the leaves fell and a local network affiliate arrived for a standup in front of my treetop garden of suspended clay pots and syphon hose. By then I was safely hidden in CO.

I bet they pegged the "street value" at over a million dollars.  Do I win?

Each retelling embellished on the last and I never could vouch for any of it.

Did I say something earlier? This seems like the kind of thread I ought to have responded to, because it looks tremendously popular and transgressive, and I so deeply desire to seem 'in' with the kids, these days. Am I just imagining an earlier post, or am I just a stoned bastard?

I'm still using a 30+ year old 3 chamber US bong.

I feel so retro.

My brother just bought me a near lifetime supply of zig zags. I'm set.

orangeplus wrote:

So, I was passing by a head shop and remembered this thread and said "wtf." I purchased, for the low low price of $99, an Easy Vape. I have never used a vape before so, caveat emptor. I am now high. It took me a sec to realize I was high. All in all, I am satisfied. And too high to really write more. (thank you jebus for spell-checker)

That's what I love about the vape: the way the high sneaks up on you.

Whatever Taint said. The thread's already exhausted itself. Don't you people know when the horse is dead? No wonder I haven't been here in a week and there are only two pages of updates.

Could someone explain how that vriptech setup works?  You put the weed in the bowl, then that big funnel thingy goes between the bowl and the heatgun?  How big of a bong do you need to pull the heat out of the hit?

EDIT: found videos on youtube.  Works how I thought.

Last edited by jesusluvspegging (2009-07-16 00:54:24)

phoQ wrote:

It’s funny, I never noticed until lechero mentioned it, but the vape high lasts longer.

Note the time stamp and you'll see that's the FIRST thing I noticed. Interesting.

Hey, Dhal! Howz it work on tobacco?

choad wrote:

Hey, Dhal! Howz it work on tobacco?

I still consume tobacco the old fashion ways.

This wins the sweetly baked prize, Lech.

Plastic Tubing, $2.50
Rubber Cork, $2.00
Handled 64oz ale jug, Cambridge Brewing Company

Two Piece Vapor Bowl, $50
Calibrated Heat Gun, $85

Subtotal, $135

Total Ditchweed, Priceless

MSG Tripps wrote:

What is one to do?