Help me find a heater for my log

[jardri]

Hello my vapor handymen!!

I have a beautiful and unique Wychwood log vaporizer which broke and I would like to mod it to use a ceramic heater just like the buddha or something else.

Dont know which one to buy, I want something safe for my health and reliable.

Here you have a photo of all that´s left of the original heating element:

The heating chamber looks like this:

I would say it is 22 mm SS tube and 12 mm SS tube inside

And here you have an extra teardown pic!

Any help will be very preciated, I live in Spain and here Log vapes are very difficult to get so I need to repair it!

 

[KeroZen]

Was the heater just some kind of wire-wound resistor?!

And what's the black soot/crap in the SS tube? It's when the magic smoke left the building?

 

[jardri]

Was the heater just some kind of wire-wound resistor?!

And what's the black soot/crap in the SS tube? It's when the magic smoke left the building?

Yes the heater was just resistor in ss tube and that black thing i am not sure but maybe some residue

 

[lazylathe]

@jardri

You cannot place a ceramic heater like the one you mentioned as it will overheat your log and scorch the wood!
Log vapes like the one you have are designed to use resistors only!!
You can replace that resistor very easily for a few bucks!

Have a look at this thread:
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/log-vape-resistors-my-diy-log-vape.10880/

This is the only resistor you can use to repair your vape:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/ohmite/25J20RE/25J20RE-ND/823086

Anything else and you will have to figure out what type of power adapter you will need etc...

 

[jardri]

Thanks a LOT lazylathe i am buying these resistors right now!!

 

[lazylathe]

Thanks a LOT lazylathe i am buying these resistors right now!!

Just make sure you also buy some ROHS solder that is lead free for the connections!
For a few bucks your log will be running again in no time!

 

[Bat Norman]

Just a little of topic but if I wanted to put a ceramic element in a log would I need a more open style like Ed's or e-nano?

 

[Alan]

Just a little of topic but if I wanted to put a ceramic element in a log would I need a more open style like Ed's or e-nano?

I once made a special SS heater cover for a client that wanted to use an e-nano ceramic heater in a Heat Island wood body. He said the unit had the best properties from the Heat Island and the e-nano. A real frankenvape.

@jardri - I recommend using a small uninsulated butt splice to connect the wires together. Crimping provides a mechanical connection, but it is very important to solder the joint as well. It will work for a while until it starts to oxidize. Then you will get intermittent heat or reduced heat until there is no heat at all. As lazylathe said, be sure to use "lead free" or ROHS solder. The glass beads are there to prevent the wires from shorting. Good luck.

 

[jardri]

@lazylathe @Alan

Glad you tell me! I was thinking why nobody uses mechanical connections in log vapes.

I have a cheap chinese soldering iron that i have used some times. Should I buy or borrow another one too or is it safe to use it? (It may contain some tin)

Thanks again for all the help and wisdom

 

[lazylathe]

@lazylathe @Alan

Glad you tell me! I was thinking why nobody uses mechanical connections in log vapes.

I have a cheap chinese soldering iron that i have used some times. Should I buy or borrow another one too or is it safe to use it? (It may contain some tin)

Thanks again for all the help and wisdom

As @Alan mentions above, you can crimp the wires together brfore soldering them.
The soldering iron you have is perfect!
What you need is the actual solder to be lead free, like this:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9325

Just make sure it is lead free and is ROHS approved and you will be fine!

 

[Goatbass]

Does the resistor have to touch the heating element? I am not quite clear how it works, sorry. Does the resistor itself produce the heat that transfers to the heating element? If so, how is that transfer done? I could not understand. Been lurking here for around a year, looking at the DIY builds.

 

[blokenoname]

Yup. From how I understand the technology of the old Aromazaps & co, its simply the resistor that gets hot and transfers it's heat by conduction to the heat exchanger, which is basically just a massive metal tube with some holes in it for air intake.

 

[jardri]

The basics are as you say, but fine-tuning the resistor to vaporize effectively is not easy. I managed to get it in place after a lot of trial and error but now the wood is loose and cant hold the heater tightly and i dont know how to fix it without using another piece of wood. Also, isolating the bottom is a pain because you need to remove anything harmful from the vapor path so no glue. My unit works but it still stands unfinished because i got a Flowerpot and lost the interest in a log. I wanted to keep it fine for historical reasons but it is mostly a pretty paperweight right now.

 

[lazylathe]

Does the resistor have to touch the heating element? I am not quite clear how it works, sorry. Does the resistor itself produce the heat that transfers to the heating element? If so, how is that transfer done? I could not understand. Been lurking here for around a year, looking at the DIY builds.

The resistor does not have to touch the heat tube.
The resistor IS the heating element that is placed in a SS tube or glass.
The air that passes over the resistor is heated and drawn through your herb.

 

[StonerSloth]

The basics are as you say, but fine-tuning the resistor to vaporize effectively is not easy. I managed to get it in place after a lot of trial and error but now the wood is loose and cant hold the heater tightly and i dont know how to fix it without using another piece of wood. Also, isolating the bottom is a pain because you need to remove anything harmful from the vapor path so no glue. My unit works but it still stands unfinished because i got a Flowerpot and lost the interest in a log. I wanted to keep it fine for historical reasons but it is mostly a pretty paperweight right now.

FYI - If your log really means a lot to you and you want to save it - @underdog repairs and rebuilds log vapes from yesteryear with his own heating elements. He may be able to help you!

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

The basics are as you say, but fine-tuning the resistor to vaporize effectively is not easy. I managed to get it in place after a lot of trial and error but now the wood is loose and cant hold the heater tightly and i dont know how to fix it without using another piece of wood. Also, isolating the bottom is a pain because you need to remove anything harmful from the vapor path so no glue. My unit works but it still stands unfinished because i got a Flowerpot and lost the interest in a log. I wanted to keep it fine for historical reasons but it is mostly a pretty paperweight right now.

Just put a toothpick or half a toothpick,alternatively stainless needle between the heatsink and the wood to make a tight fit .

 

[jardri]

I appreciate your feedback and i will contact underdog when i have some spare money because I already did too much damage to my unit and could crack if i continue experimenting. Living as I live in Spain will make things so much more difficult but I will give it a try because i think mine is one of the first and last Wychwood´s in existence.

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

I appreciate your feedback and i will contact underdog when i have some spare money because I already did too much damage to my unit and could crack if i continue experimenting. Living as I live in Spain will make things so much more difficult but I will give it a try because i think mine is one of the first and last Wychwood´s in existence.

I got one too .,i dont use it fpr vaping because something rattles in the heater area i guess it is either bits of the resistor or the glass pearls. I have new resistors but i dont bother to replace it,it has served me well and i use it for aromatherapy with a copper cup.
The maker was a really cool guy, i plug it from time to time and send him positive thoughts whereever he is .. ,even tough he has forsaken FC ,i am hoping one day he gets back to us .