Am I combusting? Invisible vapor..

Dopeboi

New Member
I can't really tell the exact temp on my SSV but when I exhale vapor clouds they are not visible in normal lighting. I have a really powerful light on my phone though that I use when I exhale, when I put it close to the vapor then I can see thick clouds. But when I take away the close powerful light and I'm in normal lighting I can't see the vapor at all, its practically invisible to the naked eye.

My question is, am I combusting if I can see only see the vapor with a close powerful beam light?
Or is it still vapor?
 
Dopeboi,

undertheshade

New Member
If you're combusting you would see smoke, which would be even more visible than vapor! The hits would also be a lot harsher and hotter. Do you hold your hits in for quite a while? If so, the clouds will be a lot smaller, and you might not see anything at all. Take a big hit and blow out immediately to see if you see a cloud then.

If you want bigger clouds, you can add more herb, increase the temperature, inhale deeper, and exhale faster. Personally, I don't get big clouds, nor do I want big clouds. Plus I've never been a smoker, so my lungs can't handle near as much as a lot of people, so I can't really take big hits in the first place!
 
undertheshade,
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Dopeboi

New Member
Thanks for the reply! I'm just looking for a healthy temperature to keep carcinogens to a minimum, but if I turn it too low then it takes me forever to feel it.
 
Dopeboi,

undertheshade

New Member
For sure! I'm always amazed at videos where people exhale these these humongous clouds...I'd be coughing for days. Are you new to the SSV/vaping? I'm sure if you experiment with it you'll find what works best for you.
 
undertheshade,

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
Thanks for the reply! I'm just looking for a healthy temperature to keep carcinogens to a minimum, but if I turn it too low then it takes me forever to feel it.

You have already minimized your exposure to carcinogens by not smoking. It is not clear that vapour contains any carcinogens at all. There is one study out there that reported that benzene starts to appear at 200°C (392°F) but the amount wasn't quantified and the same researcher was one of the authors of a later study that failed to find anything.

Visible vapour isn't your goal, is it? Surely you are interested in the effects. For the most efficient use of your stash you really don't want to see any vapour at all when you exhale. If you need to see it, keep a strong light around to exhale towards. :brow: Just dial in the lowest temperature that works best for you and forget whether the vapour is visible.
 
pakalolo,

vape4life

Banned for life
IME that's not true. A low temp with no visible vapour does not get me medicated. High temps which produce thick vapour do. I've tried the "more efficient " smaller hits with little visible vapour and I just don't get medicated. I do have a high tolerance though.
 
vape4life,
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pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
IME that's not true. A low temp with no visible vapour does not get me medicated. High temps which produce thick vapour do. I've tried the "more efficient " smaller hits with little visible vapour and I just don't get medicated. I do have a high tolerance though.

It works for me and a lot of the rest of us, so you shouldn't say it's not true even if you preface it with "IME". What I said is absolutely true.
 

Dopeboi

New Member
yea thanks pakalolo I agree that you can still "get medicated" at such low temps the real issue is how much patience someone like vape4life has. For example It takes me 5-10 minutes of vaping to get on the level as it would turning it way up and only taking a few hits.

My main concern is def not getting thick visible clouds, its finding a healthy temperature. Since you said benzene starts to appear at 392°F I suppose I am below that if my vapor is only visible under the close bright beam light
 
Dopeboi,

vape4life

Banned for life
Sorry, IME not true for me. But I'll try again tonight by being more patient. I'll try 11:00 on cloud with .2. I would love to medicate like this, if its effective for me.
 
vape4life,

luchiano

Well-Known Member
Sorry, IME not true for me. But I'll try again tonight by being more patient. I'll try 11:00 on cloud with .2. I would love to medicate like this, if its effective for me.

If your goal is to get high as you can off of very little, you want to use as little as you can, while using those high temperatures. This way you absorb most of the vapor instead of exhaling it. For example instead of using .2 in one session divide it 4 times. So for each session you will be using .05 grams. You will get smaller clouds but more absorption. Using noon(12 o'clock) on the cloud should be good enough. Have fun.
 

vape4life

Banned for life
Thanks Luch! You've explained this great in recent PM's. I've actually been using that technique and did so last night with great results. But I used cloud on max temp, and just covered the bottom of elb. Only one hit/cloud but I'm able to hold it long and exhale a satisfying cloud (not huge). I'll try tonight with a lower temp and see what happens.

My problem and almost fear with using the small cloud technique for more efficient absorption is that I get a small buzz that is quite unpleasant. Almost like a 1/2 high, and then I get nausea. If I hit it hard and fast this doesn't happen. I'll try the fruit juice like you mentioned in another thread.
 
vape4life,

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
Thanks Luch! You've explained this great in recent PM's. I've actually been using that technique and did so last night with great results. But I used cloud on max temp, and just covered the bottom of elb. Only one hit/cloud but I'm able to hold it long and exhale a satisfying cloud (not huge). I'll try tonight with a lower temp and see what happens.

My problem and almost fear with using the small cloud technique for more efficient absorption is that I get a small buzz that is quite unpleasant. Almost like a 1/2 high, and then I get nausea. If I hit it hard and fast this doesn't happen. I'll try the fruit juice like you mentioned in another thread.

You get a substantially different profile of components if you stick to low temperatures. It's possible that you need more of the compounds that are released at high temperature.

How rapid are your hits? Is it possible that you aren't waiting long enough for the effects to hit?
 
pakalolo,

luchiano

Well-Known Member
Thanks Luch! You've explained this great in recent PM's. I've actually been using that technique and did so last night with great results. But I used cloud on max temp, and just covered the bottom of elb. Only one hit/cloud but I'm able to hold it long and exhale a satisfying cloud (not huge). I'll try tonight with a lower temp and see what happens.

My problem and almost fear with using the small cloud technique for more efficient absorption is that I get a small buzz that is quite unpleasant. Almost like a 1/2 high, and then I get nausea. If I hit it hard and fast this doesn't happen. I'll try the fruit juice like you mentioned in another thread.

It sounds like your a lot of the thc is converting to cbn due to using such a high heat, and causing these effects. When you inhale fast, you are cooling off the herb inside the bowl a little more so less is converted, which is why it doesn't happen when you inhale hard & fast. Also more air is diluting the vapor so you take in less cbn. CBN isn't totally bad, but too much of it may not be what you want. Just lower the temperature, then inhale nice, slow and steady to keep the vapor from being too diluted while also preventing too much thc to convert to cbn. Here's more info on CBN:


The video leaves out the fact that oxygen is the main thing that causes the thc to turn to cbn, not just heat. This is why using such a high temperature in cases such as vaporizing or smoking, a lot of the thc converts to cbn and gives the lethargic, relaxed type high. If that's what you want then cool, but if you want just a "fresher" high lower the temperature and inhale nice, slow, and steady.

A couple of techniques you may like is doing the 12 o'clock technique I mentioned, then when you are almost done, raise the temperature to max, to get the cbn high as this can cause the high to be a little stronger. Have fun

The other is to use more of the herb(.10 grams) at once to get the quick rush type of high, then for the next session right after the first one, use the divide technique(.05 two times), and on the last .05grams raise the temperature up to max to get the cbn high. This is for when you want to have a real good time.
 
luchiano,

vape4life

Banned for life
Pakalolo: I think it's totally possible that i'm not waiting for the effects, and looking for instant gratification. This is what I just did...Cloud on 12, loaded an elb just a bit more than what covers the bottom (less than 1/4 full ELB), and hit it at a slow to medium pace. SUPER smooth, and exhaled a decent cloud after holding for 6-8 seconds or so. I finished it with 2 smaller cloud exhales, but my abv is obviously not very dark. I'll put that aside for high temp later on tonight. It's been 5 mins, I definitely feel some effects, but they aren't too strong which I suppose is to be expected off such a small amount? What I WANT to do now is max temp and finish that ELB!

Thanks Luch for the vid! I don't think it matters much how I inhale with the Cloud, slow or fast...it keeps the temp pretty solid.

I'll do more experimenting, but would love to be more efficient and conserve more, but I guess my med needs might need that high temp becuase that's when I feel "floored (somewhat)" and enjoy the buzz.
 
vape4life,

luchiano

Well-Known Member
Vape4life, I edited my post so reread it.

You should keep vaping the rest of your herb. If you normally use .2 grams, you should end your session with .2 grams vaped in total, but instead of using all at once you divide it up into four sessions. From the example you gave, you shouldn't be done. In other words you should have filled your elb 4 times before you were done with vaping.

As far as the cloud keeping temperature, it keeps the temperature of the HEATER stable, but the temperature of the AIR can fluctuate depending on how you inhale, and this will effect the temperature inside the bowl, which will effect extraction. This is true for most vaporizers, as they measure the temperature of the heater not the air. Plus the harder the hit, the more air is filling your lungs as opposed to vapor.
 
luchiano,

max

Out to lunch
All vapor is visible. You just need good light to see it. Even after you can't see it anymore with the best lighting it's still there, just not visible to the naked eye. What temp you use and how long you want to milk a bowl is just personal preference.

I'm just looking for a healthy temperature to keep carcinogens to a minimum, but if I turn it too low then it takes me forever to feel it.
IMO worrying about vapor temp, when nobody's ever been documented as dying or getting cancer from smoking mj, is something you should just drop as a concern. Smoke, of any kind, is sure as hell a lot more toxic than vapor.
 
What is an average time to hold in vapor before exhaling to get the best effect, and before it's pointless to continue holdin it in???
 
MoneyVapeTheWorldGoRound,

Caligula

Maximus
llRC 5 seconds was the decided time for optimal thc absorption when smoking. Idk how/if that changes with vapor.
 
Caligula,

Tweek

Well-Known Member
What is an average time to hold in vapor before exhaling to get the best effect, and before it's pointless to continue holdin it in???

At least 30 minutes :dog:

Hold it in however long you feel comfortable. If you need hard numbers...I go between 5-10 seconds...but I don't really time it anymore...I play some tunes, kick back and enjoy the taste and effect of my herb. Know what I am saying? As much as there is a science behind all this, you have to be careful not to let it suck out all the joy from the process.

Unless numbers are your thing, of course :)
 

max

Out to lunch
What is an average time to hold in vapor
To a large degree it depends on how much vapor you've inhaled. If maximum absorption is your goal, it's probably best to avoid big hits entirely. You don't want to turn blue from holding it in. :cry:
 
Thanks. The reason I asked is because with my pax it seems 20-30 seconds I feel effects, but with my pn pro I can use it like a joint......... Any ideas as to why????)
 
MoneyVapeTheWorldGoRound,
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Tweek

Well-Known Member
Thanks. The reason I asked is because with my pax it seems 20-30 seconds I feel effects, but with my pn pro I can use it like a joint......... Any ideas as to why????)

Are you trying at the highest temp? The draw is restrictive on the PAX, so you may not be pulling in as much in one sitting as the PN Pro..just a theory.
 
Tweek,

Enchantre

Oil Painter
It is much like spray-painting.

You are way better off with very light and several coats. Spraying one heavy coat (thick clouds) generally just makes a mess, and looks crappy.

Just so, small hits, several of them, spaced a few minutes apart, where you hold the vapor for several seconds each time.... and after you are done, wait a good 15 minutes, and WHAM!!
 
Are you trying at the highest temp? The draw is restrictive on the PAX, so you may not be pulling in as much in one sitting as the PN Pro..just a theory.
I usually start on medium then crank it up to high at the end, no don't get me wrong I get medicated with the pax it just seems I need to pay more attention to my inhale exhale method than I would with the Pn pro. Not to mention I need more herb with the pax as well.
 
MoneyVapeTheWorldGoRound,
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