Thanks for the interest family but no price estimates yet because I don't want to jinx or dissappoint anyone once we finally get production sorted and I definitely don't want to start establishing time lines as these things lag and we are stretched just keeping up with current demand especially with the holidays. With glass it's one thing making one-off protos --- making something in a production environment for the long haul is a totally different beast where we have to calculate reject rate as well as the pieces we have to source from others (i.e. the spherical joints of which we have only found one American supplier with the sizing and tolerances we need) to come up with a sustainable model. I can tell you this: the two pieces of the spherical joint alone will likely add at least $80 total just for the joints and the sealing required split between the glass cover (wand) and the upper intake) --- exactly how that split works will come down to doing some pre-production short runs to get sorted. As far as the bowl goes we know we can do a GonG VCB without a glass screen using standard joints as that is actually the first approach we ever used back in the '90s --- the problem is without a thermal break the piece gets too damn hot to touch after one bowl and has to be left to cool before repacking which was unacceptable to me (normally a two Vrip bowl minimum here!). I also did not like the depth and shape of the bowl using a standard joint which is why we are working on a custom solution that is based upon a standard joint with a slot on at least one of the tapered surfaces for a thermal break and to make sure it doesn't ever get stuck with long term expansion/contraction that will come with the way we're using them as well as shortening the joint. This is hard enough, but we'll get it done. The hardest part is the screen and I appreciate the tip VapeHead --- the funny thing is one of our very first protos back in the '90s was using a course frit like Goldstein appears to be using as a glass screen of sorts we just couldn't get the flow rate we needed --- worked great for oils, but not loose leaf herbs. I'm going to revisit and will look at some videos of the Goldstein apparatus in use and if it looks like he has got something going there that could be synergistic I'll reach out for sure although don't get your hopes up...I won't name any names, but from my experience alot of the players in the glass industry don't work well with others for whatever reason.
Vrip from inception, to product concept and business philosophy has always been about complementing the wonderful array of functional glass art out there...we want to simply improve the substance, concentration and flavor of what is being inhaled through those pieces by the customers who support the companies and artists behind them via our compatible VCBs and either the HGs or VHWs as an improved heat source to a lighter or match. Unfortunately, virtually every time we have reached out to others to collaborate it goes nowwhere for whatever reason. Often we don't even get a reply??? I've always thought it was vapor was perceived as "kooky" whereas smoke was too cool for school....you would think with all the research and clarity on the subject now, i.e. Vapor is both better for you, better tasting (if done right anyway), AND STRONGER that mindset would be a thing of the past. The winter is when I have the most time to work on Vrip so besides revamping the website this winter (I know long overdue!) I'll be looking for some collaboration potential for sure as I've got a list of brands that our customers have been raving about how great our VCBs and VHWs work with the pieces they are manufacturing. As is we always make an effort when we are representing to have other brands of water tools and bubblers present to drive home the complementary and compatibility foundation of our product models. We have used many different brands for Vrip Vapor demos in the past with wonderful success and beyond stoked feedback including HiSi, RooR, Sovereignty, Zob, and Shelden Black off the top of my head. And I've got customers now who have been super pumped on HitMan and Swagger Glass because of their unique diffusion bodies. That's the beauty of what we do and how we do it --- it's all Love and better Vapor regardless of what type of tube or bubbler or diffusion you prefer!
