Aromazap/Myrtlezap/CeramicRockZap

hunterthompson

Active Member
Hey guys! Haven't been around in a while but it's good to see things are going well and the VVPS seems really exciting. My CRZ has been performing like a champ and I love it as much as the day I got it.

I have one issue that I'm not sure has been experienced here. Last night while finishing up a stem I noticed a sort of rattling when shaking my stem. I had no idea what it was but when I flipped the stem over to blow it out the entire metal tip fell out. I don't mean the screen I mean the entire metal part. I was able to push it back in but I think it's still too loose to use comfortably. Any suggestions?
 

Vitolo

Vaporist
Mom is right.... you also could try placing the ss tip on a hard surface... but on a piece of felt... and with same type of felt on the Nylon stem... hit the stem firmly with preferably a wooden mallet!
This might "sink the tip back home".
 
Vitolo,
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Rick

Zapman
Hunter On occasion when drilling out the nylon handle of the vapor stem, the drill bit will not center correctly and the drilled hole will be slightly larger than required for a good tight interference fit with the SS stem tip. That is probably what happened in your case. Shoot me an email and I will send you another stem. Or try squeezing the SS tip(end that goes in the nylon handle) to a slight out of round shape with pliers. That will give it a better interference fit than you have now. I'll bet that will fix it even. Let me know.
And now for the long awaited news from Zapville. Some important news. We would appreciate any comments or feedback you may have about this news.


Aromazap Announcement​
Over the last couple months it has been pretty clear something unusual is going on in Zapville. I have hinted here and there with promises of more info to come. It is time now. We now have a plan in motion to deal with some bumps in the road experienced recently.
First, what happened? The main ‘event’ happened at the Memorial Day weekend. I called and requested some parts from the person who builds our heatports and had also supplied our SS stem tips. The following week no parts received so follow up phone calls from me. No answer. I drive the hour drive one way to the shop to talk to the boss. No boss and no return communication after leaving another message with the boss’s wife. No answer to later phone calls. A similar event happened in early January of this year but we got through it with promises of continued parts supply. This time was different because I can only jump through certain hoops one time. I will bend and beg once but not a second time with the same person.
So I was faced with a finite supply of our fine SS heatport. I did have a good supply in house at the time and very quickly started making stem tips myself so we could continue producing Zaps. I did have to slow the production pace to stretch our inventory. I also slowed my FC thread involvement to begin the wind down process for Zapville. As many of you know, we are in our late ‘60s and also have an ongoing family situation that is anti-Aromazap. We were basically in limbo at that stage. What to do? How to do it? One thing became clear to us during that period. We made the decision that Rick and Pat will stop making Aromazaps in 2012.
But then what? We just slowly die and continue to supply stems and other accessories plus do any required warranty/service work? That was to be the minimum. We would never leave our many customers cold and in the dark. We are all too familiar with that scenario in the log vape world. If Zapville had to stop making Aromazaps, we would still be here. There was never a question about that.
About a month into our quagmire, our main competitor, Dave of Underdog also entered a new chapter here at FC with the beginning of the materials thread which posed some serious questions about the safety of his vape. During that time Dave Emailed me with some questions about any involvement I may have had in the materials/adhesives thread. I answered those questions and also passed on to Dave a little info about our situation here in Zapville. Then he got back and I got back and we shared some ideas thoughts and dreams.
The real meeting with Dave and Amanda happened this last Sunday/Monday. We met in Hood River Oregon and spent a day getting to know each other. Toby, the Underdog, got to meet Sophie, our Golden Retriever and they had a ball. We stayed in a ‘suite’ with an extra bedroom and were in the woods high on a cliff above the mighty Columbia River. We found many similarities in our shared life philosophies. We got along well. Dave and Amanda are very hard working and focused ‘young people’(mid 30’s) with good values and a very good understanding of how a business must work to be successful. They have both been involved in other businesses before Underdog was started. Amanda still works full time at a good ‘day job’ to relieve some of the funding challenges of their new business. Running any home business successfully has many challenges. Dave and Amanda are facing those challenges head on, always with positive expectations for the future. We like that. Their shop is smaller than desired but highly organized for continued production of a high quality product. Dave builds everything from SS heatports to glass work and of course his fine woodworking skills. I got to experience the UD over the last week with a clear distinction between the new log vape free flow air design compared to our traditional, more restricted airflow design.
Production was always a key factor for me as I was considering passing the Aromazap torch to someone else. We have had many folks express to us a desire to keep Aromazap going but none had any production experience, let alone making a log vape. Production is very important to me. If a business advertises a product and hypes that product, they had better be able to produce it. We do not do waiting lines in our business. We offer a product and ship it when it is ordered. Period. That issue has bugged me ever since joining FC. We are not building a custom Guitar here. This is a simple air heater in a block of wood. We do it. We get it out there. Then friends and family want another and another. That is how it works. I had to be sure Aromazap would be produced as required if it moved to someone else. Dave and Amanda can do it, no question about that. They will also produce it with attention to quality and safety as we have always tried to do.
So here is the plan at this stage. Dave will make a new heatport for Aromazap and refine the production process to fit Dave. We are starting slow and easy with no “demands” from any side. We all want to make this work so we are doing it the Turtle way to give it the best chance of success. I still have a supply of heatports so I will be making more of the traditional CRZs from the nicest wood I have left. There are not many left to go and they will be special as they will be the last Aromazaps made by Rick and Pat. In the meantime, I will also continue to make vapor stems and supply glass and other accessories and of course do any customer service required. In a month or two we should have more figured out.
Now I would like to let this news perc a little and let Dave say a bit about his dreams and goals. We are planning this in a way that AZ and UD will complement each other. The AZ and UD will be different beasts for different vaping experiences. They both still are basic log vapes based on the original Eterra design and heater.
We always knew we would have to pull back from Aromazap some day. We also knew we would love to see Aromazap continue well into the future if at all possible. We have built a good legacy over the last 11 years. This is our best shot at making that legacy continue. We are very thankful Dave bellied up to the bar to do his best to give Aromazap a second life even better than the first.
OK, the cat is out of the bag. Needless to say, Dave and I have agreed to post on each others thread as desired, assuming that is OK with the mods.


Also, the last couple of Zap orders are delayed til Thursday for shipping. The two old folks had to take a day off to get our wind back. Then that got foiled by Wilma deciding to jump out of her pasture. Luckily Barney stayed in so Wilma did not go far. Then there is the middle grandson who had emergency surgery on his knee Sunday night because the original stitch job Dr missed a nicked artery that leaked in the knee causing an internal staph infection. They caught it early enough so he will be fine but has a long recovery for a 9 year old kid.
Always something going on around here....................
StealthGrower, thank you for the nice review. We appreciate your contribution to our thread.
 

momofthegoons

vapor accessory addict
I've gotten to know you and Pat well over the last couple years Rick, I've always known that Aromazap and it's customers were something you held very close to your hearts. You didn't want your legacy to disappear if you should stop, but rather to grow and flourish. To pass on to the next generation, so to speak. Circumstances have made the AZ/MZ/CRZ journey bumpy at times for you and I know that the family member that was always a threat in the background always gnawed at you. And now, there are grandchildren to think about and set examples for.

Circumstances have also helped AZ grow and change over the last couple years and now, another circumstance has come about that will hopefully help it continue to do so. I wish you and Dave all the best in your negotiations and plans.
 
so sad to hear Rick and Pat must stop with aromazap, but family is what comes first... the last two years have been great and I am glad I got on the zap train when I did... you guys have def put good times in all our hands out here in zapville, it is awesome you passed the torch to another capable person.. I look forward to see what Dave does with aromazap, I honestly believe you picked the right guy for the job... :cheers:
 

placetime

Well-Known Member
Congrats Rick and Pat! What a pleasant and gracious way to begin your exit from the biz. :cheers: Y'all have done amazing work and will not be forgotten.

UD Dave rocks, no doubt about that, but I do hope that we'll still continue to see you around FC, Rick, for long after the Zaptorch has been passed. :nod:
:peace:
 

Stu

Maconheiro
Staff member
As a proud owner of both yours and Dave's products, I am excited to see the new direction. I know Dave can (hell, he already HAS) make awesome vaporizers, and I am glad to see that the Zap will not go the path of the PD.

I wish you both all the success in the world.... you both (ok, all 4 including Pat and Amanda aka 'dogette) deserve much praise for the contributions you have made to vaporization in general, and FC in particular.

I look forward to spending more of my kids' inheritence on your products.

:peace:

edit: Why do I feel the urge to order a custom Zapdog before they even exist?:shrug:
 

underdog

shade-tree vapor engineer
Manufacturer
Thanks for all the kind words Rick. It was really great to finally meet you, Pat and Sophie and we had an awesome (if short) time with you all. We're honored and thrilled to have the chance to drive the Zapville train and can only imagine all the great places it will hopefully take us. We're also really looking forward to seeing how Zap might grow and evolve but also stick true to it's roots and needless to say looking forward to many years of friendship and mentoring from you and Pat. :cheers:

@ Jack, Vitolo, Mom, Placetime, Stu and everyone else.. thank you for your support and well wishing it means a lot to us to be welcomed into your Zap family.
 

Ed's TnT

Woodsman
Manufacturer
Wow, havent been in here for a while just been really busy myself, what news for sure! I am like most that say I am glad to have been part of what you made such a great success. I thank you for your input and help along the way Rick and enjoyed speaking with you from time to time. You have a look on the life that is commendable and I only wish you and yours the best!
 

psyshaman

Vapor Viking
All the best for the future Rick and Pat.. I still love all my zaps very much. You we're always a pleasure to deal with and I feel you've made a good choice by passing the Aromazap legend on to a very fitting candidate in Dave to keep the Aromazap torch burning! Thanks Rick for all you've done for our foggy community!
 
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hunterthompson

Active Member
You are truly an inspiring man Rick. Your commitment to your work and your customers is incredible and it's great to hear that you will still be around to make sure everything is going well.
Looking forward to seeing what Dave will do!
 
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Brother Brigham

King, Priest and Ruler over Israel on Earth
To the future of log vapes!
:cheers:



Recently my PD became so unstable/loose that it fried two power supplies in 6 month; I needed a stable relationship with my vape. I did my homework I narrowed my options between both AZ and UD. I thought/think highly of both of their FC customer communities and products. I went with the CRZ VV PS a few weeks ago...
If everything works out, I can't wait to see what kind of offspring the AZ/UD "union" may bring to us...maybe it'll look like Kevin Bacon.
 
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NewVape

What a guy!
Although sad that you will not be making the Zap any more, I am glad that you are able to pass the torch (Olympics pun intended) in such a great way.

When buying my first log vape it was very neck and neck between the UD and the CRZ, with the CRZ just edging out. So I couldn't be happier it happened. (From a "How does this effect me?" kinda way):p

And although you will not be producing the CRZ anymore, I do know that you will be part of the FC community and the Zapville thread for many years to come.:myday:

OK, off to buy a last of it's kind Rick & Pat Zap... What? Site's down? :( *sigh* Will come back later.
 
NewVape,
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MrKappus

Well-Known Member
Hello,

It feels strange posting here since I have been lurking these forums for years without ever introducing myself. It was this community that converted me over to the world of vaporizers and quite literally changed my life. As a daily medical user I can assure you that this is not an over statement; my life has been made significantly better thanks to the AromaZap, the purple days (my very first vape from many years ago), and the amazing people of FuckCombustion.

Well now that I got that out of the way I wanted to ask you guys for some advice and let you all know about a disturbing email I just received.

I finally decided to splurge on a variable voltage power supply and was told by Rick where I could get one for a good price since he was no longer selling them. Over the weekend I bought one online, as well as a power cord from Zapville so I could use my new toy.

Today my power supply came in the mail, but since I had not received a shipping email from Rick regardining my cord I decided to message him. A couple of hours ago I found this in my inbox:

Hello- Rick and Aromazap are out of commission due to issues with the law.
If you have unsettled business, please be patient. Once Rick has access to a computer, any inquiries will be addressed~

Not only am I very concerned for Rick and his current situation, I am also really worried that I will not receive my cord. I am not really sure what to do, and since I cannot return this expensive power supply I would really like to be able to hook it up to my zap...

I will wait a few days before I try to come up with alternative solutions, but I may as well start looking at my options. Is anyone out there selling one of the new cords? Or is this something I could make myself?

Thank you in advance for your help. And I sincerely hope that Rick and is family are OK.
 

Gunky

Well-Known Member
Oh gee, now I am getting a little concerned. Hope everything is ok with our friend the Zapman. I see the site is down. I was hoping to pick up another Zap.
 
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J.R.R.Tokin'

Wych Doctor
Manufacturer
Wow lots going on at Aromazap. Of course all my best wishes for Rick & family for the future - and for Dave at UD taking on the mantle.

I wouldn't worry too much about the police notice on Zapville. I think Rick saw this coming and it probably has to do with the ongoing family claim issue regarding Aromazap.

@MrKappus. Don't worry too much. I'm sure Rick will get you squared away one way or another. And if worst comes to the worst, there is a great post by FredricMcGuire on making the cord for your tattoo supply here: http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/r...upplies-for-log-vapes.4918/page-5#post-239073
 

collegerower

Well-Known Member
While I am sad to hear Rick is moving away from production I understand the reasoning, and I wish him nothing but the best.

Thanks for everything you have done!
 
collegerower,

MrKappus

Well-Known Member
Just wanted to check in with you guys. Rick got in touch yesterday and issued me a full refund, so I am continuing my search for a power cord.

J.R.R. Thanks so much for the link! Since I have zero experience in soldering or working with electrical wires I am going to save this for my last resort.

Do you guys think this UNDERDOG CORD would work?​
Otherwise does anyone have a extra one they would be willing to sell me? Or to be so kind as to scan or take a photo of thier instructions on how to use a variable power supply from Rick?​
 
MrKappus,
that chord from underdog will work with your vv power supply... I am going to have to get one soon for another zap of mine... the vv power supply is a great experience, once you get all the parts you will be in awe...
 
PanicFreak,
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