Merry Xmas vrippers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq_JETYUjyE
Discontinued VRIPtech Heating Wand
- Thread starter stonemonkey55
- Start date
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- Tags
- all glass airpath
So I go get the VHW and take it out,Im getting ready to plug it in and get all my stuff ready to sesh....I plug the VHW in and sudenly I hear a loud POP. I pick up the VHW & check it out...all seems right...til I go to put it back in the mug & turn it on its side & hear glass rattling. I looked closely at the middle and I can clearly see the entire,what appears to be a cylinder,is totally broken. The break is a clean fracture...runs right down the middle. The whole outter shell is fine,but the inner/center part is broken and moving.....FUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!
Any clue how this could've happened? Im sure someone will say "Thermal Shock",but I had JUST plugged it in & it was still set on lowest temp from the last runs cooldown period.Also I never touched the set screw,took the glass off,nothing....I only repositioned the silicone ring once and that was enough. After that I was sealing perfectly. Looks like Ill be calling VRT tomorrow,hopefully they didnt ship out my other order yet & I can have this remedied & lumped into one shipment.
Any clue how this could've happened? Im sure someone will say "Thermal Shock",but I had JUST plugged it in & it was still set on lowest temp from the last runs cooldown period.Also I never touched the set screw,took the glass off,nothing....I only repositioned the silicone ring once and that was enough. After that I was sealing perfectly. Looks like Ill be calling VRT tomorrow,hopefully they didnt ship out my other order yet & I can have this remedied & lumped into one shipment.
SpiralArchitect
? & beyond
Why VripTech hasn't manned up and just made thick glass puzzles me. The stuffi is near paper thin.
A rather common occurrence.
A rather common occurrence.
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
Well if its like any other issue they will deal with it professionally as they have every issue I have seen them deal with.
My advice, try to work it out with them and then talk about your experience with that. You may need better pics as those are beyond blurry though but I imagine that fact its not working will be enough for them to replace it.
If your not getting anywhere, contact stonemonkey55 and im sure he can help you.
My advice, try to work it out with them and then talk about your experience with that. You may need better pics as those are beyond blurry though but I imagine that fact its not working will be enough for them to replace it.
If your not getting anywhere, contact stonemonkey55 and im sure he can help you.
Hanibal Lectin
Well-Known Member
damn due thats a bummer!
Despite the warning on their site,I was a little surprised at how delicate the wand seems.
Hope you have a backup while you get this fixed.
Despite the warning on their site,I was a little surprised at how delicate the wand seems.
Hope you have a backup while you get this fixed.
Wow! I've dropped my wand off my table onto the floor, inside of a glass sundae cup (scary) and it has not broken, I'm guessing you got a defective wand being that you didn't even drop it... how did the ceramic heater get all discolored? It looks black? I think what Spiral was reffering to was the old covers which would break during the cool down, and make cracking noises, ever since Vrip has made the glass way thicker, to the point mine has taken a couple drops and not broken (knock on wood). I think its a lot tougher then people make it out to be, but just like with everything else handblown (made) their can be defects, hope you get your new one soon!
The black that you see is actually a spring or rod it appears that runs down the center. 
The yellow has been there from day one....I have no idea what it is but I dont think its good.
Also,I emailed VRT TWICE already today and still havent heard back from them...this is not a good sign IMO.
The yellow has been there from day one....I have no idea what it is but I dont think its good. Also,I emailed VRT TWICE already today and still havent heard back from them...this is not a good sign IMO.
Durden
I am Jack's title
Fear I would suggest relaxing a little bit on the response times considering it's still the holidays and very likely that not everyone is working this week. 
That being said, I had a similar reaction when it happened to me. You can put several small pieces of a toothpick into the top of the unit to keep the glass from sealing up the end so you can still use it, but that's something I would only suggest if your really desperate.
I had a similar (possibly the same) problem with my unit and it was replaced within a few days after some clarification about what went wrong.
I think I know what happened to your unit but I can't tell with what you posted so far. You should probably get a better picture of the break from both sides to show if the break was clean or if pieces have broken off (backing the camera up a bit should help). I think you said it was a clean break but the pictures make it hard to see, and a clearer version of picture 4 would probably be helpful.
From what I can see though, it was the same manufacturing issue I had and you should be alright under the warranty. The timeframe of use before the issue manifested itself seems to be about the same as well.
That being said, I had a similar reaction when it happened to me. You can put several small pieces of a toothpick into the top of the unit to keep the glass from sealing up the end so you can still use it, but that's something I would only suggest if your really desperate. I had a similar (possibly the same) problem with my unit and it was replaced within a few days after some clarification about what went wrong.
I think I know what happened to your unit but I can't tell with what you posted so far. You should probably get a better picture of the break from both sides to show if the break was clean or if pieces have broken off (backing the camera up a bit should help). I think you said it was a clean break but the pictures make it hard to see, and a clearer version of picture 4 would probably be helpful.
From what I can see though, it was the same manufacturing issue I had and you should be alright under the warranty. The timeframe of use before the issue manifested itself seems to be about the same as well.
It came like that....Heres my unpacking vid....if you look closely you can see it in there.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EFyHOJTGCI
I'm sure you got a defective wand, is that a wire or and actual rod? It looks like it could be the black wire which is supposed to be connected under the plate that holds the heater. Good news is you'll get more stickers and a brand new wand, but that sucks, hopefully it can get done quick. Defenitly looks like an assembly error though.
Hey guys, I just spoke to Mark. The coil is supposed to be there and if any original VHW users want one, please contact him.
The coil is used to absorb heat and should lengthen the life or the ceramic heater. Not sure the exact physics involved but he also said that it will heat up quicker as well.
The coil is used to absorb heat and should lengthen the life or the ceramic heater. Not sure the exact physics involved but he also said that it will heat up quicker as well.
I just spent a good 30mins on the line with Mark from VRT....that metal wire is to help with the thermal something or other scientific jargon... My glass was a bad anneal,Ill have a new one in the mail tomorrow. Im so friggin happy right now I cant even construct a decent post,so Im just gonna leave at that...
It may have been me, he was talking to someone else on the other line when I called.
Glad to hear that you got taken care of - happy new year dude
Glad to hear that you got taken care of - happy new year dude
minnesnowta
Vaporist/Glass Head
It's a free upgrade that you'll have to install yourself if you want it. I heard back from mark and he claims it's supposed to help the life of the heater. He said he'll mail it out if you want one but it isn't completly neccisary. I may leave mine without just because I like the glow of the element and it's workin just fine for me now. Just drop mark an email if you want it.