Discontinued VRIPtech Heating Wand

will this new vhw be handsfree like the herborizer because if it is i might hold off on getting an herborizer and get this

I love the one piece design and sick work of the BM slides. I have a newer screen pinch that works great for my gravitron w/cutom 12"diffy.

Does anyone have any of the early ones (2.5cm, 14mm, tini hole) that are collecting dust?

I am looking to collect a bunch of either variety, but I am really interested in using one without a screen and a smaller hole on my new custom tube.

THANKS SHADOWVAPE!!!!!!!!

knew i could count on vrip to come through eventually

You are welcome Lep!

We are finally starting to get a handle on our e-mails and eliminated our virus problem. Thank you guys for all your patience and bearing with us. If for some reason we still haven't taken care of you please resend your e-mail to us.

Here is the latest and greatest from Vriptech!

VripTech announces new Vaporization Heat Wand (VHW) Version 3.0---coming
soon to VripTech.com and select dealers---"Bro-Form" upgrade price available
only for FC.com registered users who have previously purchased a VHW! Exact
price to be set as soon as final costing completed---pictures coming soon!

Although the units will look virtually identical until you look very close
the main difference is that the 3.0 has an integrated circuit and
thermocouple encapsulated in ceramic and then encapsulated in glass for an
element instead of a nichrome coil (as most vaporizers use) and thermocouple
encapsulated in ceramic and then encapsulated in glass as on the 2.0. The
3.0 element has a higher wattage density so gets about 20% hotter which
allows the user who wants clean vapor to set the temp on a lower setting
which is easier on the element than wide open or close to it and will lead
to much longer element life spans. You can use the 3.0 in the 75-85%
position for clean full spectrum vapor extractions at around 390-400F at the
point of extraction depending on the rate of draw. The higher heat option
also allows the user that wants a smoke/vapor hybrid inhalation to be able
to pull faster than they could with a wide open 2.0 and for those that want
to vaporize concentrates and not spend as much time waiting for the
melt...well it's a just what you all have been waiting for!

The new glass cover for the 3.0 is basically the same on the outside but the
inner part that encapsulates the element has been re-tooled to work with
both legacy 2.0s as well as the 3.0 element that heats on the tip instead of
the middle. We've bulbed-out the top a bit to make it take the
expansion/contraction of the heat and cooling longer and put some extra
surface area rings on it to enhance the thermal exchange. Thanks for the
interest, loyalty and patronage to all of you....stay posted for more
details as we progress the prototypes into production...

ShadowVape said:

Although the units will look virtually identical until you look very close
the main difference is that the 3.0 has an integrated circuit and
thermocouple encapsulated in ceramic and then encapsulated in glass for an
element instead of a nichrome coil (as most vaporizers use) and thermocouple
encapsulated in ceramic and then encapsulated in glass as on the 2.0. The
3.0 element has a higher wattage density so gets about 20% hotter which
allows the user who wants clean vapor to set the temp on a lower setting
which is easier on the element than wide open or close to it and will lead
to much longer element life spans. You can use the 3.0 in the 75-85%
position for clean full spectrum vapor extractions at around 390-400F at the
point of extraction depending on the rate of draw. The higher heat option
also allows the user that wants a smoke/vapor hybrid inhalation to be able
to pull faster than they could with a wide open 2.0 and for those that want
to vaporize concentrates and not spend as much time waiting for the
melt...well it's a just what you all have been waiting for!
..

Click to expand...

So this is basically a Cartridge Heater with a Thermocouple. To my knowledge they all use Nichrome wire, I bet yours does too, how else would it heat? Electricity doesn't surge through the Magnesium Oxide (which are the common material they make cartridge heaters from), it needs a roadway to travel on, so to speak.

One thing I wish is for people to be aware that the VHW handle is a common soldering iron and an imported one at that, which is probably purchased from China. There are several just like this on Alibaba and other b2b trade sites. I feel the whole marketing strategy of this company is deceiving to the common people who can't see the obvious, the statement sound as if you guys are in a lab fabricating PCB boards, I bet people are reading this now and thinking "wow, I had no idea that they didn't make the handle"

With all of the problems people have with these soldering irons, always burning out, why not use a respected brand such as Goot or Xytronic? They both make an adjustable temperature model with control circuits in the handle, and they are reliable and well respected and you used such a nice heat gun for the first vapor set up you marketed.

It would make sense for people to know that this is a soldering iron like they knew the old set up was a heat gun, they don't even list where the VHW handle is made. When I explained all of this to a friend that has had problems with his VHW, he felt deceived because the conversations he had led him to believe that this product was proprietary, you guys put a sticker with your company name intead of leaving it natural like the old heat gun set up.

What did your friend feel deceived about?

I don't really get the complaint unless you're saying he thought he was buying a high quality soldering iron but you don't believe it is? There certainly hasn't been any other claims I'm aware of in regards to the nichrome issue you're raising...ShadowVape's quote is about changes that haven't been sold to anyone yet and he points out all previous models use nichrome wire.

Reading the differences carefully, it appears the difference between the models is where the element heats up, and in regards to the nichrome, that v3 uses an IC with nichrome film rather than a wire element.

I suspect that allows for better control and efficiency of the heat output, which should alleviate the problems people are having with elements burning out.


That said, the main cost of the VHW appears to be in the glass. I don't understand how anyone who has a decent glass collection (and that's the segment of us I thought this wand was aimed toward) would feel ripped off after seeing the quality of the blown pieces.

BL4zD said:

What did your friend feel deceived about?

I don't really get the complaint unless you're saying he thought he was buying a high quality soldering iron but you don't believe it is? There certainly hasn't been any other claims I'm aware of in regards to the nichrome issue you're raising...ShadowVape's quote is about changes that haven't been sold to anyone yet and he points out all previous models use nichrome wire.

Reading the differences carefully, it appears the difference between the models is where the element heats up, and in regards to the nichrome, that v3 uses an IC with nichrome film rather than a wire element.

I suspect that allows for better control and efficiency of the heat output, which should alleviate the problems people are having with elements burning out.


That said, the main cost of the VHW appears to be in the glass. I don't understand how anyone who has a decent glass collection (and that's the segment of us I thought this wand was aimed toward) would feel ripped off after seeing the quality of the blown pieces.

Click to expand...

I guess he was unsatisfied because of the lack innovation in selling an off the shelf soldering iron as a vaporizer, people recomend that new comers stay away from cheap Chinese vaporizers like Top Vapor and Vapir, so in my eyes a Chinese soldering iron is no different. If you were a member of this board longer you would remember a thread where someone was marketing a E-Cig as a marijuana vaporizer claiming it was a separate product when clearly it was a common E-Cig type 901 (if memory serves me), and people also felt deceived. Another time a company called VaporIcer came with a device to cool vapor and it turned out to be two funnels taped together with an icepack inside. I am a man of technology so I sometimes feel compelled to make people aware of product true origin when it seems so common in the vapor industry for people to pass off common items as vaporizers. Frankly I do not think people buying this VHW product actually know it is just a soldering iron in which they do not even produce and my purpose is to make people aware so they can make an educated purchase. I am also the one who called out the Kia Vape company for selling a product that was made in China and claiming made in the USA, so you can't knock me for trying to improve awareness.

Here is what looks to be the one they use, straight from China http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/323063788/Electric_Soldering_Iron.html

I feel like your response to me is condescending. I *did* read your previous post, and I re-read it just now. I don't see in your previous post any of the information I asked for, so I'm not sure what you are accusing me of not paying attention to other than your friend felt deceived. Why? Even this latest post of yours merely asserts he was disappointed to learn he wasn't getting what you both feel are high quality soldering irons.

Furthermore, my join date says nothing about my experience on this board. I have been able to browse and read through threads without subscribing. I am aware of the E-Cig thread you reference.

In both of these cases, your position seems to me to be borne from ignorance of the basis of one's critique of cheaply made products. The criticism, to my understanding, is not on the basis of the country of origin, but rather on the build quality and how that may or may not affect the vapor we ingest.

In the E-Cig, Top Vapor, and Vapir debates whether the product sufficiently shields the consumer from potential toxins or negatively affecting the taste are raised as valid concerns. In the case of the VHW, however, that concern is mitigated by the fact that the vapor is isolated from the heating unit by the unique glass encasing of the element. The air does not touch any foreign elements thereby rendering your attempt at an analogous critique moot.

The *only* factor worth considering in this context is whether the soldering iron is of sufficient build quality as to be reliable. Whether the Xytronic or Goot would prove to be more reliable is a matter of your personal conjecture. This latest revision of the VHW that allows the user to achieve a higher heating temperature with less stress on the internals is a positive step in reducing failure rates.

If you feel so strongly about not using the soldering iron that you linked, then you should purchase a higher quality one and replace it. There is nothing from VRIP that I can find claiming that the iron itself is of a specific or unique quality. The point of their unit is to shield the air from coming into contact with the iron itself. That's how it was marketed on this forum, on their site, and was certainly my understanding when I purchased my wand. In fact, I distinctly remember reading on their site that they had been in contact with a quality company who has so far refused to make a special iron for them thereby clearly indicating that one should not expect the iron to be of any special build quality.

I'll re-iterate: the price per unit is on par with other hand blown glass pieces. The company is out to make the highest performing product at a competitive price while still maintaining a comfortable profit margin. This is the case with all commercial products. If you are unhappy with that concept, you can either request a premium line for higher cost and lower production numbers, build your own with the materials they provide, or simply refuse to purchase it.

BL4zD said:

I'll re-iterate: the price per unit is on par with other hand blown glass pieces. The company is out to make the highest performing product at a competitive price while still maintaining a comfortable profit margin. This is the case with all commercial products. If you are unhappy with that concept, you can either request a premium line for higher cost and lower production numbers, build your own with the materials they provide, or simply refuse to purchase it.

Click to expand...

How did we change the subject to their profit margins, a consumer could care less about those things and unless you are there watching them make the glass cover, then we really don't know how long it takes to make them and inturn how much they are actually worth. Lets put it this way, the glass cover is $90 and the whole wand is $170, so minum $90 from $170 and you have $80 for a wand that I have found as low as $20 retail, they didn't inflate the price of the Steinel heat gun in that manor.

I know you feel I didn't answer your questions, they are in there but I type as I talk so I simplified and separated the answers so you can try to see it the way I do.

BL4zD said:

What did your friend feel deceived about?

Click to expand...

From the conversations he had with the company before he bought the VHW, he walked away thinking that they designed and built the VHW Handle, they even put a company sticker on it, he had no idea it was a soldering iron at all.

BL4zD said:

I suspect that allows for better control and efficiency of the heat output, which should alleviate the problems people are having with elements burning out.

Click to expand...

This is really just speculation until the unit is on the market and doesn't fix peoples past problems and headaches.

BL4zD said:

That said, the main cost of the VHW appears to be in the glass. I don't understand how anyone who has a decent glass collection (and that's the segment of us I thought this wand was aimed toward) would feel ripped off after seeing the quality of the blown pieces.

Click to expand...

That statement isn't taking into account many of the users and you seem to catagorize this vaporizer as if it is only for glass colectors with phrases like "anyone who has a decent glass collection" and "the segment of us I thought this wand was aimed toward", they just state on the site that it is delicate glass not to be dropped and it is for someone who enjoys clean flavor vapor, considering they sell just a couple different glass pieces which are very similar, so I think you can agree it is also the casual user that just needs one decent waterpipe and enjoys good vapor and not only at the glass collector, hence the pretty standard looking non collectable Vriptech water tools.

stinkmeaner whats with you and going after new members? chill kid

justvape said:

stinkmeaner whats with you and going after new members? chill kid

Click to expand...

Lock your doors and turn out the lights, watch out folks, the big bad stinkmeaner in coming for new members. All kidding aside, last I checked this was/is a message board for sharing opinions, and mine was shared with the company, and instead giving the company time to respond, two people have come and criticized what I am saying for no reason without anything contructive or positive to say. I hardly go around and pick on new members, read the thread again and you can see that I was just responding to BL4zD because I felt like he was attacking my statement and trying to change my opinion of a product.


P.S. Chimming in with a snude remark like "chill kid" isn't really contributing in a positive way either. But just to show a sign of peace and love I will go back and answer BL4zD's first set of questions again in a more personal way.

stinkmeaner said:

How did we change the subject to their profit margins, a consumer could care less about those things and unless you are there watching them make the glass cover, then we really don't know how long it takes to make them and inturn how much they are actually worth. Lets put it this way, the glass cover is $90 and the whole wand is $170, so minum $90 from $170 and you have $80 for a wand that I have found as low as $20 retail, they didn't inflate the price of the Steinel heat gun in that manor.

Click to expand...

I was under the impression that the wand was comprised of the iron and two glass pieces. Mine is usually hot when I'm browsing the forums so I never took off the cover

Maybe there is more involved than just the glass cover and the iron. Have you disassembled one to see whether any modifications have been done to the iron? If not, guess I should have just bought the cover and whatever iron I wanted...

The reason I brought up profit margins and price points as a consumer is that your solution--that VRIP use a higher quality iron--will result in a subsequent rise in the product's price.

I peeled the sticker off my wand and the molded plastic appears to read: GT Gaojie which isn't the one you linked (http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/323063788/Electric_Soldering_Iron.html). It appears to be this iron http://www.totobay.com/gaojie-adjustable-thermostat-electric-soldering-iron-–-905c-60w_p10262.html

What are some recommended model numbers from the manufacturers you keep mentioning? I have tried googling those manufacturers you listed but haven't found a comparable iron.

Maybe the case is used but I garuntee you that a different board is used. Look at the knob completely different, look at the board itself. There's only one adjustment knob unlike the vt1 and vt2 on the VHW. Plus if you open the wand up the element is completely free. It moves around unlike solering irons that the element is fixed (haakos ect). There was more into the vhw than just grabbing a soldering iron off the shelf and throwing a heater cover on it. And if you want high Res photos of the wand taken apart I will after work. I still haven't seen anything else on the market that's all glass and works as well as the vhw. Verdampers and herbolizers are weak IMO and they're even more expensive than the VHW. The exhale is the only one I've seen promise in. So even if it was a soldering iron they Still did something right.

BL4zD said:

Maybe there is more involved than just the glass cover and the iron. Have you disassembled one to see whether any modifications have been done to the iron? If not, guess I should have just bought the cover and whatever iron I wanted...

Click to expand...

No I have not fully disassembled but I might if my friend wants me to install a new cartridge heater, I would probably go with an American brand of cartridge heater like Watlow Firerod. But he might try a whole new soldering iron.

BL4zD said:

What are some recommended model numbers from the manufacturers you keep mentioning? I have tried googling those manufacturers you listed but haven't found a comparable iron.

Click to expand...

After a little thought I would probably use one of these models, listed in preferred order:
http://www.edsyn.com/index.php?Mode=piw&pn=CL1080-H10
http://www.goot.co.jp/e/detail.html
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/IR-258/16-30W-VARI-TEMP-SOLDERING-IRON/1.html

I really think these models would do better, especially the Edsyn because they actually have different models with different temperature ratings, and 9 out of 10 techs where I work use Edysn soldering stations.

minnesnowta said:

Maybe the case is used but I garuntee you that a different board is used. Look at the knob completely different, look at the board itself. There's only one adjustment knob unlike the vt1 and vt2 on the VHW. Plus if you open the wand up the element is completely free. It moves around unlike solering irons that the element is fixed (haakos ect). There was more into the vhw than just grabbing a soldering iron off the shelf and throwing a heater cover on it.

Click to expand...

They are not opening them up and changing out the boards, that much I guarantee. The reason the knob is different is because like most Chinese products, there are many trading companies selling the same product with very slight variations to the packaging or design. For example, look at all of the Vapezilla clone type vapes, they have several companies putting out the same product but with a different name and color.

minnesnowta said:

I still haven't seen anything else on the market that's all glass and works as well as the vhw. Verdampers and herbolizers are weak IMO and they're even more expensive than the VHW. The exhale is the only one I've seen promise in. So even if it was a soldering iron they Still did something right.

Click to expand...

I agree that the Verdamper and Herborizer are both grossly overpriced and basically nothing more than a cartridge heater stuck in glass but I can appreciate that they are at least their own product, with the exception of perhaps the Herborizer temperature control which is most likely a dimmer of some sort. I have not had the pleasure of using it but the people seem to like them and the videos show some great clouds.

I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, I am not that the VHW doesn't work, it did hit well when functioning properly, I used it many times, I just think it is a poor value with the cheap soldering iron and it would be better if it was its own product. I also agree that the VapeXhale Cloud seems just by the look as the best value and has the most promise, they actually took the time to design their own enclosure, and are using their own proprietary parts and from what they have announced, they are even designing their own temperature control electronics which is rare considering most use a dimmer or even so called high end vapes use an off the shelf PID controller.

minnesnowta said:

Maybe the case is used but I garuntee you that a different board is used. Look at the knob completely different, look at the board itself. There's only one adjustment knob unlike the vt1 and vt2 on the VHW. Plus if you open the wand up the element is completely free. It moves around unlike solering irons that the element is fixed (haakos ect). There was more into the vhw than just grabbing a soldering iron off the shelf and throwing a heater cover on it. And if you want high Res photos of the wand taken apart I will after work. I still haven't seen anything else on the market that's all glass and works as well as the vhw. Verdampers and herbolizers are weak IMO and they're even more expensive than the VHW. The exhale is the only one I've seen promise in. So even if it was a soldering iron they Still did something right.

Click to expand...

You're right, the VHW is not the $20 iron I linked.

At first I had thought it was this $44 dollar iron http://www.totobay.com/gaojie-leadfree-soldering-iron-2905-30w_p10275.html but then the yellow plastic threw me off and I found the one with the gray collar. I forgot to check the board because everything else looked so similar.

I also noticed how the element moved freely. I don't know what that does, though.

Wow nice knocks... dude it's $150. Replacement parts are not super spendy.

BL4zD said:

You're right, the VHW is not the $20 iron I linked.

At first I had thought it was this $44 dollar iron http://www.totobay.com/gaojie-leadfree-soldering-iron-2905-30w_p10275.html but then the yellow plastic threw me off and I found the one with the gray collar. I forgot to check the board because everything else looked so similar.

I also noticed how the element moved freely. I don't know what that does, though.

Click to expand...

The reason the element moves freely is because they took the metal sleeve off by unscrewing the screws, it is not some custom feature. The reason they do this is so the element/heat has more contact with the glass cover.

Take these prices with a grain of salt because they are retail, when you order in bulk it is much cheaper and a company such as Vriptech would order directly from China most likely using a trade site such as the Alibaba.com site I mentioned earlier.

stinkmeaner,

not trying to brownnose, but I appreciate ya.

I have never seen or used a soldering iron before (hopefully that'll change after I order a PDP kit) and so I didn't really recognize what the VHW really was. I was looking to buy my first non-portable vape (getting impatient for the vapexhale!), and was looking at this one, since I like the all glass aspect.

But now that I know that its just a soldering iron covered with glass, I'm probably going to choose something else.

I'm sure its a great product, but I don't see a point if it eventually fails at some point

Thanks 5446ThatsMyNumber, you don't know how much I needed that. I was beginning to think people have gone crazy....or maybe even me I just can't believe people are so accepting of their products, due to my career I just appreciate a properly engineered product, whether it be a new tool or a vaporizer. I don't think it is acceptable to market a soldering iron with a cover for that price any more than I would buy a power toothbrush that was really a vibrating dildo with some bristles glued to the end.

You are smart to wait for the Cloud because they have designed it from the ground up, and I know I am saying this without using it but since it is being marketed by a vapor enthusiast, I think they will not release it until it is top notch.

I have a glass pinch one laying around but I really don't think you'll want it. The thing about the ones without screens is your tube is going to get dirty and you loose alot of Your material. I've used the glass pinch, martini and the screen bowl (which are the three different types he's made) and the screen works far better than the others. The only complaint I've ever had with the screens is there might be too much air flow. If you really want a glass pinch shoot me an email but the screen one is really where it's at.

Shadowvape,

I have a second VHW with a dead heating element in under 6 months

This is very frustrating...

now i am vape less

once more my issues with the VHW

The silicone ring dried out cracked and became unusable after about 3

the ring they replaced for free but the one they gave me was a bit wider and slides up the wand and is useless

the heating element went out after 5 months


so i get a VHW from my buddy who no longer is in need of his

and this one the heating element pulsed and would get VERY bright and way to hot

it even melted the silicone ring to the glass

so now i have 2 completely useless wands and not one of them is over 6 months old!!

WTF

now the heating element is completely dead, after only about 6 months from purchase

HELP ME SHADOWVAPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

We want to thank everyone who has been participating in the Vriptech VHW thread on FC.com the level of activity and community participation has been helpful in developing the original VHW and is both flattering and relieving at the same time. That is, its nice to know that we are not alone in our obsession with the pursuit of the ultimate inhalation. Some of the recent activity has required some clarifications and will also let us cut to the chase for some of you that are looking for a way to make the ultimate VHW out of an off the shelf soldering iron and one of our glass covers for a lower cost than just buying one from us or one of our dealers.

While we cant confess to knowing anything about such strokes of genius as a power toothbrush that was really a vibrating dildo with some bristles glued to the end we can and do claim expertise in the pursuit of the ultimate inhalation. Weve been at it and sharing it with the public for over a decade and have three utility patents granted for our innovations. We where the ones pushing vapor when people actually believed vaporizers dont work!

In our world, the value of a product is measured in the delivered utility and function of the final product (as in exists now and usable today). And this does not have any sort of direct relationship with the use of off the shelf components combined with custom fabricated components as opposed to purely custom fabricated components except in the sense that a product made of 100% custom fabricated components will be more expensive 100% of the time. There was a time when waiting for the next new vaporizer might have made sense, but it surely doesnt today with at least half a dozen functional vaporizers and a host of imitations or derivatives that all exist to functionally deliver vapor. The smart vapor enthusiast is the one who recognizes that vapor today is better than vapor tomorrow and that the best vaporizer is the one that you will use today (which for some might be more than one!).

Clarification #1: the original VHW was indeed based upon an off the shelf soldering iron, glass design work VripTech did for a box vaporizer company (we want everyone to benefit better vapor even if you like hoses or plastic bags), and the original Hot Glass vapor wand by B. Rad (not real name just in case but those of you who know will know who we are giving props to). However; VripTech did not order said soldiering iron off of Ali Baba, but rather sourced the soldering iron parts that we wanted to use, i.e. housing, board, power supply, and element as a partial assembly to avoid waste and to be able to have easier access to the board. We then assemble this partial assembly with the glass cover designed and blown in California out of German glass at the same shop where our vaporization chamber bowls and vaporization water tools have always been blown (originally and still for use with Steinel hot air tools). Neither the partial assembly of electronic parts and element or our glass work is available on Ali Babaat least to our knowledgebut you could surely find manufacturers that will lead you to soldering iron and vaporizer components (many common elements) if thats your goal. And to be clear we DO indeed make adjustments to the board at the shop prior to shipping. In fact, the adjustment of Variable Transistor 1 that enables the VHW to get a bit hotter and heat up a bit faster was figured out initially by a FC.com user that participated in the original VHW Ver. 1.0 beta deal where we offered a discounted price and free upgrades exclusively to FC.com members for helping us to make a better product. If you go way, way back in this thread you will find evidence of this community participation and evolution of the VHW.

Clarification #2: The magic of the FUNCTION of the VHW is in the design translated to glass in eleven artistic skill-intensive steps of tooling, use of multiple torch types and annealing processes to produce a piece of glass that transforms the raw heat of the heating element into a useful vortex of directed hot air heated by nothing but the glass. Its not really in what kind of element, but we have learned a lot about what kind of element works the best and works the longest since introducing the original VHW and this was factored into the new VHW Ver. 3.0 as well as our decision to offer a discount to existing users who wish to upgrade. In the process of figuring out which element works the best we tried many different elements from many different suppliers from the U.S., EU and Asia. As one very well known American heating element vendor (supplies elements and assemblies used by a number of different vaporizer companies) put it after testing the Chinese element we are using on the Ver. 3.0: heat density wise its like a Ferrari to our Pinto. Trust me folks wed love to be able to pay more and deliver an American product that is at least AS GOOD if not better, but as of today its not happeningWE TRIED AND SPENT THOUSANDS IN THE PROCESS!

Clarification #3: The VHW Ver. 3.0 uses a heater that is not used on any other vaporizer or any of the soldering irons available on Ali Baba or elsewhere to our knowledge. The housing and board will share common components with certain adjustable soldering irons and many different electronic products and vaporizers available on Ali Baba and elsewhere, but the element is completely different which was the intent of our original announcement post regarding the new Ver. 3.0. The new element is an integrated circuit encapsulated in ceramic and then the glass and not the typical nichrome coil encapsulated in ceramic (used on soldering irons and most vaporizers today). So the VHW Ver. 3.0 uses some off the shelf components (like virtually EVERY CONSUMER PRODUCT TODAY VAPORIZER OR ELSEWISE) combined with custom fabricated glass and a third party supplied element to provide the best value in terms of FUNCTION measured by VAPOR QUALITY and COST measured in dollars. But that said, its not the easiest, cheapest or most durable vaporizer out there so its not for everyoneits all about the vapor quality for us, but youve got to be comfortable with glass. We of course could have the same board a similar housing and power supply all engineered and tooled to do the exact same thing as the off the shelf components we use and charge at least twice as much but why? WE CANT THINK OF A REALLY LOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL REASON WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DO THIS BUT PERHAPS A CERTAIN POSTER WHO IS OBVIOUSLY WAY MORE VERSED THAN WE ARE IN HOW TO MAKE A PROPER VAPORIZATION SYSTEM COULD CLUE US ALL IN??? AND IF WERE REALLY LUCKY MAYBE HELL CLUE US IN ON HIS ULTIMATE VAPORIZER BECAUSE IF ITS BETTER THAN THE VRIP WEVE GOT TO HAVE ONE!

Clarification #4: Edsyn and Hakko make the best soldering irons in the world in our extremely well researched and humble opinion, but neither of them make a unit that will work as well for vaporizing in general, or with the VHW glass cover from VripTech specifically, as will the assembled and tuned for the VHW off the shelf components that VripTech uses today to make the VHWs that we sell, warranty, and support. We will support customers trying to make the VHW glass cover work with other soldering irons in terms of usage technique and recommendations, but we cant guarantee fit or function. VripTech previously worked directly with Edsyn and one other American heat technology vendor and spent thousands of dollars in an attempt to engineer a 100% American made VHW that worked better than the current VHW and couldnt do it even for far more money. Its that simple. But if someone else figures out something that we missed please pass it along or tell us where we can get one! We havent given up on the dream of a 100% American made VHW (well except the glass because we always use German), but we want sick blue water and ice conditioned vapors TODAY so we use what we have found works the best for that purpose: the VripTech VHW with a VCBS on just about any water pipe or bubbler out there used according to our directions and tips.

Clarification #5: Over the past three months VripTech has been threatened with negative posts on FC.com and other vaporizer forums by two different customers who attempted to blackmail us into replacing glass that had been used for many months and which was admittedly abused dropped after multiple love it emails (the kind were most used to) turned into I dropped my glass and cant believe it broke so it must be manufacturer defect because its so expensive emails. So please take anything you read with a grain of salt unless you know the poster and the truth behind the matter. If it seems like there is no real point other than demeaning our brand and product than you should ask yourself what this poster is really trying to accomplish? And why? We will never make the claim of any kind of perfection other than vapor when everything is working and used correctlybut we do take care of our customers if there is a problem and Im sure there are many FC.com members that will attest to this. We make a practice out of extending warranty coverage beyond that which is stated and offering of middle ground replacement deals if there is any doubt to make sure our customers are always enjoying the same blue vapors we are. But we are a business and not a charity at the end of the day and cannot offer warranties that cover drops, bonks, or other errrrrrts of any sort. Even if youre unemployed or a medical patient. Sorry wish we could! We donate A LOT of product to people that benefit huge, but otherwise couldnt afford our products.and that is very different than people who can and do purchase our products and get great use of them, but then accidentally break them and want them replaced for free. For them we have the modular nature of our products that at least means you only have to replace what you broke! If you are a customer that has a problem with one of our products that has not been successfully addressed and may be a warranty consideration please contact ShadowVape @ info@vriptech.com and well do our best to take care of you within reason of sanity as we always have and always will.

Thanks shadow, Im glade that a vrip rep is once again on the board. My question is does glass cover 3.0 cost more or less than the older one.

ShadowVape said:

Clarification #2: The magic of the FUNCTION of the VHW is in the design translated to glass in eleven artistic skill-intensive steps of tooling, use of multiple torch types and annealing processes to produce a piece of glass that transforms the raw heat of the heating element into a useful vortex of directed hot air heated by nothing but the glass. Its not really in what kind of element, but we have learned a lot about what kind of element works the best and works the longest since introducing the original VHW and this was factored into the new VHW Ver. 3.0 as well as our decision to offer a discount to existing users who wish to upgrade. In the process of figuring out which element works the best we tried many different elements from many different suppliers from the U.S., EU and Asia. As one very well known American heating element vendor (supplies elements and assemblies used by a number of different vaporizer companies) put it after testing the Chinese element we are using on the Ver. 3.0: heat density wise its like a Ferrari to our Pinto. Trust me folks wed love to be able to pay more and deliver an American product that is at least AS GOOD if not better, but as of today its not happeningWE TRIED AND SPENT THOUSANDS IN THE PROCESS!

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Your posts are so long winded with very little points being made and not one meaningful apology for the people that have had problems existing VHW's, all I hear is how much money you spent on development and a bunch of plugs for the new version 3.0. One thing I have learned in my line of work is that most anything can be copied or reverse engineered, even a Chinese heating element. So saying that it can't happen is nonsense, how do you think China started industrializing and producing so many products? Answer is reverse engineering existing products to save time and design cost.

ShadowVape said:

Clarification #3: The VHW Ver. 3.0 uses a heater that is not used on any other vaporizer or any of the soldering irons available on Ali Baba or elsewhere to our knowledge. The housing and board will share common components with certain adjustable soldering irons and many different electronic products and vaporizers available on Ali Baba and elsewhere, but the element is completely different which was the intent of our original announcement post regarding the new Ver. 3.0. The new element is an integrated circuit encapsulated in ceramic and then the glass and not the typical nichrome coil encapsulated in ceramic (used on soldering irons and most vaporizers today). So the VHW Ver. 3.0 uses some off the shelf components (like virtually EVERY CONSUMER PRODUCT TODAY VAPORIZER OR ELSEWISE) combined with custom fabricated glass and a third party supplied element to provide the best value in terms of FUNCTION measured by VAPOR QUALITY and COST measured in dollars. But that said, its not the easiest, cheapest or most durable vaporizer out there so its not for everyoneits all about the vapor quality for us, but youve got to be comfortable with glass. We of course could have the same board a similar housing and power supply all engineered and tooled to do the exact same thing as the off the shelf components we use and charge at least twice as much but why? WE CANT THINK OF A REALLY LOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL REASON WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DO THIS BUT PERHAPS A CERTAIN POSTER WHO IS OBVIOUSLY WAY MORE VERSED THAN WE ARE IN HOW TO MAKE A PROPER VAPORIZATION SYSTEM COULD CLUE US ALL IN??? AND IF WERE REALLY LUCKY MAYBE HELL CLUE US IN ON HIS ULTIMATE VAPORIZER BECAUSE IF ITS BETTER THAN THE VRIP WEVE GOT TO HAVE ONE!

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I didn't imply that you purchased from Alibaba, they don't produce products, they are a trade site that I used as an example of the soldering iron clone you use. I never left out the possibility that you contracted a soldering iron company to make it to your specifications.

What do you mean by a heating element with an integrated circuit in the ceramic?

Ultimate vaporizer, that is a tough one to me because there is really no one vaporizer that seems perfect, a couple worth honorable mention are the Supreme vaporizer because of its heating exchanger design, and the Volcano because of its engineering and manufacturing quality. Most the others I have tried are same components arranged in different ways, like the Silver Surfer, Vapor Brothers. I am not saying these don't work because they do, the designs are just a heating element in a glass cover hooked up to a dimmer, I will applaud Vriptech for at least designing their glass cover for heat retention.

ShadowVape said:

VripTech previously worked directly with Edsyn and one other American heat technology vendor and spent thousands of dollars in an attempt to engineer a 100% American made VHW that worked better than the current VHW and couldnt do it even for far more money. Its that simple. But if someone else figures out something that we missed please pass it along or tell us where we can get one! We havent given up on the dream of a 100% American made VHW

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All soldering irons aside, have you thought about just designing your own heat controller board using PID control, then you could easily have some housing molded to your specifications which would eliminate the need for the soldering iron, in turn successfully removing the Vriptech company from the mothers nipple. Just kidding.

ShadowVape said:

Clarification #5: Over the past three months VripTech has been threatened with negative posts on FC.com and other vaporizer forums by two different customers who attempted to blackmail us into replacing glass that had been used for many months and which was admittedly abused dropped after multiple love it emails (the kind were most used to) turned into I dropped my glass and cant believe it broke so it must be manufacturer defect because its so expensive emails. So please take anything you read with a grain of salt unless you know the poster and the truth behind the matter. If it seems like there is no real point other than demeaning our brand and product than you should ask yourself what this poster is really trying to accomplish? And why? We will never make the claim of any kind of perfection other than vapor when everything is working and used correctlybut we do take care of our customers if there is a problem and Im sure there are many FC.com members that will attest to this. We make a practice out of extending warranty coverage beyond that which is stated and offering of middle ground replacement deals if there is any doubt to make sure our customers are always enjoying the same blue vapors we are. But we are a business and not a charity at the end of the day and cannot offer warranties that cover drops, bonks, or other errrrrrts of any sort. Even if youre unemployed or a medical patient. Sorry wish we could! We donate A LOT of product to people that benefit huge, but otherwise couldnt afford our products.and that is very different than people who can and do purchase our products and get great use of them, but then accidentally break them and want them replaced for free. For them we have the modular nature of our products that at least means you only have to replace what you broke! If you are a customer that has a problem with one of our products that has not been successfully addressed and may be a warranty consideration please contact ShadowVape @ info@vriptech.com and well do our best to take care of you within reason of sanity as we always have and always will.

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That statement was better left unsaid, lets not turn this into Boo Hoo I feel bad for Vriptech thread, it is never good for customer service to air dirty laundry in public, customer service is supposed to be polite and courteous even in the face of ridicule and harassment, I can't imagine Storz & Bickel or a big company coming on the forum saying something like this. We can't take everything that we read with a grain of salt because of a couple bad apples.

ShadowVape said:

Clarification #1: the original VHW was indeed based upon an off the shelf soldering iron, glass design work VripTech did for a box vaporizer company (we want everyone to benefit better vapor even if you like hoses or plastic bags), and the original Hot Glass vapor wand by B. Rad (not real name just in case but those of you who know will know who we are giving props to). However; VripTech did not order said soldiering iron off of Ali Baba, but rather sourced the soldering iron parts that we wanted to use, i.e. housing, board, power supply, and element as a partial assembly to avoid waste and to be able to have easier access to the board. We then assemble this partial assembly with the glass cover designed and blown in California out of German glass at the same shop where our vaporization chamber bowls and vaporization water tools have always been blown (originally and still for use with Steinel hot air tools). Neither the partial assembly of electronic parts and element or our glass work is available on Ali Babaat least to our knowledgebut you could surely find manufacturers that will lead you to soldering iron and vaporizer components (many common elements) if thats your goal. And to be clear we DO indeed make adjustments to the board at the shop prior to shipping. In fact, the adjustment of Variable Transistor 1 that enables the VHW to get a bit hotter and heat up a bit faster was figured out initially by a FC.com user that participated in the original VHW Ver. 1.0 beta deal where we offered a discounted price and free upgrades exclusively to FC.com members for helping us to make a better product. If you go way, way back in this thread you will find evidence of this community participation and evolution of the VHW.

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Again, I did not say you ordered from Alibaba, they are just one of many business to business trade sites which list companies that manufacture products, I did say however that you ordered the soldering iron from China which you seem to have confirmed.

These PCB boards would have to be designed for that housing which is off the shelf, whether or not you make adjustments to it or not is on you, I have no way of knowing. I am sure whatever "adjustments" you make are rather minor because we all know that the Chinese manufacturers would build an item to your specifications. Rigging the Variable transistor in a manor that makes it run hotter than originally intended could be why these elements burn out so quickly.

Again in case you missed it, what did you mean by your new heating element having a built in circuit? A circuit is just a circle of energy, every thing from a toaster to a flashlight uses a circuit, if they run on electricity.

Thanks for coming on the board, I am rather enjoying this conversation.