Discontinued VRIPtech Heating Wand

Well, my VHW finally died yesterday, I always thought I would break the glass cover before the wand actually died. Ill guess I had it for about 2years plus and used it countless times. It will be missed. For sure a sad moment yesterday when I plugged it in for my secound major session, 20mins later, still cold. RIP

IAmKrazy2 said:

Well, my VHW finally died yesterday, I always thought I would break the glass cover before the wand actually died. Ill guess I had it for about 2years plus and used it countless times. It will be missed. For sure a sad moment yesterday when I plugged it in for my secound major session, 20mins later, still cold. RIP

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Tough luck Krazy, hopefully you have something to hold you over.

DaProfessor said:

My daily driver is usually the MZ, but decided to change things up since 4/20. I've been using my VHW everyday. Usage has increased by 1.5x, but still find that I can get to where I need to be without even covering the entire screen. I'm also loving the taste, the VHW is soooooo clean tasting. And the infamous 'blue' vapor is very pretty I also have less of a 'hangover'. I wonder if it has to do with the using the VHW? Anyone else feel that the cleaner air path of the VHW may help with decreasing some of the negative side effects associated with cannabis?

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Professor you're bringing up an often over-looked materials consideration that Mark is fond of driving home (and that better tasting vapor tends to lead to more being inhaled....ahem). If smokers go to glass from metal or ceramic or god forbid worst materials (except apples....there will be no hating on apples here) for health/purity/flavor considerations then why would smokers going to vapor as an even healthier alternative to smoke revert back to metal or ceramic materials? Why would they ever go with PLASTIC....really? And non-smokers going to vapor for a delivery superior to oral consumption? How could this consideration not be primary? The polarity of the materials the air is heated with and, in turn, the hot air which the vapor is extracted with absolutely affects the polarity of the vapor you're inhaling. The polarity of the vapor affects the spectrum delivered no two ways about it. And that is to say nothing of potential off-gassing or particles combining with the aromatic vapors you're inhaling. Keep in mind there is a reason why volatile oils are called "volatile." "They change in form easily due to variables such as exact temp at the point of extraction (not what the read-out says), polarity, particles present, spectrum of gases present, etc. and these subtle changes in delivered form will result in at least subtle differences in effect"----Mark quoted directly here from an email to a customer. "Cleaner Finish" is a quote we get all the time at Vrip.

You've also brought up another consideration in terms of how much you have to pack to get a nice full bodied and condensed Vrip. It will often be more than other vaporizers with smaller extraction chambers and delivery routes due to the geometry and greater volume differences. If you want condensed, full bodied clouds of clean vapor there is a cost of admission. You can always pack small bowls and get small inhalations of full spectrum actives you just won't get that nice full condensed "Vrip" of clean vapor without packing a good size bowl of high oil content and well ground herbs completely covering the screen for an even extraction. Mark has said that when we figure out how to deliver big Vrips with small bowls he will be patenting it!

Seriously though becase full spectrum, but clean vapor is not as full-bodied as a smoke/vapor hybrid that most people are pulling on it takes a well packed bowl. By running the screen on the top of the o-ring groove in the bowl so that only the top half of the bowl is packed you'll get the best pulls with the least amount of herb packed (just don't poke at the screen...gently stir only). By pushing the screen into the bottom of the bowl and then pushing it back up with a good size poker or chopstick or similar while holding it below the o-ring groove with a finger to flatten it out or even make it a tad convex from above you can pack slightly bigger bowls and get even bigger Vrips, but will definitely pack more herbs.

IAmKrazy2 said:

Well, my VHW finally died yesterday, I always thought I would break the glass cover before the wand actually died. Ill guess I had it for about 2years plus and used it countless times. It will be missed. For sure a sad moment yesterday when I plugged it in for my secound major session, 20mins later, still cold. RIP

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Sorry to hear about the loss...we can get that element replaced for you and/or offer a Bro-Form courtesy deal on an upgrade to a 3.0. Just hit me up at info@vriptech.com and I'll get you dialed back in.

Lovin my wand. Learned right away that the screen slips easily. After dumping a bowl while stirring, I tried putting the second screen in. One right on top of the other. This keeps the screen from fipping around. Most importantly, it allows for a slower draw -which concentrates the flavor. It also allows for a lower temp. Try it. Double up the screens. You won't reget it. Big Difference!

Thanks Shadow, expect an email from me next week.... cheers!

I use several screens in mine also

You guys are all hitting on the reason why working with HiSi (our glass shop's own brand) Mark fine-tuned the VWT PerK's pull so that there is more draw resistance than is generally preferred for smoking: to slow down the pulls for optimal vapor. I think that was a pun intended too BTW So if you're using one of our VWT PerKs you probably can get the same resistance to slow the pull without needing to run two screens (I know I just run one as does Mark), but with most water tools out there optimzed for smoking and a general trend for LESS resistance doubling up the screens would make sense as a simple and effective re-jetting to adjust the pull rate.

We always include a second screen with the bowls so that the option to run two is there or you've got a back-up. Generally I know Mark is often pointing out that some screen "seasoning" leads to a bit more resistance that is often preferred to the lesser drag of a brand new screen and we point this out to newbies often who are simply pulling too fast. Bottom line: Go with what works for you and feels good. Each piece will be slightly different even coming from us and obviously using third party water tools tuned for smoking you either have to be disciplined and use controlled pull rates (it's hard not to get excited and pull faster once you taste the goods, but this will thin the vapor) or tune the pull with screen stacking or "seasoning." Concentrates always work well for a quick screen seasoning and a good time from my experience!

You folks should experiment with bowl designs for economy use. Mark and crew seem like smart folks, why haven't they released a bowl similar in geometry to log vapes? I would love something like that and have thought about having a custom made. Would be nice if we could get an OEM version

Thanks for the feedback DaProfessor! I'm not familiar with the log vapes but will look into it and take it up with Mark. There actually is a very simple and effective modification to the Vrip VCB lower bowls that can accomplish a major jump in economy (but by Mark's opinion anyway smaller Vrips is antithetical to the whole mission of Vrip). It should be understood that Vrip was started as a Vapor alternative to the one-hit snap through school of water pipe smoking that was popular in Mark's younger days when he dreamed this all up (way ahead of most in the vapor world today). And with that ethos in mind bigger is better! But I feel you for sure.

The modification I'm referring to is a glass ring that can be inserted into the Vrip lower bowl on top of a top positioned flat screen and then herbs or concentrates (Mark's original intention for the diameter reduction) can be packed in what is a effectively a much smaller diameter bowl. Vrip in the good ole' days actually included one of these with every complete VCB sold because Mark was convinced that everyone enjoyed the access he does to concentrates and at that point he hadn't figured out how nice spreading concentrates on top of a layer of pyrex beads or even coarse sand worked (Mark's current recommendation for concentrates that I must attest works EXTREMELY WELL). When virtually every customer emailed with a question as to what the glass ring was for the glass ring was shelved. The only reason why I even know about it is because Mark still has one sitting in his tray and I asked and he showed. If this is something that you guys think would be of value or of interest I can rattle the cage and see if I can get some more made. It effectively makes the bowl smaller.

I would be interested in a few. Just because I love accessories

All good I'm on it. Mark's in the shop today too so we might get lucky! HIt me up @ info@vriptech.com with your mailing addy and I'll get you dialed in with one to test ASAP. With high oil content herbs and the wand it's probably all most people need and would give you an even quicker extraction which, in turn, affects the spectrum delivered. Potentially favorably depeding upon your preferences.

Alright good news bad news Family. Mark said he couldn't find any of the reducers at the shop but asked to have some made which hopefully will be done early next week. He also said he could dig through a legacy storage container he has at his place so might find something there. I'll update ASAP.

For those interested in comparing the HA to the VHW... I'm not going to go into depth, but the VHW vapor is much thicker and tastier. I have not touched my HA in months while my VHW is still on my desk even though I am mostly an oil head now. And I still think the HA is a great vape compared to most....

I have been rocking the VHW for like 3 weeks now maybe 4 I don't remember. any ways I was a daily smoker also several big dabs eerrly morn and night . since owning the vhw I use it Several times every day yielding thick tasty vape that is very medicating in result haveing less of a desire to be oiling latly. I guess Im just really enjoying the vhw

VaporVenom said:

Lovin my wand. Learned right away that the screen slips easily. After dumping a bowl while stirring, I tried putting the second screen in. One right on top of the other. This keeps the screen from fipping around. Most importantly, it allows for a slower draw -which concentrates the flavor. It also allows for a lower temp. Try it. Double up the screens. You won't reget it. Big Difference!

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The screens used to be installed in the lower notch out of the box - the last few I've gotten have just been pushed into the bowl loosely, and yeah they fall out (or over) easily. Read ShadowVape's post above where he explains how to install the screen into the notch (pushing back up through the stem and then flattening out the screen). Once it's in place it's virtually impossible to budge it unless you force it out with a poker - makes filling and emptying bowls quick and easy

Still loving my VHW after 8 months of use - packed up the Volcano Digit, the iolite, my old Vriptech gear (Steinel and the old Valloon!) and haven't looked back. MFLB while I'm travelling but as soon as I get home it's VHW all the way

Thanks for the dialogue on the screen placement family. Someday we'll finally get around to posting some good videos including one with a section on screen placement which is much over do. I know Mark has filmed one on the basics and on removing and installing the glass covers on the wands but says it needs editing before ready to post. I'll keep rattling his cage but in the mean time spread the good word please....the girls just shove them in loose as if we had to pay them to properly position each one we'd never ship orders!!! And besides some like to ride them loose and high for econ and max spectrum per pass purposes and are good just being extra careful not to poke while others like them deeper and more solidly positioned where it doesn't matter if you poke it a bit, but you either do have to pack more and/or run a bit higher temp and/or stir a couple of times more to get all the goods extracted. We make the tools....you, the vapor artisians make the vapor!

Hey Guys,

Long time vaporist, first time Vriptech owner. I just recently received the VHW3.0 from Vriptech and I'm just a little frustrated with figuring out the exact tuning to get this thing to work right. I've read the website page to page, found and read almost 80 pages of this thread. (Which contains a lot of colorful commentary.) I feel like I'm suffering a similar fate of Lepstadder. Just getting faint vapes after pulling 3-5 times, and trying at a few different paces (Slow Rips, Fast, Panic) of breathing.

Specific Information:

I'm heating the VHW3.0 in a Ceramic Cup, with the Silicone Tip still on. I've got a 14" Beaker with a 18mm Joint running the 18mm Slide kit from Vriptech with the Gong. From there I've tried two separate strains, Granddaddy Purple & White Rhino Hybrid. Finely ground. I place the VHW's Tip into the Gong, do one large primary pull and then slow/medium pull.

Any help would be appreciated, I've already emailed ShadowVape (Sorry if it sounded a little hazey, I was) and from what I gathered, Vriptech takes it's customer service seriously.

Can't wait to hear what all the fuss was about,

Satanfinger I won't ask what your screen name derives from, but I will dial you in on Vrips!!!

It sounds like you're doing everything right for the most part so I'm just going to fine tune a bit and add a few key points you may or may not be keeping in mind. Hopefully I already sent you our directions sheet if you emailed that has a tip section for thin vapor or you can also check it on the step by step page on vriptech.com. If you didn't recieve a reply I apologize the email has been off the hook this week and it's possible some fell through the cracks...I guess everyone is gearing up for summer.

Assuming you are packing a full bowl (must be full packed bowl for thick vapor) of the well ground GDP or WRH both of which should be sufficiently high enough oil content to give you thick vapor and assuming you're letting the wand heat all the way up before using (give it a good 5-7 minutes just to be sure the glass itself is heated all the way up; element should be glowing orange on the inside of the glass for the first couple of minutes for sure then it will cycle); then the only thing that I see as possible problem unless something is defective is the pull technique....it is a bit slow on the ramp up with the Vrip.

First seat the wand tip into the upper intake on the assembled vaporization chamber bowl and on the first bowl just let it sit there for 15-20 seconds to heat up the glass without even pulling (subseqent bowls won't require as long of a pause), then START with a slow but steady pull. Do not crack the seal between the wand and the intake at all even while pausing to take another slow steady pull...by the second slow steady pull you should have some nice vapor forming in the tube, exhale completely and start slow and finish as you normally would and you should be impressed at this point! Stir and repeat until it's tasting dry and the carcass is browned to your taste. Key with the VHW is to really milk it slow to get it going....not milking it like taking a conventional BR, but milking it meaning pulling slow and steady until it really gets going and then you can finish more as you normally would assuming you're not into the hurricane BR style which doesn't really work well for Vapor. Since this is not a fan assisted system so you can get thicker vapor the slower the pull the higher the apparant temp at the herb and the faster the pull the lower the apparant temp...the ability to dial in the actual extraction temp both by the temp dial (I'm usually at about 80% heat on the dial once the wand is fully heated up) primarliy and then by the pull rate secodarily is what will allow you to master the ridiculously large and concentrated BUT still clean and aromatic vapor extractions and deliveries that are Vrip's claim to fame.

Because you're using an 18.8mm GonG you will need to be a little extra disciplined on the pull rate (more so with some water tools than others depending upon the resistance) to not pull the air through too fast...I prefer the 14.4mm and think it is perfect myself because the 18.8mm feels like not enough resistance to me (even though both have an orifice reduced to about the same size), but we've got a lot of super happy customers running the 18.8mm! Because alot of water tools designed for smoking are intentionally very low resistance they tend to be the ones that require a little more discipline on the Vripper's part to pull slow and steady until it's milked thick. Some customers find that going to a reducer and a 14.4mm lower bowl gives them a more comfortable pull rate for vapor than running an 18.8mm and if you want to give that a shot I'm sure Mark will authorize me to either exchange the 18.8mm straight across (just make sure it is clean with no screen or o-ring for the shipment back) or give you discounted bro-form deal on a 14.4mm. From my experience with the 18.8mm bowls they seem to pull better once the screen has been seasoned a bit creating some drag (see some posts above where users talk about running multiple screens to create more drag as another alternative). Hope that helps but if not don't hesitate to email me @ info@vriptech.com or post again and we'll work with you until dialed for sure!

Oh and one more thing that is important to consider here is the volume of the tube you're using...the lower the volume the faster the vapor will come and the larger the volume the slower. By running an ice catch like we do on our VWTs you can fill up the tube with ice not just for cooling, but also for taking up air volume so you pull less to get the vapor flowing. If you can pack the tube with ice I recommend it!

Hey Shadowvape,

Thanks for the reply. You did email me, and I believe you've figured out my problem. I sent you a reply with my new problem. lol


[h]FuckCombustion Crew;
[/h]
This device is extremely delicate. Mine lasted an award-winning 26 Hours. Be extremely careful. (I probably would not have purchased one if I knew the degree of delicacy required.) A random nudge of the cord proved that it throw the balance off of the mug extremely quick.

satanfinger said:

Hey Shadowvape,

Thanks for the reply. You did email me, and I believe you've figured out my problem. I sent you a reply with my new problem. lol


[h]FuckCombustion Crew;
[/h]
This device is extremely delicate. Mine lasted an award-winning 26 Hours. Be extremely careful. (I probably would not have purchased one if I knew the degree of delicacy required.) A random nudge of the cord proved that it throw the balance off of the mug extremely quick.

Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about the breakage bro. Yes this is a delicate piece of functional glass that will not survive falls or bonks in most cases which is why we have the qualification statement on the website that virtually sounds like we're trying not to sell these. It happens to the best of us sometime or another though and the best response we have is make the system as modular as possible so that you only have to replace what you break. Having some kind of strain relief for the power cord like something it can hook around a few feet from the wand if using a mug or one of our stands is the safest play or if not possible just lay it horizontal on a heat proof surface and let it heat up a little longer. We'll get you back up and running and hopefully you can re-config the session space for safe bonk free usage.

:/....shadowvape i sent you a message from my gmail acct..

Blackbur it looks like Mark jumped in to get you dialed I'll make sure he stays on it or jump in when asked if necessary.

Also, anyone looking to play with the old school reducer spacers for super concentrated quick Vrips email me @ info@vriptech.com. Mark has said I can just send some out some gratis to whoever wants to experiment with them. They now have a couple of dozen ready to go so no worries!

ShadowVape said:

satanfinger said:

Hey Shadowvape,

Thanks for the reply. You did email me, and I believe you've figured out my problem. I sent you a reply with my new problem. lol


[h]FuckCombustion Crew;
[/h]
This device is extremely delicate. Mine lasted an award-winning 26 Hours. Be extremely careful. (I probably would not have purchased one if I knew the degree of delicacy required.) A random nudge of the cord proved that it throw the balance off of the mug extremely quick.

Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about the breakage bro. Yes this is a delicate piece of functional glass that will not survive falls or bonks in most cases which is why we have the qualification statement on the website that virtually sounds like we're trying not to sell these. It happens to the best of us sometime or another though and the best response we have is make the system as modular as possible so that you only have to replace what you break. Having some kind of strain relief for the power cord like something it can hook around a few feet from the wand if using a mug or one of our stands is the safest play or if not possible just lay it horizontal on a heat proof surface and let it heat up a little longer. We'll get you back up and running and hopefully you can re-config the session space for safe bonk free usage.

Click to expand...

I use a glass pitcher to put my VHW in, or i should say I used to. Yes, this will break if dropped, but i never had that issue to be honest. Mine lasted much longer then a year and got a ton of use. You just need to be careful, and not use it with those people who are likely to break it. Talking about it is making me want mine back even more, shoot, about to email Vrip.

That is to bad satan but now you've learned I deffintaly get another one tho these things are awesome.

not sure if this was said be for but this is what I use.
The A188 quiklok mic stand. Its a little tripod. It makes using the wand so much easier to use.
I never take the wand out of the stand. Just pick it up by the stand,hit it set it down with nothing to worry about. Also the stand tilts so for faster heat ups point it down and then level when your using it. When your down with the session and turn your wand off. Tilt it to have the element tip up heat rises .so you won't cook the circuitry.

ShadowVape reducer spacer sounds fun man I gmailed you.