First time, no clue, need help

My bong recently broke so I bought a vaporizer, but never used one before. I watched several videos and thought I had it down well enough, but when I tried it I went into a coughing fit for about 10 minutes. Hell my chest still hurts and that was a couple hours ago. I'll describe what I did in detail and maybe someone can tell me where it all went so bad.

First off it is an E-Z Vape 5 and brand new out of box. I played with the buttons a bit, set it to 200, then 400, then turned it off and read that 360 was the right temp for weed. So I ground up about 3/4 of a gram fairly finely but not like powder. Then I sucked it into the glass tube and it rested against the screen. It was falling out a little so i poked it against the screen.

I then turned on the machine and put it at 360. I connected the tube and stared at it for a second. I didn't see anything happening so I gave it a little tug and the glass filled with white smoke. It was really clean tasting and didn't make me cough. I pulled again though and it was very very bad. Coughed like crazy. So I unhooked the tube to see what was going on and there was a big black spot on the herb. I decided to loosen it up and let it sit directly on the ceramic heating element instead of being packed in the back. It made white smoke for a while but eventually stopped at which point I began coughing uncontrollably. I think if not for the albuterol inhaler I found, I may have died. Well probably not, but man I know it isn't suppose to be like that. Help?

Turn your heat down to around 340 and see how that hits ya.
You have to play with the temps to find your sweet spot.
That black spot is the begining of combustion , so you need to
turn it down. A water path would also help.

Set your vape to max temp for at least 15 minutes to burn off any packaging oils. That's probably what made you cough.

Kushmangoes said:

Set your vape to max temp for at least 15 minutes to burn off any packaging oils. That's probably what made you cough.

Click to expand...

I just did that for 30 minutes after watching another video. I bet that is what happened. I have never coughed so hard in my life. It had to be oil residue or something. I will try it again later at 340 as the other person suggested and see how that works. Thanks alot.

Many don't realize that vapor is thicker than smoke, hence the coughing. Your on the right track, just lower those temps and keep sciencing!

also, vapor will help clean out the gunk in your lungs from bonging. this takes a couple of weeks. just stick with it. just use a little at a time until you get clear.

....and, I cough MORE at lower temps, less at higher. So, my preferred temp is about 400F or a bit more. By lower, I mean anything between 350 - 380F

340 seemed to work much better, good vapor, good flavor, and extremely potent. Shockingly potent in fact. I think I was smoking some oil or something earlier that needed to be burned off the heating element. That really sucked.

Gimpy said:

My bong recently broke so I bought a vaporizer, but never used one before. I watched several videos and thought I had it down well enough, but when I tried it I went into a coughing fit for about 10 minutes. Hell my chest still hurts and that was a couple hours ago. I'll describe what I did in detail and maybe someone can tell me where it all went so bad.

First off it is an E-Z Vape 5 and brand new out of box. I played with the buttons a bit, set it to 200, then 400, then turned it off and read that 360 was the right temp for weed. So I ground up about 3/4 of a gram fairly finely but not like powder. Then I sucked it into the glass tube and it rested against the screen. It was falling out a little so i poked it against the screen.

I then turned on the machine and put it at 360. I connected the tube and stared at it for a second. I didn't see anything happening so I gave it a little tug and the glass filled with white smoke. It was really clean tasting and didn't make me cough. I pulled again though and it was very very bad. Coughed like crazy. So I unhooked the tube to see what was going on and there was a big black spot on the herb. I decided to loosen it up and let it sit directly on the ceramic heating element instead of being packed in the back. It made white smoke for a while but eventually stopped at which point I began coughing uncontrollably. I think if not for the albuterol inhaler I found, I may have died. Well probably not, but man I know it isn't suppose to be like that. Help?

Click to expand...

Very well could've been a random pollutant. ALOT of things need to burn off or cure on initial startup, so that's not unheard of, even dust can smell crappy. A common rule of thumb is if it gets hot run it ventilated for awhile. IE:woodstoves, HVAC furnaces, motors, ect...

Hope U love to vape, it is healthier when it's working proper.

PS- glad U didn't die.

A few points-

read that 360 was the right temp for weed.

Click to expand...

There's no one right temp. 360 is considered to be on the low end of the vaporization range, but you can get vapor even lower. Don't assume that the temp that's on display is correct either. Even if you've got a vape that's giving you the true temp (debatable with the EZ Vape), as soon as you start drawing you lower the vaping temp. Your draw speed is a factor, temperature wise.

So I ground up about 3/4 of a gram fairly finely but not like powder. Then I sucked it into the glass tube and it rested against the screen.

Click to expand...

If you're loading .75g that's a LOT of herb and it's not a good idea to use anywhere near that much in one load. If you get in a high temp situation, you'll waste some, and keep in mind that with vaping, your spent herb (ABV) will sit in the bowl while you're vaping the rest, imparting a burnt popcorn taste. You end up vaping a lot and kind of spoiling the taste. Loading large also requires a lot of stirring to make sure all the herb is getting in the hot air path.

there was a big black spot on the herb

Click to expand...

Black means high temp, close to combustion.

I decided to loosen it up and let it sit directly on the ceramic heating element instead of being packed in the back.

Click to expand...

The heating element is inside the vape. Your herb will never touch it. OTOH you don't want to dump the herb out of the bowl onto the heater cover. You can prop up the back end of the vape so your whip angle isn't pointing down, or turn the vape upside down or on its side.

There's a good vape starter video on youtube. Search 'vaporizers 101' and watch the vid by Brian Murphy. It's an oldie but a goodie.

Very good info Max. Since starting I have reduced the amount I load into it. I figure it isn't rocket science after all. For optimal vapor production you need to maximize the surface area of the product in contact with the heat. I've varied my temps quite a bit in order to find the right temp. Of course that varies depending on the dryness of the herb and the consistency after grinding it. For right now that temp is 370. Loading less, breaking it up more, and twisting the glass tube have worked wonders. The air seems a bit hot though and harsh. I'd like to have something to cool it, perhaps like a percolator in a water bong. Is there such a device?

You can connect pretty much any whip vape to a bong. Just put the tubing where the bowl would go.

That is absolutely brilliant and so simple, just connect the hose to the bong. Although, currently I'm not loving the vaporizer. It is effective and very clean. The only real smell is on my breath and even that is more of a herbal smell than that of smoke, but I prefer my old bong to be honest. With the smoke going through one chamber of water then into another with a percolator, and then over ice before going into my lungs, I found the hits to be much more satisfying and frankly less irritating to my lungs than the vaporizer when it is fully roaring. I have another bong on the way and will try running the vaporizer through it for filtration of micro-particles and air-cooling, but I'm afraid that will just further diminish an already poor quality hit when compared to that of a traditional bong rip.

Gimpy said:

That is absolutely brilliant and so simple, just connect the hose to the bong. Although, currently I'm not loving the vaporizer. It is effective and very clean. The only real smell is on my breath and even that is more of a herbal smell than that of smoke, but I prefer my old bong to be honest. With the smoke going through one chamber of water then into another with a percolator, and then over ice before going into my lungs, I found the hits to be much more satisfying and frankly less irritating to my lungs than the vaporizer when it is fully roaring. I have another bong on the way and will try running the vaporizer through it for filtration of micro-particles and air-cooling, but I'm afraid that will just further diminish an already poor quality hit when compared to that of a traditional bong rip.

Click to expand...

I don't think its been mentioned, but the EZ vape isn't the most reliable vape out there. I had one as my first vape and the temperature was really inconsistent. Seemed most of the hits were either barely vaping or close to combustion. I forgot to turn the vape off one day for about an hour (temp set at ~350) and came back to find the plastic housing starting to melt/deform.

Bouldorado said:

I don't think its been mentioned, but the EZ vape isn't the most reliable vape out there. I had one as my first vape and the temperature was really inconsistent. Seemed most of the hits were either barely vaping or close to combustion. I forgot to turn the vape off one day for about an hour (temp set at ~350) and came back to find the plastic housing starting to melt/deform.

Click to expand...

Yea I agree with that assessment. I have been relying more on feel at this point than the onscreen temperature setting. I'm getting a super nice stream of vapor at 400, with frequent stirring and no combustion. I've experimented with various temps from 340-400 with this machine. With my current strain, the dryness, and consistency of grind, I find 400 on the EZ vape to work very well, as good or better than the videos of anything else I have seen, IF you take the time to find the right number. I'm getting a nice brown color at the end, a popcorn flavor at the end with a fresh green flavor to start, and a good stream of vapor, but I just don't think it is for me. I like a good, heavy, lung busting bong rip with a cloud of smoke that is visible from a low flying aircraft. (Cooled and water filtered of course )

I just don't see that from a vaporizer, not even the $700 volcano. Of course I haven't tried it, just seen videos, but the vapor there is even weak compared to a real cloud.

I also performed 2 experiments which I found interesting. I was initially vaping at around 360 according to the ez vape. I got medicated. It did work, the vapor quality was not great though and I was wondering if I was getting everything out of my medicine. My idea was to test the medicine after the vapor is gone and the taste is like that of popcorn. Well I don't have a lab, so I decided that after I was done vaping it, I'd roll a joint and smoke it. I couldn't do it then because I was already medicated, so I decided the best test would be a first smoke of the day the next morning. I smoked the joint which had previously been vaped at 360. I put it out at a little over half way because I was very medicated. Obviously 360 on that machine is bad.

I did it again the next morning with a joint of some product, but vaped at 400 per display on EZ Vape. (I highly doubt it is really 400 degrees) First off it tasted like butt. I could barely take it, but in my pursuit for data, I pushed through. I smoked my way through about 3/4 of the joint before putting it out. Zero effect. Completely inert at this point.

I know it isn't great science. I would love to have the hard data from a real lab test, but I learned a lot from my experiments.

Gimpy said:

...but I just don't think it is for me. I like a good, heavy, lung busting bong rip with a cloud of smoke that is visible from a low flying aircraft. (Cooled and water filtered of course )

I just don't see that from a vaporizer, not even the $700 volcano. Of course I haven't tried it, just seen videos, but the vapor there is even weak compared to a real cloud.

Click to expand...

No worries there! You just aren't looking at the right vaporizers

I started with the EZ Vape too. Glad I left it behind.
(It was funny you specifically used the phrase...cloud!)

I smoked the joint which had previously been vaped at 360. I put it out at a little over half way because I was very medicated.

Click to expand...

At 360, or a good bit above that temp, there certainly should be enough left in the ABV to give you an effect.

I did it again the next morning with a joint of some product, but vaped at 400 per display on EZ Vape. (I highly doubt it is really 400 degrees) First off it tasted like butt. I could barely take it, but in my pursuit for data, I pushed through. I smoked my way through about 3/4 of the joint before putting it out. Zero effect. Completely inert at this point.

Click to expand...

There are effects to be had above 400, but they're mostly sedative and analgesic, not psychoactive. What your actual temps were in your experiment is unknown, but determining the vaping range (via actual testing) and the effects at different temps settings is definitely the right way to go.

I like a good, heavy, lung busting bong rip with a cloud of smoke that is visible from a low flying aircraft.

Click to expand...

You can get that with a model like the VXL Cloud, but you won't get the smoke byproducts that actually give you extra effects (as in couchlock) that don't have anything to do with mj. If that heavy sedative effect is what you're after, then you should probably stick to smoke.

Max, it is a pleasure to read your writings. I feel like I learn a lot from it. I was looking at the effects on a linear scale. 0-10 how high did I get? You are right though, it is more complicated than that. When vaporizing I notice a much more euphoric high without the sedative effects. When smoking I get both and the sedative effects typically outlast the euphoria. That lead me to feel as though I got just as high, but it didn't last as long.

I don't have time this morning to do the research, but I don't think it is "smoke byproducts" that are causing those effects. I think it is likely due to various chemicals, like CBD's, within the medicine having different temperatures at which they will vaporize. I suppose if you are a sativa lover, the Euphoric feeling is enough, but if you are using it medicinally to treat anxiety, inflammation, seizures, muscle spasm, or a variety of other issues than you need to be ingesting more than just THC.

Perhaps I am just misunderstanding you, but when I read smoke byproducts, my mind first goes to chemistry class and my Professor saying over and over that the product of any combustion reaction will always be CO2 and H2O. Both are harmless enough, but obviously smoke is not harmless. The question is why? What in the smoke is causing bodily harm?

My theory. Particulates and heat. I think the micro-particles present during vaping, but at MUCH higher concentrations during incineration, combined with hot air are the real byproducts we need to concern ourselves with. Any long time smoker will know that you are much more likely to get bronchitis from chronically smoking a short pipe, joints, or blunts than you are from smoking through a good multiple stage water bong. Why? I think it is because the water cools the smoke and filters the micro-particles.

I have to leave it at that for now, gotta run, but I'll try and finish my thoughts later.

Gimpy, at some point you should pursue getting a better quality vape and if you're patient and resourceful you can find a great one inexpensively. For example I recently purchased a Silver Surfer from a Craigslist ad for a friend of mine for $80. Believe me, this is a steal. They usually go for about $280 new. The Silver Surfer is guaranteed to blow you off your seat, it's simple to use and very forgiving. When I took it home to test it I saw how dirty the glass was, which was a bonus because I scraped off the gunk from the wand with a bamboo skewer, balled it up, and it was fantastic free hash for the week.

There's a bunch of excellent options today; spend some time reading the forums especially the top level, for "plug in vaporizers" and read up also on the Da Buddha, the Extreme, etc., and keep your eyes on the classified section here as well. Please ask for input prior to making your next purchase.

The EZ vape is OK to get your feet wet. This is a fun video demonstrating the differences between the EZ and the Silver Surfer -

the product of any combustion reaction will always be CO2 and H2O.

Click to expand...

That's with complete combustion, like you get with a torch lighter. Most combustion is at least partially incomplete. Lighters, matches, candles, etc. produce soot (partially burned carbon), tars, and oils. There are also particles of ash in smoke. You need a high enough temp (torch lighter) to burn off all the toxic compounds.

Sweet Jeebus, no more videos of Tokin, please...

Tokin is entertaining, no?

Sorry, decided it was too much of a derail.... I will keep it simple...his videos are horrendous and it's a shame that people choose to make him so popular...not the kind of representation I want for our community.

If anyone wants to talk via PM, hit me up.