Arizer Solo

biohacker

Well-Known Member
In addition to my cracked bottom plate (corner chipped, stress fractures starting to show more) there is also a tiny fissure on the front plate at the bottom on the left side about a 1/4" up. I wonder if Arizer would ship a plate to me for DIY? It doesn't bother me too much yet so i'll wait until it gets worse before I contact Arizer.

I was doing some testing with the Solo last night, and I cannot emphasize how much of a different a short heat soak makes! I like to give it at least 30 seconds, but up to a minute or so...instant dense tasty vapour....i only had less than 1/2 the stem loaded with maybe .05g and a teeny pinch of kief and after a minute heak soak on temp 4, it definitely billowed dragon clouds...tasty too. I love my Solo!
 

jpdnkstr

Well-Known Member
I'll agree with the "heat soak" technique for thick milk! I'll also agree that there is a problem with the plastic on recent models, as our older Solo (not that old)M1D2, had no issues with the bottom plate, but our replacement(M1Y?, battery issue, PUI took excellent care of us) has already cracked and chipped. This Solo has never left our home, never been dropped, mishandled or abused in any way! It still vapes like a champ, so I'm using it till it is really dead!
 

ataxian

PALE BLUE DOT
I'll agree with the "heat soak" technique for thick milk! I'll also agree that there is a problem with the plastic on recent models, as our older Solo (not that old)M1D2, had no issues with the bottom plate, but our replacement(M1Y?, battery issue, PUI took excellent care of us) has already cracked and chipped. This Solo has never left our home, never been dropped, mishandled or abused in any way! It still vapes like a champ, so I'm using it till it is really dead!
I feel the same as you!
My old model works very well.
This is my driver!
 

poonman

Well-Known Member
I'll agree with the "heat soak" technique for thick milk! I'll also agree that there is a problem with the plastic on recent models, as our older Solo (not that old)M1D2, had no issues with the bottom plate, but our replacement(M1Y?, battery issue, PUI took excellent care of us) has already cracked and chipped. This Solo has never left our home, never been dropped, mishandled or abused in any way! It still vapes like a champ, so I'm using it till it is really dead!

Just a theory :
Since the Solo has been out for a few years now ,
and the price has been depreciating from $ 300 - $ 160 or less .
The only way Arizer can keep it's profit margin ,
is to use less expensive materials to assemble the Solo .

My 3 yr old Solo , has no cracks or chipping issues at all .
Neither does my 5 month old Solo , but monitoring it tho .
 

ataxian

PALE BLUE DOT
Just a theory :

EDIT: This new GIZMO from @OF will make this thing last a long time. Plus the STAND from @Pipes available on the puffitup web site makes it very civilized!
While I get the 'logic' here, I don't buy it. First off, the material cost for the plastic is nearly trivial. A few cents, the injection molder (they no doubt pay for this processing, the presses are extremely expensive but fast) probably buys it by the truckload (the place we used to use for our parts got it in 80 pound bags like potatoes). Tooling to make the parts is 'fine tuned' with the material, temperature and pressure of molding for complete fills, no distortion and so on, change the material even slightly and that all has to be adjusted.

IMO no thinking engineer would support such a change. The cost savings in materials would be tiny compared to the replacement cost of even a very few units I think. I don't think most guys appreciate the cost of replacement......which is understandable if they've never 'been there' (on the production cost control side of it). Warranty returns can (and have) killed companies, experienced folks know this and never court such problems.

Nor is this "the only way" to make money at lower sale prices. A very large cost of production is in the design and development ("Engineering costs"), which is paid out of profits from future production (hopefully). Add to that the high 'set up costs' (like making the tooling to make the base). It's often said 'the first part will cost you XX thousand dollars, the second one is half that'. There really is 'making money in volume'. Now that those 'fixed costs' are paid back it makes perfect sense to me that the exact same unit costs less to produce than before. Notice how Iphone prices drop? Do they use cheaper materials later on?

Finally, not all older versions are bomb proof. I own several older models, all with broken bottoms (many from my tinkering, but broken none the less). If you check back 'we' have been discussing this issue for a while now.......long before the latest batches came out.

Sorry guys, while I get it I don't think logic and history support this idea?

OF
Another perspective!
 
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OF

Well-Known Member
Just a theory :
The only way Arizer can keep it's profit margin ,
is to use less expensive materials to assemble the Solo .

My 3 yr old Solo , has no cracks or chipping issues at all .
Neither does my 5 month old Solo , but monitoring it tho .

While I get the 'logic' here, I don't buy it. First off, the material cost for the plastic is nearly trivial. A few cents, the injection molder (they no doubt pay for this processing, the presses are extremely expensive but fast) probably buys it by the truckload (the place we used to use for our parts got it in 80 pound bags like potatoes). Tooling to make the parts is 'fine tuned' with the material, temperature and pressure of molding for complete fills, no distortion and so on, change the material even slightly and that all has to be adjusted.

IMO no thinking engineer would support such a change. The cost savings in materials would be tiny compared to the replacement cost of even a very few units I think. I don't think most guys appreciate the cost of replacement......which is understandable if they've never 'been there' (on the production cost control side of it). Warranty returns can (and have) killed companies, experienced folks know this and never court such problems.

Nor is this "the only way" to make money at lower sale prices. A very large cost of production is in the design and development ("Engineering costs"), which is paid out of profits from future production (hopefully). Add to that the high 'set up costs' (like making the tooling to make the base). It's often said 'the first part will cost you XX thousand dollars, the second one is half that'. There really is 'making money in volume'. Now that those 'fixed costs' are paid back it makes perfect sense to me that the exact same unit costs less to produce than before. Notice how Iphone prices drop? Do they use cheaper materials later on?

Finally, not all older versions are bomb proof. I own several older models, all with broken bottoms (many from my tinkering, but broken none the less). If you check back 'we' have been discussing this issue for a while now.......long before the latest batches came out.

Sorry guys, while I get it I don't think logic and history support this idea?

OF
 

Traaaaan

Well-Known Member
My nice new 3" Blackwood stem arrived today from @Ed's TnT :tup:

Start at 5 end at 7... much much cooler than I was expecting from the shorter stem. No noticeable wood smell or taste from the blackwood...
Beautiful too :love:
Is ed still making these stems? They aren't on his store. I want to get a wood stem for the mflb and the 3" Blackwood for the solo. They look so badass!
 

Canadianguy

Well-Known Member
Hi....do you have any of those black plastic stands for the Solo left?Very intrested!!Have Paypal or EMT!

Thanks


mod note: Arizer doesn't post here and asking anyone else in a vape thread is soliciting and against the rules.
 
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In addition to my cracked bottom plate (corner chipped, stress fractures starting to show more) there is also a tiny fissure on the front plate at the bottom on the left side about a 1/4" up. I wonder if Arizer would ship a plate to me for DIY? It doesn't bother me too much yet so i'll wait until it gets worse before I contact Arizer.

I noticed the stress fractures happen on my SOLO long before ever dropping it. I'm under the impression that its the wight of the SOLO continually putting stress on the screws as you set set it down upright. I installed a small piece of leather on the bottom to cushion the shockwave. The base screws are long enough to screw threw the leather and into the base.
20140910_180037-1_zpscb841771.jpg~320x480
 
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OF

Well-Known Member
I installed a small piece of leather on the bottom to cushion the shockwave. The base screws are long enough to screw threw the leather and into the base.

Cool. Some of us have tried rubber sheet and felt for this with some success.

You might want to cut a window in the center to expose the vents in the bottom plate so air can flow, blocking them is not a good idea.

Thanks for the post and idea.

OF
 

ataxian

PALE BLUE DOT
I love glass on glass the most,they are my go to.But I like to see everything too,so EDs stands make it easy to do.(plus I can be abit off kilter(or clumsy)
I have wood as well.

Glass I love however it hates me. I will order more wood!
Flavor = glass
Durability = wood

My observation only!
I like both for different reasons!

For the first couple of year I only used a stock stem.
I broke one a week until I started using the @OF 113 seal recommendation.
This year I got lost into Water World!
Pretty interesting!
I love medicating through water.
However a PHVES stem flavor/effect/medication = nirvana
All my glass water piece are on vacation until I get more adapters!
I think a few WonG's and PHVES GonG's will be needed.
Vacations almost over!
 
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biohacker

Well-Known Member
I really hope Arizer is on this. All these repairs/mods seem silly to me when the product should not break/chip if it's used as intended properly. I too have owned many Solo's in the past and never once did this happen. I hope they get a better batch of plates and this problem can be behind us unless it's user error and it chips due to abuse. Fortunately, my battery works fine and although I don't use my Solo very often, the performance continues to impress, and that's the important part. I love my Solo!
 

ataxian

PALE BLUE DOT
I really hope Arizer is on this. All these repairs/mods seem silly to me when the product should not break/chip if it's used as intended properly. I too have owned many Solo's in the past and never once did this happen. I hope they get a better batch of plates and this problem can be behind us unless it's user error and it chips due to abuse. Fortunately, my battery works fine and although I don't use my Solo very often, the performance continues to impress, and that's the important part. I love my Solo!
Recreational or Medical the SOLO is very practical!
 
I really hope Arizer is on this. All these repairs/mods seem silly to me when the product should not break/chip if it's used as intended properly. I too have owned many Solo's in the past and never once did this happen. I hope they get a better batch of plates and this problem can be behind us unless it's user error and it chips due to abuse. Fortunately, my battery works fine and although I don't use my Solo very often, the performance continues to impress, and that's the important part. I love my Solo!
Personally, I would have added the leather to the base out of pure aesthetics. I like the feeling of placing it down on soft leather. It gives my SOLO a personal touch. I have a friend who dropped their SOLO from a bike at a high velocity. His stem was shattered and the bottom plate came out. Although the bottom plate was broken on all four corners he was able to screw the base back in and the SOLO was still perfectly functional. To me that's a huge testament to the durability and functionality in the SOLO. The ability to mod a product gives it versatility. I think that mods are important because it helps contribute to new ideas and help evolve/ progress the way we medicate.
 

VitaminM

Active Member
Hi everyone,

I'm expecting my Solo to arrive this week. I heard that steel screens are very useful but I'm wondering if it's at all possible to use it without them at first or if I will be inhaling a lot of my herb.
I also heard that you shouldn't use it while charging even though it's possible. I think I'm getting the newest version.

Before using it: Should I charge it all the way and then run it on 7 for 12min? With or without the chamber cover?
Are there any other things I am supposed to do or not do?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this has been asked already.

Your fellow vaper from Germany
 

OF

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,

I'm expecting my Solo to arrive this week.

Howdy! Welcome to the Forum and all the fun. Great choice with Solo, I'm sure you'll like it.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Additional screens are not necessary, good plan to 'overcharge' the first time (for longest battery life) after that first time, not so important (in fact full charges actually limit the battery life, strange as that is). Most folks do a burn off or two, top open, step 7.

Stems are tight at first. Don't try to put them in cold, at the end of a burn off run is a good time so the seal is hot and soft. Line the stem up square and press firmly. It gets looser with use.

Until you get the hang of it, invert the Solo and shove it down on the loaded stem to prevent spills. Solo works fine upside down in fact.

Experiment with temperatures, I'd say most guys use it around step 3 or 4, probably a good place to start out.

Also experiment with grinds, although you can vape intact buds if you want.

Enjoy your Solo, looking forward to hearing of your adventrues.

OF
 

VitaminM

Active Member
Howdy! Welcome to the Forum and all the fun. Great choice with Solo, I'm sure you'll like it.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Additional screens are not necessary, good plan to 'overcharge' the first time (for longest battery life) after that first time, not so important (in fact full charges actually limit the battery life, strange as that is). Most folks do a burn off or two, top open, step 7.

Stems are tight at first. Don't try to put them in cold, at the end of a burn off run is a good time so the seal is hot and soft. Line the stem up square and press firmly. It gets looser with use.

Until you get the hang of it, invert the Solo and shove it down on the loaded stem to prevent spills. Solo works fine upside down in fact.

Experiment with temperatures, I'd say most guys use it around step 3 or 4, probably a good place to start out.

Also experiment with grinds, although you can vape intact buds if you want.

Enjoy your Solo, looking forward to hearing of your adventrues.

OF

Thanks for the nice reply and the useful tricks!

I read about the different temperatures people use it at. I think I will start low and work my way up like you said because I don't want to underestimate the Solo :lol:

How good does it work with intact buds? I'm looking into grinders right now but I don't want to spend a lot right now to get a Santa Cruz Shredder, Space Case or Mendo Mulcher. Otherwise I have to order the grinder that comes with the volcano. I heard it is works pretty good and is dirt cheap so I can save up for a nicer one.
 

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
Thanks for the nice reply and the useful tricks!

I read about the different temperatures people use it at. I think I will start low and work my way up like you said because I don't want to underestimate the Solo :lol:

How good does it work with intact buds? I'm looking into grinders right now but I don't want to spend a lot right now to get a Santa Cruz Shredder, Space Case or Mendo Mulcher. Otherwise I have to order the grinder that comes with the volcano. I heard it is works pretty good and is dirt cheap so I can save up for a nicer one.

Try putting your buds into something like a pill bottle together with a quarter or a couple of nickels. Shake vigorously for a minute. Done.

Or, put the nugget in the Solo, hit once or twice, dump and crush the load up with your fingers. Done.
 
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