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Discontinued The Okin by D.M. Pipes

Dan Morrison

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
with your dedication to every little detail the Okin is becoming more and more of a heirloom piece. a kind of present a vaporizer aficionado gets for his round birthday. but the Hugh Heffner reference some topics earlier wasn't bad either. :) thanks for sharing your solution finding process with us.

In the market I am used to, wooden pipes, the norm is to craft a piece on the assumption that it has to be heirloom quality. I've tried to approach the Ōkin with the same mindset.

I love the fact that you can take a woodworking tool from the 1700's, put it into a modern woodworking shop, and it would still perform it's task with just as much precision and speed as its modern equivalent. Something like that is really amazing to me. It's as if that particular tool reached a pinnacle, and no matter how much time passes, we will never be able to improve upon the basic design.

I would love to be able to craft a charcoal vaporizer that reaches the same level of perfection, something that... in a hundred years, will still be a valid way to vaporize.

We will have to see where technology takes us though... who knows, we could have some sort of molecular-separator device implanted in our fingertips that instantly breaks down organic material and distributes the chemicals into our blood... that would be awesome.
 

Dan Morrison

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
Hey Everyone!

Hope your holidays have been awesome! Ive been spending time with family, and thinking more on the design and philosophy of the Okin. I thought I would share a few rambles, I think that people are enjoying the thought process behind the development, so I may as well!

After spending some time with the prototype, I am less attracted to the stem design. The stem just feels a bit too...something. I am going to adopt a more simple approach, more like my initial prototype with the simple tubular stem. I think it has something to do with my relationship to the object over time... the bamboo stem, at first, felt more complete to me.. it was like a finished painting. A simple stem, straight, undecorated..at first...may feel a bit boring, but it is more like a blank canvas. I think that over time, a more simple stem design will allow for a deeper relationship between the object and the user... it allows for more change to occur in the apparance of the stem. And in the hand, I think it will feel better.

I feel as though vaporizing, as an artform, is just starting to emerge. I see so many parallels between the act of vaporizing and..say..drinking tea. I would love to see vaporizing go in that direction, and make room for the mindful appreciation of the herbs and the experience. I already see that happening, and there are wonderful vaporizers out there already, but I am also frustrated by the abundance of poorly designed vaporizers, and their impact on our vapor experience... I know it comes down to personal preference, but I believe mindfulness to be one of the keys to happyness... and, it seems to me, that poorly designed and produced tools make it more difficult to simply enjoy the act of using them. How can you fully enjoy the taste and effects of a herb, if your mind is clouded with the frustrations of using a faulty vaporizer?

Generally, there is a major gap in price between hand made and mass produced products in western culture. Somehow we have lost the middle ground, the way of the small workshop, that produces hand made products at accesible prices. There are exceptions, of course.

I feel like I am often forced into buying products of lesser quality, because that is all the market allows. I understand the want for more, and the inability to afford it. I would love to make the Okin a more affordable way to get into vaporizing as an artform. To me, there is more beauty in a product like that, compared to something overly ornate.

Anyhow, I have decided to change the design a tiny bit, resulting in something that I think will both look, perform, and feel better, but also have a price point of around $100. I will not be changing the design of the metal tip at all, but only tiny aspects of the stem that will allow me to cut down on the manufacturing time, but retain the same level of quality. I think it's a win/win.

Take a look at this tea tray. The tea ware is so simple, affordable, and yet...perfected. The design and the materials are suited for the task, honed through time and experience. This is my vision for vaporizing in my own life, and it's the sort of experience I want to share with others through my designs. In the end, its the health of body and mind that most of us are after, and the less bullshit that gets between us and the enjoyment of our herbs, the better.

20120125_1ea2f5.jpg


Thoughts?
 

Dan Morrison

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
I know it's a little early in the development process, but will this be attachable to water tools?

Yes. The mouthpiece design can easilly be fitted to a 1/4" ID hose.

It would be possible to make a new wooden stem as well, with a tapered joint to fit glass bongs etc. You can keep the metal tip from the Okin, but add the wooden adapter. The tip design makes it easy to adapt to future accessories.

You can even use the bamboo charcoal to filter the water, not sure how effective it would be yet, but.. seems like a neat thing to try.
 

Trogdor

Vapinating the peasants
Hey Everyone!

Hope your holidays have been awesome! Ive been spending time with family, and thinking more on the design and philosophy of the Okin. I thought I would share a few rambles, I think that people are enjoying the thought process behind the development, so I may as well!

After spending some time with the prototype, I am less attracted to the stem design. The stem just feels a bit too...something. I am going to adopt a more simple approach, more like my initial prototype with the simple tubular stem. I think it has something to do with my relationship to the object over time... the bamboo stem, at first, felt more complete to me.. it was like a finished painting. A simple stem, straight, undecorated..at first...may feel a bit boring, but it is more like a blank canvas. I think that over time, a more simple stem design will allow for a deeper relationship between the object and the user... it allows for more change to occur in the apparance of the stem. And in the hand, I think it will feel better.

I feel as though vaporizing, as an artform, is just starting to emerge. I see so many parallels between the act of vaporizing and..say..drinking tea. I would love to see vaporizing go in that direction, and make room for the mindful appreciation of the herbs and the experience. I already see that happening, and there are wonderful vaporizers out there already, but I am also frustrated by the abundance of poorly designed vaporizers, and their impact on our vapor experience... I know it comes down to personal preference, but I believe mindfulness to be one of the keys to happyness... and, it seems to me, that poorly designed and produced tools make it more difficult to simply enjoy the act of using them. How can you fully enjoy the taste and effects of a herb, if your mind is clouded with the frustrations of using a faulty vaporizer?

Generally, there is a major gap in price between hand made and mass produced products in western culture. Somehow we have lost the middle ground, the way of the small workshop, that produces hand made products at accesible prices. There are exceptions, of course.

I feel like I am often forced into buying products of lesser quality, because that is all the market allows. I understand the want for more, and the inability to afford it. I would love to make the Okin a more affordable way to get into vaporizing as an artform. To me, there is more beauty in a product like that, compared to something overly ornate.

Anyhow, I have decided to change the design a tiny bit, resulting in something that I think will both look, perform, and feel better, but also have a price point of around $100. I will not be changing the design of the metal tip at all, but only tiny aspects of the stem that will allow me to cut down on the manufacturing time, but retain the same level of quality. I think it's a win/win.

Take a look at this tea tray. The tea ware is so simple, affordable, and yet...perfected. The design and the materials are suited for the task, honed through time and experience. This is my vision for vaporizing in my own life, and it's the sort of experience I want to share with others through my designs. In the end, its the health of body and mind that most of us are after, and the less bullshit that gets between us and the enjoyment of our herbs, the better.

20120125_1ea2f5.jpg


Thoughts?

Thought that the Okin was going to be teapot shaped now when I first saw the pic, didn't really know how I felt about that
 

°k

The sound of vapor
Hey Everyone!

Hope your holidays have been awesome! Ive been spending time with family, and thinking more on the design and philosophy of the Okin. I thought I would share a few rambles, I think that people are enjoying the thought process behind the development, so I may as well!

After spending some time with the prototype, I am less attracted to the stem design. The stem just feels a bit too...something. I am going to adopt a more simple approach, more like my initial prototype with the simple tubular stem. I think it has something to do with my relationship to the object over time... the bamboo stem, at first, felt more complete to me.. it was like a finished painting. A simple stem, straight, undecorated..at first...may feel a bit boring, but it is more like a blank canvas. I think that over time, a more simple stem design will allow for a deeper relationship between the object and the user... it allows for more change to occur in the apparance of the stem. And in the hand, I think it will feel better.

I feel as though vaporizing, as an artform, is just starting to emerge. I see so many parallels between the act of vaporizing and..say..drinking tea. I would love to see vaporizing go in that direction, and make room for the mindful appreciation of the herbs and the experience. I already see that happening, and there are wonderful vaporizers out there already, but I am also frustrated by the abundance of poorly designed vaporizers, and their impact on our vapor experience... I know it comes down to personal preference, but I believe mindfulness to be one of the keys to happyness... and, it seems to me, that poorly designed and produced tools make it more difficult to simply enjoy the act of using them. How can you fully enjoy the taste and effects of a herb, if your mind is clouded with the frustrations of using a faulty vaporizer?

Generally, there is a major gap in price between hand made and mass produced products in western culture. Somehow we have lost the middle ground, the way of the small workshop, that produces hand made products at accesible prices. There are exceptions, of course.

I feel like I am often forced into buying products of lesser quality, because that is all the market allows. I understand the want for more, and the inability to afford it. I would love to make the Okin a more affordable way to get into vaporizing as an artform. To me, there is more beauty in a product like that, compared to something overly ornate.

Anyhow, I have decided to change the design a tiny bit, resulting in something that I think will both look, perform, and feel better, but also have a price point of around $100. I will not be changing the design of the metal tip at all, but only tiny aspects of the stem that will allow me to cut down on the manufacturing time, but retain the same level of quality. I think it's a win/win.

Take a look at this tea tray. The tea ware is so simple, affordable, and yet...perfected. The design and the materials are suited for the task, honed through time and experience. This is my vision for vaporizing in my own life, and it's the sort of experience I want to share with others through my designs. In the end, its the health of body and mind that most of us are after, and the less bullshit that gets between us and the enjoyment of our herbs, the better.

20120125_1ea2f5.jpg


Thoughts?
I'm a 100% with you on this approach Dan and not just for the new price point.:nod:

An object beautiful by its simplicity and materials that will last and improve with time and that allows to forget it's there while enjoying it is something I want too.
 

Dan Morrison

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
I'm a 100% with you on this approach Dan and not just for the new price point.:nod:

An object beautiful by its simplicity and materials that will last and improve with time and that allows to forget it's there while enjoying it is something I want too.

Sweet! And yep, I agree!
 
Dan Morrison,

axakal

Well-Known Member
funny, you mention that. where i grew up it wasn't uncommon to treat cold with an inhalation of hot herb tea vapor via a ceramic teapot. so my first reaction at the picture was similar to yours. :)

kidding aside, i like Dan's new approach and the reasoning behind it. there is also some magic in his words. when i read his posts, i tend to agree with mostly everything he writes.

the new pricepoint definitely makes a purchase of the Ōkin more likely to european vapor enthusiats, as there would be significantly less import taxes to pay.

Thought that the Okin was going to be teapot shaped now when I first saw the pic, didn't really know how I felt about that
 
Last edited:

davesmith

Well-Known Member
Glass Blower
I like the idea and this is one of the first threads in 'thread candidates' that's spiked my interest since the first mention of the grasshopper.

Good luck
 

Bvapst

Well-Known Member
Dan, that's sound nice and I must agree with your post and all the comments above here ! Plus, I just discovered it is EU made, great news.
With the new price point it will be really hard for me to retain myself on the Ōkin. I was in love with your concept, but my situation could really not afford the previous price tag.
Any new prototype or prototype-picture will be good to tease for the waiting time !

Good luck, Dan !
 

°k

The sound of vapor
Dan, that's sound nice and I must agree with your post and all the comments above here ! Plus, I just discovered it is EU made, great news.
With the new price point it will be really hard for me to retain myself on the Ōkin. I was in love with your concept, but my situation could really not afford the previous price tag.
Any new prototype or prototype-picture will be good to tease for the waiting time !

Good luck, Dan !
That's right, Europe is the place to be, well done Canada! :lol:

Joke asside, I wouldn't say no to some visual teaser either sir. :cool:
 

Dan Morrison

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
Haha, thanks everyone! the feedback is great!

And yep! Everything will be made in Canada, no parts that will be coming from abroad.

Also, the price will be in Canadian Dollars, so... $100 CDN = 71 Euro or 85 USD, give or take, depending on the day... Keep in mind this is just a price estimate at this point..

New pictures coming soon! I'll take some shots of the crafting process while making the beta testers.
 

Bvapst

Well-Known Member
That's right, Europe is the place to be, well done Canada! :lol:

Joke asside, I wouldn't say no to some visual teaser either sir. :cool:
I generally tend to not post out of topic but here I must. :doh:
You know what ? :p .... I'm pretty good in geography.
I knew the Okin was made in Canada and I've read the whole thread... Being on a hurry and no-vaping day yesterday and reading between lines (don't know if it's a correct English expression, i mean too fast) didn't help at all, hehe ! For your pleasure sir !
The teaser will be determinant to start my piggy.

@axakal I didn't know. We are paying more taxes from US than Canada ? I personally had to pay both taxes with both countries and in a relative same average. It's simply the importation tax and it is based on a minimum value.
 

420time

Well-Known Member
So around $85 USd for the Okinawa kit?? Thought you priced it around $200 before.
 
420time,

axakal

Well-Known Member
as far as i know, orders from Canada and USA are treated equally. i can only speak for my country, but i guess it's not that different for the rest of the EU. i'm in Germany and i "only" have to pay 19% on the total of the purchase price, including shipping, when the the final sum is below 120 EUR. there is an additional tax, in case the total price goes beyond that sum. the initially intended price was around 200 dollars and would definitely lead to that additional tax. but the customs would probably have a hard time to find a tax category for the okin. :)


@axakal I didn't know. We are paying more taxes from US than Canada ? I personally had to pay both taxes with both countries and in a relative same average. It's simply the importation tax and it is based on a minimum value.
 

°k

The sound of vapor
One big difference can be the courrier too, USPS work with Royal mail in UK for instance whereas the Canada post seem to be dealing with Parcel Force which will gladly add £15 on top of the taxes for "handling" them for you.
 
°k,

Dan Morrison

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
as far as i know, orders from Canada and USA are treated equally. i can only speak for my country, but i guess it's not that different for the rest of the EU. i'm in Germany and i "only" have to pay 19% on the total of the purchase price, including shipping, when the the final sum is below 120 EUR. there is an additional tax, in case the total price goes beyond that sum. the initially intended price was around 200 dollars and would definitely lead to that additional tax. but the customs would probably have a hard time to find a tax category for the okin. :)

One big difference can be the courrier too, USPS work with Royal mail in UK for instance whereas the Canada post seem to be dealing with Parcel Force which will gladly add £15 on top of the taxes for "handling" them for you.

Interesting! I didn't know this. This definitely makes the lower price point even more attractive to me.

Whenever I send one of my pipes out, I always label it "wooden sculpture", I think it's accurate enough. I have never heard of anyone paying an import tax on them.... but perhaps they just didn't mention it...
 
Dan Morrison,
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