MiniVAP Vaporizer

Alan Partridge said:

Ok I might take a gamble on this vape. Couple of questions- what accessories do I need? There's a bewildering array and I'm not sure what does what. I want to avoid water if possible and hit dry. And does Hermes have another vape planned to come out this year? Looks as though the minivap is now 5 years old, not considering the updates, I'd be gutted after splashing out on this if a new model came out.

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Everything you need comes with your purchase. There is a portable version that comes with a battery and charging dock and another that needs to be plugged in. To use it dry the flexicone+ is recommended, which is the long silicone tube.

The versions with the new heater core were just recently released and I'm sure you'll be happy with a working Minivap. Although I've read something about a version coming with 7 heat settings, someone else should be able to elaborate on that.

EDIT:
This is a picture of my abv, to me it still looks on the lighter side but is this similar to what others are getting?

To take huge dry hits I use a honeycomb glass piece without the water, it's really smooth.

I recently-ish received my repaired MV and Hermes had generously slipped a glass 14mm connector in my package. I don't have a water tool or bubbler yet, but I stuck the glass piece on the end of my flexicone+ to use as a mouth piece. It has had an amazing effect (considering it shouldn't do that much). Cools the vapour more than you'd think!

Alan Partridge said:

Ok I might take a gamble on this vape. Couple of questions- what accessories do I need? There's a bewildering array and I'm not sure what does what. I want to avoid water if possible and hit dry. And does Hermes have another vape planned to come out this year? Looks as though the minivap is now 5 years old, not considering the updates, I'd be gutted after splashing out on this if a new model came out.

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If I were in the market for a new MiniVAP, I'd check with @stickstones first. Might as well buy from a FC member who will also be handling US warranty service soon. He's also a regular MV user who can give you good advice about accessories.

Thanks lazylightning, I'm in the UK though, I was thinking direct from Hermes would be best for me

@xhexk that duff looks done to me. It's hard to tell from a pic, though. I've never gotten almost black duff from the MV, if that's what you are looking for, because it has such a high convection ratio.

Alan Partridge said:

Thanks lazylightning, I'm in the UK though, I was thinking direct from Hermes would be best for me

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I'm also in the uk and bought direct from Hermes, which took 2 weeks to arrive, even though I paid for 48 hour delivery. Vapefiend in the uk also sells the new version of the Minivap. But if you're looking for the Teflon core version you'll have to order from Hermes.

@stickstones Good to know, as long as all my material is extracted I'm happy. Was just used to seeing darker abv is all. Do you use your abv to make edibles?

Been awful quiet in here,LOL. So how often do you clean the internal & bottom screens? Been since 9-2014 new. Draw resistance is a little more, & I can see dust on bottom intake screen. I'll be doing mine tonight, keep you posted how it goes& maybe try my decarb kit. I'm still LOVING my MiniVap

The wife and I had an epic MV session last night!!
Loaded up my glass capsule with hand broken bits of bud from my White Russian stash jar.

I do not remember laughing so hard and for so long for a very long time!! It was like I was a kid again, same feeling and effects!
Slept like the dead afterwards!

@THE KISS FREAK
I try and clean mine monthly at the minimum. Usually just a wipe and clean for the inside and blow any dust off the screens.
If you are going to try your decarb kit and still want to maintain the flavor, try just using the small stainless ring in the bottom of the MV. I find this adds a bit more heat but it does not kill the flavor as quickly as the while kit does.

Super fine screen
Mesh screen
Stainless steel ring - small
Mesh screen
Teflon liner

That is my favorite combo!
Oh and the glass capsule makes it an even better experience!! IMO!

@lazylathe -- you've already posted about this glass capsule mod, right?

stickstones said:

@lazylathe -- you've already posted about this glass capsule mod, right?

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Just words... I will put up some pics tonight to show what I am doing.
I will order a few more test tubes and modify them and send a few your way to test!

xhexk said:

EDIT:
This is a picture of my abv, to me it still looks on the lighter side but is this similar to what others are getting?

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That's what my ABV looks like when vapor is no longer available on green. When I bump it up to red, I can get more vapor with the result being that the ABV is darker and will begin to have that "done" taste.

I'm an early adopter of the MiniVAP but lost interest in vaping for an year or so.
Found out the more you camp on the forum, the worse your VAS can get.
But I heard about a glass update of the core unit and I'm back!
Heard also about tcmv or different cores with some people liking better early models cores for flavour.
Hermes medical asked 112€ for the update will they also change my core heater to the more efficient but less flavoury one?
Anything you suggest before I send the unit?
Thanks.

The glass core is really good for a cloud chaser. It's surreal how thick you can get with the right water tool. I have been blowing some amazing rings yesterday. It's visible like smoke even without any special lightning.

Roger D said:

The glass core is really good for a cloud chaser. It's surreal how thick you can get with the right water tool. I have been blowing some amazing rings yesterday. It's visible like smoke even without any special lightning.

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Man, you know better than tease like that without video or pics!

Do I have the option to ask for a newer heater that gives more efficiency and less flavor?
Better not to? I think JCat has an opinion about it.
My heater is surely the first model, gives what some people called"wispy" hits but they are great.
If I want bigger hits I just have to pull bong-like and I get some clouds.

@justcametomind ... ???

I do have an opinion ... just a little confused about the reference

Just because hits are more wispy does not make them less efficient (just maybe delivers less at once, takes more hits to get to same place, or a bigger hit .... so if you have lots of lung capacity ... it can be wispy on intake and thick on exhale ). I like to get a balance between taste/speed of extraction (I like big hits ... but they should also be flavourful ... the point where the flavor begins to drop-off is the point where it needs to be dialed back just a notch IMO .... unless one is in a situation where speed is of essence in which case slightly hotter/quicker might be better.

I also find type of high varies a little based on speed/density of extraction (although I don't think there is a large difference in efficiency) ... to elaborate a little ... just my hypothesis ... but the bigger hits go "straight to your head" so although you might technically waste a little more, the intensity of the initial effect is stronger, so if you are a chronic (like me), then this is often the only time you actually "really feel high" ... for the few minute rush after large hits ... otherwise most of the time it just makes you feel "good" and not necessarily "high" in the more accepted sense.

MiniVAP is a great vape (and I'm a super early adopter and after the initial growing pains of getting a functional batter/unit ... first one worked only on plug ... I've been on the same one since. I did get one replacement battery where the battery capacity pretty much died completely, almost guaranteed due to my neglect) ... I still favour my VapeXhale EVO for at home, and find myself using my Crafty when out and about ...and my MiniVAP only gets a lot of use when I'm in need of a heavy hitting portable when going to a friend's place or gone for my bi-yearly week of work in the office down South.

That being said ... my top 3 vapes are the VapeXhale EVO, Crafty, and MiniVAP (almost none of my other vapes get any use anymore)

Which is my best tasting vape? ... I think the MiniVAP and EVO are pretty close depending on your usage patterns ... (ie. a really heat-saturated EVO does not taste as good as a MiniVAP but one that's just gotten to temp, tastes great).

Purchased an evo dry mouthpiece from Stickstones with the intention to use with my FC UFO bubbler, but is perfect for the minivap for cooler hits when using dry. I use the evo mp instead of a whip or flexi plus.

Thanks for the nice explanation J.
I recall reading back a few pages when you compared different minivap core types.
Never heard of it before and iirc you switched to the newer one, but prefer the older the better because of flavor.
Should I say Jeorge not to change the core and just give me the glass update if it was you?
(Is it is actually an option?)
In what does consist the glass update?
Does they even touch the core if sending back?
Sorry if asking something already answered but since communication seems difficult I don't want to be the cause of any misunderstanding with the manufacturer.
I bought a Crafty as well but MV it's still #1!

mixchu69 said:

Purchased an evo dry mouthpiece from Stickstones with the intention to use with my FC UFO bubbler, but perfect for the minivap for cooler hits when using dry. I use the evo mp instead of a whip or flexi plus.

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Yes I use the EVO mouthpiece sometimes as well.

Another less expensive and effective option is this....


These sherlock's are a nice value for $10 on the SSV site and I like that they keep the profile a little shorter. They also come in 14mm or 19mm. Locks nice with a K-Clip and the DonG.

I am also enjoying the stability the DonG affords with this...

I still don't have a female mouthpiece for this setup so I am now actually using a vape tamer stand. This works quite well and I just may stay with this. I know I have said it before but I really like the tamers with the MiniVap. For me the cool vapor helps me enjoy the taste that much better.

Speaking of taste, I decided to remove my large stainless decarboxilation ring as @lazylathe suggested and I'm liking the hybrid combination. More testing required but it doesn't seem like I have really lost any cloud production but the taste seems to last a bit longer.

Can I get a show of hands from all those that have a Delrin adapter from mestizo? I've got some options for future iterations that I want to run by you.

stickstones said:

Can I get a show of hands from all those that have a Delrin adapter from mestizo? I've got some options for future iterations that I want to run by you.

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ME..........
I'd like to see a wider version, width of the mv cover, for more stability with HT
Like to see the stainless steel innards bored out to handle a whip being inserted.
Like to see a "stepped" design where it is 18 mm at base and then 14 mm up higher so it's universal.

Not sure if it's possible but I would like to see it in black. I agree with @MinnBobber 's suggestions as well.

Thanks guys. Keep it coming. It will be the wide base. What about materials? I'm looking at Delrin and Teflon with and without the ss path, and wood. I like wood the best except that it might change the flavor profile. Maybe wood with a ss path?

Wood would be awesome!

It would also be nice to see someone come up with a glass cap that fits over everything like the DonG does.