Vapman

VapourHaze said:

Yes i believe there is a post by @vapman earlier in the thread saying he tried many many lighters ( some costing over £100) and they are all essentially the same piezo. I think the reason he uses his model is its decent quality and has a big gas tank.

Click to expand...

That is my favorite thing about the vapman...big ass tank. I have a spare and the one that is getting flaky still works and i will use it till it falls apart and brake out the spare and hit my bro up to order another one.

OF said:

Blazer lighters are good for sure, I own a couple now and have had others in the past. The did not, however, 'invent' piezo ignition torch type pocket lighters in 1980. I bought an earlier one about 1970 from a different maker. It was made along then conventional lines, like a Ronson of the day (square metal box, button on top, fire out of the corner). Lots of makers jumped on board with both torch and candle flame versions of 'flintless' lighters. By 1975 perhaps a dozen models were available.

I have a Stratus, and a nice unit it is. But it's kind of awkward to use, doesn't hold much fuel and lacks a window so you can easily get caught out running out of fire mid session. This is the voice of experience..... Vapman uses a lot of gas for even a single session. You can light a bunch of cigarettes with that much gas.

I still recommend this three dollar lighter:
http://www.dx.com/p/jet-1300-c-butane-lighter-1320#.VUpFScnSO9I

They are smaller than the photo suggests (must be tiny hands?), they're about 3 1/2 inches tall but hold a lot of fuel. Very robust, I've used them for years now, have several spread around inside and out for handy use. So far the only failure is a lock broke on one, you can't lock off the gas with the side 'switch'. The striker lock (around the shaft) still works fine.

$3 shipped to the US. I suggest everyone consider ordering a couple? Small loss if it's not for you.

OF

Click to expand...

http://www.dx.com/p/windproof-butan...eychain-silver-light-blue-204663#.VUpyfheJIiQ
nice vapman look a like here!

^^Duel flame though so not good for the Vapman.

Since we are on the topic of lighters, I was wondering if a goose-neck (or angled, not sure what they are called exactly) torch is necessary. I have a pocket torch with a flame that goes straight up. There is a "cap" on top that flips open when ignited and closes again afterward. I was wondering if this cap will get in the way or not. Don't have my vapman yet to test it. If not I'll just go ahead and order a dx torch that @OF recommends.

The closest pic I could find to mine is this http://cdn.fieldsupply.com/media/ca...d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/l/cl-clujf500001x-c.jpg but mine is almost square and the cap rises a bit higher when its lit.

Thanks.

Jsqz said:

Since we are on the topic of lighters, I was wondering if a goose-neck (or angled, not sure what they are called exactly) torch is necessary. I have a pocket torch with a flame that goes straight up.

Click to expand...

I don't have that one, but did have one like it without the cap. And that format, where you push down and the fire comes up parallel to that is common (like on Bic lighters). With VM (and to some extent VG) I found that an awkward thing, forcing me to twist my hand around in an 'unnatural' direction often leading to cramps in long/repeated sessions. For me the other type, where you push away from you with your thumb rather than down into your fist with your hand twisted around.

Remember making the now forbidden play gun with your thumb and forefinger in order to shoot pretend bad guys and real friends with imaginary bullets? Packing the heat that gets you sent home in shame these days? Yes, that secret hand sign. Only with fire for your index finger.

Besides I burn my knuckle less often that way........

OF

Jsqz said:

Since we are on the topic of lighters, I was wondering if a goose-neck (or angled, not sure what they are called exactly) torch is necessary. I have a pocket torch with a flame that goes straight up. There is a "cap" on top that flips open when ignited and closes again afterward. I was wondering if this cap will get in the way or not. Don't have my vapman yet to test it. If not I'll just go ahead and order a dx torch that @OF recommends.

The closest pic I could find to mine is this http://cdn.fieldsupply.com/media/ca...d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/l/cl-clujf500001x-c.jpg but mine is almost square and the cap rises a bit higher when its lit.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have a lighter similar to the one you posted as my vapman lighters flame has gone really fat? On the new lighter I found myself actually forcing the hinge so i could open it further ... This makes it easier to use but i broke some of the inner lining were the flame comes out. You can still use the lighter you have, but it will work at its optimum ( directly on the apex of the blue flame) with a larger flame .. works for me .. but i like to run hot.

The ideal vm lighter i would say has a 45 angle, fully removable cap and a large tank... Just like the vapman lighter and the one OF posted. Good luck. Peace

Thanks a lot for your responses. I'll get the dx one then, love the "hand" gun analogy haha. After all it's only $3 for one anyway.

Exactly they are cheap like the budgie so you may as well get a couple in case you get caught out! My torch started playing up so i went to a local tobacconist/pipe shop (posh part of town) and i got stung £15 (25$ ish )for a less than ideal power supply! Ouch!

hoyo77 said:

http://www.dx.com/p/windproof-butan...eychain-silver-light-blue-204663#.VUpyfheJIiQ
nice vapman look a like here!

Click to expand...

Hey @hoyo77,

I had to catch up and dead all the posts...

That look alike is a dual torch - not recommended. They should be single flame for sure.

My experience with lighters is that at first I bought 2 of the $3 lighters. I gave one away and the other died after about 4 months of use. I bought a $30 lighter that ended up being worse than the $3 ones...

Then I bought a vapman lighter, which felt much sturdier and was not as temperamental as the cheaper ones.

I've been using that same lighter ever since and it still works perfectly. I use that same lighter for the charring, which puts a lot of strain and millage on the lighter. I click it a shitload of times on each charring session and it gets quite hot.

I am very amazed that this lighter is still working perfectly fine even with the abuse I've put it through.

To me, $15 is a steal for this quality lighter and it's a perfect match for the vapman.

You can either buy 3 of the $3 lighters for when they die on you if you prefer, but I would much rather do that than spend $30 and more testing lighters that will most probably let you down.

Hoyo77, try purging all the butane from it, clean it as OF said, refill it and play with the flame size. Mine started sputtering a bit until I realized that it was set too low and this was causing it to misbehave. Now, I always keep it a bit higher than that and it's been working correctly. I also purge it every now and then which also seems to help.

Let me know if this fixes it. If it doesn't, let me know and I'll check with René to see if we can replace it. If not, I'll hook you up with one at a stupid price to help you out.

Keep. Me posted.

M0J0 said:

Hey @hoyo77,

I had to catch up and dead all the posts...

That look alike is a dual torch - not recommended. They should be single flame for sure.

My experience with lighters is that at first I bought 2 of the $3 lighters. I gave one away and the other died after about 4 months of use. I bought a $30 lighter that ended up being worse than the $3 ones...

Then I bought a vapman lighter, which felt much sturdier and was not as temperamental as the cheaper ones.

I've been using that same lighter ever since and it still works perfectly. I use that same lighter for the charring, which puts a lot of strain and millage on the lighter. I click it a shitload of times on each charring session and it gets quite hot.

I am very amazed that this lighter is still working perfectly fine even with the abuse I've put it through.

To me, $15 is a steal for this quality lighter and it's a perfect match for the vapman.

You can either buy 3 of the $3 lighters for when they die on you if you prefer, but I would much rather do that than spend $30 and more testing lighters that will most probably let you down.

Hoyo77, try purging all the butane from it, clean it as OF said, refill it and play with the flame size. Mine started sputtering a bit until I realized that it was set too low and this was causing it to misbehave. Now, I always keep it a bit higher than that and it's been working correctly. I also purge it every now and then which also seems to help.

Let me know if this fixes it. If it doesn't, let me know and I'll check with René to see if we can replace it. If not, I'll hook you up with one at a stupid price to help you out.

Keep. Me posted.

Click to expand...

Will do...i gotta feeling it just needs a good cleaning.

since we are talking lighters, i've noticed that the flame of my vapman lighter is not centered anymore. would crooked or skew be the right adjective? am i the only one having this problem and is there something i could do about it? it's not a big deal, but it makes aiming the lighter a little trickier than with a straight flame.

axakal said:

since we are talking lighters, i've noticed that the flame of my vapman lighter is not centered anymore. would crooked or skew be the right adjective? am i the only one having this problem and is there something i could do about it? it's not a big deal, but it makes aiming the lighter a little trickier than with a straight flame.

Click to expand...

Interesting. The burners in the ones I've messed with are pretty solid....perhaps softening of the plastic from excessive heat?

Aside from that off center flames I've come across were caused by junk. I'd start with checking the lip of the burner main tube, I've seen junk on the lip force the gas to one side, making the cone off center. And at least one time very ragged in the burning.

I'd also open the valve wide (adjust the flame to full blast) and hope for liquid butane to flush it out as it chills. Do it outside, of course. Butane, being a great solvent, can sometimes deposit dissolved stuff at the spot where it 'flashes' from liquid to gas.

Good luck.

OF

thanks for hint. i tried it out and it didn't help. upon closer inspection i realised, that the inner "muzzle" with the "igniting element" are very movable. the "muzzle" seems to missdirect the flame. is it meant to be loose like this or did they got loose with time and need to be tightened again?

I was contacted by @underdogette about an anonymous being that wanted to forward a gift to me, I was blown away. While waiting for the mystery package, I had many different thoughts from "why me? What have I done that made them think about me?" to "what the hell is it?" It has been a very stressful few months and I'm still trying to dig myself out of a hole. Slowly but surely things are getting better, and I thought I was the only one that could improve my current situation. Well, who knew the "little" things could make such an impact.

I finished two finals and made my journey home, knowing the package was "out for delivery" and I was hoping it wasn't in the rain.. I pulled down my driveway to see a white box on my porch, in the rain.

I opened the package and found the perfect kayak fishing buddy this kid could ask for.. A mica vapman with the element logo on it.. Whoever you are, I want to give you a very sincere thank you. This forum has given me a lot more then vaporizer info. The people here have huge hearts and I could never say enough positive things about our community. So to Anonymous FC'er, thank you, it has really helped me be more positive about life in general, and to be honest, the timing could not have been any better. I wish all of you the best and peace and good vibes all around.

@KidFated. I vividly remember a tear jerking story told by Vitolo of a young man who was given a vapor genie to help with his medical needs. Bringing happiness to others selflessly is something to be admired.

What goes around comes around. That Vapman is well deserved!!! (nope, not from me)

@KidFated. We really are a part of a special community.
Being recently gifted a vape from an anonymous member. I know how u feel. It really is uplifting knowing a stranger cares enough to do this for another person, is very powerful. Every time I use my gift I think about who gifted me this and, why me. Then I take a sweet rip and say,Thanks for Everyone & Everything.
Enjoy Bro

@KidFated. and @Melting Pot your stories are really heartwarming and speak for fc. i remember to have read in one thread about a guy ocasionally giving away an mflb to blazing guys on the street. things like these make this community truly special.

EDIT: @KidFated., That's a really cool story. April 30 is "Pay it Forward Day," so it may have been an inspiration for yor gift? You deserve the gift and I'm relly happy for you -- wasn't from me either.

The Pay it Forward idea is awesome and although I don't do it as frequently as I would wish, these types of things remind me of it.

For more info, check out:

http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org
http://payitforwardday.com

bounce5 said:

...a flat plastic box or wooden box option where you lie the pieces flat would be useful for pocketing. I bet @Ratchett could design a flat box storage case for the Vapman.

Click to expand...

OK, @axakal mentioned a waxed craft paper box:

axakal said:

Dan over at the Okin thread makes the box for his vape out of waxed kraft paper. it looks pretty sturdy and performed good during his camping trip. i think, that might be the way to go.

Click to expand...

It sounds like a really good low-tech, simple and elegant idea, so I had to try it.

I only had white card stock (not waxwd at all), but I took some time to find the right measurements to fit a vapman pretty snug inside.

I never take my vapman out of the house but I still want a nice box to lay the vapman in a flatter position.

This is pretty sturdy and it fits in the pocket pretty well.

It's an origami box and lid, with no cutting or glue needed. Each with a 14.5 mm square (measured at each edge, not diagonally). It's a bit tricky to open -- you need fingernails to grab hold of the botom of the inner box.

Now I have to find me some waxed craft paper to make a black one.

If you guys are intersted I'll find the video where I learned to make this and post it here.

Here are the pics. Let me know what you think...







If you place the mouthpiece deparated from the middle section, the locking pin hits the edge of the body and could dent or scratch it, so I think it's better to leave it connected.

M0J0 said:

Now I have to find me some waxed craft paper to make a black one.

If you guys are intersted I'll find the video where I learned to make this and post it here.

Here are the pics. Let me know what you think...

Click to expand...

I think it's very cool.

Perhaps you could flatten it out and scan/photo graph it so we could print out patterns? It would be lots of fun to be able to print some graphics on what will be the top........

OF

@KidFated that is AWESOME!! So happy for you. You will love the vapman while yak fishing. It has become one of my favorite tackle box accessories. I enjoy it much better than the MFLB - which was the vape of choice in the yak for years. And, less to carry and keep track of. Throw the egg, lighter and some pre-ground in a zip lock and keep it in the front of your deckbag. Just something about using it out in nature adds to the already lovely vapman experience, and I'd swear fish are attracted to the blue flame and shiny bottom too! So, don't forget to toss at least a few casts after every load before moving along.

OF said:

I think it's very cool.

Perhaps you could flatten it out and scan/photo graph it so we could print out patterns? It would be lots of fun to be able to print some graphics on what will be the top........

OF

Click to expand...

Glad you like it OF - and yep. I can do that later.

awesome job. it looks so tiny in your hand. i believe, the waxing part is done afterwards.

M0J0 said:

EDIT: @KidFated., That's a really cool story. April 30 is "Pay it Forward Day," so it may have been an inspiration for yor gift? You deserve the gift and I'm relly happy for you -- wasn't from me either.

The Pay it Forward idea is awesome and although I don't do it as frequently as I would wish, these types of things remind me of it.

For more info, check out:

http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org
http://payitforwardday.com



OK, @axakal mentioned a waxed craft paper box:



It sounds like a really good low-tech, simple and elegant idea, so I had to try it.

I only had white card stock (not waxwd at all), but I took some time to find the right measurements to fit a vapman pretty snug inside.

I never take my vapman out of the house but I still want a nice box to lay the vapman in a flatter position.

This is pretty sturdy and it fits in the pocket pretty well.

It's an origami box and lid, with no cutting or glue needed. Each with a 14.5 mm square (measured at each edge, not diagonally). It's a bit tricky to open -- you need fingernails to grab hold of the botom of the inner box.

Now I have to find me some waxed craft paper to make a black one.

If you guys are intersted I'll find the video where I learned to make this and post it here.

Here are the pics. Let me know what you think...

If you place the mouthpiece deparated from the middle section, the locking pin hits the edge of the body and could dent or scratch it, so I think it's better to leave it connected.

Click to expand...

axakal said:

awesome job. it looks so tiny in your hand. i believe, the waxing part is done afterwards.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

I see. Do you have a link to this waxed box that I can look at?

here you go. there are more pictures on pages before that one. Dan uses a matchbox like sleeve instead of a lid.

The Okin by D.M. Pipes

I saw it, but how do we know what kind of paper he used?