MiniVAP Vaporizer

I'm loving my teflon. I'm still using the smushed lid with the damaged top nipple-thingie. I've found the Ed's wood tip stays on really well with a small amount of reclaim. Until it gets really hot, like yesterday. When I was wandering around a liquor store vaping, while a friend picked up his xmas bevvie selections. I got back out to the truck, realized woodie was missing, and went in retracing my steps, looking under cabinets, trying to find what I could only describe as 'a wood thing, kinda like a wine cork, with a hole in the middle'. So 20 minutes of that, and looking around between the front door and the truck, and I finally found it on the seat of the truck, right underneath MV... d'oh...

I'm still on the fence about a permie fix to prevent these types of issues from happening again... but once you've gone wood you just can't go back to a nasty silicone whip or goofy plastic straw...

killick said:

but once you've gone wood you just can't go back to a nasty silicone whip or goofy plastic straw...

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I'm with ya there.....that along with a glass sherlock and I'm perfectly happy.

I have 2 minivap units, one that I bought on a black friday sale, the power light is green when fully charged. I also got a second unit in a trade, cause who doesn't need a back up amirite. Anyways that power light is blue when fully charged. Does anyone know if and why there's a difference? T. I. A

http://imgur.com/Bg3mpQV

This is my new bowl area.
On the bottom there's a very irregular pattern with a crack on the middle covered by that fine yellowish loose screen.
Very messy. What I shipped out didn't look so horrible.
And on top, that black stuff around the bowl area is very gummy, and I suppose not inert like with the previous setting.
I can do 1 hour burn off but I don't think the job will look finished afterwards.

justcametomind said:

http://imgur.com/Bg3mpQV

This is my new bowl area.
On the bottom there's a very irregular pattern with a crack on the middle covered by that fine yellowish loose screen.
Very messy. What I shipped out didn't look so horrible.
And on top, that black stuff around the bowl area is very gummy, and I suppose not inert like with the previous setting.
I can do 1 hour burn off but I don't think the job will look finished afterwards.

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If all of that shit you can see is on the outside of the glass wall, you are fine. Other than that it is as it should be. The glass cores only come with one screen above the heat exchanger. The 'crack' is the slit the heating element is in and the irregular pattern is the aluminum heat exchanger. What you shipped out before was opaque, so you couldn't see the interior insulation that you now see through the glass. The glass cores don't use the teflon (white) insert you are used to seeing.

If you are having gunky stuff inside the glass walls so it is in the chamber, that is irregular and either needs to be cleaned or sent in for fixing. As for your test results, I conclude the same. I don't like the glass core due to the degradation in taste. Some, however, will have no problem with this and will like the extra decarboxylation the extra conduction provides.

Again, if the interior of the bowl is clean, you are good. If it is dirty, please address it before using it.

Will the Teflon and decarb ring give you the same effect as the glass?

Alan Partridge said:

Will the Teflon and decarb ring give you the same effect as the glass?

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And what effect is that?

While I am only stating my personal observations, I can categorically state that in every respect, any differences that the glass core exhibits over the teflon core are negative differences.

The teflon tastes better.
The glass core imparts a taste over the taste of the bud that I don't like.
The teflon core provides as much dense thick clouds as my lungs can handle.
and, being that there's less if not any conduction going on with the teflon core, the efficiency is better as well.

I fully recognize that others may have different experiences but those are mine. Unit to unit variations also have to be taken into consideration, but I have not found one thing that the glass core does better but found many things that the glass core does worse.

I sent my glass core back to Sticks. The teflon core though is a keeper.

Alan Partridge said:

Will the Teflon and decarb ring give you the same effect as the glass?

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I do not have a glass core MV but i do use part of the decarb kit in my Teflon unit.

What i have done is just to use the small stainless steel ring that sits above the heater core.
I leave the larger Teflon sleeve on top though and do not use the large SS sleeve.

I found that when using the full decarb kit i lost flavour really quickly. The clouds were bigger but at a trade off i am not willing to make! This vape is a flavour producer and i wanted to retain it for as long as possible.

I think what i have done does not make a huge difference but enough that i can tell it was worth it for me.
I recommend experimenting with it and finding your sweet spot!

Alan Partridge said:

Will the Teflon and decarb ring give you the same effect as the glass?

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.................................................
I think the Decarb Kit and the glass core both move the mV in the same direction----possibly harder hitting and less flavor and less efficiency. Introduce some conduction.
Like @lwien , that's not a direction I care to go, but different strokes for different folks.

I would never mess with the maximum flavor, max efficiency, original Teflon.
RE glass---also feel Teflon is more durable for those "fall off the coffee table tumbles" or
for @killick , those tumble out of the truck or tumble down the mountain falls

Here's a vapefeind video on the decarb kit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rrEZ-IBZ_40

I have used a mV with decarb and a glass unit and it's not like the taste is horrible etc.
It's still a great vape BUT not up to Teflon profile on what matters most to me.

For those "take it to the max" vapers, glass or decarb MAY be a better match for them??
And decarb kit is relatively cheap to try...

Alan Partridge said:

Will the Teflon and decarb ring give you the same effect as the glass?

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The theory is it's close. You get more pronounced effects from either setup when loading directly into the chamber without the screen. I've talked to Hermes several times about the differences and if they really exist. They are doing lab testing to determine the differences. That's one thing I really like about Hermes...they acknowledge the anecdotal, but follow it up with science. These guys are doing work in the international medical field, and the purity of their devices shows it. If I can get the images to work, I have some flyers to post about it.

Ok gang...I've got something I'm stoked about here!

mestizo is making a few adapters here and there for us when he can and I just got 10 in stock! Functionally, it's the best design I've come across and it doesn't put any pressure on the nipple. It needs to be twisted off to avoid stress on the lid fins/threadings, but that's it.

They are going to retail for $40 plus shipping, or $50 plus shipping including the j-hook (shipping is around $6 CONUS).

But to kick this off I'm going to let them go for $35 plus shipping, or anyone who buys a MV kit (any kind) direct from me will get the adapter and j-hook thrown in for free!

This is the white delrin adapter that fits over the lid and has a stainless steel insert for the air path. I'm digging up an action shot, but can't find one...they're in this thread somewhere!

stickstones said:

Ok gang...I've got something I'm stoked about here!

mestizo is making a few adapters here and there for us when he can and I just got 10 in stock! Functionally, it's the best design I've come across and it doesn't put any pressure on the nipple. It needs to be twisted off to avoid stress on the lid fins/threadings, but that's it.

They are going to retail for $40 plus shipping, or $50 plus shipping including the j-hook (shipping is around $6 CONUS).

But to kick this off I'm going to let them go for $35 plus shipping, or anyone who buys a MV kit (any kind) direct from me will get the adapter and j-hook thrown in for free!

This is the white delrin adapter that fits over the lid and has a stainless steel insert for the air path. I'm digging up an action shot, but can't find one...they're in this thread somewhere!

Click to expand...

Great news! I love my delrin adapter. I had no clue it was intended to use with the lid on, I have been using it with lid off and getting great results, I'll try it next time with the lid on and see if I notice any difference in performance.

stickstones said:

Ok gang...I've got something I'm stoked about here!

mestizo is making a few adapters here and there for us when he can and I just got 10 in stock! Functionally, it's the best design I've come across and it doesn't put any pressure on the nipple. It needs to be twisted off to avoid stress on the lid fins/threadings, but that's it.

They are going to retail for $40 plus shipping, or $50 plus shipping including the j-hook (shipping is around $6 CONUS).

But to kick this off I'm going to let them go for $35 plus shipping, or anyone who buys a MV kit (any kind) direct from me will get the adapter and j-hook thrown in for free!

This is the white delrin adapter that fits over the lid and has a stainless steel insert for the air path. I'm digging up an action shot, but can't find one...they're in this thread somewhere!

Click to expand...

I just got one of these from @stickstones and he's right. This is the shit without a doubt. Nothing against the WonG or SonG, but they just can't compare. And I have all of them including the original Delrin that just sat on top of the nipple.

As for the glass vs teflon core. I have both, will keep both, but I'll concur with others opinions that the teflon is the way to go if you have to pick one or the other.

MinnBobber said:

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I would never mess with the maximum flavor, max efficiency, original Teflon.

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I did, with mixed results.
In my case it was a no brainer because my unit had always been a cold teflon one.
I remember when just Roger D and me had a miniVAP. Then more members started buying the unit, quite a few had their vape updated to have it more hard hitting.
I didn't and maybe now the difference is so big I didnt like it at first.
The burnout helped big time but some harsh component is still present.
But I can use the unit at max temp too,when before the burnout I started puking at blurple for the harsh flavor.
The look is still horrible and if I was in charge I'd go for some dark tint on the glass.
Like dark blue. When I first bought it the minivap was a classy Vape. The first update added flexible elements to it and sacrificed the space/alien tech badass look it had.
Now it still is a good vape but the look of the bowl.. Cardboard walls? Not a game breaker but not classy at all.
Good thing is I start to like it again after the burnout.
Thanks a lot for the advices!!
Happy Xmas.

justcametomind said:

Cardboard walls

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Not a piece of cardboard anywhere near the unit. What you are seeing is the insulation, which is a brownish, powdery substance. It's packed together pretty well so it holds its form, but can still be hand shaped.

justcametomind said:

Now it still is a good vape but the look of the bowl.. Cardboard walls? Not a game breaker but not classy at all.

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Teflon core miniVAP = classiest looking vape out there and best performing ----both IMHO.
That aluminum construction and solid feel----nice
If our state was legal I'd have it out on the coffee table 24/7---a fine piece of functional art blended with high tech engineering and performance.
Side comment on looks: so compare the mV to another super high quality vapor unit, the Evo Cloud. I mean folks unpack it and go---I think my Evo got stuck in the mold or is it defective or my god it looks like worse plastic than my plastic milk jugs etc. Don't deny it And I LOVE the EVO, it's just that looks are not it's strong suit

But, take ANY product and start modding it and some things may improve at the expense of others being degrading.
Add a glass core to get that "hard hitting punch" but then realize my sweet looking bowl is no longer going to be pretty..... A side effect of straying away from stock configuration.
Hermes even kind of warns folks that the glass core is not for everyone.

To me, it's like you take your stock sports car and decide you want a glass hood to see that bad boy motor. Then you start talking about how messy all those wires, cables, hoses , battery look like.

Both are sweet and remember only you glass core owners get the "lighted glow bowl feature" for some psychedelic vaping.

I'm curious how the glass core on green temp performs vs the Teflon core on red temp.

Hope you get that glass one working great for you, where you love it's performance.

EDIT-- regarding using a colored glass (like blue) so you couldn't see the innards. I believe that clear glass is the strongest and that any coloring reduces the strength. I think those engineers wanted only the functionally strongest glass--clear.

There's no match between my old Teflon and the glass. With glass I use also blue and blurple temp, with Teflon only green and red. Lots of draw resistance for not much vapor, so the better choice not to be exhausted and have a pleasant effect was green or red. And took ages to go there with the temp.
Now it's faster, so all in all I'm liking the update.

Highdeas:
They should come out with some accessories like a detachable cooling unit, like the Crafty. A forced path to cool the vapor especially for glass units. Or a water module, something like the Hydratubes.

justcametomind said:

Highdeas:
They should come out with some accessories like a detachable cooling unit, like the Crafty. A forced path to cool the vapor especially for glass units. Or a water module, something like the Hydratubes.

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We didn't wait . The WonG, SonG or Delrin adapters combined with a glass J-hook cools amazingly well. Better than my Crafty. I know it's not built into or part of the lid of the MV, but still.

Hi guys I need your help.
I upgraded my Teflon core to glass recently, and I'm not happy with it.
I did an extended burnoff but there's something harsh on the vapor. Some bad taste on the back of my mouth I can't really explain. Like if I'm trying to vape/heat too fast/too high temp.
I messaged Hermes I wasn't satisfied and they told me they can switch it back to Teflon or lower the temperature on the glass core (by sending it in).
They also asked me if my issue was present if I vaped at blue temperature.
I tried but the bad flavor is less present only cause less extraction is taking place.
On a side I like the glass core: no more plastic rings, less pieces to take care of.
Its ok to sacrifice some taste to power on glass core, but taste has to respect some standards. This is unbearable with no glass.
I'd lower the temp for the moment. But how much? Sticks can you help?
Taste is horrible/plasticy.. Or am I picky with glass core? Don't think to be so picky.. @stickstones do you have any advice please?

justcametomind said:

On a side I like the glass core: no more plastic rings, less pieces to take care of.

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Plastic rings? Less pieces? I had both the glass and the teflon cores but the pieces were the same on both.

justcametomind said:

I did an extended burnoff but there's something harsh on the vapor. Some bad taste on the back of my mouth I can't really explain. Like if I'm trying to vape/heat too fast/too high temp.

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Yeah, I'm with ya there. You would think that there would be more of a negative taste issue with the teflon versus the glass but with the MV's, at least for me and you, the opposite is true.

Plastic rings
http://www.minivap.com/eu/accessories/kit-loading-chamber-replacement.html
The glass edition doesn't make use of that, all you have is glass walls instead of that rings+screen combo.

Yeah the Teflon core has the remove able Teflon rings that can be replaced with de carb kit..I like my glass core and my Teflon core but one thing is with my delrin adapter it is almost too much airflow or maybe mine isn't right because I get airy hits with it and when i put the Wong on instantaneous milk...

subway13029 said:

Yeah the Teflon core has the remove able Teflon rings that can be replaced with de carb kit..I like my glass core and my Teflon core but one thing is with my delrin adapter it is almost too much airflow or maybe mine isn't right because I get airy hits with it and when i put the Wong on instantaneous milk...

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I don't own the WonG but my Mini can milk all of my glass pieces with the Delrin adapter.

justcametomind said:

Plastic rings
http://www.minivap.com/eu/accessories/kit-loading-chamber-replacement.html
The glass edition doesn't make use of that, all you have is glass walls instead of that rings+screen combo.

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You said that the glass has no rings and less pieces to take care of. For me, there are no more pieces to take care of with my teflon than my glass. Maybe I'm just using it differently but the only pieces that I deal with the teflon is the flexicone/screen/basket assembly which is exactly the same as with my glass core.

lwien said:

Maybe I'm just using it differently but the only pieces that I deal with the teflon is the flexicone/screen/basket assembly which is exactly the same as with my glass core.

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In my experience, I have Teflon and those chamber pieces NEVER need to be removed so I don't care how many are there. With the Flexicone / tiny hemp fiber filter/ screen/ basket assembly the chamber never even needs to be cleaned.
justcametomind-- it sounds like your Teflon core was way underperforming (as some did from a batch of poor quality heaters). They just slowly got cooler and cooler running. BUT, after a warranty service by stickstones and new heater core and firmware, the Teflon now kicks butt again and with superb flavor.
Updated mV now kicks out more vapor on blue and blurple than previously on red!!

A favorite combo is the @Ratchett Song , topped with @Oregonglassblower custom glass stem/mouthpiece.

with Teflon going to 445 F, I have no need or desire for glass version. Totally satisfied with
Teflon.