Discontinued Pax Vaporizer by Ploom

[MsMello]

Yep, there's a definite learning curve. I've never used a vaporizer before my Pax so maybe even more so for me ... or less, since I don't have anything to compare to? The first couple of weeks i had this thing I went through TWICE as much herb as I usually do. I think that was due to a couple of things. First, I just had to learn how to use it. I sucked too hard at first; the mouthpiece got hot and there wasn't much vapor. I inhaled too long and then had a coughing fit, inhaled too long and got light-headed. I didn't think it was producing vapor so I'd keep messing around with lo-med-hi. Packed it too tight, packed it too loose; tried the rolled screen trick for a half-oven, etc. Second, Finally learned how to use it and realized how easy, convenient, stealthy that it is and I think i really used MORE because of this. Not to mention, it's just fun. I'm trying to pace myself now!

Currently, I start an oven on med. I only hit the Pax four or five times at once so I stir before a session if it's not a brand new over. I've found that stirring just sort of rejuvenates it. Then I switch to high and repeat the process. You gotta be careful though about the no vapor thing. I find that if I stir the oven before heating up, I get much better results. The thing just seems to work better if you start with a freshly packed or freshly stirred oven. I'm going to have to try starting on low to see if I can squeeze more hits out of an oven. Any other suggestions cause i'm always open to improvement!

I cant say enough about Ploom's customer service. I emailed them back to tell them that my sticking issue (mouthpiece would NOT pop out) had magically resolved itself and I got a reply back with a long explanation about cleaning and lubricant and they requested my shipping info so they could send me some lubricant. I had told them in my previous email that my local shop was out of the lubricant. So nice of them to want to send me some! Their willingness to stand behind their product and take care of me when I need them, not to mention that awesome 10-yr warranty, is what makes this thing so great. I know I can find this lubricant elsewhere if I'd just get up off my ass and go look for it but I do like the fact that they're there for me.

Lastly, the Mentos bubble gum flavor comes in pink and looks pretty good on the amethyst Pax. Pry the top off of the middle section, don't cut it off. Then cut off the two little tabs on either side of the 'hinge'. They'll keep the cover from fitting tightly over the Pax mouthpiece. That ring that's attached to the cover will keep you from losing it!

Anyone else notice how bright the X glows in the dark????

MM

 

[EffedUp]

I must be hitting this like a red-headed step child. My weed is perfect for vaping,not too moist or dry, it's a nice dank.

So, just out of curiousity, how long, in seconds, do most of you consider a "hit"?

I think my average hit is between 3 and 8 seconds. I use my Pax almost exclusively on high and that tube is so short and straight. I have been experimenting with using the cooling coil from the Plenty to cool the vapor and allow for bigger hits. I end up with the same problem as the Plenty though; I am able to fill my lungs with too much vapor too easily and cough like a mad man.


Do you have other vaping experience? I wonder how your herb performs in other vapes.


The only time I get 30 hits is when I use about a gram sized nug of a top strain that was grown to proper maturity, nicely trimmed, and fully cured. If I use a premium strain, but the harvest was early (or late) or if not fully cured then I only get about 20 hits. Either way I feel like I get more out of it than if I rolled it up in a few swishers or zigzags. I don't stop at a flavor point though. I want a full spectrum experience so I keep vaping until there is no vape left. I have never tasted vapor that tastes as bad a actual smoke. I allow pyrolysis to occur in my Pax, but the taste is still miles ahead of smoking (combustion).


I am not on wine connoisseur level though. I always pick my herb and my paraphernalia based on effect and experience, but not really flavor (The vaporizer should vape the herb only and not be vaping itself of course I mean I don't want to get plastic and metal tastes.)


I have never used the Arizer Solo, but a lot of people on here claim it is more efficient than the Pax. Also supposedly a skill MFLB user is more efficient too. I like the experience of the Pax and enjoy it more than smoking. For a night out I consider a fully loaded Pax to be as convenient as a few already rolled joints.

 

[thetrufeisty]

Ok, so I've been working with the Pax. My long time friend got one at the same time w/ his buddy. The friends Pax is working like a mad man. But his is no working as we'll. I've been trying to out it works but not the clouds I'm seeing based on research and many many You Tube videos. It's just not making the clouds others are making. I'm a VIP Vape user. I exclusively vape and dab for going on 6 years, so I known what I'm doing. I think he should send it back on warranty. What you guys and gals think?

I love the size!!! I feel it getting hot and I have it on high setting just a heads up before someone asks.

 

[Tstat]

Yesterday I spent an hour cleaning my Pax up because I was going to need it all day today. Of course I can't get it to turn purple and heat up AT ALL. I hate this thing and I feel like chucking it in th Charles river right about now.

 

[Vitolo]

take out the mouthpiece.... shake it.
Make sure when you shake it, that the little ring on the metal post that is the "vapor path' is freely moving. If it is not clean it well until it does. That has helped me in the "no turning purple" area.

 

[2 Paces]

Yesterday I spent an hour cleaning my Pax up because I was going to need it all day today. Of course I can't get it to turn purple and heat up AT ALL. I hate this thing and I feel like chucking it in th Charles river right about now.

Every night before I throw my Pax on the charger, I take a Qtip and remove just enough cotton so that it will fit into the metal tube sticking out of the mouthpiece. Then I insert the Qtip into the metal tube sticking out of the mouthpiece and move it up & down a couple times. It is usually pretty brown when I remove it from the tube, even though I do this daily. Then I do the same process with the other end of the Qtip. It is much cleaner the second time, but there is still some discoloration on the cotton. This takes me about a minute each night.

Keeping to this routine each time before I charge has almost completely eliminated the temp light issue for me. I have never had to use the lubricant. I do a thorough cleaning of the oven, screen, & vapor path about once a week, but this daily maintenance of the tube on the mouthpiece has kept both of my Pax 'turning purple' for almost a year without fail.

 

[TommydCat]

2 Pax for 2 Paces?

 

[2 Paces]

Actually, the name is derived from 2 Pax.

I took latin for 4 years in high school. So when I heard about the Pax I immediately remembered that pax in latin means peace, which I thought was pretty cool. The plural of pax in latin (in the nominative) is paces. I have 2 Pax, and I liked that 2 Paces could refer to either 2 Pax, or 2 speeds, which fits me well considering my job is somewhat high pace (finance), yet my home life is as slow pace as can be (woods of NH).

 

[TommydCat]

 

[Vitolo]

NOTE:
The plural.... of Pax.....(Paces)
is pronounced "pah chez" (like patches.. but with an "ah")

dona nobis pacem
(grant us peace)

 

[MolecularConcept]

What's up guys? Been a while man the thread has grown! My Pax is serving me well! So recently I bought a Solidoodle 3 3D printer, and I was trying to think of things I could make for the Pax, or for vapes in general. If anyone has any ideas I'm all ears! Its even better of you have aCAD design or a ketchup or something I can print it. Well right now I have a problem with a stepper Motor. They should replace it but technically there's no real warranty , well see just how good this company's customer service is.

 

[JoeKickass]

recently I bought a Solidoodle 3 3D printer, and I was trying to think of things I could make for the Pax, or for vapes in general. If anyone has any ideas I'm all ears!

You could buy some extra MP's and use the metal stem in your own custom made MP's, or some kind of slim case...

 

[Mr.Krinkle]

how bout a shell that covers the old shell, maybe put a rough surface or some finger grooves. a glass on glass adapter mouthpiece would be nice...

NOTE:
The plural.... of Pax.....(Paces)
is pronounced "pah chez" (like patches.. but with an "ah")

dona nobis pacem
(grant us peace)

hahaha- wait huh?

 

[MolecularConcept]

I was thinking cases too mouthieces sounds interesting not really much room to improve IMO.

Remember I can make molds to do casts too. well I know its possible ive never done it lol. im a complete noob. but its pretty cool toy

 

[TommydCat]

While the 3d printing technology is fascinating (and practical and convenient..), I'd pause before allowing my vapor trails to go through that material without a bit of research. For the holders and other brilliant designs, great, but just consider this thought

The mold concept has really got my attention, though!

 

[grokit]

Maybe a mouthpiece that adapts to or telescopes to an extension? I dunno, the Pax seems pretty thought out already. I must say that Ploom's website is pretty professional too (just ordered screens).

I'm going to be certified in CAD by next spring, and I have a kickstarter deposit down for Pirate 3D's Bucaneer printer that's supposed to materialize around then. The Solidoodle 3 looks pretty cool, will it adapt to a heated bed/hard-cured system? The Bucaneer will, but it's quite an expensive add-on at about three times the cost of the original unit the last time I checked.

edit: I've got it. We need a sleek car charger that doesn't involve a hack of the home charging base with a escort 12v cable.

 

[2 Paces]

NOTE:
The plural.... of Pax.....(Paces)
is pronounced "pah chez" (like patches.. but with an "ah")

Unless you were taught classical latin (I was), in which case it is roughly "pah-kays". C was always a hard K sound in classical latin. My old latin teachers always turned their noses up at the 'new' latin pronunciations, and took points off if we used them

 

[MolecularConcept]

Yeah generslly I wouldn't want to let my vapor pass through ABS plastic, but with an all metal hot end you can extrude HDPE and PC . very sterilizable . but like dude said its a pretty well designed product

 

[grokit]

Right, I would only use the ABS for prototyping. I was thinking of something that could accommodate a glass mouthpiece extension, sorry if I wasn't clear.

But I think a car charger could be a more practical/approachable project anyways, and ABS should be okay for that.

 

[MolecularConcept]

definitely. I already bought a car charger though.

man I made some abv brownies again and damn am I butt-stonked! 15g of pretty brown herb from the Pax. we all know how deep the pax extracts too.

 

[TommydCat]

What's your ABV to brownie-size ratio?

 

[Doctor.Who]

Well, guess I let er get too dirty, can't get it to heat now. I've had it apart to clean everything but I think the problem is on the outside of the heater tube that is not easy to get at , any tricks to clean that area besides a qtip again and again.

If you have cleaned it as much as you can with out dismantling it, and it still won't heat you probrably need some warranty work done on it. They have a 10 year warranty.

 

[JoeKickass]

I was thinking of something that could accommodate a glass mouthpiece extension

I'd love a plastic MP that fits in a 18mm joint, it would be nice to get rid of the silicon tubing!

 

[vape4health]

If you have cleaned it as much as you can with out dismantling it, and it still won't heat you probrably need some warranty work done on it. They have a 10 year warranty.

I forgot to post about that, after removing the case I was able to hold back that "pressure bar" back and clean down inside the area with a slightly damp alcohol paper towel. I just wasn't getting it clean enough before. I actually used my Pax yesterday.

 

[brewer]

Okay, Owned two Pax for several months now and figured I would throw down my two cents on solutions to common problems and suggestions for improvement.

Problem #1: Won't make nice clouds consistently; solution:
(a) Flowers should be ground well and allowed to dry out. Personally, I freeze my flowers and grind them frozen. This "shatters" the material very well, creating a fair amount of small particles that are easily vaped. I also use a larger grinder so that flowers are in the grinder for at least a week before use; they dry that way well. Note: do not keep you grinder in the freezer though; this creates condensation when you take the grinder in an out of the freezer--which can gum up your grinders teeth and screen and such.

(b) Just role with the Pax on high. You can attempt to play with settings, but for overall good taste and ease of use don't frig with medium or low until you have a bit experience with the device, if ever...

(c) Some flowers just don't like the pax! This may be because of drying methods by the grower or god knows what else. If you follow what I am saying in this post, and the pax still doesn't create nice clouds consistently--try a different herb! That just seems to be a fact of life with the Pax; I have some varieties that are resistant to Pax cloud making, no matter what I do. on the other hand, I have had some varieties that have hit as hard as (either of) my Cloud(s)!

(d) Do not hit the Pax immediately when it turns green. Wait another 30 seconds or so. Then wait a 10 - 30 seconds between hits. This helps with consistency a lot.

(e) Don't try hit the Pax like a bong. Short bursts of "pipe smoking" hits or, really, puffs, work best, as others have described.

Problem #2: You waste material; Solution:
- Fill the oven with material up to the top of the oven, pretty loosely, so it's even with the top. Maybe a little cresting over the top. Then use a tool or finger and gently pack the material down so that the oven is half full. Then use a small piece of stainless steel wool:

to fill the remaining space. This prevents over packing, reduces the amount of material needed, prevents draws from being too restrictive, and eliminates the need to stir. Moreover, the stainless steel wool seems to get hot and cook the flowers from the top down. The material is evenly vaped everytime, and comes out as little brick when done.

Problem #3: The mouth piece gets sticky and the unit won't turn on and such; solution:
(a) All devices have a weak point. The Pax's weak point is that it needs to be cleaned fairly regularly. Buy a herd of the right sized pipe cleaners, some iso or similar type cleaner, and some small dental brushes for cleaning between teeth. "Gum" brand works well. The VapeCritic has a cleaning video here that is on point: http://www.vapecritic.com/blog/2013/03/12/pax-cleaning/

(b) Use the lubricant; it works; and concerns about vaping it--if that occurs--are paranoia in my opinion. That same substance is used in countless things you eat and drink all the time! So unless you only eat what you grow or shoot... you get my point.

Problem #4: The lid falls off; solution:
- Easy fix is a small role of electrical tape. It's black and matches black paxes nicely. One two or three inch piece holds the lid on and you just toss the Pax in your pocket or whatever with no worries. Just don't completely cover the lid, it needs airflow along the edges; one piece across the middle of the lid is plenty.

Problem #5: Charging
- I have had two units that have stopped charging. Just send them back to Pax and they will repair the unit.

Improvements:
- Make the oven removable and replaceable. It gets cooked on material that is basically impossible to clean. Perhaps ceramic or glass oven would be easier to clean.
- Make the mouthpiece mechanism less troublesome and susceptible to "gumming up" so that cleaning can be when you want--not when you HAVE to, just to use the thing!
- larger diameter draw path for less resistance when hitting.