Silver Surfer Vaporizer

[Budmeister]

I am new here, but have lurked a bit over the past few months. I am a big fan of the SSV and DBV. I own both..

I bought a Da Buddha a while back, and added a Silver Surfer to my collection last month. I am a big fan of both of these vaporizers. I think that the Da Buddha is a really great vape for a reasonable price ....and the SSV takes it to a higher level, with the added features and customization.

My SSV has multiple wands so I am experienced with both the original wand and the ground glass option.. To be frank, I actually prefer the GG connection for my own practical reasons. I think that I get a more consistent overall vape of the bowl without hot spots with the GG, and see very few shortcomings with the ground glass. I have no issues with fit, and you can also hold it loosely and rotate it if you want to move the wand while vaping.

So far, I have not had any issues with the GG wand falling out, so at this point I do not think that the worries I have heard about the long term GG fit seem warranted...at least not based on my current experience. I note that my DBV's GG connection is still just as tight as ever and you can always push it in a bit further and twist it to get a better connection. Their seems to be plenty of friction to make a strong connection on the SSV with ground glass, even with it's downward angle. I use my SSV for personal use rather than partying, so it might be different for those using their SSV in groups, where people are not familiar with the unit and might pull on the wand. Everybody can set their SSV up for their own preferences.

I love loading my SSV up and being able to have hands free always in place with the GG. By comparison, I do not like the hands free clip attachment for the basic SSV wand...I hate having to take it on and off.

I think that the beauty of the SSV is the customization so that I can have my hands free GG connection while others choose the other options. Its all good, huh?

By the way, there is one area where I prefer the DBV...that is the ergonomics of having the wand and temp control on the same side. For personal use this is sensible, so you have access to the wand and adjustment right in front of you. I also think that the simple metal knob on the DBV is easier to read and set than my fancy glass knob, which is an oblong shape without a pointer nub (which most glass knobs seem to have). Its not a big deal to figure this out with your own unit, but at first I found the temperature setting was a bit harder with the bulbous glass knob than it is on the simple metal DBV knob. However, I do think that the downward angle of the SSV is superior to the DBV's since there is less chance of blow back of herbs into the heater.

 

[Budmeister]

question: The spacer thingy under the heatercover... how much does it matter where exactly the top of that sits at? I took my heater cover off to examine what looked like a crack around the hole, and the little spacer sliver and the big spacer cap thing separated and i've been trying to get them back how they were (at least how i think they were) for the better part of the last half hour.

I have it on now, and the heatcover is tight, but the cap isnt sitting down as far as it used to because that little spacer piece isnt letting the cap slide all the way down. The big spacer/cap sits like a 1/4" higher up than it used to on the heating element. As i said, the heatercover is on tightly and positioned at the right height (so that it's got a little bit of room between the tip of it and the top of the heatcover), its just that spacer cap thats a bit higher, like , 1/4 inch or so below the intake hole. Its still below the part of the element that glows orange when in use though, so i'm thinking it should be ok for now.

I've tried getting it to sit back down at the righ height, but the only way i can do that is by removing that stupid little metal piece from the picture. Also, the heater cover is on so snugly that when i pull it off the spacer thing pulls off the element inside it and i have to use needle-nose pliers to get it out.

This is frustrating at first because the heater cover connection is made with the little shims and the round metal sleeve. If you switch heater covers for gg or regular cover, as I have done, you get pretty familiar with this. Use needle nose pliers to insert the shim as you place the sleeve in place. The key is to create enough friction to get a reasonably tight fit for the heater cover.

 

[steiner666]

This is frustrating at first because the heater cover connection is made with the little shims and the round metal sleeve. If you switch heater covers for gg or regular cover, as I have done, you get pretty familiar with this. Use needle nose pliers to insert the shim as you place the sleeve in place. The key is to create enough friction to get a reasonably tight fit for the heater cover.

Yeah, it's DEFINITELY got a tight enough fit as it is now. I haven't touched it so the cap is still up a little high on the element, but nowhere near enough to interfere with usage. I do dread the next time i have to mess with the heater cover though lol, i just get too worried about damaging the element. Thankfully, I dont think i'll be needing to mess with it for quite a while since i have no desire to change from my current standard heater cover, for types or looks. And since the ssv doesnt have the dbv's blowback problem, i never have to take it off to clean stuff out of it.

money well spent, i say.

and I agree with you on the bit with the dbv knob being more convenient overall, in placement and style. I like a couple of the knobs on the ssv store, but they're way too expensive for what they are. I've toyed with the idea of trying some sweet push-on type guitar/amp knobs that i have (like glow in the dark skulls), but havent really felt the need to. The knobs always facing away form me and anyone else using it, so it doesnt matter, and the the glass bulb is accurate enough.

 

[Budmeister]

This is frustrating at first because the heater cover connection is made with the little shims and the round metal sleeve. If you switch heater covers for gg or regular cover, as I have done, you get pretty familiar with this. Use needle nose pliers to insert the shim as you place the sleeve in place. The key is to create enough friction to get a reasonably tight fit for the heater cover.

Yeah, it's DEFINITELY got a tight enough fit as it is now. I haven't touched it so the cap is still up a little high on the element, but nowhere near enough to interfere with usage. I do dread the next time i have to mess with the heater cover though lol, i just get too worried about damaging the element. Thankfully, I dont think i'll be needing to mess with it for quite a while since i have no desire to change from my current standard heater cover, for types or looks. And since the ssv doesnt have the dbv's blowback problem, i never have to take it off to clean stuff out of it.

The manual shows a small sketch of the heater base and shims etc, but it is not very clear. The collar/cap unit goes on first and should be flush with the round collar.. then you need to slide the additional collar piece and shim over it. There should be a small bent corner on this rounded piece which holds down the top collar/cap... I have pulled up the element to make sure that it is as straight and erect as possible...it seems to be connected to a wire and has a bit of play.

 

[oldskool]

Yay, so I took the plunge and ordered the SSV, it was a toss up between the SSV and the Extreme-Q, somewhat swayed by the enthusiasm on this forum

When the planes start flying here I'm getting the PD Pandora kit, 12v what a darling for my narrowboat!

Last day of pipe smoking, I gave up tobacco over 5 years ago... why have I waited so long to get a vape?

 

[hades65]

Should get my SSV delivered today or tomorrow. I bought the SSV for an improvement of something I didn't like about my Mrytlezap. I want to be able to vape the full range of cannabinoids off and don't care if I get a little extra vapor off of my weed. It'll still be an improvement over combustion and I would rather be certain I got all the cannabinoids. I'm thinking of putting the dial between 2 and 4 o'clock an doing about a medium pull. Am I looking for any signs other than fire showing that I got the temp too high? I wish there was a way of decreasing the amount that gets vaped and still be certain you get all the cannabinoids.

 

[MacRadish]

Am I looking for any signs other than fire showing that I got the temp too high?

The contents of the bowl will start turning black right before you see fire. At least IME. At that heat setting you might have to pull harder to avoid that.

 

[max]

I'm thinking of putting the dial between 2 and 4 o'clock an doing about a medium pull. Am I looking for any signs other than fire showing that I got the temp too high?

Generally, I think it's better to start at low to medium temp, and move up to a hotter setting. In my experience, you'll go through a bowl mighty quick if you start with a high temp. As for dial settings, 2 o'clock on yours may not match up, temp wise, with someone else's unit. Find the vapor range on your particular unit, and keep in mind that changing your draw speed also will change the temp to some extent.

 

[Budmeister]

I'm thinking of putting the dial between 2 and 4 o'clock an doing about a medium pull. Am I looking for any signs other than fire showing that I got the temp too high?

Generally, I think it's better to start at low to medium temp, and move up to a hotter setting. In my experience, you'll go through a bowl mighty quick if you start with a high temp. As for dial settings, 2 o'clock on yours may not match up, temp wise, with someone else's unit. Find the vapor range on your particular unit, and keep in mind that changing your draw speed also will change the temp to some extent.

Yes, I agree...start at about half way and slowly turn up your heat to find your sweet spot.

You will also see that each SSV has its own custom knob and adjustment range, so saying 1:00 or 2:00 as a setting parameter might not be applicable to your knob and unit. It is not like the DBV with a standard knob and range where you can use the clock stations as a rule. You will learn the right place for your unit and knob configuration...it is usually going to be in the 60-70% range of the knob's arc... You will find it if you follow the tips and play around with your settings.

As for combustion, you will see the herb turn black first... You really don't want to see any flames etc. I overheated my bowl last night and turned it black---I hated the taste, it was as harsh as any pipe, and it polluted my wand and tubing with a stanky burnt smell....so I do not recommend using the SSV to burn your herb

 

[max]

It is not like the DBV with a standard knob and range where you can use the clock stations as a rule.

Really, it's the same for any vape where you can pull off the temp knob and reposition it so it turns on at noon instead of 7-8. I've seen many people report their midrange temp on the DBV is at 3 or 4 o'clock. There could also be slight differences from one temp control to the next, aside from where the knob is positioned.

I do not recommend using the SSV to burn your herb

Yeah, combusting in a vape is a bad idea. Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should. If you're gonna produce ash, use a pipe, bong, etc. Keep your vape in the vapor range.

 

[steiner666]

Another thing that plays a factor is how deep of a bowl you pack. The SSV is actually pretty deep. I usually only pack like 1/8 or so in at once when i'm by myself, but if you packed it to like 1/2 full you'd need to run lower temps probably because the herb would be much closer to the heater cover opening.

I've figured out that my surfer vapes best around 3 oclock with smaller bowls. Like others, i like to start lower and work my way up so that i'm not vapin the bowl in like 4-6 big hits, i'd rather have 10-12 mediums, it just seems more efficient and sometimes i like ot just get a lighter mainly thc buzz.

I havent combusted once in my ssv, i think it would be pretty hard to do if you keep moving the bowl during your hit. I like to twist the bowl while angling it up/down a bit so that the stream hits all the surface area. If hits arent getting thick enough you can move it slower to let the stream stay on each spot longer. So much of vaping thoroughly and in the right range is in how you work the wand during your hits. If i just held it still at the temps i set my dial for, i might be able to scorch or even combust some of it. The cool thing about the ssv bowls is that you can actually see the herb being vaped if you look close enough and from the right direction. If anything were to ignite, i'm sure you'd see it pretty quick. As Mac said, it will turn black just b4 combustion, if you keep a close eye on the top of the bowl, you should know when you get close.

I guess this advice will be pretty worthless if you didnt get the standard wand lol.

Anyways, i've found recently that my SSV hits great through water, better than w/o it actually. I love being able to see the vapor accumulate, if its not milkin fast enough i slow my wand twists.

 

[Budmeister]

It is not like the DBV with a standard knob and range where you can use the clock stations as a rule.

Really, it's the same for any vape where you can pull off the temp knob and reposition it so it turns on at noon instead of 7-8. I've seen many people report their midrange temp on the DBV is at 3 or 4 o'clock. There could also be slight differences from one temp control to the next, aside from where the knob is positioned.

Oh, I guess it depends if you have your knob up or down... You see, I use the glass-glob protrustion on my oblong knob as its pointer. I have it straight up at 12 o clock when the unit is off. When I crank it up to full it goes to about 9:30-10 position My sweet spot is at about 6:30 or 7 oclock.


I guess if I move the pointer straight down when off it would be at 1:30 or 2, huh? However, my knob looks best with its pointer up so I position it that way.

 

[the ob]

new user. I am still figuring out how to properly use this vape. I have both a standard and the GG connection because of a mixup in how it was shipped. I did find that I got slightly bigger hits from the GG and that in either case I cannot get my herb to get darker than a light brown.

 

[Budmeister]

One of the things which is cool about the SSV is the artisan side of these units. Each one is unique and slightly different because the glass on each unit hand blown or custom made. I think it is more than cosmetics, since the various thicknesses and tolerances on glass are different. This is not any type of quality issue--it just means that the sweet spot and temperature adjustments and settings will be just a bit different on each unit

I have noticed that my wands are all a bit different in size, and my original heater cover was thicker and more bulbous looking than the replacement that I bought after I broke it. The holes in the heater covers also vary in size. They both work and feel almost the same, but I imagine that the thickness and size of the glass will created slightly differenct temperatures so each SSV will have its own sweet spot on the temp knob.

Every heater cover is a bit different since they are from hand made glass, so therefore the heat and efficiency of every heater and heater cover will be a bit different. THey are all good, but this is why one person's 1:00 vape setting might put out the same heat as somebody else's SSV, which finds its sweet spot at 2:20

 

[steiner666]

new user. I am still figuring out how to properly use this vape. I have both a standard and the GG connection because of a mixup in how it was shipped. I did find that I got slightly bigger hits from the GG and that in either case I cannot get my herb to get darker than a light brown.

turn the temp higher or hit slower. If you use the standard wand, twist and angle the wand so that the narrow stream of how air can hit all the surface of the herb. Also, make sure you grind it up decently\, not powdery but you dont want big chunks cause they dont vape well and stuff in the middle goes to waste.

As i said earlier, with the standard heatercover/wand setup, its hard to burn the herb if you keep workin the bowl during your hit, so dont be too afraid of turning it up too high. If you do end up combusting a bit, its not the end of the world, you can clean your whip. It's just important to find the upper limit of your surfers range range.

 

[wilf789]

After waiting for over 3 weeks my SSV finally arrived through customs, on 4/20 of all days! Unfortunately though the heater cover was smashed into pieces already upon my opening the package. There was no FRAGILE on the box so perhaps someone along the way was a bit rough with it and it broke.

Either way it's extremely frustrating! Just sent an email to Vapeworld to see if they'll send me a new heater cover or if I have to send back the whole package, which would be very annoying. Will also have to wait another 2 or 3 weeks at least till I can start vaping. Back to combustion at the moment which is what I'm trying to avoid!

 

[Son Of A Pitch]

Hey Wilf im from england, and was thinking of getting a SSV.
How much did it cost altogether for the unit and any other fees to be shipped to england?

Thanks

 

[wilf789]

Hey Wilf im from england, and was thinking of getting a SSV.
How much did it cost altogether for the unit and any other fees to be shipped to england?

Thanks

Hey mate. Well from vapeworld.com and using the FC discount fee it cost $294.52 plus an extra 28 for customs, VAT and delivery in England.

Hopefully yours will be delivered in working order!

 

[hades65]

Does putting a very small bowl in your SSV cause any problems? I am a light smoker and would prefer to put a Purple Days/Mrytlezap type amount in my SSV and finish the bowl rather than having a good portion of my vaped bowl sitting in there for later.

 

[Frickr]

Does putting a very small bowl in your SSV cause any problems? I am a light smoker and would prefer to put a Purple Days/Mrytlezap type amount in my SSV and finish the bowl rather than having a good portion of my vaped bowl sitting in there for later.

the ssv isnt designed for a small bowl. its made to give large hits, its what it does best. if you want a small bowl, then you need to buy a vape with a smaller bowl and designed around efficiancy.

 

[the ob]

After waiting for over 3 weeks my SSV finally arrived through customs, on 4/20 of all days! Unfortunately though the heater cover was smashed into pieces already upon my opening the package. There was no FRAGILE on the box so perhaps someone along the way was a bit rough with it and it broke.

Either way it's extremely frustrating! Just sent an email to Vapeworld to see if they'll send me a new heater cover or if I have to send back the whole package, which would be very annoying. Will also have to wait another 2 or 3 weeks at least till I can start vaping. Back to combustion at the moment which is what I'm trying to avoid!

you should not have to send the whole unit back. I would let them know what color wand you have so they can try to match it. They sent me the wrong cover and quickly sent me a new one. It did not match (as I had requested) but I got it quickly.

 

[Budmeister]

Does putting a very small bowl in your SSV cause any problems? I am a light smoker and would prefer to put a Purple Days/Mrytlezap type amount in my SSV and finish the bowl rather than having a good portion of my vaped bowl sitting in there for later.

the ssv isnt designed for a small bowl. its made to give large hits, its what it does best. if you want a small bowl, then you need to buy a vape with a smaller bowl and designed around efficiancy.

I actually use my SSV for small bowls all of the time. You just need to cover the screen with material to get vapor. WIth a small load I draw my hits slowly and use a slightly lower temp...I always get a few nice milky draws of vapor.... and I can dump the leftovers if I need to without feeling too guilty.

It may not be the same huge vapor clouds that you can create with a large bowl, but the SSV works just great as my own personal vape, and I use mostly smallish loads in the bowl.

 

[Frickr]

i know the ssv will work with small loads. ive done it myself. but thats not its intended purpous. it doesnt work near as well with smaller loads, and i feel that it doesnt extract as much out as efficiantly with smaller loads then larger ones. just on how the bowl is shaped and designed, i feel that atleast a quarter of a bowl is needed to extract at the proper levels.

this is why i feel that a full bowl in the pd works well, while a pd sized bowl in the ssv, while yes does produce vapor, it doesnt produce it nearly as efficiantly as with a larger bowl.

the venturi under the screen on the ssv increases the speed of the airflow. so while you still are sucking slow, the speed of the air going through the smaller hole is going to be greatly increased. so this gives the hot air less time to spend heating the herb up. thats why its so touch and go trying to get a good amount of vapor with a small load. while a larger load, the heated air has plenty more time to heat the herb on its way before its reduced down in the venturi.

so back to my original statement. the ssv isnt designed for small loads. the bowl is designed around a quarter to a half bowl load. thats where the ssv works the best, and is the most efficient. [im meaning efficient as in how well the unit extracts the vapor] with smaller loads, i feel as though i dont get as medicated as if i were to vape the smaller amouth through the pd. the pd isnt some magical device that increases the potancy of your pot, it just does a damn good job at extracting everything. the ssv does a better job extracting everything with a fuller bowl. just study how the air flows over the herb while your hitting it.

 

[Budmeister]

i know the ssv will work with small loads. ive done it myself. but thats not its intended purpous. it doesnt work near as well with smaller loads, and i feel that it doesnt extract as much out as efficiantly with smaller loads then larger ones. just on how the bowl is shaped and designed, i feel that atleast a quarter of a bowl is needed to extract at the proper levels.

this is why i feel that a full bowl in the pd works well, while a pd sized bowl in the ssv, while yes does produce vapor, it doesnt produce it nearly as efficiantly as with a larger bowl.

the venturi under the screen on the ssv increases the speed of the airflow. so while you still are sucking slow, the speed of the air going through the smaller hole is going to be greatly increased. so this gives the hot air less time to spend heating the herb up. thats why its so touch and go trying to get a good amount of vapor with a small load. while a larger load, the heated air has plenty more time to heat the herb on its way before its reduced down in the venturi.

so back to my original statement. the ssv isnt designed for small loads. the bowl is designed around a quarter to a half bowl load. thats where the ssv works the best, and is the most efficient. [im meaning efficient as in how well the unit extracts the vapor] with smaller loads, i feel as though i dont get as medicated as if i were to vape the smaller amouth through the pd. the pd isnt some magical device that increases the potancy of your pot, it just does a damn good job at extracting everything. the ssv does a better job extracting everything with a fuller bowl. just study how the air flows over the herb while your hitting it.

I am sure that you are correct that the bigger loads are delivered with higher efficiency in the SSV, but I get plenty of effective medication delivered from my small loads in my SSV, and I am quite satisfied.

I can't ask for much more, but I use highest quality dispensary herbs, so the vapor is stick quite thick, tasty and effective for my needs. I can do two-three nice vapor hits and I am good and toasted for a couple of hours. I might feel differently if my loaded herbs were lower in quality, since it might need a larger load and better efficiency to extract similar THC levels.

So, I find the heat-up time and convenience of the SSV to work out well for me and my lifestyle. Let it suffice to say that I have many other ways of delivering my personal dosage, but prefer the SSV. I am sure that there are other smaller vapes and personal delivery methods, but I would not discourage somebody from using their SSV for smaller loads, as long as they cover the screen sufficiently with high quality botanicals. I will admit that this "screen covering" load might not be all that small, and it could be more than some folks want to use in one session, but it works for me..

Revised info: I should qualify that I have my SSV set up for GG wand at this time and the small loads might actually work better on the GG set up than with the standard wand...

 

[daddygreenjeans]

I'm gonna chime in here as I've been thinking of ways to get smaller bowls to work with the SSV/DBV. I don't totally agree that the SSV/DBV can't be used efficiently, it's just that we have to find a smaller wand with a smaller bowl size I think. I was speaking with another user this morning via email and he uses a mini whip with his SSV and said it works great. Uses about 1/2 the amount he was normally using in his full size SSV wand and still gets pretty milky hits. Not quite PD efficient but were getting there.
http://www.vaporwarehouse.com/store/vaporbrothers-whips.html