VaporGenie

There are only two sizes of mouthpieces (but not all models use them....). 3/16 and 1/4 inch. Both have about the same size 'working hole'.

For the most part, the larger ones are what has been shipped for a few years now (since July 2011), any you find in stock at LHS are fairly old.

http://www.vaporgenie.com/spare-mouthpieces#.UxzU7KwYRiI

I prefer the hand carved over the original (gave my original away, FWIW) for the two reasons given (appearance and longer vapor path/cooler vapor).

BTW, the smaller one makes an excellent upgrade for the Iolite. Cut the skinny part off (a sharp knife will do fine) and couple it with a short length of tubing. Big improvement.

My favorite is the Bronze Sherlock by a wide margin. Mine is taking on a lovely patina as it ages, adding to my enjoyment. I put some self adhesive felt on the bottom of it (and the hand carved one), IMO a great improvement when you put it on the table. I recall their engineer, in a very rare post here, also saying it was his favorite (smart fellow.....). But if it's not available, I'm sure the hand carved will serve you well.

I'm a big fan of torch lighters with these guys, much easier to aim, and they get serious heat into the heat exchanger in a hurry. I have a very nice 'pipe lighter' that doesn't get used in preference to these $3 champions:
http://dx.com/p/jet-1300-c-butane-lighter-1320#.Uxza4KwYRiJ

Cheap ($3), fast/free shipping, very functional and reliable. I have several spread all around, have used them for years, and have yet to have one fail (unlike many similar models). I recommend 'biting the bullet' and ordering a couple (say 3 for ten bucks?), they'll probably get to you by month's end.

OF

Thanks for your excellent and informative post.

In the end I payed that little bit extra for the hand carved teak model, as the brass sherlock was a lot more expensive and would have involved importing which always seems to take ages for me.

Still, very much looking forward to it. I have enjoyed my Iolite and SSV, but for some reason continued to smoke when it's my intention to switch to vaping 100%. I'm hoping the Vapor Genie will help replace that simple go anywhere with a lighter thing and that familiar, sitting around with a lighter feeling.

Hoping to take it round friends houses etc, so I don't get tempted to smoke. Hope to perfect the technique soon.

I will type on here how I get on with it when it arrives.

Any further beginner tips are very welcome.

You're welcome. I think you'll be very happy with it, it sounds like a good fit from here. I get the import issues and am glad I don't usually face them. Then again, hopefully it's a one time only deal?

My advice mostly centers on lighters. Get a small torch and don't be bashful about putting fire on the exchanger (keep it moving as you do). You need a few seconds for heat to build in the exchanger body. If you use hemp wick (not really recommended) or 'candle flame' type lighters be very careful of building up carbon on the heat exchanger. The passages are tiny (clog easily) and if blocked cause lots of problems. There's a procedure for cleaning involving drawing air through the exchanger with a vacuum cleaner while seriously torching the element......best avoided by keeping it clean.

It's convection driven in the end (heat gets from the exchanger to load by superheated air) so you need to coordinate draw with heat but that becomes very natural. Like all convection vapes, surface area and moisture count big time. Dry it well and grind it fine. Pack it loose. Pull the bowl to inspect and stir the load from time to time, this will aid in learning.

There's a lot to such a simple system, but much of that is intuitive once you're basically on track.

BTW, I've had a couple carved ones, my favorite is the Teak, and the 'fluted bowl' style......mostly for cosmetics.

If you have access to bubble hash by all means put about .05 grams (or a bit more) in the Iolite (I put a layer in the middle) it 'spikes' the load by more than doubling (or a bit more) the THC available and stretches the flavor out. It goes and goes that way, I usually get two honest sessions from a load with something like 25 or a bit more mG of THC per. Very nice to take into the garden for a leisurely 'sipping session'.

FWIW, I don't think VG (or for that matter Iolite) is really a good vape for sharing.

I think you have to make a serious effort to not smoke at all for a week or two and give vaping a clean chance. Until you're lungs start to clear you're not really there yet. Good luck on that goal, IMO it's a good one. Lets you live longer to enjoy life and vaping......hard to argue with a plan like that IMO.

By all means enjoy it, but that's the sort of advice I don't think you really need.

OF

Thanks for the tips.

I picked this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAPOR-GEN...les_Tobacciana_Smoking_LE&hash=item2ec9792db2

because I think it will be easier to unscrew in the event of any problems relating to stickiness, and it looks nice.

I'm glad you recommended a piezo ignition torch lighter because that's what I was thinking, as they burn cleaner and heat quicker.

I was not thinking of using this as a sharer so much, because of the precision in technique.

Really wish I had access to bubble hash but sadly not.

Hash of quality is really rare and expensive in the UK. Even in Amsterdam recently they were charging 80 euros for a gramme of Isolator hash!! Insanity!

Looking forward to the arrival of my wooden pipe, I really hope the price is justified by the function and build quality.

You will not be disappointed the vapor genie is built very well and works well

I only use a jet flaw with my VG as well dose not take long to teach your self I found it easier with the jet flame any way

You're quite welcome, glad to help when I can.

Small world, that's the exact model I have......you have excellent taste it seems.....

OF

Right VG arrived and have tried it out.

First impressions were wonderful, I haven't had time to buy a torch lighter so used a click ignition butane lighter. I just used it as instructed and got numerous tasty clouds without the flame needing to go anywhere near the heat stone. It gave the vapour a lovely woody, natural flavour which I really appreciated. All good so far.

Onto the more negative aspects. By the end of the night I had used up the entire contents of my brand new butane lighter, and couldn't help but wonder: how much of that shit is in my lungs now? I don't know anything about the science of it, but that kind of worries me. I hope a good torch lighter will be the answer, the greater heat causing more butane to burn off and also the lighter being able to be further away from the stone, pulling the hot air through.

Second night I had slightly more difficulty getting the pipe up to temp, dont know why, maybe 'cos it was different herb.

The only other sobering factor. Two nights in and I have a sore throat. It could be many factors, so I'm not saying it's the genie or the butane. It could be a bit of not properly flushed bud, it could be that I've accidentally infected my ear by shoving cotton buds (q tips) in there, could be anything - but there is some correlation there.

For now I will give the VG a rest and seek out the correct lighter, as I'm thinking it has marvelous potential. Anyone considering purchase should be aware of how fantastic the hand carved feels in the hand. It just rests there, between your index finger and middle finger, snugly, securely and elegantly. The metal tool included is great, but a brush would have been even better.

Verdict: A nice piece, but one I've yet to master.

Glad you're having success with it. I think you'll do even better, no several fronts, once you get a torch lighter into the game. I find it much easier to control. Getting all the heat directed into the exchanger will definitely cut the butane you need to burn, saving your money there. And it'll mean less overall heat generated (burning less gas), less dry air inhaled by you as a result, therefore easier on the throat. For now, try taking sips of water between hits? Many of us start out that way, some swear by it afterwards.

I also wouldn't worry about the 'breathing Butane' thing, I know lots of guys will insist otherwise, but the chemistry of the deal is simple. Oxygen from the air and Butane go in, Carbon Dioxide and water vapor come out. Same basic pair of reactions that happen when you burn gasoline in your car, a candle at the dinner table wood or coal (no water vapor with coal). Just like your car, given clean fuel and enough fresh air and there's nothing to fear really.

Well there is Global Warming to fear from all the CO2 I guess, but frankly I'm much more afraid of those trying to save us from that fate than the threat.......

Still you should enjoy the process. If the Butane really bothers you, some folks like 'hemp wick' (although I find it kind of a pain to deal with) and at least one fellow posted about using an alcohol lamp of all things.

Remember in vaping that dry herb is a good plan. Any moisture in the load much be evaporated off before the fun can start. That burns up your gas and drys the throat to no avail. Also most find opening it up every few hits to stir is a good thing.

Cheers.

OF

I've found that a torch lighter is indeed the best way to use the VG, but it results in a much smaller margin of error. What I mean by that is that the greater, more focused heat will give you bigger clouds faster, but the faster heatup means you have less time to react if it starts getting too hot. I'd recommend using a regular butane lighter until you master gauging the units temp by "mouth feel", then move up to the torch once you're confident in you tek. Another thing I've noticed regarding jet flames is that there seems to be a brighter "core" in the middle of the flame, surrounded by a blurrier outer flame that's harder to see in bright light. It's easy to move the flame too close when vaping in the sunlight, so be careful

Salutations A Train,

Blue flames worked for me once, but i got worried about durability. After multiple moddifications i still don't use jet flames with my present setup - as shown below:

​

A simple PVC extension tube connected by a teflon straw provided me a satisfying range of vaporist experience, which was a significant enhancement in comparison to ballons. Without it my VaporGenie mouthpiece felt too hot and this interfered with operation while trying to climb the learning curve... The red part of the tubing assembly is where cannabic vapor condensates, that PVC tube section is oily and terminates with a tiny cotton ball. For all purposes, the blue part rests at room temperature and might become moist (water vapor results from butane combustion) under heavy use.

The middle rotating joint allows the pipe to assume an assymetric shape that would be suitable either for right-handed or either left-handed persons. This feature has to do with the quality of eye-contact one may require to get a soot-free experience: NEVER let the flame touch anything. Also, if it tastes butane then STOP right away and exhale...

After months of practice i can now operate the pipe without resorting to the PVC extension tube but it makes me work harder and i only obtain ~2 good inhalations at best; ritual being everything. Those who find the VG uncomfortable should give that trick a try, another trick having to do with modding inside the wooden ball piece.

That's another major reason why i didn't adopt blue flames for my VG: i appreciate vaping in presence of sunrays a great deal!...

Quick update, I managed to acquire a cheap butane torch lighter and have persevered with the VG.

So far I found I have a tendency to overcook it without realizing. It's like the first hit does nothing, the second hit is a giant lungful of epicly painful proportions - much of which is wasted and coughed out, and the third onwards are kind of weak (I think I'm vaping most of it on the initial draws).

The effect is strong for a short time but does not linger like with SSV or a joint...

Has anyone had similar problems or do you have any tips?

If there was one improvement I would make to the VG, I would make the heat stone retain heat for longer, allowing for a gentler pace and less butane inhalation (assuming that's a thing, I'm sure I can taste a funky gassy oddness at times but maybe that's in my mind).

For me torch lighters are too hot for the VG, I use a regular pipe lighter

That's a good point, I think I had more success with a regular lighter, but ran out of gas very fast so prob need to source a good quality, clean burning one.

I don't see the point of a torch, I get instant vapor with my coil, why would you need to vape your herb faster. (Except for waterpipes, its sometimes needed then)

Salutations Misanthrope,

The post right before yours illustrates how i dealt with the VG.

Well, lets see what the labels have to say...

London: « Deliberately inhaling highly flammable butane is extremely dangerous and can cause instant death. »
Whip-It!: « Deliberately inhaling the contents can cause death! »
Xikar: « Concentrating or inhaling contents intentionally is harmful and potentially fatal. »​

Hummm... Still i never felt i needed to fear for my life during the last year...

IMHO we would have heard of it if butane vaporizers happened to expose customers to excessive amounts of butane. The lack of highlight on such an important risk appears to validate the idea that proper butane burning generates Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxyde, possibly with the addition of contaminants in trace amounts (my bottles are marked "15 ppm" or "Zero Impurities")... Yet, if i switch to a blue flame while using my modded Classic VG, for example, not only does this kill the aromatic qualities real quick but i also perceive reminescences of petroleum substances, which proves regrettable to me because i like the blue flame when it gets dark and/or windy. Although i haven't acquired sufficient agility to use blue flames in a fully satisfying manner i see real potential in helping those who find it tiresome having to pre-heat.

I'm dealing with frequent refils myself but my VG would require to be moddified again if i were to adopt blue flames on a permament basis, not to mention i vaguely recall this was hardly compatible with candle flames when i felt i was close to that. Wood has it's limitations in this application anyway!

I know it's counter intuitive and all but a torch is really no hotter (in calorie terms) than a 'candle flame' using the same amount of gas. It's just a lot more concentrated where it delivers the heat (and therefore easier to control and 'faster in response').

The chemical reactions are exactly the same, the same amount of heat energy is released in both cases. This is easy to see if you've ever played with one of those lighters that feature both modes with the same gas system. The flame gets hotter but confines the heat to a much smaller area.

IMO it's a matter of personal preference (some even like Hempwick.....), a guy should try 'em all?

OF

UPDATE

Well...

First of all lets remind the reader that this is a particular vaporizer concept where we depend on a 3rd-party butane lighter for its most important feature: fire as the heat source.



So, last year when i switched from an HA to a VG i wasn't really satisfied with jetables (Bic Tronic, Uni-Apex) and not even a Lotus Gaucho actually (the L11 felt too strong), then i eventually got a Xikar Ressource (Vector KGM Gladius clone) which is what i've adopted ever since.

It didn't seem easier to choose a blue torch unit, for example at Canadian Tire they had a Slick YYG-805 (Colibri FireBird Ace clone) but i concluded this one was also more powerful than required for my application. By chance their Slick Deluxe "Gun" model proved to be much more appropriate to me:

(Wenzhou Menghu Lighter Co. MF208)​

Mine doesn't have the YanYanGroup/Menghu logos on it but there's little doubt in my mind that this is the very same thing.

...

My VaporGenie pipe was moddified to add eye-contact plus a bit of retention/inertia. If i push down the bowl's bottom screen and hold my MF208 at a distance of about 3.5 cm (1 3/8 in.) while in a dark enough place then i can manage to avoid scorching the vegetal load and still obtain some rewarding clouds from it.

No more petroleum hints, but the amount of condensed water inside my PVC tube extension makes me prefer to use a torch for pre-heating only! Additionally, perhaps a Classic VG model ain't the best selection for this as i must be extra careful with its wood...

It surprized me if/when starting from cold and there didn't happen to be any second-guessing; if my front puck turns faintly red and my timing is perfect then this blue flame solution becomes a promissing alternative worthy of my attention, though i'm not confident i can attain the level of control it calls for as i yet have to enjoy it fully more than once so far.

Some Glass Sherlock Love...
I happened upon this thread, and it got me in the mood for a Glass Sherlock hit!

Salutations Vitolo,

Sure sounds right for jet flames!

The video demonstrates a method where VG's ceramic filter isn't being targetted directly, which probably explains why i get so much water condensation: i turn my puck dim red.

If im not mistaking, that VG Sherlock looks familiar, get that recently?

Haha... I did get this one recently, KidFated!
Put a brand new ceramic and ring in, and am getting it to a community member this weekend, thanks to you!
I have a few of the Glass Sherlocks, and they all perform well... one of my preferred VG styles!

The glass VG's are awesome!

I adore my sherlock even if I don't use it enough,
& gave my gvb to a friend I'm converting

Glad to see it getting some use! I used it one night and cleaned it and put it away! It was too nice for me to break, like i wouldve if i dont use it! Very glad its going where its needed more. You're a great dude Uncle Vito! (If i may call you that?)

Edit- Glad you got a new ceramic for it! It was browned when i got it and i failed at cleaning it. My classic's ceramic still looks new

Uncle Vito it is.
When a piece is going to go to a community member that is in a position of need, I always feel best giving the item over with all new parts, to lessen any potential feeling of receiving a vape that less than new. (A patients pride is as important a part of a person to keep healthy as their body)
I kept the ceramic piece and ring for my "parts" drawer, as it was still very functional, and I will use it in my replacement artillery for when one of a community member's gets abused!