Hey!
Glad to read my reply has been of use. It's my pleasure
!
I feared posting a massive boring brick about my wonderful pieces and how I got to buy them and why, etc, etc.
I'm happy you appreciate the time and effort invested, by all means ask anything you need!
...So now, beware of the following massive text slab.
You asked for it!
Reply to PS (still goes on top, but I can actually blame it on you haha!):
I don't really hit things with a whip if I can avoid it, for reasons many people here have already explained (its hard to fully clean, etc). But I might venture that it is because of the longer vapour path, and since its a different material, might absorb heat differently (as in faster)? Some other people here favour them for that very reason. It's a matter of choice and/or adapting their existing pieces I guess?
FWIW I think you're doing it right anyway; a recycler always needs a little more water to be able to fill the drain. Otherwise its just another bong?
Its the fun thing about those IME/O!
If you want different function, I'm afraid the short answer is that you get another piece!
That is both good and bad, of course. I personally buy my pieces at a discount if possible, during 420/710, BFriday, etc. I can only afford about three per year, but I do a very extensive research,
want list and
hit list so I can fire away at a moment's notice if I can indulge in a new member for the family or promo time is there...
By the way you say it, you seem like yet another GAS case (welcome brother, find a seat!). Please don't ask me whether there's an end to it, I
may not be the right person to answer that!
But if you really care for the advancement of science, you'll find few limits in your endeavour I can tell you that much!
I think you may be
overusing the same piece; to me it feels a little harsh always hitting the same thing after a while. The throat is forced to repeat the same effort over and over.
I heard from a glass blower on IG that it is good to
trick your system by changing the function, and must admit he was quite right!
No matter how much I may like the piece. I need to use something else instead if it gets too harsh.
Another good thing I found in my rotation is to use two different pieces at the same time (at least). I started doing it because I have both the Sub and the FP, so I found myself hitting very different pieces and liked the experience from a functional point of view, not just from a vape
X vs Y point of view. The tubes feel surprisingly smooth if I, say, hit the Mini Pillar too much.
I also changed from distilled water + RezBlock to Piece Water, for a variety of reason (which I have already explained in the PW thread). Now I can use half the collection at the same time!
Sorry if I digress a little, you hit many interesting points in your post.
Regarding size, most people favour 8" to 13" pieces because they're easier to hit whilst sitting at a desk. An Aussie member recently pointed out the contrary, for example: he was used to hit beakers and tubes on the couch. So a smaller rig may lose its appeal in that setting.
Others like minis a lot, but I guess that is favored for dabbing? No reason why you couldn't stick a vape to it (apart adapter considerations, which is what mostly puts me off). I personally hate 10mm joints but there's at least another member here (
I think its
@mrbonsai420 ) that only swears by them, maybe he can illustrate us on this mystery?
Its purely a matter of choice, and yes they're all good! Reason why I went for a tube first, but also got smaller pieces later.
OMG don't get me started about the Peyote pillar! Been looking for YEARS for the right one, but its more elusive than expected (fully worked with nice colour). They seem incredibly popular, and even on classifieds they are pretty rare.
Even Inverted 4-arms are a PITA, which was my original choice for vapour, since it seemed to be more flavourful and a faster hit from what little I read on glass forums regarding peyote vs 4-arm.
The Mini-Pillar is one of my favourite pieces hands down, you really hit the nail on the head there mate!!
It's a nice full hit with a lot of flavour and a funky function. The base MUST be hollow as it holds a little more liquid and actually makes the piece have a greater volume than its little brother, which is what makes all the magic.
I don't want to sound like a fanboy, but Sov pieces are just perfect in function IME. You really can't go wrong with any. IDK how they do it, but they hit amazingly well.
My fav small piece is the Toro Mac XL (although I just received the Econo
today so its subject to change).
I was blown away first time I tried it. Was deceived by its simplicity, but it really hits like a dream,
very smooth for such a simple perc and amazing flavour, as expected in a small piece.
My fav big piece is the Fatboy FTK! Also demands a bit of water to get it going, but it is the best of both worlds IME; 13" perfect for desk, hits like a tube, good filtration and still preserves flavour very decently.
Also cleaning is very easy... Although that may be too close to what you already have?
A King Stem is very nice if you have good lung power. Many smokers don't seem to like them on forums, they're the ones I see the most for resale (all styles combined, G-lines, up or down grids...seems pretty arbitrary, so I guess common denominator is size) maybe too big of a hit?
I got it because that turtle neck reduces the height whilst the bigger can retains a good volume. Its a 25" inside a 15"! Also flavour is pretty well preserved. I only managed to fully stack it ONCE with a MiniVap, but that was absolutely EPIC! Effects lasted a very long time, spent
all afternoon nicely high.
Regarding tubes, I'd get a 50x50 Sov stemline if I couldn't have my Migrant.
22" at my age seems a little too ambitious, but I love that the inverted bell perc makes the pull incredibly easier. Amazing tube!
If I could do it again, I'd buy the 15" version. Don't know if he still blows glass tbh, apparently he was a very well respected guy among the community, but seems to have disappeared mysteriously.
I'd go for things completely different, so you can clearly feel the difference and later get something more akin to your tastes, same as I did, if you see you like recyclers then get a few.
I didn't find hard to get the Liquid Glass Arts for example, its a smaller piece than the Fatboy with three drains, clear glass and less volume.
The Mini Pillar
could be considered as a recycler too, I do not have the technical formation to say so, but it feels that way. I like that its sturdy, compact, as opposed to the LGA which is more delicate.
At this point, for me I find hard to get more, unless its a museum piece, like a Ryan Fitt or similar.
This may
also mean I'm in remission of GAS? [Hard to say yet.]
@stokeglass seems like a sensible guy.
I'd strongly advise you leave your beautiful piece as it is. Doesn't really
need anything else, it properly fills the function for what it was made. If you want more, by all means GET MOAR
I'd rather ask Mr. Wilson how he feels about elaborating on something
you may want. That way you have an exclusive custom piece AND a beautiful clear glass piece to match with a function that may complement the other instead of negating?
In this regard only the artist himself may help, its
his baby after all! We just get to play with their creations.
Also he may have a prototype or some weird idea lying around, its worth asking too!
Re-kilning is possible, but only as a last recourse from what Fishbone told me. You may actually lose everything so you gotta be committed, its not like adding a mod to a car but more like an exorcism I'd say...
Fishbone is a great guy, really understanding... I have a lot of respect for him and his work. Seems not to be taking repairs anymore but IF you have the luck to hire him, he'd do an outstanding job I'm sure.
Otherwise I'd venture you have two choices: established artists that still take customs but will charge a fair bit of cash, or upcoming ones that want to make a name and are willing to experiment and work with you.
Both seem a good choice, the expensive ones are a sure shot, the cheap ones a bit more versatile?
They also happen to sell to shops their most popular designs, so that may be another approach, if you're not sure about how it functions, or if its going to please you?
Let me know what you think!
And again, glad to be of service. Just trying to give something back for everything I received from these folks too!
. Never heard of it before.
! I'm not sure if it was a "go away guy" answer or if Luke/Leisure actually adds custom work afterwards. I, much like you mentioned, was always worried about adding work to an already finished glass piece because of annealing/re-kilning. I know very little about the full glass process so I have no clue if it is possible or not.