Could Butane Torch be making me Dizzy?

Got a stumper for the forum:

A while ago, I posted a request for suggestions on my next dry herb portable. I lot of users swore by the DynaVap line of products. That was a few battery powered vapes ago, but when my trusty Utillian 620 overcharged and dangerously bulged its too-hot-to-touch metal housing, I ordered a DynaVap WoodWynd.

Now, I’m experiencing something very frustrating. While I love the product and ingenious technology, I’m beginning to think the butane torch method is making me dizzy. I have no other symptoms since using it for several weeks, but slight vertigo throughout the day.

I use a triple flame torch and a product called Neon 11x Premium Butane.

I’m fairly sure my technique is sound, but maybe I’m doing something wrong. I heat -n- twist at 90 degrees for a few seconds with medium flame until I hear the two snaps. Draw with my finger over the hole until I hear two more clicks. Rinse and repeat 5-6 times.

Any thoughts or questions are greatly appreciated.

How close do you put the torch to your face while you are heating it up? It should be burning cleanly with high quality butane and a good torch, but sometimes people have sensitivities and it can irritate the air around you that you are inhaling... There's always a chance it could be the actual weed vapor that is bothering you though? An easy way to try would be to pick up some form of induction heater and try heating up the DV that way so you don't even need the torch and see if you still have any issues...?

I torch the cap about 18" from my face. I did test the strain with another battery portable for a few days and noticed the dizziness went away. Not exactly scientific, but worth mentioning in my reply.

I am considering an induction heater, but unsure which model is safest. They're not exactly mainstream products with lots of R&D behind them. But then again, not many things in the vape world are. It's the portability factor that really has me hooked on the DynaVap. Maybe there are induction heaters that fit that criteria.

Thanks for the reply!

PissedHippie said:

I torch the cap about 18" from my face. I did test the strain with another battery portable for a few days and noticed the dizziness went away. Not exactly scientific, but worth mentioning in my reply.

I am considering an induction heater, but unsure which model is safest. They're not exactly mainstream products with lots of R&D behind them. But then again, not many things in the vape world are. It's the portability factor that really has me hooked on the DynaVap. Maybe there are induction heaters that fit that criteria.

Thanks for the reply!

Click to expand...

Yeah it's a big market for the IH now, I'm not sure what would be the best, I don't think there is so much to worry about with safety though? They are pretty simple tech... I think cheapest option would be the wand since it is designed for something else but works for this although I think it is larger and less portable perhaps? Yeah it could be the materials in the DV perhaps I wouldn't think it would be the heating style itself though if another vape is fine but yeah variable of butane in the air still a thing perhaps

PissedHippie said:

finger over the hole

Click to expand...

I think maybe it’s not connected to butane, but to pressure, that created by restricted air-flow. I didn’t have vertigo, but I got discomfort in head because of mouth-lung technique.

So, Try open-airport technique.
Don’t touch airport. Don’t pack tight, don’t pack at all. Very fluffy. Slow draw, from click to click.

If you will start to get over-heat because of fluffy-packing - stop heating on first click (second will come already without flame).
And stop pull draw on first click - so titanium tip will not over-chill.

PissedHippie said:

I torch the cap about 18" from my face. I did test the strain with another battery portable for a few days and noticed the dizziness went away. Not exactly scientific, but worth mentioning in my reply.

I am considering an induction heater, but unsure which model is safest. They're not exactly mainstream products with lots of R&D behind them. But then again, not many things in the vape world are. It's the portability factor that really has me hooked on the DynaVap. Maybe there are induction heaters that fit that criteria.

Thanks for the reply!

Click to expand...

I'd second the Ispire Wand. It's my "backup" IH (#1 is my Fluxer Flite), but it really competes with the Flite and wins the reach test often. It's also a fully-baked, mass-produced product (vs. other, artisan/niche offerings); which gives me some comfort on safety. With a vapcap-compatible adapter, it's dead simple to use too. Plus it's also a pretty competent concentrate device too.

It seems weird to me that a jet lighter would spill enough unburnt butane for you to be affected. Especially as you are not drawing while heating.
But to be sure, as other said, using an alternative heating method for testing is the way to go. And if you don't currently own an induction heater, before buying one, you could test with yet another heating method. If you have an electric cooking hob (the plain metal one that gets reddish when over heating, not an induction one neither a gaz one as it would defeat the purpose of the test) by just sticking the tip of the DV until it clicks (be careful not to burn yourself, it's a testing setup, not for prolonged usage ). Otherwise, you could use a candle, place the tip in the flame (surrounded by the flame), but be aware that soot will quickly dirty your DV.
Hope you manage to enjoy that beloved device

This forum rocks! I am so appreciative of all the constructive feedback. I will definitely be trying the recommendations after a short trip (not wanting to travel with the dizzies). I'm not giving up on the DynaVap, but torching it with a butane lighter may be something I'll need to move on from.

I felt obliged to follow up on this out of respect for everyone’s time. I am 90% sure that the culprit was my first set of noise cancelling ear buds I just happened to order around the same time I got my DynaVap. I’ve returned the ear buds and occasionally hit the DynaVap. I’ve always been prone to vertigo or motion sickness, so this makes more sense with the whole inner ear issue. I still love the DynaVap, and this forum!

Thanks for the follow up. The headphones makes much more sense!