The start of a new week brings up a topic I've been sitting on for a bit while folks got their rings to try on their stems. That seems to be happening with owners happy with the results but not pressing for more? Where's the 'I can do that better' spirit?
OF
Great to see the spirit of tinkering and sharing alive and well in the vaping community - here's my 2c worth for anyone looking for a very simple, non-destructive and effective method to improve your Solo airflow without futzing with grommets or pvhes tubes...the "smile mod"
Summary: Try a lopsided smile as you vape and let some cool air leak around the edge of your lips where they seal down on the stem as you draw.
Detail: It's harder to explain than to do - try using one side of your smile muscles to pull one corner of your mouth sideways so the lip is gently pulled away from the stem as you draw.
If you do it right, a tiny gap will open up and allow air to be sucked into your mouth around the (now imperfect) lip seal and if it's quiet you'll hear a soft hissing sound. You only want a small hole so the flow of air through the herb is only slightly diminished by pressure loss from the leak, but you'll immediately notice a reduced sense of resistance to the draw and with practice you can get very fine control - and respectable vapour clouds.
Upside: The diluting happens AFTER the air has passed through the herb so the "smile mod" does not lower the extraction temperature - unlike a grommet or pvhes stem air leak.
More usefully, the harder you smile, the more air will be allowed in so you can adjust it as you inhale - something a pvhes or grommet mod does not allow.
Downsides: Like any grommet mod or pvhes stem, the resulting hit will be diluted
With a little practice I predict pretty much duplicating the effect of all the gadgetry and mods - but I confess that I don't have any to compare - so I'd appreciate feedback from those who do please?
I know there are lots of medical users who might prefer equipment mods so there's less to worry about when you medicate, but for a recreational user like me, this works a treat.