Arizer Solo

[Quetzalcoatl]

I really really like my Solo! I just packed a tiny load, enough to cover the screen, and got a bunch of tasty hits out of it. Looked at it inside and it was a nice dark brown I'm having too much fun with this thing.

 

[vv132]

so after using the solo for a full day had some more questions:
1. Since there is some smelly stuff going on^^, does the solo kind of smell like an iron if u put ur nose up to the heat chamber?
2. I have been using my solo on 4-5 temp settings, is this normal? and as the session goes on do you guys increase or decrease the temp level?
3. When exactly do you know when the bowl is done some times the flowers turn light brown other times dark brown but I really cant tell a difference when i'm in session. It says when the vapor stops, but i still get vapor clouds for a whilleee, I dont know if Im getting anything in them or what but they are there.
4. I feel that when i'm smoking out of glass I can taste the flowers alot better compared to when I use the vape, am I wrong here? There seems to be that distinct vape taste n smell along with the flower smell when vaping
thanks

 

[TommydCat]

so after using the solo for a full day had some more questions:
1. Since there is some smelly stuff going on^^, does the solo kind of smell like an iron if u put ur nose up to the heat chamber?

If I haven't cleaned the oven out for a bit (I use a magic clean eraser when the unit is completely cool) I sometimes smell a bit of residue, but no distinct aroma - certainly nothing remotely like electrical, plastic or smokey. With a load in the stem inserted in a heated oven, you can smell the herb a bit, all expected.

On the issue of the residue, I'm getting better at that since I finally realize that you really don't want to pack anything to the top of the bowl area that contacts the oven. I always noticed previously that the top of my packs got really dark brown and stuff tasted like popcorn a few tokes in which convinced me to use lower heat settings before it dawned at me, hey idiot, leave a bit of space. All is very, very well in this area currently - leaving about 1/8" gap results in perfectly even ABV and tasty, tasty.

2. I have been using my solo on 4-5 temp settings, is this normal? and as the session goes on do you guys increase or decrease the temp level?

After I started using lower temps, I started appreciating them even after solving the dark spot problem I made for myself. If I'm using a stem or a VaporBro's mini hydrator (freakin' perfect match for home, using a PNWT on the go - both 14mm) I'll start out at a 3, and maybe half the time bump it to a 4 after a couple doses depending on mood, weather, quality of bud, etc. If using bigger water tools, a 5 seems to be the point where I can consider it 'milking', though a 7 gets a couple of really good clouds (but definitely needs good filtration for my throat - also danger of combusting if not careful to ensure there's a gap to the pack so no herb directly touches the oven.

3. When exactly do you know when the bowl is done some times the flowers turn light brown other times dark brown but I really cant tell a difference when i'm in session. It says when the vapor stops, but i still get vapor clouds for a whilleee, I dont know if Im getting anything in them or what but they are there.
thanks

As long as you get vapor, you're sure where that vapor is coming from, it still has great taste and you're sure the unit is on and it's not cold enough you're not just seeing your own breath (seriously, this can be a problem later in a sesh), why stop?

4. I feel that when i'm smoking out of glass I can taste the flowers alot better compared to when I use the vape, am I wrong here? There seems to be that distinct vape taste n smell along with the flower smell when vaping

Combusting flowers has a lot of overpowering qualities to the taste/smell that diffusion through water cools, smooths and lessens the intensity so that the more delicate taste can be experienced. Vapor already has a fairly delicate, but nice flavor that too much diffusion will lessen the taste to almost nothing. The Solo doesn't have the density of vapor to air to carry flavor through a massive water piece, but some of the smaller pieces can make for a very nice experience!

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

so after using the solo for a full day had some more questions:
1. Since there is some smelly stuff going on^^, does the solo kind of smell like an iron if u put ur nose up to the heat chamber?
2. I have been using my solo on 4-5 temp settings, is this normal? and as the session goes on do you guys increase or decrease the temp level?
3. When exactly do you know when the bowl is done some times the flowers turn light brown other times dark brown but I really cant tell a difference when i'm in session. It says when the vapor stops, but i still get vapor clouds for a whilleee, I dont know if Im getting anything in them or what but they are there.
4. I feel that when i'm smoking out of glass I can taste the flowers alot better compared to when I use the vape, am I wrong here? There seems to be that distinct vape taste n smell along with the flower smell when vaping
thanks

1. Yes, it's cold right now and it smells like an iron. The smell also reminds me of what my safety razor smells like when I clean it (yeah I smell stuff lol). It's not a smell I associate with negative experiences.

2. Yep, I'm finding that 4-5 is my sweet spot with this J-1 and CannaQuin. I've put a nice few sessions into it now trying to get familiar with it and I like 3 - 4 - 5 for my J-1 because of the terpene profile (holy shit is it insane). 5-6 for water paths.

3. I go by taste and vapor production. The taste will eventually go from good to popcorn-ish. I've noticed that I can vape a stem at 3 until it stops producing vapor, then go up to 4 and get some more, then 5 and get some more. When it starts getting dark brown the taste starts degrading. Most people will base when a load is done by taste, so it's a personal preference.

4. Maybe you're just getting a lot more vapor at once (and a lot more terpenes as well) when you use glass? You can chamber a lot of vapor in a tube and it will accentuate certain aromas.

 

[vv132]

yea I had my solo int the garage and it snowed 7 inches last night and feels like -10 degrees so hopefully that caused the iron smell like u said.

thanks for the responses dudes

 

[spoutti]

I had to run both my solos 3 charges at 7 open cap blowing air inside here and there to smell nothing from the solo but the hot SS smell. Did not vaped until i was 100% satisfied, so i cannot relate to the getting sick part.

Worth to mention im a bit ocd about everything though, but i did get rid of that funny smell after hours of burnoff and blowing inside surfing the web. Only SS smell and taste when pulling from my empty solo before i vaped.

My on burnoff cycles.

 

[Dreamerr]

I guess at this point return the thing and if the next one is the same then you are really sensitive to smell. That would suck since this is such a great vape. The vg is all glass so there was no electronics. I hope it is just a factor of getting used to it but with getting sick that may not be possible. When I can breath I can smell that mechanical/electronic smell in most of my vapes if I stick my nose in.........ouch got burnt .

 

[CarolKing]

The Solo is a wonderful vaporizer. Maybe there are problems with the new Solo that can be used while plugged un.

vv132: do you have the unit that can be used while plugged in? I'm sure Arizer still has the occasional old model Solos that are faulty. Early on Solo did have some problems, but Arizer fixed the problems with the original Solos.

Send it back to be on the safe side. Arizer guarantees the Solo for 3 or was it 5 years.

Arizer stands behind their products.

Vv132 you take care. FC is a very thoughtful and caring community.

 

[tbone]

Hi all, I've read quite a bit here in recent weeks and have sucked up as much info as possible across a few of the forums. What a great site! Anyhow, back in the fall, I converted almost solely to vaping using my old hot box. I wound up running that through a mason jar for water filtration and it worked great. I wanted to get my wife more into the vaping, as I'm a former cig smoker who now tells her that she smells like smoke after a smoking session ;-).

After much research, I decided to go with the Solo, as her complaint about the hot box was the cord/plug. She wanted something passable and untethered. Also considered the Pax (put off by what seemed to be the need for incessant cleaning) and the Firefly (too new, this was an xmas present and at the time of purchase, the very first reviews of the firefly were starting to hit this site).

Solo arrived Friday before xmas and of course I gave it immediately as an early present. After all, I'd sunk a lot of time into figuring this out and I was already emotionally attached to this wonderful device! After unboxing, I ran 2 burnoff cycles after charging fully with the stock charger as advised. I've since realized the holes in my research, and though I didn't think to look initially, I have an M1D2 model (notice how I've already assumed ownership of "my wife's" Solo). I purchased via a highly rated ebay seller advertising new 2013 models. I also purchased a PA (not realizing at the time that the new models allow for use while plugged in via stock charger). I have used the PA for every charge since the initial out-of-box charge. The PA seems to charge much faster than the stock charger did on that first charge, though I don't have numbers to support that. Purchase price of unit + PA was around 180 (buy it now pricing and free shipping).

I had high expectations for the Solo from what I'd read, and despite that, I still feel blown away. This is the first Solo I've tried, so I can't compare it to older models, sorry. The 4 hole stock stems seem to allow for good airflow with a little wiggle/lift here or there; I'm using 2 screens in the stem. I tried it once with no screens and that was enough! Initially, we just used the stock bent stem and I tend to use it inverted. As I continued reading here on FC and got more solo use under my belt, I realized my purchases weren't over. I wanted water filtration, so I hooked the solo up to the mason jar setup (an embarrassingly poor-man's setup - replaced the lid with a cutout from a Planters peanut jar, punched 2 holes in it and ran 2 tubes into it). I soon found the need to order some o-rings, as when I used the solo with the mason jar, I used the straight stem. Now when going back to the bent stem for non-filtered use, it is very loose and would fall out if I let it holding it inverted.

So I started looking at o-rings to solve the loose stem issue from planetvape. I also was sick of my mason jar setup and decided to find a better system. In all, I wound up going with one of the $40 three-piece bubblers from pipesdaddy, and I tacked on a PVHES GonG adapter and a PVHES bent shorty turbo. I don't really know if I need the PVHES stem, but I am curious about the difference vs. stock and I'm also thinking it may have a bigger impact when I've got the o-ring in place. The GonG adapter will be used with the bubbler, obviously, I guess.

I haven't received the PV order yet, but I did get the bubbler (using some 1/4" tubing as the connector) and it is awesome. I am very limited in my vape experience, but it is the best solution for consumption I've ever tried. My vape experience includes only a volcano type heat gun that was a pretty cool setup (used it once, not mine) and the hot box I mentioned earlier.

I honestly loved the hot box in conjunction with a whip/mason jar, but the solo has quickly won me over, especially with the bubbler attached. First of all, the specific temperature settings (hot box is one temp only and though I don't know what temp that is, it works) make a big difference with efficiency. I tend to use it at a 4, sometimes 5 when only on the stem and a 6 when using the bubbler. I never had a problem with the hot box, but in retrospect, it isn't as efficient as the solo is. The solo also cooks the load much more evenly; I have to stir the hot box load every couple of hits, while this is wholly unnecessary with the solo.

Now the only problem I've got is figuring how to best use this abv that is building up. I started by trying a gram uncooked (got down with yogurt), then cooked a gram in coconut oil, 2 grams in coconut oil and latest was 3 grams in whole milk on the double-boiler for 15 min. Not really doing much for me yet, so next time around I'll probably go back to the oil on a larger scale.

I would like to send a big thanks to everyone out there for all of the valuable info available here. I usually am not big into forums (especially contributing, lame, I know), but I figured posting here just in case I could provide some additional experience on the new M1D2 was the least I could do. Sorry if it dragged on a little (or a lot, apparently); as you might imagine, I was highly inspired when I started writing this

 

[Dreamerr]

Welcome @tbone, I just want to congratulate you on a great purchase. I also noticed you wrote that you are charging with the PA that makes no sense as the PA is for usage and doesn't charge. I think that fact that you bought a PA is a good move as explained before it gives more voltage or amp or whatever it is so it is better then using the new stock charger/PA anyhow. I think you have some type of confusion so if we can clear it up let us know.

 

[vv132]

yea so i still smell something when i Put my nostril directly on the chamber but like i said i'm not feeling sick or dizzy just great. I'll hit up randy on monday(even though I really really didnt want too). I mean there has to be some smell I feel, something right?

Do you guys stir the bowl at all? i find myself doing it after 10-12 minutes although I really dont know if i'm supposed to or if its helping.

Also how long do you wait in between draws? 10-20 seconds?

ps. feels like a boss to take perfect nice flame less draws in the middle of 50mph winds and snow falling down

 

[TommydCat]

Welcome, tbone! What a great introduction!

Never mind the poor-man's setup - we used to MacGyver(tm) all sorts of stuff back in the day back when all the headshops just had dugouts, spoons and acrylic water pipes (for tobacco use only!).

We used to have more luck building stuff ourselves from parts we got from the hardware store! I look at some of the stuff the vendors are selling pipe-wise at Seattle Hempfest and it looks like they're using the same parts from True Value I got as a kid back in the mid-west.

The formula hasn't really changed much, but I find it fascinating to see all these videos on YouTube showing real innovation of people constructing multi-perc water pipes with decent designs out of pill, water and soda bottles (and usually some seemingly sketchy sealant, but I'm sure I've smoked way worse doing my own research). Different medium, but kids still have skills, imo

Put on some good tunes, kick back and keep reading back into these ancient threads - there's a lot of good info and some hidden gems of knowledge from people come and gone and just showing up

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

yea so i still smell something when i Put my nostril directly on the chamber but like i said i'm not feeling sick or dizzy just great. I'll hit up randy on monday(even though I really really didnt want too). I mean there has to be some smell I feel, something right?

Do you guys stir the bowl at all? i find myself doing it after 10-12 minutes although I really dont know if i'm supposed to or if its helping.

Also how long do you wait in between draws? 10-20 seconds?

ps. feels like a boss to take perfect nice flame less draws in the middle of 50mph winds and snow falling down

In my short experience, with a properly packed stem I don't need to stir. Last night I was playing video games and sipping on my Solo at 3 and 4 for a session per stem. I couldn't see the ABV until I was done playing for the night and despite a pair of full stems I didn't need to stir. I was stirring too but don't find the need to anymore. What really does help is heat-soaking the stem in the Solo when it's warming up. I'm getting better, I can manage to catch it about 20-30 seconds after it heats up and start getting nice vapor (before the stem is saturated with heat).

Does any of that make sense? Had an excellent wake and bake session just now at 3 and 4 with .08-.1g

 

[Caligula]

Never, not once have I had to stir my Solo stems.

 

[vv132]

when u say "heat-soak the stem when its warming up", do you mean load the stem and put it in the solo press on and wait it to heat up, or fill up the stem wait for solo to heat up to desired temp, then put stem in and wait for 30-40 seconds(which is what I am doing now)

 

[OF]

Never, not once have I had to stir my Solo stems.

I'll back that up, I've never once had to stir Caligula's stems either.

Nor even felt the urge, to be honest.......

OF

 

[TommydCat]

Indeed.. A man never breaks another man's bud, and a man never stirs another man's stem. Unless properly invited, of course.

 

[Caligula]

I'll back that up, I've never once had to stir Caligula's stems either.

Nor even felt the urge, to be honest.......

OF

when u say "heat-soak the stem when its warming up", do you mean load the stem and put it in the solo press on and wait it to heat up, or fill up the stem wait for solo to heat up to desired temp, then put stem in and wait for 30-40 seconds(which is what I am doing now)

Im impatient and lazy. Put the stem in and then turn it on. Bowl is ready to go by the time your unit is up to temp.

 

[al bundy]

when u say "heat-soak the stem when its warming up", do you mean load the stem and put it in the solo press on and wait it to heat up, or fill up the stem wait for solo to heat up to desired temp, then put stem in and wait for 30-40 seconds(which is what I am doing now)

If its a new Solo the "iron" smell will go away.
I turn Solo on and when the temp light hits 1,I put loaded stem in.
I vape at 6 but when Solo hits 3-you can start hitting it and get visible vapor and great taste.
And yes you can bump it up to 6,7 as you vape.

 

[Snappo]

At risk of being outcast, I admit it! ...I have on occasion stirred my stems, with positive effect. I am a man, it seems, without a country. A salmon who swims upstream. Yet I will do it again, with positive effect. On judgment day I hope to be forgiven of my many sins, stirring stems among them.

 

[michaelstone]

Blasphemy!

 

[Caligula]

At risk of being outcast, I admit it! ...I have on occasion stirred my stems, with positive effect. I am a man, it seems, without a country. A salmon who swims upstream. Yet I will do it again, with positive effect. On judgment day I hope to be forgiven of my many sins, stirring stems among them.

 

[Dreamerr]

@OF you off your meds again or on better ones as you have been making a lot of jokes lately and not only that they are funnier then normal. I am getting worried they say it is an ugh face but looks confused to me so be it. What happended to the old fart grumpy man I grew to . Ok I will take this one as he makes me laugh.
@Snappo , wtf stirring really

@Quetzalcoatl , really, first I owe you and secondly try running your stems twice if you aren't going high temp. For the fuck of it.

 

[vv132]

Indeed.. A man never breaks another man's bud, and a man never stirs another man's stem. Unless properly invited, of course.

or when the doc is checking for that prostate

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

@Dreamerr I am having good luck with the strains I have and not having to go up past 4. 5 for water hits but is let it go up to 6 and then dial down. Also usually use the domed screen stem for smaller loads for water (~1/3 capacity). I know if I vape at 3 only I can finish a stem but if I bump it up to 4 I can get a few more hits. I started a full stem at 4 today and the 3rd hit was huge. I draw slowly for a few seconds and then inhale harder. Seems that the heater can keep up with my draw speeds and unless I don't let everything preheat it kicks my ass every time