Aromazap/Myrtlezap/CeramicRockZap

[momofthegoons]

Well, good morning all! Welcome to the forum RumbleShort and Farhank, and also welcome to the Zap family! I don't think you will regret your decision to buy a Zap. They are great vapes, IMO. And please come on and let us know how you are doing with them.

And thank you RumbleShort for the kind words.

kewpcer, when I first got my Zaps, it seemed like they needed more polish than they do now. I usually polish, on an average, of twice a month now. Really, it's more like I notice they need it and do it; it's not routine anymore. Come to think about it, they could all probably use a good rub.....
However, I have never noticed that they run hotter when polished. They just look hotter!

NYC....Alright! A cherry huh? Looking forward to seeing how you feel about it.

 

[Lycanthrope]

24/7 Zap users I have a question for you... How long does a polish last on your Zap? My Walnut seems to cook the polish back out in about a day or so, therefor most of the time mine runs unpolished.

Second question...

Does a polished zap run hotter? Anecdotaly I feel like mine does, however this could be placebo effect from the expression of love that is polishing your Zap. There seems to be some merit to this, as polishing a zap effectively reduces exterior surface area with a insulating substance.

At first I polished my Zap about every other day using just enough polish to put a sheen on the surface. I too noticed that it only lasted about a day or so at the most then dissipated leaving a low sheen subdued finish. I continued on with this procedure for quite some time with the same result. I now apply way more Zap polish than before and do it every other day. The increased application really puts a wet look shine on the surface and lasts more than three days but it too slowly dissipates after that time period. I just reapply to an over application. At first I thought that the polish would seal the wood and result in a longer lasting gloss finish with successive applications, it did not. Now along with the significantly heavier application I even put a bit extra polish around the top and top radius as this is as I consider being somewhat of a stress riser where the heat is most concentrated and cracking may occur. The much heavier application not only lasts longer but in the interim looks great resulting in a wet look shine. I use allot more of the polish but think that its worth it considering the cost of the Zap as compared to the cost of the polish. I have not noticed any difference in the heat due to the amount of applied polish. There may be a very slight difference in the heat retention but only from an academic standpoint not a practical one.

 

[momofthegoons]

Yipes Lyncanthrope, you make me look like a slacker in the Zapolish department! I probably should put polish on more often. It's so nice to do, I don't know why I stopped doing it as often as I was.

 

[Vitolo]

Bustin' out the ZaPolish now!

 

[Lycanthrope]

Ive also found that a mixed application of the Zap Polish and Ed's TnT "Bomb Ass Butter" works well lasting a bit longer than either one alone. I usually apply the Zap Polish followed by an application of the Bomb Ass Butter. I again perform an over application of both resulting in a high gloss wet look shine lasting 3-4 days before showing signs of dissipation.

 

[Rick]

OK gang, the deals have been had. I just upped my prices on all Zaps $15 or thereabouts across the board. I told you this was coming but did not realize it would happen this quickly. The first two batches of SSS heatports(second picked up this week) are gone. The early bird sale is over. I thought of announcing it for a day before doing it but decided to do it this way as the train is on a steep downhill grade and the brakes are old. We have to slow this down before trouble comes at the bottom of the hill. Maybe we just need to SEE the bottom of the hill.
I do anticipate this increase will be it for a long time as I hate price increases for our customers.
I'll have more later today and am always available via Email if someone has a hardship case or good story for a discount.
Needless to say, we may be running closer to two weeks from order to delivery for awhile.
Thanks for the craziness. That stuff really makes me feel young, til I look in the mirror of course.

 

[steiner666]

Just reporting in to say that my love affair with my SSS Cherry has been continuing, and i'm just as impressed with it, if not more so, than when i first unboxed and tried it. I normally try to wait about a week before giving final impressions of a vape, to get well past the "omg this new vape is the best!" honeymoon period, where honest opinion could be skewed by extreme excitement of owning a pretty new vape.

My normal resource for green was dry these past couple weeks, so i had to resort to some local mids. Mids is being optimistic i suppose, it's been heavily bricked and pretty well pollinated. I was reluctant to spend any amount of money on it, but decided 'somethings better than nothin' in the end and went with it. Much to my surprise, the zap has been able to get about 2x as many hits off of it as i would have expected, and i'm shocked that i actually get a decent buzz off of it.

IME, at least with my WDZ, midsy/dirty herb and logs dont go well together. I think the higher temps that the SSS reaches, and maintains across multiple hits, is why its better at vaping herb of less-than-stellar quality. And when you load it up with some dank, or even higher quality mids, watch out for that first hit I rarely ever cough from a vapor hit, especially from a log, but its almost a guarantee if you take a big enough of one right off the bat with this. It caught my friend off guard when he tried it and he coughed pretty good

And how well it retains heat continues to be the most amazing attribute of this design overall id say.

Overall, the SSS zap is just what i wanted. I placed an order for what i thought would be a regular zap, after deciding that the pro's outweighed the con's (rattle, brass), and that it would be worthwhile to upgrade from my wdz - but ended up getting one that is exactly how i would have redesigned them.

I havent personally used a PD, but I can list the pros of the new zaps over the wdz (which i've always heard is a near exact clone):

-Better heat retention
-Higher operating temperature
-Built-in heaterport screen
-Tight, wobble-free stem fitting
-Heat exchanger is recessed deeper into the top of the wood
-Smoother sanded, straighter cut, overall better craftsmanship (as far as wood goes)
-More customization options, as far as wood type (i think) and LED presence/color
-Tootys are very nice

It might just be that i didnt let it heat up as long or something, but even the wax/butter that comes with the zap seems to be better in that the wax and oil didnt separate like the other stuff im used to using, so it was easier to apply. It also has a nice lemon scent that makes my zap smell like lemon herbal tea

Fir these reasons, i really cant think of a legitimate reason for someone to go with anything but a zap now. All the flaws have been addressed and what was already a solid design has been greatly improved upon. It get's a 5/5 from me, and is by far my favorite vape.

 

[the ob]

OK gang, the deals have been had. I just upped my prices on all Zaps $15 or thereabouts across the board. I told you this was coming but did not realize it would happen this quickly. The first two batches of SSS heatports(second picked up this week) are gone. The early bird sale is over. I thought of announcing it for a day before doing it but decided to do it this way as the train is on a steep downhill grade and the brakes are old. We have to slow this down before trouble comes at the bottom of the hill. Maybe we just need to SEE the bottom of the hill.
I do anticipate this increase will be it for a long time as I hate price increases for our customers.
I'll have more later today and am always available via Email if someone has a hardship case or good story for a discount.
Needless to say, we may be running closer to two weeks from order to delivery for awhile.
Thanks for the craziness. That stuff really makes me feel young, til I look in the mirror of course.

I am all for this. While I appreciate that you have worked hard to keep the prices down for us for as long as you did, I think it is important that you are able to make a living as well.

You provide an excellent product with excellent customer service. Even with the price increase, it is still a bargain.

 

[momofthegoons]

IME, at least with my WDZ, midsy/dirty herb and logs dont go well together. I think the higher temps that the SSS reaches, and maintains across multiple hits, is why its better at vaping herb of less-than-stellar quality

What I find interesting in this comment is that the WDZ is also made of stainless. This would imply that the newly designed Zap heatport might be better not only because it is stainless, but it is a better design. The "tight, wobble free stem fitting" is another good thing.

The other thing I wanted to comment on was steiner's mids comment. I used to only be able to get mids and found the older design Zap could get good hits out of it as well. Even the original heat port design. But, if I was used to using a whip vape, it would take a while to get used to the difference in hit size. I don't find that to be true with higher grade herb.

And ob, as a business man, you of all people understand the price increase. Rick has never been "about the money," but a man does have to earn a living. And the immediate Zap family has grown with grandchildren. Gotta take care of your own.

 

[al bundy]

man i was thisclose to ordering yesterday too...

 

[biojuggernaut]

So glad I got in on this in the nick of time.

 

[Rick]

My philosophy on the price increase relates to the very significant difference in quality between the old and the new design. No matter what my prices, I always make money and a living. Sometimes more per hour, sometimes less. This price change is more about the superior quality of a factory machined, welded and polished solid stainless steel heatport/heat exchanger, the central workhorse of any log vape.
I upped the product price rather than the SSS heatport option because I do not want to sell anymore brass heatports if possible. If I just upped the SSS option, there will still be many people going for the cheaper brass option. I will take the brass option off soon but first have some plans to better introduce the new SSS design.
Better quality costs more money.

 

[aesthyrian]

Hey Rick I have a quick question about the stem tips. I know you said you are going to continue with the brass tips for now but do you have plans to upgrade the tips to SS as well?

 

[Nycdeisel]

Damn, Aesthyrian beat me to it! I was just wondering if the stem parts would change to SSS as well!

 

[Rick]

Yes, SS stems eventually but not the near future. Way too much to do, ie money received that I must now earn, before I can think about changing the stem tips. The RoHS lead free brass tips always used in Zaps work fine and fit fine. They also are helping keep our prices where they are.

 

[Vitolo]

Speaking of stem tips....
I want to say that I vape some heavy hits from a few types of vapes.....but..
NOTHING can compare to the joy of taking my time and enjoying a couple stems from the Zap.
I can feel the wood, and enjoy it's texture... taste the herb up close and personal.
This morning, I filled a stem halfway, and then sucked some pale white/golden kief into the stem, and one last suck of herb.
That single stem lasted for an easy half dozen fog pulls, before it slowed down.
That was the first time I used actual pollen in a stem... and I gotta say---> I am baked!

 

[momofthegoons]

Vito, well good morning! Nothing like a stem full with some kief to get the day going! I love doing this. It makes the stem last so much longer and packs a real nice punch.

 

[kewpcer]

I'm continuously surprised with how hard the Zap can hit with the right herb. Sometimes it still waters my eyes.

 

[SirElton]

Just got the mail and no Zap for me today, sadly. I hope it'll get here tomorrow.

 

[Rick]

I just checked everything that went out Monday. Some are in the addressed city for delivery some are close by and Eltons only tells me it left Spokane on Monday and is "in transit". Sorry about that. Sometimes USPS is right on, sometimes not. Generally they are very good for us anyway.
All labels are bar coded and have tracking so they will not get lost, theoretically anyway.
There's that pollen word again............

 

[SirElton]

Its no worries, Rick. As long as I get it on or before Saturday I'll be happy. Its traveling across the length of the continental US pretty much so a 2-day arrival time would've been miraculous.

 

[stinkbud]

Still waiting too, looking forward to tomorrow's mail Gonna make my office smell nice with some aromatherapy

 

[Rick]

Every order that shipped Monday EXCEPT Eltons is out for delivery today. Florida, Detroit, Colorado, Washington and another Michigan.

Today out: Seattle(2), PA and Illinois. All ordered 8/2
Tomorrow all 8/2 orders shipped and 8/3.

 

[stinkbud]

That makes mine going tomorrow as I am in NYC. I have mine shipping to my office so I will get my zap goodness on Monday.

Gotta love knowing WHEN.

 

[Rick]

Stinkbud did a "Ricks choice" if I am correct. Those are usually the last of a batch turned. I had to do some emergency parts/boxes/etc orders yesterday PM that slowed the works down to delay 2 orders by a day.
On the same note, I am running low on Myrtle again but got in touch with our guy yesterday PM. He apparently bought another mill out this last year for some very nice equipment but the real score was the wood inventory. When I asked if he had any nice Myrtle, he laughed and said "only about 100,000 board feet" (25 big log truck loads). He may have been exaggerating but he has lots of it. Should be here next week, well before I run out of the current stock.