stickstones said:
Hey Wat,
Do you own the Aromed or have you just used it? If you own it, does it make its way into your lineup often (you gotta nice list of vapes)? It was one of the first vapes I considered buying and have always wnated to try it.
(sorry for the derail...feel free to answer this in the Aromed thread...I just noticed your signature and wanted to ask.)
Ah Sticks, my AroMed indeed. I do own it, and have done so for maybe 3 years although I did get it second hand. I have to be honest and say that I don't actually use it all that much though. It did used to live in my office for use whilst working, and get used more often, but its really too much of a creeper for that (as well as a big bowl) and it was easy to get too vaped unwittingly. Now it is actually my bedside vape, whilst I definitely do most of my vaping elsewhere in the house. Im normally pretty high by the time I go to bed, but it might get turned on if I start watching a film in bed, or sometimes in the morning at the weekend before getting up if the days agenda allows.
Its not that its not a good vape (I actually think it is), but for me I think its just not quite sinful enough and doesnt let me know Im vaping- its more about the final destination than the journey getting there with this one. I see it as more a medical device- not because of the way it looks (which is fearfully medical looking) or anything high tech, but more because of this very gentle controlled way in which it delivers.
I suspect that there are a maybe lot of potential MMJ users who are not comfortable at all with the sensation of breathing in vapour. In fact unless youre a reformed smoker or want to toke, I think to a lot of newcomers a typical lungful (from an ssv for example) can seem much like breathing some kind of pollution. Just because of the throat hit and lung sensation really; to vape heads and smokers its an enjoyable bite or hit, but I think to others it can actually be a slight discomfort almost (an analogy might be dealing with the alcohol burn from spirits- enjoyed by a heavy drinker, but I hate it (I make an exception for single malts
)). I think that this is a long way from the pure clean air that many people have been used to breathing their whole life, and is enough to put anti smoker mind types off the vaping experience (so I have found with my father). However with the AroMed you really dont feel this as much as with other vapes.
Its tempting to think that the Aromed isnt working at first. However, you are certainly medicated after your session, and if you examine the avb you can see clearly that it is done (and very evenly, albeit with stirring). You can generate clouds with it, but to do so you need to take at least one primer hit and a whole slow lungful at that. Then if you take another similar long draw in quick succession you can get a more familiar big cloudy hit. But this vape can get you where you need to be without this.
Another point that I will make is that the whip tubing on the AroMed has stayed clean so very much longer than any other vape tubing. I cant confidently guess why? Obviously theres less particulates due to the water filtration, but also I think the gentle and controlled heating/vapour production also minimises condensate some how.
I do remember reading some arguing a while back, probably in this thread, about the effectiveness of the herb bowl and light/heater connection. IMO this is certainly one of the weaker aspects of this vape. It relies pretty solely upon the tension provided by the positioning of the gooseneck to maintain a good seal between the chamber and heater, and to be honest it could be better. I did communicate with Frank Fuchs (the main man) about this issue- I had read about a snug dovetail join between the two and positive click when mated. This wasnt the case with mine and so I queried whether the plastic part of the dovetail could have gotten worn away through use. Mr Fuchs didnt seem to think so and offered some guidance on positioning the gooseneck to improve the seal. Its helped somewhat, but theres still room for improvement- I can certainly get a better seal still by adding just a little bit of pressure by hand. I do wonder what effect this has on the temp of the heated airstream inside, but based on discussions with Mr Fuchs and my own comparative experiments I dont think its that significant an effect. But I dont know for sure- would like to see measurements. I can not understand why they did not elect to employ an air tight ground glass joint between the two though. It would be a significant improvement.
Speaking of glass, I will add in that the glassware with it is made by Magic Glass in Germany, which is great glass, but damned expensive for what you get. And as I found out to my cost, the chillum style herb holder is easily breakable.
I dont think that this vape will ever be that popular amongst experienced or recreational vapers generally were looking to enjoy the vaping process and the sensation of inhaling and exhaling, and also somewhat to enjoy the aesthetics of our vape- an area where the AroMed completely fails. Given the other vapes I have in my arsenal I doubt I would replace this one should it break, at least certainly not at full retail price. But it is effective nevertheless and certainly more than just a low temp vape, and I would recommend it to a medical user who is less comfortable with the concept of breathing
dirty adulterated air.
So they are some of my very rambling thoughts on it. Ill probably add some more