Long time lurker here, with my review of Da Buddha!
Why I chose a DBV:
I had wanted to start vaporizing for a long time to save my lungs and not waste my herb so much, so I scoured the internet (mostly FC.com actually) and did a whole bunch of research. After careful shopping, I decided to go with Da Buddha Vaporizer based on a few things. First, it has a moderate to large capacity as a whip vape, meaning I can load it with mid-grade or even sub-standard herb and it is still wholly effective. Second, It has a basic design with few parts, none of which are really in any danger of breaking or malfunctioning simply due to their solid-state and simplistic nature. Also, it is one of the least expensive ($200 at your door, no waiting line) out of the most popular, quality vapes. I also desired the hands-free design. Finally, the DBV (and it's brother, the SSV) receives many rave reviews on this site and others.
I opened it and here's what happened:
It took six days, I think, from ordering to receipt of the item. I bought it from a vendor, though, not the dealer. I did call them (7th Floor) to ask a couple questions and they seem to be a terrific company. The young lady on the phone was an absolute expert and very helpful. Everything arrived a few days later. Immediately upon opening the shipping box and unwrapping the cellophane, any potential fears of buyer's remorse were squashed. I have always been wary of the high prices of vaporizers when you consider the basic and almost crude principles by which they work. This vape really makes even me feel okay about dropping $200 on a piece of medicating equipment that I might have forever. The attractive, plush bag is a significant feature and the entire DBV setup is professional and precise. The vape itself is substantial enough (and has sufficient non-slip rubber feet) to never, ever have to worry about it shifting. The power cord is exactly as long as you could need it to reasonably be; that is, it's not too long or too short. The wand and mouthpiece were buried in the bottom of the bag's pockets, prompting me to get flustered like I'd lost them already before I even got to vape
The poker is cute with the tiny glass animal being a nice touch but don't step on it! Ouch!
Alright that's great, but does it work or what?
So it took me a week or two to become a real pro at vaping, but now I'm pretty good at it. I initially set my knob at around 12:15 to vape fully and I consistently produced dark brown ABV matter. I understand that the knob placement can be different fo some DBVs, but from what I've heard many of them are calibrated closely. As the unit slowly got vapor condensed on all the walls and crevices, thus slowing airflow, and I got better at vaping, I turned the knob down and now vape the herb pretty completely around 11:15-11:35. You can load small, efficient amounts into the wand and take small hits, or fill it 3/4 of the way and take big, monster, almost bong-like rips. It is not uncommon to take a thick, rich, cough-inducing hit from the DBV that knocks you back 2 or so levels in one cerebellum-tingling exhale.
If you draw gingerly for anywhere from 4 to 8 seconds, then gradually increase your draw speed, you will be ripping killer vapor hits like there's no tomorrow before too long. This vape is pretty simple to get to know and use well. I even remove the wand from the elbow at the end of each inhale to clear out any residual vapor hanging out inside the whip.
Come on and, STIR IT UP
Stirring is really key with this vape. After 2 or 3 hits on a fresh wand, bust out your pokey and stir/mash up the herb in the wand. The next 3 hits will be highly effective and, if desired, startlingly thick! If you keep stirring and mashing or even regrinding your herb matter after you've vaped it a while, you may find yourself confused as to why you haven't had to reload the wand yet.
What about cleaning?
After almost a month, I have not yet had to clean my DBV aside from changing the screen once and scraping the pure collected hash from the inside of the wand with a pokey. And boy, HOWDY was that some good hash! In cleaning is where a problem rears its head, though: sometimes the screen is a MAJOR hassle to replace in the wand. Just make sure you bend it into a very slight bowl shape at first, then gingerly reinsert it exactly as it looked when you first got the unit. Be patient and don't be afraid to waste a screen and start over if it gets bent too much. Maybe buy some extra screens with your order. Not a huge issue though. The glass making up the elbow around the heating element is slightly brown, which may not be normal but due to a bit of combustion. The vapors do collect on the inside of the wand, whip and mouthpiece. Of course, this collected, oily solid is basically pure hash containing very high percentages of heat-extracted THC and associated cannabinoids. Clean it out with a bit of pure isopropyl alcohol (NOT "Rubbing Alcohol," as it contains bittering agents) and dry it, then put it on top of some herb in your DBV!
Hashish, Butane Hash Oil and Keef in your DBV
In truth, as long as you vaporize it substantially while it is on top of an herbal "green screen" in the wand, I would HIGHLY encourage the vaping of solid, dried or powdered hashish. Keef also works utter, eyelid-drooping magic in the DBV on top of a green screen.
[Edit] I edited because, as Beezleb pointed out, any decent amount of melty or bubbly hasish has the serious potential to get all over the screen and ruin your vaping session and make a mess. Better to stick with the dry hashish in this one. THX Beezleb! [/Edit]
Well how much money is this gonna save me in the long run?
Obviously the efficiency depends entirely upon your own habits. My own habits are generally to remain heavily medicated anytime during which I am awake. This was hard as a smoker in a non-smoking house in the cold months, complete with my ailing lungs to bother me. So when I started vaping, I could actually manage to be medicated constantly, whereas before, the weather and my asthma prevented more than occasional stoning. So my own cannabis consumption actually stayed about the same initially, although I am now three times as high as I was a month ago. Vaping my mid-grade, partially compressed bud is, in my estimation around 3 times as efficient using my DBV as compared to smoking the herb. I would literally have to smoke a whole gram to reap the same effects as 1/3g brings through the DBV. As a relatively new vaper, I am pleased with that figure and it's actually about what I was shooting for.
[Edit] As per my notes below, be aware that my personal usage is slightly wasteful and not the most efficient. [/Edit]
The only significant problem I can find is...
...that your herb or ABV matter will fall into the elbow from time to time and combust. I think this is kind of a silly problem. It seems like it would be easy to put a screen in the elbow that would completely prevent this. Maybe having a screen there would negatively affect performance from inhibiting the airflow or heat radiance. The hands-free aspect of the vape obviously requires that the wand be level with the ground, or it would slide out. At any rate, this is the only significant problem you may notice as it stinks when you roast partially combusted plants on that heating element all day
Even this problem with soon go away once you get to use your DBV well. There is, from time to time, a very faint and slightly combusted odor that emanates from the unit. It's not strong and is probably due to some very fine plant material from my slightly over-packed wand falling into the heater area.
Recommendations?
If you want a simple, elegant and easy-to-use vape for mostly personal use, the Da Buddha Vaporizer is a great choice. It's inexpensive, there's no waiting list, it can be anywhere from efficient to hard-hitting, there's a 3 year warranty, and it's downright well-made. If you are trying to decide on your first vape and on a budget with maybe not the best quality pot, then the DBV is, quite possibly, the vape for you. I am in love with the thing (although since I will be hitting the road soon I will be abandoning it in favor of a highly portable vape model) and am extremely pleased with my decision to purchase. I doubled my herb smoking to help me quit cigarettes, now this DBV has enabled me to double my medication while quitting smoking entirely. Smoke, in fact, is no longer anywhere near as effective as vapor now that I can control the size of my hits.
One more idea: We used to make a bong called "The Lung" out of a bread bag and a 2 liter bottle with the bottom 2 inches cut off. You tape the open end of the bag with a good seal around the now open bottom of the bottle. You would normally insert a makeshift weed-smoking bowl into the mouth of the 2 liter bottle. Empty the air in the bottle, light the herb, slowly pull the bag out and you have over 2 liters of very thick smoke. I have yet to try this since I don't drink soda, but in theory, if we made this contraption and replaced the bowl with just a sealed connection to the whip, well, we could even have makeshift bags with this great whip vape. Just a though.
Anyways, thanks for reading my review. I may follow up on it when I remember more later. See, this thing works
If someone has a budget that doesnt allow for more than $200 to be spent on a vape, i would definitely recommend a DBV, but if price isnt too important, i do think the SSV is worth the premium.
