NicholasPetris
Well-Known Member
In general, I don't think I'd recommend the o-ring trick with a bare steel stem, especially with the SS tip; it can easily get too hot to comfortably handle. (Gen 4-5 Ti tips can be acceptable since they cool quickly.) The airport provides some much-appreciated cooling.
Because of the quicker cooldown on the 2018 M with this new lighter SS tip, I can whole-heartedly endorse using the o-ring trick to block the airport. (@Few Minute Programming) The stem may still get hot sometimes, but some blowing or drawing can cool it quite fast.
Overall I prefer the simplicity of carbless operation, so I'm very happy that the new tip has enough airflow and smoothness to comfortably allow this. I wasn't expecting a steel tip to become part of my daily rotation, but currently I have it on a NonaVonG stem with a spinning mouthpiece (with the x-ring trick) and it's a very enjoyable experience. You really can't go wrong with any VapCap setup.
One more thing I wanted to add about the 2018 M: mine did have a fair amount of the regular grey residue, especially in the condenser and stem. Do not neglect a thorough cleaning before first use !