Curious why you say the Brute is better for earlier caps? I bought a new cap and stem last year and it works the same as my old caps. As with most I always go a couple seconds after the click.The Wand with the SK insert is great. Brute is great with earlier caps. Fluxer Flite rules, best DV IH bar none. I've been using/loving IHs since the Lucid Customs Atlas but I still get better results with most tips by torching, unless conditions are too rough. IH is nice to have when the TV's on, for sure.
The Brute and the Lucid Customs are similar in that you need to count past the clicks with newer caps. As IHs were becoming more popular (there's discussion in the Fluxer thread) they reformulated the cap's metal to be more ferrous so they'd interact with induction fields better, requiring less battery drainage. IHs tuned for older caps heat newer caps too fast, necessitating the post-clicks counting (which can vary by cap and tip). I find it aggravating so I only use those two IHs with older caps. The Flite and Wand at the proper depth do much better--the DV's ready at the clicks.
Interesting, I haven’t found that to be the case. Even with the old caps and PSM I would usually go a couple seconds past the click. Maybe the caps are more consistent now…. i’ve had a few older ones that varied from each other.
Watch the classifieds for a Flite. There was also a tiny desktop plugin heater he made called the Flix--I think only a round or two of those ever shipped--that had the same heater technology. The Flix and Flite have a standard setting, and also a pulse width modulation setting. The PWM pulses the induction field at adjustable rates to slow down heating to correct for any cap funniness. I really never need to use the PWM because the standard setting is tuned so well.
Lol. I have a second one for that! ; ) I really got it because I thought my first one was crapping out but it really just seems to not like the Helix (and one other). But I did learn how to use it without the insert first; I got the insert to make it more brainless, I guess. At the time I was only using it for DVs.
It's a great tool, no doubt. And I think most IH-only DVers are getting great results that they're happy with. But the torch brings a little more precision to adding more or less heat, adjusting for any cap induction issues, etc. Not absolutely necessary but once you find your comfort it adds some flexibility. It's a skill worth developing at your leisure, I feel, even if you're happy with your IH.Exactly this. The wand is quiet where the torch is noisy. Downside is minimal practice for my torch technique since I bought my dv and wand together.
I'm kind of the opposite. I picked up torching quickly enough (there were no IHs then) that it was never really a problem, but I did improve a lot over time. When I got my Atlas I loved it and used it daily but never quit torching. Now I use the Wand once a day or so and usually forget to charge it until too late so I often end up waiting to use it, whereas refilling the torch I can do in a couple minutes. I carry the Flite when I go for a walk or hike and I use it maybe 60% of the time, mostly so I can keep walking while heating or sometimes because of the wind. That one I remember to charge as part of the whole preparation ritual of grinding and packing up whatever vapes I'm taking.
Somehow I can manage that fine with the batts for my portables but it never occurred to me to use it for the wand's, those I've always charged in the wand itself. I need a bigger charger! ; )the wand batts get cycled through every day, always have a pair of 18650s on tap (great deal r n @ batterystore), have the same can of premium gas I bought 4 years ago
Yes, it is slow. I just checked and the batteries fit my charger so I am giving it a go. I'm gonna need a bigger charger!
Wait, is it Vongsday? ; P
Save it for a Helix/perforated cap. The extra length will tighten down the air mix at the tip/condenser interface, taking advantage of the airiness of the tip. The WW condenser is the nicest looking but the MXL is handier for sure. It's my secret weapon for aftermarket stems that are a longer-than-standard length and it's excellent as well for the older wooden vongs--it can close down the airports for going through water, or even to increase the richness of the air/vapor mix despite the Nona's and Hydra's large airports.
I really appreciate that info, thanks! It's funny, but the instant that WW mouthpiece hits your lips you realize the oval-ness of the M7XL. This one is round. That Omni body (glad I looked in the DV clearance section) has such a great in-hand feel, too. The Vong has the vaphit tip, sans quartz cap (mine broke). Dyna cap works fine on it.
Have a couple Vongs, they’re nice.After seeing the posts I got real interested in the VonG with the wood and it proved to be a difficult find.
I did find one for $120, but there was little to no information about it. Just a picture and name, VonG. I wonder how old this is, and what type of wood. Either way, I am loving it!!
I wasn't sure if creating a Franken-vap was poor etiquette, but I tend to the practical. Congrats on the Omni stem; it instantly dethroned the other Ms here. Was going to say, it's in-hand feel is the best, it's beyond pretty, but the airport is harder to find and it holds differently. Twirls a bit farther in a full spin motion for me. Fun change up.
I agree with you about the Frankensteins, but it's obvious that the Omni mouthpiece is outdated and needs modernizing.
I'm leaning towards shortening the WW condenser, as I'm really happy with it in the Vongwynd (!)
but the one tip that chokes it is it's own original VonG tip, and that one works well (though I personally find others more esthetic). 
Suppose I could run it with no condenser? (hotter). And clean it more often?