Is the adjust-a-screen heavily preferred for the E-Nano GonGs? I was thinking of going fixed all-glass, since I would imagine there's less incentive to fiddle with screen position in a bubbler setup. But you guys would know better than I do, obviously.
Much about this all through the thread, but is kind of hard to search and find what you're looking for. About time someone put it together all in one place to be easy to find anyway...
Notes specifically about Epicvape glass, but much of Adjust-a-bowl screen info applies to those from other vendors also. Don't think you can get glass screens from anywhere but Epicvape.
Glass Screens -
- Fixed position.
- Just drop whole GonG or stem in ISO and screen gets clean with other glass
- Pretty deep compared to where many set adjust-a-bowl screens
- Will allow finely ground material through to your mouth or bubbler
- GonGs/Stems with glass screens cost a bit more initially, but no need to purchase more screens in future
- PROS -
- No need to adjust screen
- No need to remove screen for cleaning or to replace
- Screens don't get bent up
- CONS -
- Glass screen sits pretty deep/far away from heating element
- Finely ground material can get through unless you use ss screen also
- Can be hard to clean out the holes - toothpick is too thick
- Can't quickly switch out screen when dirty
- TIPS -
- A small flat stainless steel screen can be used to keep finely ground material from going through glass acreen
- A basket screen can be used in glass screen GonG/stem and should rest on glass screen. This allows for getting load closer to heat, but usually doesn't allow for adjustable depth
- Whole nugs (unground) work great in these. Rough grind while stirring after first hit or two
- Give a swirl in some ISO while still warm for a quick rough clean
- Paper clip makes a good hole cleaning tool
Adjust-a-bowl Screens -
- Adjustability allows moving load closer to or further from heat. A nice tweak for more versatility
- Probably need cleaning a bit more often than glass
- Need to be stretched or replaced occasionally or they won't stay in place
- Can hold a pretty fine grind with no material passing through
- Can be used basket up or down as preferred (IMO basket away from heater - down - better for a few reasons below)
- GonGs/Stems with adjustable SS screens cost a bit less initially, but probably need to purchase more screens in future
- PROS -
- Can move up or down as you like to go with smaller or larger loads and/or more or less heat
- Very easy to adjust
- If you go lower heat and closer to heat, most users report even better flavor
- Usually easy to switch out screen quickly and keep on vaping
- Screens are inexpensive - 5 for $5
- CONS -
- Can be a real pain in the ass to get basket screen into the GonG/stem if it doesn't go in from opposite side of nano end. Can do this with most later Epicvape glass
- After a while they will get loose in the glass. Must stretch or replace or they move around too much
- Will get bent up after repeated removal/cleaning/re-insertion and will need to be replaced eventually no matter how gentle you are with them
- TIPS -
- Can do an easy quick clean by dumping load, turning up heat and giving a few tasty, and often cloudy draws. Always nice to do this before pulling to clean unless your are planning on making reclaim QWISO
- Basket side (open end) away from nano gives best consistent performance because sides of screen are not around load and getting heated up. Also usually leads to larger load capacity and easier cleaning (load not trapped in sides of basket)
- When loading open end away from nano, try to insert from opposite end as nano (mouth/bubbler side). They will go all the way through in most newer glass. Use a pencil or something similar and make sure it is lined up properly all the way through - especially where the glass may be a little wider and allow screen to get sideways if you're not paying attention. If this doesn't work and you are having trouble getting them in from nano side, put them in the other direction first (open end toward nano) and this will usually squeeze the open end down to pretty much right size and make easier to insert open end first
- When they get loose, and they eventually will, stretch using a dowel or similar that barely fits in screen. Be sure to stretch as close to flat end as possible for best results
- The notch on the long arm of the e-pik is a good depth guide for screen starting point. Put ledge on edge of glass, arm should barely touch the screen. Easiest is to just leave screen a little high and use e-pik to push to right level
- Good to have extras. When dirty just drop in ISO for a few hours and rinse with hot water. A quick scrub with a toothbrush or similar before rinsing will clean them up nicely
- A bamboo skewer, chopstick, pencil or similar is good to have handy to push screen up from bottom
- For a quick clean, do the empty basket high temp bit above, pull while still warm and hit with a toothbrush or similar with just a little ISO on it. Rinse, dry, and replace to glass. Hit it a few times empty to fully dry. Dirty to clean and back in use in about 2 - 3 minutes
Probably even more on each, but think this is a pretty good starting point. There are also a few subtle differences depending on whether you're using GonG adapter or dry stem.
FWIW, I think Andy (
@ACE OF VAPE ), the master himself, still uses glass screen stem with whole nug. But, IIRC he's not quite the stoner many of us are! I very much prefer adjust-a-bowls! Don't hardly ever use the glass-screened glass I have. Many, many different ways to use your nano. It is VERY versatile. But, I think what is commonly referred to the 2 Hit Extraction method is a great starting point and still my favorite.
Basically this is keeping the screen high (to notch on e-pik) and heat reasonably low (5.5 - 6.5 depending on specific nano and other factors). By starting point I mean a place to get a feeling for using the nano before you start tweaking for preference. This
video by
@Caligula explains it very well. Be warned - Caligula has huge lungs! I load a little less than he does and usually get 3 good hits, stirring after 2. A good idea to check out his youtube page for other stuff, too. Some other vapes covered, but think there are still a few really good nano ones there.
The main reason I'm getting into all of this again here is that you can't really do this with a glass screen. Screen is too deep in the GonG/stem. Needless to say, you can do this with an adjust-a-bowl. Could be possible with a glass screen if you put a basket screen in on top of the glass, but depth of your glass screen and size of your basket screen would have to be just right with no adjustability. Some people just seem to be lucky like that and wouldn't have a problem doing 2 Hit Extraction with a glass screened GonG. But, usually my luck doesn't go that smoothly.
Hope this helps and answers questions!