Filtered 'bowl' vapes

[anon08]

Thanks for your quick reply.
Currently i am using a 1300C jet lighet i bought from dealextreme.
Do you think it will work if i cut the mesh in a circular pattern with a small wire cutter and then remove the remaining bit with a small plier? That was my initial approach, but then i read about the screw. By the way the metal plate i intact, i just poked it a bit through the hole just to clarify if there was a barrier between the nipple and the mesh.

Do you think it will be sufficient if i just remove it the way i mentioned, and then torch it for about 1 min with the Jet lighter for DX?

 

[OhTheAgony]

You can cut a whole in it, sure. But if you open it up a bit or find something you could get under it and then grab it some way with a pointy pair of pliers you can just yank it out with a little force.

But I feel I kinda ruined my first metal cap by removing that screen, why don't you just try how you like it with the screen left in place first?

That torch will work, I suspect it's one of those big ones though, so it's gonna be on the hot side. You'll have to find the sweet spot and keep the flame an inch or further away from the opening in the nipple to prevent combustion.

 

[anon08]

Alright then, i'll just try to flame it from both sides as you suggested without removing the mesh.
Oh and one more question, what would be the best screen size for the bowl itself? I suspect one that is 10mm would fit perfectly but that is just a guess.

 

[OhTheAgony]

It's actually larger then it looks. I use a 15mm screen myself. It stays in place as that it won't drop out if you turn the bowl upside down, but it's still a little loose and can move from side to side a bit when stirring. I haven't found a size that fits tighter though, unless you want to cut something up yourself.

Have fun

Oh, and I completely forgot earlier in my high-ness, but welcome to FC!

 

[anon08]

Is a screen of that size going to fit a 14.4mm bowl such as mine?

Oh, thank you very much! It has already been a very pleasant experience to be a part of this forum

 

[OhTheAgony]

Yeah, the bowl size of the 18 and 14mm is the same, so one size fits all.

That's good to hear, and yw

 

[anon08]

Cool! Thanks for all that helpful info

 

[Sensi Star]

Just got the 14mm Glass Vapo-Bowl in the mail. Something definitely looks weird about the metal cap.

The metal cap has 2 parts (looking at it from the outside). The "top" piece that has the spout where the flame goes, and the "bottom" piece that is just a metal cylinder.

Well, if I place the metal cap by itself on the table, the top spout does not point straight up at the ceiling, it points diagonally to one side. One of the pieces is crooked. I also have to spin the metal cap around a bit in order for it to descend tightly onto the glass bowl.

On closer examination, as I rotate the cap to examine the "seam" (all the way around) at which to 2 pieces meet, I can see something bulges out at one point. It kind of looks like the edge of a screen (possibly the screen inside) protruding in between where the top half hugs the bottom half.

Did I get a defective piece, what's the deal here?

 

[OhTheAgony]

Yeah, it sounds like your cap wasn't put together properly.

They are quite inexpensive parts though, I believe you can buy spare caps here for around 2 euro's a piece so don't expect to much quality either way. But I would send a complaint & photo to your retailer about it to see how he wants to handle it, it shouldn't be to hard to get it replaced if you bought it at a reputable dealer.

 

[Sensi Star]

^ Are you sure? After I posted that I looked at some pictures on the web, and it seems all of them are a little crooked.

Oh and while taking the inner screen out as suggested in this thread, I discovered that the bulge is the edge of the screen that sort of "curls" in between the cap halves, I guess to hold it in place. Since it only does this in one spot (not all the way around), this is probably why the halves are a little crooked.

Only problem I have now is that after taking the inner screen out with a screw and pliers, the star-shaped piece that was under the screen now moves around a bit (making a jingling noise). Does anyone know if this will cause problems with it's functionality?

 

[G_pen_]

I dont think so but i would either hit up the dealer or company. Most legit products have legit companys so they should help you out or replace it free of charge.

 

[OhTheAgony]

I would think yanking the screen out voids your warranty, no need to contact your dealer anymore.

All I know is that there are no weird bulges in the two I have here. I'm not one who recommends removing the screen, but the looseness of the star shaped piece of metal is normal after removing the screen.

 

[Sensi Star]

^
Are the 2 halves of your metal cap put together flush and un-crooked? Place it on a level table; does the "spout" on the top half point diagonally to one side instead of straight up to the ceiling?

 

[OhTheAgony]

I have one that's a bit loose that gets a bit crooked a times, but you can just press it back in & then it's fairly flush again just like my other one. One of them is a bit wider and a little harder to fit in one of my bowls though.

But I'm not sure what kinda quality you expect. Like said, it's a 1 or 2 dollar cap, you can't expect it to be a perfectly machined piece of kit for this kind of money.

 

[Sensi Star]

What is the cleanest/best brand of butane refill fluid? I've narrowed it down to

Colibri, Vector, and Lava. Lava claims to be 5x refined.

 

[OhTheAgony]

Their is a thread dedicated to butane somewhere on FC I believe, but I usually go for anything I can find the cheapest that carries this label:

 

[Sensi Star]

Okay, after a TON of obstacles and hassles, I finally got to use the vapo-bowl. The set-up is an upright water pipe with water, whose original down-stem was replaced by a 14mm GONG diffuser (fastened on with rubber gasket), into which goes the 14mm vapo-bowl (with steel screen). The herb is medical-grade quality, and fairly dry, but not-bone dry (dry enough to snap the stem when bent, but not enough to crumble by rubbing in between fingers). Herb was broken up as finely as possible by pulling apart with fingers. Results as follows:

My first impression was that this thing is incredibly difficult to use. I had the herb in the "lower" position (under the pinches) in the center of the screen. I'm using a Colibri jet-torch lighter, and initially I was playing it safe and careful. First few tries I had the jet flame perpendicular (horizontally across the VB spout), and allowed it to barely dip into the spout with long inhalations (20-30 seconds). After so many tries with this method, I wasn't getting anything like a milky-rope of vapor that is possible with the VB, and we are talking a TINY amount of herb (like .05g, even less).

Then I tried 45 degree angle for the flame (halfway between horizontal and straight down into the spout), allowing the tip of the flame to dip in. I could taste some slight vapor, but still no "milk".

Finally I figure I need to step it up and use a 90 degree angle (flame pointing straight down into the spout). Few tries and I get a very slight amount of visible vapor. I am frustrated, I've been at this for 2 hours straight (because of lighter refills). The herb is bone-dry now, but shows no signs of being "browned". At this point I am actually TRYING to combust, just to see if it's possible.

Now it's balls to the wall. This time, with the flame pointing straight down into the spout, I actually allow the ENTIRE flame to descend into the spout. After about 15 seconds, I successfully get a visible, milky cloud of vapor. The herb is now slightly "browned" but not "blackened". It's amazing to me how much heat is required to get a good cloud.

Despite the success, I still haven't figured it out completely. I even combusted a few times after that first success. Even after I changed to the upper position (on top of glass pinches) closer to the cap, I still had to use the same angle, with not much better results.

It's a shame there is only 1 vapo-bowl video on youtube, and the guy used a regular bic lighter, so it didn't really help me. I really hope I figure this out soon, because the lighter fluid is gonna be expensive. I had to fill up my lighter 3 times before I was feeling satisfactory effects!

 

[OhTheAgony]

I've been wanting to do some more vids but the vapo bowl isn't on my to do list to be honest, since I've already retired mine & switched to something with a butane-free airpath (see my signature).

What kinda lighter do you use though? I really recommend using a torch with this one. Or well, with all lighter based vapes actually. I tried mine out with a bic the first time and had a really hard time getting anything out of it too so I suspect you used something with a regular flame. With a torch you have to make sure the tip of the flame never enters the vapo bowl or you will immediately combust ime.

I found that the ideal bowl load for a vapo bowl is between 0,1 and 0,2 gram, so upping that might help cloud shaping as well.

ps: I have no idea where the picture went in my last post, but this was what I was talking about:

 

[Sensi Star]

^ I was using a torch lighter, as I mentioned early in the post. Also, how would I be able to point straight down into spout with a regular lighter? (it'd burn my thumb)

However, it's a pretty cheap lighter, and I keep the flame adjustment on the lowest setting in the interest of conserving butane. The only way I get a non-combusted visible cloud is by putting most of the flame into the spout.

 

[Kommyknocker]

I read through this whole thread and have one in my posession but awaiting a nice dremel torch to arrive.
So this whole screen removal business. I see some people had managed to knockout the metal plate out.. now just to be clear, its flame, nipple, star plate then first screen(remove this yeah?) And then the pinches and then the second screen lip.
Unless there was some kind of design change in the cap, I cant see how someone could knockout the starplate.. or am I somehow being a teapot? Lol
Can't wait to try this this but ain't gonna use a lighter.

 

[Kommyknocker]

Sorry for the doubler no edit button.
Well it definitely works. Got me f@#king vaked completely.
Using a dremel versaflame on the lowest setting.
I hold the cap with tweezers and give a 15 second blast all over and around, pop it on the bowl and blast the nip as I take a rip. Thick tasty vapor with no butane taste as far as I could tell.
Screen on glass lip, herb filled to pinches.

 

[BullGod]

I use the Vapor Star (VS) and would very much like to swap the wooden bowl with a glass one.
The Vapo Bowl (VB) cap seems to be chrome coated aluminum, so I would prefer to use the stainless steel VS cap on the VB glass bowl.
Can anyone who has both the VS and VB check, if the VS cap fits the VB glass bowl?

 

[jambandphan03]

I might check this out soon, does anyone have the one PlanetVape sells? That's where I'd be ordering it from. I'm not in any rush right now.

 

[stim]

I took a punt on a glass Vapo Bowl and it arrived yesterday. I was up-and running in seconds and was immediately impressed by the efficiency of it. This baby rips!

The screen went under the glass nipples. I left the cover screen on for now. With just a tiny bit of herb and a torch lighter I was getting really nice vapour clouds through my bong. After three nice hits I checked the bowl to see the herb had only browned slightly, but very evenly.

Although I am really happy with the performance, I do have a concern about the metal top. Despite cleaning and flaming for a few minutes, there is a strong metallic taste. I believe it is steel (used a magnet), but pretty low-grade. However it does seem coated - but in what? Chrome would be a VERY bad choice here.

Some people above said their caps had fallen apart. What's holding them together?

I'm in two minds about this one. It's rather too mysterious a product to be inhaling without anxiety. Is there a higher-quality alternative out there?

 

[stim]

So I couldn't resist but to look more closely at this intriguing vapo-bowl.

First I removed the top screen, I cleaned it again, in soapy water then ISO. I then torched the bejaysus out of it, observing closely for any colour changes that might indicate the presence of impurities (also after vigorously scratching the surface). Nothing seen.

After that I hooked it up and managed to combust my first bowl! With a little more practice I can now be up-and-running in no time. I point the torch flame straight into the aperture for a couple of seconds then inhale slowly (through my super-cheapo Chinese bong). At the first sign of vapour I pull the torch back, but still pointing at the hole. This allows fairly precise control over the vapour density.

It's weird - the vapour produced is thick and milky yet it doesn't irritate my lungs as much as my other vapes (Extreme Q/Vapman).

The metallic taste is now largely eliminated, but is still noticeable. I'm hoping this will fade. Vapour is otherwise quite tasty.

The efficiency, considering it's price and the clouds is makes, is quite something. I'm barely covering the screen with herb, and it browns consistently without need to stir.