Has anyone noticed after heating and taking more than a couple hits, you feel resistance from some reclaim/oil (I think it’s in the stem tip). It’s more noticeable when I’m grinding medium instead of coarse. I clean weekly but this happens after around 3 days of use, 4 times a day. You can feel the oil sort of bubbling in the stem. Any tips on minimizing this beyond just grinding coarser? I haven’t found holding it in different directions makes much difference.
Do you use the capsule or bowl configuration? I definitely notice similar restrictions over time in mine with the more resinous strains I’ve been using lately (always medium grind), but haven’t heard a bubbling sound. I’ve noticed all of the following helped in my case, but ymmv:
- stir every few hits. Doesn’t do much but helps cook evenly and sometimes helps when things get very compacted after a hard draw or when I used to twax in my firewoods
- replacing/cleaning the capsule every 2 uses since the screen gets gunky. Can probably stretch further but I have 4 so it’s really easy to rotate
- when in bowl mode (or with my fw7) after emptying I take a small brush (currently the s&b cleaning brushes, but any stiff bristles would work), put it in the oven and give a couple twirls then blow firmly through the mouthpiece to dislodge stuck bits. Works slightly better when the oven is warm but not too hot
- check the stem. With my current strain, fines (I assume kief?) get sucked through the capsule screen and end up getting stuck to the oven side of the mouthpiece after a few uses. Wiping it off or running under hot water helps, but it’s usually a sign I’m due for a cleaning with iso (or whatever cleaner you use)
- if none of the above work, next time I remove the capsule I additionally make sure to check the spring. Been noticing if it’s positioned poorly or the bowl adapter is too tight that REALLY restricts the airflow