Discontinued herbalAire

[Egzoset]

Hi again SecureSwede,

I see my mistakes now...

Hardly mistakes for all i can tell, simply different perspectives and i'd like to put this opportunity to good use again. So here it goes!...

...the unit could be knocked over so easily it was a design flaw in my eyes.

At 1st i tend to agree, 18 ~ 24 Vac via a more flexible cable should suffice in the present versions. But ultimately, should the IH scenario become reality i'd prefer to keep the sturdy household power cable as that's likely to prove economic in terms of final implementation. At 300 ~ 500 Watts the present cable would probably suit affordable IH design requirements better while that much power is desirable if the unit is to emulate the mighty power of fire.

...the HA was one of the best at conserving herbs...

Possibly my pipe now holds roughly a third of what i used to fill my HA crucible with, extraction was excellent but that came with what i called "the locomotive effect": e.g. the urge to empty that bag!

Consequently i had started to explore a 2-parts alternative. The IH version would simply provide a thermostatic v2.x compatibility mode and instead offer an option where energy is stored into a wand that is taken out of its pre-heating base conveniently: the IH docking station would remain on a table with its sturdy AC power cable permanently attached, it's the wand that would move around instead.

The HA heat-exchanger assembly would produce pre-heated fresh-air and render it available in a twin-heater setup à la "LavaWand" where the main pre-heat IH coil magnetically "excites" the heat-exchanger with its associated thermocouple (to close a thermostatic control loop) and another IH coil near the top aperture would generate thermostatic heat into the wand's own integrated heat-exchanger core, right before vaporisation. As a bonus the torch flame compatibility of SiC in that optional IH wand would make it possible for guys like me to add self-moisturisation as the final touch.

So, who wouldn't enjoy that sort of prospect?!

...just toss in a nug and have it come out perfectly vaped.

That's one reason why i'd stick to the time-tested heat-exchanger bloc and its fresh-air inlet bridge connected directly outside, away from any potential contaminants while supporting the addition of a pump, etc.

...my thoughts are running out of control a bit...

The two Wright brothers must have thought the same when they decided to build airplanes...

Good day, have fun!!

 

[StormyPinkness]

I see my mistakes now, I was more pointing out that since the unit could be knocked over so easily it was a design flaw in my eyes.

also Ill admit the HA was one of the best at conserving herbs, it was a ton of fun to just toss in a nug and have it come out perfectly vaped.

My brain is pretty fried today anyway so I guess my thoughts are running out of control a bit haha, did not mean for this to cause such a big commotion.

Got heated on both sides, time for everybody to go get high on whatever you love and forget about the whole thing.

Edit: Avoiding double post.....

It's all because of that name.. herbal..aaaaiiireeeeeee..
wanna buy an herbalaaiiireeeee or an arizer EXTREME Quu?

Wait, do you say it airy? Is that the right way? I've just been saying air. I'm..... going to keep calling it the herbal air. Now that I'm thinking about names volcano is an awesome one, good image and it kind of looks like one.

 

[SecureSwede]

haha exactly, ill be vaping my face off in a few hours once I make it out of work. Its friday, time to relax

 

[cybrguy]

Possibly my pipe now holds roughly a third of what i used to fill my HA crucible with, extraction was excellent but that came with what i called "the locomotive effect": e.g. the urge to empty that bag!

This is the only reason the HA isn't my gotovape anymore. If I am in the mood for a lazy session, or especially if I have some buds over for a group buzz the HA is perfect and fills the bill well. But usually I'm by myself and I just need to be high right now, and a Lotus bowl in a minute or less gets me there. No heat up time or locomotion. I can DO a portion of a crucible and tap it out after so there is as little waste as the conduction allows, but I still have the heat up time.

So, yes, we all have different tastes and styles or we would all be driving the same car and eating in the same restaurants. Each of us wants to find a vape (or 2) tailored to our style and needs, including economic.

So @SecureSwede if it seemed that I was telling you what vape to love, that wasn't my intention. But if necessary <G> I will certainly "defend" the HA as a great, viable, reliable and adaptable high quality vape due much respect. And it's flexibility makes it a very good first vape. It helped me discern what my needs were/are.

 

[VJJJV]

getting high has never been such a serious topic, e.g. see glass concept threads

 

[cybrguy]

It's serious when you can't find it...

 

[cornwalis]

Lol only vape you can beat an intruder with and be vaping in few sec after a wipe down

 

[DevRev]

herbalaire was my first vape and it still serves a great purpose

I think everyone should have a bag type vape for ABV at the least

Its great for a bunch of friends too, very good party vape.

The new pump was a game-changer, if anyone is still on the very old pump you should upgrade for sure.

 

[421]

Took a pic of how the ceramic disc screens fit in the herbalAire, these things work so well!

Can change convection/conduction ratios by stacking up a bunch (eg 3 on bot, 1 on top), use them to smoosh up buds (particularly great for unground buds), and use them as a sort of ceramic substrate for convection dabs (tho I still add bud in when I do oil). I don't use cruc when I use these, just ceramic disc sandwiches + espresso mode. Credit to @McNerdius for discovering/recommending these.

Also did some measuring and researching today, found silicone tubing version of the air pump/whip tubing 3/16 x 5/16: http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-16-ID-x-5...715?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f265d3aa3

 

[StormyPinkness]

Took a pic of how the ceramic disc screens fit in the herbalAire, these things work so well!

Can change convection/conduction ratios by stacking up a bunch (eg 3 on bot, 1 on top), use them to smoosh up buds (particularly great for unground buds), and use them as a sort of ceramic substrate for convection dabs (tho I still add bud in when I do oil). I don't use cruc when I use these, just ceramic disc sandwiches + espresso mode. Credit to @McNerdius for discovering/recommending these.

Also did some measuring and researching today, found silicone tubing version of the air pump/whip tubing 3/16 x 5/16: http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-16-ID-x-5...715?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f265d3aa3

Nice, I got 100 feet of the vinyl stuff for $20 years ago, I think I'll buy some of the silicon to try. I feel like last time I looked I couldn't find it small enough.

So do you grind and then do layers with the wax in the middle? Wax sandwich? Do you use the discs? Any residue left behind? I used to get free non-wax concentrates with my order and I always used to just wedge chunks of them in nuggets. It worked, not really well though. I do have a serious wax rig, but I'm tempted to try wax in the ha.

 

[421]

So do you grind and then do layers with the wax in the middle? Wax sandwich? Do you use the discs? Any residue left behind? I used to get free non-wax concentrates with my order and I always used to just wedge chunks of them in nuggets. It worked, not really well though. I do have a serious wax rig, but I'm tempted to try wax in the ha.

Key things I've noticed so far are ground up layer(s) of weed (about 0.3g per layer) and something to hold it together and make a sandwich. I definitely use the discs, and have tried it with 5 discs only, however this didn't work as well as the bud sandwich. There is some residue that builds up on the discs and sometimes the discs stick together but can be easily separated with a poker tool. After a good amount of vapor dabbing a while ago I decided to ISO soak my screens to remove residue. I am afraid that some residue might build up in the HA itself but it looks like the bud is doing a good job at catching it.

One of the better configurations was no ceramic screen disc on the bottom, just bud then BHO (wax), then a bunch of ceramic discs (I use 4 iirc with elite mp in 2.2) to ensure that the load stays close to the heater... it does put ground up weed right next to the heater which the HA seems to handle just fine. This was upside down on my water setup so it might work better right side up. I did just try:
heater / disc / herb / disc / BHO / disc / herb / disc / TonG. Hit it mostly right side up with a 18mm female MP on TonG (great budget setup, though dry). This worked really effectively, good taste, and nice amounts of vapor for a long time. I'm not 100% certain that it is vaporizing all of the oil, like I would be if I using a nail... however so far in my testing the effects are definitely there. Sometimes I don't want to pull out the nail setup but might want oil, etc. I do all of this at 400F, haven't tried oil at lower temps, it might work too.

Oh yeah one more cool thing about the disc screens is I take the metal screen out of TonG. Less maintenance for keeping that clean.

P.S. Coupon code ELEVEN at vaporwarehouse for disc screens, 11% off order. Had to order some more unfortunately as I broke one doing something dumb (trying to push wax between two screens way too hard, one of the discs split in half).

 

[lethe]

MY HerbalAire died last year after about 6 years of constant, intensive use - a real workhorse! I have Parkinson's and must have dropped it at least 10 times a day - the fact that I didn't have a space for it and was constantly moving it didn't help. I'm sure if used normally it would have lasted twice as long, if not longer. After reading about the Plenty I bought one, and it was great m- but too strong!

As a medical user I prefer to be relatively clear--eyed during the day and the plenty was too strong! So I bought my 2nd HerbalAire. I use HA daytime, and Plenty at night....

 

[cornwalis]

Fill crusible and i take a aa batterie.
Smooshe it drop it in hot unit prees again once lil warm
cap it suck real hard to pop the herb disk up to top plug air hose n pump cream
sucking on it with nonstraw raises the cake up to thentop quick and evenly
otherwise sum times it flips the you dont get that blockege effect

 

[biohacker]

Wondering if any HA owners also have owned/experienced and LSV or maybe even Cloud/EVO? Just wondering if the HA is something that I need to experience?

 

[t-dub]

Once I started using VapeXhale products the HA went into hibernation and was eventually restored and given to a patient in need. Its a great vape but the Cloud/EVO blows it away. I don't do bags so the functionality is not missed.

 

[421]

Once I started using VapeXhale products the HA went into hibernation and was eventually restored and given to a patient in need. Its a great vape but the Cloud/EVO blows it away. I don't do bags so the functionality is not missed.

Just curious but how were you using your HA? Not to discount your opinion at all, haven't had a chance to try the EVO.

 

[t-dub]

Just curious but how were you using your HA? Not to discount your opinion at all, haven't had a chance to try the EVO.

Pass me the green baby . . .

Don't get me wrong, I love the HA, but the vapor density and flavor just can't compare with the Cloud EVO imho. If I had to say what was missing from the equation it would be turbulence. The HA twists a little but it doesn't "scrub" as hard as it could. Daisy does this with her whistle etc . . .

Edit: Also the flavor. The glass bamboo makes a difference. There is another popular heavy hitter out there that has a metallic "tang" to it so materials, wherever they are used, matter a great deal.

---

 

[421]

vapor density and flavor just can't compare imho

fair enough! for me, i think of the lesser vapor density as a tradeoff for the no stir and excellent even extraction... as herbalaire diffuses air into many small micro jets versus open large airflow of something like daisy.

 

[PPN]

Imo the HA2.2 taste better than the Cloud+ I own (especially with the TonG in full convection mode)...but yes the Cloud+ is a clouds machine although I get pretty satisfying clouds with my HA!

HA was my first vape..some months after I bought a Cloud+ but it never replaced my HA, in regard to the amount you can put the bowl(+1g!) I can say this vaporizer medicates me more than all others!

And the ability to vape a completly whole nug is trully amazing

And the ability to resist to falls

And the balloons

And the versatility (whip, direct draw, direct connection to a bong)

And again the taste

And it's easy to use (no draw restriction, no awkward cleaning, just turn on, wait for the green led put your loaded crucible or your loaded TonG in and enjoy!)

In term of taste and efficiency it is on the same level of my MiniVap (especially with TonG)!

 

[Magic9]

Wondering if any HA owners also have owned/experienced and LSV or maybe even Cloud/EVO? Just wondering if the HA is something that I need to experience?

I've never used the LSV (used a DBV), or a Cloud/EVO, but I'll echo t-dub. The vapor density just wasn't there. It's a great vape. Well built, durable, does all the things it says it does. It was just too airy to really milk the glass without cramming it full.

It was my first real vape, so it'll always have a place near and dear to me, but I'd take an LSV (based on the DBV comparison) or Cloud (based on videos/reviews) over the HA if I was looking for a heavy hitter.

If you're looking for a bag vape though...

 

[nicelytoasted]

Some very good points made there, @PPN . To say that the evo "blows it away" is over the top, and needs to be challenged, @t-dub , imo.

Let me preface this by saying I've never used any of the cloud editions, or an LSV, but have hit the DBV many times, and the SSV a few times before.

Taste is far too subjective to be quantified and compared (ie - t-dub and PPN have opposite opinions here), and vapour density can be mostly controlled by the user (grind/fine grind/packing/amount of herb used, vaping temp(s)), etc. It is mostly governed by the number of particulates in the air stream, giving it more surface area for condensation to occur, and not from vapour "potency", ime/o.

The reason that you don't need to grind for the HA is because of it's extreme turbulent air flow, from the 18 strategically placed air jets, in combination with the pump's pulsating design. This actually penetrates whole, compressed nugs evenly, giving it such an amazing extraction (I use my pocket LED scope to check my duff). If you want to grind for the HA, you can, and it can give massive clouds, ime, but there really is no need to, imo. The evo requires grinding to some varying degrees, afaik.

Other important areas where the HA shines over the evo, imo are: far more rugged & reliable (huge), better track record over a longer period of time, and a 3 year unlimited warranty (that is honoured no matter where you bought it). Returns of the HA are almost non-existent (in over 10 yrs), while the cloud, cloud+ and evo have had far too many failures and returns, from what I've seen, and been told by a couple of authorized vxc resellers.

In addition, the HA has better heat retention since it's built like a thermos, with better insulation. This results in the heater coming on far less often than the evo to keep it at proper temperature. (no coozies needed to hold the outside because it's too hot, either), as well as superior temperature precision & accuracy.

Then I see that some clouds and evos have actually melted from heater runaway.... yikes!. The HA has an in line thermal fuse to protect it, but it's heater never engages as often, or runs away, either.

Oh, and the HA costs 1/4 - 1/3 of the evo, or so... I would also choose the LSV over the evo, for some of the reasons outlined above.

 

[t-dub]

Let me preface this by saying I've never used any of the cloud editions, or an LSV . . .

I see where you are coming from, I wish you luck . . .

 

[biohacker]

Wow! Didn't expect so much activity after my post. Thanks for all the feedback fellas...

Its a great vape but the Cloud/EVO blows it away. I don't do bags so the functionality is not missed.

Wow, I think that this is all I needed to hear! I don't care much for the EVO for various reasons, but appreciate and respect what the Cloud/EVO can achieve. Once I got on to the LSV, I completely lost interest in vxl products.

Don't get me wrong, I love the HA, but the vapor density and flavor just can't compare with the Cloud EVO imho. If I had to say what was missing from the equation it would be turbulence. The HA twists a little but it doesn't "scrub" as hard as it could. Daisy does this with her whistle etc . . .

Edit: Also the flavor. The glass bamboo makes a difference. There is another popular heavy hitter out there that has a metallic "tang" to it so materials, wherever they are used, matter a great deal.

Is that the Sub? I was under the assumption that the HA was about FLAVOUR. I wonder if the vapour isn't as dense due to "unground" buds? I know that I much prefer unground herbs, and notice that I definitely don't have the massive thick clouds like a finer grind in a Cloud would produce. I think there are so many more variables here related to density.

air enough! for me, i think of the lesser vapor density as a tradeoff for the no stir and excellent even extraction

Absolutely!

In term of taste and efficiency it is on the same level of my MiniVap (especially with TonG)!

WOW! That says alot too! After trying the MV out last weekend, this has me drooling now. I too found my Cloud+ tasting okay, but not great, and although it produced clouds, it destroyed my lungs simultaneously due to the grind required. Great post BTW! Really helped pick the good parts about the HA. Does it really have no draw restriction?? With a packed nug in there....a hard nug....I just don't see how that could be?

Other important areas where the HA shines over the evo, imo are: far more rugged & reliable (huge), better track record over a longer period of time, and a 3 year unlimited warranty (that is honoured no matter where you bought it). Returns of the HA are almost non-existent (in over 10 yrs), while the cloud, cloud+ and evo have had far too many failures and returns, from what I've seen, and been told by a couple of authorized vxc resellers.

This is all very true....and what manufacturer offers a fucking 30 day MONEY BACK GUARENTEE??? That earns my respect right there.

Oh, and the HA costs 1/4 - 1/3 of the evo, or so... I would also choose the LSV over the evo, for some of the reasons outlined above.

And I did just that! And haven't looked back. MUCH prefer my LSV over the EVO, but now starting to think that the HA may be a good addition for novelty and jamming a full gram in it!

I see where you are coming from, I wish you luck . . .

True, but every one of his points was absolutely 100% spot on.

 

[RUDE BOY]

I loved my HA and I always found the taste and vapor quality to be first class and hard to beat, but I'm one of those who feel that vape-bonging is to much of a pain in the ass and kinda worthless as I've never seen any benefit to using a water tool over a whip myself.

The HA also always seemed to get amazingly complete extraction even though the max temp is only 400F.
... and as nicelytoasted pointed out it's made to last, Mine was a very used HA 2.1 when I got it (belonged to a member here in 2008 and got passed around a bit) That's still getting used daily (now in a multi-user household) as the main driver still seeing at least 3-5 sessions a day.

I've actually been thinking of finding another 2.1 'cause it doesn't have the auto shutoff feature and I miss those 45 minute sessions with a full crucible/whip/Vapor Barrel combo and found that the ease of use and low maintenance that goes along with the HA along with a decently low price of a new 2.2 still makes this a very attractive Unit to me at least.

...

 

[biohacker]

Vape bonging is the only way I vape. I may use the odd bag here and there for novelty or convenience, but I much prefer direct bong. I want to use it inverted like my LSV....just trying to figure out if I will be happy with it, used this way.