Discontinued Lil' Bud by Vapwood

KingSol

Active Member
Thanks a million, I just grabbed one and a battery indicator. Question, is it possible not to install the battery indicator and send it to me separately? I'd rather just pull off the door and touch the battery the way you did in the video demo.
 

Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
Switch Testing
I test I continue to love the flush/round 3 amp switch. I've tried loading *wrong*, a bit sloppy, maybe pack too tight, too much, too little, to see what happens. The session suffers, but LB has been fine. Drawing slow, fast, hard, long, short. Results vary but I need to make sure the switch can stand up to not just perfect LB technique, but abuse. There is going to be lots and lots of testing before this batch gets assembled, to make sure switch failure, LB's only vulnerability, becomes a thing of the past.

After speaking with Alan about the issue, he feels it is the contacts inside the switch that cannot handle the amperage. 3 amps is necessary to handle the 18650 battery. The coil isn't heating the switch, the switch is heating on its own. We can tell this because the wood disk that the coil is mounted to, and the wires snake through, is not charred, nor is the inside of the oven - the heat is in the switch.

Yes, the new switch is a bit bigger, but I managed to work it into the design with just a few adjustments. I feel it will solve this issue, but I need to be 100 percent sure before I start shipping.

Been vaping lots (for science), so to ease my throat I started using a little bit of hemp fiber in the end of my stems. Not a lot, just kinda ball it up in there, nice and loose. Once I got the hang of it, the difference is pretty big. It does steal a little taste, but LB has so much taste. Key is getting the hemp just right - better too loose than clogging things up.

Thanks a million, I just grabbed one and a battery indicator. Question, is it possible not to install the battery indicator and send it to me separately? I'd rather just pull off the door and touch the battery the way you did in the video demo.
Lil' Bud is built to be as electronics free as possible. The gauge measures the battery when not in use, and the unit should not be used with the gauge attached. Just pop off the back plate, touch terminals, and it will read our current battery level. Remove, replace the back plate and you're ready to go. That's how your gauge will work.
 
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KingSol

Active Member
Switch Testing
I test I continue to love the flush/round 3 amp switch. I've tried loading *wrong*, a bit sloppy, maybe pack too tight, too much, too little, to see what happens. The session suffers, but LB has been fine. Drawing slow, fast, hard, long, short. Results vary but I need to make sure the switch can stand up to not just perfect LB technique, but abuse. There is going to be lots and lots of testing before this batch gets assembled, to make sure switch failure, LB's only vulnerability, becomes a thing of the past.

After speaking with Alan about the issue, he feels it is the contacts inside the switch that cannot handle the amperage. 3 amps is necessary to handle the 18650 battery. The coil isn't heating the switch, the switch is heating on its own. We can tell this because the wood disk that the coil is mounted to, and the wires snake through, is not charred, nor is the inside of the oven - the heat is in the switch.

Yes, the new switch is a bit bigger, but I managed to work it into the design with just a few adjustments. I feel it will solve this issue, but I need to be 100 percent sure before I start shipping.

Been vaping lots (for science), so to ease my throat I started using a little bit of hemp fiber in the end of my stems. Not a lot, just kinda ball it up in there, nice and loose. Once I got the hang of it, the difference is pretty big. It does steal a little taste, but LB has so much taste. Key is getting the hemp just right - better too loose than clogging things up.


Lil' Bud is built to be as electronics free as possible. The gauge measures the battery when not in use, and the unit should not be used with the gauge attached. Just pop off the back plate, touch terminals, and it will read our current battery level. Remove, replace the back plate and you're ready to go. That's how your gauge will work.
Perfect! Exactly what I wanted and was hoping for.
 
KingSol,

SpudBob

Well-Known Member
Been vaping lots (for science), so to ease my throat I started using a little bit of hemp fiber in the end of my stems. Not a lot, just kinda ball it up in there, nice and loose. Once I got the hang of it, the difference is pretty big. It does steal a little taste, but LB has so much taste. Key is getting the hemp just right - better too loose than clogging things up.
Ive been doing this for some time with the Milaana .What I do is roll the hemp to make a 1" worm. I then roll it like a cinnamon roll and place that in a screen. I then place the screen at the midpoint of the stem. I definitely cuts the temp down, but does slightly "discolor" the taste of the hit though!
 

Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
So it was back plate day. I cut over 50 back plates to size, rounded edges, drilled holes for magnets. While there is no longer slot, the back plate was still the thickness I went to because of the slot (6 mm). That was to keep the integrity of the narrow spaces on each side. Now the slot is gone, the back plate just shrunk approximately 1 mm in thickness. The groove for the plate is 4mm, the plate itself is just about 5mm, so it sits just proud of the unit body.

Just about to select plates for each unit, install magnets, then sand to fit everything. Lil' Bud 2.o is gonna feel nice in your hand. I feel like I've been sanding for a week now.

EDIT
I've never seen so many Lil' Buds as are on my workbench right now. Only a few are assembled, and not all are sales, but I've got a couple of dozen Lil' Buds to a pretty finished level, waiting to to be COILED. As the old Dunkin Donuts commercial used to say, *time to make the coils...*
 
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Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
Quiet this morning, but busy.

Batch 7 in all her glory
BbZq43v.jpg


Quilted Freaking Maple: really expensive, tough to work with, but worth it.
FILRQW4.jpg


Notice the symmetry, rounder edges, especially at the back plate
jLoEXKn.jpg


Some sweet looking units
taPFABN.jpg


Excuse me while I form a few coils...
 

P.A.M.

Vapo Rising
Dude ! those are nice ! You've done it again! Some of the nicest LB's we have seen to date. I dig the rounded edges and backplate profile ! LB 2.0, Baby!
 

Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
Now it's time to put some hardware into those bad boys.

As I build I test. Typing a bit slow because of heat gun *collateral damage* (nothing major). The switches all work well, and have pros and cons. I have stock of all 3 types of 16mm / 3 amp momentary push switches, and I want to buy a lot of one switch, but I cannot fully decide for many reasons, including unpredictable availability.

The super flat switch is just that, 100 percent flush AND flat. It needs to be pressed harder than the other two, but not by much, and it has to be hit dead center with the *ball* of your fingertip. If offers safety in that it would be hard to press by accident. At first I didn't like this switch, but I've come around to love the firm feel of it.

Next we have the high flush, just like the old switch, which was 12mm and 2 amps, in a 16mm size. Works great, feels great. Not much more work to press than the 12mm version. If I had to use this switch, I'd be totally happy with it.

Last but not least is the flush round, which might be the hardest to keep in stock. It's also called a spherical switch, bumps up as high as the high flush, but is round and smooth. Feels kind of amazing, works just like the rest.

Here's what I'm thinking about doing, at least for this batch. I will pick a switch I'll install for all my batch 7 units, but if you'd like a different switch, you can contact me. By batch 8, the decision should be made.

I'll test for a few more days before making the final decision. And just to add, this will be by availability, if I don't have it, I can't give it to you.

Side Note:
I lost / misplaced two things today, a chisel and a little flash light. Two tools, while relatively inexpensive, I use almost daily. I had to go on amazon, wound up spending $50 on two stubby chisels and the light. I needed the short chisels anyway, so now $50 poorer, I'm kind of excited about getting new chisels, finding my flash light and have two examination lights.

EDIT
Found the chisel
 
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Vapster707

Well-Known Member
Quiet this morning, but busy.

Batch 7 in all her glory
BbZq43v.jpg


Quilted Freaking Maple: really expensive, tough to work with, but worth it.
FILRQW4.jpg


Notice the symmetry, rounder edges, especially at the back plate
jLoEXKn.jpg


Some sweet looking units
taPFABN.jpg


Excuse me while I form a few coils...

A batch of beauties....Any up close pics of tha purple heart ???
 

Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
Last night of my in laws over. I had to escape to my shop a couple of times for quick extraction. I'd put the below unit together just prior (flush round switch). It's got a bit of hemp fiber half way down the stem. Here's what I found.

I was able to extract the entire microdose (loaded until basket screen full) in two or three huge hits, a quick stir, and one more. This wasn't about sipping while relaxing, but rather rapid extraction. Between the LB 2.0 power and the hemp fiber smoothing effect, I was ripping away. Here's the Lil' Cherry beauty.

d1CowzF.jpg

MXjFkfj.jpg
 

Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
Why can't I see the photos????
:bang:
Is it my settings? My stomach is in knots....

After replying, can you see them now?
It's an imgur problem. Normally, after you reply you can see the pic.

Tomorrow is the last day to save 20 percent with coupon code cherryinjuly for all Cherry LB's.
 
Bravesst,

KingSol

Active Member
Nope, still can't see em. I took advantage of the deal already, much appreciated but I'm looking for PORN :doh:
 
KingSol,
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Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
Nope, still can't see em. I took advantage of the deal already, much appreciated but I'm looking for PORN :doh:
That really sucks. It's been an issue lately on all of FC.

More on hemp fiber. Took me a while to get used to it, how much, how tight, blah, blah, blah. The sessions don't last as long, but the ABV is really dark. I can just about stir once and get one last hit. I'm going to experiment with it further, but it's been a nice addition. The amount of rapid extraction sessions I can get from one battery is almost too hard to keep track of, but I think I am breaking seven, 3 hit rapid extraction sessions. I can sneak away, bang out a stem in 3 hits, and get my face knocked off.
 

Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
The hemp may sacrifice a bit of taste, but allows me to take much larger hits. Maybe there are some particulates in the vapor that get filtered out as well. I'm ordering more hemp, beginning to love the rapid extraction.
 
Bravesst,

P.A.M.

Vapo Rising
Last night of my in laws over. I had to escape to my shop a couple of times for quick extraction. I'd put the below unit together just prior (flush round switch). It's got a bit of hemp fiber half way down the stem. Here's what I found.

I was able to extract the entire microdose (loaded until basket screen full) in two or three huge hits, a quick stir, and one more. This wasn't about sipping while relaxing, but rather rapid extraction. Between the LB 2.0 power and the hemp fiber smoothing effect, I was ripping away. Here's the Lil' Cherry beauty.

d1CowzF.jpg

MXjFkfj.jpg
Beautiful LB! Awesome , love to be able to do quick sessions just like longer sessions

EDIT: reading about the hemp fibre and thinking about while vaping I thought (mid session), well the darker abv is due to air flow being altered with the added layer of the fibre between mouthtip and bowl . so I placed a screen (same SS screen dome used for bowl ) at the mouth tip of the stem to slow down the vapor prior to ingesting it and block the above heater air flow . It gave me darker abv . Will try this again next sesh. Not sure how this will work with LB 2.0 but might work for LB 1.0 users who sense do not get enough or feel the switch lost its peek power .
Also , I'm liking how a screen on both tips of the stem prevents pocket lint or any other debris from lodging itself in the stem . Will continue to experiment with it :)

That switch on the Lil Cherry beauty looks great. The LB 2.0's new round edges give it the allure of fine 50's cars with lots of chrome & round fenders, detailed bodies. Great work @Bravesst !
 
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chimpybits

Well-Known Member
Some of you have who've been following the thread have probably expected a Cherry sale. Well, here it is, happy 4th of July! For me, it's the easiest wood to work with, while everybody is buying up the Quilted Maple, Purple Heart, and Figured Walnut (quite difficult to work with). I've got lots and lots of beautiful cherry stock, and quite a few Cherry LB's in the works.

Time to move some Cherry LB's, coupon code cherryinjuly will save you 20% on a Basic Cherry Lil' Bud only. This sale will run through the weekend, ending Sunday night at midnight. The first few units will get into batch 7 (LB 2.o). I believe that turns out to be about a $35 savings, and puts an LB in your hands for just over $150 (with an @Alan mouthpiece and shipping included). Limit one per customer.

cherryinjuly
https://vapwood.com/shop-lil-bud
Current sale only applies to the basic package yeah? I'm interested in the "Total Package". Maybe I could live without the battery guage and extra screens ...
 
chimpybits,
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Bravesst

Full Steam Ahead
Manufacturer
@Jill NYC
Thank you!

I put together one unit just to work out some things (foil placement, wiring bigger switch with less room). This bad boy cranks. I've been testing the crap out of it, as well as my previous prototypes, to try and determine the switch, and I do have a winner. The flush round takes it. Since I do have stock of flush flat, flush high, and they are pretty interchangeable, you can contact me for a special switch, and I'll do my best, but you still might wind up with the flush round.
1. High Flush / 2. Flush Round* / 3. Flush Flat
2yn1l3t.jpg


Took the plunge!
I live on Long Island NY, and NY state has legalized medical marijuana. I decided to see what it was all about, and managed to get certified, and register in one day. NY state dept of health is mailing me a registration card, as we speak, which I can take to a dispensary. Still no flower, but eventually. I think they even plan on delivery. They have edibles, drinks, creams, oils, and inhalers. This should work for those times when vaping is out of the question (out in public, at a drinking party). Not sure what pricing is all about, or if my insurance will cover it, but I have a plan for that too. So if you live in NY state, visit nuggmd. There are about 60,000 registered patients in the state.

Hemp Fiber
I've fallen in love with hemp fiber. I took a piece of fiber about an inch long, rolled it up so it fits nicely, pushed it half way down the stem, making sure it's not too tight, and draw is still good. A hair less taste, but I can handle and control much thicker vapor. Cooler and less biting at the back of the throat. The heavy vapor has a certain muskyness to it, the way horse radish, wasabi, would bite your throat. Nothing to do with heat, but rather the fact that it is vaporizing so fast (ammonia, bleach, alcohol, all share that property). The hemp really tones that down. The sessions are faster, naturally ripping for 3 to 5 big rips on a micro dose (fill just to edge of basket screen, place about 1/16 from tip), maybe a quick stir, vs 8 smaller sips. ABV is done, done, done, and I haven't coughed once.

Coil Forming
Just wanted to add what I'm working on today. I probably won't get to the actual *forming*, but all the prep work will take all day, but I'm going to form 25 coils.

1. 50, 3 1/2 inch wires need to be, cut, stripped and tinned (silver solder added to the stranded wires to make them just about solid, increases conductivity and integrity, especially as your bending, twisting (stranded wires would just fray apart) to make connections (thanks @Alan).

2. 50 butt splice connectors for 18 gauge wire need to be drilled out with 1/16 bit then pried open about one mm. These connect the mesh to the wire, eventually crimped, tamped, soldered with silver solder to really create a solid connection.

3. 25 onch inch disks need to be predrilled with perfect spacing for coil wires and screw anchors (4 holes each).

Then I can need to attach the wires to the mesh with the butt connectors (little tennis nets), solder, and then I can form (roll) the coil.
 
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SpudBob

Well-Known Member
Hemp Fiber
I've fallen in love with hemp fiber. I took a piece of fiber about an inch long, rolled it up so it fits nicely, pushed it half way down the stem, making sure it's not too tight, and draw is still good
Like I said, in a previous post., I do this with the milaana short stem by rolling a hemp worm, about 1" long. I ,then, roll it like a cinnamon roll and place it in a basket screen halfway down the stem. Cools things down quite a bit. It does creates a bit more restriction though! You can, after a number of sessions, put the basket screen in the vape and get the reclaim off the Hemp fiber!!!
 

Fat Freddy

FUCK CANCER TOO !
Like I said, in a previous post., I do this with the milaana short stem by rolling a hemp worm, about 1" long. I ,then, roll it like a cinnamon roll and place it in a basket screen halfway down the stem.
Cools things down quite a bit. It does creates a bit more restriction though! You can, after a number of sessions, put the basket screen in the vape and get the reclaim off the Hemp fiber!!!

I wonder if you soaked it in water and then wrung the excess out before inserting it, if that would cool it even more? :hmm:

,
 
Fat Freddy,
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