Hey there,
I've had a Pax 2 for a couple weeks now and am mostly enjoying it. The form factor is great, it heats up quickly, and really is a step up from the other portables I have used. I would like to improve the following though, and would love any ideas:
1) It is hard to load. I see that Ratchet has a funnel and I will probably give that a try. Parchment paper works, but that is kindof a hassle to have to haul out with every loading. In a way, the tiny oven of the Indica was easier because it took less material, so a mis-pour was not as big of a deal. What else do you folks use for loading? It is a bit awkward since the oven is on the end, and as small as the unit is, that means a spill is a fair distance. I almost want to built a little table with a recessed area for the Pax to drop into to keep the oven level with the surface...
2) It is hard to empty. This is even worse. It is tempting to knock it into and ABV container, ashtray, or whatever, but the screen flies out half the time. Last night I was using it on a walk and getting bad draw resistance, so I tried to just crack the oven door a tiny bit but it flew off, the load dumped, and the screen fell out onto the ground. Luckily I was able to find it. Do the 3rd party screens stay in place any better?
3) It clogs easily. I feel like I need to clean it after every single use, which is a little tedious. It seems to be the main airway itself that clogs, not the mouthpiece. I'm not even using an ultra-fine grind, just a Mendo Mulcher, although maybe this coarser grind is part of the problem (larger shreds getting stuck?). Will a finer grind pack better and clog less, or will the dustier material just be pulled through all the more?
That said, when the thing is freshly cleaned, it works great! I hesitate to take it with me on the go, however, since I feel like I need to bring a loading surface, the pipe cleaners, a stirring tool, a tamper, a funnel, etc etc etc just to unload and load the thing.
Thanks for any input!