Portable Dry Herb Vapes Vs Ball Vapes

[Jaysnkrs]

Hello everyone,

Happy new year!

So I was never really a combustion smoker in the past besides the casual joint sharing at a party.

Once vaporizers become more popular I started with a Pax. Then went for a mighty plus. Then most recently purchased at Tinymight 2 Purple Heart.

- pax was great for starting out and honestly no real complaints at all.

- mighty plus was a game changer for me when it came to vapor quality, I could dramatically tell the difference between this and the pax. I’ll be honest mighty got me with the whole medical approved device stuff lol (I know that smoking in general is not healthy, but like most of us we are trying to find the healthiest/cleanest way to do it)

- Recently got the Tinymight 2 Purple Heart and it’s been an absolute beast of a machine for me. Great taste profile (mighty always gave me a small sense of plastic taste for some reason even at the lower temps I consume with which was generally 350f-375f. I use the Tinymight exclusively at level 5 on the dial. Really enjoy everything about the Tinymight and simply feel better enjoying it through glass stems or a WPA through my Mobius matrix. Feels “cleaner” and significantly better taste.

Lately been seeing everyone moving towards ball vapes and had a few general questions.

1. Are ball vapes generally a cleaner air path for vaping than the portables such as a Tinymight? I see that these ball vapes generate very high temps compared to portables vapes. I was recently looking at the screwball/pinch hitter or Elev8 SSV since it has a lot of glass.

2. I have a pretty low tolerance as I limit myself to only smoking on the weekends generally a bowl or two at night at lower temps with my mighty or Tinymight. Do these ball vapes only operate at these insane temps? Does this not produce vapor closer to combustion? Or is it that the heater itself is at a higher temp and the actual flower is not being cooked at the temp set on the heating element?

3. I see that many use rubies to contain the heat, are these safe to be heated and in the air path?

As a very casual late night weekend smoker, should I just stick to my Tinymight? Or is a ball vape a better option and “cleaner” air path for vaping?

Looking forward to all your responses and suggestions and insights.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Photonic]

Desktop ball vapes tend to be for consuming larger amounts, although it doesn't have to be that way. Based on your description, the TM2 sounds like a really good fit for your needs.

If you're curious or just like to learn and try new devices, you could pick up a new ball or other style vape, but you sound to me like you're doing fine right now. Good luck!

 

[Jaysnkrs]

Desktop ball vapes tend to be for consuming larger amounts, although it doesn't have to be that way. Based on your description, the TM2 sound like a really good fit for your needs.

If you're curious or just like to learn and try new devices, you could pick up a new ball or other style vape, but you sound to me like you're doing fine right now. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply! Yes I really have zero issues with the Tinymight. Just wondering if ball vapes are “cleaner” air paths.

Any ball vapes you recommend? The ones I’ve seen amazing reviews about are Screwball and pinch hitter.

 

[Photonic]

Thanks for the reply! Yes I really have zero issues with the Tinymight. Just wondering if ball vapes are “cleaner” air paths.

Any ball vapes you recommend? The ones I’ve seen amazing reviews about are Screwball and pinch hitter.

I'll let other more knowledgeable folks chime in on the desktop ball vapes, but if you want to stick with micro dosing and portability, you might look into a Tempest. The effects will be similar to the TM2, but it's a different form factor and can be used with a torch or induction heater (e.g., Wand).

There are other all glass, butane options too.

 

[Jaysnkrs]

I'll let other more knowledgeable folks chime in on the desktop ball vapes, but if you want to stick with micro dosing and portability, you might look into a Tempest. The effects will be similar to the TM2, but it's a different form factor and can be used with a torch or induction heater (e.g., Wand).

There are other all glass, butane options too.

Thank you!

 

[Axel_420]

The temperature set on the PID, the temperature controller usually used on desktop ball vapes, is neither the air temperature nor the temperature of the flower you want to vaporize, but only the temperature of the coil. Some ball vapes are heated to more than 600°F, if it was the temperature of the flower it would probably end up burning. So yes, you'll be able to vaporize at low or high temperatures as with any other vaporizer, but with the advantage of having a greater mass of heat crammed into the balls so they work even better at low temperatures.

There are some desktop ball vapes that can be very efficient with small amounts. This is one of the reasons I purchased, and continue to love, the ZX from PHASE3. Most of the other desktop ball vapes were made to be used with a little more material, but maybe third-party manufacturers have made smaller bowls so that they can still vaporize even small amounts with the larger vaporizers.

Generally desktop ball vapes have an airpath that I would call clean, then depending on which desktop and portable you compare one may turn out cleaner than another.

 

[Cheebsy]

1. Are ball vapes generally a cleaner air path for vaping than the portables such as a Tinymight? I see that these ball vapes generate very high temps compared to portables vapes. I was recently looking at the screwball/pinch hitter or Elev8 SSV since it has a lot of glass.

2. I have a pretty low tolerance as I limit myself to only smoking on the weekends generally a bowl or two at night at lower temps with my mighty or Tinymight. Do these ball vapes only operate at these insane temps? Does this not produce vapor closer to combustion? Or is it that the heater itself is at a higher temp and the actual flower is not being cooked at the temp set on the heating element?

3. I see that many use rubies to contain the heat, are these safe to be heated and in the air path?

Yes, well potentially cleaner. That depends on your definition of clean. I find I get a little metallic twang from the TM vapour due to the heater. The material will always vape at similar temps, don't give too much credit to the temp that a vape runs at, give credit to the experience you recieve. I love the phase3 ball heads. They are, imo, among the cleanest vapes in the market. They are zirconia with clear sapphire balls. (Sapphire and ruby are basically the same material, corundum, the ruby has an addition to give it the red colour). They are both safe at vaping temps. The reason you see high temps on ball vapes is that your getting the reading from inside the coil itself, which is generally outside the vapour path. Some, actually most, heads are made from metal. You probably don't have an issue with SS304 as that's what the TM coil is made from iirc. Do you have experience with titanium? Some people are sensitive to it.

As mentioned above, the ZX would be a stellar choice for someone not requiring massive loads. It's a blissful little head.

 

[Jaysnkrs]

Yes, well potentially cleaner. That depends on your definition of clean. I find I get a little metallic twang from the TM vapour due to the heater. The material will always vape at similar temps, don't give too much credit to the temp that a vape runs at, give credit to the experience you recieve. I love the phase3 ball heads. They are, imo, among the cleanest vapes in the market. They are zirconia with clear sapphire balls. (Sapphire and ruby are basically the same material, corundum, the ruby has an addition to give it the red colour). They are both safe at vaping temps. The reason you see high temps on ball vapes is that your getting the reading from inside the coil itself, which is generally outside the vapour path. Some, actually most, heads are made from metal. You probably don't have an issue with SS304 as that's what the TM coil is made from iirc. Do you have experience with titanium? Some people are sensitive to it.

As mentioned above, the ZX would be a stellar choice for someone not requiring massive loads. It's a blissful little head.

Yeah the ZX has been mentioned a few times to me. I see it has no titanium? Just uses a ceramic heater with rubies inside ?

 

[Radwin Bodnic]

Yeah the ZX has been mentioned a few times to me. I see it has no titanium? Just uses a ceramic heater with rubies inside ?

Plus stainless steel screens.

 

[Cheebsy]

Yup, just zirconia ceramic (which was an upgrade from quartz and boro that the prototypes were made from) and filled with corundum balls ( clear sapphire or red ruby, most likely sapphire these days I believe) the zx also had 2 metal screens to contain the balls, but other versions only have one metal screen. I still think the zx is your best bet though, the amount of metal is minimal and the smaller size sounds like it would suit you perfectly.

 

[Jaysnkrs]

Thanks for the information! I’m assuming almost any heated delivery you use will have some form of SS or Titanium in use due to screens.

Yup, just zirconia ceramic (which was an upgrade from quartz and boro that the prototypes were made from) and filled with corundum balls ( clear sapphire or red ruby, most likely sapphire these days I believe) the zx also had 2 metal screens to contain the balls, but other versions only have one metal screen. I still think the zx is your best bet though, the amount of metal is minimal and the smaller size sounds like it would suit you perfectly.

Yeah, might have to pick one up for the home and give it try. From what I’ve seen almost every single vape set up utilizes some sort of metal for the heat source or to contain heat.

Generally the way I view it is that I don’t rip bowls all day and would considered myself a very light weekend user.

I’m sure I’m exposed to worse on a day to day basis than what can possibly be exposed from vape temps and metal lol

 

[Cheebsy]

With baller heads the coil is almost always out of the air path, yes near it, but not in it.

Indeed, probably taking a walk in a city is worse for you.

 

[Texus]

Thanks for the information! I’m assuming almost any heated delivery you use will have some form of SS or Titanium in use due to screens.

For the most part. There are some all-glass bowls which don't require a metal screen. But the lil glass holes permitting air flow are a pain in the butt to clean.

 

[Jaysnkrs]

With baller heads the coil is almost always out of the air path, yes near it, but not in it.

Indeed, probably taking a walk in a city is worse for you.

Is a baller head a specific type of head?

I see so many options when looking at the ZX lol

 

[Shit Snacks]

Thanks for the information! I’m assuming almost any heated delivery you use will have some form of SS or Titanium in use due to screens.

Yeah because no one mentioned it yet I would also recommend checking out the cloud connoisseur zeal, omega, and epitome options available (they also have a bowl called vulcan that can itself be heated by another coil, so you get hybrid conduction convection instead of pure convection, which can hit in a different level and way when done right)

You would also probably enjoy a log vape at home honestly based on your current use style, you might not need a ball vape per se, and there are a wide variety of different log vape some that actually do use balls too, but the cheapest setup would be a basic heat island from toasty top, you would email Alan there to see what is currently in stock (there's a long wait list for custom specific log styles from him, but there is readily available enano and underdog among other log vape options from elsewhere)

Something like a nice glass stem, WPA with j hook, or other dry glass piece, or even good vape water piece, could also step things up at home for another type of experience, whether you end up with a desktop or not

 

[Grass Yes]

You would also probably enjoy a log vape at home honestly based on your current use style, you might not need a ball vape per se, and there are a wide variety of different log vape some that actually do use balls too, but the cheapest setup would be a basic heat island from toasty top

Yeah, although this thread is asking about ball vapes, I also had the thought that a log vape would be perfect for @Jaysnkrs

I love my ball vapes too, and I have many preferences. I find they are quite different from portables for better or for worse. Lucky to have this many tools to choose from.

Edited to add: fuck glass screens in all forms.

 

[TigoleBitties]

Thanks for the information! I’m assuming almost any heated delivery you use will have some form of SS or Titanium in use due to screens.


Yeah, might have to pick one up for the home and give it try. From what I’ve seen almost every single vape set up utilizes some sort of metal for the heat source or to contain heat.

Generally the way I view it is that I don’t rip bowls all day and would considered myself a very light weekend user.

I’m sure I’m exposed to worse on a day to day basis than what can possibly be exposed from vape temps and metal lol

Agree with this. Lots of good advice already in this thread.

Not to muddy the waters more but there was a recent thread about clean airpath vapes. I think one class of vapes that hasn't been mentioned yet ( and was in that thread) are glass Thermal Extraction Devices or glass TEDs. Most consider them super clean. They're not ball vapes but they taste amazing and can be very heavy hitters.

Edit: Also, there are both electric and butane heaters to choose from.

 

[Cheebsy]

Is a baller head a specific type of head?

Well, yes and no. Most heads these days are ballers, but some older ones, and one newer one called the thermal twist, do not contain balls and rely on a complex air path. Most heads these days contain balls, or gem cut stones, same as balls but a different shape.

@Jaysnkrs should be aware that all of the CC options are made of metal, SS iirc, and is not that different in terms of cleanliness to the TM he already has. They would undoubtedly be more powerful and have a larger bowl though so useful for other readers. If you don't mind butane torches there are plenty of wonderful manual glass options there.

 

[tashian]

Even a "lower grade"/cheaper ball vape like the Katalyzer Rubilyzer in Europe (Crossingtech otherwise) is uncomparably better than TM2 or whatever portable if you do it at home. It has a microdosing option and honestly never touched any portable at home since this one arrived more than 1 month ago. I was thinking that ball vapes were probably hype, turns out its not hype, its really sooo much better that I get pissed looking at portables almost gathering dust now. But you need a good bubbler/water filter. Also, not the best option if you like taking 5 -10 minutes or more to clear a session. With ball vapes its usualy 1-2 hits and done at least between 280-290 C ( 536-554 F) with nice brown ABV (not roast black), probably with way lower temps the session may become longer but that is not my personal preference.

 

[Shit Snacks]

Yeah, although this thread is asking about ball vapes, I also had the thought that a log vape would be perfect for @Jaysnkrs

I love my ball vapes too, and I have many preferences. I find they are quite different from portables for better or for worse. Lucky to have this many tools to choose from.

Edited to add: fuck glass screens in all forms.

I thought you would have mentioned the couch log at least now! the baller log

should be aware that all of the CC options are made of metal, SS iirc, and is not that different in terms of cleanliness to the TM he already has. They would undoubtedly be more powerful and have a larger bowl though so useful for other readers. If you don't mind butane torches there are plenty of wonderful manual glass options there

Well to be fair, TM also has an electronic system with the heater, so it's not as simple as the plain SS and Ruby experience per se? So I don't know about cleanliness and purity necessarily, as that can be quite debatable

 

[Grass Yes]

I thought you would have mentioned the couch log at least now! the baller log

It is my favorite log! Although I love them all.

Well to be fair, TM also has an electronic system with the heater, so it's not as simple as the plain SS and Ruby experience per se? So I don't know about cleanliness and purity necessarily, as that can be quite debatable

I can't help but roll my eyes at most of the "clean" or "pure" vape discussion. I think wellness culture has done a real number on people.

 

[Jaysnkrs]

Agree with this. Lots of good advice already in this thread.

Not to muddy the waters more but there was a recent thread about clean airpath vapes. I think one class of vapes that hasn't been mentioned yet ( and was in that thread) are glass Thermal Extraction Devices or glass TEDs. Most consider them super clean. They're not ball vapes but they taste amazing and can be very heavy hitters.

Edit: Also, there are both electric and butane heaters to choose from.

Thank you so much for your reply man.

Yeah I think the ball vape might be overkill for me.

I am really digging the TRWW TED type of device with a Butane Torch that’s been mentioned a few times here.

Does any of that gas get in the air path? This honestly seems like the cleanest possible air path lol I also have a Mobius piece to run it through. I think I currently enjoy .15 - .20 bowls between me and my fiancé. Gets us perfect.

My ideal set up would be the cleanest possible air path at home with my Mobius glass and perfectly happy to use my Tinymight at all other times when I’m not home.

 

[TedJones]

Does any of that gas get in the air path?

No. Flame goes above air intake. A coil can be used with it as well. They have less irritation on the throat, for me, than the “ball” style desktop.

 

[Jaysnkrs]

No. Flame goes above air intake. A coil can be used with it as well. They have less irritation on the throat, for me, than the “ball” style desktop.

Thanks for the info, seems like I’ll be trying this set up out. Personally I like the terpcycle version.

 

[TigoleBitties]

No. Flame goes above air intake. A coil can be used with it as well. They have less irritation on the throat, for me, than the “ball” style desktop.

Yep. What he said. Also, you are never drawing while using the torch. A coil is also uber clean and not in the airpath nor used while inhaling.

Edit: I love these types of vapes and I don't think you'll be disappointed. One thing to keep in mind however is safety as you will either be using a torch or an exposed coil and handling hot glass while you vape, so you have to be mindful. It's not an issue for me but it is for some.