88 DAYS ! Speedy Delivery. We are very happy that customs didn't lose it, just gotta blow off the dust and shrug your shoulders... After 50+ days we had given up, thought sure it had fallen off the boat. Glad you are enjoying.
On the debris falling out of the tube.
I take a pinch of stuff and push it into the vapor tip, packing it lightly with my fingertip. If you turn the tip down you will not have any falling out if packed a tiny bit. Packed enough to not fall out, but loose enough for air to flow. Pammy likes to load with a Soda Straw action, assuring airflow, but still tamps the load slightly with her fingertip before use.
Uhhh, there was a question about 'new' tubes... NO, not new, just minor mods to the mfg process. Two goals: Improve the tubes, and speed the build time. With better centering of the bore they look better and I can get a more consistent round over on the ends, This also prompted a better system of getting the finish as slick as I can. Just looking at ways to improve, if only by a fraction here or there.
Here is a pic of some recent vapor tips in process. Starting with 5 foot lengths of tubing they are cut to length (white container) then 'dimpled' (blue ashtray) before going on to several more steps.
It's still curious when folks say,"Oh, I thought you bought those somewhere." Well, yeah we do.