Sand Castle Vapor Wand

[invertedisdead]

Materials Required:
1x Fused Quartz Joint
Glass/Sapphire/Ruby Beads
2x Stainless Steel Screens

Estimated Build Cost: $25

Some Assembly Required.

Back Story: Continuing on the footsteps of the original Sapphire Evaporator, this one came to fruition after my second desktop design broke and I needed a suitable alternative. This open source concept was inspired by quartz glow rods/wands of yesteryear. Ten years ago, before vaping, glow wands were definitely my favorite way to consume, far better than hemp wick. I wanted to approach a similar form factor, but with a design that would be much easier to use for actually vaporizing.

As a long hair, a large appeal to the SCVW is the recessed heater design. The hottest part of the vaporizer sits in the bowl making this relatively “safe” for a torch powered device. The handle allows for instant access to the bowl for stirring, inspecting the herb, or loading a freshie.

Works extremely well in both 14mm or 19mm. I would say this is the hardest hitting and fastest milking vape I have used over ~10 years in the scene. The consistency of course is not as easy as my electric desktop, but this does edge it out in brute force, maybe eventually I’ll post about why that is.

As far as a how-to goes, I think this one is pretty self explanatory. A few videos from the last ~ year of testing!

Happy Vaping!

 

[arb]

Torch the beads then stick in a female type bowl?

Edit for stoopid question,
Take a 19 female to whatever male adapter and fill that with beads.
Lots more mass and use the wand to handle it.
Shove it into another female bowl and?

 

[invertedisdead]

Torch the beads then stick in a female type bowl?

Yes sir! Just get that joint nice and warm, and away we go!! I guess I can make a proper full video now that this is “declassified.”

Been thinking about posting this for a while. Then when the Terp Torch came out I figured I’d just sit on this and see where that goes. (Not literally )
Then when the “vape ban” talk came up I thought something truly open source like this may be required. At one point I had considered selling these to raise money for my desktop project, but with ball vapes galore now it’s whatever.

As a minor update to the old photo above- With the 14mm wand the top screen probably inserts best from the top, but on the 19mm version you can fit the top screen from the bottom of the joint, so it rests in the very top of the joints taper; just like they do on the Elev8r,

 

[PeteSeattle]

What do you think about using a 14mm quartz nectar straw Instead of the long stem? And of course something to tweeze the hot quartz off.

 

[invertedisdead]

What do you think about using a 14mm quartz nectar straw Instead of the long stem? And of course something to tweeze the hot quartz off.

I thought about using one of those as the whole heat exchanger. Here’s an old sketch of a few ideas I had. My original goal with this one was to improve upon this concept and simplify it so that it didn’t need the beads; and then the bead version would exist as a simple open source concept anybody could throw together for a few bucks. But some of my ideas for refining were more complicated than I had originally anticipated.

 

[PeteSeattle]

But some of my ideas for refining were more complicated than I had originally anticipated.

Funny I have the same sketch around somewhere but really thought nothing of it. Seeing your concept has been jogging my memory. I’m getting some quartz tips that I’d like to apply this to. Hope you don’t mind a co-tinkerer.

 

[Morty]

The consistency of course is not as easy as my electric desktop, but this does edge it out in brute force, maybe eventually I’ll post about why that is.

I think I may know why? It's mentioned in the same post.


...I think...

What do you think about using a 14mm quartz nectar straw Instead of the long stem? And of course something to tweeze the hot quartz off.

HE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PeteSeattle]

HE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol, yeah, well … been through hell for a few years. But happy to be around now.

 

[Hippie]

I have the 18mm version quartz nectar collector stem which I think came with the OG Stempod
They work really well as an 18mm Vapocane style vape (much better than a whip adapter lol)
I tried to convert it into a Sand Castle with 4mm rubies and got vapour but I think I need something bigger than my lil kitchen torch to get the best out of it. I was expecting the stem to get hot after over a minute at full blast but it stayed cool, which is cool but I found it really awkward to twirl in the flame compared with a longer stem.

 

[mixchu69]

@invertedisdead, love It. Looks like the torch elev8er on steroids with how quick it extracts and milks your tube. No concerns of grabbing the stem after torching and easy to stir. Does anyone know where we can pick up a stem with a fused quartz joint?

 

[PeteSeattle]

@invertedisdead, love It. Looks like the torch elev8er on steroids with how quick it extracts and milks your tube. No concerns of grabbing the stem after torching and easy to stir. Does anyone know where we can pick up a stem with a fused quartz joint?

this help?

Quartz Tube, Rod & Joints for Lampworking | Mountain Glass Arts

Shop the largest selection of quartz supplies & accesories. Borosilicate lampworking. Same Day Shipping Worldwide.

www.mountainglass.com

 

[Morty]

been through hell for a few years. But happy to be around now.

Glad to see your safe & sound, and around again!

I think I may know why? It's mentioned in the same post.


...I think...

The hottest part of the vaporizer sits in the bowl

 

[invertedisdead]

Funny I have the same sketch around somewhere but really thought nothing of it. Seeing your concept has been jogging my memory. I’m getting some quartz tips that I’d like to apply this to. Hope you don’t mind a co-tinkerer.

I’d love to see what you come up with! With your glassblowing experience I’m sure there are other angles this can be approached at that I didn’t consider.

What I wanted to do originally was fuse in quartz beads to the quartz joint for a fully fused heater mass, without needing any metal screens to hold the beads in. Basically like a fritted disk made of quartz beads; but I was told it wasn’t really feasible.

I have the 18mm version quartz nectar collector stem which I think came with the OG Stempod
They work really well as an 18mm Vapocane style vape (much better than a whip adapter lol)
I tried to convert it into a Sand Castle with 4mm rubies and got vapour but I think I need something bigger than my lil kitchen torch to get the best out of it. I was expecting the stem to get hot after over a minute at full blast but it stayed cool, which is cool but I found it really awkward to twirl in the flame compared with a longer stem.

That’s cool you tried one out!! Yeah the 18mm version definitely takes some firepower as it’s thicker than an Elev8r at the thickest point and has quite a bit of mass. The 14mm one works nearly as well, with much less horsepower needed; but it’s harder to find the perfect bowl for it as you need enough space and the right shape beneath the grind which has been a little tricky to find for me.

When you use the nectar collector vapocane style are you heating just the fins, or the whole top?

The 14mm quartz joint has the perfect length handle for me, but the 18mm is a bit long. ideally, I’d probably take a few inches off it.

@invertedisdead, love It. Looks like the torch elev8er on steroids with how quick it extracts and milks your tube. No concerns of grabbing the stem after torching and easy to stir. Does anyone know where we can pick up a stem with a fused quartz joint?

Cheers friend, this one is definitely an instant white-waller. And everything comes across very pure as it’s a simple and clean air path. My favorite part of this is how easy it is to get to the bowl. Makes for very easy reheats, stirs, and reloads!

I got mine from www.kingofquartz.com for $10. This is a very inexpensive vape that anyone anywhere in the world can put together for world class vapor. Truly open source, zero custom parts. But as I had mentioned, ideally if it was improved upon I think it would be worth selling as a single piece construction if it was possible.

this help?

Quartz Tube, Rod & Joints for Lampworking | Mountain Glass Arts

Shop the largest selection of quartz supplies & accesories. Borosilicate lampworking. Same Day Shipping Worldwide.

www.mountainglass.com

Very nice! Only thing to consider is the international length 19/26 and 14/23 joints will extend beyond a standard 19/22 or 14/20 bowl which could effect the consistency of the AVB. That happened on one of my previous desktop prototypes; they used a 19/26 and it was hot spotting in my 19/22 bowl.

I think I may know why? It's mentioned in the same post.

Clever @Morty !
This definitely improves extraction rate/intensity, for sure!
The torch heating dynamics really supercharge the quartz.

 

[Hippie]

When you use the nectar collector vapocane style are you heating just the fins, or the whole top?

More like a Sticky Brick or a Piro, heating above the fins for a few seconds then shining the flame around the tip so you're drawing in air though the flame.

I think I've got the bits to try the 14mm stem build tonight. I've got a 14mm Vapocane bowl and DDave concentrate chamber, with a glass screen, that I'm hopeful will work OK as a bowl.

 

[arb]

I’d love to see what you come up with! With your glassblowing experience I’m sure there are other angles this can be approached at that I didn’t consider.

What I wanted to do originally was fuse in quartz beads to the quartz joint for a fully fused heater mass, without needing any metal screens to hold the beads in. Basically like a fritted disk made of quartz beads; but I was told it wasn’t really feasible.




That’s cool you tried one out!! Yeah the 18mm version definitely takes some firepower as it’s thicker than an Elev8r at the thickest point and has quite a bit of mass. The 14mm one works nearly as well, with much less horsepower needed; but it’s harder to find the perfect bowl for it as you need enough space and the right shape beneath the grind which has been a little tricky to find for me.

When you use the nectar collector vapocane style are you heating just the fins, or the whole top?

The 14mm quartz joint has the perfect length handle for me, but the 18mm is a bit long. ideally, I’d probably take a few inches off it.



Cheers friend, this one is definitely an instant white-waller. And everything comes across very pure as it’s a simple and clean air path. My favorite part of this is how easy it is to get to the bowl. Makes for very easy reheats, stirs, and reloads!

I got mine from www.kingofquartz.com for $10. This is a very inexpensive vape that anyone anywhere in the world can put together for world class vapor. Truly open source, zero custom parts. But as I had mentioned, ideally if it was improved upon I think it would be worth selling as a single piece construction if it was possible.




Very nice! Only thing to consider is the international length 19/26 and 14/23 joints will extend beyond a standard 19/22 or 14/20 bowl which could effect the consistency of the AVB. That happened on one of my previous desktop prototypes; they used a 19/26 and it was hot spotting in my 19/22 bowl.




Clever @Morty !
This definitely improves extraction rate/intensity, for sure!
The torch heating dynamics really supercharge the quartz.

Ok bear with my stupid...........why not have a tube filled with fritted quartz a couple inches long with a male end?
That doable or is fritt too hard to work like that?

 

[Hippie]

I've just about got the 14mm SCVW working with the DDave concentrate chanmber bowl, with about 70 x 3mm Rubies in the joint and about 60 seconds heat up with the creme brulee torch. The flavour and heat spread are good but I think it still needs a bigger torch to get the best out of it (the creme brulee torch is a bit too warm for my liking going beyond 60 seconds)

 

[arb]

This threads making me do some stoopid shit......pics tomorrowish.

 

[invertedisdead]

More like a Sticky Brick or a Piro, heating above the fins for a few seconds then shining the flame around the tip so you're drawing in air though the flame.

I think I've got the bits to try the 14mm stem build tonight. I've got a 14mm Vapocane bowl and DDave concentrate chamber, with a glass screen, that I'm hopeful will work OK as a bowl.

Ah I see, I was going to ask what style of heating you were using as I know the vapocane can be used both ways, but I thought maybe you were heat soaking the fins, that was something I've been curious to try!

I've just about got the 14mm SCVW working with the DDave concentrate chanmber bowl, with about 70 x 3mm Rubies in the joint and about 60 seconds heat up with the creme brulee torch. The flavour and heat spread are good but I think it still needs a bigger torch to get the best out of it (the creme brulee torch is a bit too warm for my liking going beyond 60 seconds)

The 3mm work well in the 14mm to get more contact from the Quartz joint. My heatup time with the 14mm is around the 30-40 second mark with my torch, around 60s on the 18mm, Sometimes I torch and go directly into hitting, other times I heat it like a banger and really get it saturated and add a cool down period before hitting.

I just pulled out the 14mm and went for 33s on my first and 20 on my follow up, freaking massive vapor from such tiny loads! Make sure your gas in the torch is topped off frequently with this one as you start seeing torch levels decline fairly quickly, which will affect your times - which is the one main drawbacks with torch vapes like this in my opinion. The performance is definitely there, but the back-to-back consistency of the desktop is hard to beat. I've been curious to try an IR., maybe even that dab thermometer.

Ok bear with my stupid...........why not have a tube filled with fritted quartz a couple inches long with a male end?
That doable or is fritt too hard to work like that?

If you could just dip the joint in the frits that would be cool. But I think you'd need more mass with a torch style design like this than Frits would provide. I've tried to get custom frit work done but I haven't had much luck in finding anyone to do it. Fused beads would add the right mass, but I was told there were issues with doing it like that.

This threads making me do some stoopid shit......pics tomorrowish.

You're supposed to fill the end with BEADS, not BEANS

 

[PeteSeattle]

I’d love to see what you come up with! With your glassblowing experience I’m sure there are other angles this can be approached at that I didn’t consider.

What I wanted to do originally was fuse in quartz beads to the quartz joint for a fully fused heater mass, without needing any metal screens to hold the beads in. Basically like a fritted disk made of quartz beads; but I was told it wasn’t really feasible.

I think most of us tinkering around with this have run into the same-ish designs. I’ve yet to work with frit.
in fact it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been at the torch. I have a “hobby” area in the garage where I was set up. But that has been replaced with a three vessel brewing machine.

Anyway, I did came across something on DDave’s site and was wondering if it could work. he’s been sold out of it for a while:

The Concentration Chamber

*** [July 20, 2020] All New Version, now able to lock together with Keck clip and vaporize! Same increased capacity as 2019 upgraded version. The Concentration Chamber: Whether micro-dosing or using this device as a great place for herb & concentrate to meet in your vaporizer, this device is...

www.ddavemods.com

I know it’s not quartz but its close to something I’ve sketched out before.

 

[Hippie]

That's what I used for a bowl for my DiY attempt at making a 14mm SCVW
I didn't want to risk damaging the male part to be honest and thought the short stem would probably get hot and be awkward to twirl like the quartz nectar straw (and cos it works really well in the Stempod)

 

[invertedisdead]

This was another one I tried, all in one. But I prefer easier access to a separate bowl.

 

[PeteSeattle]

This was another one I tried, all in one. But I prefer easier access to a separate bowl.

this is about where I ended up also playing around with parts.
I‘m using the elev8r bowl with an adapter to fit a 14mm gong. The length of my gong is about 2.5 to 3 inches. Extracts probably the same as your experiments.

 

[invertedisdead]

this is about where I ended up also playing around with parts.
I‘m using the elev8r bowl with an adapter to fit a 14mm gong. The length of my gong is about 2.5 to 3 inches. Extracts probably the same as your experiments.

My very first one was just a 14mm to 18mm boro glass male to male. It worked good but after I broke a few of them, I figured the quartz joint was a cheap and easy way to get more durability.


Just fired up the 14mm, heated for 25 seconds, white walls my tube on absolute bare minimum crumbs. This vape has a very stoney signature to me, usually puts me to sleep lol.

 

[PeteSeattle]

Here’s the current version my tinkering. This is a piece from a different experiment repurposed.
The piece is boro rather than quartz. I have a smojo screen at the top which works quite well. The tension just has to be adjusted to stay put. And finally, the dimple holds the rubies in place still allowing airflow.

The balls are torched until they start getting dark. Then bombs away!

 

[mixchu69]

@invertedisdead, did you ever play with the size of the beads u use…I’m curious if putting in fewer but larger quartz/Ruby beads (like 6mm) will change the performance…just got couple stems from king of quartz (thanks for the recommendation)