Sapphire/Ruby Beads/Spheres for Concentrates

[Roth]

Seems like most of the talk about sapphire and ruby spheres is spread between a few different threads. In an effort to help people find the info in the future, I thought it might be time to start this thread.

The addition of the spheres allows you to vaporize your concentrates more completely, at lower temps. The spheres add surface area, thermal mass, and a stirring/spinning action.

I had been wanting to get some spheres to add to my NewVape Vrod SiC dish, but had been unable to find the right size. It seems most of the spheres being sold now are 6mm diameter. That's great for bangers, but a little too large for a 28mm dish like the Vrod or DNail Halo.

5mm diameter has been reported to be the perfect size by several members. However finding 5 mm spheres isn't quite so easy. That was until @ChurroForSure-O shared an amazing source, www.swissjewel.com.

Swiss Jewel offers tons of ruby and sapphire items for medical and scientific use. They have spheres of all sizes, and for cheaper than the cannabis sites selling them.

I inquired about pricing for 4 mm, 5mm, and 6mm spheres. Both ruby and sapphire cost the same. The prices are:

4 mm: $4.85/each
5 mm: $5.80/each
6 mm: $8.00/each

There were price breaks if you bought 25+ of each. Minimum order is $50.

I just placed an order for 4×5 mm ruby, 4x5mm sapphire, 1x4mm ruby, and 1x4mm sapphire for $55.90 before shipping.

Should ship today, hope to have them by the weekend. Can't wait to try them out, they really do look like a massive improvement in dabbing.

 

[MileHighHuman]

Seems like most of the talk about sapphire and ruby spheres is spread between a few different threads. In an effort to help people find the info in the future, I thought it might be time to start this thread.

The addition of the spheres allows you to vaporize your concentrates more completely, at lower temps. The spheres add surface area, thermal mass, and a stirring/spinning action.

I had been wanting to get some spheres to add to my NewVape Vrod SiC dish, but had been unable to find the right size. It seems most of the spheres being sold now are 6mm diameter. That's great for bangers, but a little too large for a 28mm dish like the Vrod or DNail Halo.

5mm diameter has been reported to be the perfect size by several members. However finding 5 mm spheres isn't quite so easy. That was until @ChurroForSure-O shared an amazing source, www.swissjewel.com.

Swiss Jewel offers tons of ruby and sapphire items for medical and scientific use. They have spheres of all sizes, and for cheaper than the cannabis sites selling them.

I inquired about pricing for 4 mm, 5mm, and 6mm spheres. Both ruby and sapphire cost the same. The prices are:

4 mm: $4.85/each
5 mm: $5.80/each
6 mm: $8.00/each

There were price breaks if you bought 25+ of each. Minimum order is $50.

I just placed an order for 4×5 mm ruby, 4x5mm sapphire, 1x4mm ruby, and 1x4mm sapphire for $55.90 before shipping.

Should ship today, hope to have them by the weekend. Can't wait to try them out, they really do look like a massive improvement in dabbing.

Did you have to "request your quote" ?

Or were you able to place your order instantly?

 

[Anon3200]

If the rubies are Sapphire that are colored with chromium then perhaps that clear Sapphire is safer to use.

 

[Roth]

Did you have to "request your quote" ?

Or were you able to place your order instantly?

I called and got the quote/placed my order over the phone.

It seems Swiss Jewel is more used to large orders for research facilities and businesses, not individuals. Hence the need to call for a quote. The guy on the phone also said they're an old fashioned type of company, so I'm assuming they're stuck in their ways.

But the process was quick and painless, the person answering the phone was pleasant and took care of me. I'm sure you can also start the process via email if you don't want to talk to anyone.

I wonder what they're going to think when all of a sudden they start getting a bunch of $50 orders for spheres going out to individuals.

 

[ChurroForSure-O]

I called and got the quote/placed my order over the phone.

It seems Swiss Jewel is more used to large orders for research facilities and businesses, not individuals. Hence the need to call for a quote. The guy on the phone also said they're an old fashioned type of company, so I'm assuming they're stuck in their ways.

But the process was quick and painless, the person answering the phone was pleasant and took care of me. I'm sure you can also start the process via email if you don't want to talk to anyone.

I wonder what they're going to think when all of a sudden they start getting a bunch of $50 orders for spheres going out to individuals.

Lol that was my concern about putting their info on here. I didn't know if this was gonna just be annoying for them to fill little orders but in the end it's supporting a small American business so I guess there's no harm? Thanks for the credit by the way.

 

[Roth]

Lol that was my concern about putting their info on here. I didn't know if this was gonna just be annoying for them to fill little orders but in the end it's supporting a small American business so I guess there's no harm? Thanks for the credit by the way.

Ya, I thought about it too, but since they have the $50 minimum, they've got themselves covered.

I wonder if this is the source for some of the cannabis resellers of the spheres. It's nice having any size option you want.

If the rubies are Sapphire that are colored with chromium then perhaps that clear Sapphire is safer to use.

I honestly think there is nothing to worry about. A very small percentage (maybe 1%) of the Al atoms in the crystal structure are replaced by Chromium, which is what causes the red color. It's in the crystal structure itself, not a coating or anything.

Performance should be equal between the two, just cosmetic.

I am assuming these rubies will change color like the other ruby inserts and beads?

 

[Anon3200]

We should do a group buy.

I'll stick with the chromiun free version for myself.

 

[just_the_flu]

...i picked up 5x 0.5mm in both ruby and sapphire and 5x 0.4mm in both ruby and sapphire $4.25ea for all from swissjewel.com.

...they are very quick to respond to email and pleasant to deal with over the phone...


...you request a quote for what you'd like and pay via visa over phone.. very simple process..

 

[Anon3200]

.4 mm is very small

 

[ohjee]

Lurker here, finally getting some decent dab gear. Curious:

1. How many beads are sufficient?
2. Is an insert necessary with a banger to contain them?
3. Beads seem messy, how to deal with that part of it?

 

[kuzko]

I wish they made some “cups” that would fit in my Sai or Sequoia. They seem to make everything Sapphire except cups. Source vapes is still sold out of their quartz cups.

 

[ChurroForSure-O]

I wish they made some “cups” that would fit in my Sai or Sequoia. They seem to make everything Sapphire except cups. Source vapes is still sold out of their quartz cups.

https://www.swissjewel.com/products/jewel-bearings/cup-jewels/

It’s close to a dish..

 

[kuzko]

https://www.swissjewel.com/products/jewel-bearings/cup-jewels/

It’s close to a dish..

Yeah, just too short and probably too thick on the bottom.

 

[JigMelon]

Orifices, too:

https://www.swissjewel.com/products/orifice-jewels/

Regardless, if we got a large enough order together, I'm sure they would consider making a custom design or two. We should start discussing the ideal dimensions for different gear (glass, liger, 510, etc).

 

[Coinz]

I sent swissjewel a pdf design and measurements of the sapphire dish I was trying to make and they quoted me at $100 per (unpolished dish) Polished was a little more (not sure how much, they never gave me a quote with polished dished. Please share your experience with swissjewel and let me know if someone got quoted lower for the dish. Maybe get a bulk order in that?

Im also interested in getting in the bulk order for the ruby/sapphire spheres!

 

[scalescliffs]

Just for anybody on the fence - these corundum (ruby) beads are perhaps one of the biggest improvements in vapor production/density I’ve ever seen.

I am using five 6mm beads in my 30mm Liger Air. The hits are noticeably more flavorful and denser. I am also feeling more medicated for sure. As I move my cap’s airflow around the dish, I can see my piece milk more as beads come into contact with last little stray bits of oil. This action is making my banger far more efficient.

With the low cost of these beads, I recommend everybody with a banger get some. I don’t even clean them separately - I just qtip with them in there. No problem. Truly only upside after the initial cost.

 

[florduh]

I wish they made some “cups” that would fit in my Sai or Sequoia. They seem to make everything Sapphire except cups. Source vapes is still sold out of their quartz cups.

I have a dumb question. Could we just load the Sai bucket with a few smaller beads? I guess I may be a little confused what the benefit of the sapphire/ruby beads? Better heat distribution?

I don't fuck with e-nails or bangers... but I love the Sai/Sequoia. If I could kick the performance up a notch with some jewelry... I'm down!

 

[kuzko]

I have a dumb question. Could we just load the Sai bucket with a few smaller beads? I guess I may be a little confused what the benefit of the sapphire/ruby beads? Better heat distribution?

I don't fuck with e-nails or bangers... but I love the Sai/Sequoia. If I could kick the performance up a notch with some jewelry... I'm down!

It might work but I imagine concentrate would end up just melting down into the bottom of the bucket anyway. But it might be worth a try...

 

[florduh]

It might work but I imagine concentrate would end up just melting down into the bottom of the bucket anyway. But it might be worth a try...

True. Ideally, you would have a custom made sapphire bucket that you could place right on a donut. I have one of the old style bucket coils that screws on so you could add your own bucket.

Holy shit now I want one.

 

[JigMelon]

@florduh There's absolutely no chance that the beads in the Sai would get to vape temp before your concentrate melts onto the coil/wick, and therefore below the beads. That being said, it may be worthwhile in something without an exposed coil, like the quartz bucket for the Triton (which I'm considering getting even though I'm set on portables...) and the QQ. Anyone have any thoughts/experience on/with heat transfer to the beads from the Triton or QQ?

@scalescliffs I completely agree. It's an absolutely huge difference in efficiency of vaporization, which also means less pooling if you're going super low and/or are using a torch. In regard to cleaning, I've been leaving them in there and Q-tipping as you said, but every night before I doze off (and sometimes earlier and more than once depending on usage and extract) I set my nail to 900 and before I know it the beads and the quartz are crystal clear (though you'll have to wait for the Ruby ones to cool before they're clear ). If I'm still awake by the time it cools (usually means I switched coils), I'll drop the beads in an ISO cup overnight as well.

 

[kuzko]

@florduh There's absolutely no chance that the beads in the Sai would get to vape temp before your concentrate melts onto the coil/wick, and therefore below the beads. That being said, it may be worthwhile in something without an exposed coil, like the quartz bucket for the Triton (which I'm considering getting even though I'm set on portables...) and the QQ. Anyone have any thoughts/experience on/with heat transfer to the beads from the Triton or QQ?.

I think he was talking about the Ti Bucket atomizers for the Sai. So no exposed coil, but would still just melt down and vape off the bucket floor.

Triton Quartz bucket eh? I haven’t seen these. I tried on the W9 site and didn’t see them, can you provide a link? I’ve been looking for a setup like that.

Edit: found em on PIU. Something about a mesh wick inside?

I’ve pondered the QQ but it just seems like a bit more to handle than your average atomizer, do you have experience with it?

 

[JigMelon]

@kuzko Yea, I think you're right! I don't have any of those, so I forgot all about them.

Re: Triton, yea what you know is what I know. There isn't much info on them other than their youtube videos, which are too long for me to watch. They really need to get some pics and info up.

The QQ is great; control and flavor is on point. It has some weaknesses that make it a bit better for home use than portable use, in comparison to the Sai/DT/Triton/etc. It's absolutely worth the money if you want a setup for quick hits where discretion is not necessary. If you have any specific questions just let me know; I have a DTv3 and an original Sai to compare.

 

[MileHighHuman]

Would more of the smaller 4mm spheres allow for more spheres = surface area = faster vaporization ?

Or are the 5mm / 6mm better?

 

[florduh]

@florduh There's absolutely no chance that the beads in the Sai would get to vape temp before your concentrate melts onto the coil/wick, and therefore below the beads. That being said, it may be worthwhile in something without an exposed coil, like the quartz bucket for the Triton (which I'm considering getting even though I'm set on portables...) and the QQ. Anyone have any thoughts/experience on/with heat transfer to the beads from the Triton or QQ?

Yeah I was talking about the Titanium Bucket on the Top Airflow Sai so no exposed coils, but yes the concentrate would likely drip down to the bucket, though I'm not sure how that would be different than using beads in a banger.

But the real prize would be getting a sapphire/ruby bucket made that could sit right on a donut coil. Just like how the Ti bucket is setup.

 

[JigMelon]

@florduh The difference is being able to heat up the spheres before placing in the concentrate. That being said, you could certainly do that with the Ti bucket in the Sai!

Re: a bucket/dish, contact Swiss Jewel for a quote.