Tafée Bowle

[Bad Dog]

I agree contact tafée and bring this to their attention this is clearly defective paint..... Powder coat ....whatever it is. Canada is a land of immigrants and pretty much everyone in ontario knows a minimum 1 person who's first language is not english. I've always soaked mine in 99% iso over night .... cold though which I might continue to use and avoid hot. I'm not overly concerned about a couple of reports of this and if it happens to mine I'll make a claim and I know tafée will take care of me as they should for the price paid, don't be afraid to get the service you deserve.

 

[Stu]

I’ve seen powder coating peel like that after cleaning in an ultrasonic cleaner, the cavitation can get under any small cracks or holes, and cleans off the coating.

I soaked the three parts of the stem assembly (stem, bowl housing and bottom plate) in iso (in my ultrasonic cleaner) for about 10 minutes. Of the three parts, only the bowl housing was susceptible to the affects of the iso. The paint just wiped right off with your fingernail. The other two parts were just fine so I think it's just the bowl housing that is painted (or perhaps powder coated).

I have already let Bruno know about it, so he is aware of the "issue".

 

[Vitolo]

Of the three parts, only the bowl housing was susceptible to the affects of the iso.

This really makes sense for me about why it never happened to me.
Once dismantled, I never submerged that portion, as it was basically just a hull, that was
spotless with an internal swab.
I'm glad that Bruno was informed about the discovery.

 

[west-elec]

I have been a little concerned with the coating for a while, not peeling, it is the sweet smell. Early in the thread a few of us mentioned what I thought of as the new Tafee smell. A strong sweet smell when you open the tube, and on the alloy. I still store mine in the tube and every time I open it the sweet smell hits me like a brick. I have had it for a few months no change. Nice smell, but what is it from? Not the silicone, doesn't seem to be the cup. What's left?
When I read about a coating I suspected that might be the smell. Now I see the flakes and wonder about the inside of the stem I can't see, and what is in the glitter coating they are using.
I agree the images look like prep error prior to coating, so it doesn't adhere correctly- definitely warranty issue. But a detectable odour suggest some outgassing and now I am concerned from a health an s safety perspective...
Will someone please pay me on the back and tell me it will all be ok...I love this thing.

 

[CloudMaker]

maybe it interest someone
yesterday i cleaned one of my stems. I recently read here that you could put the iso bag in hot water and clean it even better, which makes sense to me. I did it yesterday and the silver coating on the aluminum stem became porous in some places and it dissolves when you touch it with your finger. (but when it dries the coating hardens again and does not come off when you touch it) I then "nibbled" off the coating on a small spot. photo follows the days. I had already started to notice when after the iso bath in the past (without hot water around it) I noticed when I rinsed it off with hot water that the coating was coming off. I don't think that's ideal and I would like the stem better if it were made directly from brushed aluminum so that it would be more resistant to cleaning. clearly more beautiful it looks the way it is. you can bypass the fact that you don't use any hot water. whether directly to rinse or indirectly if you don't put the iso bag there. even if it cleans more effectively with hot water. it doesn't really bother me that the coating is a bit off on one stem, because it's just a blemish. the function is important to me.
but i will no longer use hot water for my stems not directly and not indirectly

Mine did exact same thing

 

[ChooChooCharlie]

Piling on...

Read here about coating peeling off after hot iso baths, my preferred vape cleaning method

Had to try and replicate. After 2 min in hot iso, I saw loss in a small corner spot

So, like a smart ape, I attacked it with my fingernail ... Think I'll scrub it all off that lower stem section tomorrow with a brass brush, to make it pretty again

Sorry, Tafée, keepin' it real:

Sure, it's outside the vapor path. But it's burning into my visual cortex

 

[Texus]

I have been a little concerned with the coating for a while, not peeling, it is the sweet smell. Early in the thread a few of us mentioned what I thought of as the new Tafee smell. A strong sweet smell when you open the tube, and on the alloy. I still store mine in the tube and every time I open it the sweet smell hits me like a brick. I have had it for a few months no change. Nice smell, but what is it from? Not the silicone, doesn't seem to be the cup. What's left?
When I read about a coating I suspected that might be the smell. Now I see the flakes and wonder about the inside of the stem I can't see, and what is in the glitter coating they are using.
I agree the images look like prep error prior to coating, so it doesn't adhere correctly- definitely warranty issue. But a detectable odour suggest some outgassing and now I am concerned from a health an s safety perspective...
Will someone please pay me on the back and tell me it will all be ok...I love this thing.

Honestly a non-coated version could look pretty cool.

 

[west-elec]

Yikes, your not making me feel better Charlie. I retract my insufficient paint prep comment. We've got something else going on here.

 

[condition]

I don't understand the term hot ISO, do you really mean warm ISO, or you just submerge the stem at ISO room temp and the coat peeling off?

I've been reading similar feedback about the TB from many people, but I still don't get it.

I mean, I sometimes get a scratchy throat and cough a bit when taking big hits from my Crafty+ via a Rattle Can bubbler filled with warm water (for extra humidity).

Could the TB's dry stem somehow be even smoother than that?

Thanks

Hi, try to keep some empty space at the top of the capsule, so that the herb is some millimeters far from the screen of the heating base. Lightly press it with the included tool.

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

@btka Is there really paint inside the stem,if so they should switch to anodizing right away,but that also might increase production value .. @Vitolo 7thfloor claims that units are anodized,no mention of paint.

 

[cliffhanger1]

I soaked the three parts of the stem assembly (stem, bowl housing and bottom plate) in my ultrasonic cleaner for about 10 minutes. Of the three parts, only the bowl housing was susceptible to the affects of the iso. The paint just wiped right off with your fingernail. The other two parts were just fine so I think it's just the bowl assembly that is painted (or perhaps powder coated).

I have already let Bruno know about it, so he is aware of the "issue".

i had the same issues on the stem too. it is definitely not only the bottom plate.
at the stem it burst open in the same way, I just didn't wipe it and when it was dry you could press it firmly as already described

 

[btka]

@btka Is there really paint inside the stem,if so they should switch to anodizing right away,but that also might increase production value .. @Vitolo 7thfloor claims that units are anodized,no mention of paint.

I am not sure... it is painted where you put your pot inside (it would be deffinitly in vapor path... but I a, not sure if the paint went off or if it was not painted inside everywhere... can someone check how the painting looks in a new stem (not iso cleaned with hot water... I only rinsed my stem inside with iso and then washed it out with hot water from water tap...






photo sharing sites

In my opinion they did not need painting or coating I would been also happy with brushed aluminum (industrial look), BTW they could use recycled aluminium for a ecofriendly production, but ok producing in china this is maybe not that important but would be good marketing or not...

 

[invertedisdead]

We used to see this problem a lot, particularly on wax pens like Source Vapes, where a company would try and do some cool looking Flosstradamus Goldmember finish, but it would actually flake off and make owners feel uncomfortable about inhaling from it.

However, If I recall correctly, the inside of the stem is just raw aluminum. That's why I was most disappointed in the external painted finish, as simple brushed aluminum would be aesthetically preferable IMO every day of the week; though as I've mentioned before, I would have liked to see mil spec hard anodization at this price as a commitment to quality and longevity.

 

[btka]

We used to see this problem a lot, particularly on wax pens like Source Vapes, where a company would try and do some cool looking Flosstradamus Goldmember finish, but it would actually flake off and make owners feel uncomfortable about inhaling from it.

However, If I recall correctly, the inside of the stem is just raw aluminum. That's why I was most disappointed in the external painted finish, as simple brushed aluminum would be aesthetically preferable IMO every day of the week; though as I've mentioned before, I would have liked to see mil spec hard anodization at this price as a commitment to quality and longevity.

but there is a little bit of paint job also inside stem, where you put the pot inside and this is in the vapor path... you can see in my pics above

I am also not huge fan of painting, think brushed aluminium would be also good... I do not get why you paint a product so it looks more expensive or like made of better products... especially in a product which should be for a healthier consumption of herbs... or for medical use... it is like putting make up on a donkey... it will still be a donkey... I can not understand this way they took... either use better products then paint them so the look like... sorry especially when a vape costs so much... I am not blaming tafee I think they was not aware about this problem...

 

[EddIW]

Email from Tafee below regarding the stem coating and also a water pipe adapter I asked about.

Thank you for your email.

We are sorry to learn of your recent experience.

We would suggest you adhere strictly to the Stem cleaning guidelines in the quick start guide, manual or as recommended by our retail partners.

Avoid using hot water or submerging in hot ISO as cleaning methods. In the event the Stem has inadvertently encountered a penetrating scratch on it's outside surface, hot liquids and chemicals will be catalyst in speeding up separating the external coating from the external surfaces.

If this occurs, while cosmetically unappealing, rest assured the Stem remains fully functional and safe to use. We will invest further efforts on our end to continue to improve the resilience across Bowle parts and accessories.

In the interim we will make available replacement Stems to purchase shortly and highlight the recommended method for care and maintenance better to customers.

Regarding water pipe adapters. We are pleased to disclose we not far from retailing a Tafée Ware Adapter that meets those needs and exceeds them by amplifying taste in Bowle to new unmatched levels with new technology.
More information will be released at appropriate times as we work to deliver as soon as possible.



Best Regards,
The Tafée Team.

 

[MonkeyTime]

Email from Tafee below regarding the stem coating and also a water pipe adapter I asked about.

Amplifying taste with a WPA? New technology being brought out with a WPA? Are there people in Canada starting to practice the dark arts?

A little transparency from Tafee right now, especially about materials, would probably go a long way with Joe Q. Public

I'm an ISO fan, it's less work in many instances for me, and that's usually a key component in my decisions. I do believe heat helps, but when I first read about this, I figured the heat was just a coincidence, not a true contributor....I'm starting to doubt that line of thought. I don't have any marks on my stem, and the bottom 1/3 has been soaked in 99% iso multiple times, but I may be stopping that practice for a bit. I'll also not be using the stir tool to pull debris off the bottom in between cleanings like I have been, just in case.

 

[NimChimpsky]

Honestly, I don't find that to be a satisfactory response.
1. How can one 'rest assured' of the safety of the device when they have no idea of the chemical makeup of this 'paint', nor where all its even located on the stem? Sorry, but they owe us that, especially for a 'medical' device.
2. They should 100% offer free stems at the very least to those currently experiencing this issue (until they 'highlight the recommended method for care and maintenance better to customers' and demonstrate that these materials are indeed safe at vaping temps) and, frankly, to anyone who experiences it in the future.
3. This is the first thing I've seen that I would categorize as a potentially big design flaw. I cannot understand in the slightest why this coating would be valuable compared to other options. I'm not a materials engineer (though I do have a MSEE) and maybe my thinking is wrong on this, but I would like to understand the reason for this coating and it's makeup.

Excited to hear about the wpa, but I think a more detailed and thoughtful response is required. I should note I haven't experienced any of these issues myself.

 

[cliffhanger1]

Email from Tafee below regarding the stem coating and also a water pipe adapter I asked about.

ok that means we must buy a new stem if i understand right

I hope he will then also be offering these in the 2 European shops for retail sale and not only in Canada

 

[androponic]

im thinking i may strip mine anyway just to make it a non issue. i will mirror polish that aluminum while im at it.

 

[ChooChooCharlie]

Got most of it off. Now, it has a tri-toned multi surface designer look

Edit: @androponic - read your post below. No, sorry, I was not that ambitious. Only the back side where it flaked off

As Tafée has said, don't use hot iso. That surface coating does not like it. I believe Vapefiend said he cleans with Dark Crystal Glass solution, apparently more environmentally friendly. But heat may be a problem, so don't heat?

 

[androponic]

Got most of it off. Now, it has a tri-toned multi surface designer look

awesome! now you eliminates all of the wear issues like where the locking ball scrapes on top.

 

[Michel]

ok that means we must buy a new stem if i understand right

I hope he will then also be offering these in the 2 European shops for retail sale and not only in Canada

At least we only have to clean the ceramic pots since the stems are disposable...

edit:

 

[MinnBobber]

With my tea bag paper filters, my stems go weeks between needing a cleaning and then I use Powdered Brewery Wash PBW . It is so mild compared to ISO, which I reserve for jobs that need that harsh level.
A quick swab under the pod yields only golden goo, without that nasty ABV dust .
And the filters make emptying so easy. The stock pods, with gravity and downward airflow get kind of packed in. The pod/screen stays really clean with a filter.
Pic shows my WPA which isn’t perfect but works with a finger pinch to seal it....

 

[staircase slight of hand]

The pod/screen stays really clean with a filter.

Are you putting in a new filter with each fresh pot? And if not, how long are they lasting you? I’m tempted to give this a try, but I usually just blow out my ABV and I think I’d need to rethink my de-bowling strategy if I were to add filters.

 

[His_Highness]

Tafee care and maintenance manual ... stem cleaning directions:


Based on the suggested cleaning method the coating issue may be a surprise if it turns out to be common. The Tafee founders are experienced vape folk and would know how nit picky the vape community is about things like this.

I would suggest that each person who experiences this issue make Tafee aware so they can get a handle on the numbers.

Easy for me to say....I've cleaned mine with ISO as suggested above and didn't experience anything like this.