The Arizer Air

[OF]

For the caps you should buy the arizer silicon caps not the vinyl ones, its rated for high heat

Sorta the whole story, but not all vinyl caps are the same. There are high temperature ones quite suitable to the task, I've used them for years now:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#high-temperature-caps/=wve4n0

They look the same but are stiffer. Here's one on the hot end of a stem, the other end is a normal duty cap the same size with a piece of silicone rubber tube as a shim:

Please note I cut the stiff (high temperature) caps back to about half length, this step alone makes it much easier to snap them on a hot stem (just set it at an angle and press down on top with your thumb), and the lip makes it easy to get the stiffer caps off (to use the stem) since you can easily 'catch it with a thumbnail'.

OF

 

[olivianewtonjohn]

I hear you @OF I mean the traditional MFLB battery caps that basically every store carries and sells as solo/air stem caps. I assumed he isnt using anything special, but good to make sure and clarify.

 

[OF]

I hear you @OF I mean the traditional MFLB battery caps that basically every store carries and sells as solo/air stem caps. I assumed he isnt using anything special, but good to make sure and clarify.

Yup, for sure the soft vinyl ones are to be avoided in this application. However the stiff ones (85D) are much better at staying put. Even cut in half (which didn't seem to make them less secure). I've had the much softer (and more expensive) silicone ones come off in my pocket.....also to be avoided IMO.

I probably made my points poorly. I meant to say 'not all vinyl caps are bad' and 'I think the best cap available for the job is the stiff (high temperature) vinyl ones. At least that's what I found.

Thanks.

OF

 

[WoodVillain]

No, not really. It's not stable until the entire oven area reaches normal temperature, the insulation that saves us battery power makes that slower. Yes, the cup (the important part to making vapor) is at temperature in a minute or two, but not the entire oven.

Think about a sheet of material (for ease of discussion here, consider the composite as a single uniform plate). As you heat it, the atoms all vibrate more and more (the definition of heat at that level) so each 'needs' more room. Every atom moves further away from every atom, it expands.

Now, think about a ring cut from the material. As it gets hot the outside obviously expands, but the atoms still need to move away from each other so the hole gets bigger as well. Still with me?

But, as it heats from the inside out the hole is trying to expand faster than the outside, but it can't because the outside is strong and constrains it putting the inside in compression (forcing it to expand slower). It's not until it reaches full temperature everywhere that the final hole size becomes available. It's not going to take 8 minutes 25.5 seconds or anything that exact, the ideas is to wait 'plenty long' for the initial try. I agree, 10 minutes is probably a safe number?

This brings up a fun technique sometimes use for things like big gun barrels (like aboard ships). An 'interference fit' a slightly to big OD sleeve and slightly small ID jacket are made. This means the precision rifling is done on a thin tube, not the whole barrel as normal. Then you heat the barrel body (making the ID bigger), seriously freeze the inner tube (making it smaller OD) allowing you to quickly slip one inside the other. Once at the same temperature (which they will be forever after that) they're locked together like nobody's business. Precision bearings are often fitted this way. Some even have to be cut up to remove.

Fun stuff, at least to a few of us geeks.

OF

Great explanation, even i could follow along

Thanks OF!!

 

[OF]

Great explanation, even i could follow along

Thanks OF!!

Yer welcome, I'll put it on your bill.

Thanks for the feedback.....and kind words. Writing stuff guys could understand was, after all, my goal.

OF

 

[yekezil]

Or if you have a second Elbow adapter from the V Tower your all set.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARIZER-EXTR...904?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1c9744e0

Would this also work to connect my Arizer V tower whip to a 18/19mm bubbler?

 

[UnshavenFish]

So I've had my micro bubbler for a few hours now and i have to say I'm impressed

First thing i have to mention is its slightly (0.5mm) smaller in diameter than my OEM stems So no 10 minutes wait for me (although its glass so not all might be the same) after checking against OEM stem i thought i would give it a try and it went straight in while cold with enough grip to hold even when at full temp,there is a slight wiggle (1mm either way measured from the top/mp) when inserted but i think this is down to the ridges in the air's opening)

As far as water its a tiny amount in there, and the only way i have managed to get any out is by shaking it hard (like a crazy person) and even then it was a few drops, or by blowing into it but again then it took some effort and was so little it didn't even make it to the bottom of the stem bowl.

Now performance i don't know what to say other than it works, it has a nice length (113mm) and water, so I'm sure fans of longer stems will enjoy as well as those looking to be a little kinder to their lungs.

Bowl size (although this may vary) is slightly bigger than the OEM all glass stem (the same size difference as between the small mp (plastic tip) and all glass mp)

The dome in the middle of mine leans a little not sure if this is deliberate but for me it works great, a small amount of water gets trapped against the side so when air flows through the hole it splits into two streams (its hard to explain) which means i get best results by holding it on a slight angle which feels a lot more natural than leaning over it to keep it vertical.

The tube it comes in is nice but it rattles around it there a bit, so I've lined it with some 2mm thick foam with more in the end and cap to keep it snug and secure, this does mean i have to wait for it to cool before putting away but for me thats a trade off I'm happy with.

I have used it a lot in a short space of time so the downside is I'm a lot more baked than normal at this time of day, but the upside is I'm a lot more baked than normal at this time of day

I'm sure there was more but right now thats all my head can deal with, nothing a few cookies and a little sit down wont fix

Oh and a big thumbs up for vapefiend, as alway great customer service (thanks for the butter)

 

[WoodVillain]

Yer welcome, I'll put it on your bill.

Thanks for the feedback.....and kind words. Writing stuff guys could understand was, after all, my goal.

OF

Some people explain things in a way that leaves more questions than answers. Its not too often im left with NOTHING left to ask or add LOL

And just for fun....

It doesnt really fit... Just happens to sit on top pretty good. Thought it looked cool so i thought id share.

 

[OF]

Some people explain things in a way that leaves more questions than answers. Its not too often im left with NOTHING left to ask or add LOL

Some of that I come by honestly. Time was students who didn't follow (or thought I had it wrong....) went straight to the Dean.......something I learned is best avoided. Adults only learn new stuff when they can tie it into what they already 'know'. Children, OTOH, are still building that understanding of the world, they can only learn by rote. Kids learn to multiply by reciting the tables, adults learn Calculus by fitting the new ideas in with the old, between we have 'inbetweens' wondering what Algebra is all about..... Too much to memorize, to complex to understand with 'I know the tables' skills.

Thanks for the feedback. IMO that's super. Those interested enough can take part, hopefully collectively we move understand and informed choices along.

And have a few laughs from time to time of course. Might as well expect to enjoy it on it's own, none of us are likely to get paid to hang out here?

Thanks. BTW, I love the gear in the photo.

OF

 

[GetLeft]

I have used it a lot in a short space of time so the downside is I'm a lot more baked than normal at this time of day, but the upside is I'm a lot more baked than normal at this time of day

Always good to see the upside : )

Thanks for the review. I'm sold. But not 'til it's available at a lower price, stateside.

 

[WoodVillain]

Some of that I come by honestly. Time was students who didn't follow (or thought I had it wrong....) went straight to the Dean.......something I learned is best avoided. Adults only learn new stuff when they can tie it into what they already 'know'. Children, OTOH, are still building that understanding of the world, they can only learn by rote. Kids learn to multiply by reciting the tables, adults learn Calculus by fitting the new ideas in with the old, between we have 'inbetweens' wondering what Algebra is all about..... Too much to memorize, to complex to understand with 'I know the tables' skills.

Thanks for the feedback. IMO that's super. Those interested enough can take part, hopefully collectively we move understand and informed choices along.

And have a few laughs from time to time of course. Might as well expect to enjoy it on it's own, none of us are likely to get paid to hang out here?

Thanks. BTW, I love the gear in the photo.

OF

Very true!!

Sometimes people explain things in a way that they would want it explained to them, which if the audience has the same level of education this would be acceptable, but the problem is most the time the level of education varies greatly. For example, To get me to understand trig, i would have to start back at algebra and work up to it, explaining it from a person's point with advanced calculus just wouldnt work.

And thanks man, its some nice glass but i never did get the actual items i ordered from them... I got all 5 pieces for the price of 1 chillum and jar though so i cant complain too much.



More on topic, has anyone here received the stubby vortex stem yet? They are out of stock so im sure a bunch of people have to have one by now but i havent heard much about them yet. Specifically interested in how hot it gets and how quickly ?

 

[MediocreBadGuy23]

With solo I used to leave it capped to heat up and cap whenever I wanted to. I never had a problem. With the air I took the cap off so idk. For the caps you should buy the arizer silicon caps not the vinyl ones, its rated for high heat

Awesome. I have 4 caps total. But I can't remember what 2 came with the air and what 2 I bought from PIU. I've been using the ones that aren't smooth so I'm assuming those are the vinyl ones that I shouldn't be using.

 

[GetLeft]

Had previously tried some loose material in my new Air. Today though a grinder arrived, part of last week's AA purchase. Does a medium grind. ...Loving this learning curve.

 

[Vape Hound]

Ok folks I have a rant to share today, and it is that the Airizer, and possibly most portable vaporizers, should be sold with a bubbler as a package deal, and should be sold with an explicit health warning that use of portable vaporizers without a water bubbler COULD incinerate the user's tonsils, throat and lungs.

Using myself as a guinea pig, I decided to try some of the lower temperature settings on the Airizer, in the hopes that by so doing, I would avoid, or at least reduce the drying and burning effect of the vapor on my breathing passages that I experienced on the highest two temperature settings. What I discovered to my utter dismay is that regardless of how low I set the Airizer temperature, the incineration of my throat and tonsils occurred after vaping just a couple of bowls full.

As I type these words, I am suffering from by far the absolute worst sore throat of my entire life, simply as a result of using the Airizer in the manner prescribed by the user instructions that came with the unit. Now I have smoked weed in joints, but NEVER in bongs, for literally decades, and during that time have NEVER experienced such an intense scorching of my throat, and so I am certain that my organically grown weed, cultivated by yours truly, is NOT to blame for my injury.

Prior to acquiring my Airizer, I read up on vaping extensively, and besides a few passing mentions about the cooling and humidifying effect of a bubbler when used with a vaporizer, there was no direct reference to the medical danger of NOT using a bubbler at all. The total absence of any warnings about the heat and dryness of vaporized weed led me to believe that I was on pretty safe ground using my new Airizer without any water tool attached.

Boy was I wrong ! With my current experience in mind, I therefore offer this caveat emptor to all vape noobs about to take the plunge with a new portable vaporizer. NEVER use a portable vaporizer of ANY make or model, UNLESS it is connected to a bubbler. Failure to take this simple precaution COULD fry your throat and lungs. Apologies for the emotional tone of my write-up today, but my breathing is labored right now, as a result of my experiment to quantify the danger of vaping with no water in line.

/rant over

 

[CarolKing]

@Vape Hound Its always good if you are new to vaporizing to go about it slowly. If something feels harsh turn down the temperature. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else.

I need to use the Air on the lower temperatures when using the short stems, it such a short vapor path IMO. I prefer using a Solo stem or a Vortex with the Air.

It sounds like you over did it. I hope that doesn't discourage your ideas about vaporizing. Take care of yourself is the main thing. Continue your quest to be combustion free. You just go about it in a safe way, no burnt tonsils

 

[lazylightning]

@Vape Hound, too bad your vape dogged you first time out.

I don't think many people at all experience the extreme sore throat that you did, which is probably why you haven't seen warnings. I get a very dry throat and cough a lot with most vapes which tells me I need to take a sip of water between hits or use a water tool.

Hope you dial it in and find your groove. It's totally worth the effort!

 

[OF]

Had previously tried some loose material in my new Air. Today though a grinder arrived, part of last week's AA purchase. Does a medium grind. ...Loving this learning curve.

By all means experiment and see what you like.

Grind, while very important with some vapes, is not a big deal with Air/Solo. They do 'just fine' on a small bud (or a piece of one) jammed in. This is in large part because it's not a convection based vape, despite what some have to say on the topic.

Try various loads and see?

OF

 

[Vape Hound]

@Vape Hound, too bad your vape dogged you first time out.

I don't think many people at all experience the extreme sore throat that you did, which is probably why you haven't seen warnings. I get a very dry throat and cough a lot with most vapes which tells me I need to take a sip of water between hits or use a water tool.

Hope you dial it in and find your groove. It's totally worth the effort!

Thanks for the replies Carole King and LL, I definitely will continue to use my Airizer, but only after I take delivery of a substantial table-top bubbler with considerable water capacity, so that this experience never repeats itself in the future. I quit all toking activities for now, while I heal, and will resume when my new gear arrives.

 

[Traaaaan]

I think you are overreacting a little bit.

Wet a cottonball and put it in your stem. That should help.

 

[Gray Area]

@Vape Hound It's not the device, it's you... I regularly use the Air dry on red with the short mouthpiece. No probs whatsoever here.

I'm not saying you're not sore, or have had the reaction you describe, but it's not the Air that's to blame or use of portables (or any vape) without water...

Absolutely start low and experiment a bit if you're new to vaping, it's different to smoking, but vapor is cooler and less dense than smoke, so I would imagine it's something you'd get used to.
Good to have a drink at hand if it's drying your throat...

 

[Vape Hound]

Forgive my emotional outburst, Traan, but for a while there I was convinced that my tonsils were going to get so inflamed as to block off my throat and breathing, which was a thought that did induce some serious panic on my part, for sure.

The wet cotton ball in the stem idea you suggest, and the simple expedient of having a glass of drinking water on hand, as recommended by Gray Area, are the first two ideas that I will try when I feel ready to vape again, but if my bubbler arrives first, that is the route I will take from here on out. These safety tips are much appreciated fellas.

 

[Gray Area]

... and try warm water in your bubbler when it arrives. It'll moisturise the vapor better than cold.

 

[Vape Hound]

Now that is a but of wisdom that I have never encountered thus far, Gray Area. Intuitively I would have thought ice cold water would have been preferable in a bubbler, but come to think of it warm water is closer to its vaporization temperature, in comparison to cold water, so your idea is one I will try soon.

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

I prefer warm/hot water to cold water personally. Don't go high temperature if you find it irritating, stay low and sip instead of trying to pull massive hits. Some strains are harsher than others, too. Is the material touching the metal heater? The conduction might make it a little harsh if you're unaccustomed.

 

[Vape Hound]

Ah, I see a mistake I have been making already. Quetzalcoatl. I assumed that to get any vapor out of my Airizer, deep and prolonged draws were absolutely necessary. When I took small sips, my exhalation contained very little vapor, which led me to assume that the device required a prolonged and uninterrupted flow of air, to produce adequate vapor.

I don't grind my bud, and merely cut it up into small pieces with scissors, since this enables me to avoid the use of a screen. Also I pack the bud fragments tightly enough in the stem to prevent any material dropping out of the stem and into the oven where it might partially combust on the higher settings.

I clearly have a lot to learn ion terms of vaping setup and technique, and I can rest assured that the information I need will be found here in this forum