The Arizer Air

[whatitdew]

I have found that the plunger end of a syringe of CBD oil is the perfect sized circle to pack/tamper a load in a air/solo stem.
I find the air is very dependant on the quality of herb used. When you do find a nice strain that works well it seems to be almost endless vapor off one load. I feel sorry for those who can't find top shelf cannabis regularly. I'm spoiled here in the pacific north west.

 

[vapen00b]

One other thing. I have noticed that it's almost impossible for me to get moisture out of the 2-piece stem, even with the mouthpiece removed; even when the moisture is from ISO; even when I put it in my oven at about 230°F for a while. I think I did find an easy(ish) solution, but has anyone else experienced a similar inability to remove moisture from inside that particular stem?

I tried with q tips and it was working quite good. You could also try with blowing hot air from a fan.. But hold it tight

 

[spiggot]

I just can't seem to get on with my PVHES lately. I find it gives large clouds, but much less satisfying hits. The vapour is just not dense enough compared to the Solo curved or straight stems I usually use. The Blue Dream I've been enjoying tastes incredible through regular stems, but weaker and more dilute through PVHES. This seems to be the case no matter how slowly and controlled I draw. I still get the desired effects though, eventually.

I tried again last night, and gave up part way through the first session to use a Solo straight instead. The difference in intensity of taste was massive to me, very noticeable. If feels like everyone else is loving their PVHES from what I read on here. Is it just me that thinks it's a bit unsatisfying?

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

I just can't seem to get on with my PVHES lately. I find it gives large clouds, but much less satisfying hits. The vapour is just not dense enough compared to the Solo curved or straight stems I usually use. The Blue Dream I've been enjoying tastes incredible through regular stems, but weaker and more dilute through PVHES. This seems to be the case no matter how slowly and controlled I draw. I still get the desired effects though, eventually.

I tried again last night, and gave up part way through the first session to use a Solo straight instead. The difference in intensity of taste was massive to me, very noticeable. If feels like everyone else is loving their PVHES from what I read on here. Is it just me that thinks it's a bit unsatisfying?

Not really, no. I had a PVHES GonG for my Solo and noticed the same, some thinning of vapor compared to a stock stem. It's the notches, they let fresh air in. On the upside, the notches help lessen the "milkshake draw" that some people talk about with Solo/Air. Thems the tradeoffs... Some people like the denser hits from stock stems, others enjoy a more liberated airpath. I prefer a stock stem myself.

 

[bluenavey00]

One other thing. I have noticed that it's almost impossible for me to get moisture out of the 2-piece stem, even with the mouthpiece removed; even when the moisture is from ISO; even when I put it in my oven at about 230°F for a while. I think I did find an easy(ish) solution, but has anyone else experienced a similar inability to remove moisture from inside that particular stem?

Try using a hair dryer, I partially tuck the stem under a pillow on my bed (to hold it in place when warm) and aim the hot air at the stem. Entirely dries in minutes.

 

[Bravesst]

Wow. I don't have any regrets about buying the Aromed before buying the Air, but this thing is unbelievable so far. The Air seems much more efficient than the AroMed, even though I believe the AroMed is considered one of the most efficient vaporizers on the market.

The Air is so much easier to use and maintain, too. With the Air, I can just relax on the couch (where I spend most of my time) and have a session whenever I want, in peace; relaxed. Also, the ABV that comes out of this thing is all the same color. (It's dark.) The Air seems unbelievably efficient.

There's a very good chance I will never need the Arizer Air for its portability, but I'm so glad I decided to buy this portable vaporizer anyway. This thing is just here for me; exactly how and when I need it to be.

EXACTLY!

and thanks to @VegNVape for the great music!

PVHES: Have you guys tried "shortys" PVHES turbos? Denser vapor with the 30% smaller bowl, IMHO.

 

[Aimless Ryan]

I tried with q tips and it was working quite good. You could also try with blowing hot air from a fan.. But hold it tight

I used canned air. (Is that what it's called?) I stuck the long tube inside the stem and pulled the trigger for a second. It's very easy to do, and it works great, but I could see having to replace the canned air occasionally, which would probably be relatively difficult for me.

I just think it's weird how the moisture never seems to fully evaporate from the one stem, even though it has a fairly large opening/escape route. The opening is hardly any smaller than the opening on the other stem, but the other stem dries just fine.

 

[Pyr0]

My new shorty

That looks great, love the little short bowl

Has anyone spotted any PVHES shorty turbo stems being sold in the UK please?

 

[OF]

One other thing. I have noticed that it's almost impossible for me to get moisture out of the 2-piece stem, even with the mouthpiece removed; even when the moisture is from ISO; even when I put it in my oven at about 230°F for a while.

Why? Why is a bit of water clinging to the walls a problem? I rinse it well in tap water (so what's inside is safe and will completely dry), screw the top on, load up and go. If the bowl/screen area is 'sopping wet' I might wipe that out with a paper towel but otherwise water drops are a feature not a problem. They will quickly evaporate when the hot vapor shows up, cooling it some and adding some useful moisture. I even played with a folded up pipe cleaner in there, but as I reported it went dry awfully fast.

Thermovape used to sell an accessory called 'pure flow' that used a ceramic 'sponge' to release the water slower, it worked OK, but was a PITA to keep refilling.

If you're bent on getting it out, a drying oven is one way, vacuum would be another (and more effective) way. But so would a simple fan. You really need to move dryer air through it to sweep the moisture out. That's what 'relative humidity' is all about. If you keep a damp house 'closed up' it stays damp, open the windows...... Sitting on the deck there's no reason for air to exchange. The atmosphere inside the glass simply goes to 100% RH and sits there. The water vapor is trapped inside the glass and sits in a 'fog bank' until the end of time.......

Standing it upright (so the warm air can rise) on your router for a while should work??? I'd put it on a paper towel or something if it's likely to seal against what it's sitting on. But I don't because I don't see it as a problem.

I just can't seem to get on with my PVHES lately.

I tried again last night, and gave up part way through the first session to use a Solo straight instead. The difference in intensity of taste was massive to me, very noticeable. If feels like everyone else is loving their PVHES from what I read on here. Is it just me that thinks it's a bit unsatisfying?

Not to despair, you're not alone. I'm not big on mine, although many are. For sure it's not for everyone as is most stuff in Vapland?

Perhaps it's as the old saying goes, "Well, that (differences of opinion) is what makes horse races"?

Not really, no. I had a PVHES GonG for my Solo and noticed the same, some thinning of vapor compared to a stock stem. It's the notches, they let fresh air in.

Some people like the denser hits from stock stems, others enjoy a more liberated airpath. I prefer a stock stem myself.

Spot on again, Q man! I'm with you. While I sometimes enjoy a PVHES or Vortex session, almost all the time it's stock stems for me too. Being a sipper anyway, I don't have big issues with draw restriction blocking my clouds. OTOH, I sure see no reason to dilute the vapor automatically (if I want that at the moment, I'll do it the old fashioned way.....).

Some love such stems, I'm just not like that I guess, more power to 'em. I think everyone should try them personally and see how they fit, you can't leave that decision to another guy. Chances are you might like it. At least for a while. FWIW my Vortex stem just came back from loan squeaky clean, carefully wrapped. I didn't specifically ask, but I got the impression the friend who borrowed it to try didn't buy one of his own.

OF

OF

 

[Aimless Ryan]

^^^I did all that stuff.

I didn't have noticeable water droplets in the stem. Rather, this was foggy, much like a bathroom mirror after a hot shower. Except it wouldn't go away. Maybe yours doesn't do that. I don't really understand why this one does it.

This foggy moisture did not evaporate even with hot, dry air going through the stem, regardless of whether the hot, dry air came from a warm oven or from me using the vaporizer. Canned air got the job done instantly.

 

[OF]

This foggy moisture did not evaporate even with hot, dry air going through the stem, regardless of whether the hot, dry air came from a warm oven or from me using the vaporizer. Canned air got the job done instantly.

Interesting. Then it clearly was not water. I suggest it was a thin coating of condensate that hadn't been cleaned. Like the world's worst finger print. The 'canned air', is a solvent, it simply washed it clean........

Water can only be a gas at 230F and sea level (or less). If you took it past 212F all water was vapor at that point.....them's the rules.

Whatever it was it's gone. Which is good.

OF

 

[Aimless Ryan]

^^^It was either water or alcohol trapped in the stem. I can't remember for sure if I rinsed the stem after I used alcohol, but I probably did. So that means it was probably water in the stem.

I don't think this trapped liquid phenomenon has anything to do with the temperature of the liquid. I think the water was simply trapped in the stem. Evaporated water, when trapped, doesn't just disappear. Rather, it condenses back into water, on every surface available.

You know how alcohol doesn't evaporate when you keep it in a sealed container? Same thing. Except this container doesn't seem sealed, nor is it truly sealed. It just seems to behave as if it's sealed.

 

[GetLeft]

I've used only the longer of the two stock stems since owning the AA. I know. Boring.

But jeez. This thing always provides an enjoyable session. Such a fine tool as is, I haven't found it to be in need of any additional bells or whistles. Simple, reliable, great performance straight out of the box and straight into the future.

I go back and forth between my plug in (which serves me as my quick and at-the-ready one-hitter) and my AA (used typically when "quick one hitter" is not the determining factor). Since the plug in currently suits my circumstances to a tee, I'm using it more frequently than my AA. But I enjoy my time with the AA more. If you've got a few minutes to enjoy your session, the AA really wants you to enjoy. Hit on it as it expects you to, and the result is full, flavorful vapor hits. And that's on the two lowest temp settings, above which I very seldom venture.

While both my AA and my plug-in are nicely conservative with material, I think my AA is better with mileage, all things being relatively equal (temp in particular). With the same pinch and a half of material, the AA will provide me with more (and more enjoyable) hits than my plug in, which, it should be stated to be fair, is pretty much made to hit fast and hard. One of the things that most appeals to me with the AA is that it can be used very easily for crafting a mild buzz. But I know plenty of folks use it at the higher temps for full-on effects.

Hmmm. Am I subconsciously talking myself into a pre-lunch special?

 

[OF]

I don't think this trapped liquid phenomenon has anything to do with the temperature of the liquid. I think the water was simply trapped in the stem. Evaporated water, when trapped, doesn't just disappear. Rather, it condenses back into water, on every surface available.

Actually it does. It's all about temperature and pressure. There are formulas that link the two. In our case, since it's open, pressure is 'normal' (760mm). It's true, "Evaporated water, when trapped, doesn't just disappear.". It turns to gas, where each molecule now take a MUCH larger volume, and competes molecule for molecule for space with all the other gas in the area. This means THE PRESSURE GOES UP, even if only to a minor degree. If it's sealed pressure goes up in accordance with those "vapor pressure" formulas (which is how steam engines work.....), if left 'vented' the pressure increases FORCE THE VAPOR OUT OF THE CONTAINER'.

A bucket of water evaporates because the water vapor is allowed to 'drift away', cover the bucket and that stops with the pressure under the cover slightly higher forcing condensation.


Why is it you think 'canned air' cleared it when blowing in didn't if it's not a solvent? The only logical reason I can find is it wasn't water but rather 'oil like' film......not that it matters once it's gone.

OF

Edit: Please consider this is exactly why your clothes dryer forced fresh air (which has to be heated....) through the drum of damp clothes and out the vent outside, that air is what carries the water out of the dryer? It comes out 'moist air' and condenses into fog as it cools outside. If you didn't flush the water vapor out of the dryer the clothes would never dry. The water there doesn't 'disappear' it's just moved someplace else by the laws of physics.

OF

Yet another edit: If you 'wash' with ISO you end up with 'concentrate paint'. The liquid, when the solvent (alcohol in this case) evaporates, leaves a film of the dissolved stuff (in this case oils) behind like a coat of paint. If you put the ISO/oil mix on a plate to evaporate, you get oil left over? Same on the inside of the glass. To avoid this you need to rinse a lot with fresh, clean, solvent. This 'thins out the paint'.

Rinsing with water does no good due to that 'oil and water don't mix' thing.

Detergents, like PBW, work by making the oil and water mix (like dishwashing) so the rinse is much easier. Another reason, I think, to switch from ISO to PBW?

OF

 

[Aimless Ryan]

The very small amount of water vapor that was trapped in my stem turned to steam when I used the vaporizer. This steam was unable to escape the stem; probably partly due to convection inside the stem. When the stem cooled, the water vapor still remaining in the stem condensed on the cool surface of the stem.

The inside of the stem dried when I used canned air, specifically because the moisture was forcefully blown out of the stem.

This is not complicated. It does not require a complicated explanation.

 

[HomeFree]

yeah, the evaporating ISO does leave a nice thin film. Sometimes I will actually dip the tip of my finger in the jar and touch a little bit to my neck to wear like hashy incense smelling aftershave, doesn't really have a skunky weed stench.

I wouldn't want to do it with old stinky buildup, but when cleaned every week, a little touch afterwords leaves a nice pleasant scent for a few hours. Not sure if other people can smell it or not. Probably depends on how much is used. I use less than one would use as aftershave and usually just do it after cleaning stems, since it leaves a thin film on my fingers anyways.

 

[OF]

The very small amount of water vapor that was trapped in my stem turned to steam when I used the vaporizer. This steam was unable to escape the stem; probably partly due to convection inside the stem. When the stem cooled, the water vapor still remaining in the stem condensed on the cool surface of the stem.

The inside of the stem dried when I used canned air, specifically because the moisture was forcefully blown out of the stem.

This is not complicated. It does not require a complicated explanation.

Yes, any water evaporates when the hot vapor goes past it.....and that vapor IS SWEPT OUT OF THE STEM WITH THE LARGER VAPOR FLOW FROM THE LOAD. Each hit represents perhaps a hundred 'exchanges' of the gas in the stem when the hit starts? There is noting to isolate the water vapor from the rapid flow through the stem. It will clear any vapor out just as effectively as the 'canned air' but has the added advantage of heating the residual (making it evaporate) rather than cooling it as the chilled gas from the can does.

I've worked a fair bit with this stuff professionally, and taught it for a lot of years. I'm pretty confident of this sort of stuff. You're right, it's not complicated......but it has to fit with the other rules we already accept. No magic here.

You started out asking 'has anyone else noticed.....'. Nobody piped in, agreeing this always happens to them? There is, I think, a good reason for that. And a clue. Stems damp with ISO and/or water are very common yet what you describe is not? Didn't you just say you're not even sure there was any water there (that is you're not sure you rinsed the ISO out with water)? You're not looking at water vapor at all (it doesn't behave like water does) but rather, I believe, at a thin film of hash oil left by incomplete washing (or rather rinsing).

yeah, the evaporating ISO does leave a nice thin film. Sometimes I will actually dip the tip of my finger in the jar and touch a little bit to my neck to wear like hashy incense smelling aftershave, doesn't really have a skunky weed stench.

Yep, I never thought of a new line of 'stoner fragrances.......that's a fun one.

Done right it could be a strong attractant in the clubs, or just the ticket for driving the drug sniffing dogs nuts. In a misspent youth they brought a couple of such dogs (two shifts....) to the local airport when it stated getting international flights. A couple of the troublemakers in my dorm took the alcohol left over from cleaning their bongs, put it in squirt guns and casually walked along the outside of the fence where they'd line the carts full of bags taken off the planes. They'd squirt a random suitcase here and there, picking out the fancy looking ones. The program was short lived. That was a lot of years ago, but it's still fun to think back on.

OF

 

[Aimless Ryan]

Yes, I said there was a very small amount of water in the stem; lots of microscopic droplets of water (or water vapor) all over the interior surface of the stem. Like fog. In fact, it was fog. That's what fog is.

This puzzled me for a moment.

I now know exactly what's going on here, and I have figured out why it happened, after very little thinking. I tried one thing to fix the issue. It worked. It worked for the reason I expected it to work. Please stop explaining what's not going on here.

 

[HomeFree]

Aimless Ryan, are you talking about that first frostiness when you start using your new stem? What I think is a combo of water, waxes, cannabinoids, and terpenes, making it look kinda like frosted glass? If so that is normal, at least for me. I think it looks neat.

It doesn't seem to happen after I clean my glass again though for whatever reason but maybe I haven't paid any attention. Maybe there is always a thin coating on the insides of the stems after use with ISO. I assume there is at least a molecular level coating. I'll have to pay attention next time I use a cleaned stem. Too bad the stems don't stay looking frosty like that.

Someone here wrote that vapor clings to resin, so clean stems will not only taste better, but get you higher. I had never thought about that before. It changed the way I think about my glass. Now I keep it clean not because it looks nice, but because it is BETTER that way.

Also I know lots of people say you don't need to stir your load with the Solo and Air, but I have found that it helps tremendously to dump it out and mix it and crumble it back up, then reload, once or twice in a session. Definitely vapes more evenly and seems to have a better effect as well. I have dumped it out too early though and have seen vapor coming off once or twice.

 

[olivianewtonjohn]

Makes no sense that ISO or water would stay in the stem they both boil at relatively low temps (weak intermolecular forces). I think some sort of oil like OF said sounds more likely.

 

[Aimless Ryan]

Note: I am only continuing to discuss this because other people keep discussing it. I already figured out what I need to know, and I shared my findings. It wasn't difficult to figure out.

No, it didn't have anything to do with either weed or weed byproducts or weed cleaning products. When I noticed this water condensation, I had only ever used the stem a few times.

The only thing inside my stem after cleaning was basically microscopic water droplets left over from cleaning, which could not easily find their way out of the stem because the shape of this particular stem does not allow the proper air circulation for that to happen. Just like these tiny pieces of weed (pictured below), which are stuck to the glass because when I inhale, my breath does not pull them out of the stem but instead directs them to the inside surface of the stem, where they remain because very little circulating air ever touches the inside surface of this stem.

When I have ANY amount of moisture inside the stem, the exact same thing happens as what you see in the picture above, but with water (that's already there) instead of weed. The water can't get out. Yes, the water most certainly will eventually evaporate if the stem is left alone for days.

EDIT: If I seem hostile or condescending or anything like that, I'm sorry. I don't mean to. I'm going through some serious shit right now, and I realize I may not be handling things well. I just don't know. Again, sorry.

 

[Bravesst]

@OF
Getting promoted a few times required me to study a lot of material. FDNY members are notorious studiers for promotional exams, so guys put in up to 4 to 8 hours a day for years. I probably studied - hard core - for about 10 years, maybe averaging 2 hours daily in the whole time, but periods of 3 to 6 hours a day were not uncommon.

What OF described in the post on evaporation, comes heavily into play in what we call a "BLEVE" - boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion

While water won't ever vaporize and expand with such pressure, propane (liquid when very cold, and what most of us use to power our barbecues) will expand rapidly when heated, and the cylinder will "bleve", or explode. An empty cylinder is more dangerous than a full one in this situation (just like an empty gas tank), as there is more room for vapor, less for liquid (which has to turn to vapor before igniting, liquid does not ignite).

PS SAFETY NOTE AS LONG AS I MENTIONED PROPANE
Do no bring Propane cylinders into your home or garage or store in an unventilated space, as it's heavier than air, and a leak will result in it pooling in the lower parts of your home, unable to be vented and waiting for an ignition source (switching a light on would be enough). Propane has a a very wide ignition range (like 3 to 95% or something crazy like that), while compressed natural gas's ignition range is like from 40 to 45% (narrow and much safer).

Anyway OF, you woulda been a great fire science guy!

 

[OF]

@OF
Getting promoted a few times required me to study a lot of material. FDNY members are notorious studiers for promotional exams, so guys put in up to 4 to 8 hours a day for years. I probably studied - hard core - for about 10 years, maybe averaging 2 hours daily in the whole time, but periods of 3 to 6 hours a day were not uncommon.

What OF described in the post on evaporation, comes heavily into play in what we call a "BLEVE" - boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion

Anyway OF, you woulda been a great fire science guy!

So true what you say about Fire Fighters. At one point I worked for a National Lab, big enough to have it's own Firehouse. Standard drill, 4 FF and a dispatcher (the rule here is 'two in, two out' with burning buildings). 15 'guys' (we had one woman) on 3 rotating shifts and one Captian/Chief. We had first class service, regular inspections and extinguisher checks, training for key employees (those who think handling those fire hoses is easy have never done it). I was a Union Steward (FF file lots of Grievances....). When it came to time to help and willingness they had no peer. Very sharp guys (like their lived depend on it....), ours more so than most since they had every certification (confined spaces, class D materials, toxics, radiation, animal rooms, the lot, including advanced first aid (we had a Medical Dept. as well). Not much I could teach those guys......they taught me.

What you say about Propane is so very true. I 'did the numbers' with 'one of the guys' one time and even the tank of Propane on the torch in my workshop was a hazard in a restricted space. This because someone didn't completely close the valve before putting it away. No telling how full the tank was to start. When I asked Dave about it, he didn't know, so we 'ran the numbers'. IIRC the ideal fuel/air ratio is like 14:1? A new tank could do that easily in our shop. I started storing the torch outside.......

The rules are well know and studied all the time. And FF are right there. Again, the lives of their teammates depend on sound decisions without hesitation under amazing stress. Just because they spend 1 day in 3 in the Firehouse doesn't mean they don't study a LOT, either to pass the next test or just live to retirement (job is more dangerous than being a Cop). Never sell a FF short, they are deadly serious about what they do.

OF

 

[Bravesst]

So true what you say about Fire Fighters. At one point I worked for a National Lab, big enough to have it's own Firehouse. Standard drill, 4 FF and a dispatcher (the rule here is 'two in, two out' with burning buildings). 15 'guys' (we had one woman) on 3 rotating shifts and one Captian/Chief. We had first class service, regular inspections and extinguisher checks, training for key employees (those who think handling those fire hoses is easy have never done it). I was a Union Steward (FF file lots of Grievances....). When it came to time to help and willingness they had no peer. Very sharp guys (like their lived depend on it....), ours more so than most since they had every certification (confined spaces, class D materials, toxics, radiation, animal rooms, the lot, including advanced first aid (we had a Medical Dept. as well). Not much I could teach those guys......they taught me.

What you say about Propane is so very true. I 'did the numbers' with 'one of the guys' one time and even the tank of Propane on the torch in my workshop was a hazard in a restricted space. This because someone didn't completely close the valve before putting it away. No telling how full the tank was to start. When I asked Dave about it, he didn't know, so we 'ran the numbers'. IIRC the ideal fuel/air ratio is like 14:1? A new tank could do that easily in our shop. I started storing the torch outside.......

The rules are well know and studied all the time. And FF are right there. Again, the lives of their teammates depend on sound decisions without hesitation under amazing stress. Just because they spend 1 day in 3 in the Firehouse doesn't mean they don't study a LOT, either to pass the next test or just live to retirement (job is more dangerous than being a Cop). Never sell a FF short, they are deadly serious about what they do.

OF

I was deadly serious, I never heard it expressed that way. The FDNY is a unique organization that basically wrote the book on structural firefighting in the 1960's and '70's. The city was seriously burning, with the job doing more in those 20 years than the entire time it's been in existence. It lead to us writing the "bible" on how to fight structural fire. OSHA doesn't necessarily agree (two in two out). I crawled around many fires alone or with my inside team (for most of my career I was the company officer), knowing the cavalry (we are well manned) was on its way, but no one was outside. My dream was to crawl around a hot smokey tenement before the engine company arrived with high pressure hose lines. As a "truckie" most of my career, it was all about search for life. That was truly the happiest time in my life, crawling around the most dangerous possible fires in the ghettos of Brooklyn. I lived for it, and I'm not alone, more than half the job felt that way. I worked it a lot of real busy units and some years in Special Ops. Ironically, I never felt a drop of anxiety (sometimes I'd feel fear, it's what helped you make good decisions and go home every night). We were truly professional, each man assigned a position, based on structure and what order the unit arrives, very in depth.

A big saying on the FDNY is "if you can learn one new thing every tour, it might save your life"

The deal with propane was in Brooklyn in 1985 there was a huge explosion from one 20 lb cylinder of propane, leaking in a hardware store basement (I actually operated at that fire). It led to NY City's Propane law that the rest of the state copied, strictest in the nation. NO PROPANE INDOORS, EVER (20lb cylinders or more), unless operating a hilo and the hilo's must be stored outdoors. We'd issue a summons and confiscate regularly - what an elaborate deal that was.

But the empty cylinder is the MOST dangerous, because of more room for vapor.

 

[Aimless Ryan]

After looking at one of my stems during a session a moment ago, I can now see why people may have been confused about what I was saying yesterday. Right now my stem appears to have some kind of condensation on the inside surface, but this condensation is clearly from the herb vapor. What I was talking about yesterday is not the same thing. When I get a chance, I'll try to share a picture of what I was talking about.

Again, sorry if I was an asshole to anyone yesterday.