Wait....your saying that the difference of the ID's on male 18mm's are so that ELBS do or dont fit?
Im still thinking that one of those cheap Carbon adapters from Ioffer should work.
Also did you use a higher temp in your experiment. When using elbow packs I find I need 10 degs higer or so to get the same result temp wise.
Im really just diggin to figure if the the CLOUDS ability comes mostly from the heater it self or if these huge elbow packs known as ELBS are the real "super star" of the clouds functionality.
Could you imagine figuring out that the ELB in the right position gives you 80 percent or more of the performance the cloud does.....Poor mans Cloud coming soon...lol
Absolutely, the dimensions vary. Only slightly, but enough. Both male and female joints can vary in length/depth, and the inside of a male joint with vary (not only can the end vary in OD but the wall can vary affecting the ID, or both). It only takes a very small fraction to prevent an ELB from fitting inside. The ELB's diameter is only ~1mm less than the Q's elbow screen. I have 6 male 18mm adapters, and my ELB's/Q elbow-screens fit inside 3, do not fit inside the other 3. I have no idea of about Ioffer adapters, but I will say it's nigh on impossible to determine whether an ELB/Q screen will fit or not w/o actually trying it (or you could use calipers to measure the ID).
Yes, the heat would need to be higher, but how much is hard to determine. Not only is distance to the ELB a factor, but so is airflow - the Q's airway is narrower, which is a reason why elbow-packs are prone to a center hot-spot and Cyclone loads need to be stirred.
If you're going after a "poor man's Cloud" via the ELB, I sorry but you're going to be disappointed. First, the Cloud's heater and its glass air channel is substantially superior at maintaining a constant heat to the ELB, regardless of how hard or soft, how slow or fast, you hit it. The Q like most vapes has a temp curve, with a fall-off after being hit. Second, the Cloud's channel airflow into the ELB creates turbulence in the ELB; this enables not only better extraction but does so at a comparatively lower temp. In addition to the turbulence, the pressure in the ELB changes slightly (think of baking a cake in Denver) thus also making for the same result at a slightly lower temp. The extraction efficiency of the Cloud is accomplished by the combination of the designs of the heater, the unique air channel (aka the "bamboo"), and the ELB. I have a pretty solid understanding of the internals of both the Q and the Cloud, and I could not come close to re-creating the Cloud's efficiency in the Q. A much better result is achieved with the couple mods in this thread which alter the elbow-screen and/or cyclone such that the herb is closer to the heater and the airflow better directed.