The Herbalizer
- Thread starter nopartofme
- Start date
lazylathe
Almost there...
Since getting Herbie over 2 1/2 years ago, she has almost always been on my desk ready for action.
Some months were spent at friends houses and some spent in her box while i messed around with other vapes. She was delegated as my back up vape... A very expensive back up vape...
My main beef with Herbie is the bowl size.
I do not mind the lighter straw colored ABV as Herbie always gets me where i needed to be.
She produces copious amounts of vapor that is tasty and strong.
She does amazing concentrate bags as well.
Dry, bag or WT all were very good.
Just that big bowl...
Then came the MiniVap Flexicone mod.
This was and still is excellent for keeping the bowl clean.
For me that was the only advantage and it was a hassle with more parts and not as easy to connect to my WT's.
I only use this method when using my HydraTube now and it is perfection!
I have tried baskets, reducers of sorts etc... and nothing met my expectations.... Until a few days ago!
Needing to reduce the bowl size i went through my scrap drawer to see what i could use.
I found a Boro test tube that had a lip slightly bigger than the bowl, hmmmm....
A bit of grinding with a diamond bit to reduce the diameter till it was a snug fit, then a quick polish using the plumbers torch. I then reduced the height till it fit perfectly against the top of the bowl when closed.
The bow has now been reduced by 3mm!
I then placed a SS screen that i can move up and down to increase or decrease bowl size even more.
Almost instant vapor production now, still has that great taste and effect!
Think there may be slightly more conduction going on deeper into the session but not very noticeable at all.
A great little mod that Herbalizer should make as an option! A simple Boro tube that slips into the standard bowl with an adjustable screen!
Maybe even one of our members that blow glass could make these up??
Herbie is back on the desk again!
Super fast heat ups as always and super efficient now!
Some months were spent at friends houses and some spent in her box while i messed around with other vapes. She was delegated as my back up vape... A very expensive back up vape...
My main beef with Herbie is the bowl size.
I do not mind the lighter straw colored ABV as Herbie always gets me where i needed to be.
She produces copious amounts of vapor that is tasty and strong.
She does amazing concentrate bags as well.
Dry, bag or WT all were very good.
Just that big bowl...
Then came the MiniVap Flexicone mod.
This was and still is excellent for keeping the bowl clean.
For me that was the only advantage and it was a hassle with more parts and not as easy to connect to my WT's.
I only use this method when using my HydraTube now and it is perfection!
I have tried baskets, reducers of sorts etc... and nothing met my expectations.... Until a few days ago!
Needing to reduce the bowl size i went through my scrap drawer to see what i could use.
I found a Boro test tube that had a lip slightly bigger than the bowl, hmmmm....
A bit of grinding with a diamond bit to reduce the diameter till it was a snug fit, then a quick polish using the plumbers torch. I then reduced the height till it fit perfectly against the top of the bowl when closed.
The bow has now been reduced by 3mm!
I then placed a SS screen that i can move up and down to increase or decrease bowl size even more.
Almost instant vapor production now, still has that great taste and effect!
Think there may be slightly more conduction going on deeper into the session but not very noticeable at all.
A great little mod that Herbalizer should make as an option! A simple Boro tube that slips into the standard bowl with an adjustable screen!
Maybe even one of our members that blow glass could make these up??
Herbie is back on the desk again!
Super fast heat ups as always and super efficient now!
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
..............................................................
@lazylathe
That would be interesting to try, the more options the better.
Any pics? So does the tiny test tube still have a closed end or ???
And you still use the top bowl, correct? I dislike having to use the top bowl as I don't with the Flexicone mod. I use it open face with a HT---HT sits directly on Flexicone which sits in lower bowl.
Or with bubbler, I have started to snug Flexicone into Ratchett Herbie Song and that goes directly on
lower bowl. MFLB water whip then connects to bubbler.
My big beef with all glass loading systems is the heat---after a session the glass is super hot.
With Flexicones, I take a couple pulls with Herbie off and the silicone top is easy to grab/ not hot.
Other glass systems I've used got "finger burnin' hot".
Plus, I often start a session with the Flexicone in the miniVAP and move it to Herbie at the highest temps.
Picture of Flexicones and hemp fiber filter:
The center of the hemp fiber gets the most reclaim as vapor moves toward the smaller exit path.
And.... it really collects all that tiny herb dust from the super dry/ brittle herbage below it, as it gets sucked upstream. It keeps the small particles out of your bubbler, HT, whip, and lungs??
Latest hemp filter is probably 1/4 the bulk of that pictured above.
Please give updates on how it's working and pics
thanks
Southern Chef
Well-Known Member
Just another option which you might have already read about here. I've been using the S&B dosing caps for quite a while now. They fit very nicely into the Herbie bowl and I can load whatever amount I want with great results. AND...I feel that the Herbie is more efficient with the dosing caps. Possibly/probably my flawed science but worth a shot.
lazylathe
Almost there...
@MinnBobber
I hope the pictures make it a bit clearer!
Unfortunately i dropped the first glass tube and it cracked...
Modded a test tube to take it's place with a bit of high temp silicone to seal the top, no taste as it is medical grade. As you can see from the pictures i had to grind the bottom lip of the test tube to achieve a perfect fit with the sides of the bowl. The silicone ring is just for stability and is not in the air path, the top lid seals against the top of the test tube.
From left to right: herbie lower bowl, glass test tube, Adjusta-Bowl screen and silicone ring.
Assembled, you can see that the bowl can be moved to change load size.
And in place in the lower bowl, the top lid is a perfect fit.
With this mod i am getting very even, medium brown ABV after a few hits. I am finding it to extract better using Herbie like this as there are no green specks left. I am going to say it is because the glass adds a bit of conduction to the mix and because the load is pretty contained, it seems to vape better.
As for the heat factor, decades later and i am still a lightweight and do not really require multiple hits and loads to get me medicated. two usually does it!
My MiniVap and Herbie ABV come out the same color now, so i am happy with the mod.
Also tossing the idea around of sending Herbie back for a tune up. She is one of the first 50 set into the world and is just over 2 1/2 years old.
I use the Flexicone setup with my HydraTube only and only have a SonG for my MiniVap.
EDIT:
ABV after a session in the glass tube, no stirring or bowl removal during whole session.
It looks a lot darker in person.
I hope the pictures make it a bit clearer!
Unfortunately i dropped the first glass tube and it cracked...
Modded a test tube to take it's place with a bit of high temp silicone to seal the top, no taste as it is medical grade. As you can see from the pictures i had to grind the bottom lip of the test tube to achieve a perfect fit with the sides of the bowl. The silicone ring is just for stability and is not in the air path, the top lid seals against the top of the test tube.
From left to right: herbie lower bowl, glass test tube, Adjusta-Bowl screen and silicone ring.
Assembled, you can see that the bowl can be moved to change load size.
And in place in the lower bowl, the top lid is a perfect fit.
With this mod i am getting very even, medium brown ABV after a few hits. I am finding it to extract better using Herbie like this as there are no green specks left. I am going to say it is because the glass adds a bit of conduction to the mix and because the load is pretty contained, it seems to vape better.
As for the heat factor, decades later and i am still a lightweight and do not really require multiple hits and loads to get me medicated. two usually does it!
My MiniVap and Herbie ABV come out the same color now, so i am happy with the mod.
Also tossing the idea around of sending Herbie back for a tune up. She is one of the first 50 set into the world and is just over 2 1/2 years old.
I use the Flexicone setup with my HydraTube only and only have a SonG for my MiniVap.
EDIT:
ABV after a session in the glass tube, no stirring or bowl removal during whole session.
It looks a lot darker in person.
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MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
@lazylathe ,
thanks for the pics.
So, it's small glass cylinder, made from a test tube. The bottom of the test tube has been cut off, so it's now open, with a screen stuffed into it to make a bowl in the glass. Got it.
Herbie top bowl with screen is used with it as it snugs up to the silicone ring.
Without this, is your Herbie ABV not uniform color, not all dark brown? I ask cuz I never use the normal Herbie bowl. I always use miniVAP Flexicone in bottom bowl, without the Herbie top bowl.
So I'm used to completely uniform ABV color.
The more options, the better IMO
thanks for the pics.
So, it's small glass cylinder, made from a test tube. The bottom of the test tube has been cut off, so it's now open, with a screen stuffed into it to make a bowl in the glass. Got it.
Herbie top bowl with screen is used with it as it snugs up to the silicone ring.
Without this, is your Herbie ABV not uniform color, not all dark brown? I ask cuz I never use the normal Herbie bowl. I always use miniVAP Flexicone in bottom bowl, without the Herbie top bowl.
So I'm used to completely uniform ABV color.
The more options, the better IMO
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
Different topic/ back to back:
In the Mighty area, someone asked about using S & B dosing capsules in Herbie, is it possible.
Yes, the dosing capsules will work in the Herbie chamber.
Picture follows.
It works but capsule gets very hot and you need to remove lower chamber to dump out.
I prefer the miniVAP Flexicones, in picture, as the silicone Flexicone top remains warm and easy to remove. Note: I use open face without Herbie top half of chamber and place HT direct onto Flexicone.
Dosing capsules are a nice idea and much cheaper than Flexicone modules but I prefer the Flexis.
In the Mighty area, someone asked about using S & B dosing capsules in Herbie, is it possible.
Yes, the dosing capsules will work in the Herbie chamber.
Picture follows.
It works but capsule gets very hot and you need to remove lower chamber to dump out.
I prefer the miniVAP Flexicones, in picture, as the silicone Flexicone top remains warm and easy to remove. Note: I use open face without Herbie top half of chamber and place HT direct onto Flexicone.
Dosing capsules are a nice idea and much cheaper than Flexicone modules but I prefer the Flexis.
lazylathe
Almost there...
@MinnBobber
My Herbie ABV comes out a light to medium straw color when using it as recommended.
With the Flexi's i can get darker ABV but then i have to use my HydraTube with it, not very ergonomic for my set up at the moment so not used often at all. Love this super clean set up though!
I am finding with the new mod my ABV is darker and more consistent that either of the above methods.
Also take into consideration that my Herbie is over 2 /1/2 years old, the original firmware/software and was one of the first 50 off the line let loose into the world!
I am in communication with Herbalizer to send her in for an update sometime! Just waiting to find out what our post office decides to do... Looks like another strike looming...
My Herbie ABV comes out a light to medium straw color when using it as recommended.
With the Flexi's i can get darker ABV but then i have to use my HydraTube with it, not very ergonomic for my set up at the moment so not used often at all. Love this super clean set up though!
I am finding with the new mod my ABV is darker and more consistent that either of the above methods.
Also take into consideration that my Herbie is over 2 /1/2 years old, the original firmware/software and was one of the first 50 off the line let loose into the world!
I am in communication with Herbalizer to send her in for an update sometime! Just waiting to find out what our post office decides to do... Looks like another strike looming...
Southern Chef
Well-Known Member
Last night I used the miniVAP Flexicone modules in my herbie as @MinnBobber recommended. Nice. Very nice. It is true that the Mighty dosing caps get hot in the herbie bowl but we use one dosing cap a night so that hasn't been a problem. The flexicone modules are a lot easier to handle both before and after. I think I'll stick with this setup for a while. Learning happened. Thanks
Or a 14mm/18mm male to 10mm male gong adapter stuck in the whip end for attaching to almost any water piece.
Vitolo
Vaporist
It is coincidence that the posts I cited from the Hebalizer Development Forum adress these points (both!)
No, but there were plans... and I would love to see them move forward.
dated 5/09/2013.
"The issue is noted and will be factored into the second generation."
Companies can not get away riding on their laurels.
Look at Volcano.
Over last 2 years sales have gone consistently down. They tried to up interest by introducing the reducer chamber and dosing capsules (not a HUGE success).
No product can stay on the market long without evolving....
... they eventually die.
virtualpurple
Well-Known Member
I just put on my replacement cool grips as suggested by @Vitolo in a prior post. I also installed some coarser screens from @PlanetVape. I am still using my song adapter from @Ratchett to pair up some thick tubing as the Herbie tubing is being used by my roommate. I'm only partway through my first bowl but I'm remembering why I fell in love again.
ReifierReefer
Well-Known Member
Last night a friend of mine was using my Herbalizer in the same fashion @Winegums described and managed to blow back into the bubbler he was using, sending a good amount of water up the whip and into the heater. Immediately upon doing so the screen changed from displaying the temperature settings to "Herbie is sick/send to Herbalizer for service" for 10-15 seconds and then turned off. I've been using a bubbler with the Herbie since I got it back in March and have never felt that spilling water into the device this way was something to be concerned about, though I was always aware of the possibility. The friend guilty of spilling the water has somewhat of a knack for incompetence, so I think this fiasco speaks more to that than the dangers of hooking up a bubbler to the end of a whip (I had mentioned this possibility to him the day before). However, once this is all sorted out I may introduce the Herbalizer to new users in whip only mode, I think that the "complex" setup I ran may have been intimidating to people who are used to smoking out of a simple pipe.
@YungLeaner I'm hoping that I'll be as lucky as you and my Herbalizer will boot right up after I let the internals dry for 24 hours. How much water would you say you've spilled into the heater without damage?
YungLeaner
Well-Known Member
I would say right around a bubbler's worth. Try and get it in a position to safely dry for a day or 2 and then see if it turns on. You've got a decent chance of it
ReifierReefer
Well-Known Member
Right now I have it unplugged and open sitting on a table with a fan aimed directly at the unit. I'll leave it like that for at least the next 24 hours. Anyone have any other ideas that may help Herbie's recovery chances? I'm all ears.
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
.........................................................
Best of luck---hope it's just a temp shutdown.
As far as spilling water goes, think about water being dumped on a halogen bulb (or any hot bulb) and the thermal shock --- yikes.
If still not working, maybe it just needs a new bulb--if the original bulb cracked?
Let us know how it turns out
EDIT-- rehabing unit.
I'd try to rig a soft towel with Herbie upside down and unplugged. I'd also fill the chamber with dry / raw rice to help absorb moisture/ uside down too so no dust goes into unit. Folks do the rice fix for phones that fall in water and it's been known to work on some.
Scrimshaw
Vaped Crusader
Sorry to hear that, @ReifierReefer...
My Herbie has gone sick in solidarity!!! Herbalizer got me an RMA same day and I promptly shipped it out. It's ~6 months out of warranty, but had functioned flawlessly every day for 2 1/2 years. In my book, not bad for such a technical marvel. I will miss you Herbie, come home safe buddy!
My Herbie has gone sick in solidarity!!! Herbalizer got me an RMA same day and I promptly shipped it out. It's ~6 months out of warranty, but had functioned flawlessly every day for 2 1/2 years. In my book, not bad for such a technical marvel. I will miss you Herbie, come home safe buddy!
YungLeaner
Well-Known Member
While we're on the subject of Herbies getting sick, has anyone experienced a gradual, long-term downgrade in performance?
I clean the shit out of my screens, but these days even a minor screen clog makes the Herbie struggle it seems like.
I still get awesome results, still get great efficiency, but every step of the way the performance seems slightly lesser than it used to be.
Was just wondering if this happened to anyone else, or if most malfunctioning Herbies just quit working altogether.
Is there a standard service/refurbishing fee? I'm far out of warranty, although I think I may even have the warranty card still.
I clean the shit out of my screens, but these days even a minor screen clog makes the Herbie struggle it seems like.
I still get awesome results, still get great efficiency, but every step of the way the performance seems slightly lesser than it used to be.
Was just wondering if this happened to anyone else, or if most malfunctioning Herbies just quit working altogether.
Is there a standard service/refurbishing fee? I'm far out of warranty, although I think I may even have the warranty card still.
Scrimshaw
Vaped Crusader
FWIW, mine knew the moment it got sick. I was mid-bowl when it seemed like the temp sensor lost control—the bulb stayed on way longer than normal then the 'Herbie is sick' message appeared. I had no gradual decline, just kick-ass until failure... Daily screen-swap and ~weekly iso-soak of the bowl was all the maintenance it seemed to need.
Performance of the herbie is always tied to how clean you keep it. The whip, screens, and bowl can all get clogged with "wand hash" that hampers taste and airflow.
All parts of the Herbalizer herb chamber are isopropyl alcohol safe. So give it all a good soak and make sure that top screen is crystal clear again.
I've been using Herbalizers since the first units came into Canada so I'm well acquainted with them. My Herbalizer has had the same undiminished performance for years now, as has my brother's unit.
If you want to upgrade airflow in your Herbalizer I would get thicker tubing that slips over the bowl piece and use a secondary domed top screen. The domed top screen stops weed from plugging up the small opening in the herb chamber as well as eliminating the central hotspot. You should notice an improvement in airflow and reduced top screen maintenance.
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virtualpurple
Well-Known Member
My relatively new Herbie grips are leaking again. I'm m not real impressed to be honest.
The herb chamber doesn't seal through the cool grips. It seals with the top lip of the bowl pressing into the lid. If there's any gunk preventing them from mating flush that will cause the leak. I found that my chamber was leaking because of a small build up of material in the top corners of the lid.
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
Like @Winegums said, check that the innards/edges are clean and try again.
After that cleaning and live check, are you getting any lost vapor?
I was never a fan of their chamber so I experimented and found the miniVAP Flexicone modules fit perfectly and with them the chamber/ chamber screens never need cleaning as you don't use the top chamber where that screen and chamber get dirty. I just use the bottom chamber and it stays on all the time/ no need to remove it.
A hydratube fits directly onto the Flexicone for superb action.
Virtual--- what's your intended use of Herbie, whip or bags or hydratube or bubbler? Which methods you want to use will help with advice.
Picture of Flexicones and hemp fiber filter:
The center of the hemp fiber gets the most reclaim as vapor moves toward the smaller exit path.
And.... it really collects all that tiny herb dust from the super dry/ brittle herbage below it, as it gets sucked upstream. It keeps the small particles out of your bubbler, HT, whip, and lungs??
Latest hemp filter is probably 1/4 the bulk of that pictured above.
Hemp filter is just another option
After that cleaning and live check, are you getting any lost vapor?
I was never a fan of their chamber so I experimented and found the miniVAP Flexicone modules fit perfectly and with them the chamber/ chamber screens never need cleaning as you don't use the top chamber where that screen and chamber get dirty. I just use the bottom chamber and it stays on all the time/ no need to remove it.
A hydratube fits directly onto the Flexicone for superb action.
Virtual--- what's your intended use of Herbie, whip or bags or hydratube or bubbler? Which methods you want to use will help with advice.
The center of the hemp fiber gets the most reclaim as vapor moves toward the smaller exit path.
And.... it really collects all that tiny herb dust from the super dry/ brittle herbage below it, as it gets sucked upstream. It keeps the small particles out of your bubbler, HT, whip, and lungs??
Latest hemp filter is probably 1/4 the bulk of that pictured above.
Hemp filter is just another option