The Lotus Vaporizer

[Delta3DStudios]

Really? I wonder why that is, because mine gets really hot after 2 or 3 bowls.

Maybe because I'm not handling it immediately after doing two or three bowls? It has never been hot to handle when I pick it up, but maybe that's because I don't reach for it right after a session

 

[Fenton Mewley]

Maybe because I'm not handling it immediately after doing two or three bowls? It has never been hot to handle when I pick it up, but maybe that's because I don't reach for it right after a session

Yeah, that's probably it. I usually vape tiny amounts at a time, trying to extract the whole spectrum in a single hit. Tiny amounts definitely brings combustion risk down to a minimum. But anyways, yeah, I need to refill fairly quickly.

 

[ataxian]

Yeah, that's probably it. I usually vape tiny amounts at a time, trying to extract the whole spectrum in a single hit. Tiny amounts definitely brings combustion risk down to a minimum. But anyways, yeah, I need to refill fairly quickly.

I use a 0.500 screen for replacement.
When everything is clean the LOTUS taste best!

 

[SpaceCoyote]

Could be how far your filling your bowl. At first I would fill the bowl to the top or close to it and would have issues with the bowl charring and sometimes combusting. Found that keeping the bowl half full or less I almost never have any issues (as long as I don't go crazy with the heat).

I think overfilling was causing my combustion issues for the most part. No more than 1/2 full seems to avoid problems.
I installed the new style cap and I think it heats more evenly, and perhaps less likely to combust as well, but still possible if overfilled.

 

[Pipes]

I think overfilling was causing my combustion issues for the most part. No more than 1/2 full seems to avoid problems.
I installed the new style cap and I think it heats more evenly, and perhaps less likely to combust as well, but still possible if overfilled.

Yep, I concur. And seems to get better mileage to boot.
Also find other contributors such as nearly clogged screen or cap can also cause easier combustion. A big one for me is flame length. Seems a fine line to fast vapor and combustion. Not to mention if too short my lighter seems to not stay consistent. I found the starting of consistent is right for me. Which is btw, about the distance between the petals on the top of the cap which is the recommended length. But I find length changes little and the temp changes a lot right around that spot. Making it easy to have too high temperature wise.
Hope I said that right..?

 

[catbird]

Completely all of a sudden, something really weird is going on with my Lotus. It won't vaporize despite enough heat being applied and the center glowing red (I've used it successfully and consistently for 3+ months and am doing what I've been doing). Nothing happens to the flowers inside. I had a very 'meh' 2-hit/1 scoop bowl, usually quite enough for me after a day or so without vaping. So I loaded another and noticed that the cap felt almost too hot to handle, and smelled like a sauna, neither of which I've experienced/noticed before. Then I tried to vape the second bowl and nothing happened. Thoughts?

 

[Delta3DStudios]

Completely all of a sudden, something really weird is going on with my Lotus. It won't vaporize despite enough heat being applied and the center glowing red (I've used it successfully and consistently for 3+ months and am doing what I've been doing). Nothing happens to the flowers inside. I had a very 'meh' 2-hit/1 scoop bowl, usually quite enough for me after a day or so without vaping. So I loaded another and noticed that the cap felt almost too hot to handle, and smelled like a sauna, neither of which I've experienced/noticed before. Then I tried to vape the second bowl and nothing happened. Thoughts?

Sounds like a dead cap - take off the top plate and examine the inner ring holding the bottom plate in place. Happened to me a while back

Hi all!

Just wanted to share a story with you about the dangers of high heat vaping with the Lotus.

I've vaped reclaim several times at higher heat than normal using my crazy max diffusion (AC + Bubbler + PNWT combined) rig to reduce the flavor of the vapor. I usually let the Lotus run hotter than normal for those sessions.

Recently I've noticed my herb wasn't vaping evenly despite proper technique (especially when comparing ABV from the lotus to my other vapes) - I even tried every technique I've read on this thread. I started to suspect it was caused by my 15 degree angled adapter. But found it strange, It felt like I had to heat the cap hotter tha normal to produce thicker vapor. Additionally I noticed my ABV after the first hit seemed dark brown in one spot while the rest of the herb was relatively light brown (almost green). Another recent thing I noticed was a slight smell of burnt wood when I removed the cap from the WPA after a normal draw (not high temperature). I knew something was up.

I decided to try switching back to one of my (bent, non cracked) spare plates from the original design.

When I removed my top plate, I found this inside:

Well there's my problem right there!

Literally 1/3rd of the outer ring clip holding the inside plate was loose! I contacted Mendo regarding this to see if this was normal. I discovered this is caused by excessive heat and not covered under warranty!

BE CAREFUL TO NOT HEAT EXCESSIVELY!

Thankfully Mendo was kind enough to work with me to get a replacement cap (natural finish this time!). But let this be a lesson to all. If you're trying to vape with higher heat for huge lung-busting draws, please use caution with the Lotus.

As mentioned many times before, the three screws holding the outer heating plate to the Lotus cap strip easily. I advise not 'checking' inside your cap unless you suspect a serious issue like mine.

The first session with my new cap was amazing, performed like a champ. I was able to finish a whole load in one draw (no stirring needed). Haven't seen this kind of performance in over a month from the Lotus.

For now, I'll only use it with raw herb exclusively - I'll save concentrates and reclaim for my other vapes.

 

[Pipes]

Completely all of a sudden, something really weird is going on with my Lotus. It won't vaporize despite enough heat being applied and the center glowing red (I've used it successfully and consistently for 3+ months and am doing what I've been doing). Nothing happens to the flowers inside. I had a very "meh" 2-hit/1 scoop bowl, usually quite enough for me after a day or so without vaping. So I loaded another and noticed that the cap felt almost too hot to handle, and smelled like a sauna, neither of which I've experienced/noticed before. Then I tried to vape the second bowl and nothing happened. Thoughts?

Sounds like the cap is clogged somehow. Does it feel restricted at all?
If you have some rubber tubing to put into the lid hole to test the airflow through the lid.
I've been using a can of air to blow into the smaller intake holes around the wood part. Always amazed I see crud come out.
Other then that, You'd need to take the lid apart to see what's up.
Inhaling should take the glow away quick.

 

[catbird]

Sounds like a dead cap - take off the top plate and examine the inner ring holding the bottom plate in place. Happened to me a while back

Sounds like the cap is clogged somehow. Does it feel restricted at all?
If you have some rubber tubing to put into the lid hole to test the airflow through the lid.
I've been using a can of air to blow into the smaller intake holes around the wood part. Always amazed I see crud come out.
Other then that, You'd need to take the lid apart to see what's up.
Inhaling should take the glow away quick.

Thanks guys. I have a tiny allen wrench and rubber tubing somewhere, haven't gotten around to locating these things and dealing with this yet, but I will tonight or tomorrow. I'll also try the compressed air thing -- I hadn't considered the cap being clogged. I've only been using the honest torch that it came with, and don't believe I've been applying too much heat/don't regularly combust (@Ratchett I do remember reading that post of yours)... kinda surprised to have killed the cap already.

 

[Delta3DStudios]

I've only been using the honest torch that it came with, and don't believe I've been applying too much heat/don't regularly combust (@Ratchett I do remember reading that post of yours)... kinda surprised to have killed the cap already.

Yeah, let's hope you didn't kill the cap, but it really sounds like what happened to mine - I'd be interested to see a picture of the inside

 

[ataxian]

I've been using a can of air to blow into the smaller intake holes around the wood part. Always amazed I see crud come out.

My cap I've scorched a few times.
Hey relax!
Works fine!
Check out these stands for the LOTUS!

 

[catbird]

Yeah, let's hope you didn't kill the cap, but it really sounds like what happened to mine - I'd be interested to see a picture of the inside

I found a small hex key (1/16'') but it's not small enough. I know I have a smaller one, I can picture it in a little plastic bag, but am just not finding it, so I have to pick up a new one. I will let you know/post photos of what I see once I get in there. I really hope I didn't kill it, but it's not sounding good for me. Compressed air turned out no debris...

 

[BabyFacedFinster]

Just got mine!
First, I was impressed with how soon it got here. Ordered on a Tuesday evening, arrived Friday afternoon. Hot shit!
Then you look at the quality of this thing and it makes the buyer's remorse thing in your head go away quickly. (BTW I'm high right now) It is a solid piece of equipment that is very well-made. What stoner doesn't love their cool little gadgets?

Anyway, the kicker is I haven't been able to use it yet. I tried to save a buck and buy the torch separately on Amazon. (I had a Amazon gift card) Well, I ordered both on the same day and the torch hasn't come yet. I even found an old can of butane down cellar. Ready to go...

My other vapes are a VB desktop and a FF. I spent a lot more than I wanted too, but I like the quality of the stuff I've been getting. My FF is my daily driver. The VB is a great vape but I hate being tied down to the cord. Enough about other vapes...

I can't wait to give my Lotus her first go round. Thanks to everyone here. I read a lot of posts on this thread.

 

[vape4doc]

I combusted the other. Holy crap, that was nasty!

Before this I always wondered if I'd unknowingly combusted because some of my ABV was pretty brown. Now I know, I never have.

And never will, intentionally. Fuck Combustion indeed!

 

[RUDE BOY]

It does seem I too can reach new heights of combustion trauma with the lotus with very little effort and there is no doubt it ain't just making it a little blackened. Just how fine i'm finding the line between good vapor and billows of smoke surprises me quite a bit actually given how some rave on about the lotus, not really what i expected at all.

 

[t-dub]

It does seem I too can reach new heights of combustion trauma with the lotus with very little effort and there is no doubt it ain't just making it a little blackened. Just how fine i'm finding the line between good vapor and billows of smoke surprises me quite a bit actually given how some rave on about the lotus, not really what i expected at all.

I agree completely. Daisy is a much more gentle lover . . .

 

[421]

It does seem I too can reach new heights of combustion trauma with the lotus with very little effort and there is no doubt it ain't just making it a little blackened. Just how fine i'm finding the line between good vapor and billows of smoke surprises me quite a bit actually given how some rave on about the lotus, not really what i expected at all.

Hm I wouldn't call it a fine line personally. It's all in the technique, of course true for all vapes but for this one very much so.

One technique I've been meaning to post about is, ya know how there are two tips to the flame: the outer blue tip and the inner blue tip. (May not appear if torch is not set to long enough flame length.) Anyway, I find that putting the torch on the cap so that it's 2/3 from the outer blue tip to the inner blue tip gives the best heat. 2/3 so that it's closer to the inner blue tip than the outer. Hopefully I explained that well enough

 

[natural farmer]

It does seem I too can reach new heights of combustion trauma with the lotus with very little effort and there is no doubt it ain't just making it a little blackened. Just how fine i'm finding the line between good vapor and billows of smoke surprises me quite a bit actually given how some rave on about the lotus, not really what i expected at all.

I agree completely. Daisy is a much more gentle lover . . .

I usually maintain the flame length to 5/8'', or the exact distance between the tips of the petals of the lotus flower on the vapor cap, cause I like the fastest extraction possible. Short hot hits is what I usually do. That means that there is a lot of heat on that hot plate! A little bit more time than it can take with the lighter's inner 5/8'' flame touching the center of the hotplate and it can go bad…

Lower that flame to 1/2'' though and it becomes REALLY hard to scotch that load (given that you don't fill the bowl to the top that is…)! I am just having a wake and bake session with a 1/2" flame on my Honest and it's flavor country! Very hard to raise the temps too high unless you breathe "MFLB style"… I preheat for 3-4 secs and with the lighter's inner flame still touching the center of the plate I take a 5-10 sec easy and natural draw.

No withdrawing of the flame needed like when the flame is 5/8''. It's like 1/2" flame is Standard mode and a 5/8" flame is Racing mode! Lotus can be a gentle lover or a mistress from hell!

Vape on and bring me a Daisy as well!!!

 

[RUDE BOY]

I'll keep working with mine and try to keep my torches straight, Like one set for the lotus, one for daisy and one for the Vapman(men) and work with it a lot more dry to get used to the tactile feedback.

So far in my time vaping herbs I've only found one real vape that I still think of as totally useless for me that's after owning and trying around 40 different vaporizers.
I get giant tasty hits with the lotus, I do know i just push it to far but so far am having a hard time feeling when it's on the cusp of conduction and try for one more hit.

I used an older top and short stem for a couple of bowls last night and all went well. so I'll keep working with my new top on the short stem.

So a question. Does the new design get hotter? or does the older lose a bit of functionallity over many uses?

...

 

[1flyfisher]

I see the Lotus is made in two different lengths. The shorter one looks like it would fit in my pocket much nicer than the bigger one. DOes anyone have the shorter version and is there a difference in performance or is one size recommended above the other?
ALSO Will the lighter work at ski resort elevations above 6000 feet? Has anyone used theirs while at a ski resort? I would not want to have to buy another lighter to make this thing work. I need something for out on the lake that will perform with minimal hassle in the wind at elevations above 5500.

 

[421]

Mildly helpful: I know I've read someone having troubles using the stock lighter at high elevation.

 

[catbird]

Yeah, let's hope you didn't kill the cap, but it really sounds like what happened to mine - I'd be interested to see a picture of the inside

So if this is the case, is the fix to get a replacement plate? Or something worse like potentially needing a whole new cap? I ask because I went to a hardware store in search for a hex key that would fit, and they were surprised that I needed one (I thought) smaller than 1/16", and didn't have such a thing. I brought the cap with me and they examined it and said that the screws were safety screws, which is why my 1/16" wrench didn't work, not because I needed a smaller tool, and they sent me to a watchmaker nearby because they said they'd likely have an appropriate tool, but it was closed. Anyway, I figured I'd just order the tool that Mendocino sells, but didn't want to order a plate unnecessarily if I'm going to end up needing to replace the entire cap... Missing my Lotus right now!

 

[cityslang]

So if this is the case, is the fix to get a replacement plate? Or something worse like potentially needing a whole new cap? I ask because I went to a hardware store in search for a hex key that would fit, and they were surprised that I needed one (I thought) smaller than 1/16", and didn't have such a thing. I brought the cap with me and they examined it and said that the screws were safety screws, which is why my 1/16" wrench didn't work, not because I needed a smaller tool, and they sent me to a watchmaker nearby because they said they'd likely have an appropriate tool, but it was closed. Anyway, I figured I'd just order the tool that Mendocino sells, but didn't want to order a plate unnecessarily if I'm going to end up needing to replace the entire cap... Missing my Lotus right now!

You would need a whole cap as the plate replacement is only the outer plate.

Stupid question the actual pipe isn't blocked with gunk?

 

[basement farmer]

I have sort of the same 'issue' that catbird is experiencing. I find it nearly impossible to combust a bowl no matter how much heat I give 'er. It wouldn't suprise me at all it the cap was obstructed. I have to change my screens all the time so I know how much crud builds up inside the piece. It would stand to reason that some of this gets into the cap.

The only time I've set off a bowl was when I was pipe dreaming and left it on for way too long. Not combusting is cool, not forming clouds....not so much.

I have new plates. Do you think it's worth swapping out the old ones even though they're not cracked yet? I could give it the works while I'm at it and clean the cap out.

What do you think?

 

[BabyFacedFinster]

I gave it a first try last night, and it was a fail in the opposite direction. Nothing happened. I'm sure it is either technique or a lighter issue because the Lotus looks just fine.

Well ground herb, loosely half-filled bowl, lighter at a bit over 1/2 inch flame. Pre-heat for a few seconds then a slow draw while rotating in a little circle in the sweet spot. Nothing. Herb looked unchanged and no cloud. It was late in the evening and I didn't have a lot of patience. I dropped the load in my FF and although that fine grind got all caught in the ports.

I'm gonna try increasing the flame size today and give her a go again. Please let me know of any suggestions for a noob on this thing. I'm going camping next weekend and need to get this down otherwise I'll be forced to combust. And I recently was around some bud smokers yesterday. When you haven't smoked in a while, you really notice how foul and nasty combustion is. Everything around them smelled like crappy, rotten pot smoke.