The Lotus Vaporizer

[basement farmer]

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.

Stock stem?

I too had cloud envy when I was a new owner.

Try taking short draws while applying the torch. By draws I mean something that is a combination of drawing/ puffing/ sipping/ kissing. I think that I use my mouth more than my lungs for this. Sip the air into your mouth and then inhale it. I've found that a steady inhale doesn't work with the Lotus (for me anyway). Especially with the Al. stem. A J hook tends to require less technique IME. It works well when you do it right and trying to get it right isstill fun.

 

[catbird]

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

That's what I suspected

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

Hmmm... possibly. I soak it on the regular, but it gets blocked quickly, but never to the point that I can't inhale at all. Also, when I opened the cap, the herb was still green after I torched it, so it's not just inhalation being blocked. It was definitely different than that. Anyway, I actually set the pipe to soak right when this happened, but haven't attempted to use it again. I will to make sure.

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?

I was expecting/hoping I would find debris in the cap, but nothing happened when I blew compressed air into it Perhaps when I remove the plate I will find something.

 

[basement farmer]

I've had my Lotus for about 8 months now and has probably gotten more use than most of my other ones. My HG is pretty sticky too, so all of my vapes require regular soaks. It's totally plausible that my cap is backed up. Exploratory surgury is called for. I'll get back with you on the matter.

That's what I suspected



Hmmm... possibly. I soak it on the regular, but it gets blocked quickly, but never to the point that I can't inhale at all. Also, when I opened the cap, the herb was still green after I torched it, so it's not just inhalation being blocked. It was definitely different than that. Anyway, I actually set the pipe to soak right when this happened, but haven't attempted to use it again. I will to make sure.



I was expecting/hoping I would find debris in the cap, but nothing happened when I blew compressed air into it Perhaps when I remove the plate I will find something.

 

[grokit]

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.

Don't start inhaling until you see the red glow form in the middle of the plate.
This is also a good time to back off the flame a bit to avoid combustion.

 

[kickassiguana]

Can anyone tell me if the J-Hook kit comes with the handle for the WPA?

 

[Fenton Mewley]

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.

With a half inch flame, probably want to have inner flame hit the plate for at least 6 seconds.

With larger flames, I recommend that you lift the lighter after preheat so that inner flame is not close to plate.

Can anyone tell me if the J-Hook kit comes with the handle for the WPA?

Yes, a handle should be included wherever there's a WPA.

 

[Delta3DStudios]

Can anyone tell me if the J-Hook kit comes with the handle for the WPA?

Yes, the J-hook kit comes with a WPA

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!

Sadly, I doubt you'll find that hex key in a local hardware shop.

As @cityslang said, you will probably need to replace the whole cap if it is dead. I suggest you contact customer service directly and describe your situation. You will probably need to send your cap in for repairs if you can't take it apart. But Mendo's customer service is awesome, I'm sure they will take care of you

 

[t-dub]

I purchased one of these at a gun show for $12. It has everything you could need . . .

 

[catbird]

Sadly, I doubt you'll find that hex key in a local hardware shop.

As @cityslang said, you will probably need to replace the whole cap if it is dead. I suggest you contact customer service directly and describe your situation. You will probably need to send your cap in for repairs if you can't take it apart. But Mendo's customer service is awesome, I'm sure they will take care of you

Yeah, that's what the hardware store said. I ordered the tool the Mendo sells, figured it'd be good to have so I can try to get in there, but I'm sure I will need to send in the cap. I'm bummed, this is bad timing.

I purchased one of these at a gun show for $12. It has everything you could need . . .

I have a similar kit/a lot of bits, but don't seem to have any as small as that last bit on the left on the bottom. Anyway, the tool I need is coming.

 

[BabyFacedFinster]

I got her going....thanks folks

I slowed my hit which helped a lot. But the biggest thing was the lousy torch I bought from Amazon. Came with a cracked grip, would not respond to the flame adjuster, and started sputtering out. I don't think it ever generated the heat needed.

Well, my wife reminded me that my grandmother once bought me a crème brule kit that included a kitchen torch for making the caramel on top. A pretty nice one too. I cranked it down as low as it can go and it forms a flame pretty comparable to a regular handheld model. If my grandmother was around, I don't think she would approve.

I hit the Lotus cap with that thing and got some great clouds from ABV that I just took out of my FF! No combustion at all. I got the natural wood cap with the long alum stem.

Gonna try some nice sleepy time stuff in it tonight. Can't wait

 

[seannery82]

Well, I was visiting my friendly herb supplier and I had brought along my J-hook and lotus. I was testing out his wares with it, and he asked to try it. He got the technique sufficiently on the first try after watching me do one and got a nice lotus cloud. He immediately stuffed $120 and a nice bud and a hash nugget in my hands and told me to get him one ASAP. I just placed the order. The lotus has another convert, and after only one use. He had tried other vapes of mine and been largely unimpressed, but he said it hit like an oil rig and demanded one.

 

[Delta3DStudios]

Well, I was visiting my friendly herb supplier and I had brought along my J-hook and lotus. I was testing out his wares with it, and he asked to try it. He got the technique sufficiently on the first try after watching me do one and got a nice lotus cloud. He immediately stuffed $120 and a nice bud and a hash nugget in my hands and told me to get him one ASAP. I just placed the order. The lotus has another convert, and after only one use. He had tried other vapes of mine and been largely unimpressed, but he said it hit like an oil rig and demanded one.

Love taking out my lotus for a spin on the back porch. I haven't found another portable vape that can hit like my Lotus

 

[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.

 

[Bvapst]

The short stem do it really fine ! While longer one may be more comfortable during use it won't change performance.
About altitude, some were talking about this dozen of pages ago...
In altitude I guess it wouldn't matter, but the lighter flame may shake or bent with wind. A stronger little torch might do the trick ? If you can find a "corner" hidden from the wind it could be ok as well...

 

[David and Michael]

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.

I checked on a mountaineering website and people there said that they had used lighters at 9000 ft. You definitely have to keep it stored in an inner pocket to keep it warm. They also said that the flame has to be turned higher due to the lower oxygen content at that altitude. But...no personal experience.

 

[MichaelAB]

Butane isn't a big fan of higher elevation and cold. This is one reason why high-elevation backpackers often use stoves that use white gas...
Getting up to 9-10k' and below 35°F (+/-) can negatively impact efficiency/performance. Mileage should vary depending on the lighter and fuel.
At 5500' you should be OK. Keep the lighter warm.

 

[SpaceCoyote]

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.

I haven't used mine in the cold yet, but I've used it over 9000 feet without issue once I found a good torch. Go back a page or two, I posted a link to the "scorch torch" that worked at over 10,000 ft. The Zico (also mentioned here) works well, at least to 9000ft (haven't tried higher yet) and is my current fave.
I will definitely be using it on ski trips this winter!

 

[colgorkan]

I have the short and long stems and both perform well. The short one fits much better in to my trail run pack and other pockets much easier. The little leather cap pouch is pretty sweet as well.

I also use a super fine stainless screen domed and placed in the vapor cap in such a way as to keep the payload in the bowl and eliminate abv from working up and getting stuck and/or charring on the underside of the heat-exchange plates. As long as the cap stays on the stem, the load is protected even when tumbling around in a pocket or pack.

I can also just shake the load with the cap on or blow in to it a bit to mix things up rather than having to remove the cap to stir the contents.

 

[natural farmer]

I have the short and long stems and both perform well. The short one fits much better in to my trail run pack and other pockets much easier. The little leather cap pouch is pretty sweet as well.

I also use a super fine stainless screen domed and placed in the vapor cap in such a way as to keep the payload in the bowl and eliminate abv from working up and getting stuck and/or charring on the underside of the heat-exchange plates. As long as the cap stays on the stem, the load is protected even when tumbling around in a pocket or pack.

I can also just shake the load with the cap on or blow in to it a bit to mix things up rather than having to remove the cap to stir the contents.

Pic or it never happened!

 

[ataxian]

Love taking out my lotus for a spin on the back porch. I haven't found another portable vape that can hit like my Lotus

Back porch?

LOTUS before bed!
D022 and GSC!
Why buy a $750 vaporizer?
The LOTUS is like a fat joint however healthier!

 

[Bvapst]

@colgorkan Would like to see that screen in place too.
Here I've been thinking about 2 layers screen to prevent gunk-up under the screen. So I could remove the up screen (where's the load) for fast cleaning. I've been using also some "domed" screen. Simply a screen which is a bit too large and which I push there with finger tip to get dome shaped...
Here it seems you do the opposite and "sandwich" the herb between 2 screens.
The silicone protective bowl is nice in that purpose as well. But I get your point !

 

[colgorkan]

I'll try to get pics up but it will likely be this weekend before I get a chance. I use the bowl of the Lotus to press a 3/4" (iirc) diameter fine screen into a rubber pad to dome the screen at roughly the ID of the vapor cap. I then roll the sides in to a cylinder to make a miniature drum shape with a round flat bottom and approximately 1/8" sides and slide it into the vapor cap with the sides pointing up in to the vapor cap and the flat bottom resting like a lid on the top of the bowl. The sides of the screen set in to the exposed wood and more or less lock in to place. The screen can then be manipulated into place with a needle or safety pin.

 

[grokit]

I didn't have any tubing big enough to blow out my cap but I found a rubber cork with a hole in it that worked great. I have a new cap but my old one's working just fine and it just passed r&r/inspection

 

[natural farmer]

I'll try to get pics up but it will likely be this weekend before I get a chance. I use the bowl of the Lotus to press a 3/4" (iirc) diameter fine screen into a rubber pad to dome the screen at roughly the ID of the vapor cap. I then roll the sides in to a cylinder to make a miniature drum shape with a round flat bottom and approximately 1/8" sides and slide it into the vapor cap with the sides pointing up in to the vapor cap and the flat bottom resting like a lid on the top of the bowl. The sides of the screen set in to the exposed wood and more or less lock in to place. The screen can then be manipulated into place with a needle or safety pin.

We'll be waiting for the pics for sure! Have you noticed any change in the heating of the load? Less hotspots when you overheat maybe?

 

[nemo]

I'll try to get pics up but it will likely be this weekend before I get a chance. I use the bowl of the Lotus to press a 3/4" (iirc) diameter fine screen into a rubber pad to dome the screen at roughly the ID of the vapor cap. I then roll the sides in to a cylinder to make a miniature drum shape with a round flat bottom and approximately 1/8" sides and slide it into the vapor cap with the sides pointing up in to the vapor cap and the flat bottom resting like a lid on the top of the bowl. The sides of the screen set in to the exposed wood and more or less lock in to place. The screen can then be manipulated into place with a needle or safety pin.

great idea!!

i tried this(photo)... with fingers to make it a dome and insert in metal ring symmetrically and then toothpick to push further inside each side slowly until it dropped to the wood

it doesent seem to be going anywhere