The Lotus Vaporizer

[Bvapst]

@Qwin8 You should not really aim to the red spot as a good sign imo. The red spot is a sign you should not continue : back off a bit, move around and/or draw faster in such case. Especially if you want your lotus to live long.
Basically : when you see the plate is getting a light red blur you know you are getting pretty high in temperature.
But there is a lot of way to use the Lotus... You could preheat faster and "play" with the red spot but remember not to much !
Also to get a homogenous abv and vaporisation : it's better with longer and "regular" heating vs pulsing.
BTW when I'm outside and it's windy, it's much different..and I get some more red reaction from the plate. The flame is set higher to compensate the loss.

Also if you are in a cold environment, maybe try to heat the plate from further at first so there won't be too much "shock".
Remember : tip of the flame center on the plate, size flame and distance from the plate + your draw debit ! If you need too much heating try to draw "slower" for longer hits or preheat a bit longer.

Enjoy your Lotus !

 

[Quickie]

I had friends heat mine up so hot you could smell the wood and mine has never cracked. I have also dropped it many times. I would say it was a flaw in the wood.

 

[ataxian]

Anyone replace the coarse screen with a fine screen? Just experimenting with grind methods and screens to see the best results.

EDIT - I picked up that torch from harbor freight. I like it. One click and just chase the cloud. No holding a button down.

I just hit my LOTUS with my Harbor Freight torch!

Girl Scout Cookies F^CK this thing is powerful!
FC186 works well!
Wait a minute this PARIS OG is very amazing as well!

Milk Shake like rips!

With a powerful torch a fine screen is what I use.

 

[David and Michael]

Memorial Weekend sale Saturday through Monday!
15% off everything.
MEM15 is the coupon code.

 

[Biscuits4Lunch]

So I recently purchased and received the Lotus WPA and Cap. I like it so far. I just have a few quick questions. Is there any way to clean the Hot Plate? Mine has some dark circles around where the red dot ends up. What type of grind consistency do you use? I have the mflb, extreme q, and the air. I tend to grind with the mflb finishing grinder for the mflb and extreme q. With the air I keep it a bit more coarse. Wondering which is better for this vape. As far as technique, should i be lighting until the red dot appears and then begin pulling through my water pipe and stop lighting. Or should i be holding the lighter to it the whole time just backing away slightly when the red dot appears? Personally love it so far. I dont have to wait 15 minutes for it to heat up like my Q. The vapor quality is excellent and it uses a little less than a trench which is perfect for conserving. Just looking for tips or if anyone has a video I could check out that would be great(i'm one of those people who learns via watching more-so then reading). Thanks everyone appreciate it

 

[Quickie]

So I recently purchased and received the Lotus WPA and Cap. I like it so far. I just have a few quick questions. Is there any way to clean the Hot Plate? Mine has some dark circles around where the red dot ends up. What type of grind consistency do you use? I have the mflb, extreme q, and the air. I tend to grind with the mflb finishing grinder for the mflb and extreme q. With the air I keep it a bit more coarse. Wondering which is better for this vape. As far as technique, should i be lighting until the red dot appears and then begin pulling through my water pipe and stop lighting. Or should i be holding the lighter to it the whole time just backing away slightly when the red dot appears? Personally love it so far. I dont have to wait 15 minutes for it to heat up like my Q. The vapor quality is excellent and it uses a little less than a trench which is perfect for conserving. Just looking for tips or if anyone has a video I could check out that would be great(i'm one of those people who learns via watching more-so then reading). Thanks everyone appreciate it

The discoloration of the cap is normal and cannot be wiped off, I actually took the torch and darkened the wood on the cap as well, leaving the bottom the original color. Mostly because I burnt it a few times due to not looking during draws. It has a really cool smokey look now that I've actually had complements on. Maybe I'll take a picture when I have time.

As far as heat up time I usually go until I see the dot, if I can't see the dot I just guess. But I've pretty much have it down. If you don't know try early, you won't do anything by hitting it early, too late and you risk combination. I pull the torch away a little during the draw if the vapor gets too hot, then I remove the heat at the end of the draw and pull until I don't see any more vapor.

I find that a fine grind works best, but I've also had success breaking herbs with my fingers and it still worked great.

 

[Biscuits4Lunch]

@Quickie thanks for such a quick response. I appreciate the info.

 

[Quickie]

No problem, I hope I answered your questions.

Also here's the picture of mine.

Dropped a thousand times, burnt, dinged, and mistreated by others.
Still works like the day I got it.

Edit:

The day I got it;

Edit 2: Honestly I think it looks better now, like it has a story. I don't know I get sentimental lol.

 

[Fenton Mewley]

@Quickie, I think it's also really beautiful, well done!

@Biscuits4Lunch, that's really two ways to use it. Stop heating for smaller hits or back off but keep heating for bigger hits. I prefer coarse grind for a better balance of taste and vapor production. In my experience, fine grind doesn't taste as good but puts out more vapor. Still great taste but not quite there with coarse of non-ground nugs (best tasting IMO).

As for videos, youtube has some good ones. Everyone has a different technique, so try to find one user that's uploaded a few. IMO videos are good for showcasing the power of the Lotus, but not for refining your technique. Only you can do that. But don't fret, you will develop your technique and master the Lotus over time.

 

[jonni mondo]

just stepping up to the plate after lurking for months: great thread y'all! so helpful.

OK, what kind of life may I expect from my hot plate? Just noticing some blue/red rainbowing yesterday, like I'm changing the temper of the steel. No surface damage that I can discern; just the color change. Only had it a few weeks so I'm hoping I don't already need to look at the replacement hot plate kit.

Thanx y'all,
j

 

[Slow Draw McGraw]

just stepping up to the plate

Nice One

so I'm hoping I don't already need to look at the replacement hot plate kit.

No, this is normal. What you would be looking for is cracks or actual structure damage to the plate. I have some discoloring and it works flawless. Vape On!

Welcome to FC!

 

[jonni mondo]

Sweet! Thanx SDM for reassuring me.

And it's this site that turned me on to the Lotus; so grateful I wandered in here.

Z y'all in the vaposphere,
j

 

[ronalicious]

What water pipes do ya'll use with the WPA? I'm finding that my bong's base seems too big and it doesn't seem to hit right... I'm pulling much harder than I do with the stem. I did a test combusting some flower and it was the same so it's definitely an issue with the piece. I's one of these bad boys - http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2699/4406737473_c78552d842.jpg - around 10in high with a big base for water.

I'm thinking I need something more akin to a small pipe bubbler, but thought I'd pester here and get some ideas before I drop cash on another piece.

Thanks in advance

 

[subway13029]

That piece seems smallish..I duuno..I use my wpa with all sizes..

 

[grokit]

I really enjoy using my wpa with the tiny magic flight orbiter

 

[cybrguy]

What water pipes do ya'll use with the WPA?

I use the WPA with literally all my glass, from a small ash catcher and j-hook to the 12" straight bong. It's all in my sig. Sometimes I like a lot of water and other times just a little. The WPA (w/cap) is an extremely flexible device with nearly unlimited options.

 

[beware116]

I pretty much exclusively use my Bake Bros micro bubbler lately. The bong has too much drag and I like the curved neck of most bubblers.

 

[Slow Draw McGraw]

What water pipes do ya'll use with the WPA? I'm finding that my bong's base seems too big and it doesn't seem to hit right... I'm pulling much harder than I do with the stem. I did a test combusting some flower and it was the same so it's definitely an issue with the piece. I's one of these bad boys - http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2699/4406737473_c78552d842.jpg - around 10in high with a big base for water.

I'm thinking I need something more akin to a small pipe bubbler, but thought I'd pester here and get some ideas before I drop cash on another piece.

Thanks in advance

D020 OG with my Lotus. The peice with the LEAST amount of drag would be the best IMO. I have a couple peices with some drag, and the lotus is not as effective.

 

[ronalicious]

Thanks for the suggestions, will definitely look into something smaller.

 

[flashpants]

One of these days I'll buy a lotus, I seem to only read positive experiences. How is the draw restriction? And has anyone heard word on when the new version is supposed to come out?

 

[Kalessin]

I'm so close to buying one, but I feel like if I do the new version will come out almost immediately. The very day I got my Pax, they released the Pax 2. I don't want to experience that frustration again.

 

[cybrguy]

They intend to continue to sell the current version. You won't lose anything getting the current version unless you want to do concentrates in it, which the new version will be made for. I suspect the new version to be more expensive, tho I don't think we have seen anything to indicate price yet.

Here are Max's last comments about it.
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/the-lotus-vaporizer.2595/page-222#post-783826

 

[Kalessin]

I'm just assuming from what's been said that the new version will be able to handle being overheated better, and since I've never used one before, I want to make sure I don't kill mine while I'm figuring it out. Although I don't think I remember anyone saying that they were having problems with the newest plates, but still.

 

[Bvapst]

I'm just assuming from what's been said that the new version will be able to handle being overheated better, and since I've never used one before, I want to make sure I don't kill mine while I'm figuring it out. Although I don't think I remember anyone saying that they were having problems with the newest plates, but still.

Your point is totally valid, maybe wait for the new version... But maybe you'll end up buying the current as well... Since the new version will be suited more for concentrates and higher heat, it could be not as good as the current for flower only or it could need more gas or simply not deliver the same way...
Anyway, I'll end up getting the new version for sure. The new features (high heat and whole cap cleaning-able) will really make it perfect for my needs !

 

[cybrguy]

I haven't read of a LOT of people damaging their caps with too much heat but there have certainly been some, usually when trying to do concentrates. I'm sure the new cap will be more durable, and also cleanable, which the current cap is not. THAT is the bigger draw for me. We'll have to see how it's priced.