Discontinued The Venus Apollo

[villekille2]

I expect the first batch will get shipped completely during next week, now I'm getting to about half way today. and that by mid March I can be delivering the second batch orders, but not all 25 on that date, this is why I took them out of stock to not confuse people.

by the way, I got updated battery chargers just a day before I started to deliver Apollos so the information in the manual is for the older version. So I give the updated information here too.

The charger has 3 different charge currents to be chosen. 0.25A, 0.5A and 1A. and USB mode. There is a round button on top, and with each click the charger chooses the next option. I recommend to choose the 1A, 3rd option. Otherwise it takes a longer time. If charger is unplugged, the setting will reset to 0.25A which means it takes over 12 hours to charge batteries so please keep this in mind. And if you choose the USB mode, 4th blue light, then it won't charge at all, only outputs 5V from the USB connector at the back.

When batteries are charging, red light is active on top of them, one for each battery. when they are ready, the light will turn green. here a photo of charger set at 1A and actively charging 2 batts.

 

[vapen00b]

Got a piece of silicone tubing (originally a hookah tubing, high temp resistant, food safe, neutral) and it does the job I think. Of course you should be careful - but this just to show you, should work. It's a piece of silicone tube (OD 16/17mm, ID 11mm) connected to a 14mm male to 18 mm male adapter hooked to a d020 (18mm female):

I did not have to hold the Apollo... it was stable that way and I don't fear the glass tube might break, it looks and feels durable. But you should not mess around with it too much as the silicone tube combo only dips around 4-5 mm into the glass tube. If you push it in gently but with a little force, it's a damn tight connetion, seals perfectly.

(After taking this pic, I adjusted the silicone fitting a little better, moving the 14mm end about 2mm more into the tube.. So this would be like 4-5mm, rather 2-3mm as shown in the pic)


So until @Ratchett or @villekille2 could provide a proper adapter design, this would definitely work with almost no effort.

Ratch, do you think you could also provide some kind of case or carry bag? The Apollo is soo damn beautiful.. despite being built a tank, I want to caress her and offer her a nice and cosy housing

EDIT EDIT: And @Ratchett, have you ever made high temp silicone tweezers or grabbers/clamps? This would be PERFECT for the herb chamber in this one... Really, it was a match made in heaven to securely and easily removed the hot chambers. Worth a thought? hope so


EDIT: @radiant34 : You mentioned using the chamber upside down for smaller loads. Maybe it's recommended to change the orientation of the chamber screen too. It's slightly bend dome style and Ville explained to me it should be this way to have the best heat transmission etc.(according to the bulb shape and distance from herb to heater etc.)
If you go for this option and get the chance to make a comparison, this would be great.
I'm still ill and it was not too smart to have done that yesterday... but it was fun, fuck.. I had such a blast, I was way to excited to go to sleep... Finally, I made it and that was one great sleep.

 

[vapen00b]

Sorry for back-to-back.. I didn't mean to blow up my post above any more. Hope I did not cross the line in a bad way. If so, please accept my apology and merged them @mod. Thanks and sorry.

But this is not the only stupid thing I did... I literally HAD to try a tiny pinch load thru water (this should not hurt my throat and respiratory system, right ...). Even less than what I showed you before. Maybe around 0.01-0.015 (I wonder what kind of scale could read these tiny bits.. gotta get one of em in the future - so open to suggestions ).

I could not make a vid - but it would not have been impressive anyway with such a small load.
Started at default pre-heat (when I played around I did change this value), I think around 2 mins. Afterwards at around 50%, and sometimes boosting while drawing (like with the Zion), sometimes just let it stay at 50% w/o boost and boosting before taking a draw.
I did 6-7 hits - and there was it again... Buuzzzzzz.. really smooth vapor, nice taste - and I had to stop. I am a lightweight, no doubt.. but it's not that I've had a one-week t-break or something - but this thing really extracs the deep goodies easily. Well, I stopped (had to.. don't want to stress my health too much, I know it's for science, but I do need to get better ) and dumped to load:

This is RIDICULOUS!!!
6-7 (maybe 8) hits... can really feel the effects, more than I wanted.. (and thought of before)
And it's still looking very, very good...


I tried the chamber upside down this time to minimize space to fly around. Next time I try to adapt the screen like it should - dome style lower screen, dome upper screen. This time it was basket style lower screen (due to inversion of the chamber), dome upper screen. (convex and concave)

I feared the Apollo could be a monster material consuming thing looking at the huge chamber probably having been filled decently to work great - but this beast is really efficient... unbelievable. It's almost shocking... I might never see my the chamber being fully loaded.

 

[tepictoton]

Well....in the name of science and all frogs that have died from having their ass frozen to a light pole, fill it...

Then we might have a weekly show that runs one year with you using the same load over and over and over hihi

or just invite some FC friends over...

but please, do find a reason to try a full load, make a movie of how your face explodes, and then off course post it here...

This is great news...so the monster can be a beauty but also a beast...

@villekille2 Any way the end of the mouthpiece might get an 18mm gong attached to it? I know that would make a lot of us here very very happy. Thanks for your creation!

 

[vapen00b]

Well....in the name of science and all frogs that have died from having their ass frozen to a light pole, fill it...

Then we might have a weekly show that runs one year with you using the same load over and over and over hihi

or just invite some FC friends over...

but please, do find a reason to try a full load, make a movie of how your face explodes, and then off course post it here...

This is great news...so the monster can be a beauty but also a beast...

@villekille2 Any way the end of the mouthpiece might get an 18mm gong attached to it? I know that would make a lot of us here very very happy. Thanks for your creation!

If I could just melt these pieces (of course cut off the 14mm male end and just merge it), I would have a perfect working 18mm wt adapter:

Here's what it would look like (I'm not a Photoshop pro, but you should get an understanding):

@villekille2 You think your glass company could do that? I think it should be a piece of cake - and make this wonder machine even more versatile.

 

[FluffMolotov]

Oh shucks. I have two Grasshoppers on preorder, thinking I should cancel one and get this instead. Tue suomalaista insinööritaitoa.

 

[tepictoton]

@vapen00b That is exactly what I was talking about. Only, to make it perfect I guess, the joint should taper down just slightely. The curvy part will capture a lot of reclaim for sure(catching it from the vapor we want to inhale).

I am wondering if a solo gong might fit in the stem with only a little bit of silicone to keep it in place, or even a high temp O-ring? Maybe you have a solo gong laying around?

Thanks for your time. Enjoy your new toy, looks like it will be a functional piece of art...(now to get my freaking tax return so I can jump on board)

 

[PPN]

Did you get a very low tolerance or your stash is tight enough....?

Please, try a bigger load...in the name of science!

 

[vapen00b]

@vapen00b That is exactly what I was talking about. Only, to make it perfect I guess, the joint should taper down just slightely. The curvy part will capture a lot of reclaim for sure(catching it from the vapor we want to inhale).

I am wondering if a solo gong might fit in the stem with only a little bit of silicone to keep it in place, or even a high temp O-ring? Maybe you have a solo gong laying around?

Thanks for your time. Enjoy your new toy, looks like it will be a functional piece of art...(now to get my freaking tax return so I can jump on board)

Hey there. Actually, I think it's impossible to have resin in the curvy part. It's way apart from where the vaporization takes place - which is even beneath the other end of the glass tube. So no chance, I'd say. But I would not care about the curvy thing either, as there's no function to it. Just a gusto thing

Yeah, I do have a solo/air gong adapter. I'll try and snap a pic when I can.

 

[tepictoton]

Hihi...

My experience is that the further away from the actual heating, the greater the chance for it to accumulate reclaim. It is when the vapor hits cold obstacles in it 's way when it starts to recondense, or am I wrong about that one?

Anyway, good to know you have a solo Gong, hoping it makes for an easy hook -up...

 

[Alan Partridge]

Shipping email arrived! I am sooooo hoping it'll turn up tomorrow and not Monday so I can have a very unproductive weekend.

 

[vapen00b]

Hihi...

My experience is that the further away from the actual heating, the greater the chance for it to accumulate reclaim. It is when the vapor hits cold obstacles in it 's way when it starts to recondense, or am I wrong about that one?

Anyway, good to know you have a solo Gong, hoping it makes for an easy hook -up...

It fits to a solo/Air gong (this one's a 14mm) - paired it with a 10mm ID, 13/14mm OD silicone piece. You can push it further down the stem for more safety, fits pretty snug:

Of course, it adds a very noticable draw restriction!

 

[KeroZen]

Everything appears brilliant but 1:20 to get to heat is not what I imagined. So it's not a "nearly on demand convection" vape then? With that long of a pre-heat you will be tempted to do a session instead of just taking a few rips, as everytime you do it it will waste a lot of energy.

That figure is closer to my FW2.1 than to my Zions (I get vapor in 5 seconds from cold with the alpha and closer to 3 seconds with the production unit) I'm not criticizing, just trying to put things in perspective.

 

[IAmKrazy2]

Everything appears brilliant but 1:20 to get to heat is not what I imagined. So it's not a "nearly on demand convection" vape then? With that long of a pre-heat you will be tempted to do a session instead of just taking a few rips, as everytime you do it it will waste a lot of energy.

That figure is closer to my FW2.1 than to my Zions (I get vapor in 5 seconds from cold with the alpha and closer to 3 seconds with the production unit) I'm not criticizing, just trying to put things in perspective.

IMO i am seeing this unit more as a session portable, and filling a diffrent need than a instant convection portable. To me, this unit is more in competition with the Air, Crafty, Mighty, Solo, group.... But ideally with less conduction. This unit could be perfect at that job for me. 2 minutes is plenty fast. I want something easy for others to puff and pass, consistent temp, no thinking or guess work. Love me the Zion for personal use, but if i can set the Apollo at a temp pass it and forget it... Ill be happy for this vape. Different tools for diffrent jobs for me. And i love vapor tools!

 

[Joel W.]

I have a Tracking number! It should be here by Monday!

 

[Alan Partridge]

Tbf this was never marketed as an on demand vape, Ville mentioned a few pages back heat up is around 100 secs. Like @IAmKrazy2 I'm expecting it to be more like a convection Mighty, which is perfect for me.

Btw it's coming on Monday

 

[friedrich]

Everything appears brilliant but 1:20 to get to heat is not what I imagined. So it's not a "nearly on demand convection" vape then? With that long of a pre-heat you will be tempted to do a session instead of just taking a few rips, as everytime you do it it will waste a lot of energy.

Right, that's the only reason I haven't ordered one; it does look pretty awesome otherwise! If I should need a vape that's great for sharing in group sessions, this one will be at the top of the list.

As for the water discussion: how hot is the vapor on its own? Nano and Firewood stock stems can both give me a bad sore throat, but after vapor-bonging almost exclusively for a while, I do prefer dry (often with longer/bent stems); it seems to deliver fuller, more satisfying effects from less material...

I'd also love to see some size comparison shots with other vapes!

 

[Joel W.]

Btw it's coming on Monday

Why the sad face? No time/need for an Apollo shipping thread?

 

[Mister G]

The Venus Apollo looks absolutely fantastic, robust design, touch interface with haptic feedback and halogen heating element are all very cool.

My biggest hesitation is it looks like the herb chamber could be very hot to handle for removing and reloading, especially for back to back sessions and on the go. Looks like you'd need to wait a bit for cooldown, even if you had a spare chamber to swap in.

Comments from actual owners of this are welcome.

 

[tepictoton]

Good question!

Hope swapping them (and thus the ability to have more of them available) might work...

Damned, you just might have stumbled upon the first thing I would consider a little draw back, but man, the aesthetics make me forget about it instantly...

 

[Mister G]

Another question about the herb chamber:

Does it screw shut or have a magnetic lid or other mechanism for keeping the two halves together?

I can see that if inserted into the unit, the glass tube may keep it closed just with a pressure-fit, but is it atually more secure than that? If you keep a spare filled in your pocket, will it not pop open and spill out?

 

[mrbonsai420]

I am a little scared off by the fact that FC users won't post milk shots of this thing? On every other thread people are so proud to post those thick milky bong hits with their new vape. I don't see anything with this one, Why? Is the vapor wispy so purchasers don't see the point or is this just a fluke?

I can imagine the first good video of it showing the load, heat up, and milking a bong, orders are going to go through the roof! I can only guess there is a reason such videos don't exist?? PLEASE prove me wrong, I want to want one! If not I'll head back over to the Zion thread to kick myself for not pre-ordering that one.

 

[IAmKrazy2]

I think it is screw top like the original Venus but i agree it would be nice to be able to switch them on the fly, and utilize the heat and energy from the last session.

 

[Mister G]

I am a little scared off by the fact that FC users won't post milk shots of this thing? On every other thread people are so proud to post those thick milky bong hits with their new vape. I don't see anything with this one, Why? Is the vapor wispy so purchasers don't see the point or is this just a fluke?

I can imagine the first good video of it showing the load, heat up, and milking a bong, orders are going to go through the roof! I can only guess there is a reason such videos don't exist?? PLEASE prove me wrong, I want to want one! If not I'll head back over to the Zion thread to kick myself for not pre-ordering that one.

Um, give it some time, I think people have only owned this thing for about a day or two?

 

[marduk]

My biggest hesitation is it looks like the herb chamber could be very hot to handle for removing and reloading, especially for back to back sessions and on the go. Looks like you'd need to wait a bit for cooldown, even if you had a spare chamber to swap in.

Couldn't this problem be solved with a custom-molded piece of silicone that fits around the chamber, kind of like the silicone session extender on the Grasshopper?