Bowl #5 Come On Down!
So this is where things get more aftermarket experimental... Dug out an unused clear Milaana short stem, which does indeed fit perfectly as the same diameter as the stock stem, with a basket screen from
@Ratchett for RBT vapes (can't recall what size or what he calls them on his site) and no cooling unit since that is still in my stock short stem for more mobile use.
Loaded some medium ground Candyland, and started using it upside down with this awesome mini j hook from lamart tubo, riding level 3 for three lovely hits. Then bumped to level 4 for two more, and one at level 5. Smooth, tasty, no hotter or harsher than the cooling unit at these temps.
I then switched to this RBT dydrotube upright (or at a side angle-- load definitely seated securely after those first several upside down hits in the j hook, though I did not check) for the remainder:
Took another hit at level 5 like this, then two more hits at 6.5 followed by two at 8 to finish, with noticably roasted flavor now. The clouds were substantial though the vapor was still pretty smooth thanks to this wider diameter glass cooler, perhaps more tolerable than the j hook for upper temps (but unfortunately I don't think these tubes are available anywhere).
I guess basket screens may leave a darker more extracted ring here without stirring, but could also be draw dependent, too soon to tell. I did rotate the stem carefully every few hits, while glass did get a bit warm since this was again a session with back-to-back hits even though I was using on demand mode (have not tried anything else yet, not stealth mode yet either).
After this whole bowl, battery went from 3.8v to 3.66v so I threw it in my nitecore charger (which is how I am seeing the cell's level btw). If I am just using this style of load and stems, temp stepping for this many hits, I could get four bowls probably? Depending on exact settings, how much is loaded, specific usage etc. I think with smaller loads and perhaps fewer hits at maybe higher settings even, seems like up to six bowls should be a reasonable expectation... An estimate range of 2-6 bowls, with average being 4 bowls, for the included battery at least.
I have some other 18mm female glass pieces that I can now use with this stem setup, unfortunately I have an even wider variety of 18mm male glass stems (from lamart, RBT, customs, and more) that I cannot use with my TM. But I do think I have plenty other options (including bubblers and hydrotubes) to play around with, so I think I will be using this stem for a while at home now... I meant to mention with the previous bowl, at the end of doing all those back-to-back hits even below level 6 (which is the halfway mark) the entire short stem got quite hot, especially cooling unit.