Transformer Tubes (Formerly Steele Concept)

[lwien]

Still rockin' my LSV/SC Tube combo. I can't imagine how it can get any better. The hits that I can take in are absolutely HUGE without even a hint of harshness of a hint of wanting to cough with no added taste other than the taste of herb. I mean, I take in a hit, hold it for about 20 seconds and very slowly, let the clouds out that seem to go on forever, and I'm like............. .

I know that some are thinkin', but I gotta have glass, and the only thing I can ask is............why?

 

[SmokeyJihad]

Oh man. I've been planning on pairing my LSV with a bubbler for a while, but @lwien, your testimonials are making me want an SC tube now! I didn't even know these things existed until about an hour ago too. The $200 price tag and FC discount makes it even more tempting.

Do you have any videos of your LSV/SC tube combo in action?

 

[goatgobaahh]

Just broke my horizontal downstem gotta say I am devastated! I used the black leaf, but I have to admit I'm not really a fan of the added drag.

Are higher end Downstems worth it? I was thinking this one this will be my first high end downstem purchase.

http://aqualabtechnologies.com/glas...ignty-14-18-mm-180-gridded-downstem-4-50.html

 

[Steele Concept]

Sorry to hear about your loss goatsgo. I'll be interested in hearing yours results of trying different down stems. Keep us posted.

Heads up - This man is going on a long needed vacation to get some sun and swimmin in. I'll be back the last week of August. If you have questions feel free to PM me or use the contact field on my website.

Thanks for the support guys, our new units are moving quite nicely and feedback has been great from the shops.

 

[mrboote]

Just broke my horizontal downstem gotta say I am devastated! I used the black leaf, but I have to admit I'm not really a fan of the added drag.

Are higher end Downstems worth it? I was thinking this one this will be my first high end downstem purchase.

http://aqualabtechnologies.com/glas...ignty-14-18-mm-180-gridded-downstem-4-50.html

60 bucks seems like too much for a downstem.
http://glassblowersdirect.com/downstems
You get a free downstem with your first order, you can get a male and female so it will be ready for domes and such. Pretty cheap, good quality.
http://www.ioffer.com/selling/oregonglassblower?page=1
He has a bit fancier showerhead for 30 plus shipping.

 

[Frederick McGuire]

60 bucks seems like too much for a downstem.
http://glassblowersdirect.com/downstems
You get a free downstem with your first order, you can get a male and female so it will be ready for domes and such. Pretty cheap, good quality.
http://www.ioffer.com/selling/oregonglassblower?page=1
He has a bit fancier showerhead for 30 plus shipping.

It's $60 because its sovereignty.

I have one of them, and it's the best downstem I've owned.
The perc-ing action is smoother than any shower head I've used, and the diffusion itself is greater than a shower head downstream IME.

Whether its worth $60 is a judgement call, but I'm happy with it.

Having said all that, I'm not sure how necessary it would be in the Steele concept...

 

[goatgobaahh]

Frederick could you elaborate please?

Please keep in mind I own only a simple beaker, an ash catcher worth $13 dollars that my LHS ripped me off for $94, and a Steele Concept. My glass experience is limited at best.

Its 4.5 inches so it would fit. (thats what she said)

Are you saying the extra diffusion is unnecessary with the honeycomb perc? Or that I would see no added benefit from the $60 dollar downstem compared to the horizontal ds I enjoyed?

 

[Frederick McGuire]

For a tube with no percolation, it's great.

For the Steele concept, it's got the diffusion plate, so the extra diffusion in the downstem isn't as important.

I like the feel of the draw through the sov downstem, but if you take out the benefit of the extra diffusion, the price might be a little steep.

Let me put it this way:
In a regular tube (where the downstem is the source of all of the diffusion) I'd say the value of the sov downstem is
65% diffusion characteristics,
35% Draw Feel.

In the Steele concept, the added diffusion is less necessary (though I'm always a fan of more diffusion ), so I'd say the value switches.
65% draw feel,
35% diffusion.

It's up to you whether you feel it's worth it, you won't be disappointed by a more generic shower head, but I do feel that the sov gridded downstem holds more value than a regular shower head.

There's also the fact the Socereignty are one of the biggest names in scientific glass, so you're paying for the brand name a bit too.

 

[Steele Concept]

New color available... Electric green sounds nice

 

[stickstones]

can you guys do those tubes in a bent neck style?

 

[lwien]

Wow...........I had to put my sunglasses on for that one.

 

[Tweek]

New color available... Electric green sounds nice

I found a fan of that colour (including myself)

 

[Steele Concept]

can you guys do those tubes in a bent neck style?

The polycarbonate part is injected molded and a different part would require a different and very expensive mould.

At this time the answer is no and actually this is the first request I have heard for a bent neck. We are currently working on a stemless version however and ETA is prolly end of Sept.

KERMIT GREEN, lol.

 

[Steele Concept]

Hey guys,

Awesome new SC review is available from our guy King @

http://www.vaporreviewblog.com

Check it out!

 

[lwien]

I gotta say that the best part of that review was the vid of the cat. LOL. Loved the way he knocked that bottle off of the dresser and then just nonchalantly looked at the camera and yawned. Too funny. Like, "Yeah, so............??)

So the new perc plate is made with poly and has less holes than the one I got? Hmmmm.....

He also said that with the first draw, it filled the tube with vapor but he got a lung full of air with very little vapor? Huh? How could that be, unless he's not making a tight seal with his mouth against the rim of the bong? That sure as hell is not my experience. I don't understand how you can fill a tube with vapor but get more air than vapor. The first hit with my SC is just as thick and dense as the second and third hits.

He also said, "I prefer the sipping sensation of drawing on a mouthpiece rather than against the rim at the top of the Steele Concept". I don't understand this either. How do you sip through the rim of the SC?

 

[King]

@lwien, I updated the post to clarify on some of the points you brought up.

He also said that with the first draw, it filled the tube with vapor but he got a lung full of air with very little vapor? Huh? How could that be, unless he's not making a tight seal with his mouth against the rim of the bong? That sure as hell is not my experience. I don't understand how you can fill a tube with vapor but get more air than vapor. The first hit with my SC is just as thick and dense as the second and third hits.

The SC is one of the largest water pieces I own (even though its not very large compared to some options on the market) and the first draw usually primes it by removing all the air and replacing it with vapor. If I don't clear it (which I usually don't) then every subsequent pull is all vapor. Because the SC is larger than my other water pipes, there is more air to remove in the first draw.

He also said, "I prefer the sipping sensation of drawing on a mouthpiece rather than against the rim at the top of the Steele Concept". I don't understand this either. How do you sip through the rim of the SC?

I meant that I prefer the mouthpiece draw (as in a bubbler) to the rim draw. Its just personal preference, there is nothing wrong with using the rim. Other may feel that they prefer the rim draw method. I've considered using a rubber stopper in the rim with a hole in the center with a glass mouthpiece in it. Haven't gotten that far yet.

 

[lwien]

@ If I don't clear it (which I usually don't)....

Why don't you clear it?

 

[King]

Why don't you clear it?

Personal preference, I'm usually using the SC with my wife (or a friend) and we'll pass it back and forth back-to-back. I've never had an issue with the vapor getting stale.

 

[goatgobaahh]

Pretty sure I'm never running hot water through this thing again.

I fill her up with hot water throw in the downstem test it out see if the water levels are right. Well I started my session and fell (happily) asleep. And woke up to a roomtemp Steele Concept. Problem is the downstem was stuck and this is what happened. THIS IS THE 2ND DOWNSTEM I have broken using hot water.

I have no idea how the fuck to get the rest of the downstem out. Infact its stuck so badly I'm not sure if it can even come out. Gotta say Im pretty fucking livid as my waterpipe is now useless.

Livid is the wrong word to use. Heartbroken would be more fitting. I used this piece almost everyday for 8 months she was really my pride and joy. Not really sure what to do here. I should probably melt the thing and try to get some money back. Although that would break my heart even more = /

 

[Tweek]

Is that your own glass downstem stuck in there, or is it some sort of built in piece? If it's your own and it's glass, you might be able to gently heat the metal around it and shake it out.

Sucks when you break something you love. Sorry to see it, bro.

 

[goatgobaahh]

Tweek I appreciate your condolences the glass inside is indeed the downstem.

Not sure how I can prevent this in the future = /

At least I am breaking downstems (both of which were from the original) and not entire glass pieces.

How would you go about applying this gentle heat. I'm thinking of putting it in front of my space heater.

 

[Tweek]

Tweek I appreciate your condolences the glass inside is indeed the downstem.

Not sure how I can prevent this in the future = /

At least I am breaking downstems (both of which were from the original) and not entire glass pieces.

How would you go about applying this gentle heat. I'm thinking of putting it in front of my space heater.

You could do that, or a hair dryer could work too. I just wouldn't use a torch, as that would probably damage the finish.

Maybe if you use a piece of silicone tubing on your next downstem, so that the tubing is what contacts the metal, it will provide some insulation preventing breakage?

 

[lwien]

Man, I use hot water all the time and never had my downstem get stuck like that. Maybe it's because I always take it out before things totally cool down.......kinda like sex, eh?

 

[Frederick McGuire]

Does the downstem have an open hole on the end?
If so , you coul try getting a wire cost hanger (or something equivalently rigid yet bendable), straighten the thing out, and bend the tip into a small hook.

If you're lucky, the bend in the hook will be small enough to fit through the end of the downstem, and then it'll grab the bottom of the downstem when you pull it back out.

 

[goatgobaahh]

I have to admit I have still been using it as the 14mm GonG connection because it still fits to 14mm Male vapor adapter I have in the whip!

Or I did at least until last night. I'm gonna end up picking up a new downstem. My LHS has 4-6 tree arm Dowstems for $45.

You could do that, or a hair dryer could work too. I just wouldn't use a torch, as that would probably damage the finish.

Maybe if you use a piece of silicone tubing on your next downstem, so that the tubing is what contacts the metal, it will provide some insulation preventing breakage?

I do have the EQ silicone tubing I got off amazon, im going to try that see how it works.

Man, I use hot water all the time and never had my downstem get stuck like that. Maybe it's because I always take it out before things totally cool down.......kinda like sex, eh?

Yeah I have to agree as well. I have used hot water many times, but the last two times I broke 2 downstems. I'll either try the sllicone tubing around the downstem or I'll just stop doing hotwater with this piece.

Does the downstem have an open hole on the end?
If so , you coul try getting a wire cost hanger (or something equivalently rigid yet bendable), straighten the thing out, and bend the tip into a small hook.

If you're lucky, the bend in the hook will be small enough to fit through the end of the downstem, and then it'll grab the bottom of the downstem when you pull it back out.

YOU MY FRIEND!!! I love where your head is at. That would've worked too if it was the horizontal downstem, however its the vertical slits one. I can try it, but I''ll try heating it up and banging it out? You think this will work with the vertical slits. I know its going to be harder but still I need to get this out so my new downstem can go in.