biohacker
H.R.E.A.M
@underdog I pretty much exclusively use concentrates (presently with e-nano). Would there be any benefit with me going with the Alpha? I'm guessing the regular would be better with the smaller bowls? Does that makes sense? Alpha bigger bowl better for herb, but not cotton/hemp fiber wrapped dabs? Cheers!
NizzyJones
Well-Known Member
Yeah I can't imagine the alpha having any advantage for concentrates. My regular dogs rip crazy thick clouds with them.
biohacker
H.R.E.A.M
Thanks for your feedback!
I figured the smaller bowl size would only help size the dabs are so small. With the Alpha sounds like you would need way more wicking material otherwise air would whip right around.Nice to hear that it rips for extracts! Convection dabs
Hmm.. given that usage scenario I'd say the Alpha probably wouldn't have any advantages. Really it was meant for flower use with large size bowls.
For concentrates a regular Dog would do the trick (according to most users) and probably have better stem options for such with the SS tipped Direct Draw, NonGs and GonGs (with tip) being smaller than a Nano bowl and the stock GonGs, Glass Direct Draw and the OS NonGs being slightly larger.
My thoughts as well.
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
I stopped using my nylon/stainless stems because I can't get the screens in there flat-side up (which I do because then you hardly ever have to clean them).
I'm guessing the stems for the Alpha Dog are larger in diameter than the "regular" ones? Maybe I can get the screens in those flat side up?
I'm guessing the stems for the Alpha Dog are larger in diameter than the "regular" ones? Maybe I can get the screens in those flat side up?
NizzyJones
Well-Known Member
I mean... I hardly ever clean mine and I just take a hit with the stem empty every once in awhile.
The stems for the Alpha are indeed larger diameter. The smaller of the Alpha ones is about the same size as the regular UD NonGs and Glass Direct Draw, the larger is like 50% bigger than that.
That said I use my screens like a basket and blow them out as soon as I'm done hitting them and they stay pretty clean. It's possible to invert them with the flat side up but can take quite a bit of effort as you've seen. I think it's about the same difficulty regardless of which screen and which size stem TBO.
Yeah same here.
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
Using them as a basket is absolutely much MUCH harder to keep clean than using them flat side up. I can only do flat side up in the glass stems that are the same diameter from top to bottom - I actually put them in as normal and then just push them to the opposite end. So - not hard at all with the glass direct draw stems. Impossible for me with the nylon/stainless stem - though someone else reported he can put them in flat side up. I just don't have the fine motor control, LOL!
No, just "taking a hit with an empty stem" does not work. Grunge gets stuck between the sides of the "basket" and the stem. This also happens when its flat side up, but since the interface between the edge of the flat surface and the stem wall is WAY smaller, its not really a problem. I will occasionally swab the area with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab then burn that off - I hardly ever have to entirely remove and clean the screens where I used to have to do it a lot lot more often and with a lot more effort when I was using them basket style. Like every other week as opposed to practically never when I use them flat side up.
The only way to get them clean when I was using them basket style was to soak and shake in enough 90% isopropyl to more than cover them, flush, and repeat. Soak, shakeshakeshake, soak, shakeshakeshake, until there was enough grunge floating in there to turn it coffee colored. Then drain, flush, and repeat.
Using them flat side up I can just clean them with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol, and most of the time I don't even have to take them out of the stem to do that much. Mostly when I do remove them it is just to clean the thin grunge-line that builds up over time right at the side where the flat part meets the stem wall and not so much the screen itself. I only have to do the cleaning like above with the shakeshakeshake and all less than once a year. Haven't done it since mid-2016 in fact - and that is actually about the time I started using them flat side up, so even that was actually the last time I cleaned them after using them basket style.
Are any of the alpha stems the same diameter all the way from top to bottom? Are there any pictures of the alpha stems?
EDIT: I went and checked to be sure - I don't find any pics of the Alpha Dog stems. There is a stainless stem that looks like I could install the screens flat side up because it is the same diameter along its entire length. That never worked with the nylon/stainless stems because the nylon part has a larger interior diameter. But honestly I don't see an advantage to using the stainless stem over my favorite glass direct draw, at least not the way I use it.
I am curious about the Alpha stems with their larger capacity because I think being able to load the same amount in a thinner layer will probably give me a better result. With the glass stems I am essentially limited to either a loading a shallow layer multiple times, or one thicker layer that I have to repeatedly stir.
No, just "taking a hit with an empty stem" does not work. Grunge gets stuck between the sides of the "basket" and the stem. This also happens when its flat side up, but since the interface between the edge of the flat surface and the stem wall is WAY smaller, its not really a problem. I will occasionally swab the area with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab then burn that off - I hardly ever have to entirely remove and clean the screens where I used to have to do it a lot lot more often and with a lot more effort when I was using them basket style. Like every other week as opposed to practically never when I use them flat side up.
The only way to get them clean when I was using them basket style was to soak and shake in enough 90% isopropyl to more than cover them, flush, and repeat. Soak, shakeshakeshake, soak, shakeshakeshake, until there was enough grunge floating in there to turn it coffee colored. Then drain, flush, and repeat.
Using them flat side up I can just clean them with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol, and most of the time I don't even have to take them out of the stem to do that much. Mostly when I do remove them it is just to clean the thin grunge-line that builds up over time right at the side where the flat part meets the stem wall and not so much the screen itself. I only have to do the cleaning like above with the shakeshakeshake and all less than once a year. Haven't done it since mid-2016 in fact - and that is actually about the time I started using them flat side up, so even that was actually the last time I cleaned them after using them basket style.
Are any of the alpha stems the same diameter all the way from top to bottom? Are there any pictures of the alpha stems?
EDIT: I went and checked to be sure - I don't find any pics of the Alpha Dog stems. There is a stainless stem that looks like I could install the screens flat side up because it is the same diameter along its entire length. That never worked with the nylon/stainless stems because the nylon part has a larger interior diameter. But honestly I don't see an advantage to using the stainless stem over my favorite glass direct draw, at least not the way I use it.
I am curious about the Alpha stems with their larger capacity because I think being able to load the same amount in a thinner layer will probably give me a better result. With the glass stems I am essentially limited to either a loading a shallow layer multiple times, or one thicker layer that I have to repeatedly stir.
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Hey CurryLeaf!
I’m assuming you must have one of the older stainless stems that is a stainless tip inserted into a stainless stem, right?
The new Stainless Lite stems are different; they’re the same diameter all the way through inside so you could do the same thing, pushing the screen all the way through to the opposite side.
If you wanna give it a try, send me an email or a PM.
JCharles
FC 06/06/2017 | ACMPR 26/07/2017
I like that flat side up would offer the cotton swab w/ iso to keep things clean.
But I like basket style, I rip it and blow it out.
I have taken my screens out once, this week, after close to 7 or 8 months of use. I only pulled them out to deep clean the Nongs and Gongs.
I dropped in some PBW and water and they were spotless in 10 minutes - zero of which was spent shaking.
I personally never have success with the dry hit to clean cooled debris. But if I run a couple bowls it's will usually help with the clogged hole.
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
What's PBW?
Perhaps I prepare my herb differently. I invariably buy shake to start with and then put it through a grinder. All I know is they clog up fast when I was doing basket style. It was someone on here that gave me the idea to put them in upside down, I think ... either that or when I reported doing it that way, some folks chimed in that they rolled that way, too, LOL!
Hey CurryLeaf!
I’m assuming you must have one of the older stainless stems that is a stainless tip inserted into a stainless stem, right?
The new Stainless Lite stems are different; they’re the same diameter all the way through inside so you could do the same thing, pushing the screen all the way through to the opposite side.
If you wanna give it a try, send me an email or a PM.
Thanks, UDette. The stems I have are the direct draw, which I love, and I had one each of the glass one where one end is ground, I think so you can use it with a bong or something, which I dropped and broke. And then the nylon with the steel tip in the end. The new SS straight stem certainly looks like the upside down screen ought to work. I may give one a try, but not right now. Next time I buy a dog, though. The direct draw ones are the only ones that it is easy to put the screen in upside down (for me anyway).
Do you have any pics of the alpha stems? Or the alpha dogs? I'd like to see them. I know I looked last time you had them up but don't remember what I saw, LOL!
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ragnorak71
Well-Known Member
I only use the nylon dd stem with steel tip and just push in from steel end. never had an issue and it always stays.
flat side up for the win, always found basket side got too clogged
flat side up for the win, always found basket side got too clogged
JCharles
FC 06/06/2017 | ACMPR 26/07/2017
@CurryLeafTreehugger
Do you use a coffee grinder? Or hand grinder?
The grind I've fond work best with minimal cleaning is a medium coarse grind. So kinda chunky.
I store all of my bud (nugs and pre-grind) with boveda packs so things don't dry out. Helps yo keep the grind medium coarse.
I also apply a light tamp with a dowel to level the bud off in the Gong/Nong.
If the grind is too fine it will clog the screen quickly and debris will find it's way past the screen. If you tamp down aggressively you'll end up with more clogged screens.
--There is a big PBW thread somewhere on the forum--
PBW is powdered brewery wash. I use it to soak my water pipes every couple months for a deep clean.
It was created to help clean the inside of the beer brewery tanks and machinery by Coors. It works amazing on organic matter and will rinse clean without effort.
I just soak whatever needs some cleaning, rinse and use. I use hot water but I don't really think it matters.
You can get a tub of it on Amazon.
So far I've cleaned glass water pipes, Gongs, screens, a Nong (very short, 3-5 min soak), and a cookie tray that my mom gave me years ago that had some burnt/caked on black stuff.
I even tossed some in the toilet bowl as a cleaner (ran out and had guests coming by) and within a few minutes it was spotless.
Do you use a coffee grinder? Or hand grinder?
The grind I've fond work best with minimal cleaning is a medium coarse grind. So kinda chunky.
I store all of my bud (nugs and pre-grind) with boveda packs so things don't dry out. Helps yo keep the grind medium coarse.
I also apply a light tamp with a dowel to level the bud off in the Gong/Nong.
If the grind is too fine it will clog the screen quickly and debris will find it's way past the screen. If you tamp down aggressively you'll end up with more clogged screens.
--There is a big PBW thread somewhere on the forum--
PBW is powdered brewery wash. I use it to soak my water pipes every couple months for a deep clean.
It was created to help clean the inside of the beer brewery tanks and machinery by Coors. It works amazing on organic matter and will rinse clean without effort.
I just soak whatever needs some cleaning, rinse and use. I use hot water but I don't really think it matters.
You can get a tub of it on Amazon.
So far I've cleaned glass water pipes, Gongs, screens, a Nong (very short, 3-5 min soak), and a cookie tray that my mom gave me years ago that had some burnt/caked on black stuff.
I even tossed some in the toilet bowl as a cleaner (ran out and had guests coming by) and within a few minutes it was spotless.
I can't seem to find any pics right now but they look identical to the regular NonGs and Direct Draw Nylon other than having much larger stainless tips. They'll have the same limitations/difficulties installing screens flat side up since they have the restricted diameter passing thru the Nylon sections (same as regular stems).
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
I can't seem to find any pics right now but they look identical to the regular NonGs and Direct Draw Nylon other than having much larger stainless tips. They'll have the same limitations/difficulties installing screens flat side up since they have the restricted diameter passing thru the Nylon sections (same as regular stems).
DRAT! And DOUBLE DRAT! LOL!
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
Definitely not a coffee grinder! I only have one that I use for spices, including dry red chiles and cloves. I love spices in my food but pretty sure I would not love vaping spice oils, LOL!
No, I have a regular bud grinder, with 3 compartments, unground bud at the top with the grinding teeth, the center to catch the ground bud, and a screen to let the kief drop through to the bottom compartment.
However I do live in the desert so the bud is already overly dry when I get it. I have used boveda packs to try to rehydrate it but it doesn't seem to do much good so I gradually gave up on that. They have stupid regulations here and/or the dispensaries are just not interested in investing in any equipment or procedures to NOT give us dry bud. In fact some dispensaries here CHARGE ALMOST DOUBLE to get dank weed. So I have not had dank weed EVER here. And all bud is preweighed and prepackaged in containers that are not even close to air tight. Bud is almost always over a month old before it ever gets to us, and dry as a bone. Plus, no way to tell whether the weights were EVER accurate. That half oz is definitely not a half oz any more by the time it dries out and gets to us. Who knows if it ever was?
I don't tamp at all. I just kind of tap the bottom of the stem to settle it back from the lip at the top. Then when I draw through, the heat distributes better through the loose herb than when I was tamping. It will compact down as I draw and the oils vaporize off.
I had never heard of that, I'll have to go check it out.
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
My lost dog:
I'm firing up my Underdog and missing my lost dog. I guess there's no reason any more to leave my Underdog on all the time so you won't take it and hide it from me, like you did the remote controls and anything else you thought would get my attention (which you always already had, my sweet girl)
One of the 7 great dogs of the world. All dogs are one of the seven.
Fire up your dogs, people, and spend a few minutes remembering all of our lost dogs, friends, relatives, and pets.
Good speed Trudy. Turn towards home, and go there. Many overs, over woods and fields, and streams and hills, many overs. Just turn towards home. How else would one go there? Perhaps it was a dream, and you have awakened from it. May the earth rise up beneath you, with home in your heart, and your person waiting. **
** - Dean Spanley
I'm firing up my Underdog and missing my lost dog. I guess there's no reason any more to leave my Underdog on all the time so you won't take it and hide it from me, like you did the remote controls and anything else you thought would get my attention (which you always already had, my sweet girl)
One of the 7 great dogs of the world. All dogs are one of the seven.
Fire up your dogs, people, and spend a few minutes remembering all of our lost dogs, friends, relatives, and pets.
Good speed Trudy. Turn towards home, and go there. Many overs, over woods and fields, and streams and hills, many overs. Just turn towards home. How else would one go there? Perhaps it was a dream, and you have awakened from it. May the earth rise up beneath you, with home in your heart, and your person waiting. **
** - Dean Spanley
state_vape
Member
Hey guys...sorry if this has been discussed. Tried searching but nothing turned up.
Does anybody know if enano stems, specifically the GonG w/ glass screen will work with the underdog. I really like the idea of not having to deal with a screen.
Does anybody know if enano stems, specifically the GonG w/ glass screen will work with the underdog. I really like the idea of not having to deal with a screen.
mucsusn
60 going on 20
They will not.....UD core is larger diameter and the e-nano stems won’t slide over the core tube. Also, several members have reported that the glass screen models are more fragile in day to day use.
Nothing is perfect, but I find the regular screens to be easy to adjust, easy to clean and the pieces, especially the small ones, can survive stupid human tricks a little better.
ataxian
PALE BLUE DOT
? What is the function of WOOD for VAPORIZING?
What if a different material is used for the case?
@CurryLeafTreehugger does wood make it special?
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CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
Ummmm - I don't know? Wood what?
Ramahs
Fucking Combustion (mostly) Since February 2017
Of course wood makes it special. Otherwise, why would we like wood?
Wood makes it special...That is all.......
CurryLeafTreehugger
Well-Known Member
OH! You mean the Underdog log vape. I was talking stems and screens so that's what I thought you were asking about. Wood stems. Which UD doesn't have any of as far as I know, LOL!
I don't know what else you would make a log vape out of other than the stuff that logs are made of, eg wood. Wood is also aesthetically pleasing to ALL the senses. Before my 2nd UD burnt itself up (well, not up up but damaged anyway), it was made of wild maple and it SMELLED wonderful - of maple wood - when it heated up. And wood feels good in the hand. And when it heats up, the wood gets warm which makes it nice to hold in the cool weather and fine in warm. Metal would get too hot, pull off too much energy from the heat core itself, cost a lot more, and be a lot less artistic in nature. When sitting cross-legged while watching TV and vaping, when my feet get cold, I can stick the UD in between my feet and "hold" it there and they get warm again.
No, nobody uses my UD but me and I don't care if I "hold" it with my feet. I don't actually TASTE my UD after all (so I guess actually there is a sense the UD doesn't engage directly but only via the mechanism of the herb which is vaped).