Vapman
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coolbreeze
Well-Known Member
Arawfish
Green Thumb
Do NOT touch the mica with any cleaning solution ever. Better yet, don’t even touch it with anything.Thanks for helpingI like it already, it doesn't make big clouds but I got very comfortably high.
Is mica the glitter thing? I got it spread out trying to clean with a swap
BarspoonBill
Active Member
It is a great sale price especially with that new wood box. The standard kit that they make is $230 USD from vgoodiez or POTV.
seki
Well-Known Member
I think it's fine personally and as an observer, even the ones I feel are poorly done are interesting to see. At the very least, they're different from all the glamour shots and nature scenes. Not complaining about those mind you, I just like the variety. I've found that the phrase "what you eat doesn't make me poop" is a hilarious but surprisingly apt philosophy I successfully abide by for an increasingly large percentage of circumstances I encounter.
I love vapes and am often in awe of the craftsmanship I see in them, but at the same time the lionization of some vape manufacturers and personalities that I see with some enthusiasts makes me a little uncomfortable in a way that I have a hard time conveying accurately. Not suggesting that's what you're doing here, just trying to explain my thinking and why I tend to fall on the side of "functional" when talking about devices like the Vapman, which qualify in my mind as "functional art".
I do recall seeing lots of Milaanas, Woodscents, Sitcky Bricks and a few other vapes with some pretty significant after-market work done to them over the years so I don't think this is an entirely new phenomenon. I don't think there are any sacred cows, there have even been a few user Nomad alterations if I'm recalling correctly.
@natural farmer had an interesting LOTR-inspired Vapman from a few years ago:
I think it was @M0J0 who also did the majority of laser-etched Vapmans for a time. This is certainly different than charring the entire unit to achieve a certain colour of course, that's more akin to what people were doing to darken the wood on their TinyMight 1s and certain wood VapCap models a little while ago, but I see it as being related.
To be fair, I can also understand why someone might feel that this transition...:
...is more or less the same as this in a sense:
Yeah I kinda fell for it because it says "very special" Vapman.
I was expecting something more than that.
Ebony would have been nice..
I was fortunate enough to snag an actual ebony model from Rene's last run before he sold the business. It seems to retain heat a little better than other models and I think I recall it being around 10g-11g heavier than my pear and walnut units when I weighed them to compare. The ebony being close to 30g and the others in the 18-20g range if memory serves, all classic models. It was also unbranded which I thought was interesting and is something I actually prefer. Before that last batch, I think Rene only had unbranded basic/pure units that I recall seeing previously.
I doubt there'll be many of these hitting the secondary market, but I assume it's just a matter of time before they get around to doing them in ebony or blackwood again.
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Arawfish
Green Thumb
I don’t think we’ll be seeing any super exotic stuff like Ebony from the Italian guys. They’ve made it a point to only use sustainably, and responsibly harvested woods and as far as I know, The use of ebony isn’t either of those things. I could be wrong though.
I know when they did the applewood edition a while ago, a believe that was from recycled pallets.
I know when they did the applewood edition a while ago, a believe that was from recycled pallets.
jbm
Well-Known Member
Wasn’t it from an apple tree on their property?
coolbreeze
Well-Known Member
I like the etched ones (that One VM rules!). Wonder if a charred one could be reverse-etched?
I seem to recall someone doing really awesome carved Bricks at one point...I'm surprised you don't see more custom work done, tbh.
I seem to recall someone doing really awesome carved Bricks at one point...I'm surprised you don't see more custom work done, tbh.
Yeah, I guess I look at the laser etching and wood burning art to be different. Even though a lot of TuncaTech's work is not to my taste, I can appreciate it as art.
Just to be clear, everyone should do whatever the hell they want with their vapes. I was just surprised to see this was a thing.
Just now I was reminded I had seen this on Reddit. A poster there was very keen on putting up pictures of their charred vapman with racist jokes. That might have also soured me on this customization.
coolbreeze
Well-Known Member
I remember the charring experiments from early in this thread and tbh I thought was a bridge too far, but people were just having fun. But yikes! The VM usually inspires such positivity, and that racist crap is a damn shame.
That ebony was a beauty. There were also unbranded Swiss walnut Classics, which I've also got.I think it's fine personally and as an observer, even the ones I feel are poorly done are interesting to see. At the very least, they're different from all the glamour shots and nature scenes. Not complaining about those mind you, I just like the variety. I've found that the phrase "what you eat doesn't make me poop" is a hilarious but surprisingly apt philosophy I successfully abide by for an increasingly large percentage of circumstances I encounter.
I love vapes and am often in awe of the craftsmanship I see in them, but at the same time the lionization of some vape manufacturers and personalities that I see with some enthusiasts makes me a little uncomfortable in a way that I have a hard time conveying accurately. Not suggesting that's what you're doing here, just trying to explain my thinking and why I tend to fall on the side of "functional" when talking about devices like the Vapman, which qualify in my mind as "functional art".
I do recall seeing lots of Milaanas, Woodscents, Sitcky Bricks and a few other vapes with some pretty significant after-market work done to them over the years so I don't think this is an entirely new phenomenon. I don't think there are any sacred cows, there have even been a few user Nomad alterations if I'm recalling correctly.
@natural farmer had an interesting LOTR-inspired Vapman from a few years ago:
I think it was @M0J0 who also did the majority of laser-etched Vapmans for a time. This is certainly different than charring the entire unit to achieve a certain colour of course, that's more akin to what people were doing to darken the wood on their TinyMight 1s and certain wood VapCap models a little while ago, but I see it as being related.
To be fair, I can also understand why someone might feel that this transition...:
...is more or less the same as this in a sense:
I was fortunate enough to snag an actual ebony model from Rene's last run before he sold the business. It seems to retain heat a little better than other models and I think I recall it being around 10g-11g heavier than my pear and walnut units when I weighed them to compare. The ebony being close to 30g and the others in the 18-20g range if memory serves, all classic models. It was also unbranded which I thought was interesting and is something I actually prefer. Before that last batch, I think Rene only had unbranded basic/pure units that I recall seeing previously.
I doubt there'll be many of these hitting the secondary market, but I assume it's just a matter of time before they get around to doing them in ebony or blackwood again.
And still curious about the Pure and if it gives a different experience with the Station. Have you had a chance to compare?
coolbreeze
Well-Known Member
My basic walnut is a bit warmer than either my olive or pear classics, but I'm not sure the coating or even wood is at play as much as the slightly blunter shape of its cone. I suspect it makes more/better contact with the heater cone.
In terms of the differences between torching and heating it on the station, I can't see that it behaves any differently than the same methods used with a classic. The station experience results in similar differences (evenness, consistency, efficiency, less flavor loss) compared to torching with either, as far as I can tell.
seki
Well-Known Member
That's a shame, for the best though if that's the case. I assumed that given woodwinds like clarinets, oboes and a number of other instruments were made with blackwood and ebony, there would be ethical sources for that material. I have zero knowledge of lumbering and forestry though.
The way I see it, from the perspective of a vape's primary function, charring, laser-etching, woodburning or whatever else is done to them all serve an identical purpose that to me is best described by an Oscar Wilde quote: "All art is quite useless". I think most aftermarket work we've seen from people can fall under that umbrella unless it somehow modifies function.
I'm not trying to imply that there's no value, particularly to the individual, in adorning a vape with some sort of decorative work, I just think if it doesn't change the core experience of the vape in a substantive way, whether you char it or intricately carve it into Michaelangelo's David, it's all just window dressing.
It always feels terrible to see racist bullshit adjacent to a brand you enjoy, but thankfully even before the switch over I think Rene had built up enough goodwill with the brand that that sort of thing wouldn't have a permanently detrimental effect on it. I think the fact that some of us seem to have forgotten that is at least a positive in that regard.
I had no idea other unbranded Classics existed, appreciate the info.
Unfortunately, I can't reciprocate as I haven't picked up any new Vapmans since the changeover and didn't get a basic/pure previously. I've been meaning to, but something always seems to bump it from the priority list. Thankfully @someTooL and @coolbreeze have you covered here.
Just to be clear, this was a random person on Reddit. Not someone affiliated with Vapman or Rene or the Italian dudes.
I have an unbranded two-tone yew Classic. Quite pretty but I kind of miss the branding.
coolbreeze
Well-Known Member
Well, heck, bust out the pyrographer!I have an unbranded two-tone yew Classic. Quite pretty but I kind of miss the branding.
seki
Well-Known Member
You were pretty clear on that fact in your previous post and I felt the post I was responding to was as well. At least, that's what I assumed you both meant when I stated that it was adjacent to the brand.
To clarify, bringing that up did ring a bell about that particular Reddit post for me, but my sentiment was that it's terrible to see something like that even remotely close to a brand you enjoy, along the lines of seeing some person shouting racial slurs while they're wearing a licensed jersey and cheering on your hometown hockey team.
For the record, I’m not aware of any sort of circumstance where anyone associated with the Vapman brand displayed any racist or even remotely anti-social behaviour and don't believe I've represented or even implied that at all with my posts.
Seems like there were a lot more unbranded units than I was aware of. Appreciate the info.I have an unbranded two-tone yew Classic. Quite pretty but I kind of miss the branding.
simba
@weedanwine
That ebony vapman is amazing!
So I finally pulled the trigger on a Vapman, another one of those vapes I've thought about getting for years but never got around to. I scored a promotion the other week so I think I deserved a new vape haha I ordered one of the OG units in Walnut so looking forward to that arriving.
So I finally pulled the trigger on a Vapman, another one of those vapes I've thought about getting for years but never got around to. I scored a promotion the other week so I think I deserved a new vape haha I ordered one of the OG units in Walnut so looking forward to that arriving.
*goes to website, sees Swiss unbranded pear basic for ale for under 100 euros, buys it and sandalwood case and new mouthpiece to hit free shipping*
Psyched. That is the biggest win of my day.
Gourmet
Well-Known Member
Normally there should be no difference on the heating element between the Pure and Classic, because it is exactly the same pan and this is the only contact with the station.
If a Swiss Classic does not fit quite so easily on the station, the mica would have to be touched up. (which was very rarely the case)
I still remember (was a frequent guest in the workshop of René), the branding was depending on the wood and its grain not quite so simple and accurate to get. You can only do it in a single pass, pressure, heat and press time had to be precisely right and was like almost everything pure handwork with feeling & experience.
In addition, there were more and more customer requests to buy Vapmans without branding to be able to admire the grain better.
Today's laser inscription is much more accurate to achieve; and also more discreet, more elegant, it fits much better in today's time.
Finally, the real trademark is the shape of the vapman itself.
The ebony wood René used was either from an attic find on ancient, broken furniture or from sites with certified and therefore legal wood trade.
There were / are small quantities available, therefore, the series were always very small in quantity.
Nowadays there are alternatives, such as a dark cocobolo or rosewood. However, this should always be tested out, some types of wood and also individual pieces of wood develop a strong smell when heated, these are unfortunately not suitable for the Vapman.
The method with the laser to get a black Vapman could be the solution how to make relatively easy beautiful parts without having to resort to special or protected woods.
That's exactly what I was after!
And also to share my experience with others, so they can save the money for this experiment.
As a Swiss I am used to very high prices, but for us the Vapman is not as expensive as in the rest of the world. I used to treat myself to 3-4 Vapmans a year, this with a rather low income.
So it was my sacred duty to do this experiment. (cough, cough)
I can't see any differences on the station, either with old or new Pure or Swiss & Tyrolean Vapmans.
All work perfectly on the station.
I know nothing of any stupid or misanthropic statements or jokes and this has absolutely nothing to do with the Vapman philosophy.
Here in this thread are people from all over the world altogether and we have so far created a very good atmosphere, which is guaranteed to continue through us. That's part of the magic of the Vapman!
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Die_Toffifee
Bu-Tane Clan
Thanks to FC I was able to get a rare Greenheart Vapman.
Here's the swiss made beauty amongst some home-made green peppers.
Greenheart is known to be one of the strongest woods. While only 50% heavier than Oak, it is 100% harder. Nothing I would want to carve by hand for sure.
Here's the swiss made beauty amongst some home-made green peppers.
Greenheart is known to be one of the strongest woods. While only 50% heavier than Oak, it is 100% harder. Nothing I would want to carve by hand for sure.