Vapman

[bounce5]

I made a homemade stem mod!

I'm pretty proud of it. I made it out of a guava tree branch from my back yard. I used it to make a cat toy at least 9 months ago...so the wood is somewhat dried out. The bottom part was exactly the right size for a vapman stem... almost like it was meant to be. It needed a little sanding. The filter fits snugly. I may add the screws later. I used a swiss army knife reamer to make the hole in the middle. Thanks @simpleasthcis for the tips and inspiration!

Here's a picture of the bottom of the mouthpiece in comparison to the standard middle piece. It's a bit rustic, but not bad at all. Overall the entire project was pretty easy. I found making the small holes the trickiest part - to get the pins fitting snugly and straight. One of them is off due to my impatience, but it works.

And a top view comparison...

I used a small screwdriver set to help with boring the little holes (0.8 mm size for the air intake holes and 1.2 mm to help make the hole for the pins)

Yay. Happy 420!

 

[VegNVape]

Hey yoooooooou guuuuuuuys ! ! ! ​

@simpleasthcis & @bounce5 ​

I must say that I truly love what you good peoples are doing with regards to creating your own unique whittled stems for the Vapman!

They both really do look very cool. Nice work!

And it does look like a cheap & fun way to add even more character to our favorite little friend!

I would definitely like to give this a go myself but I'm not honestly sure that I'd be able to come up with anything useable let alone anywhere near as good as what I'm seeing here!

Anywaze, hats off to you both! I applaud your crafty ingenuity.

Rustic home modding rules!

 

[natural farmer]

Guys? How does someone have to treat a fresh branch of wood to dry it in order to carve a stem?

 

[Andreaerdna]

Guys? How does someone have to treat a fresh branch of wood to dry it in order to carve a stem?

Put it in a dry place and play the big waiting game :-)

 

[NorVape]

Wow! My gf JUST talked about how spring is the season for making flutes out of fresh branches from birch, and how she used to be good at it as a kid, so we should make our own middleparts!

 

[natural farmer]

I know for sure that carving fresh wood is easier... Is there a problem if I carve a stem on fresh wood? Will it crack easier?
And if you let it dry, for how long? I was always puzzled with these questions...

 

[bounce5]

@VegNVape Thanks for the compliment. I think you could definitely do it as long as you have the tools to do it. I used a saw, sand paper, swiss army knife reamer (it worked a treat), 2 different mini screwdrivers from a precision set, and pliers for removing and inserting the pins. And a little extra patience when boring those little holes. Not because it's difficult, but to get it all symetrical and the right fit. Also, maybe wear gloves or some protection on your hands when boring holes...I accidently stabbed myself at one point. Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date, incase you cut yourself on a metal tool along the way...@natural farmer I'm wondering the same thing. I look forward to seeing your homemade mod, if you choose to make one. I remember admiring your awesome Lotus and bamboo stem setup.

 

[VegNVape]

@VegNVape Thanks for the compliment. I think you could definitely do it as long as you have the tools to do it. I used a saw, sand paper, swiss army knife reamer (it worked a treat), 2 different mini screwdrivers from a precision set, and pliers for removing and inserting the pins. And a little extra patience when boring those little holes. Not because it's difficult, but to get it all symetrical and the right fit. Also, maybe wear gloves or some protection on your hands when boring holes...I accidently stabbed myself at one point. Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date, incase you cut yourself on a metal tool along the way...@natural farmer I'm wondering the same thing. I look forward to seeing your homemade mod, if you choose to make one. I remember admiring your awesome Lotus and bamboo stem setup.

Thanks for all the tips & guidance! That's all really useful to know, & I appreciate you sharing your knowledge as well as for the encouragement!

I will really try to be brave enough to post pictures if I actually do come up with anything - no matter how it turns out!

I look forward to seeing if @natural farmer & anyone else makes any attempts too . . .

Fun times!


Thanks again & happy 420 to you & everybody else too!

 

[M0J0]

These stems are awesome guys!

@simpleasthcis carvings skills are awesome and @bounce5, I love the bark on your stem.

What's the difference between the stock and your new mouthpiece? Cooler vapor? Anything else?

Great job guys!

 

[simpleasthcis]

Wow! My gf JUST talked about how spring is the season for making flutes out of fresh branches from birch, and how she used to be good at it as a kid, so we should make our own middleparts!

Wøw indeed a middle sec/flute I love it tune it ta play Cyprus hill while vapeing Nice work @bounce5 love that guava branch look out for "guava ghost train haze" to complement it thanks @VegNVape and others thanks n try it you've nothing to loose. I'd tend to start with wood three x the size of my finished piece,I first used a Swiss knife more for irony,a drill makes it very easy.my new long one above i put 10mm drill through a rough whittled shape then with a loop of cloth backed sand paper with the drill running and / or twisting in yo fingers work it down to size n shape. If you don't wana pull the pins fron your mid think darning needles yes @Mojo it's nice cool draw with no air holes on that one 98mm long I find if you increase the bore size vapour seems week it needed a condenser tip (top of a gold pen in this case)and is very nice to hold all happy 420

 

[NinjaMindTriks]

So I have a VapMan classic on my way from Randy @PIU! Thanks to @SSVUN-YAH for the recommendation! Can't wait to try her out!

 

[Enchantre]

My basic Walnut VM has arrived! Lovely, lovely... I got scads of screens, two more mouthpiece filters, an Ebony mouthpiece, the itsy-bitsy screwdriver, extra screws, and a working lighter.

It's waiting for the VM Heating Station.

 

[axakal]

i was shocked about the size of the screwdriver too. itsy-bitsy is the name of the game, when it comes to the vapman.

My basic Walnut VM has arrived! Lovely, lovely... I got scads of screens, two more mouthpiece filters, an Ebony mouthpiece, the itsy-bitsy screwdriver, extra screws, and a working lighter.

It's waiting for the VM Heating Station.

 

[OF]

Guys? How does someone have to treat a fresh branch of wood to dry it in order to carve a stem?

I know for sure that carving fresh wood is easier... Is there a problem if I carve a stem on fresh wood? Will it crack easier?
And if you let it dry, for how long? I was always puzzled with these questions...

Since nobody else seems to want to take the bait, I'll have a lash. "It depends". Doesn't it always.

Wet wood is bigger than dry wood. This means, as it dries out the outside gets smaller faster than the inside if you're not careful, and that can lead to checks and cracks (unlike splits which usually need external stresses). But it depends a lot on the species, total water content, thickness, temperature, air flow and so on that makes general statements near impossible. For finger size branches with the bark on 'outside' in temperate climates a year is probably fine. Keep the rain off it. Forget it on the gulf coast, in Florida kiln dried fir gains water weight.....

Commercially you saw it into planks to lessen thickness, stack with spacers for air flow, and wait a year or two. Or if you're in a hurry (like to make money) you put it in a kiln and heat (too hot for people typically, 150 to 180F?). You need to control the drying rate (remember the outside drys faster and shrinks more) or warping rears it's ugly head, monitoring moisture is critical. Properly cured wood is stronger than green, often by a large amount. Done right the outer fibers (in tension) hold the inner ones in compression and you can make a violin that lasts for centuries (if you know how.....).

Kiln drying also kills fungus and critters in the wood, a plus. Air drying not always.

If I were doing it, I'd cut branches to reasonable sizes (say a foot or two) and let them dry slowly with bark on. Off the ground, with plenty of fresh air. Or use last year's wood. Oh, yes, scrap the ends (an inch or two) as there will be problems there sometimes. Commercial wood is often coated with paint/tar to prevent drying out by the end grain.

Aren't you glad you asked such a simple question?

Regards,

OF

 

[natural farmer]

Since nobody else seems to want to take the bait, I'll have a lash. "It depends". Doesn't it always.

Wet wood is bigger than dry wood. This means, as it dries out the outside gets smaller faster than the inside if you're not careful, and that can lead to checks and cracks (unlike splits which usually need external stresses). But it depends a lot on the species, total water content, thickness, temperature, air flow and so on that makes general statements near impossible. For finger size branches with the bark on 'outside' in temperate climates a year is probably fine. Keep the rain off it. Forget it on the gulf coast, in Florida kiln dried fir gains water weight.....

Commercially you saw it into planks to lessen thickness, stack with spacers for air flow, and wait a year or two. Or if you're in a hurry (like to make money) you put it in a kiln and heat (too hot for people typically, 150 to 180F?). You need to control the drying rate (remember the outside drys faster and shrinks more) or warping rears it's ugly head, monitoring moisture is critical. Properly cured wood is stronger than green, often by a large amount. Done right the outer fibers (in tension) hold the inner ones in compression and you can make a violin that lasts for centuries (if you know how.....).

Kiln drying also kills fungus and critters in the wood, a plus. Air drying not always.

If I were doing it, I'd cut branches to reasonable sizes (say a foot or two) and let them dry slowly with bark on. Off the ground, with plenty of fresh air. Or use last year's wood. Oh, yes, scrap the ends (an inch or two) as there will be problems there sometimes. Commercial wood is often coated with paint/tar to prevent drying out by the end grain.

Aren't you glad you asked such a simple question?

Regards,

OF

Yes I am!

 

[axakal]

i always wonder, if there is stuff you don't know much about.

Since nobody else seems to want to take the bait, I'll have a lash. "It depends". Doesn't it always.

Wet wood is bigger than dry wood. This means, as it dries out the outside gets smaller faster than the inside if you're not careful, and that can lead to checks and cracks (unlike splits which usually need external stresses). But it depends a lot on the species, total water content, thickness, temperature, air flow and so on that makes general statements near impossible. For finger size branches with the bark on 'outside' in temperate climates a year is probably fine. Keep the rain off it. Forget it on the gulf coast, in Florida kiln dried fir gains water weight.....

Commercially you saw it into planks to lessen thickness, stack with spacers for air flow, and wait a year or two. Or if you're in a hurry (like to make money) you put it in a kiln and heat (too hot for people typically, 150 to 180F?). You need to control the drying rate (remember the outside drys faster and shrinks more) or warping rears it's ugly head, monitoring moisture is critical. Properly cured wood is stronger than green, often by a large amount. Done right the outer fibers (in tension) hold the inner ones in compression and you can make a violin that lasts for centuries (if you know how.....).

Kiln drying also kills fungus and critters in the wood, a plus. Air drying not always.

If I were doing it, I'd cut branches to reasonable sizes (say a foot or two) and let them dry slowly with bark on. Off the ground, with plenty of fresh air. Or use last year's wood. Oh, yes, scrap the ends (an inch or two) as there will be problems there sometimes. Commercial wood is often coated with paint/tar to prevent drying out by the end grain.

Aren't you glad you asked such a simple question?

Regards,

OF

 

[OF]

i always wonder, if there is stuff you don't know much about.

Fun idea. I guess 'I don't know anything I don't know'? At least I can't think of anything.

I guess I've just done and seen a lot of things important in this small pond. Lucky fit. I paid attention, tried to understand how stuff fits together and thus far haven't forgotten a lot (sure to come). At least I don't think I have.......

Not everything fits, of course. For instance Kerosene Refrigerators. I understand the theory, even fixed a few, but for the life of me lighting a small fire to cool your beer........

A co worker once nick named me 'garbage mind' for the useless trivia I spout off with sometimes (know anyone else who remembers the models of Edsels or the name of the first model to publicly wear a bikini)? Sad, really, but it is what it is as the saying goes. I like to think 'I come by it honestly', and am glad of the opportunity to offer such bits of trivia in the hopes they're helpful (or at least amusing).

Thanks.

OF

 

[M0J0]

So OF, you're saying you're like a Rainman?

...and thus far haven't forgotten a lot (sure to come). At least I don't think I have...

How to remember what you have forgotten? If you forgot it, how do you know to look for it? haha

My memory is so bad that sometimes I would teach myself a song on guitar and when I thought "Wow, I really figured this one out so quickly!" I soon realized that I had already figured it out a while back, forgotten that I had, so I sat down to learn it (again), thinking that it was the first time at first...

So the proud feeling turned to embarrasment pretty quickly -- which I didn't mention to anyone, of course! hahaha

By the way, here's another usless, but interesting piece of data related to our 420, 4/20 festivities:

Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler

 

[SSVUN~YAH]

Vapman, definetly Vapman

 

[OF]

So OF, you're saying you're like a Rainman?

How to remember what you have forgotten? If you forgot it, how do you know to look for it? haha

Sorry, I don't know Rainman but from what I do know I'm not like that. Get me outside my experience (away from electronics, materials, manufacturing and stuff like that) and I'm out of my depth for sure.

The 'how do I know what I don't know' is part of my favorite 'shaggy dog' story (well one of my favorites) about the truck driver named Joe (who seemed to know everyone to his new partner). The partner asked 'who don't you know?'. How could he know that. So the new guy, knowing Joe isn't a Catholic, bets he doesn't know the Pope. So they go to the Vatican (where Joe is recognized) but they won't let the partner in since he too isn't Catholic ("Oh, that's Joe, of course he's an exception....").

So Joe enters, and brings the Pope out to a balcony as the faithful collect. Then the partner realizes 'I don't know what the Pope looks like, it could be the janitor.....' do he asks one of the Swiss guards, 'who is that up on the balcony?'. The guard answers, I'm new here, but I think the guy next to Joe is the Pope.....'.

I know old Schicklegruber (his mother's maiden name which he is held to have used) was born 4/20 but I think the students who most likely started the 4:20 movement (a time of day, not a date) just north of here were blissfully ignorant of that connection. They were just confirming the schedule to meet up and fire up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture)
http://www.laweekly.com/news/mythbu...-origin-and-a-whole-lot-of-false-ones-4177495

The statue in question is about 50 miles from here, someday I plan a pilgrimage....... I'll probably take my trusty VM, wouldn't you?

OF

 

[vapmanjoe]

So OF, you're saying you're like a Rainman?



How to remember what you have forgotten? If you forgot it, how do you know to look for it? haha

My memory is so bad that sometimes I would teach myself a song on guitar and when I thought "Wow, I really figured this one out so quickly!" I soon realized that I had already figured it out a while back, forgotten that I had, so I sat down to learn it (again), thinking that it was the first time at first...

So the proud feeling turned to embarrasment pretty quickly -- which I didn't mention to anyone, of course! hahaha

By the way, here's another usless, but interesting piece of data related to our 420, 4/20 festivities:

Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler

In relation to your last Information I read a "funny" post on a German MJ online Journal where they talked about the (rinky-dink) progression of the German legalistation movement: "things a going forward! Yesterday i got a free beer from an older/conservative landlord with a view to the recent date 20 April!!!" Others commented if the one meant the Birthdate of Adolf rather ???

Ok sorry for being off topic!
Therefore for compensation another pic from vapman - 420 impressions Yesterday.

 

[ChippyMalone]

Well, I think I win the green packaging award for this block of fine quilted Big Leaf Maple: grown right here in Western Washington and being shipped to Switzerland to make the Cascadia edition Vapman I dreamed up with a highdea a while back.

But we're going to let @vapman take his time getting to this project, because he's got more important things to do, like build my future awesome heating station that I know is going to make a positive impact on my future health.

 

[NorVape]

420 was explosive round my way 71 years ago

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosion_in_Bergen_1944

 

[OF]

420 was explosive round my way 71 years ago

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosion_in_Bergen_1944

We did a 'copy cat' 3 months later at Port Chicago (weapons station for the war in the Pacific). Serious du du. My grandmother had a plate fall of the wall 20 miles away, neighbors lost windows. My father (home at the time) grabbed a camera to ride the train up (the highway was closed) for pictures. He had to jump because the trains were ordered not to stop. He made it to the center of town (a little over a mile away from the pier) and was taking a photo of a ships bow section bigger than a car stuck in the pavement when the cops nabbed him and ran him off. The photo (his only one) was a loss, out of focus and tipped.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Chicago_disaster

https://www.google.com/search?q=port+chicago&biw=1400&bih=893&tbm=isch&imgil=QPm_3Pg8_335ZM
%3A%3BnQl4bSNPcIu3oM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.usmm.org%252Fportchicago.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=QPm_3Pg8_335ZM%3A%2CnQl4bSNPcIu3oM%2C_&usg=__8KoQIWT02vHLRMPYEzprYn7zq5Y=

Many years later, when I was in Sea Scouts, we tied our boat up there. Very near the Deep Water Dock where it happened. The Navy still talked about it nearly 30 years later. There was a barge in the channel at the time they never found. Big bang I guess.

There was also a fire (no explosion) on a loaded munitions ship in New York Harbor about the same time. Late at night, only a shore crew working on repairs in a hold under Coast Guard watch. The fire started and the work crews didn't know it. The Coastie (only an AB) walked to the hold, threw his leg over the handrail and said, 'the big shots have all gone home, why don't you guys knock off, I'll cover for you....'. As they left, smoke was starting to show. By the time the rest of the Coasties showed up (in their dress uniforms, ready for liberty) to hook to the tug the hatch cover was glowing. They sank it in time to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Scary times. I'm glad we survived, well most of us.

OF

 

[VegNVape]

Wøw indeed a middle sec/flute I love it tune it ta play Cyprus hill while vapeing Nice work @bounce5 love that guava branch look out for "guava ghost train haze" to complement it thanks @VegNVape and others thanks n try it you've nothing to loose. I'd tend to start with wood three x the size of my finished piece,I first used a Swiss knife more for irony,a drill makes it very easy.my new long one above i put 10mm drill through a rough whittled shape then with a loop of cloth backed sand paper with the drill running and / or twisting in yo fingers work it down to size n shape. If you don't wana pull the pins fron your mid think darning needles yes @Mojo it's nice cool draw with no air holes on that one 98mm long I find if you increase the bore size vapour seems week it needed a condenser tip (top of a gold pen in this case)and is very nice to hold all happy 420

Hey @simpleasthcis - I just wanted to say thank you for the fine detail & additional pointers. Using a Swiss Army knife is blatantly a nice touch and a respectful nod to the Vapman homeland

And thank you so much for sharing your ideas and showing us your handiwork in the first place - it's truly appreciated.

You have clearly inspired