Vaporbrothers VB2

[nopartofme]

@vaporbrothers, I'm curious if you'd be willing to share what sort of ceramic is involved here? I've become something of a high-grade-ceramic fanatic ever since falling in love with the loose-leaf Cera vaporizer, which also features an all-ceramic bowl. There, the material is zirconia stabilized with magnesia.

I'm led to believe that such ceramics are only typically used in medical, aerospace, and defense applications, and are subject to price increases over time!

The use of a ceramic like that would justify the MSRP. It's good stuff to be sure.

Fun to speculate...

 

[Vitolo]

Macor... the first type of insert that was used, was VERY costly.
a rod of the stuff this disc was machined from cost over 50 bucks for
a simple 3 inch piece.

 

[nopartofme]

@Vitolo that sounds like what I'm familiar with. Replacement mouthpieces and top caps for the Cera are in the same price range. Magnesia stabilized zirconia is also molded rather than machined, I believe.

So it is only the insert that is composed of the higher grade ceramic?

 

[weedemon]

very cool looking device. thank you for showing it to us Vitolo! Your opinion is something i respect and generally trust more than the average person.

now I hear a followup reply that this shings price has been revealed.

ok thats enough of em. 700 dollars? I'm sorry, but WTF? why? In my head i was thinking $125, but then said no way, the company has to make money... probably more like 250...

my initial reaction to seeing this device revealed was wow, that's a super cool device, I'm glad it's not herb, and concentrate geared, as this looks to do one thing very well.

My next thought was, my Ti swing that I use is freakin awesome too. I wonder how the 2 compare. I would guess that they perform very similarly.

my Ti swing cost me $45 and I LOVE IT. I nearly quit vaping herbs when I discovered real concentrates. (none of that black iso based, shit for me anymore! [don't get me wrong, you can make a good oil with iso, just no one I knew ever did]) I didn't experience good concentrates until I made them myself.

so anyways, you guys had me until the price was revealed. if a 45 dollar device will work just as well then i'm sorry but that's as far as i go on this one.

btw my old original vaporbrothers whip system was really awesome. It cost me $100 2nd hand. Best of luck to you guys though.

 

[Vitolo]

No the entire thing is high grade.
The Macor was only a "consumable" insert.

 

[kindbeats]

my initial reaction to seeing this device revealed was wow, that's a super cool device, I'm glad it's not herb, and concentrate geared, as this looks to do one thing very well.

My next thought was, my Ti swing that I use is freakin awesome too. I wonder how the 2 compare. I would guess that they perform very similarly.

my Ti swing cost me $45 and I LOVE IT. I nearly quit vaping herbs when I discovered real concentrates.

so anyways, you guys had me until the price was revealed. if a 45 dollar device will work just as well then i'm sorry but that's as far as i go on this one.

I had a similar reaction, as did my friend when I showed him this thread. At first we thought, "Finally, a table top vape intended for oils. It will be a nice change for those who are turned off by the whole torch and nail/swing thing." Then we saw the price tag and practically vomited in our mouths.

As a consumer, I guess the question I have is similar to what @weedemon was getting at. When compared, what are the pros and cons between this device and a traditional nail/dome or swing set up? Basically, I'm interested in hearing why someone should opt for the $700 VB2 instead of a glass rig with a grade 2 TI pad or nail for under $100? Is the extra $600 solely for the convenience of not having to deal with a torch?

EDIT: I truly hope I didn't come off as negative or condescending in my post. I'm genuinely interested in hearing the differences and why the price is what it is (and yes, I understand that every company needs to make money). Thanks!

 

[Vitolo]

A couple Benefits:
You can aim a bit carelessly when well medicated, and still "hit the mark" with impunity.
You can also use a huge dab, and there is noplace for it to spatter other than within that
cover. The cover is easy to pop off, and simple to clean, as are the walls.
I run a razor blade around the walls, and wipe it with Iso and I am satisfied it looks good.
The temperature can be moderated as no nail can be... and left at that setting, and never needs to be hit with the torch again.

 

[nopartofme]

It also looks more travel friendly than a usual nail setup, and it can be used without water.

The hot parts are less exposed so it's safer, especially for medical patients with limited dexterity.

I presume it'll come with great customer service and a good warranty, and it looks much more svelte like a high end appliance than a nail setup does. Between the two, I'd much rather be caught with one of these on my table.

Is the dome cover made of glass or high-end plastic? If it's the latter, then it's certainly much more travel friendly and durable than a nail & bong setup.

 

[Vitolo]

The dome I used in my images are all glass.
there are covers without that long nipple (see them in video),
that use grommets to attach tubing etc.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

... It is a device that due to the heat of its element and it's structure, can CONVERT a concentrate to vapor instantaneously...

that makes it sound like it is sublimating!

How long does it take to get up to temperature and do you know how much power (watts or amps) it is using? What is the operating temperature?

 

[Vitolo]

Mine is up to heat in 2-3 minutes.
My unit gets above 1000 degrees F (500+ Cent)
It is my belief that there was some discussion about the ceiling being cut to about 800º.
The determination was still being made as to the most beneficial top temperature, for performance and longevity. I am positive one of the VaporBrothers or VaporWarehouse will ascertain this as fact or not.
I found that I did not need to go to the top for marvelous results.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

2-3 minutes -- that's very nice. thanks.

testing to set the top temperature ... tough job, eh?

 

[Vitolo]

I did not have a fancy laser temperature probe. The one I used must be held in place to get a reading.
It takes time for temperatures to register this way.
It can be time consuming, but the incentive is there, when one thinks of the ideal hits of mediction that will prevail for all in the end.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

i don't have any success using a IR/laser thermometer. i think it needs to be calibrated to be accurate. pita compared to a BBQ meat thermometer.

 

[nopartofme]

Just saw that the real competition (digital nails) are similarly priced:

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/d-nail-thread.11283/#post-481399

 

[VaporWarehouse]

Is the dome cover made of glass or high-end plastic? If it's the latter, then it's certainly much more travel friendly and durable than a nail & bong setup.

The base model will come with a ceramic dome that is more durable than it's glass counterpart. That would be the travel friendly piece.

As Vitolo said "the entire thing is high grade". The VB2 is made in the U.S.A., that alone jumps the price. Regardless of where it's produced, the VB2 is made from high quality parts with a lot of time and thought. It is unlike anything on the market.

It has been in the making for at least 4 years now (how many of you were even using a torch and nail 4 years ago?). I've been lucky enough to witness the progress of this vape. As I mentioned elsewhere, this beta unit is the 3rd generation. The first generation was the whip style VB laid on it's side with a hole drilled through the top. Here is a photo of the 2nd generation model we tested at the warehouse.

As you can see the jump in design from the 2nd gen to the 3rd is pretty drastic.

 

[greenmunster]

Liking the finished look of these vb2's over the competition so far.

 

[nopartofme]

The base model will come with a ceramic dome that is more durable than it's glass counterpart. That would be the travel friendly piece.

Nice. I'm always up for more ceramic...

As Vitolo said "the entire thing is high grade". The VB2 is made in the U.S.A., that alone jumps the price. Regardless of where it's produced, the VB2 is made from high quality parts with a lot of time and thought. It is unlike anything on the market.

I apologize, I never intended to suggest that any part of it was 'low grade'. I'm coming from the Cera, which features 'space age' ceramic as a selling point. I was only wondering if the rest of the ceramic aside from the insert was 'geek grade', materials science type stuff, not whether it was made of cheap ceramic! Just a point of curiosity. I don't doubt that this is a well crafted product.

Cheers.

 

[VaporWarehouse]

I apologize, I never intended to suggest that any part of it was 'low grade'.
Cheers.

No problem at all. My reaction to price was more from posts I've been receiving here as well as other social media areas and wasn't directed at you. I just quoted you for the ceramic dome.

 

[vaporbrothers]

WOW WOW WOW there is so much here now, so where do I catch up. Sorry guys, I was gone too long. Got so much to explain. I will do it in little bits and pieces, disjointed perhaps. Here's a big start:

Vito's understanding of the device is awesome. We chose to ask him to be the first outside person to try the wax converter because he seemed to us to be one of the most analytical, critical, and not easy to please people on FC. So if the device got his approval, well, +1 point for the device.

Desktop model, yes. Capable of turning anything into dense steam in an instant. This is basically a superheated ceramic plate surrounded by ceramic and glass. For people who are familiar with our vapor box, we only allow ceramic or glass into the hot zone, and high temp medical grade silicone nearby. This translates to a really great taste- no plastic odors or metal aftertaste in your hit.

Dabbing through tubing/ water. You can use it a few ways. The accessory "direct draw straw" that Vito was using is one way. Dabbing through tubing ain't bad when you're using our tubing. We supply high temperature silicone for the VB2, not the clear plastic we stock with our vapor box. Nobody's noticed a taste yet. Anyway, your comments motivates us to get glass on glass into a waterpipe without tubing. Stay tuned for that... and send me your ideas. @aesthyrian

Price. yes it stings, but if it helps soothe the shock at all: Less that what people typically spend on their high end rigs. Similar to metal e-nails, which give a bubbly more smoky low temperature hit and have no housing. The price is what barely keeps us in business; which is how we've always run our business. This device is not for everybody, or even most people. But if you want the best hit you've ever had, over and over again without delay until as Vito told us he was giggling because his lips were sticking together, this is the device for you.

@Mynameismud I'll make whatever you're talking about but will PM you to get a better idea what you're talking about

The ceramic, unnamed for now to slow down copying. @nopartofme Most our ordinary ceramic parts are a material similar to porcelain but 5 times stronger. It is not high tech but we like it that way because it's simple and strong and we absolutely want to avoid the toxic side effects of any fancy materials that we don't understand. The housing is quite a big chunk and yes that makes up part of the cost, along with the internals that are ceramic as well. We are not against plastic when used in a cool place, but there is no cool place on this box except the bottom. Even though there's a 15 minute auto shutoff, all VB vaporizers are designed to handle the temperature of being on forever, so you're welcome to get around the shutoff by cycling the switch periodically. You might want an oven mitt handy if you do.

@Hippie Dickie it's about 4min heatup imo, hoping to make this much faster in the future. 45W. Settings might change but currently at about 750F and 950F, the higher one similar to a hot and fast nail. Any cooler and your stuff tends to bubble, smoke, and linger for too long. The ceramic plate cleans itself back to pure white at the end of your hit.

No worries @kindbeats and the other guys who think the price is crazy. Alright, back to work. We're suddenly sold out and can't even put this on the website yet. Working to fulfill the first orders this week.

Thanks everybody...

 

[weedemon]

thx for the reply, you guys are a class act

 

[Vitolo]

...But if you want the best hit you've ever had, over and over again without delay until as Vito told us he was giggling because his lips were sticking together, this is the device for you.

He is not exaggerating here, those were my words.
The thick waxy hits came so easily, I was able to get in a short time, just where I wanted to be.
Yes my lips were tacky.. and I was smiling a dumb grin.
A good time indeed!

 

[weedemon]

I can see the benefit from not having to use a torch and hot metal plate (safety)

I can see the benefit of it always being hot and ready to go over repeatedly torching my swing.

I do not like the 15 min auto shut off feature. granted with dabs you only need a couple and are good for a while... shut off features in general annoy me. "I'll tell YOU when I am done using you, mr vape... thank you very much!" [so glad my sub is one without the auto shut off!]

I do like the use of new materials (special ceramics) I can see how this could potentially be cleaner than our Ti metal alternatives. (never used quartz or glass etc before)

that price is still just too big a hurdle for me however.

sounds like a really cool tool though.

 

[mmenzie]

@Vitolo i know you can answer this.... and feel free to PM if you feel this was the wrong place to ask....

how does the VB2 compare to an DBV/SSV with an oil setup???

 

[Vitolo]

It is a sensitive question, but since both products are good, I can comment here.
The VB2 is hotter by a couple hundred degrees.
This does not mean that the DBV w/oil rig is not hot enough, it just means the VB2 can flash faster.
VB2 also has a less critical aim required to "hit the mark". This makes dabbing with less visual acuity easy.
While the DBV has a reclaim collection "assist" on the wand, which is a nice feature, the VB2 does not utilize a wand. This means that reclaim only occurrs in a couple of small spots, and so with VB2 reclaim is not an issue.
There are other obvious comparisons that can be pointed out.
The DBV can be used both ways, and the oil rig is not expensive to add on.
VB2 is a dedicated concentrate conversion device that is not designed to be used with flowers.

The HC from the DBV oil rig is fragile. Replacement cost is not high but inconvenient.
The top cover for the VB2 due to circumfrential design has high structural integrity making it less prone to breakage.

Both of these tools can do dabs nicely.
for wax and concentrate heavy hits, I prefer using the VB2.