VaporGenie

[coolbreeze]

It seems like I damned the J-hook with faint praise, so I'd like to reassure anyone considering it that the J-hook and the top combine into one fantastic, easy to use and enjoyable vape well worth the price. The glass is thick, the pipe is large and cools very well, the bowl is big but works with a screen-covering load, and it stands solidly like no other j-hook. The ground joint is shorter in length (19/20?) than most 18mm joints so whether you can use it with your other gear will depend on the joint length. I assume this is to keep the disc at the preferred distance from the herbs, but I've used it with taller bowls and it works fine a little further away; it's a bummer the short joint makes the j-hook less broadly useable than it could be. Out of the box, though, it really produces cool, voluminous, flavorful vapor with simple technique and I believe it could/should be a piece of basic gear for any vaporist's kit.

 

[Ipe17]

Hi there,
I got yesterday in the mail a classic I bought here in the classifieds. It was love at first sight. I am really enjoying it with a normal lighter. No combustion and getting good vapor from first try.
I bought it just cause the form factor and not thinking it would work this good.
Now I want a bronze and a glass sherlock Although I havent found anywhere in europe with the bronze one....
I am going through the thread and just discovered some people use it with regular hash. I will have to try that tonight.

All in all, I really like this old classic vape!!!

 

[maremaresing]

I'm so glad you like it! Recently my Nova was delayed in the mail, so I dusted off my Handcarved Walnut VG, that I never really gave a chance all these years, and gave it a serious go. I've been highly impressed with it. The clouds it produces are effortless, even though its just a small yellow flame lighter. With decent butane I don't even taste anything bad.

Considering this vape was designed over two decades ago, and doesn't require a torch lighter, my mind is blown by it's performance and ease of use.

My only complaint is the one I have with all wood vapes. How the heck do you clean one?! (I know there is an aluminum base but not a fan of that look or that material). I'd love to have an SS base that matched the shape of my handcarved. Or an SS sherlock.

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

I'm so glad you like it! Recently my Nova was delayed in the mail, so I dusted off my Handcarved Walnut VG, that I never really gave a chance all these years, and gave it a serious go. I've been highly impressed with it. The clouds it produces are effortless, even though its just a small yellow flame lighter. With decent butane I don't even taste anything bad.

Considering this vape was designed over two decades ago, and doesn't require a torch lighter, my mind is blown by it's performance and ease of use.

My only complaint is the one I have with all wood vapes. How the heck do you clean one?! (I know there is an aluminum base but not a fan of that look or that material). I'd love to have an SS base that matched the shape of my handcarved. Or an SS sherlock.

Dont use candle flame torches as butane doesnt burn as purely compared to jet torches which supply extra oxygen to complete the reaction.
They also leave black sooth,so you will dirty up your SIC filter.

 

[maremaresing]

Yeah yeah we all know but in practice with a clean butane and piezo igniter it tastes/feels/looks fine and doesn't leave soot. YMMV but I like the novelty over torch, plus get better hits without risking combustion.

 

[coolbreeze]

and a glass sherlock

One of the finest vapes available. So easy to use, fantastic cooling, huge, flavorful clouds...and the heater works with any 18mm bowl.

 

[GoldenBud]

Dont use candle flame torches as butane doesnt burn as purely compared to jet torches which supply extra oxygen to complete the reaction.
They also leave black sooth,so you will dirty up your SIC filter.

but not all people feel it, i felt it, it's gross, returned immediately to flame torch (but it also depends how good quality your yellowish flame torch is, maybe the most high quality yellowish torch will bring better taste, although it's not a complete combustion, yeah...)

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

doesn't leave soot.

Try it on a glass or metal for while and you will see it.

Why does a lighter leave behind a black soot but a torch doesnt?

Answer (1 of 14): Soot is the result of incomplete combustion. Torches are more efficient and burn fuel more completely than a flame from a lighter.

www.quora.com

" butane and oxygen are not well mixed so some of the butane does not burn completely, leaving behind carbon. This gives the flame its yellow color."

 

[maremaresing]

I definitely felt/tasted it, even from my torches. Part of why I put my VG away pretty much immediately a couple years ago. It wasn't until switching from Newport to Crown in all my lighters recently that everything changed and now it's hunky dory. Again YMMV

 

[coolbreeze]

The Vapor Genie granted my wish...to be high!

 

[simba]

I remember seeing the Vapor genie around when I was first investigating making the switch to vaping and even though I liked how it looked I never picked one up.

Years later and I've become curious again, reading the posts here it might've been a good thing it wasn't my first vape. I think I'll have more success with one now I've got much more experience with vapes in general.

Now the question is whether I go for a cheaper model to see how I like it, or whether I go for the bronze Sherlock straight off

 

[Vapenvy]

Funny you posted this @simba

The VG coil was my very first vape, must be close to a decade ago now.

It's never been out of my line up, but I have recently started using it a lot again especially after pairing it with a J hook It's a true heavy hitter in my line up.

So last night I bought a bronze Sherlock...and an aluminium one... and another SS coil for a mate.

I don't know if that helps on your decision, but I will say that while I love the SS coil, I think the bats are the worste by far and would avoid them.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the others, but if you are eying the bronze Sherlock, there's one less...and I suspect you will end up getting it anyway...

VG's are very under rated IMO

Edited to fix mistakes

 

[maremaresing]

It always blows my mind that the VG is a 22 year old design. Like they were dropping this experience on the world in 2000, when it's impressive to use even today.

The steel bat always intrigued me with it's compact and simple form. The vapor/air has to be scorching hot with that short airpath though! I had the coil for a while and it was great, though never used after I got the dynavap. Now that I'm using my handcarved and NOVA, the dynavaps are gathering dust.

IMO the vg really captures the old "smoking a bowl" feeling from back in the day. Wish they would make a steel sherlock, or at least a steel simple base for my handcarved. Not a fan of aluminum airpaths, and definitely don't like things like bronze that tarnish.

Still, with the lightness and simplicity of the hand carved, I don't have a strong desire to buy other VG.

 

[coolbreeze]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the others...

VG's are very under rated IMO

I'll recommend the Glass Sherlock, so easy, so cool, so tasty, and the heater works with any 18mm bowl. VGs are totally underrated. Unless you are squeamish with butane the glass vapor genie belongs in any kit (and if you are, read up and don't miss out). It is as devastating as any Brick and the results are as spectacular as your ambitions!

 

[simba]

I'll recommend the Glass Sherlock, so easy, so cool, so tasty, and the heater works with any 18mm bowl. VGs are totally underrated. Unless you are squeamish with butane the glass vapor genie belongs in any kit (and if you are, read up and don't miss out). It is as devastating as any Brick and the results are as spectacular as your ambitions!

I am somewhat squeamish about butane in the vapour path, but I do like the idea of being able to use the VG with hemp wick. In fact that's the biggest draw of the VG for me, a vape you could use with any flame not just a torch lighter like DV

 

[coolbreeze]

I am somewhat squeamish about butane in the vapour path, but I do like the idea of being able to use the VG with hemp wick. In fact that's the biggest draw of the VG for me, a vape you could use with any flame not just a torch lighter like DV

I didn't realize hemp wick would work, but it stands to reason. It must draw speed that's the key. That sounds like a good solution! Hope it performs well when you get one.

 

[simba]

I didn't realize hemp wick would work, but it stands to reason. It must draw speed that's the key. That sounds like a good solution! Hope it performs well when you get one.

Thanks!

Just pulled the trigger on a blue classic coloured VG as I didn't want to order from the States and they only had blue, green and red in stock. Although still ended up being hassle, all I can say is I'm never ordering from Zamnisea again! What an absolute nightmare, but they were the only place stocking them kinda closer to home.

 

[Goneja]

Thanks!

Just pulled the trigger on a blue classic coloured VG as I didn't want to order from the States and they only had blue, green and red in stock. Although still ended up being hassle, all I can say is I'm never ordering from Zamnisea again! What an absolute nightmare, but they were the only place stocking them kinda closer to home.

Congrats on your purchase. I own one that I use often in my rotation and it hits nice. There's a bit of a learning curve at the beginning but once you get the "trick" to make it work to your liking it performs consistently.

As others have said it's underrated.

 

[El Rawn Hubbard]

@simba please don't waste your time with hemp wick.

The idea that it's a healthy option compared to a blue flame torch is just bogus.

A blue flame torch basically gives off CO2, water vapor and little else. Candle flames produce far more undesirable compounds than a torch and the flavor also suffers because of this.

 

[simba]

@simba please don't waste your time with hemp wick.

The idea that it's a healthy option compared to a blue flame torch is just bogus.

A blue flame torch basically gives off CO2, water vapor and little else. Candle flames produce far more undesirable compounds than a torch and the flavor also suffers because of this.

Interesting you say that, tbh it's one of the only reasons I'm buying the VG because of the ability to use any type of flame.

If I'm just going to use a torch lighter with it then the only major difference between this and DV is I don't need to hear the click. And sure, that's a reasonable difference but yeah the flexibility of this vape is my main reason for buying it.

 

[maremaresing]

It works sooooo nice with a yellow flame lighter though. Something with piezo ignition and good butane with even a very small flame is the sweet spot for great hits every time. It's very hard to consider anything else, especially when torch lighters don't like being run inverted, risk burning the device, and combust so easily.

What lighter do you like for using torch with the vg?

 

[OF]

If I'm just going to use a torch lighter with it then the only major difference between this and DV is I don't need to hear the click. And sure, that's a reasonable difference but yeah the flexibility of this vape is my main reason for buying it.

I disagree with this idea, there is a substantial difference between the two. VG has a heat exchanger where the DV depends on stored heat for the hit. This means, for instance, you can replace the heat during the hit. This keeps the delivered heated air at at even level rather than the ever declining DV. DV forces us to start the hit hotter to ensure it doesn't poop out too fast, VG you approach from below and therefore don't need this over shooting?

The idea with candle flames being lower temperature is also a bit off. The total energy available from a given amount of gas remains the same in normal conditions. This is the reason your home heater is basically a candle flame, if you got more heat from 'torch flame' the cost of fuel would make that the system we'd demand. The rub is of the two reactions involved (burning the hydrogen giving water vapor and the carbon one producing CO2) the water one happens first meaning if you cool the process, the carbon doesn't convert not the hydrogen. This can cause solid carbon to deposit as 'lamp black' same as collects on the glass in kerosene lamps. No strange/toxic compounds are possible. Gas, containing carbon and hydrogen only, is the only source of chemicals. Remember we vent gas stoves and wall heaters into the room we live in, and have for a very long time.

Nothing to fear, IMO, but if you let candle or other 'yellow flame' sources like hemp wick get too close to the heat exchanger it will 'soot up', eventually blocking flow. There's a procedure for cleaning the exvchanger with a touch and vacuum cleaner.

Of the two, I think VG gets the nod on many fronts. DV is, OTOH, easier to use even if only the single way it's designed to.

Regards to all.

OF

 

[simba]

I disagree with this idea, there is a substantial difference between the two. VG has a heat exchanger where the DV depends on stored heat for the hit. This means, for instance, you can replace the heat during the hit. This keeps the delivered heated air at at even level rather than the ever declining DV. DV forces us to start the hit hotter to ensure it doesn't poop out too fast, VG you approach from below and therefore don't need this over shooting?

I said 'no major difference' but maybe I should've said no major difference in general usage. The differences you state are all valid and whilst I appreciate all of that, I also don't care 99% of the time. All I need is the most efficient and convenient way to vape my herb given the situation I'm in.

I've bought a VG because it's filling a gap for me in the vapes I own currently.

 

[El Rawn Hubbard]

Interesting you say that, tbh it's one of the only reasons I'm buying the VG because of the ability to use any type of flame.

If I'm just going to use a torch lighter with it then the only major difference between this and DV is I don't need to hear the click. And sure, that's a reasonable difference but yeah the flexibility of this vape is my main reason for buying it.

As OF said it's an entirely different experience to a DynaVap. A Sticky Brick is a much closer experience to a VaporGenie IMO. You inhale as you torch rather than heat-up and then inhale. It not only works well for small hits/loads but with some practice it can easily put desktops to shame.

It works sooooo nice with a yellow flame lighter though. Something with piezo ignition and good butane with even a very small flame is the sweet spot for great hits every time. It's very hard to consider anything else, especially when torch lighters don't like being run inverted, risk burning the device, and combust so easily.

What lighter do you like for using torch with the vg?

I can't say I agree. I struggle to think of a single upside with a candle flame compared to a torch

I don't find inverted torches much of an issue. I did have something early on that had problems but other than that everything I have seems to run well when it's purged and filled properly.

IMO combustion and burning the device is just as likely with a candle flame because you have to hold it so close to the inlet to get passable results. Not to mention that holding the flame this close gives worse flavor. A candle flame is basically useless outdoors too because the slightest gust of wind and you're inhaling butane and sooting up the cap.

I think I started with a few cheap Zico torches from ebay but would probably just recommend a run of the mill Honest or something like that to start with. I don't think you need to be picky with the torch but I'd say the smaller the better. The big flames just end up being harder to aim because you have to hold them so far away from the inlet and you burn through more gas etc.

 

[simba]

As OF said it's an entirely different experience to a DynaVap. A Sticky Brick is a much closer experience to a VaporGenie IMO. You inhale as you torch rather than heat-up and then inhale. It not only works well for small hits/loads but with some practice it can easily put desktops to shame.

If you're being as simple as these are two vapes that are powered by butane torches then they are not entirely different. All the stuff about process, whether the torch is first or during etc... isn't important in the way I look at vapes in general. I'm not dismissing any of that, but to be clear I'm looking at this with the broadest of strokes. I'm considering the VG as it potentially fills a hole in my vape needs, not because it offers a distinct butane-powered experience.

My order has shipped thankfully after all the hassle of purchasing from Zamnesia so I'm looking forward to trying it out. I have a number of lighters I can try it with alongside hemp wick and see how it goes. If I get on with it then it'll mostly likely get used in situations where it's too noisy to use a DV.