This question is for those using the s&b volcano reducer. about how many bags can you fill with one dosing capsule, and what temperature are running using caps?
Hi, I know this was asked in the Hybrid thread but I said I'd try answer here as I have a Digit.
When I got the reducer first I was not too sold because I felt it soaked up some heat and needed higher temperatures.
I could do whatever small load in the big bowl anyway at lower temps and it might save some electricity!?
But lately I came up with good a use where I have capsules packed for my Mighty about 1/3 full with a little pad on top,
and I put those in the reducer at 210c/410f (about 7 and 3/4 on a Classic), or sometimes full temp.
That works nice and run bags through a water piece.
It doesn't really seem to help
that much to leave the bowl on top to heat soak, and your plastic surround will probably weaken from it.
The Hybrid was designed to allow much more heat into the reducer via contact, and anyway the Classic and Digit bowl/reducer heats up quite a lot in the 40 seconds of a bag fill.
No harm to heat the heavier reducer with 15 seconds of air first though, or leave it sit on top.
I find it helps to have a
focused LED type lamp behind the unit so you know when it's done preheating what's inside and it's just starting to pump out vapor, before you put the balloon on.
I will try to see how many bags I get at 192C or just over setting 6 from a full capsule.
0.16 in capsule = two decent bags and one light one at 192C, and another light bag from crushing the load, pad on top and boost to 210C.
So a good technique might be to boost to 210C and/or crush the load for the third bag, and maybe leave it at that.
If you get the reducer, it's a good idea to put a dimple in your upper screen to push the capsule into it's place, as it seems to float otherwise.
This is also why you hear the old reducer was messy without capsules.
Again the Hybrid reducer is redesigned to raise the capsule/load higher to make better contact with the upper screen.
I recommend buying a second plastic housing, because eventually it is annoying to change out the bowls even if you seldom do it. It makes me annoyed anyway!