Discontinued VRIPtech Heating Wand

[ShadowVape]

Yeah bro...stoked to finally progress the glass on glass vapor wand. It was a matter of finding an off the shelf spherical joint tooled to the size and tolerances that would work without needing to re-tool the whole VHW process. We attempted to tool our own semi-spherical joint specific for the application and just couldn't do it consistently and cost effectively enough with our shop's capabilities. We still have some challenges with some new jigging required to hold pieces just right for sealing so we're not out of the woods, but a huge step closer.

Good news on the Thermo-Vape glass mouthpiece and 14.4mm GonG adaptors I picked up end of last week --- we have got them tooled up with just the right size hole to prevent all but the smallest of pieces of herb from slipping through so as long as you don't over-grind it and pull harder than works correctly for good vapor consistency on the TV anyway it's full convective vapor with all glass vapor path CORDLESS in the palm of your hand! Will post some pics as soon as Thermo-Vape's team signs off on the specs and we'll be ready for production and begin selling them ASAP! Stay posted.

 

[Slightly Medicated]

Question. I kind of like the Silicone around the end of the wand. Mostly because I feel like it is easier to maintain and less to break. Do you know how much if any cleaning will be required for the GonG connection between the wand and the top of the bowl? I imagine not much because the vapor production is below that and being drawn down. I assume the new bowl chamber will be GonG as well. Do you plan on making the new VCBUIS backwards compatible with the old 3.0 wand? I know some people would be interested in using the new GonG bowl with their old wand. Lastly do you expect the GonG connection between the wand and the bowl to be hands free? I always worry about the stability of the head gun so I end up holding it. A GonG connection could be more stable and allow for hand free operation if it does not stress the glass joints to much. I am looking forward to hearing more about it all.

 

[ShadowVape]

Good questions Slightly Medicated...we actually will not be making the bowl to upper intake connection GonG at this point because in my practiced opinion you need the thermal break provided by the o-ring if you want to be able to take more than a couple pulls at a time without having to wait five minutes between packing bowls since a GonG connection here will cause the whole chamber bowl to heat up well beyond what is comfortable to handle while using the o-ring always gives you a reasonably cool spot to grab onto and disassemble / re-assemble. We've tried this and it just doesn't make functional sense unless you're good with a couple of good pulls and then a cool off before packing more --- looks cool but just doesn't work as good as the current design, and it costs quite a bit more too. That said, we're asked for this constantly and it was actually the original VCB design dating back to the late '90s so maybe one day we'll revisit with qualifications in place for anyone that wants to purchase.

The new VHW to the new VCBUIS connection only will be GonG and it won't be a taper joint type of GonG connection, but rather a spherical joint (think top of femer to hip joint) which allows you to seal it perfectly, but still be able to "finesse" the heat like you can with the current model by cracking the seal if it starts to get too thick mid Vrip. You can't do this with a standard taper joint type of GonG connection (as users of a few other non-wand style units that use this type of connection and will occasionally hot spot --- I'm not saying any names because I respect the effort and challenge to go all glass) as we have learned by prototyping and trying it out --- again it looks super clean and feels nice sealing it together, but it just doesn't make functional sense in practice. The ability to "finesse" the heat with a simple change of angle of the wand into the intake is absolutely key to quality of vapor attainable with some practice and also keeping the ritual in there that most of us anyway know and love. Which is the same reason it won't be hands free --- hands free is the Cloud's area of speciality if you're into it! And the current 3.0 heater will be adaptable by simply changing the glass cover and intake --- modular is our middle name!

 

[danoobs]

So my own clumsiness led to me breaking the glass cover on my wand. Not a huge deal, it is a lesson to myself on being more careful. I picked up a glass cover from BC in Austin and I had a quick question. This cover seems to be maybe a quarter inch shorter. The coil in the glass is a clear glass, rather than the opaque one that my heat wand came with. This creates a slight angle in my screw of the glass cover.

Also, the replacement came with a spring and rubber stopper, but I'm not exactly sure where these fit on the cover. My original glass cover simply fitted on the heating element.

Also, I was talking with some of the guys at BC about the wand. They said they liked to take off the silicon tip. I was curious about using that technique (advantages, disadvantages) and wondering what FC thought.


Thanks.

 

[ShadowVape]

Danoobs it sounds like you got a 2.0 cover which will kind of sorta work on the 3.0 heater even get hotter than with the 3.0 proper cover, BUT it will fail sooner due to it not being correctly fitted to the 3.0 which has a different ground plate (the reason it's crooked) and the element heats up on the tip instead of the middle. Hit BC up and explain the situation if they won't take it back we'll swap you out direct so you're taken care of, but I'm hunching they will be cool. They probably didn't even realize they where giving you the 2.0 cover when you needed the 3.0 cover and they should have both --- if they only have the 2.0 replacement cover but have a 3.0 complete maybe they can swap you out and then buy the replacement from us to put the parted out unit back together.

You can definitely use the wand without the silicon tip provided you can get a good seal which will take a little finnagling if possible depending upon the intake (each piece a little different---tooled for use with seal not without) or more likely they are using the wand with a one piece bowl that just happens to fit up to the wand. The wand is intended to be used with the intake and the seal and works best this way from my experience.

 

[Slightly Medicated]

I have been working on the video review of the VHW for the blog. I did some filming this evening. I thought I would make a short video demo of the VHW from some of the footage I shot. I found out there is an interesting dilemma when shooting. I want to make sure to get a good shot. This means I have to do multiple takes. I got this shot after the 3rd bowl... it means I can't film a ton of demonstrations at once.

 

[ShadowVape]

Ahh the dilemma of Vrip documentaries! I feel your pain bro...perform all my own stunts here and my camera guy (I have professional assistance LOL!) always enjoys challenging me to more takes!

Nice job bro I really like the "don't break seal" graphic positioned right at the wand to intake seal --- this resolves the most common mistake new users make...well besides failing to read the directions in the first place because they are already too cool for vapor school...

 

[Slightly Medicated]

#^&$ I broke the vaporizer. A bunch of things happened at once which lead to it falling on the ground. The glass inside that is around the ceramic heating core broke off at the base. I think my poor puppy just got an ear full of curse words from me. He was partly to blame. What do I have to do in order to get it up and working again ASAP... I like it so much, I miss it already?

I hate when a series of events leads to something bad.

 

[Nebu]

What do I have to do in order to get it up and working again ASAP... I like it so much, I miss it already?

If your part of the PNW is near Portland, & you could meet-up, send me a message. I've got quite a few VHWands and some replacement glass in stock.

 

[Slightly Medicated]

I am actually in Seattle area. I should probably clarify that in my profile. Thank you for your offer. Believe I am tempted to drive down. I have seen your site before. I must say I love your design. Very well done. I also like the concept of a mobile vapor lounge. I have thought about getting my medical card in Oregon, and California so I could travel freely along the west coast for photography gigs. Right now I just have a card in Washington.

So what happened: A slug (the slimy creature) got stuck on the bottom of my shoe. When I was taking my shoes at my desk it got stuck to my hand. This caused me to make a very man like shriek. LOL That in turn caused my puppy to get interested in what I was doing. He decided it would be the perfect time to drop his ball right near my feet to signal he that he wanted to play. I stepped on the ball and it knocked me off balance. I recovered by taking a step forward so I would not fall. The cord happened to be in the way. I ended up pulling the cord with my foot and the wand fell off the table on to the ground. All of this happened so fast. Like I said I hate when a series of events leads to something like that.

I am thinking I might end up picking up a second wand. Just encase something like this happens again. I really really like the ritualistic nature of the device. I did not realized how much I loved this device till it broke. I have not had that depressing of a reaction to a piece breaking for years. The last time I used to get that disappointed is when a custom made heady piece would break. I realized how important it is to my daily ritual already. I am really pondering ordering a second wand off EZVapes with express one day shipping. It would be here Friday if they sent it tomorrow. I have other vaporizers but the VHW is the one that gets me to the level I need for pain relief in one or two .25 gram bowls.

Since I have obsessive compulsive disorder I am particularly concerned about replacing it soon so I don't interrupt my ritual too much. I know it sounds weird... Thankfully I have some concentrates for pain relief if I really need it till I get a replacement. My other vaporizers work well it is just that the sessions take longer so I end up spending allot of time sitting around medicating.

 

[Nebu]

YW & no worries! Actually I was just in Seattle yesterday, lol! Sorry to hear of the breakage (always sux, no matter how it happens).

Thanks for the kind words regarding the website! If you are ever in the area (or vice versa) there's no card required for glass/tools. I've been doing the photography for vriptech for so long (+ being an auth'd dealer) and have amassed quite an assorted collection... new stuff, older versions, discontinued, some blems even (good to have for folks on budget). If there's a photo of it, I've got it, lol!

 

[Slightly Medicated]

Oh too bad the timing did not work out. I will be swinging through in July I believe. Maybe I will stop and say hello. Are you a photographer by trade or just hobby? What type of equipment are you shooting with? You know camera, lights, all that good stuff. I am a photographer for my main job so I love to talk about that kind of stuff. Any tips or tricks you have learned photographing the Vripttech Products.

 

[ShadowVape]

Sorry to hear about the breakage Slightly Medicated! The VaporCafe is a great resource for Vrip Family in the Pacific NW especially for OMMP patients! And Nebu is an expert in photographing glass (a whole other artform from regular photography) and also shiny flowers LOL!

 

[Slightly Medicated]

Thanks Shadowvape. I should have another one here tomorrow. I can get to work on the replacement glass parts for the broken one soon.

 

[Slightly Medicated]

I got my new wand today. I am back up and running like before. I went out and got a microphone stand and rubber mic holder that I put next to my desk. It works really well. This should help keep the VHW secure when not in use. Thanks goes to charliedontsurf for the suggestion!

 

[VapeHead.com]

You can definitely use the wand without the silicon tip provided you can get a good seal which will take a little finnagling if possible depending upon the intake (each piece a little different---tooled for use with seal not without) or more likely they are using the wand with a one piece bowl that just happens to fit up to the wand. The wand is intended to be used with the intake and the seal and works best this way from my experience.

Hey another tip - if you want a hotter VHW experience put your silicon a little way up the wand, and not right on the tip. Do it cold and use your upper intake to position it right, you can go a little higher or to the highest position that your intake allows, and then fire up the VHW with the dial to max and voila. Definitely starts to enter the combustion zone, but gives a much more rapid decarboxylation and gets CBD entering your bloodstream sooner than lower temps achieve if that's your thing (chronic pain is my curse).

 

[Slightly Medicated]

Thanks for the tip. I moved it down by about 2mm. At this point, I am really pleased with the microphone stand. I can leave the wand running in between sessions. I just turn it down a little. Then when I want to medicate I will take the VHW out of the mic holder and put it in the glass stand. This lets it heat up just a little more. Then I can get the experience I am used to.

I happened to switch to a new batch of the same strain at the same time I got the new wand. The clouds have not been as thick as the last wand. I believe it is because the strain is a little more damp then the previous version. To compensate for that I do two 20 second primer pulls. Then the 3rd pull is my actual hit. This allows things to heat up and dry out a little more. Then I tend to get a good actual draw on the 3rd draw.

I also picked up a CVault Storage which have humidity packs which help regulate the humidity in the container. It stays at %62 relative humidity. Which might be a little too damp for my preferences. When I vaporize I like the material less hydrated. To solve this I have been keeping the long storage material in the CVault. Then I take out about 1/8th oz and place it in a cobalt glass jar. That will dry out some so that it vaporizes better.

Both of those things kind of changed the way stuff vaporizes. The fact that it all happened at once just means I have to spend some time tweaking the system.

Again thanks for the tip. I think it helps with the more hydrated plant material.

 

[Benny Lava]

Right on Slightly Medicated glad you're dialing into the Vrip! You're absolutely all good leaving it stored in the stand ...

I couldn't get a stand. This ok?

this is how I store it

this is how I heat it up.

Any reason why I shouldn't?

 

[Slightly Medicated]

I leave mine pointing down in to the stand when it is heating. It makes it heat up faster and get a little hotter. I would not want to have it heating up with the glass element pointing up because I would be afraid I might accidentally grab the hot glass. Just make sure you don't leave it turned on and pointing in to the glass for more then 1 hour. Any longer then that it can get hot enough to damage the silicone around the end of the glass element.

Also if you meant to post three pictures the third did not show up. That might have been the picture of how you heat it up... if that is the case then what I said above might be confusing...

 

[thevapedcrusader]

guten tag Benny, my only concern would be strain on the power cable at the base of the wand when stored on that upright position, it looks to me that repeatedly bending the cord at that angle could cause breakage in the wires. Vape on brother

 

[Benny Lava]

Thanks to both of you. No idea where the third pic came from, wasn't supposed to be there.
I heard once that you shouldn't heat it up pointing down respectively while in the stand, but that was probably because of this 1 hour rule. And vapecrusaders suggestion makes sense to me, so I guess I'll change my heating up habbits in the future.

This really is one heck of a helpful forum

 

[Slightly Medicated]

I am wondering if my first wand ran a little hotter then this one. The color of the ABV with this new wand is not as dark as the last wand. It could be several different factors. I will have to keep testing to see how things turn out. I am going to order a replacement glass cover for my broken wand. Then I can compare the two with the same strain in the same conditions.

 

[Slightly Medicated]

I did some testing. I believe that it is just the moisture left over in the plant material. It is causing the ABV to not be as dark as the dryer material. Throughout the day as I let the material dry the hits get thicker and the ABV is getting darker with less hits.

 

[ShadowVape]

Just getting back in pocket off the mountain and catching up --- sweet mic stand SM! Strain relief on the cord is the name of the game to keep the VHW from unexpected gymnastics. Can't remember if it is an FC user or not, but one customer described an overhead pulley they rigged up! I usually just wrap the cord around one of the drafting table slide wires on the drafting table I'm usually working on at home (prefer to stand and work) and have had it fall and just swing clear of the support by about an inch and a half for me to make a quick grab and get back to the next round!!! And we have a table in the geo dome on the mountain that has a hole in the middle for a sunshade we don't use in the dome so run the VHW cord up through the middle of the table and then into its stand. Strain relief!

You'll definitely notice a difference in how long it takes to get going and how condensed you can get the vapor based upon the moisture factor and obviously the oil content --- across which there is really more variance than most people think on first glance or from experience smoking or with higher temp vaporizers. One thing you can do that helps with moister herb is to let a charge build up longer before pulling at all, i.e. seal the wand tip and let it go 30, 40, 50 seconds even a minute before starting the primer pulls. You can watch for vapor to start coming off of the bowl and collect in the intake and should start pulling if you see it start to collect so that it doesn't get too hot. This will sometimes help you get a bit more condensed inhalation even though it was a higher moisture content herb that took longer to get flowing.

 

[Slightly Medicated]

Things have been going well with the wand. I enjoy the microphone setup immensely. Tomorrow my replacement glass should arrive for the broken wand. Then I will have both up and running again. I will save one of them for when I need a backup wand.

I find I can put the wand in the glass stand in order to "boost" the heat some.

I sort of naturally came across the extra time in the oven method. I was sitting and watching TV. I let it cook for like 1 min before I started the primer pull. I got much thicker vapor. So I have been altering my oven time depending on how dry or moist the material is.