Quick vid of Sid and/or Nancy
Discontinued Zion vaporizer
- Thread starter lwien
- Start date
This sounds like a challenge to me.
My reasoning is that the long EQ whip will supply a lot more cooling than the short Zion stem. I no longer have an Extreme so I can't put this to the test myself.
@RastaBuddhaTao: where did you get your nails done?
HD Springer
Well-Known Member
Ah, gotcha. I was thinking that you were referring to controlling the unbridled heat. I almost always use water these days, so cooling is not a problem that I concern myself with too much.
Since I got the Arizer elbow screens, I've been experimenting with different grinds. I tried a whole bud, this one in fact:
I wasn't happy with the results until I crumbled it. It did produce some vapour but I think that the wide open straight air path just doesn't allow for good penetration into the solid bud. Once I crumbled it it started to produce nicely. I get good results from fine grinds, but it's still not clear that they are better than a medium grind. I haven't established that the elbow screens are better than the Zion screens either, although I do know that they work really well. Testing this sort of thing is slow going and hard work, but I'm happy to do it for you. Does anyone have something specific for me to try? I thought there'd be more questions by now.
I wasn't happy with the results until I crumbled it. It did produce some vapour but I think that the wide open straight air path just doesn't allow for good penetration into the solid bud. Once I crumbled it it started to produce nicely. I get good results from fine grinds, but it's still not clear that they are better than a medium grind. I haven't established that the elbow screens are better than the Zion screens either, although I do know that they work really well. Testing this sort of thing is slow going and hard work, but I'm happy to do it for you. Does anyone have something specific for me to try? I thought there'd be more questions by now.
MikeInMiami
Well-Known Member
@pakalolo I have a request if you don't mind. It's been said the the Zion can combust the load if pushed all the way to its max power. What I'm wondering is, if you had a bit of concentrate wrapped in cotton, could you use that higher temp range to get some sort of convection dab going. I've seen it done on an E-nano and was wondering if the same could be done with the Zion. I understand that's not the primary function of the Zion, but IF it could do it, I think it would be a huge bonus.
cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
After your great review/description most of the questions I have at this point are subjective about feel and taste, so I really need a Zion in my hand to experience it.
I don't know what charger RBT is going to include and whether I should go looking for a different one or not. I suspect I am gonna want another set of batteries. I imagine I may want something from @VaPeD&CoNfUsEd to connect my water pieces. But those are all extras and won't be necessary at the time of my intro to my Zion, whoever she may be.
What has surprised you about the Zion? What is better or worse than you expected.
HD Springer
Well-Known Member
Ya I'm already sold on the Zion. Now it's more of a waiting game.
Just for you, I took a dab of BHO, put it in some cotton, and hit it. This does work, although the vapour isn't that thick. I did not like the taste at all. I've used this oil in other devices so I know what it should taste like, and there was an added bitter taste that I can only assume comes from the cotton. I've used cotton before but not at high temperatures. I don't know how hot it gets at full power in the Zion, but it will start combustion. The cotton was black but not burnt, not as far as I can tell anyway. Anyway, it can do it, and the taste might be fine for someone else.
For sure the stems turned out to be worse than I expected. First they arrived without screens. That's not a flaw of the Zion, of course, but it made me try to make my own screen and that was pretty frustrating. It turns out that my attempts mostly simply were too shallow so the sides didn't create enough grip to hold them in place. Even when I got the Zion screens, which are fairly deep, I found that they don't sit well in certain pieces of glass. Glass being what it is, there's a chance that your piece will be one of the ones that gives trouble. My solution to this was the Arizer elbow screen, which happens to hold almost exactly my preferred load. if you ant large loads, go to the VapeXhale ELB.
I don't mean to give the impression that I hate the stems. I do think others will have difficulties at times, but those problems are easily solved, and the stems give you an all-glass unrestricted draw. It's just that you asked what was worse than expected, and my stem experience was.
I wouldn't say I found this to be a surprise, but the best aspect of the Zion for me is how flexible it is. I can get anything I want from it just by adjusting the knob and choosing a draw pattern. I can set it and hand it to a complete novice, who can get good vapour just by holding the button, counting 10, and drawing, hard or soft. I think people will love trying various power settings and discovering new flavours and effects from their stash.
MikeInMiami
Well-Known Member
Although I do apologize for leaving out the screens it did breed great feedback! The screen is just a soft tooled prototype and I agree it's not a great solution at all. What if we used a heavy screen and insert it permanently at the average max depth of .3g... So 1/3 is .1 and 2/3 is .2? KISS Only ugly I see is that you will have to add ceramic spacers or "sub screens" if you wanted to elevate your .1g close to the screen. The Zion really is a mega session machine. Not really the small load ride as that is the next product the single battery stealth unit 
So what are folks thoughts.
I do have Prism Glass (Shameless plug) in the wings as well once we have units flowing. Last trip there he had this mini bubbler he said he would tool for the Zion if my memory serves... @thekarmawhore?
So what are folks thoughts. I do have Prism Glass (Shameless plug) in the wings as well once we have units flowing. Last trip there he had this mini bubbler he said he would tool for the Zion if my memory serves... @thekarmawhore?
Shit Snacks
Milaana. Lana. LANA. LANAAAA! (TM2/TP80/BAK/FW9)
Although I do apologize for leaving out the screens it did breed great feedback! The screen is just a soft tooled prototype and I agree it's not a great solution at all. What if we used a heavy screen and insert it permanently at the average max depth of .3g... So 1/3 is .1 and 2/3 is .2? KISS Only ugly I see is that you will have to add ceramic spacers or "sub screens" if you wanted to elevate your .1g close to the screen. The Zion really is a mega session machine. Not really the small load ride as that is the next product the single battery stealth unit
I do have Prism Glass (Shameless plug) in the wings as well once we have units flowing. Last trip there he had this mini bubbler he said he would tool for the Zion if my memory serves... @thekarmawhore?
If you can have the temp dial set so that .3 lasts a good many hits, that's plenty fine with me... Always ways to modify with basket screens for smaller loads if necessary
KeroZen
Chronic vapaholic
I don't know, my loads are between 0.06g and 0.12g on average, but I use mostly conduction vapes, so I prefer to do multiple little loads to get a fresh taste all the time, otherwise if I pack them full I find the taste is a bit stale when I come back...well not that bad, but it lacks that lovely freshness you got just after a grind you know?
So I don't know, maybe it will be different with the Zion... maybe I'll be able to load more and force myself to stop the session when I think I got enough... unfortunately, I tend to do other things in the same time, so I don't pay always attention... and I tend to stop, well, when it's done and empty!
I have no idea how much other users take per bowl and if 0.3g is really "average". From reading this forum I had the impression my own figures were not that far from the average, excepted feather weight users likes @lwien...
So I don't know, maybe it will be different with the Zion... maybe I'll be able to load more and force myself to stop the session when I think I got enough... unfortunately, I tend to do other things in the same time, so I don't pay always attention... and I tend to stop, well, when it's done and empty!
I have no idea how much other users take per bowl and if 0.3g is really "average". From reading this forum I had the impression my own figures were not that far from the average, excepted feather weight users likes @lwien...
lwien
Well-Known Member
TheDudeNextDoor
Abiding
If the screen is permanently built in, then I think a honeycomb glass screen would be ideal. As is, seems the ELB is the best bet.
MikeInMiami
Well-Known Member
I second this
HD Springer
Well-Known Member
I like the set screen or even a bullet type easy pre load type set up.
cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
I don't mind a bigger bowl as long as I can put it down. I do agree that you lose some flavor that way, but the convenience of not having to reload is nice. I have no experience with stems so that stuff is all foreign to me. The less I have to mess with the load the better.
A permanent screen sounds like
I think a detent or key in the glass to hold a basket screen if that is doable would be better.
A permanent screen sounds like
I think a detent or key in the glass to hold a basket screen if that is doable would be better.
poonman
Well-Known Member
No to permanent fixed screen .
All vapes/parts needs to be regularly maintained and cleaned ,
for a more pure hit . What if the screen breaks , do we have to
get a whole new stem ?
Everyone's tolerance levels are different , so I would choose the
adjustable screen . Or sell different sized bowls/stems if screen is
perm. fixed in .
I think it may be more cost effective to find the proper screen than have
a glass blower make the proper glass stem with honeycomb
screen built in .
here's a quick example ,
I use Vapir NO2 top-hat screens for my stems .
As you can see , they can stay in place .
All vapes/parts needs to be regularly maintained and cleaned ,
for a more pure hit . What if the screen breaks , do we have to
get a whole new stem ?
Everyone's tolerance levels are different , so I would choose the
adjustable screen . Or sell different sized bowls/stems if screen is
perm. fixed in .
I think it may be more cost effective to find the proper screen than have
a glass blower make the proper glass stem with honeycomb
screen built in .
here's a quick example ,
I use Vapir NO2 top-hat screens for my stems .
As you can see , they can stay in place .
Although I do apologize for leaving out the screens it did breed great feedback! The screen is just a soft tooled prototype and I agree it's not a great solution at all. What if we used a heavy screen and insert it permanently at the average max depth of .3g... So 1/3 is .1 and 2/3 is .2? KISS Only ugly I see is that you will have to add ceramic spacers or "sub screens" if you wanted to elevate your .1g close to the screen. The Zion really is a mega session machine. Not really the small load ride as that is the next product the single battery stealth unit
I do have Prism Glass (Shameless plug) in the wings as well once we have units flowing. Last trip there he had this mini bubbler he said he would tool for the Zion if my memory serves... @thekarmawhore?
No apologies necessary. I don't like the idea of a fixed screen since it isn't as flexible. As I said, I think flexibility is a major asset of the Zion. I'd recommend that the Zion ship with two pre-formed screens per stem, just like the ones I have. That's KISS and it lets people get elbow screens or ELBs if they feel the need. Many won't, I predict.
I look forward to a glass piece tailored for the Zion, although it is perfectly glass-friendly as it is.
Shit Snacks
Milaana. Lana. LANA. LANAAAA! (TM2/TP80/BAK/FW9)
Yeah flexability is always key, that being said, I personally hate mesh screens in general and would always prefer a built in glass honeycomb to extra steel mesh... I know most times its not really an option like with underdog, lily, and most convection vapes, and with a clean proper mesh screen performance st often at its best, but I happen to hate having to use them.
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cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
This may show my ignorance of stem use, but I wonder if the operative word here is "HAVE". With this method, MUST the load be moved closer to the heater to adequately exhaust the goods? Would there not be enough heat to accomplish this task effectively a few more mm away?
Edit: vernacular
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Mister G
Deceptively Old Fart
I'm not a big fan of "enclosed" systems like ELBs or fill the stem methods. I think I'm in the minority however as the solo is one of the most popular vaporizers on this forum. I prefer the load into a bowl and then dump out when done systems like my Infinity and the mighty/crafty (and many others) - I guess I just find them more convenient and less fumbly. I am interested in Zion for it's near instant convection heat on demand with a lot of available power. If it rivals the S&B portables in this respect I think it will be a real winner regardless of loading method.