Vaporizers
Here's how our vaporizer works:
The redwood/pine support block sits down in the glass square. The plastic tube inserts in the smaller hole in the wood and the glass bowl sits down in the larger one. The heat gun sits in the glass bowl and is held up by the glass bowl. The small clear glass piece is a screen that fits down in the bowl. The plant matter sits on top of the screen, under the heat gun.
On the first hit you will want to fire the heat gun for about 10 seconds. A thin white cloud of vapor will build up in the bottom of the glass. It will not look anywhere near as thick as smoke. Keep in mind smoke is only 10 percent of the active ingredient and 90 percent tar. If you have a cloud of vapor that looks only a fraction as thick as smoke, it still is stronger than smoke because its much purer.
Here's a demonstration of the process (shows how long to fire the heat gun and how thick the vapor in the glass should look.) Remember, vapor is thinner and purer than smoke, and that it takes about 20 minutes after your last use to feel its full effects. I generally find 1 or 2 hits to be sufficient.
What's a vaporizer?
A vaporizer is a device for releasing the natural oils from plants that's similar to smoking, but tastes better, is more effective, and is much better for you.
Vaporizers are better because:
- Vaporizers release virtually no carcinogens/tars. Vaporizers operate at a lower temperature than a pipe, releasing the natural oils without combustion. The plant material gradually gets darker as the oils are released.
- Vaporizers taste much better! Because there is no burning, the mist you inhale tastes considerably better and is much easier on your lungs. The difference is remarkable.
- Vaporizers are more efficient with your plant material. A flame is actually too hot so it actually destroys some of the active ingredient it comes in contact with
Here's some of the more common other vaporizers out there:
Some vaporizers use a little hot plate (soldering iron with a flat end) to heat the plant matter. The plant matter slowly gets hot and vapor fills the fishbowl shaped glass. The disadvantage of this method is it is very slow, taking perhaps 10-15 minutes for the first hit. Also, because the hot plate is only touching one side of the plant material, the sides that are not touching don't vaporize as readily. As the vapor sits in the glass container accumulating for the first hit, it sticks to the side of the glass (this happens to a lesser extent in any smoking or vaporizing device). Since the accumulating vapor sits in the chamber for several minutes, it builds up quickly on the sides, and there is no easy way to clean it off. Using one of these hot plate vaporizers is clean but it's very difficult to get a decent hit and the first hit requires a long wait.
The volcano is a more effective version of the above. A hot plate heats the pot and the vapor fills a little bag that is passed around, but the first hit still takes 10+ minutes and the device costs over $500.
This site offers several different variations on the hot plate theme. They also offer conversion kits (heat gun plus bowl) to make a water pipe into a vaporizer. The heat gun method of vaporizing is much better, because it is much faster (our device takes only 8 seconds for the first hit) and heats the plant matter more evenly because hot air is flowing over it.
Note: We strongly recommend you not use water filtration with *any* smoking or vaporizing device. Water has been proven to absorb *more* of the active ingredient then it does tars! When you smoke through a water pipe you are getting *more* tar per active ingredient! We're sorry to break this to you. |-(~o 0 O
Eternity is a unique vaporizer that includes a chinese kanji for the word Eternity. On each side is a hole with veins so that the vapor flows across the kanji from one hole to the other. The vaporizer is carved with a groove around the top and seals perfectly. A carved base makes it sturdier. This is a piece you will want to keep the rest of your life.
Click here to purchase a variety of legal herbs online. These will all work great with a vaporizer. Note: This product is not intended for use with any illegal substances. We are not affiliated with the above site and we haven't tried all of their products.
<-- Yin-Yang -- $109
This beautiful vaporizer is meticulously hand carved from redwood (the bottom) and pine (the top). The beautifully blown glass bowl includes a glass screen and sits against a cork liner allowing the bowl to be removed instantly at any time. The vapor comes out one hole in the yin-yang symbol and goes in the other. The device is beautifully stained and cured. The wood top is recessed where the glass container sits and is filled with a thick layer of wax so that the top actually forms to the shape of the glass container.
Babylonian god Marduk -- $109 -->
Marduk is beautifully hand carved so that the vapor comes out of his eyes, nose, mouth, and down below. Marduk is sealed around the top with two thin layers of cork that allow the glass to fit snuggly (an older but effective design). Includes the standard quick release bowl (with cork liner) and a glass screen. A truly unique piece.
<-- Unity (Japanese symbol) -- $99
Come together with friends and family around these beautiful hand crafted vaporizer shaped into the japanese symbol for unity. Like the Yin-yang above, the wood has a recessed layer of wax that helps seal against the glass container. Like the others it Includes a quick release bowl (cork liner), hose, and glass screen. The vapor seeps out of the letters and also comes out at the bottom.
Complete vaporizer kit -- $59 -->
If you're on a budget or want to do a custom design yourself, this unfinished kit is ready to use. It includes only a think layer of cork around the bottom of the wood as a sealer, is unstained, and is only lightly sanded. It includes a quick-release bowl (cork bowl liner), hose, and glass screen.
Vaporizer bowls -->
These beautiful blown glass vaporizer bowls allow you to design your own vaporizer or convert an existing piece. Each bowl is tapered for a snug fit with the heat gun. Note that there are a variety of sizes of heat gun. Let us know the outside diameter of the heat gun nozzle and we'll show you the ones that will fit. Clear bowls - $19; Colored ones - $25
Heat guns
Our vaporizer utilizes an external heat gun (sold separately) as its heat source. Heat guns can be purchased for as little as $10.
Before ordering please read some of our useful hints on what to look for. We recommend either a variable temp heat gun such as the one for $35 here. or a dual temp one with a maximum wattage of 1200 watts (so that the low setting is about ~800 watts/400 degrees). You can use the $10 heat guns from harbor freight (above), but you'll occasionally light the plant matter on fire until you are used to it and have quick reflexes.
Q: Since heat guns get very very hot, are they really the best way to vaporize?
A: Yes. The high temperature of the heat gun allows you get an enormous hit in less than 15 seconds. Hot air from the heat gun consumes the plant matter instantly, vaporizing the natural plant oils and creating a fine minty mist.
You can also find a variety of heat guns on ebay. Click here for ebay's current listings for heat guns. Note that many of the cheaper heat guns are the same as the $10 one above. They will work, but run a little hot.
With any new heat gun we recommend running it for 10 minutes before using it with any vaporizer device.
Each vaporizer includes a glass bowl, a glass screen, a wooden support piece, and a hose.
The vaporizers are solidly built and very stable. The bowl will easily hold up even the heaviest heat gun.