Desktop dry herb vaporizer, best value?

futurebanjo

Well-Known Member
S&B vapes are overpriced junk and the portables are disposable which makes them a terrible value and environmentally questionable. If you want a bag or whip desktop vape the Arizers are a way better deal.
Controversial! Most of the proper reviews I read put the volcano hybrid at the top? I also don't want a portable - I don't smoke weed when out and about.

Anyway it's a bit late now, It's been shipped, should arrive tomorrow hopefully...so I'll share my thoughts on it when I can.
I don't have much to compare it to though, in terms of vapes I've only ever used hand held (non disposable) nicotine vapes, so we will see, I guess.

I had a look at the flower pot thing, but to me it seems there's just too much going on there in terms of faffing about, multiple parts, and cleaning etc.
 
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Observe & Report

Well-Known Member
Controversial! Most of the proper reviews I read put the volcano hybrid at the top? I also don't want a portable.
I don't think it is controversial at all. Check FuckCombustion for the opinions of people that compulsively purchase every vape that comes out (VAS- Vape Acquisition Syndrome). If you are having a social gathering then nothing beats a bag vape because you can easily pass them around and they don't spill, etc... But if you are a serious stoner than wants to get high quickly, needs a heavy hitter and wants an experience closer to combustion then a ball vape is the ticket.

S&B have nice industrial design on the outside but inside is junk. I went through three Plentys, which are the guts of a Classic Volcano in a different housing, because the thermostats all failed in exactly the same way after about a year of heavy use. Crafty/Mighty are entirely plastic except for the bowl itself and have crap cartridge heaters inside. If the thermal fuse doesn't fail the battery eventually will and then you have to send it back and wait for them to send you a whole brand new device but if your warranty is expired you have to buy a brand new device (at a discount, but still!!)
 

futurebanjo

Well-Known Member
Like I said, My volcano has already been shipped, it should be with me tomorrow. How would the battery fail, it's mains powered?

But thank you for your opinion.
 

FmSwayze

Well-Known Member
S&B vapes are overpriced junk and the portables are disposable which makes them a terrible value and environmentally questionable. If you want a bag or whip desktop vape the Arizers are a way better deal.

For portable and light desktop use the TinyMight 2 is vastly superior to Crafty/Mighty/Venty: made from machined aluminum, zirconia ceramic, wood, and glass, heats up in 5 seconds, swappable batteries that are replaced for $5, can pull bong rips, etc...

For heavy home use the state of the art is a corundum filled "ball vape" like the FlowerPot mentioned above. These finally provide a vape experience that matches/exceeds a combustion bong hit. They consist of a heater head and usually a matching bowl that fit into standard ground glass joint bongs/rigs. The best one is the Phase3 ZX which is made from zirconia ceramic and has a matching ceramic bowl with a subtly designed shape. Just crushes bowl after bowl of herb in one hit and with the purest flavor because the trichs are entirely convection heated from the outside. Titanium ball vapes and even the Volcano and Plenty have a large amount of heat heat conducted through the metal bowls into the herb.
Thanks for the share! I've never seen these, will be picking one up. Thier desktop looks crazy good!
 

MtRainDog

Well-Known Member
That flower pot looks cool, but bags are super convenient, even for solo sessions. I don't think operating what is basically an e-nail is nearly as convenient as a simple heater/fan/bag. Different strokes.
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
Volcano Classic for dry herbs. I've used the Digital, Classic and Hybrid but still prefers the Classic.

I bought my Volcano Classic 15+ years ago and it's still going strong.

I also have the Tinymight2 and Mightly. Mighty is better as a stand alone unit but it's irritating that you can't replace the battery without de-assembling.
 

FKH

Member
The Pax vapes are good. A bit of learning curve with draw technique and the vapor is harsh YMMV.

For flavor and big clouds, the Arizer Solo III is great. Portable, but not stealthy or discrete. Expensive....

Healthy Rips vapes, the Fury and Rogue are good as well for portables. Stealthy, discrete, and pocketable. Vapor can be a little harsh and terpene extraction is good for the first couple of draws.
The Healthy Rips vapes are built like tanks. I've dropped mine and they still work like new.
 

futurebanjo

Well-Known Member
Volcano arrived and gave it a test run last night.. so far so good, really easy to use and well thought out components.

I'm using a chamber reducer and dosing capules which is good, as i only smoke small joints with tobacco normally, and a capsule holds about the same as I would put in a joint.

It works really well - one thing though is my ballons don't get very thick with vapour... videos I've seen the baloons are thick with solid white 'vapour' where as mine remain pretty see-through.

I'm guessing thats because im using small capules rather than just loading the thing up with a crazy ammount of herb?

Tempertaures I've experimented with so far are 180c (356f) and 190c (374f) any tips on ideal temperature?
 

futurebanjo

Well-Known Member
I packed a capsule a little bit fuller and upped the temp up to 195c (383f) tonight.. which I think maybe a little too hot/closer to combustion?

Well damn... I was totaly wasted for about an hour! still a fairly transparent ballon, but this thing is insane!

It's gonna take some experimenting with how tight to pack the capsule and what temperature to run at for the desired effect... but it's so easy to use and the capsules help not only to prevent accidentaly using too much herb, but less mess in the main part of the device.

10/10 so far!
 

MtRainDog

Well-Known Member
I packed a capsule a little bit fuller and upped the temp up to 195c (383f) tonight.. which I think maybe a little too hot/closer to combustion?

Well damn... I was totaly wasted for about an hour! still a fairly transparent ballon, but this thing is insane!

It's gonna take some experimenting with how tight to pack the capsule and what temperature to run at for the desired effect... but it's so easy to use and the capsules help not only to prevent accidentaly using too much herb, but less mess in the main part of the device.

10/10 so far!
no experience with the hybrid, but on the classic i get pretty thick/white vapor bags on the 1 o’clock setting on the knob. I suspect it’s those smaller chamber things you’re using that are making it so clear (i don’t have those chamber reducers so i have no experience with them)
 

futurebanjo

Well-Known Member
Thanks, yeh I think you're right, the smaller capsules I think is why there's less visible vapour once the baloon is full.

Standard chamber insert on the left which is HUGE! ...

On the right, the chamber reducer insert that the capsule drops into, quit a big size difference!

1.jpg
 

DMChiz

Well-Known Member
I’ll up vote for the Crafty+ also

Not unlike @FmSwayze my Wife also prefers this for her smoke. I’ll oscillate between that and joints, but find every S&B product I’ve used to be pretty stellar.
 
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