FAQs

All herbs and plant matter contain oils, flavors and other desired compounds. Examples include nicotine in tobacco and terpenes in many other herbs (such as mint). Tobaccos often have flavor compounds added. Vaporization is the process of heating these compounds to convert them to vapor so they can be inhaled. It's the same thing as boiling. Typically, these desirable compounds boil at about 225-375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In conventional combustion smoking, the tobacco is burned and the heat from burning vaporizes the flavor compounds. But burning also creates toxic tar and carcinogens. The byproducts of burning are the most dangerous chemicals found in smoke. Fortunately, these byproducts are only created at temperatures above about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if tobacco is heated to about 225-375 F, but no hotter, the desirable compounds are released, and the dangerous byproducts of burning are never created. That's vaporization.Vaporization is healthier, tastier and more pleasant than conventional smoking.

The wood of the VaporGenie pipe is finely sanded smooth and is sealed with natural a food grade varnish that reveals beautiful wood grain patterns. There are no glues, adhesives other toxic chemicals used in the VaporGenie pipe. Almost all components of the VaporGenie pipe are proudly made in the USA (about 75% on a dollar cost basis).

The ceramic filter in the VaporGenie pipe is made of high-purity silicon carbide, one of the most inert and heat-resistant ceramics known. Silicon carbide is made of only silicon and carbon, in a diamond crystal structure. Silicon carbide does not contain metals and so will not contaminate your vapor or create metallic flavors. The ceramic filter does not burn, fracture, or deteriorate. It will never need replacement.

All the metal parts in the VaporGenie pipe are either stainless steel or chrome plated for inertness. The VaporGenie pipe comes with a stainless steel screen and stainless steel bowl.

The length (from mouthpiece to the center of the bowl) of the Maple VG is 4.5 inches, and the length of the Handcarved pipes is 5.7 inches.

We have never made a "Briarwood" VaporGenie. Many people refer to the now discontinued Exotic VaporGenie as "Briarwood". The Exotic VG was made from a few species of Tropical Hardwoods and not from Briar. The Exotic VG has been discontinued for a variety of reasons.

There is no VaporGenie 2.0. This was a moniker we used for about 3 months back in 2004 when we made some design improvements. These improvements have been incorporated into all the VG models we now sell. Whoever it is that has stuff on the Internet about the "VaporGenie 2.0" needs to update their website. Seriously.

That metal wire is there to hold up the screen. Holding up the screen encourages uniform airflow over the entire surface of the screen, and this helps create uniform heating and vaporization. The wire can be removed and replaced with pliers.

Buy a #4 size wood screw (usually the smallest size at your hardware store) and screw it into the black plastic piece. Only go in about 2 turns. Then pull the screw out with pliers. The black plastic piece will come out with the screw.Email us if you have trouble with this, or if you cannot find a suitable screw. We can send one to you.

You pull it out, or unscrew/twist it. Use tweezers or a needle or something. We have no specific instructions on how to do this. Use your common sense. Its easy.

Yes, for FREE - click here for free replacement screens.

Yes, but only for prior VG customers that need a replacement. It may be that you need only to remove soot deposits from the filter. Before contacting us about a new top, please read the "What's The Deal With Soot?" page. If you still want to order replacement tops Click Here. Tops cost $25 each.

The VaporGenie is sold with a lifetime manufacturers warranty covering product defects and unreasonable failures. If your VG comes apart, cracks or otherwise fails with normal use, we will replace it. All we ask is that you send us a picture of the failure (by email). You do not need to return the broken VG. We do not provide free replacements for soot-clogged filters.

We provide full refunds for returned, unused VaporGenies (refund includes outbound shipping). Sorry, but we DO NOT provide refunds for used VGs.

We accept returns on all other products sold on our website.

We ship by with delivery confirmation. You do not sign for delivery confirmation. Glass VGs however, are shipped with signature confirmation. We will send a shipping confirmation by email when your order ships. We ship orders Monday - Friday usually around 3pm. All orders ship from 24060 Zip (Southwest Virginia). First class shipping is free, and usually takes 2-6 days depending on delivery location. Priority Mail is available for $4 extra per shipment (larger orders get free Priority) and usually takes 1-3 days depending on delivery location.

Non-delivery of orders within the USA must be reported within 10 days of order date.

We are now offering Express Mail for domestic shipments. Orders made before 3pm Monday-Friday should reach the destination the following day. Orders made after 3pm on Friday will reach the destination the following Tuesday.

• We will never sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your private information to any outside parties. Period.
• We will never send you an unauthorized email
  • We only send emails to customers with actual correspondence.
  • We never send mass emails for advertising or for any other purpose
• If you make an order we only send two emails:
  • A receipt
  • A shipping confirmation when your order ships
• We use 256 bit Secure Socket Layer encryption to protect information between our server and your computer.

Yes - We ship in plain bubble mailers.

The return address name is "VG".

If you are having your order delivered to a college campus dorm please investigate the specifics of your housing mail regulations - we have had some problems with misaddressed dorm shipments. You can usually find these instructions on your campus housing website. It is your responsibility to provide correct and complete address information. We cannot be responsible for incorrectly addressed shipments.

Yes! We accept orders by mail. Send cash (we prefer cash) or a money order and a note telling us what you want to order, your address, an email address or phone number and a signed statement affirming you at least 18 years of age. If you provide an email address, you will receive an email shipping receipt, just like our regular website orders.

VaporGenie
1507 Glade Rd
Blacksburg, Va 24060-1912

We ship all over the world, nearly every country. We regularly ship VaporGenies to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South America, Scandinavia, and all across Europe.

Orders outside the United States are shipped by

There are 2 options for International Shipping:

• First Class International.
  
  • First Class international usually takes from 7-12 days to be delivered, depending on location. Canada shipments usually take longer, around 2 weeks. Sometimes First Class International can take up to 3 weeks, in rare cases even a month.
    
  • There is no tracking provided for First Class International. However, First Class International is still pretty reliable for Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia. If you want to be able to track your package, then you must select Express Mail International.
    
  • First Class International costs between $5 and $12 USD depending on the shipping weight of your final order.
• Express Mail International Shipping
  • Faster, more reliable, and tracking capable service.
    
  • Express Mail International takes 5-10 days depending on location.
    
  • Costs between $25 and $30 USD depending on the shipping weight of your final order.

We recommend the Express Mail International Service, especially for orders of $100 USD or more.

It is a requirement of U.S. and International law to declare all goods shipped internationally. VaporGenies are declared as "Smoking Pipes". Customers are solely responsible for all international duty fees

All purchases from VaporGenie.com will appear as "VaporGenie, LLC" on your bank or credit card statement.

Our checkout system requires that you enter a verifiable billing address. Visa, MasterCard, or American Express gift cards will only work in our system if the card has a billing address. You may have to contact the card manufacturer to provide a billing address. If the card has no verifiable billing address or is not AVS compatible, then it will not work.

Sorry, we do not accept PayPal. We have had problems with PayPal in the past and had to stop accepting it as payment.

Orders being shipped to Virginia are subject to 5% sales tax.

The VaporGenie vaporizing pipe is used in a manner very similar to a conventional pipe. That's what makes it so easy to use.

First, the VaporGenie pipe is loaded with tobacco, and then the flame filter is screwed onto the pipe. It is important to use loose, shredded tobacco; do not pack.

Then, you inhale from the pipe while supplying flame to the flame filter. The flame filter automatically protects the tobacco from burning. You control the exact temperature by adjusting the amount of flame applied and speed of inhalation. It is important to not touch the ceramic filter with the flame.

By paying attention to the flavors and heat inhaled, you know the temperature, and can adjust flame application accordingly. Experienced VaporGenie pipe users can keep the air stream temperature to within a range of about ± 30F or better. This is sufficient temperature control for vaporization.

Since the VaporGenie pipe is designed for use with flame, the vapor is not as clean as vapor from electronic vaporizers that are properly used (electronic vaporizers often cause burning and produce smoke when used improperly). With the VaporGenie pipe, flame exhaust is inhaled. However, most users do not notice the difference (lighter flames or match flames are much cleaner than smoke). And unlike electronic vaporizers, the VaporGenie vaporizing pipe is as portable as a conventional pipe, is less expensive, requires no heat-up time, and is more reliable. There are no electronic gizmos that can break in the VaporGenie pipe.

We recommend using an electronic ignition lighter instead of a conventional flint lighter. Electronic ignition lighters do not produce flint dust, which contains rare earth metal dust and is toxic. We also recommend using the Ital Hempwick, a hemp twine saturated with beeswax. See this page for product information about our electronic lighters and the Ital Hempwick.

The VaporGenie pipe is an excellent choice for people just starting out with vaporization, and for people who own an electronic vaporizer, but would like to vaporize away from home.

Using the VaporGenie is easy!

Follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Load the bowl with loose shredded tobacco.

2. DO NOT PACK! Shredded tobacco has a high surface area that aids the vaporization process.

   

3. Inhale constantly while supplying flame to the flame filter. Your toke should be about 6-8 seconds long. Use a lighter flame about 1 inch tall. It is helpful to move the flame around to get the most uniform heating. We recommend using an electronic ignition lighter because flint lighters produce toxic dust-read about this here. Do not touch the flame to the ceramic filter. This is important because touching the flame to the ceramic filter will create soot that can eventually clog the filter. Soot will also create a bad taste. Read about how to deal with soot below.

The VaporGenie produces very little tar when used properly, so it only needs cleaning occasionally. The screen can be removed for cleaning by rotating it with a needle so that it "unscrews" via the threaded bowl, or by simply pulling it out with tweezers. This will reveal the wire coil that holds up the screen. The wire coil can be removed by pulling with pliers. The screen and wire coil can be cleaned by wiping or soaking in alcohol. The steel bowl can be cleaned with an alcohol swab. Do not get alcohol on the wood because this can damage the finish.

The bottom pipe portion and mouthpiece can be cleaned with a pipe cleaner. First, pull out the mouthpiece. Pull a pipecleaner through the mouthpiece to clean it. Similarly, the pipe can be cleaned by running a pipecleaner through it. Insert the pipecleaner into the mouthpiece end, and pull it from the steel bowl with tweezers or pliers. We recommend using two pipecleaners side-by-side so that the pipe hole gets a good scrub.

If the plastic mouthpiece breaks off in the pipe, the broken-off portion of the mouthpiece can be removed with a #4 wood screw. Twist the screw 1-2 turns into the broken portion and pull with pliers.

The glass vaporGenie can be cleaned with any of the commonly available glass pipe cleaners (e.g. Grunge Off, Formula 420, Purple Power etc). Alternatively, you can use a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and sand. Cleaners and solvents will not harm the ceramic filter, so the top can be soaked in these cleaning agents as well.

We don't have any specific instructions or recommendations for cleaning your glass VG. The glass VaporGenie can be cleaned with any of the commonly available glass pipe cleaners (e.g. Grunge Off, Formula 420, Purple Power etc). Alternatively, you can use a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and sand. Cleaners and solvents will not harm the ceramic filter, so the top can be soaked in or wiped with these cleaning agents as well.

Soot deposition on the ceramic filter is an important issue that all VaporGenie pipe users must be aware of. Soot will be deposited on the ceramic filter whenever the flame is contacted to the ceramic. This causes some bad things to happen: 1) the incompletely burned flame components create disagreeable flavors, unhealthy particles and dirty vapor, and 2) the soot will eventually clog the ceramic filter, rendering it unusable. This is why we always tell people to never ever contact the flame to the ceramic. The flame does not crack, burn or in any way damage the ceramic. The underlying ceramic is fine. But the soot causes problems.

Soot buildup does not happen with normal, proper use of the VaporGenie, wherein the flame is not contacted to the ceramic. Soot appears as a pitch-black area on the dark grey ceramic. Soot will not damage the ceramic, but it will eventually clog the ceramic filter after repeated improper uses. When clogged with soot, the ceramic filter will be impossible to inhale through and of course it will therefore not function.

This is what soot deposition looks like. The black circle is soot. Normal, clean ceramic appears gray. Do not worry about your filter if you notice a black spot like this. It will disappear with normal use and it will not affect the performance. The heat from the applied flame will eventually cause the soot to burn off.

This is what a soot clogged filter looks like. It is completely black. If this is what your filter looks like, you have been using your VaporGenie improperly. It will become clogged if you continue to contact the flame to the ceramic. VaporGenie does not provide warranty replacements for soot-clogged filters. Please clean the ceramic using the vacuum cleaner method described below.

Soot can be removed pretty easily. The best method for removing soot is to put the filter unit on a vacuum cleaner intake. The vacuum cleaner will draw air through the filter, just like normal inhalation does. While air is being sucked into the filter, direct a lighter flame at the filter, so that the filter is heated red hot (both torch and candle flame lighters will work). Only a small portion of the ceramic will be heated red hot, and this portion can be moved around to all the areas that have soot. Do not touch the flame to the ceramic (that will deposit soot). This process is amazing to watch: the soot just disappears like it was never there. It burns away completely and cleanly, leaving no residue. If the vacuum cleaner is powerful, the air velocity through the filter might be excessive. If this is the case, then create a vent in the vacuum hose so that less air is pulled through the filter. Pictures show a side view and top view of the process.

We no longer recommend the water cleaning method because this damages the wood (causing it to crack) and because it leaves a residue on the ceramic. Please only use the vacuum cleaner method to remove soot from wooden Vaporgenie pipes.

Removing soot from Glass VaporGenie pipes: We do not recommend the vacuum cleaner method with glass VaporGenie tops. We have not heard of a problem using this method, but we suspect that the heat could cause the glass to fracture. So we recommend the following method to clean soot from glass VG tops. Remove the wire retaining ring with pliers or a tweezer (grasping the tiny wire tab), and remove the ceramic filter. Then, heat the ceramic filter with a propane torch to cherry red. This will completely burn off the soot. The heat will not damage the ceramic filter. Then, replace the ceramic filter and retaining ring. Do not crush the ceramic filter when handling it.

If you have a red/orange deposit on the ceramic filter, that means your VaporGenie has been used with a conventional flint lighter. Conventional flint lighters produce toxic flint dust, and this flint dust accumulates on the ceramic and appears red. This red deposit will not affect the performance of your VaporGenie. See our warning about toxic flint dust here.

Extra filter tops cost $25, and extra pipe bottoms cost $25 (including postage) - Click here for info on ordering replacement tops

We do not recommend the vacuum cleaner soot removal method on glass VaporGenie tops. We have not heard of a problem using this method, but we suspect that the extreme heat could cause the glass to fracture. So we recommend the following method to clean soot from glass VG tops.

Remove the wire retaining ring with pliers or a tweezer (grasping the tiny wire tab), and remove the ceramic filter. Then, heat the ceramic filter with a propane torch to cherry red. This will completely burn off the soot. The heat will not damage the ceramic filter. Then, replace the ceramic filter and retaining ring. Do not crush the ceramic filter when handling it.

1) Use pliers or forceps to remove the stainless steel retaining ring. Grasp the tiny metal tab. Pull gently.
2) Remove the ceramic filter. You can tap the top on a table to make it fall out. Be gentle with the ceramic filter. It is fragile and can be damaged by crushing.
3) Heat the ceramic filter red hot with a propane flame. This will burn off the soot and will not harm the ceramic. It may take a minute or two to completely burn off the soot. Carefully replace the ceramic filter (the ceramic filter is conical, so put the SMALL end in first). Then carefully press the retaining ring into place with pliers. Do not crush the ceramic filter.

Note: This procedure is NOT normal or routine maintenance. With normal use, you will NEVER need to do this with your VG. This soot-removal process is ONLY necessary if your VG has been so thoroughly abused and misused for such a long period of time that the ceramic filter is completely clogged with soot.

The VaporGenie pipe relies on a totally new concept to provide the 'sweet-spot' vaporization temperatures of 225-375 degrees.

The secret to the VaporGenie pipe is the patented flame filter. The flame filter is located above your tobacco (between the tobacco and flame). In the pictures, the flame filter is located within the spherical wood part. The flame filter mixes heat from the flame with cold, ambient air. The flame filter is specially designed to mix the flame and cool air and provide vaporization temperatures.

The flame filter is also specially designed to withstand the flame heat for many years. It is made of an extremely durable and nontoxic ceramic: silicon carbide.

DO NOT do this! Using the bottom portion of the VaporGenie pipe as a combustion pipe will ruin it for use as a vaporizer. It will forever taste like terrible tar and burned popcorn. Don't do it. If you do, you will quickly understand why the VaporGenie pipe and vaporizing are so great and why combustion smoking is so awful. Also, using a handcarved VG as a combustion pipe can damage the pipe and cause the stainless steel bowl to come loose. This damage is NOT covered by our warranty.

We recommend using an electronic ignition (piezoelectric) lighter (or the Ital Hempwick lighter) instead of a conventional flint lighter because flint lighters produce toxic flint dust. This toxic dust is visible and appears as smoke when a flint lighter is ignited. This flint dust contains "misch metal", an alloy of rare earth metals (neodymium, samarium, cerium, lanthanum etc). Rare earth metals are known to be toxic, especially when in the form of inhaled microscopic particles. Hence, we think that inhalation of flint dust should be avoided. And the best way to avoid flint dust is to use an electronic ignition lighter. Please note that the issue of rare earth dust inhalation is not specific to the VaporGenie. Anyone using a flint lighter to light a cigarette or smoke a pipe is inhaling rare earth dust. Any smoker concerned about their health should use an electronic ignition lighter. Below is an abstract describing the toxic effect of rare earth metals on lung tissue. Not good. They are slightly less toxic than cadmium to lung tissue.

Flint dust accumulates on the VaporGenie ceramic filter, forming a visible orange/red discoloration. This discoloration does not affect the performance of the VaporGenie. It is merely an indication that a flint lighter has been used.

If you must use a flint lighter, we recommend waiting for the flint dust to disperse before inhaling.

We offer Lotus brand electronic ignition lighters, and the Ital Hempwick. These flame sources do not produce rare earth dust and are perfect for use with the VaporGenie. The Ital Hempwick must be ignited with a lighter.

ABSTRACT: Cytotoxicity of the rare earth metals cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium in vitro: comparisons with cadmium in a pulmonary macrophage primary culture system.
Palmer, R J : Butenhoff, J L : Stevens, J B
Environ-Res. 1987 Jun; 43(1): 142-56
The rare earth metals cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium each were evaluated in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay system using adult, male Sprague-Dawley rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages. Both the soluble chloride form of these metals and their insoluble metal oxides were studied. For comparison purposes, the cytotoxicities of cadmium chloride and cadmium oxide were also quantified in this test system. In general, regardless of the cytotoxicity parameter measured, i.e., cell viability, lysosomal enzyme leakage, or changes in cell surface morphology, cadmium was more toxic to these cells than were the rare earth metals. Of the rare earth metals studied, lanthanum chloride (lethal concentration LC50 = 52 microM), cerium chloride (LC50 = 29 microM), and neodymium oxide (LC50 = 101 microM) displayed significant cytotoxicity in this test system. Cadmium chloride exhibited an LC50 value of 28 microM, and cadmium oxide 15 microM. These findings suggest that rare earth metal fumes should be considered as cytotoxic to lung tissue and therefore potentially fibrogenic.

Want to read all the gory, geeky details of this study? Download the full paper HERE.

Completely burning butane produces only CO2 and water, which are harmless. Lighter exhaust is invisible, which is an indication that it contains little soot. Butane lighters burn quite clean, provided that the flame is undisturbed (i.e. not flickering or touching the filter). A flickering flame, or a flame that is touching the sides of the intake will produce undesirable unburned hydrocarbons. Consequently, technique affects the cleanliness of the vapor. However, even sloppy use of the VaporGenie will not produce nearly as much toxic material as found in smoke. Lighter exhaust is a LOT cleaner than a regular pipe, and that is very apparent once you try the VaporGenie.

There will necessarily be some toxic material in the lighter exhaust, however. We believe that more toxins and weird chemicals are released from the plant matter being vaporized (compared to the lighter exhaust), especially if it is overheated. Even in electric vaporizers, there is some tar and toxic chemical production. It is impossible to completely eliminate exposure.

Always remember that you get the cleanest vapor when the flame is not disturbed, flickering or touching anything. You don't want the flame to flicker or touch the filter or sides of the pipe.

We have found that some people (perhaps 10-15%) appear to be especially sensitive to butane lighter exhaust. For these people, we strongly recommend the Ital Hempwick lighter, which we sell (see the lighters page). The Ital Hampwick is made of organic hemp twine saturated with beeswax. The exhaust from the Ital Hempwick has a pleasant beeswax flavor.

"Torch" lighters have a noisy blue jet flame, and burn butane. We are unsure whether to recommend torch lighters. On one hand, some VaporGenie users like using them and say they work well. Others dont like them at all. We generally dont like using torch lighters.  In our experience torch lighters produce too much heat that can make temperature contol difficult, and increase the chance of burning. Also, the flame from a torch lighter is nearly invisible, and so is harder to position accurately, thereby increasing the chance of acidentally burning the wood of the VaporGenie. On the other hand, some VaporGenie users much prefer using a torch lighter. Perhaps there are some particular kinds of torch lighters that work well. We dont know. Please provide your feedback on this issue so we can provide better recommendations about torch lighters.

Absolutely not! The ceramic filter is made of high purity, monolithic silicon carbide, SiC. SiC is completely inert in the conditions in the pipe. It does not react, or release gases or particulates. It does not contain metals. Also, the ceramic filter is monolithic (it is made of a single, continuous piece of ceramic). It is not made of sintered particles that can break off and be inhaled.

• Keep lighters clean from any type of dust (i.e., falling ashes when cigars and cigarettes are lighted, and dust from pockets when lighters are kept in your pockets). Use lighter leather covers to prevent dust from penetrating into the lighter. Over 90% of return lighters are serviced simply by blowing off excessive dirt and dust inside a lighter using compressed air (or blowing).

• If necessary, blow off any excessive dirt and dust from the sparker area using compressed air can. Compressed air can be easily purchased from any local hardware or office supply store.

• Electronic Piezo lighters have sensitive ignition mechanisms that require delicate handling of the ignition switch. Do not flick or press ignition switches like a fluid flint lighter at a fast pace. Operate the push-down ignition switch slowly and gently. The lighter ignition system has a split-second delayed reaction time. Fast ignition usually results in misfiring, whereas slow and gentle ignition method ensures perfect ignition every time.

• Simply keeping a lighter free of dirt and dust, and refilling on a regular basis will lengthen the longevity of the lighter.

Use only high quality butane fuel in your lighter. Make sure it says “filtered” or “refined” somewhere on the bottle. Smoke shops almost always have high quality butane available. Some good brands are Lotus, Calibri, King and Xikar. Do not use Ronson or Neon brand butane fuel. That stuff is crap.

1. Make sure no open flames are nearby.
2. Adjust the flame height to low.
3. Bleed fuel tank by pressing down on the lighter refill valve until hissing sound stops.
4. Shake refill can to check if it contains gas.
5. Hold both refill can and lighter upside down in each hand.
6. Push refill nozzle firmly all the way into lighter refill valve and hold for 15-20 seconds.
7. Wait until lighter reaches room temperature before igniting (roughly 5-10 minutes).
8. Reset flame height adjuster to your desired setting.

We have no idea. We cannot keep track of which stores have VGs in stock. And we don't know who carries it because stores often don't buy from us directly.

If you want your local smokeshop to carry the VaporGenie pipe, please ask them to. If your store places a wholesale order (at least 10) on your recommendation, we will give you a free VaporGenie. Also, we are open to providing commissions for VG enthusiasts that initiate wholesale orders to retail stores.

We sell Vaporgenies wholesale to many retailers online and local physical stores. However, we are discriminating about who we sell to and we attempt to enforce ethical business practices. We only sell Vaporgenies to online retailers that have a reputation for good customer service and honesty, do not lie to us or our customers, and treat us and our customers with respect. We have stopped selling Vaporgenies to a number of online retailers for misleading advertising, lying, and other unethical or dishonest behavior. So when you buy a VaporGenie from an online retailer-no matter who it is-you can be fairly confident that they will treat you well.

If a retail representative (online or physical) of our products treats you badly, we want to know about it! Please send us an email and tell us about your experience, good or bad. If we receive consistent complaints about particular retailers, we will absolutely stop selling to them. We have done this in the past to enforce our ethical business policy and will not hesitate to do it again. Our policy is simple: we dont do business with jerks.