Usage

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.