That metal wire (or coil) 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.

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.

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). Also, isopropyl alcohol+salt, or hot soapy water work well. Cleaners, solvents and soapy water 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 gray 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. Partially clogged filters will have impaired performance.

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. The black tube is a vacuum cleaner air intake.

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 clogged with soot.

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.

There are a couple possibilities:
1) There is an airflow obstruction in something that you forgot to clean. The screen and mouthpiece can obstruct airflow and create performance problems. Clean or replace these parts, and make sure the pipe is not clogged.
2) The filter might be clogged with soot. See the soot page: Whats the deal with soot? Soot can be a problem if the soot is inside the ceramic filter and not visible on the top surface. You might try a vigorous cleaning with the vacuum cleaner method. Even with the vacuum cleaner method, it is possible for soot to remain inside the ceramic filter (especially around the edges). A ceramic filter that is partially clogged with soot will not work as well. If you cannot remove the soot, the only solution is to buy a new top, which we sell for $25. See the Replacement Tops Page if you think you need a new filter top. With proper use, VG filters will last for many years and will never become clogged with soot. DO NOT touch the flame to the ceramic!