VaporStar
Contents |
Overview
- Type: Convection, Adapter for bong/water pipe
- Heating Element: Butane lighter applied to steel heat spreader
- Materials Used: American black walnut, Stainless steel
- RRP: £20 GBP, less than $50 USD including shipping
- Manufacturer: VaporStar
- Website www.vaporstar.co.uk
Package Contents
The product comes packaged in a small cardboard tube and contains:
- Both parts of the VaporStar Unit (metal cap and wooden bowl)
- Tweezers for handling the VaporStar when hot
- Illustrated instructions
Description
The VaporStar has been designed to function as an adaptor for a bong or water-pipe that replaces the regular bowl and down-pipe. The device consists of two pieces, a small cylindrical steel cap that contains a star-shaped heat spreader, and the tapered wooden bowl that it sits inside of.
Using a regular butane lighter (and lung power), a flame is drawn inside the cap's metal 'teat' and onto a heat spreader, which in turn heats the herb below it. With the correct technique, the herb will become hot enough to release vapor while staying just short of actual combustion.
Usage Technique
Taken from weedmania.co.uk:
"How to Use the Vaporstar Vaporizer:
Fill the bowl with your herb, taking care not to overfill.
Place the Vaporstar vaporizer (the actual metal bit) into the wooden bowl. One of the three lines on the top should point towards you as you inhale.
Put your thumb over the rush-hole on your bong and put your mouth over the mouthpiece. Ignite the Vaporstar vaporizer and hover the flame of your lighter 1cm from the top of the Vaporstar tube.
Inhale gently. When it’s working properly, you’ll hear a quiet whistling sound. The first time you do this, when the Vaporstar vaporizer is cold, expect to inhale for 5 or 6 seconds. Then 1 to 3 seconds if the Vaporstar is already warm.
Keep on inhaling through the Vaporstar vaporizer until you see the bong fill up with vapor. Then extinguish your lighter, but still keep on inhaling until all the vapor is gone.
Use the rush-hole at this point to blast any remaining vapor out of the bong and into you.
Twist the wooden bowl round 2/3rds of a circle. The lines on the Vaporstar help with this bit. Now repeat from step 3 twice more.
Use the tweezers to remove the Vaporstar vaporizer from the bowl, then tap out the dried plant into your hand.
Rub the dried plant into a rough powder and then scoop it back into the bowl.
Repeat steps 3 to 7, then remove the Vaporstar vaporizer from the bowl and agitate the remaining powder with the tweezers tool. Repeat steps 3-6 one last time."[1]
Reception
The Vaporstar has garnered very positive reviews[2][3][4] with particular attention paid to it's low price, portability and the relatively high quality of vapor produced. The only common criticism of the VaporStar is the steep learning curve for new users who have not developed the right technique, leading to weak vapor or burnt bowls when the device is heated too little or too much.
