Vaporizer News and Info by Vapor Warehouse

How to Clean a Vaporizer Pen

2016-09-16T10:33:00-05:00

A frequent call we receive here at VaporWarehouse is from customers that cannot screw a new heater onto their battery base and that the old heater no longer works. Or that there is a wire (usually red or yellow) coming out of the top of their vape pen battery base or the skillet heater. I then have to give them the bad news that either the skillet or the battery base or both are damaged and will need to be replaced.

This damage is not considered a manufacturer defect (warranty coverage will not apply) but the result of not properly cleaning and maintaining the vape pen.

The most crucial part of a vape pen maintenance is keeping the contacts clean and free of residue. Nothing will damage your vape pen faster than dirty contacts. In this blog we will instruct you on how to clean the battery base and skillet contacts.

There is a contact on the top side the battery base and one on the underside of the skillet heater. From the users viewpoint these contacts look like a flat silver metal circle. These contacts are used to supply energy from the battery base to heat the coil in the skillet.

Underneath the coil in the center of the skillet heater there is a small pin hole that provides airflow. Over time time you may notice a build up of melted wax leaking through the center air hole. There is a greater chance of the skillet leaking if your material is very runny or you overload the skillet. Because of this it is extremely important that you frequently clean and maintain these contacts.

If the dirty contacts are left neglected, the end result is the two contacts fusing together. When the contacts are stuck together you will have a difficult time trying to remove the heater from the battery base. Once the skillet has been removed generally one of the contacts gets ripped out from either the battery or the skillet. If the contact has been ripped out, it’s game over for the piece the contact belonged to.

So let’s examine the simple steps on how to clean your vapor pen contacts.

Materials required to clean the vaporizer pen contacts:

91% or higher Isopropyl Alcohol (ISO)
Cotton Swabs (aka by the brand name Q-tip)
Small Dish or container (optional)

General Maintenance:

Pour some ISO into a small dish or container to prevent contaminating the bottle of alcohol (optional).
Remove the skillet heater from the battery base.
Dip one end of the cotton swab into the ISO.
Hold the battery base so the contact end is pointing down, this will help prevent any ISO from leaking into the base that may cause damage to the internal electronics.
Using a circular motion, clean the inside thread base and battery contact.
If the cotton swab come changes color, repeat the above step using clean swabs until the cotton no longer discolors. This make take several repeated cleanings to achieve.
Swab around the outside threads to keep them free from residue.
Clean the skillet heater the same way as the battery base holding the skillet with the contact facing down and swab inside with ISO.
Let the ISO dry completely on both parts before using the pen.

If the skillet contact rips out and gets stuck to the battery contact, there is a chance you can save the battery. If this happens you will see a small pin in the center of the top part of the battery base where the contact can normally be seen. You must remove the skillet contact from the battery contact or else you cannot screw another heater onto the base.

Follow the same steps to clean the contact on the battery base. The ISO should break down the residue that caused the contacts to stick together. After several swabs around the contacts, use the swab to try to gently push the pin of the skillet contact to see if it’s loosened from the battery contact. Once the skillet contact has loosened up it should come off of the battery contact. Use care while attempting this because if the skillet contact is still stuck to the battery contact it may rip that contact out.

Once the skillet contact has been completely removed from the battery contact, clean the battery contacts again to make sure there is no remaining residue.

If you’ve made it this far you now know the importance of maintaining your vape pen. So take a little time out of your day on at least a weekly basis to follow these simple steps to keeping your contacts free and clear of residue.

How to Unlock a Vape Pen

2016-06-03T11:40:00-05:00

To unlock your vape pen: rapidly (we mean fast!) press the button until it flashes.

In this post we will examine how to lock and unlock a vape pen like the Vaporbrothers Dabbler vaporizer used in the video below.

One of the most common mistakes customers make when they contact us about their vape pen not working is they either forgot or were unaware that the vaporizer is locked.

Every vaporizer pen should be in the locked position when we ship it to the customer. The lock position helps to prevent the battery from turning on while in transit. This is also an important feature when carrying your pen in a purse or bag.

After receiving your vaporizer, test to see if the pen is locked or unlocked. You can do this by pressing the button once. If the button lights up while it is pressed, the pen is unlocked. If you press the button and there is no light, the pen is locked or needs a charge.

To unlock the vape pen rapidly (we mean fast!) press the button 6 or more times until the button flashes.

Disregard any set number of presses you may read in the instructions. If you do not have the timing or the rhythm down or skip a beat, this will alter the number of times you need to press the button. I just press the button until it flashes.

Once the button flashes, the pen should be in the unlocked position and the button should light when held down.

To lock the pen, simply follow the same instructions as unlocking the pen. Once the button flashes, the pen should be in locked position and the button will not light when pressed down.

So please don't panic when you first get your pen and the button doesn't light when pressed. Your vapor pen is working just fine, it's in the locked position.

These instructions apply to most vaporizer pens found on the market today, such as:

Vaporbrothers VB Eleven Pen (VB11)

- Read about recent VB11 vape pen updates in our blog
- Visit VB11 pen product page.

- EVOD battery style

Vapor brothers Dabbler Vape-Pen
- High Times Best Vape Pen of 2014
- Visit the Vaporbrothers Dabber product page
- EGO battery style

Stag Vapor Co
- Read a review about Stag vape pens on our blog.
- Visit the Stag Vapor Co product page.

- EGO style battery.

Omicron by UpTech

- Read our Omicron V4 vape pen review and learn the history of this vaporizer.
- Visit the full line of UpTech and Omicron vaporizer parts and accessories.

Kandypens Donuts:

- Read a Kandypens vaporizer review review.
- Visit the Kandypens vape pen product page.

If you have any questions, we are here to answer! Leave a comment or drop us a line...

Why Grind Herbs Before Vaporizing?

2015-09-14T18:30:00-05:00

Grinders and vaporizers are like close cousins. They are those cousins who are closest in age, they might have varying interests, but at the end of the day (or family reunion), they are rocking out together and having a great time. Yeah, that's just like the grinder-vaporizer relationship. For if you vaporize the dry herbs, grinding is key. You're just going to have a better time.

Grinding herbs up before vaporizing creates more surface area for the heat to effect. This results in more efficient use of your herbal stash, better vapor flavor, and makes cleaning out spent herbs much easier.

We have new Phoenician Grinders, serious engineering went into these bad boys. Made in the USA, hermetically sealed, medical grade grinders. This is the cousin who studies hard and is on the path for a full ride to ASU. I would say MIT, but this grinder still needs to party.

Our beloved Cosmic Grinders are tried and true. Also made in the USA, they will take a licking and keep on ticking. This is the cousin who, against the family wishes, walked away from a scholarship to SDSU and is now running their own very successful medical dispensary in So Cal. Respect.

Proper Vape Pen Battery Care: 4 Easy Steps

2015-06-24T13:35:00-05:00

Your vape pen battery seems simple enough, and it is! With these quick tips you can prolong the life of your battery and have a more enjoyable vape experience:

1. Lock your battery when not in use. Not only will this help conserve battery power, it will avoid accidentally turning your battery on. Nothing worse than having all your concentrates vaporized without you. Simply click the button really fast until it blinks to tell you it's shutting off, repeat to turn back on.

2. Keep contact and threads clean. Sometimes material will get onto the contact, put some 99% Isopropyl Alcohol on a cotton swap and wipe it clean. Be sure to swipe around the threads too.

3. Use your case. Not your pocket. A "pocket break" is easily avoided when the pen is carried in the provided case. We know this may not be the most convenient way to travel, but it sure will prolong your battery life and reduce hazard. We have heard horror stories of pocket break batteries catching pants and even purses on fire. Not a common occurrence but it has happened, be careful. If you must carry in your pocket, take the heater off the battery and this will help to avoid pocket breaks.

4. Responsible disposal. We at VaporWarehouse try to be as green as possible. To help limit our environmental impact, we are launching a vape pen battery recycling program. Some cities provide battery recycling as part of their regular recycling program. Many cities in the US, however, still do not offer easy battery disposal. Sign up for our mailing list to be alerted to details on the program, coming soon!

As always, you can reach out to us with any questions. Simply comment below, call, or shoot us a message via our live chat system.

Vape on!

J, AJ, Rae

Quick Guide: Vape Pen Skillet Cleaning and Care

2015-05-15T17:54:00-05:00

Heaters can make or break your vape pen experience. Follow the basic guidelines below to enjoy your vaporizer to it’s fullest:

Product: Choose the highest quality concentrated product your budget allows. Wax is most preferred as it’s easier to manipulate and manage. Oil is ok to use as well, you just need to be more careful as the consistency can be a bit runny. The clearer the material the better. Too much plant material found in lower quality products will combust on the coil and gum up the works pretty quickly. The VB Skillet Heaters are for vaporizing concentrated materials only, no dry herbs.

Filling: Less is more. Overfilling can clog skillet and affect draw. Use a fill tool to scoop up wax and lay very carefully on top of the coil. Do not push product down into the skillet, applying too much pressure can unseat the coils. Allow product to melt into the coil. If you have a syringe, apply directly onto coil without applying any pressure.

Power: The Vaporbrothers Skillets are made for 3.7v, using a higher voltage battery is possible but may shorten the life of the skillet. Be sure the maintain clean battery contacts. Product can get on both heater and battery contacts and should be cleaned regularly with a cotton swap and Isopropyl Alcohol.

Self-Cleaning: Never dig inside of the skillet heater, the coil will come unseated very easily. If you must clean product from the bottom of the skillet, use the battery and skillet like a self-cleaning oven. Simply take off the cone and mouthpiece, place heater on battery, turn upside down, and press button as many times as needed until product drips out. Be sure battery is charged as this will take some power.

Deep Cleaning: If you would like a more thorough cleaning, grab some ISO (91% or higher if available) and fill a small dish with a quarter inch of liquid. Soak dirty side down in liquid for a few hours or even overnight. Dunk in and out of liquid to loosen residue off of coils. For very dirty coils with a lot of dirty grime, take out of alcohol, let dry completely, and then run hot on battery and crud will burn off.

Subscribe: That’s right! We have a no worries subscription service for VB Skillet Heaters. This is a great way to maintain your vape pen without much thought, plus you save money!

As always, please use us as a resource. We love hearing from you and are happy to answer any questions.

Thank you,

J, AJ & Rae

What's the Deal with VaporDollars?

2015-01-21T18:49:00-06:00

Besides 5% of every purchase going back to you as Vapordollars to use for future purchases, you can earn Vapordollar points for performing other fun activities online!

Check it out:

Earn 10 points just for creating an account that will ultimately be your portal in managing said Vapordollars! Be logged in to your account while performing the other activities listed here:
Earn 40 points for submitting a review ($2 value)! Limited to one review per day for point accumulation. Of course you can submit multiple reviews everyday you just won't get 40 points each, only for the first one that same day. We have authority to limit the number of reviews submitted if abuse is suspected and no purchase history available for items being reviewed.
Earn 1 point for commenting on a blog post. Do it right now! Let's try it on this blog post below!
Earn 1 point for each of the following social actions (limited to once per day per action): Liking us on Facebook, Sharing us on Facebook, Sharing us on Twitter, Pinning us on Pinterest.

For full disclosure the VB2 and Storz & Bickel items don't earn points, too bad so sad. However, everything else does! Vapordollars become live 30 days after purchase, not redeemable for cash and don't expire as long as we are around. If you want to read more nitty gritty Vapordollar fine print, click here.

Happy Shopping!

~Vapor Rae~
Find me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and VaporWarehouse of course!

Frequently Asked VaporDollar Questions

How do I figure out what my Vapordollars equates to in cold hard cash?
Some maths: # of Vapordollar points x .05 = $ Amount worth in USD

Where I can see how many VaporDollars I have?
Log in to your Account, choose My Account, scroll down to Rewards Detail.

Can I pretty please redeem my VaporDollars before the 30 day pending term?
Unfortunately, no. Our system does not allow us to manage points this way.

So you're telling me I get 5% VaporDollar rewards AND free shipping for orders over $25?
Yes, yes I'm telling you that!

Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip Step by Step

2014-05-21T14:54:00-05:00

Another common call we get at VaporWarehouse is from customers struggling to change the screen in their Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip. If you don't know what the process of changing the screen involves it may not be so "easy" to replace the screen.

Note: For those of you that lack the patience to read this post or need a visual aid, a video is featured at the end of this text demonstrating the process for replacing the screen in a Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip.

The first thing I recommend doing is to familiarize yourself with the individual whip parts. In the event you need to call us for assistance or to order a replacement part, knowing the correct names of the whip parts will come in handy.

The Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip consists of the following parts:

Whip Tip (glass or ceramic)
Whip Grip (medical grade silicone)
Whip Handle (glass or ceramic)
Hose
Mouthpiece (glass or ceramic)
.625" Screens (ceramic or stainless)

I like to refer to the combination of the Whip Tip, Whip Grip, and Whip Handle as the "Handpiece". The Handpiece connects to one end of the Hose while the Mouthpiece connects to the other end.

To replace the screen, hold the Whip Grip in one hand. Using you other hand bend the Whip Tip off, like you are trying to snap the whip in two. Do not try to pull or unscrew the Whip Tip from the Whip Grip as this will create resistance making it harder to remove the Whip Tip.

Once the Whip Tip is removed from the Whip Grip, remove the screen from inside the Whip Grip. You may have to remove the Whip Grip from the Whip Handle to push the screen out of the Whip Grip. To remove the Whip Grip from the Whip Handle, bend it off like you did to remove the Whip Tip.

A common mistake customers make is they try to shove the screen through the Whip Tip while it is attached to the Whip Grip. Do not attempt this as the screen will not stay in place.

If you look inside the Whip Grip with nothing attached to it, you will notice there is a lip or a ledge in the center. This lip is where you need to place the screen. You have the option of using either a .625" stainless steel or ceramic screen with the EZ Change Whip.

Place your screen inside the Whip Grip until is rests flat on the lip. Push the Whip Tip back onto the Whip Grip, this will sandwich the screen between the two parts and prevent it from moving or slipping out.

If you are using a single screen, always place the screen on the same side of the Whip Grip that houses the Whip Tip. If you are using two screens, always place a screen on each side of the Whip Grip. Do not place a screen onto of another screen as this will result in poor airflow and performance.

Now that you have your vaporizer whip assembled, it is ready to use. When loading the blend into the whip, use care not to overload the whip as this will reduce the airflow and create more heat within the whip.

Once you have master the art of replacing the screen in a Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip, the whole process can be done in under 10 seconds.

Happiness is a Clean Vaporizer Pen

2014-01-30T14:10:00-06:00

Our customers inspire many of our blog topics. And today's piece will address some of the customer issues we've been seeing that can be avoided with a little tender, love, care and some elbow grease.

Now that you have your vaporizer pen, like Vaporbrothers Dabbler by Vape-Pen, take some time to learn how to care and maintain your vape. These vapor pens will not last a week if you let them get all gunked up and any damage may void the warranty coverage.

Keep those contacts clean!

Never let any residue get onto either the heater contact or the battery contact. This is the quickest way to damage the battery and/or the heater. If residue gets onto the contact, when you screw the heater to the battery and hit the power button, the residue may act like glue causing the contacts to fuse together.

Once the contacts are fused together and you try to unscrew the heater most likely you will rip the center contact out of the battery. This may damage the red wire that connects the contact to the battery. If that happens, your battery will be useless and the warranty coverage void.

Use extra care when using either a glass tube or globe style heater with the battery as these tend to be a bit messier than the skillet style heaters.

If you find your contacts have some residue on them, clean the contact ASAP. Use a q-tip and 90% or higher iso alcohol. Lightly swab a small amount of alcohol on the contact. Use care not to let any spill over the sides of the contact as this may damage vital parts of the battery or heater. Repeatedly swab the contact until the contact is clean and free of any residue.

Keep those threads clean!

Getting any residue on the threads of either the battery or heater can cause the two pieces to get stuck together, especially if you don't use your vaporizer pen for a period of time. If you find the heater is stuck on the battery, turn on the vape-pen and hold the button down for 10 seconds and release and press again for another 10 seconds. This should soften up the oil and allow you to get the heater off the battery base.

Once the heater is off the base clean the threads using the same method as we described in cleaning the contacts. Use a q-tip and 90% or higher iso alcohol. Lightly swab a small amount of alcohol on the threads. Use care not to let any spill down the threads as this may damage vital parts of the battery or heater. Repeatedly swab the threads until the threads are clean and free of any residue.

Keep those heaters cleans!

A couple months ago my cousin contacted me for a new heater for her Vapor Brothers Dabbler vaporizer. I asked her if she was keeping her heater clean and she admitted she was not. When she stopped by to pick up a couple new heaters, I told her how to clean the heater (using the method described below). When I saw her again at Thanksgiving, she told me she cleaned her original heater and it was still working fine. Prior to cleaning the heater, she said it was so gummed up that she couldn't even see the coils glowing. A perfect example (and true story) of why you should keep your pen vape heaters clean.

If you regularly maintain your heater, cleaning it will not be such a chore. If your heater is very gummed up, it's going to take some time and patience.

Grab some of that 90% or higher iso alcohol (our local grocery store has 99%). If you have a spare lid, similar to the one found on the bottle of iso, pour a tiny amount of alcohol into the lid or small dish. Turn the heater upside down and repeatedly dunk the heater into the tiny pool of alcohol. The dunking method will help agitate the alcohol and pull the oil off the ceramic dish, coils, and wick.

Use care not to submerse the heater or allow the alcohol to rise above the ceramic dish level (when heater is upside down) to prevent the alcohol from damaging the vital parts of the heater.

If the heater is very dirty, after dunking you may have to lightly scrape some of the residue off the ceramic dish using a pick tool or even a paper clip. Use extreme caution to ensure you do not damage the coil and wick.

A Little TLC Goes a Long Way

Bear in mind that these type of vaporizers are not designed to last for years (the non-replaceable lithium battery will last at most two years). Following the above tips will help to ensure you get maximum use from your vaporizer pen and not void the warranty coverage. Show your vape pen a little love today and it might stick around a bit longer than expected.

Use That Dabbler Carrying Case

2014-01-16T15:54:00-06:00

Probably the most common problem we are seeing with the Vaporbrothers Dabbler vaporizer by Vape-Pen when a customer returns one for a replacement is what we term a "pocket break".

What is a "pocket break" you ask? A “pocket break” occurs when the top portion of the battery base, that houses the advanced microprocessor and button, snaps off the lower portion of the battery base. This break can cause the main internal wire to break or short out. Once this happens it's game over for your Dabbler.

"Pocket breaks" generally occur when carrying the Dabbler in your pocket but not using the case. When you sit down the Dabbler can snap in two resulting in a "pocket break".

Another cause of the "pocket break" is letting the Dabbler get all gunked up with oil, this can cause the heater, cone, and battery to stick to each other. Using too much force can cause the battery top to separate from the battery base. If your Dabbler gets all dirty, instead of trying to forcefully unscrew the Dabbler apply some heat to loosen up the oils that are acting as glue. Try to keep all those parts as clean as possible so they don't stick together.

Unfortunately both the manufacturers, Vapor Brothers and Vape-Pen, do not cover “pockets breaks” under their warranty. Because of this, VaporWarehouse cannot replace “pocket breaks”.

If this happens to your battery please don't waste your time or postage returning the battery back to VaporWarehouse. Shoving the top part back into the battery base and pretending to not know what is wrong with your battery won't work. We can spot a pocket break almost instantly and we will reject the battery for warranty replacement.

Unfortunately this problem is not isolated to just the Vaporbrothers Dabbler pen vaporizer. We have seen this issue with several other popular vapor pens on the market.

Pocket breaks can be avoided by using the Dabbler carrying case that your vaporizer shipped with or by separating the heater from the battery base when carrying the Dabbler vaped pen in your pocket. Trust us, we know from experience after breaking three of them ourselves by carelessly carrying the Dabbler in our pockets. If you are guilty of this habit, it's not a matter of if but when your battery will break. Use that case!

The Latest Craze: Vaporizer Pens

2013-09-05T13:27:00-05:00

Vape Pens are the hottest selling item these days at most vaporizer shops. They come in various sizes and styles, and some even claim that they can vaporize anything. Before you jump on the band wagon, take some time to make sure that a vape pen is right for you.

First, do you want a vape pen for oils & waxes, or dry leaf, or both? If you are not aware of oils & wax, chances are a vape pen is not for you as vape pens are geared towards these uses.

Despite the many claims out there almost every single en vaporizer does not work well with dry leaf. Almost every vaporizer pen combusts, not vaporizer, the leaf. We are not in the business of combustion, so we cannot recommend most vape pens for use with leaf.

The UP Tech Hercules Leaf Chamber used with either the Omicron or Persei Vaporizer is one of the few exceptions. After getting over the learning curve this is a great combo. UP Tech is one of the few pen vaporizer manufacturers to push the envelope with the design.

Our current best selling pen for oils is the Vaporbrothers Dabbler by Vape-Pen. Vape-Pen produced the first vaporizer pen back in 2009. Unlike many of the 510 thread pens, the Vaporbrothers Pen features an advanced micro-processer for internal temperature control.

After attending Champs in Las Vegas in July, we witnessed about several different style vape pens rebranded with well over 100 different names. So the market is ripe for innovation from companies like Vaporbrothers & UP Tech, instead of just the mindless rebranding that we are currently witnessing.

One other thing to keep in mind, if you are lucky, most vape pens might last one or two years. This is due to the fact that lithium batteries can only be recharged 200-400 times. So don't expect a vape pen to have the longevity of a whip style Vaporbrothers Vaporizer. We speak with customers that have had their Vaporbrothers for over 10 years. That definitely won't be the case with vape pens.

Here today, gone tomorrow? Only time will tell.

Not All Vaporizer Pen Heaters Are Created Equal

2013-08-28T19:35:00-05:00

Vape Pen Heaters: Not All Are Equal

With all the different vape pens on the market you are probably wondering which one to pick. Most of these vaporizer pens are very similar, however the Vaporbrothers Dabbler, made by the original Vape-Pen manufacturer, is a bit different. Here's a little info on the Vaporbrothers Dabbler heater and how it is better than the competition.

You can see in the image below that the Dabbler heater has more wraps than the best competitor heater we have found. Extra wraps that are evenly spaced allow for better heat distribution throughout the ceramic dish.

Additionally the Dabbler wire is thicker and is now made from inconel wire, the best choice, but not the cheapest. Other wires are most likely made from nichrome, which is a fine material but inconel should last longer. Titanium coils are starting to make an appearance. But there is some skepticism in the industry about some of the products claiming to be titanium, heater coils included.

Next you should check out the fiber of the wick. The Dabbler is made from a high quality scientific glass (borosilicate) fiber, bound tightly, that is not fiberglass. If you have a heater and you see the wick burning, that is a clear sign it is not made from glass fiber.

A word of caution when using any heater with a wick & coil. The coil is fragile and can be easily damaged, rendering the heater useless. We have spoke with several customers that have damaged their heater after just a few uses. Improper loading or dabbing and stirring can break the coil. So please use care when loading the heater.

When selecting a replacement skillet for your pen vaporizer, choose the Vaporbrothers Dabbler heater to be sure you get the best heater made with inconel wire, true glass fibers, and ceramic bowl.

Scratch, Dent, and Save on a Vaporbrothers Vaporizer

2013-06-21T00:09:00-05:00

Looking for the best price on a Vaporbrothers vaporizer? Look no further. For a limited time, you can get an original Vaporbrothers vaporizer that is made in the U.S.A for the price of a poorly made Chinese knockoff.

This low price point is possible because VaporWarehouse was able to obtain a limited number of “cosmetic discount” hands free vaporizers from Vaporbrothers.

What is a Cosmetic Imperfection?

Vaporbrothers prides themselves on producing a top shelf vaporizer. Unfortunately sometimes during the production process a box might get scratched, cracked, or dinged.

Or Mother Nature has her say and a knot in the wood may cause a tiny crack or split. Or in the case of the Dark Coffee Vaporizer, Vaporbrothers experimented with a water based finish to meet the strict California standards. The first attempt was not up to Vaporbrothers standards for look.

After a period of time, these boxes started to pile up. Rather than toss them in a landfill, Vaporbrothers decided to release these blemished vapes to customers looking for a cheaper alternative but still the real deal.

Originally called "Bro Vapes", every Cosmetic Discount Vapor Brothers Vaporizer is brand new. These are factory fresh vaporizers, not refurbished. You can rest assured knowing that these vaporizers carry the full limited lifetime Vaporbrothers warranty. Did you ever check out the warranty on the knock-offs? (hint: there isn't one so don't waste you time)

Scratch & Dent - The Vaporbrothers Cosmetic Discount Vaporizer

Lower Price Solution

To help reduce the cost as much as possible, Vaporbrothers offers the bare bones package consisting of the vaporizer box and whip only. You can start vaping right out of the box as these are the only two parts essential for vaporizing.

Missing from the usual package, is the bamboo pick tool, aromabulb, aromatherapy blend sample, and organic essential oil sample (all of which are available individually on the VaporWarehouse site).

As another way to cut the price, Vaporbrothers substituted the EZ Change Whip with the classic clear glass whip that was stock until 2011. For an additional fee, VaporWarehouse offers the option to upgrade to the EZ Change Whip.

Honestly, most of the blemishes may be hard to spot to the untrained eye. It took me several minutes to find the blemish on a few of the boxes. Some of the imperfections, like a crazy knot in the wood, even add character to box. So if you don't mind a little dent or scratch and want to save some money, these beauties are for you.

Understanding the Basics of a Vaporbrothers Vaporizer Whip

2013-06-05T15:31:00-05:00

I don't think a day goes by that we don't receive a phone call from a customer confused about their vaporizer whip. With that in mind I will attempt to clear up some of the confusion.

What is a Vaporizer Whip?

When using a box style vaporizer like the Vaporbrothers, there are two main components: the box that houses the heat element, and the whip. A vaporizer whip is the piece that you load your blend into, place against the heat element, and inhale the vapor through.

The original Vaporbrothers vaporizer whip (what we now call the "classic", basically any whip that is not an EZ Change Whip) and the Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip consists of three main parts:
1) Handpiece or Wand - This is the part that houses the screen, holds the blend, and is placed to the heat element.
2) Hose or Tube - This is the part that connects the handpiece to the mouthpiece. Available in medical grade, clear plastic or white silicone.
3) Mouthpiece - The part that you hold to your mouth and inhale through. Available in clear & fancy glass, or ceramic.

The above photo shows the three main parts of the vaporizer whip. The vape whip displayed in this photo is the Hands Free EZ Change Vaporbrothers Whip that comes with the Hands Free Vaporbrothers Vaporizer.

Do you have a Hands Free or Standard Vaporizer?

When purchasing a replacement whip, you first need to figure out if you need Hands Free or Standard. Standard Whips are designed to be held to the heat element, they will not attach to the element. Hands Free Whips have a ground glass tip that allows the whip to create an airtight connection when used with a Hands Free Vaporizer. Depending on which glass blower produced the whip, either "HOT" or "CAUTION" is printed in red on the tip of the Hands Free Whips. If you have a Standard Vaporizer, you can only use standard whips. If you have a Hands Free Vaporizer, you can use either hands free or standard whips. Please see our very information page on the difference between Hands Free and Standard for a detailed breakdown between the two styles.

Vaporbrothers Vaporizer Whips are available in various styles: Classic, EZ Change, Clear Glass, Ceramic, Fancy Glass, or a combo of different styles. The photo above is an example of the various style Vaporbrothers Whips available. From left to right: the Clear Glass Classic Standard Whip, the Ceramic EZ Change Standard Whip, the Glass EZ Change Hands Free Whip, and the Knobby Hands Free Whip.

Clear Glass vs. Fancy Glass vs All Natural Mineral Whips

Originally all of the Vaporbrothers Whips were only available in either clear or fancy glass (colored, fritted, fumed, and knobby). The U.S. glass blowers Vaporbrothers employ use only the finest borosilicate glass to produce their vapor whips. In 2011, Vaporbrothers introduced the first all natural mineral EZ Change Whip. This ceramic whip is made from the material Vaporbrothers uses to produce their 100% pure ceramic heat element. While the white ceramic whips are more durable than their glass counterparts, some customers prefer the glass due to it's visibility. Ceramic Whips are only available in the EZ Change style, while the glass whips are available in both the EZ Change and Classic styles.

Classic Style or Easy Change Whips

Anyone that has ever gone through the process of changing a screen in the classic style vapor whips knows how difficult this can be. In 2009, Vaporbrothers revolutionized the easy screen change whips when they introduced their glass EZ Change Whip. Prior to the introduction of the Vaporbrothers EZ Change Whip, the knockoff easy change whips used metal and glue to hold the glass parts together. Vaporbrothers ditched both metal and glue, and created a connector made from medical grade silicone. This silicone connector, known as the Whip Grip, allows you to remove the Whip Tip by simply bending it off. No more screwing or twisting to get the tip off. A .625" screen rests on a lip inside the Whip Grip and is held in place by the Whip Tip. You can literally replace the screen in less than 10 seconds, thus the name EZ Change.

The other benefit that the EZ Change Whip provides is the use of either .625" stainless steel or .625" ceramic screens. The ceramic screens are made for those wanting to element metal from the air path. A couple downsides to the ceramic screens are the holes are larger than those on the stainless steel screens and allow small particles to get through the screen. Plus these holes tend to clog up with oil and are a bit harder to clean than their stainless steel counterparts. Vaporbrothers heat treat their stainless steel screens before releasing them to the public. There's really no safety issue with their screens as the heat needed to off gas would disintegrate your blend well before it released any toxins from the screen. As a word of caution, never use brass screens.

So which whip will you choose?

The ceramic EZ Change Whip or the clear glass Mini-Thin Whip or a limited edition hands free Artist Series Whip? I've spoke with customers that love the classic style whips and dislike the EZ Change, and viceversa. In the end only you can decide which style vaporizer whip is best for your needs. VaporWarehouse carries the full selection of Vaporbrothers Vaporizer Whips, including all replacement whip parts and accessories.

Dabbler Heater on Other Pen Vape Batteries

2013-05-23T16:53:00-05:00

Here's a question we saw posed on a very popular vaporizer forum the other day in regards to the portable Vaporbrothers vaporizer, Dabbler Vape-Pen:
"What's the word on putting these heaters on different units? Are they meant exclusively for the Dabbler body or are they like most vape pens, where only the volt and threading matter?"

Here is the response from Vaporbrothers to the question:
"My take is that it's risky to match a Dabbler heater with a bare battery from someone else. Dabbler's battery is microprocessor controlled and matched to the heater. Blowing up your heater on another battery is not covered by our warranty. Vice versa with the battery."

And here is VaporWarehouse's answer to that question:
"It is probably not a good idea and we have to agree with what Vaporbrothers said."

We've been experimenting at the Warehouse recently with just that very question and the results haven't been pretty. While you will not necessarily blow up your heater on another battery, they can easily kill your heater. What our experiments have shown us is that by using another brand battery, in our case VaporCone, the tip of the battery pushes up the center contact of the Dabbler Heater. If the center contact gets pushed up too far, the silicone ring rises above it and prevents the battery from making contact, rendering the Dabbler heater useless.

While the Dabbler may be priced higher than some of the other brands, there is reason for that higher price tag. When Vaporbrothers partnered up with Vape-Pen to produce the Dabbler, the principle engineer for the DaVinci Ascent portable vaporizer custom designed the microprocessor in the battery. This sets the Vaporbrothers Dabbler vaporizer apart from other pen vapes that are really just rebranded bases.

Protect your Vape Whip with a Whip Slip

2013-04-04T14:14:00-05:00

Looking for a way to protect the glass handpiece of your vaporizer whip? Check out the assortment of Whip Slips we carry at VaporWarehouse. Each Whip Slip is handmade made in the U.S.A. of heat resistant cloth and can withstand temperatures of up to 1000°F. Because of this you can put any vaporizer whip into the padded pouch even if the glass is still hot.

The special feature of the Whip Slip is it's inner lining that is made a blend of oxidized fiber fabric. Basically the same material that race car drivers' wear to protect themselves from possible flame. This material can withstand the direct flame of up to 1000°F with igniting, burning, or melting.

The Whip Slip's outer layer is made from either 100% cotton or a cotton blend and is available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. A cushioned batting is sandwiched between the outer and inner layers, adding a bit of protection against accidental bumps or drops.

The Whip Slip is designed to only hold the handpiece piece section of the whip. It was not intended to store the hose and mouthpiece. We highly recommend against putting the mouthpiece in the Whip Slip as debris from the handpiece usually ends up in the pouch.

This is a great way to protect your Vaporbrothers Whip.

Protect Your Vaporizer Whip with a Whip Slip

Additional Omicron & O-phos Vaporizer Tips

2012-10-07T19:49:00-05:00

The phone call with W9Tech also produced some information that is available in their product video but not included in with the Omicron and O-phos vaporizers themselves. It's good enough to include here:

• To avoid bad taste new cartridges should be burned in or "oxidized" prior to filling. Do this by holding the button for 5 seconds to heat the cartridge, then allow the cartridge to cool for at least 30 seconds and repeat this process at least 5 times.

• While doing the oxidizing make sure you look inside the cartridge to see the red glow of the heating element. If you do not see this red glow you may have a faulty cartridge and you should not fill this cartridge.

• Depending on use clean all contact points on base and cartridge every 3-7 days with 99% ISO alcohol and a Q-tip. You can also do this whenever the temp seems low.

• To prevent leakage start drawing air 1 second before pressing the button and continue drawing air a few seconds after letting go of the button.

• The optimal fill amount is.6 - .8 grams with .6 being slightly better.

Side by Side Comparison: Vaporbrothers Mini vs. Clear Hydrator

2012-04-24T11:32:00-05:00

Last month Vaporbrothers released the smaller side kick, the Mini Hydrator, to their already popular Clear Precision Hydrator. When I saw the Vaporbrothers Mini Hydrator for the first time, I thought it wasn't too "mini" next to the Vaporbrothers Clear Precision Hydrator.

At a quick glance the two bubblers look very similar. But upon closer inspection, the Clear Precision is a bit more elegant and finished looking. That may have to do with the female ground glass joints rising out of the body of the hydrator. Whereas with the Mini Hydrator, the only female ground glass joint is found tucked away inside the body giving it a squat or mini appearance next to the more regal Clear Precision Hydrator.

Both the Vaporbrothers Clear Precision and the Mini Hydrator are made in the U.S.A. from scientific, borosilicate glass. Each hydrator features the round old school Vaporbrothers logo (their logo has recently taken on a whole new appearance and can be found on the new Hands Free Vaporizer boxes) etched onto the glass body. The downstem on each hydrator is not removable. So if you break the downstem, it's game over.

One of the biggest differences between the two hydrators, is the redesigned mouthpiece found on the Mini. Vaporbrothers decided to make the Mini's mouthpiece non-removable. While it gives the Mini a rather clunky appearance, it adds a safety measure to the hydrator. The removable mouthpiece on the Clear Precision hydrator could literally be the downfall of that model. If someone grabbed the CP Hydrator by the mouthpiece and were not quick to react, the result usually ends up being a shattered hydrator. To those that use extra care, the removable mouthpiece on the Clear Precision offers extra advantages. If you break the mouthpiece on the Mini good luck trying to replace it, with the CP VaporWarehouse sells replacement mouthpieces for that hydrator. The other advantage, is with the use of a 14mm ground glass h2o adapter, a hose (VaporWarehouse recommends using Vaporbrothers Silicone hoses with all hydrators), and a mouthpiece of your choice you can extend of the reach of the hydrator. VaporWarehouse recommends using the Vaporbrothers Silicone Hose as they are much more flexible than the Vaporbrothers Clear Hoses.

Vaporists looking for diffusion, the Mini is the clear hands down winner. Unlike the Clear Precision, that has 3 slits on the bottom of the downstem, the Mini has five diffusion slits. Two on each side and one on the bottom for diffusion at it's finest.

Each Hydrator has it's own pluses and minuses. It's up to you to decide which one best suits your needs. If the budget is tight or you have clumsy friends go with the Vaporbrothers Mini Hydrator (although it's probably best to keep those friends away from all your glass). If you are more concerned with appearance or want more versatility, definitely go with the Vaporbrothers Clear Precision Hydrator. Both are great choices, there's no loser here.

Vaporbrothers Clear Precision vs. Mini Hydrator

	Vaporbrothers Mini Hydrator	Vaporbrothers Clear Precison
Bottom Circumference	7 7/8"	8 1/2"
Upper Circumference	6 3/8"	6 3/8"
Body Height	3 6/8"	4 1/8"
Height with H2O Adaptor	4 7/8"	6 5/8"
Height with Mouthpiece	7"	8 5/8"
Diffusion Slits	5	3
Mouthpiece	Non-removeable	14mm
Downstem Adaptor Size	14mm Angled	19mm Angled
Removeable Downstem	No	No
Weight	6.1 oz.	6.6 oz.

Vapor to Air Ratio

2010-02-09T17:54:00-06:00

Recently VaporWarehouse received a question from a customer that we felt worth sharing with everyone. We consulted the good people over at Vaporbrothers and here was their response.

Q: What is the vape to air ratio on the handsfree and regular?

A: With the Vapor Brothers Hands Free vaporizer, you get 100% of the air from the heater going through the blend. Hits can be hot and strong so you run a HF vap at a lower setting. With the Vapor Bros Standard Vaporizer, it’s more like a 50-50 mix of air from the heater and cool air entering from nearby. The air mixing gives the blend a more even browning.

Not sure about vape to air ratio downstream of the screen. All we know is that we get outrageously strong hits off small amounts of blend, with a taste beyond what we’ve experienced before. Vaporbrothers in general owes its success to maximizing the experience rather than paying attention to any individual numbers. But we also love numbers so please let us know more what you want to know, and we’ll check into it.

What paint should you use on your Vapor Brothers Vaporizer?

2009-09-15T21:30:00-05:00

Q: "I was planning on painting the outside of my vapor brothers vaporizer, and I was wondering what kind of paint you would recommend? Thank you for your time."

Vaporbrothers A: "Nice question! We've seen all sorts of paints and stains stick to our vaporizer, whether stinky spraypaint enamels or acrylic, polyurethanes, lacquer, artistic oil paint, wax based stain. I recommend all these except the sprayed enamel. Our vaporizer is currently coated in "low-voc" paints and other special coatings that don't change over time with high temperature. Prep the vap by sanding it well and clean with a little bit of acetone. "

A Good Question

2009-05-06T18:44:00-05:00

This came from a customer today and we thought was worth sharing with everyone.

Q: What Vaporbrothers Vaporizer accessories do you think are worth the extra money to make vaporizing or maintenance easier?
A: The essential accessories for vaporizing are:

Spare Vaporbrothers Whip - They are glass and will break if not handled properly
Grinder - it is important to break up the blend, a course grind is best
Screens - periodically it is necessary to change the screens, good air flow is a must
Metal Pick Tool - in addition to the bamboo pick tool that comes with your Vapor Brothers vaporizer, you will need both the bamboo and metal pick to change the screens

Vapor Brothers Hands Free vs. Regular

2009-01-08T19:25:00-06:00

Many people call us up and they say "hey, what's the difference between Hands Free and Regular?". That's usually what they say. Well Vapor Warehouse now has a very good answer for them but you are going to have to click to get the answer.

So for those of you wondering if you should buy a Hands Free Vaporbrothers Vaporizer or Regular Vaporizer Whips, don't stop now click here to find out: Vapor Brothers Hands Free vs. Regular Vaporizers.

A different use for Tea Tree Essential Oil

2008-07-31T10:54:00-05:00

Did you know that Tea Tree Essential Oil is yet another oil you can put in your ear to help loosen up ear wax? Not only does it help loosen and remove ear wax, but it's also a natural astringent. Because it's a natural astringent, Tea Tree Essential Oil may kill any bacteria or fungi that might be found in your ear canal as well.

Vapor Brothers Hands Free Vaporizers

2008-07-24T12:36:00-05:00

Many customers still don't know the difference between the Vapor Brothers Hands Free Vaporizer and the Regular Vaporbrothers Vaporizer. Of course 99.9% of those customers probably won't read this blog so it I guess it doesn't really matter anyway. But for those of you reading this and that don't know the difference let me try and help you out.

Both models look identical, the difference lies in the 100% pure natural mineral heat element (or in other words ceramic) which is found on each model. Both the Hands Free Whip and the heat element on the Hands Free Vaporizer have a ground glass tip. The Hands Free Whip slides over the heat element on the Vapor Brothers Hands Free Vaporizer and provides a snug connection that holds the whip in place. With the Regular Vaporbrothers Vaporizer you have to hold the whip to the heat element each time you take a draw.

And no, you cannot buy an attachment to turn your Regular Vaporbrothers Vaporizer into a Hands Free unit. That's another question we frequently get. So hopefully this shed some light on the differences. Have a great day and let the sun shine through...

Need Help Replacing Your Vapor Brothers Screens?

2008-04-09T12:21:00-05:00

Trust us, we know how frustrating it can be trying to change the screen in your Vapor Brothers whips for the first or even the fifth time. Our good friends over at Vaporbrothers have created an outstanding educational video to help you change the screen for your Vapor Brothers whips & vaporizers. Check out their video over at YouTube.

Setting Your Vapor Brothers Vaporizer

2007-10-01T16:37:00-05:00

One of the most common questions we get is "What temperature should a Vapor Brothers vaporizer be set to?". Because the experience is unique with each user there is no definitive answer. However we can offer some guidelines to help make your Vaporbrothers vaporizer experience a pleasant one.

If you are using a Vapor Brothers Aromabulb we recommend setting the knob to the lowest heat position (facing to the left). Not much heat is needed to release the exotic fragrances from essential oils. Using a Vaporbrothers Aromabulb with Aura Cacia Organic Essential Oils is a great way to set the mood in any room.

If you are using Vapor Brothers Organic Blends with your Vaporbrothers vaporizer we recommend setting the knob to the middle (facing straight up or in the 12 o'clock position). Because the amount of air that passes through the heat element is what mainly causes the blends to vaporizer you will need to adjust the knob to the position that workds best for you. Start out in the middle and work your way up or down depneding on the strength of your draws. Your blend should turn brown not black and smell like burnt popcorn when you are finished. If it turns black you should adjust the heat down.