AndyBotwin
Weed Whisperer
VAPORIZER NAME: Silver Surfer Vaporizer (standard glass)
TYPE OF VAPORIZER (home or portable): Home
DRAW METHOD (whip,bag,attached mouthpiece or drawn direct from unit): Whip
COMPATIBLE MATERIAL (herb,oil or both): Herb
COST(feel free to add link to store):-$229 after 15% discount at: http://www.vapornation.com/silver-surfer-vaporizer.html
ACCESSORIES (have you added anything eg water cooler): None yet but lots of available accessories and custom bits
QUALITY OF VAPOR (eg thick tasty plooms to no visible vapor with plastic taste): Large clouds if desired, taste is fantastic
PERSONAL THOUGHTS (please be frank,if the vaporiser is poor we want to know): See below
PICS AND LINK (please add a picture of your vape with a link to the manufacturer): http://silversurfervap.com/index.php
I received my SSV around two weeks ago and I have spent quite a bit of time getting used to it and experimenting with different methods. As you would expect given the price, this is a high-end home unit that delivers excellent vapor both in quality and quantity. The unit comes fully equipped with a padded carrying case, whip assembly (custom glass mouthpiece and wand w/3' of vinyl tubing), heating unit, glass marble stirring tool, extra screens, and instructions. I ordered the standard silver unit and mine came with matching glass in various shades of blue and green. Everything in the package is top notch quality and you can tell the 7th Floor really pays attention to every detail.
It will likely be a rare occasion when I travel with my SSV, but I will have no concerns about its safety within the excellent case. The outside is a durable woven fabric material, and the inside is a thickly padded velvet lining. The SSV is quite heavy, and given the fact that you have delicate glass parts included, you would not want to just throw this stuff in a backpack. With the sturdiness of the case and the custom fit pockets and compartments, you really can take this vaporizer anywhere.
The vaporizer unit is a heavy base with a cylinder of aluminum that oozes quality. I haven't measured the cord but it's very long so you could easily pass this thing around a large room. On the front is a temperature control knob made of custom glass that really adds to the character of the unit. It does not have specific temperature settings, but rather a range from off at 7 o'clock working clockwise through 6 o'clock which is full blast. I usually start the unit by turning it on the maximum for a few minutes and then backing it off to my desired range - more on this later. Some people would prefer more precise temperature settings, but I'm an old MFLB user, so managing my own vaporization with temps and airflow is not difficult. The photo below shows the knob in the off position along with the wand which has matching glass.
One ergonomic gripe I have about the SSV is that the knob is on the front of the unit while the heating element in on the back. Not a big deal, but if you want to dial in a different temperature while vaping you have to spin the unit around to see the knob. It looks better with the knob where it is, but it would be more functional if the knob was on the side or back. On to the heating element and what makes this vaporizer unique. As you can see below, there is a ceramic heater enclosed in glass cover. The hole on the lower part of the glass allows fresh air to be drawn into the heater cover, heated by the element, and delivered straight into your herbs.
To my knowledge, the SSV is the only wand style vaporizer that does not allow the air you breathe to pass over any plastic, metal, or circuitry inside the unit. This gives you the cleanest possible vapor and the flavor is fantastic. It's very simple to use but can take a bit of practice to master as there are several factors in play - the moisture content of the herbs, how fine the grind is, how loosely or tightly you pack the wand, the speed that you draw air through the whip, and the temperature of the unit. So while you have a lot of flexibility of how to use the unit, don't necessarily expect to get perfect vapor the first few times you use it.
One other point worth mentioning is that there are three different configurations of heater cover and wand. Standard non-ground glass (what I have), ground glass, and spherical ground glass.
The standard wand must be held up to the heating element while drawing, while the ground glass locks together to make for hands-free operation. The spherical ground glass functions like the standard wand, but provides a larger wand and connection area. The glass heater cover can be easily replaced, so you are not locked into a single configuration with the SSV. I personally have no interest in the ground glass simply because vaporization works best when you keep the wand moving, not to mention the fact that constantly disconnecting the wand to stir it defeats the purpose of having a hands-free unit. If you would like a compromise between the two, 7th Floor makes a hands-free attachment that can be used with any wand type:
I have ordered a spherical ground glass heater cover and wand, and I'll update this review when I receive it. Until then, here's how the unit operates with the standard components. Dip the end of the wand into your ground herbs and fill the chamber approximately 1/4 full. I find that a medium grind is best with the SSV - not too course, but also not powdery like some vaporizers require. Gently pack the material down with the marble on the end of the stirring pick and you're ready to go. Remember you're loading a vape not a cannon, so don't pack the herb down into a solid block!
Press the wand against the glass heater cover and away you go! Actually it's not quite that simple, and this is where you'll need to experiment and find what works best for you. When I first started out, I found that I was drawing way too slow based on my experience with the MFLB. I was just not getting the vapor that I wanted no matter what temperature I used. Over time I learned to draw a bit faster so I could hear the air flowing through the hole in the heater cover, but not so fast that it sounds like you're playing a flute or something.
I find that for the best results, I need to rotate the wand around during the draw to get even heating of the herb. Being able to manipulate the wand during use is a big benefit of not having the hands-free setup. After each draw I use the pick to stir the material around. Generally I'll start around the 2 o'clock position, and as the material is used up, I'll sometimes raise up the temp to get the last out of it. If you are sharing with someone who does not have much experience with slow draws on a whip style vaporizer, I suggest filling the wand a little more and packing it down fairly tight, then setting the temp to the maximum. This will still give you great clouds of vapor even with a faster draw from someone more used to hitting a pipe. It does not use the herb the most efficiently, though.
Cleaning the unit is a breeze. Pop out the screen which is covered in a hash like residue that you'll want to save if possible. I brush it out into a kief tray but you could also hold the screen up to a flame and inhale the vapors. The other pieces just need to be dipped in ISO or whatever other method you use for cleaning resin. While the glass can be seen as a downside due to concerns about breaking, it definitely makes it easy to keep clean.
One other point worth mentioning is that there are tons of customization options available to personalize your SSV. Everything from covers for the main unit to every kind of custom glass you can imagine. This vaporizer is one that you can expect to enjoy for many years, so being able to make it your own is a nice touch.
Overall I'm very happy with the SSV and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to move into high end vaporizing. There is no option to use a bag with this unit, but I would never use it anyway. It's a fair tradeoff when you consider the clean taste of the vapor as well as the lack of fans and other complex circuitry and parts that could break over time. Thanks for reading & feel free to hit me with any questions you may have!
TYPE OF VAPORIZER (home or portable): Home
DRAW METHOD (whip,bag,attached mouthpiece or drawn direct from unit): Whip
COMPATIBLE MATERIAL (herb,oil or both): Herb
COST(feel free to add link to store):-$229 after 15% discount at: http://www.vapornation.com/silver-surfer-vaporizer.html
ACCESSORIES (have you added anything eg water cooler): None yet but lots of available accessories and custom bits
QUALITY OF VAPOR (eg thick tasty plooms to no visible vapor with plastic taste): Large clouds if desired, taste is fantastic
PERSONAL THOUGHTS (please be frank,if the vaporiser is poor we want to know): See below
PICS AND LINK (please add a picture of your vape with a link to the manufacturer): http://silversurfervap.com/index.php
I received my SSV around two weeks ago and I have spent quite a bit of time getting used to it and experimenting with different methods. As you would expect given the price, this is a high-end home unit that delivers excellent vapor both in quality and quantity. The unit comes fully equipped with a padded carrying case, whip assembly (custom glass mouthpiece and wand w/3' of vinyl tubing), heating unit, glass marble stirring tool, extra screens, and instructions. I ordered the standard silver unit and mine came with matching glass in various shades of blue and green. Everything in the package is top notch quality and you can tell the 7th Floor really pays attention to every detail.
It will likely be a rare occasion when I travel with my SSV, but I will have no concerns about its safety within the excellent case. The outside is a durable woven fabric material, and the inside is a thickly padded velvet lining. The SSV is quite heavy, and given the fact that you have delicate glass parts included, you would not want to just throw this stuff in a backpack. With the sturdiness of the case and the custom fit pockets and compartments, you really can take this vaporizer anywhere.
The vaporizer unit is a heavy base with a cylinder of aluminum that oozes quality. I haven't measured the cord but it's very long so you could easily pass this thing around a large room. On the front is a temperature control knob made of custom glass that really adds to the character of the unit. It does not have specific temperature settings, but rather a range from off at 7 o'clock working clockwise through 6 o'clock which is full blast. I usually start the unit by turning it on the maximum for a few minutes and then backing it off to my desired range - more on this later. Some people would prefer more precise temperature settings, but I'm an old MFLB user, so managing my own vaporization with temps and airflow is not difficult. The photo below shows the knob in the off position along with the wand which has matching glass.
One ergonomic gripe I have about the SSV is that the knob is on the front of the unit while the heating element in on the back. Not a big deal, but if you want to dial in a different temperature while vaping you have to spin the unit around to see the knob. It looks better with the knob where it is, but it would be more functional if the knob was on the side or back. On to the heating element and what makes this vaporizer unique. As you can see below, there is a ceramic heater enclosed in glass cover. The hole on the lower part of the glass allows fresh air to be drawn into the heater cover, heated by the element, and delivered straight into your herbs.
To my knowledge, the SSV is the only wand style vaporizer that does not allow the air you breathe to pass over any plastic, metal, or circuitry inside the unit. This gives you the cleanest possible vapor and the flavor is fantastic. It's very simple to use but can take a bit of practice to master as there are several factors in play - the moisture content of the herbs, how fine the grind is, how loosely or tightly you pack the wand, the speed that you draw air through the whip, and the temperature of the unit. So while you have a lot of flexibility of how to use the unit, don't necessarily expect to get perfect vapor the first few times you use it.
One other point worth mentioning is that there are three different configurations of heater cover and wand. Standard non-ground glass (what I have), ground glass, and spherical ground glass.
The standard wand must be held up to the heating element while drawing, while the ground glass locks together to make for hands-free operation. The spherical ground glass functions like the standard wand, but provides a larger wand and connection area. The glass heater cover can be easily replaced, so you are not locked into a single configuration with the SSV. I personally have no interest in the ground glass simply because vaporization works best when you keep the wand moving, not to mention the fact that constantly disconnecting the wand to stir it defeats the purpose of having a hands-free unit. If you would like a compromise between the two, 7th Floor makes a hands-free attachment that can be used with any wand type:
I have ordered a spherical ground glass heater cover and wand, and I'll update this review when I receive it. Until then, here's how the unit operates with the standard components. Dip the end of the wand into your ground herbs and fill the chamber approximately 1/4 full. I find that a medium grind is best with the SSV - not too course, but also not powdery like some vaporizers require. Gently pack the material down with the marble on the end of the stirring pick and you're ready to go. Remember you're loading a vape not a cannon, so don't pack the herb down into a solid block!
Press the wand against the glass heater cover and away you go! Actually it's not quite that simple, and this is where you'll need to experiment and find what works best for you. When I first started out, I found that I was drawing way too slow based on my experience with the MFLB. I was just not getting the vapor that I wanted no matter what temperature I used. Over time I learned to draw a bit faster so I could hear the air flowing through the hole in the heater cover, but not so fast that it sounds like you're playing a flute or something.
I find that for the best results, I need to rotate the wand around during the draw to get even heating of the herb. Being able to manipulate the wand during use is a big benefit of not having the hands-free setup. After each draw I use the pick to stir the material around. Generally I'll start around the 2 o'clock position, and as the material is used up, I'll sometimes raise up the temp to get the last out of it. If you are sharing with someone who does not have much experience with slow draws on a whip style vaporizer, I suggest filling the wand a little more and packing it down fairly tight, then setting the temp to the maximum. This will still give you great clouds of vapor even with a faster draw from someone more used to hitting a pipe. It does not use the herb the most efficiently, though.
Cleaning the unit is a breeze. Pop out the screen which is covered in a hash like residue that you'll want to save if possible. I brush it out into a kief tray but you could also hold the screen up to a flame and inhale the vapors. The other pieces just need to be dipped in ISO or whatever other method you use for cleaning resin. While the glass can be seen as a downside due to concerns about breaking, it definitely makes it easy to keep clean.
One other point worth mentioning is that there are tons of customization options available to personalize your SSV. Everything from covers for the main unit to every kind of custom glass you can imagine. This vaporizer is one that you can expect to enjoy for many years, so being able to make it your own is a nice touch.
Overall I'm very happy with the SSV and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to move into high end vaporizing. There is no option to use a bag with this unit, but I would never use it anyway. It's a fair tradeoff when you consider the clean taste of the vapor as well as the lack of fans and other complex circuitry and parts that could break over time. Thanks for reading & feel free to hit me with any questions you may have!
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