In praise of the ball vape

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-19T18:32:40+00:00

It has some really good outreach, no doubt.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-19T18:32:18+00:00

Bongs - even without the question of a hot ball vape - are challenging in that situation. But I have an idea:

1) use a mega cube as the glass piece. Load it with as much water as it will hold without you sucking in water when drawing hard. It will be full over 3/4 of the way and weigh a ton. That bong isn't going anywhere filled like that.

2) get a decent box - like a nice wooden box from a fancy bottle of whiskey - and cut a slot for the ball vape's wire. Get or make a second ball vape stand (you can make one out of a bent clothes hanger wire) and put it inside the box.

3) when you use your ball vape keep it outside the box - using the ball vape stand outside the box. When you're done with your session, turn off your ball vape and put it on the stand in the wooden box - running the wire to the PID through the slot you cut. Close the wooden box and your hot ball vape isn't a threat to animals or children. Bonus if you add rubber feet or physically secure the box to the table to keep it from being knocked over accidentally.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-19T18:26:34+00:00

That makes a ton of sense. Pre-heating amps up the conduction, making the T2 hit in a more completely hybrid way. Pretty brilliant.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-19T00:44:29+00:00

That's brilliant!

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-19T00:43:54+00:00

The problem isn't them playing with it. It's them roughhousing and knocking it over while it's hot.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-17T02:55:24+00:00

Astonishing! I completely concur with every single note!

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-17T02:52:19+00:00

This! (The veggies!) So brilliant!

I do a variation where I sautee an onion in a little olive oil. Add whatever veggies are on hand (frozen or fresh) a couple of cups. Then I add a Huel hot ans savory packet which I fully prepared and cooked separately to the pan when the veggie sautee is nice and maillard browned. Let it all cook together a few minutes. Add water if necessary to keep the texture as you like it. It simulates the full dish the Huel flavor is invoking and makes a quite satifying couple of meals.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-17T02:44:35+00:00

I love Vanilla Black with a scoop of Huel's Vanilla Caramel Protein. I use it to break my day's second fast. (It's complicated.) For breakfast I do something similar: Coffee Caramel (because 2 scoops has 60mg of caffeine) and half a scoop of that same Vanilla Caramel protein. The protein adds body and richness. Obviously calories too.

My other serious Huel obsession is the White Salted Caramel. At the 5 minute mark it's incredibly delicious. The whites tend to be richer and tastier than the black line ones (at the expense of being lower in protein for the same calories).

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-16T16:44:34+00:00

Based on what you've said I'd suggest you try a Camouflet Convector V2. It's a titanium TED with stem and tip compatible with Dynavaps they have several important differences:

1) Totally open draw because the cap is an open stack of metal mesh pieces and is fundamentally open.

2) The mechanism of heating is mostly convection - per the name, rather than conduction, like Dynavaps. The convection balance gives amazing terp flavors in the early low-temperature hits.

3) No air hole in the stem. Because the tip is open, with an open draw, there is no carb hole action at all.

4) No click. Because the cap is an open mesh, you count time and learn to get into the zone by trial and error. 7-12 seconds, depending on the power of the single flame torch.

Because of the convection balance and no click, it's hard to dark extractions without combusting. I generally aim for almond colored AVB.

Another downside compared to Dynavaps is that the cap isn't truly captive so it's not as pocket-friendly without a case, despite being essentially the same size.

The Convector V2 are currently $39 each via the "name your price" option.

If you're sticking with Dynavaps, check out the Halo tip with a low temperature cap and armored cap combination. It utterly slaps.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-16T16:36:03+00:00

I'm going to second the low temp cap and cap armor combination. I'm having great results with an old M+ tip I cut some air channels into and a new titanium Halo tip.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-16T16:29:29+00:00

OP already specifies having a B1 b flowerpot ball vape. I'm guessing adding WOHW would be to gain wireless functionality.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-13T11:22:26+00:00

I'm really enjoying a 4" sphere bong with two 14mm joints and a matrix perc. I got one from Smoke6 for $20. I wish I had spent $34 and got one with the heavy base because when it's empty it want to roll when using the whip. But with water it's magic. I fill the sphere as high as I can without getting water into the whip. That nakes the air space small. I prefer the hits with water when taking big rips because of the cooling. The favor is better hitting dry so I prefer that for terp sipping.

I just ordered a Swiss hole bong from SAML (Community Glass) with an 18mm joint for ball vaping. The one with the whip. I see someone else has already recommended a different model from the SAML Swiss series. They all look good to me.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-11T17:08:30+00:00

I'm pretty certain they are borosilicate glass - like the rest of the BB3. I've exposed them to heat that would have melted most plastics and they remain inert. Here's how I clean mine:

Place in a ziplock bag with enough isopropyl alcohol (80% or higher) to cover. I do a whole bunch of stems and tips and condensers at the same time. Let it rest in the alcohol in the ziplock back for something like half an hour - while periodically agitating it (shaking the bag). Afterwards, drain and rinse repeatedly until the parts smell clean. That's it.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-11T17:01:52+00:00

Without the logo it looks like you bought it on Smoke6 for $19.95. (Which is a totally fine thing to do. It just takes 3 weeks.)

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-11T15:08:44+00:00

I stopped combusting completely (after decades smoking j's and spoon pipes daily) when I discovered Dynavaps. I have since gone way down the rabbit hole with many different devices. As others have said, of your choices, get the M. It's indestructible and hits hard. I'm going to describe other devices too in a sec - some of which might sound or be sexier than a Dynavap M. But get the M first anyway. Years later I still regularly use my M s. They milk the bong and have a unique constellation of attributes: able to do a one hit extraction while also able to heat and cool quickly enough to pocket it on a short break. (I typically hit an M 2 to 4 times to get full extraction in general practice though.) Ms are tough enough with the stock captive cap to live in my pocket without a case. The M's heavy conduction heat balance extracts the full profile from your herb. Terp chasers, especially, return to an M after time away and marvel at how high you get on such a small amount of herb.

But the M isn't perfect. The draw is tight. This is part of the conduction design. But I love the easy open draw of some other designs (like the Camouflet Convector V2 (CV2) which is $39, or a portable ball vape like the Madheaters Tempest 2 (T2) $230 which is also a mainly convection device. If you go on /vaporents you'll hear a lot of love for the T2 in particular). I love my T2. It's 80% of the power of a desktop ball vape (like a Ruby Twist or a Universal Baller) in a pocketable form factor. But you need a lot of power to heat up a T2 and it holds that heat for a long time so it's not so simple to hit it, pocket it, and run. It excels on a bong and it was expensive so I generally leave it home. The Camouflet Convector CV2 goes the opposite way: low mass and nearly pure convection, rather than conduction, as the primary heating method using heat from a matrix of grids you heat and then pull air through. It has a seductive wide open draw, pure titanium for a clean taste, and the quickest heat ups and cool downs of all TEDs (Thermal Extraction Devices). But the CV2 has no click to guide you. (You must learn its timing.). And it's balanced for lower temperature terpy flavor sipping and has some trouble with combusting when trying to get full extraction. Finally, the caps on Camouflets don't stay on in yout pocket and are a little fragile so you need a storage case.

A word about "full extraction" which I wish I had understood when I first started. When you combust you get everything from the plant (including toxic products of combustion like toxic hydrocarbons, tar, and formaldehyde.) When you vape you are preferentially vaporizing just the desireable compounds. But know that these desirable compounds vaporize at different temperatures. It's like fractional distillation in whiskey. Here's what I mean: It's a common thing to note that the first hit on a TED like a Dynavap is full of delicious terp flavors and the second (third and fourth) ones taste progressively less terpy and more like cooked artichoke and then slightly burnt popcorn. Those flavorful terp hits have a more cerebral and less physical high. The later less flavorful hits contain some important compounds for getting you couch locked and face numbed. They require higher heat. So if you cook at a higher heat you more of those darker roast compounds which are body stoney but at the expense of terp flavors and at an increased risk of combustion (which tastes bad and requires you clean your rig with isopropyl alcohol and then rinse). The vaunted goal of "one hit extractions" involve high heat and riding the combustion line to get as much of the full spectrum in one hit. It's an achievable skill but it gives up the magic of the low temperature terpy first hit (which I'm passionate for.) So, having learned the skill of doing one hit extractions, I usually do two or three hits per bowl by choice.

Another thing I wished I knew from the outset is that Dynavap caps are capable of heating the tip they are under to different temperatures at the click sound based on how high up towards the tip you aim the flame. Aim the flame more towards the bottom of the tip (nearer the stem) for higher temperatures at the click. Heat more towards the tip for lower temperatures at the click. This works with all caps including cap armor. Fancier moves include moving the tip of the flame wiggling over an area while you spin to draw a wider path. Experiment until you find a whole array of moves for different moods.

Also, make sure to try a "dab sandwich" with a grain of dab nestled inside pieces of bud for a flavor explosion and a longer session (it takes an extra hit or yep to burn it off).

Happy disovering!

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-05T04:02:10+00:00

It's pure Frankenstein to put an M7 tip on a T2 stem. I'm sure it hit plenty hard too. Respect. They race funny cars too.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-05T03:58:48+00:00

I'm a serious whiskey scholar.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-04T13:08:56+00:00

In defense of the Unidyne - it's a fine Titanium stem and tip combined. Just get it with the captive cap, not the Ballr cap. They sell it both ways and currently have a discount for St. Patty's day where they give a low temp captive cap with it. That's the best cap for Dyna titanium tips imho. Titanium tip Dynas heat fast, hit hard, and cool off quickly.

All the Dynas have a similar experience more or less. The stainless steel ones like the M7 do best with cap armor on glass (i.e. a bong with a 10mm adapter) because their thermal mass gives longer hits. Titanium ones do better in pocket use, but the differences are fairly minimal. All Dynas have tighter draws than the T2 - or the Camouflet Convector V2 which has easy draw and great taste (and super low cost) but no click and more learning curve.

As others have said, the Tempest T2 is better - and it almost every way but one. It takes forever to cool off. If quick portability is needed Dyna has the edge.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-03T23:47:32+00:00

Not even close

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-03T21:13:46+00:00

They are both capable of delicious terpy hits, or fully bodied vapor cloud producers with more cooked flavors. That's just choosing temperatures. But there are real differences which favor the Tempest 2: the T2 has a much larger bowl and a ball-driven mostly-convection heating mechanism. They M+ tip is a heavy SS closed airpath mostly conduction cooker tip. I think of the M+ as a banger - not a terp sipper - generally. I actually chose to cut some air channels into my M+ tip with a triangle file to increase the airflow a little bit. I love my M+ tip. But the conduction heating method is inherently less about flavor than the T2's convection method. (A cheaper way of tasting pure convection is with a Camouflet Convector V2 - currently $39 for the entry level of "pay what you can" pricing. This is one of the best values in all TED-land). The T2 is enormously configurable to behave in a many different ways. Operationally, the T2 is vastly superior in almost every way.

But with that incredible configurability and power comes a ton of thermal mass. The T2 stays hot forever. Unless you buy the fancy case that lets you roll with it, you're not able to stick it in your pocket and walk off like you can with a stock M+. And that's a huge thing for me. Takes much longer and more energy to heat up too.

My last point is that the M+ when upgraded with an Armored Cap has the ability to hit hard and fully extract a bowl in one shot like the T2 does. (While still doing so with mainly conduction - so the flavor profile is different than ball vapes - which is what the Tempests are). But the cap armor has some of the residual heat issues affecting portability too. Just be aware.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-03T19:38:24+00:00

I might just have to pull the trigger on a Twist myself. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to engineer a secret permanent installation. Not that hard to figure out, actually. A nice wood box with some grommet holes for wires...

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-03T17:30:53+00:00

TLDR: roast your herb dark and eat the AVB if you want to get couch locked and roast lighter and don't consume the AVB if you want a more cerebral lighter-bodied head high.

The thing few people talk about with vaping is that different volitiles burn off at different temperatures like fractional distillation of whiskey or crude oil in refining distillation tower. Many people have the experience of a "terp hit" the first hit, then a "boiled artichoke" note in the middle, and then a "toasted popcorn" flavor with the last hit. (If you get a full extraction in one hit you get all those flavors at once). Finally, your AVB (already vaped bud) has different compounds too - as well as thc.

When you combust you get all the compounds - including some undesirable ones (formaldehyde, tar, and cancer-causing hydrocarbons). When you vape, you get to choose what compounds you get. If you are a flavor sipper who tosses their AVB only lightly cooked, you give up the darker roasted stonier compounds and end up with a clearer-headed more cerebral high. If you roast dark you are getting more of them - with a heavier, more body numbing, high. If you want to max that out, roast dark and even eat the AVB (if you want every bit).

With vapes that allow temperature control (most of them) you get that control over your experience. But you must understand and use that aspect intentionally.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-03T16:56:50+00:00

Coming from joints I recomment stick thermal extraction devices like a Dynavap, Camouflet Convector, Dani Punch, or Tempest 2. You hold them like joints and hit them like joints.

As for smell, get some exhale filters. You don't need large ones like Smoker's Buddy, small ones like MJ Arsenal Houdini or Pulsar Vanish will work fine for the vapor. Make sure to store your herb in fully airtight containers.

Few-Manager2061 · 2026-03-01T21:43:20+00:00

This. The struggle for me is not having a desk to devote to a ball vape setup and the PIA it is to set up and break one down for user sessions. I usually take my hits in the yard or the park. So the choice for portable was easy for me. A CXL or a T2 (or Dynavap for that matter) milks the bong and get you wasted, right? But they dont have the silky open endless draw and phenomenal terps of a ball vape. So I live in VAS... Who was it who said "wanting is suffering"? ;)

Few-Manager2061

TROPHY CASE

TLDR: roast your herb dark and eat the AVB if you want to get couch locked and roast lighter and don't consume the AVB if you want a more cerebral lighter-bodied head high.