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Volcano Vaporizer Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided here appears courtesy of Storz
& Bickel.
Why does the Volcano cost more
than other Vaporizers?
In developing the Volcano our aim was to offer a Vaporizer
with in all respects outstanding features. We not
only focused on top-quality material and workmanship
- a matter of fact for us - but primarily on offering
the user a safe device for convenient application
which is easy to operate. In addition, it was our
intention to create the prerequisites for an efficient
and controlled vaporization.
In order to achieve optimum results, a Vaporizer requires
a membrane pump to evenly pump air, a heat accumulator
to evenly heat the air and a valve technology to ensure
a simple, reliable and convenient application. If
you read through the section on the Volcano technology
you will see why that is the case. Those features
are only offered by the Volcano.
Other vaporizers which are supposedly "equally
good" can be a heavy pull on your purse if you
decide to stop using them, because you are dissatisfied
with their performance and then simply leave the equipment
standing around unused.
Due to our experience with vaporizers - and as a matter
of fact we are familiar with all models available
on the market - we are absolutely convinced that the
Volcano offers the best price-performance ratio.
For the rest, we would like to draw your attention
to the "The common law of business balance"
which the English social reformer John Ruskin (1819-1900)
worded over 100 years ago and which is as relevant
today as it was at that time:
"There is hardly anything in the world that someone
cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper,
and the people who consider price alone are that person's
lawful prey.
It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay
too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little
money - that is all. When you pay too little, you
sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought
was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to
do.
The common law of business balance prohibits paying
a little and getting a lot - it can't be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to
add something for the risk you run, and if you do
that you will have enough to pay for something better."
What happens in the event of guarantee or repair?
In the event of any defect you are recommended to
send the complete device back to us with all parts.
If the defect has occurred on the grounds of a material
or construction error within the warranty period,
we will eliminate the defect free of charge.
If the defect was caused by you, e.g. because you
dropped your Vaporizer, we will send you an estimate
for the repair and will do the repair at short notice
as soon as you have agreed to accept our estimate.
As we have hardly received any complaints since we
started selling our product in November 2000 and we
are convinced of the high quality and service performance
of our products, we have extended our warranty period
to 3 years.
Of course, that also applies with retroactive effect
to all Volcanos we have manufactured to date.
Can I also subsequently order individual parts?
Yes, of course. If you lose parts of the valve set
(valve, filling chamber, mouthpiece), you can order
any of these individual parts. If parts of the Volcano
(hot air generator) have been damaged, e.g. because
you dropped it, you have to send your Volcano to our
premises in Tuttlingen, as only our company is authorised
to carry out repairs to the electrical device.
Which parts of the Volcano-Inhalator are subject
to wear and tear?
First of all the balloon, which has to be replaced
by a new balloon after cleaning the valve set in regular
intervals (after 50 - 100 balloon fillings). The balloon
used is a Melitta® Toppits Bratschlauch Type "extrabreit".
(Melitta® Toppits oven hose - type extra-wide).
You can purchase that product at many drugstores and
supermarkets at a low price or directly from us.
A roll with 3 metres of this product is enclosed with
each Volcano, that is sufficient for 5-6 balloons.
You may also use other oven hoses or oven bags, e.g.
in the U.S.A. use Reynolds® oven bags Type "large".
By far less seldom (approx. 1x per year in everyday
use) it may be necessary to replace the filling chamber
screens.
Each complete set is furnished with 4 top and 4 bottom
screens. That will last a long time. No other parts
are subject to wear and tear.
Can herb particles from the filling chamber
enter the balloon?
As we continuously endeavour to improve our products,
we deliver all new Volcanos with a screen brace disc
which reliably prevents the screen from being bent
when it is inserted.
The owners of older Volcanos can contact us to order
this screen brace disc free of charge. It fits into
all previously delivered Volcanos.
If the top filling chamber screen is bent (by using
it without screen brace disc), that will create a
gap between the screen and filling chamber cylinder
through which particles can be blown into the balloon.
Ensure as described in the operating manual, that
the top screen is always flat and not clogged. You
will always enjoy an untroubled application, if you
ensure that the filling chamber, valve and mouthpiece
are regularly cleaned.
What do the numbers on the temperature scale of the
Volcano stand for?
The scale ranges from 1-9, corresponding to temperatures
of 130°C (266°F) to 226°C (439°F).
You will find a full overview on our temperature table.
Can the vaporization goods burn in the Volcano?
No. That can happen with other Vaporizers, but not
if you decide in favour of the Volcano.
The user's safety has always been our top priority.
That is why we have adjusted the controller so that
critical air temperatures above 230°C (447°F)
in the filling chamber cannot be reached.
An effective vaporizer should be constructed in such
a manner which rules out the combustion of herbal
material from the beginning on.
How long can the vapors be stored in the balloon?
The vapors in the balloon condense in the course of
time at the balloon shell. But that is a process which
takes hours. If you inhale the balloon contents within
5-10 minutes you will have more or less no loss at
all.
The valve balloon is not designed to "store"
vapor, it allows moreover the user to conveniently
inhale independent of the device in line with the
user's individual requirements, making it comparable
with a glass which is easier to drink out of than
directly from the water tap.
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Which factors determine the vapor build-up in the balloon?
The proportion of flavour and active ingredient vapor in the
balloon primarily depends on the quality and quantity of herbs
with which the vaporizer is filled. Other important factors
are the surface area of the herbs and the vaporizing temperature.
It is clear that the quality of the material being vaporized
is important, as is the quantity involved - more herbs means
greater vaporization. One should note that a minimum quantity
is required to generate sufficient vapor, a fact which brings
us to the question of surface area.
Anyone who e.g. rolls ½ g of herb into a ball and deposits
it in the vaporizer will be sorely disappointed with the result,
as practically no vapour rises and an equally negligible effect
is achieved.
Shreding the same amount of herb into small particles, and the
subsequently greater surface area achieved, will, in contrast,
generate strong vapor, the effect achieved being also greater
as a consequence.
Flavours and active ingredients can only vaporize from herbs
if they are close enough to the surface. Grinding the material
occasionally with ones fingers between vaporizing procedures
is thus advantageous, as this exposes the material previously
concealed in the interior.
The herb should not be packed into the filling chamber, as loosely-deposited
material facilitates the free circulation of hot air.
The vaporizing temperature also plays a significant role, as
already mentioned. The higher the temperature, the greater the
volume of flavours and active ingredients released in a single
procedure. However, temperatures higher than really necessary
adversely effect the flavour.
An increase in temperature is thus particularly advisable if
the effect achieved is diminished and considerably less vapor
is generated after several procedures.
This enables one to obtain the residual benefit from the material.
Incidentally, the flavour has little to do with the effect.
Flavour inducers (relatively volatile essential oils) vaporize
much quicker than active ingredients. The initial flavour vanishes
after the first few procedures, but the effect is still undiminished.
Flavour in any case primarily depends on that which is deposited
in the vaporizer. An effective vaporizer does not influence
the flavour in any way.
Which temperature should I select?
The temperature is only one of the four factors for vapor build-up.
The temperatures recommended for the various herbs only serve
as reference values. The temperatures should be principally
selected as low as possible, so that vapors only just develop.
The accuracy of temperature indicators on vaporizers should
not be relied upon. Even digital displays which appear to be
extremely accurate are misleading if the display does not correspond
to the actual temperature in the filling chamber. Conducting
ones own observations is better in this respect.
Exactly in connection with this issue the Volcano offers you
an additional unique advantage of the valve balloon.
The vapor build-up in the balloon is very easy to observe and
the user learns within a very short space of time to reliably
handle the device and the various herbs. The Volcano with its
valve balloon is the only device to offer you this optical control
feature!
The temperature setting is perfect when a fine, white mist is
seen to rise. Vapor which is barely perceivable indicates that
either the temperature is too low or the material to be vaporized
has nothing left in it to give off.
Thick, even yellowish fumes are not vapors, but smoke, and the
material in the filling chamber is discoloured (dark brown or
black) as a result of the excessive temperature. Material can
even burn in low-quality vaporizers. An effective vaporizer
should be constructed in a manner which rules out the combustion
of herbal material from the outset.In less carefully constructed
vaporizers material may even burn.
Does the balloon material give off any substances to the
vapors which are then inhaled by the user?
No, none at all - we have applied the maximum possible care
and diligence in all materials which come into contact with
the air inhaled.
As balloon material we use Melitta® Toppits oven hose which
is optimally suitable for this purpose and which can be purchased
almost everywhere. This or other oven hoses or -bags are normally
used to cook food in the oven at temperatures up to 200°C.
If it is used in the Volcano the hot air only has a temperature
of max. 130°C when it enters the balloon. Due to the large
surface of the balloon the air is cooled on filling the balloon
so that it can be inhaled immediately after filling the balloon.
The oven hose does not contain any softeners (therefore the
crackling noise of the product); it is food-safe, tasteless
and heat-proof.
Of course, you can use similar oven hoses or oven bags from
other manufacturers, but do not use normal plastic bags or plastic
foil under any circumstances.
What about odour development?
Do e.g. non-smokers feel bothered?
No. There is only a minimal development of odours compared to
smoking.
No bothersome smoke is created, and non-smokers are not subject
to any adverse effects when sharing rooms with users.
Only a few minutes after the application you will not notice
any odour in the room.
How can I inhale optimally?
Vaporized herbs hardly irritate the respiratory tract in comparison
with smoked or fumigated substances, but are not totally irritation-free
in any case. The material used, the quality of the vaporizer
and the inhalation technique are factors which play a decisive
role.
You are therefore recommended to inhale deliberately, hold your
breath for a few seconds and then exhale again. Only inhale
about half the amount you normally can inhale. Avoid speaking
during the inhalation process; maybe you would also like to
have a glass of water within reach.
After a certain individual acclimatization phase you will then
find that the vapors can be inhaled optimally at the user's
ease.
Why do no vapors initially develop in filling the balloon?
Not only the vaporization goods, but also the filling chamber
cylinder has to reach the vaporization temperature.
Our recommendation: Position the filling chamber on the Volcano
first of all without the valve balloon, allow hot air to flow
through for a few seconds before placing the valve balloon on
the filling chamber.
That ensures that the balloon is filled completely with aromatic
compounds and active ingredients from the beginning on.
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