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Frequently Asked Questions
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| Why
does the Volcano cost more than other Vaporizers? |
In developing the Volcano 'Storz and Bickels' aim was to offer
a Vaporizer with in all respects outstanding features. They
not only focused on top-quality material and workmanship -
a matter of fact for them - but primarily on offering the
user a safe device for convenient application which is easy
to operate. In addition, it was their 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.
After a lot of experience with vaporizers and being familiar
with all models available on the market they 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." |
| Which
parts of the Volcano-Inhalator are subject to wear and tear?
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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?
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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 the 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 top priority. The 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.
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| 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. |
| 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.
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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High performance
hydroponics systems, grow lights, nutrients etc...
Please note that we do not ship to the USA, Canada, France or countries with similar laws.
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