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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? |
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? |
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?
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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?
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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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