On the subject of Vaporizers...

This just needs to be said, the price of vaporizers is outrageous. For the amount of money these things cost, you'd think that they would be marvels of technology, some are even more expensive than a new iPod. The truth is though, the vaporizer is comprised of very simple, very cheap technology. These things can't cost much to make, and for the amount of money they cost, you'd expect them to be a bit more impressive.

I do not intend to say that vaporizers are not worth getting, they are. The trouble is, they are so expensive that for many people, they are priced out of competition by less expensive glass pipes. Also, in my experience, head shops don't tend to carry a good selection of vaporizers. My guess is because they are expensive, and more difficult to sell due to their high price tag.

Many of my friends speak of their experiences of smoking from a vaporizer like it was a one time thing (like a threesome). The reason is that vaporizers are expensive, and thus less common in the ever-growing ganja community. Due to their rarity less smokers have a chance to experience the benefits and advantages of a vaporizer, and are thus less willing to pay the premium for simple looking but very expensive pot smoking contraption. Imagine, paying two hundred dollars for a device that does what a cheap ten to twenty five dollar pipe can do, and not much more.

Health benefits and weed conservation aside, vaporizer prices just aren't justifiable. For the amount they cost, I expect some kind of medical grade looking device instills confidence in its capabilities. Unfortunately, vaporizers either look like toys, lamps, or bubble-gum dispensers. Its shameless gouging, and the vaporizer manufactures need to drop the prices within reason. At the very least, cut it down to 900% mark-up.



See, bubble-gum dispensers.

How to Make a Desk Lamp Vaporizer

If the light bulb vaporizer is cool, but doesn't quite do it for you, I might have something else you will like. Behold, the desk lamp vaporizer!



Now I know it doesn't look like much, but its beauty is in its simplicity. Wait, what's that? You want to know how to make one for your self? Well, I suppose...

What you need:

A desk lamp like this one.



















Two jars like what the ones you see here. Notice that one jar is bigger than the other. You need your small jar to be able to fit over a 60w light bulb, and your big jar must fit over your small one.







Next you'll need the lid for your large jar. You'll notice that I have already done all of the work that needs to be done on this jar. To make this, simply bore a hole in the center that will fit snugly on the shaft of the lamp, where the shade used to fit. Drill two holes, one large enough to accommodate your hose, and another slightly larger hole for air supply. I wrapped everything up in foil and sealed it up with hot glue. This improved my seal in general and made it look less like a lid from a pickle jar. You won't want to use hot glue on any surface that will be inside your jar.





















Step 1:
Remove the bulb and lamp shade from your desk lamp.

















Step 2:
Install your base/jar lid/air hose/air supply.

















Step 3:
Install the light bulb

Note:
The bulb I am using is for illustrative purposes. You'll want to use a 60w incandescent bulb, or better yet a 100w on a dimmer for maximum control.












Step 4:
Place the small jar upside down over the light bulb.

















Step 5:
Place your big jar over the small jar and screw it into your base.

Ta da! You've just made yourself a desk lamp vapo!













To use it, place your weed on top of the small jar once it has been placed over the light bulb, seal everything up and flip the switch. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes and then you'll have sweet, delicious, and awesome THC! The best part is, it didn't cost a whole hell of a lot of money, sure your out a few bucks for a desk lamp and a light bulb, but that's still at least $50 less than you would be out if you forked over the cash for a real vaporizer.

This design has a lot of potential. I'd love to see any variations off of this. If anyone makes, or has made this, let me know.

How to Make a Light Bulb Vaporizer

Avove: Whip and cap for light bulb vaporizer (aka Bright Idea II)

You've heard of them I'm sure, and no doubt you have lusted for one as well. Their vaporizers, the latest and greatest in pot smoking technology. The best part is, you don't actually "smoke" the green when you use one. Instead, they vaporize at low temperature, the active ingredient in weed, delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (you know, THC, the part that gets you high). This is a pretty sweet deal because vaporizing is 30% more efficient than smoking, and on top of that they are don't pollute your lungs with havoc reeking carbon chains. So not only do you use less bud, you use less of your lungs to get high!

That is pretty much all old news though. If you haven't heard of vaporizing yet, you have either just started smoking, or you're still living in the stone age (stoned age I suppose). If you have heard of vaporizers, than I'm sure you have also heard that they're fairly expensive, and you've heard right. They are, the ever popular Volcano costs in excess of $500. That's no small chunk of change if you're a typically broke stoner like myself. What do you do then to enjoy the benefits of vaporizers without all the cost?

What if I told you that there is probably a vaporizer sitting very near by, just waiting to be used. Yes, there is some assembly required, but odds are, all the parst and tools that you need are within arms reach. Thats pretty cool right? You might not even have to get out of your seat (although it might not hurt you hippy couch potatoe).

Here is what you need:

1. A light bulb (just a regular old incadecent bulb, the higher wattage the better though)
2. A cap from a 20 oz soda bottle
3. A straw
4. Salt
5. A pair of scissors

Optional

• A pair of needle nose pliers

Go ahead and take five minutes to gather these items. If you're having trouble finding everything, don't be afraid (or too lazy) to check under those stacks of High Times and 420 Magazines. Got everything? Good...

How to build a Lightbulb Vaporrizer

It may be helpful to refere to this diagram as you work:





1. Outline of Glass bulb
2. Low pressure inert gas (argon, neon, nitrogen)
3. Tungsten filament
4. Contact wire (goes out of stem)
5. Contact wire (goes into stem)
6. Support wires
7. Stem (glass mount)
8. Contact wire (goes out of stem)
9. Cap (sleeve)
10. Insulation (vitrite)
11. Electrical contact





Step 1:
Take your scissors in your lead hand, and the light bulb in the other. Use the scissors to peel up the electrical contact on the socket end of the light bulb. Once its free, pull it out along with any wires that come with it.

Step 2:
Removing the electrical contact should have revealed a small hole in the peice of dark glass at the socket end of the bulb. Use your scissors (or pliers) to carefully break and remove this piece of glass. Remove as much as you can, preferably so that non of if it pokes up past the metal socket.

Step 3:
Using your scissors, pliers, or a screwdriver, carefully (and I do mean carefully) push down on the stem (what the filament is mounted to) through the socket cap until it breaks out from the inside of the bulb. After that, you'll want to clean up the edges of the stem and break those out as well until only bulb remains. Once you've done all the breaking that needs to be done empty the broken glass and filament into a garbage can.

Step 4:
Now grab the salt and pour it through the cap into the bulb. Use say, 2 or 3 tablespoons of salt. Cover the hole in the socket cap and shake viggorously (but carefully so the bulb doesn't fly from your hand). The salt will strip away the white powder coat on the inside of the bulb. Repeat this process until all traces of the powder coat are gone. I couldn't tell you what that stuff is, but I can tell you that you do not want ot smoke it, it won't get you high. One its all gone, go ahead and rinse all of the salt out of the bulb. Rinse it well, otherwise the salt will etch into the glass when it dries.

Step 5:
Take the soda bottle cap that you were supposed to grab, if you already forgot about that, go get one. Useing your scissors poke a hole into the center of the cap and bore it out until the hole is large enough to insert your straw. Don't make your hole to big, you wan the straw to stay in place. Once you have your straw hole, poke another small hole off-center for airflow. Insert your straw into the cap. Gently screw the soda cap onto the socket cap of the light bulb and you're done!

Congrats! Now you too can enjoy the benefits of vaporizing for less than a trip to Taco Bell. To use it, just break up your weed like you would for rolling a joint or loading a bowl, and place about a small bowl's worth into the bulb. Replace the soda cap and get read to be very stoned. Now go ahead and light your lighter. Hold it about one to two centimeters below the bulb, directly underneath the weed. Wait until you see some white vapors start to pour out of the bud. Once this happens, let a decent amount of vapor build up, shake the bulb to release more. Now just take a hit through the straw and hold it in...

Aahhhh, thats the stuff ain't it?

Eventually you'll want to buy a real vapo, but this works in a pinch, especially when cash is tight and you need to conserve your precious, expensive, and difficult to acquire marijuana.