The Mini-Machine Bubbler Stem

Note:

This page tracks the development of amor_fati's Mini-Machine Bubbler Stem. The content is to remain accurate as such.

The advantage of The Machine is that having a copper or steel mesh between the product and the flame protects the product from direct contact with the flame as well as distributing the heat of the flame evenly and rapidly to the product. However, most have a difficult time constructing one in the recommended fashion. Also, many prefer to cool their vapor by bubbling it through water during administration, and a properly fashioned "machine" does not easily facilitate this. The following is a proposal for remedying both difficulty in construction and lack of versatility by a simple modified design of "the machine."

Procedure for Construction

Materials Required
Equipment: Butane Torch (same one that will be used for vaporization) Glass Dropper Stem (either from a pharmacy OTC or an online vendor) Copper or Stainless Steel Pan Scrubber (as long as the metal doesn't burn or melt with the use of a butane torch) A Thin Metal Rod (even a paper clip would probably work) Pliers Rubber Gasket or Latex Tubing

Dropper Stem

Complete Mini-Machine Bubbler Stem

Some variations in design.

1. Carefully crush the nozzle of the dropper stem with pliers, leaving a slight portion of the nozzles curve.
2. Heat the broken end of the stem with a torch so that the sharp edges are dulled and any cracks sealed.
3. Cut off a piece of the metal scrub pad, hold it with pliers, and burn with a torch under an oven hood until no more smoke is emitted.
4. After it has cooled, stuff it in the larger end of the dropper stem, and use a thin metal rod to stuff it down toward the nozzle-end somewhat tightly, and so that a part of the mesh is exposed out of the broken end.
   • experiment with different lengths of plugs to determine what size is optimal for preventing runoff and providing even, rapid heating.
5. Fit two gaskets on the stem far enough from the plug to avoid heat but far enough from the other end to provide a stable stem.
   • alternatively and more cheaply, a small section of latex tubing could be rolled or folded into a ring around the stem to serve the same purpose.

Administration.

For use as a portable vaporizer, attach the nozzle of a straight dropper stem to the open end by a small section of latex tubing.

1. Place product into the open end of the stem and stuff down to the plug with a thin metal rod.
2. Feather the glass with a torch until the product melts into the mesh plug.
3. Insert the stem into a bubbler as a bowl, with the open end in.
4. Use a torch to apply heat to the mesh plug while drawing air through the bubbler.
   • keeping some distance with the torch is recommended to avoiding burning or overheating.
   • once the device reaches a sufficient temperature, it will give off vapor rapidly and will not necessarily require continued heat application.
5. If runoff occurs, push the mesh plug to the open end, then back down to the nozzle end to collect it for further administration.
   • a finger placed on the nozzle-end when pushing the plug back into place may prevent much of the stress on the glass that could result in breakage.

Use with an Improvised Labware Bubbler
The mouthpiece is a longer dropper tube (Pasteur pipette) connected to the nozzle of the vacuum flask by another segment of latex tubing. The segment of latex on the top of the inlet is folded over itself to make a wide even rim to facilitate a proper seal with the glass rim of the dropper stem when held in place.

Notes on Effective Use and Maintenance

for Cleaning the Mini-Machine
Attach a chemically resistant dropper bulb to the open end. Prepare a flask of acetone. Draw in the acetone and squirt out through the plug until sufficiently clean. Scrub with a q-tip. Carefully blow out remaining acetone. Scrub out moisture with the other end of the q-tip. Ensure the absence of residual acetone prior to use.

• A handy method for storing the piece would be to cap the nozzle end with the dropper bulb in order to protect from breakage and keep track of the bulb to use when cleaning.
• The second gasket generally makes the piece safer to handle--especially if used as a pull stem--while the other provides a seal.
• For group sessions, it would be easiest to prepare an individual piece for each person so that dosage can be more easily regulated.
• When handling the piece after heating, handle by the gasket and avoid any part of the heated portion of the glass coming into any contact with hard surfaces.
• A good way to cool down a stem is to roll it rapidly between the palms, drawing the heat off the glass with one's hands.
• If the the nozzle end of the piece breaks off at any point, carefully push the plug to the other end of the piece when it has sufficiently cooled, heat the sharp edges until dulled, and push the plug back into place firmly, with a finger in place causing the plug to mushroom slightly until it fits snugly in place.
• Ensure adequate airflow through the piece by poking holes in the plug with a safety pin.
• Develop a relationship with the device.

Retiring Old Warhorse

Appendices

Special Thanks:

• To Warrensaged for pioneering the use of a machine-style bowl with a bubbler.
• To q21q21 for inspiring SWIM to develop this method.