How to Make a Volcano Vaporizer for Less than $300, or even less than $200
For the enterprising do-it-yourselfer, all the components for building yourself a working Volcano-style vaporizer can be easily obtained for less than $200 – $300 online. All it takes is the proper heat gun and the real deal Volcano Vaporizer Solid Valve System. Obviously not everyone can afford the $539 price of the Volcano Classic set, so here’s a solution to enjoy the health benefits of vaporization without the expense.
Storz & Bickel offer the solid valve components as a set which includes the filling chamber, solid valve, mouthpiece, normal screen-set, liquid pad, cleaning brush, and balloon tube (3m). Buy direct from the manufacturer and enjoy fast and free shipping within the continental US from their US distribution center. $119 USD gets your the finely crafted German engineered components that make the Volcano Vaporizer so special.
Then your only missing component is the hot air to fill the balloon. Conveniently, there are several types of variable heat guns that will fit the bill and mate nicely with the filling chamber of the Volcano Solid Valve. Note: nothing beats the Volcano Classic set if you can save your pennies it will give you the best overall experience. If you’re determined to build yourself a Volcano, then read on!
The first choice is the Milwaukee 8988-20 Variable Temperature Heat Gun
Second choice is The Steinel SV 803 UltraHEAT II Gun Variable Temperature Heat Gun 
Third choice is Black & Decker HG1000K Variable Temperature Heat Gun
Any of these heat guns will work and operate at the proper vaporization temperature. You’ll want to get the setting in the neighborhood of 350 – 400 degrees F with 375 as your target and then adjust to your liking an to compensate for any variances in the temp control. The Milwaukee 8988-20 Variable Temperature Heat Gun will give you the most control and consistent results and is well worth the extra $ if you can swing it. Otherwise, an oven thermometer can be used to approximately calibrate the dial of the other models.
BE CAREFUL! Heat guns get hot and can melt things and burn people. Many of the above guns are available with stands to hold them when not being used. But again BE CAREFUL! vaporizing can impair your judgment and you should always be safe.
Enterprising users have been known to make custom stands for their heat gun so that they can easily and safely be used to fill the balloon. Some have even remarked that by creating a proper stand for the Milwaukee 8988-20 they can replicate the experience of owning a Volcano Digit with it’s LCD read-out and precise control. We’re still waiting to see someone build a stainless steel cone to hide their Milwaukee 8988-20. In fact, a hardcore diy person could completely take apart the Milwaukee 8988-20 and rewire it inside a custom base for safety and stability.
If you’ve ever built your own Volcano Vaporizer, please lets us know and share your tips and tricks using the comment form below.
Happy Vaporizing!
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
Great write-up. It took me several tries and returns to discover the Milwaukee model, and boy what a difference it made. I use a stand I made out of bent coathangers and it works great. I call it my Ghetto-cano! Even tho it cost $275! Better than $500+ Oh and good warning on the heat, just ask the carpet next to my coffee table!
June 1st, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Why would you spend over $200 to cobble together little more than a fire hazard when there are several vaporizers on the market that come already assembled for less than $150.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:50 am
To each their own! Many find the vapor bag and valve systems on cheaper vaporizers to be problematic. The homegrown Volcano gets you the fine functionality of the filling chamber / vapor bag setup without the expense of the OEM heat generator. With a little ingenuity and thoughtful use, these DIY volcanoes can be great.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Im buying everything tomorrow, even found a milwaukee variable heat gun on craigslist, and will post the results. In response on buying a cheaper vape? If you take the time to read reviews, most vaporizers suck!!!! unless its topline like volcanos
December 19th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I’m using a Black & Decker heat gun (pictured above) to build a volcano-style vaporizer. I wanted it to be hands-free, so I took the hardware out of the plastic casing. That is a TOUGH casing. I had to use a dremel with a cutting disc bit to get through it, being careful not to cut through any of the internal wiring or hardware. I used a couple of L-brackets to mount it vertically to an 8″x8″ square of plywood.
I thought about trying to build the valve system from copper pipes and valves, and as much as I would have liked to do it from scratch, I think it just makes so much more sense to buy Storz & Bickel’s hardware. You can use an oven bag from the grocery store held on with a silicone washer from the hardware store, but I think the OEM valve system is more or less indispensable.
January 30th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Anyone have any luck making a DIY solid valve? I already have a heat gun and turkey bags and I’ve been trying to reverse engineer the valve for weeks. It is a well designed piece.
January 31st, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Good luck friend, I don’t think you’ll be able to come close. You can buy it separately and save yourself the hassle. It’s $120USD for the solid valve set which is a lot, but like you noted it’s a pretty sweet piece of engineering – and it works so damn well.