New Thoughts on Volcano Vaporizer Temperature Setting – 6!

I think I’ve finally settled on my preferred method for vaporizing my herb. I keep the Volcano’s temperature dial set at 6 all the time. I fill bags at this temp until I get nothing. Then I save my leftovers for volcano butter that I make with my Volcano poo. Sure, I can get more bags by turning up the temp as I go, but I find the bad taste and less dense vapor irritate my lungs. Much better use to make vaporizer butter with the leftovers.

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40 Comments

  1. Andy on June 7, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    I’ve started the vape and as ex smoker its different and about pure taste health and benefits. I’ve chronic pain and its got me off opiuts like morphine and methadone …



  2. JohnnyOG on February 18, 2016 at 12:26 am

    Couple of notes from an 9 year owner of a Volcano (which still works like new, by the way)…

    I originally owned mine while living in Florida. With my analog dial, I could get a nice balance of taste and potency from about 5.75 – 6, with a max temp of 7.5 before it started to burn.

    I noticed something interesting when I relocated to Colorado (home of the best in the world) – I had to increase temperatures to achieve the same results. Logically this makes sense; Colorado’s elevation means less oxygen and far less relative humidity (extremely so relative to Florida), leading to less heat transfer. This is important to remember when you have discrepancies about what is the ideal temperature for you.

    Now in Colorado, I use about 6.25-6.5, sometimes running as high as 8. My preferred method when Im by myself is to use only a very small amount (.1 – .2) and high heat. This usually makes 2 very potent bags and 1 weak one. On a typical day, thats enough for one bag before dinner, one before dessert, and the weak one usually knocks me out for the night. I save so much money on weed. I have cut my consumption from a quarter a week to a half 1/8th a week. The herb is so tasty and potent here, you just dont have to use that much.

    For concentrates like shatter, rosin, wax, and oils, I find that turning it up as high as possible works best. There’s nothing to burn, so you can almost achieve that “dab” effect this way. Bubble hash you will have to find what works best for you, I havent used much of it.

    Fun trick: you can use your volcano with almost any water pipe. For bongs, remove the bowl and fill a bag, then you can put the mouthpiece of the bag directly on the down stem of the bong – pull and enjoy a very smooth hit. For bubblers, you can put the mouthpiece directly onto the bowl of the bubbler. For best results, make sure the bong or bubbler has been cleaned of any combusted material.

    As far as upkeep is concerned, I have found that buying the original Volcano brand parts is best. They fit better and last longer.



  3. carla on September 14, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    Question: I just bought the digital volcano about 2 days ago and was wanting to smoke crumble or shatter and haven’t really found a solid answer for what temperature to use. I’ve had dabs before and they hit hard which is what I like. I tried a bit of shatter yesterday on the volcano at 400°and got a little vape but it didn’t hit the way I expected. Any suggestions tips trick ?



    • Vapormaster on September 15, 2015 at 11:59 am

      Honestly, I have not found a good way to enjoy concentrates in the Volcano. I think it’s best to save the Volcano for flowers, and use specific tools for concentrates. A dab rig with a titanium nail vaporizes the material and none is wasted. I also love my Puffco vape pen. If you must use the Volcano for crumble or shatter, spread it on the included stainless steel pad and work the heat up towards max to find the best temperature. Always have been surprised how hot I have to turn the dial up to. Let me know how it goes!



    • Alexander on March 2, 2016 at 9:38 pm

      put that shit on some flower in the canister and run it. Be smart (we know you already are, you bought a Volcano!) and make sure not to set yourself up to fail as you don’t want to overload your canister with something that could potentially get liquified by high temperatures and leak into your volcano itself.

      I recommend solid concentrates like scissor hash or something of that consistency.



    • dave on September 20, 2016 at 5:33 pm

      Shatter: get gauze from the drug store & and cut off a square about 1 inch x 1 inch then smear the shatter on it & fold it in half. You can run it 2 or three times easy! I also use this to clean my poker device after taking a shatter hit. After a few days I run it through the volcano so there is no waste.

      Crumble you can do the same thing but you have to use a little more gauze or smash it into the gauze and have a few folds so it doesn’t drip. I’ve found it’s easier to use 1/2 a cotton ball with crumble



  4. K on December 9, 2014 at 4:44 pm

    I recently bought a classic. I find that vaping on the 5-6 range is the best for herb and if any of you out there are about the 710 life you need to increase the heat to around 8. I also recommend a different valve kit for each. Omaha



    • Vapormaster on December 9, 2014 at 5:37 pm

      Thanks for the info. For those wondering what The 710 Life means, he’s talking about oils and concentrates.



  5. Johnny Red on November 13, 2014 at 10:24 pm

    you can’t get the true vape experience for months and months unless you quit smoking cigarettes.



    • Jman on March 27, 2018 at 11:44 am

      I actually am intrigued by this idea, what do you mean? I’ve found that as an only semi-regular smoker that I’m now going through way more cigarettes now that I’ve completely switched from smoking to Volcano vaping. Is this only because I always used to preload my bowls with tiny bits of tobacco so as not to waste any herb through the hole? Maybe that little morsel of tobacco was holding me over without my realizing it. What benefit will I find by quitting smoking? And is your theory specific to smoking, or nicotine in general (I enjoy dipping too)?



      • Zak on April 12, 2018 at 2:45 am

        Think he just means that it would take you awhile to move past “oxygen depravation” and appreciate the clean high you get from vaporizing. I had this issue. That’s the problem with combustion. But once you get used to vaporizing, there is no going back. Smoking feels almost primitive by comparison. So much more to the experience than just getting high.



  6. biggbonger on August 3, 2014 at 4:02 am

    Not a lot of mention on the amount everyone uses in the chamber? Can anyone share their thoughts on that? I wonder about different amounts also affecting flavor/outcome. I am using just over a 1/4 tsp. measurement. Used to use about a 1/2 tsp. (yes, I actually have a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon in my kit.lol.)
    Would like to know others thoughts on this. Thanks.



    • Vapormaster on November 19, 2014 at 7:09 am

      Haven’t measured with a spoon, but I usually put about 1/3 of a gram in each easy valve chamber.



  7. Fresh vape on March 24, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Just got a digital volcano, used it all last night at 185 Celsius, tbh I feel a bit let down by the whole thing. Got through at least a gram of prime bud between my Gf and I. Didn’t really feel that high comparative to if I’d smoked the same amount in joints… In fact, I’d say I felt as high after a gram (3 refills) in the vape as I do after a single joint of smoke. This is meant to be the best vape out there and I’m left feeling somewhat jaded about it now. Am I doing it wrong or something? I heard finishing a single bag should be a struggle for even seasoned tokers… Had about 10 bags or something.



    • Vapormaster on March 24, 2013 at 9:44 am

      If you’ve been combusting heavily for a long time, I think it takes time to get used to the different feel of the vape. I’ve been vaping almost exclusively for 4 years now after 16 years of combustion, and whenever I have the slightest bit of smoke it kicks my ass in different and unpleasant way. I’d give it some time and see if you adjust to the cleaner high. Play with the temperature, and try re-grinding every 2 or 3 bags. Please report back and let us know how it goes!



      • Vices on April 7, 2013 at 1:32 pm

        Agreed. Been using my volcano for almost a year straight and whenever Im in a situation without my volcano and have to smoke it is extremely unpleasant, I cough like its my first time and the buzz is horrible compared to the volcano. I prefer around 350-374 degrees starting at 350, putting the vaped bud back into the grinder and then vaping the same vaped bud at 360 this time, and then 370 if I feel there’s any left. Does me real real good. Although if I use the same strain for more than a few days straight I don’t get as buzzed so I like to mix it up.



        • jordan on June 23, 2014 at 9:30 pm

          OMG – I thought it was just me. Once I’d tasted vape, smoking was like licking an ashtray!

          As for being disappointed, I suggest you try different temperatures before you give up. I’ve posted my method over in tips n tricks, and as a medical patient, I can assure you the Volcano is everything rumor tells you it is. But it’s a sophisticated machine used by chefs and scientists and medical patients and the like. It’s not a pipe you light and suck on. It takes some work on your part to GET it to be “all that”, but once you’ve DONE that work? Chillax with the balloon and the gf and save money money money (n lungs) by vaping. But Vaping is not smoking, and the Volcano isn’t a killer pipe. It’s a completely different experience. In fact, I think it’s as big a diff from smoking as smoking herb is from eating herb. Just not related. Very diff. So give it some time, read this, go to Fuckcombustion.com and The Weedist, whatever is suggested here, and start from scratch with no expectations at all. You will never regret having bought a volcano. Just make sure your friends bring their own stuff over, coz when they find out you got one, they’re coming over. Again and again. Trust me. I am SO popular now with my big V… “Hey, can we put THIS in the volcano?” lol…



    • MaryJane on November 15, 2017 at 3:50 am

      When you load the vape are you running it only once per bowl? Seasoned smoker that used to smoke at least 2 to 3 joints a day before. I have found that I can usually vape 3 to 4 rounds from 1 bowl (I have the solid valve kit and put fill it about 1/4 full). Start at about 190 Celsius for the first round then increase to 202 C for the second, 214 C for the 3rd and Max heat for the last round. This method shared with my hubby usually feels like sharing a joint or the same grade green. Also use all the parts of the buffalo, save up and use the already vaped weed to make edibles.



      • Mark on September 21, 2018 at 3:15 pm

        I can usually get 3 or 4 rounds out of one bowl. I also up the temp to around 420 for the last one. It will help curb your appetite with a burst of euphoria.



  8. biggbonger on March 18, 2012 at 5:36 am

    Research using the vaporizer found the delivery efficiency highest at around 226 °C (439 °F), falling to about half efficiency at 150 °C (302 °F) to 180 °C (356 °F) degrees depending on material. Besides THC, several other cannabinoids as well as a range of other plant components including terpenoids were detected in the plant material. The longer vapor is stored, the more THC is lost as it condenses on the surface of the vaporizer or the balloon. This loss may be negligible over a few minutes but may exceed 50% after 90 minutes. The Leiden University study found that as much as 30%–40% of inhaled THC was not absorbed by the lungs but simply exhaled. However, they did not find large individual differences in the amounts exhaled.



    • jordan on June 23, 2014 at 9:33 pm

      So it IS worth rinsing the used balloons in everclear afterward, then. Thanks for that info. And no wonder my abv kicks ass. I’m getting the taste and a little high in the Volcano, and the bulk of it in homemade products, like hash oil, cooking oil, vaping juice, and salves. And to think I used to burn it…



  9. Harvard Nicks on March 9, 2012 at 10:56 am

    Some guy did spectrum chromatography on vaped bud and it turned out that at 6, you aren’t even getting most of the THC, which is fine if you are doing it for the aromatherapy, I guess.



  10. Cig Bock on March 6, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    How often do you guys replace your bags and why?



    • Vapormaster on March 7, 2012 at 11:36 am

      I replace mine when they start to leak – which is why : P



      • Cig Bock on March 8, 2012 at 9:34 pm

        Thanks for the info. I guess I’ve only finished one of my bags then. Other than 1 of my bags beginning to leak on me, the only issue I’ve encountered is the flavor not being as fresh.



    • biggbonger on March 8, 2012 at 10:48 am

      Me too…when it starts to leak. Or after about 6-8 weeks of heavy usage, it just doesn’t taste as fresh after awhile. (I use the solid valve so I buy it by the roll & cut my bags to about 24-26″.)



      • biggbonger on April 13, 2013 at 6:01 am

        oh ya…lately I’ve neen using pre-fab bags from Tokeez. Come in packs of 3 all ready to go. They are 3 feet in length. just do a web search for tokeez, should find them.



        • jordan on June 23, 2014 at 9:35 pm

          Depends on how well I keep an eye on my cat. He eats the balloons. I’ll leave the room, come back in 30 seconds, and he’s eaten half the side of my balloon and is face down in the balance licking it clean. He seems to like the butter, too… Anybody know of some pet cliinics for addiction?



          • Katrina on May 28, 2017 at 9:55 pm

            My cat loves the balloons as well!
            I have to store the current bag in a container and I give him the old one.
            I think it is great!



  11. Jim Jones on March 6, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    Are you guys really not getting smoke at 350+ F? I see a little to medium amount of smoke at 350 F (depending on dryness and density of herb). I don’t understand how you guys aren’t getting smoke at those higher temps.



    • Vapormaster on March 7, 2012 at 11:37 am

      I’m not sure anybody is saying they’re not getting vapor at 350+…



      • Jim Jones on March 8, 2012 at 9:30 pm

        Are you saying you’re referring to the smoke as vapor? If so, I may need to learn some more vaporizing theory. But my understanding of vaporization to avoid producing any smoke. Per my understanding, the temperature should be just enough to vaporize (turn from solid to gaseous state) the desired ingredients without causing ANY combustion.

        Am I missing something about how vaporization is supposed to work with a Volcano?



        • biggbonger on March 26, 2012 at 2:46 am

          I’m not 100% sure about the vaporization either but this is my understanding…
          -I don’t think there is any combustion,(actually it is more of a smouldering,but anyway..), my product isn’t ‘burnt’ after, just brown.
          -Many of the really bad toxins/chemicals aren’t released until temps of over 500F.
          -The Volcano only goes to a certain temp to avoid any smouldering and impurities from higher temps.
          -I think it is still vapor, just thicker/denser at higher temps. and different taste, effect and harder on the throat.



          • jordan on June 23, 2014 at 9:41 pm

            Vaporizing doesn’t produce smoke. Only combustion produces smoke. So I am saying (just me, now) that I get thin but taaasty vapor at 145 and 160, barely visible, and I get nice visible vapor at 175/180ish, and I get milk at 190 and up. It doesn’t matter if I’m using the volcano, the solo or my cheap lil titan. The temp determines the vapor, for the most part, with herb. When you vape ejuice, that’s diff, because you’re usng artificial ingredients (PG and VG) to make “vapor” FOR you. One makes more visible vapor and the other makes tastier vapor. I can’t remember which, but they are making vapor out of your precious bodily fluids. The volcano is working merely with herbs, thus the temperature at which the herbs are exposed determines the thickness and visibility of the resulting “vapor” from the plant. That’s both my experience from trying different things and the results of a lot of research done by a bunch of folks a few years ago over at Fuckcombustion.com (I don’t work for em, I don’t know much about them except I like the forae, and I LOVE the name. Great bunch of vapers over there. Same as here, and possibly some of the same great folks.)



            • biggbonger on August 3, 2014 at 3:52 am

              Can you tell me how long you leave the chamber on before activating the heat button, when you are using it at 160C? Thanks. Gonna try that out. 🙂



          • biggbonger on August 3, 2014 at 3:50 am

            Some more research has led me to believe some impurities may be released at temps just over 200C/392F. But I’ll only really set it up to 206C If I need to sleep. 🙂



  12. Mitt Offmore on June 8, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    I find that a cooler temperature in the 330-350 area yields a better taste. From 350-390 will get you more affect though. Maxing out in the 400s results in a less than pleasant taste.



    • Cig Bock on March 8, 2012 at 10:12 pm

      Yes, 320-350 seems to be working really well for me.



    • Vapezilla on March 20, 2012 at 2:58 am

      i use 170° all the time.

      THis gives me about 8-10 bags, when the taste gets bad i stop extracting.

      i feel you can use 190° and only get 3-5 bags or do 170° and get 8-10 bags but with a better taste. I think you can extract the same amount but need more bags for it with less temp.



      • jordan on June 23, 2014 at 9:46 pm

        Word! My only disagreement is that I start lower and move up to 180, maybe 190, max. I get SOO many bags of good taste at those lower temps! And I’m a slut for taste. That’s mostly what I want from “smoking” my weed. Which is why once I tasted unburnt mmj, I could NOT go back to burning it. Made me yark. Not “want” to yark: Actual barfage ejecta. And tobacco smoke? omg. “please no. I’ll do anything, just put that cancer stick out now! My eyes are going!”