Has anyone switched to using a titanium screen from a stainless steel screen in a dry herb vaporizer? Ive read a few random reviews on the retailers website, their amazon page, and a couple of websites mentioning them working better then stainless steel. Titanium is said to offer better flavor and vapor.
The science says it could make a better screen because of heat transfer to the herb leading to better vaporization. And titanium is known to be better for flavor then stainless, even people using a titanium screen in a tabacco pipe mention the benefits of switching.
Has anyone switched to or does use titanium screens and is it worth it to use them? I’m happy to upgrade for a few bucks, I’m just kind of on the fence if the difference could really be that noticable.
I certainly can appreciate your perspective and quality of titanium vs. stainless steel but you didn’t mention a key factor, cost! I have a massive quantity of SS screens, i can buy 1k for under $20 including shipping!, I doubt pricing like that would exist for titanium screens.
Not to mention I prolly couldnt use all the screens I already have in 100 years!
As a user of Cannabis Hardware gear for many years I can say I am a fan of Ti screens, but they are not all created equal. I’ve tried a couple different suppliers with drastically different quality levels but haven’t found any better than the double weave Ti screens from CH. I was disappointed to find out they discontinued this from their catalog. I was able to find another CH distributor (VGoodiez) that still had them in stock so I bought a bunch.
Several people said they were happy with the Ti screens from Snowtree but I thought they were pretty crap. Very course and fall apart easily.
YMMV, mine seems to.
To speak to point of this thread, I’m not sure Ti is really ‘better’ than the old SS standby. I’ve not done a side by side comparison. As previously mentioned the device came with Ti screens so I just rolled with it. I suspect my palate is not sensitive enough to be able to tell the difference. But I persist none the less.
I did mention it would cost a few dollars to upgrade. I’m not here to determine what the cost of anything to anyone is, that’s for them to decide. Value is subjective based on merit, individual qualitys, and personal preference.
Individual perceived value is far more important . Discussions of merit can be had, the value of that merit is up to each individual person to determine and not my problem… No I can not afford a Volcano Hybrid right now FYI.
A pack of titanium screens may cost more, however if they are well made they really should be a one time purchase also, because of how they are gently used in some dry herb vapes staying far cooler then a burning pipe. I also expect that the thermal properties of Ti is why some manufacturers are now using it in their vapes… The POTV Lobo and the Ditanium.
Titanium release heat better the SS, so Ti holds less heat in the chamber and transfers more even heat to the contents inside to be vaporized.
Either way I ordered a small pack of them from the big river, for under $20 I figured why not give it a try and see for myself.
Ti and ss both have pretty low thermal conductivity for a metal, and about the same thermal conductivity overall, about 16 W/m-K. Ti does have less heat capacity by volume, but I think the mass of a screen is small enough to be negligible.
I think the most important thing for flavor is keeping the screen very clean. If you are vaping old burnt on material, that’s going to be more impactful to flavor than screen material.
Pretty sure reason Ti is used is the perceived better safety/purity, think of Ti nails from back in the day. If they were concerned with thermal conductivity they would use aluminum, like the volcano. But Al has a bad safety reputation, even though I don’t think that’s very scientific.
Generally true about the thermal conductivity, however it depends on on each grade of Ti and stainless steel. Ti can be have thermal higher performing conductivity in this regard.
Aluminum is better then Ti for releasing heat yes, that is why so many CPU coolers use it. However the reason that Ti taste better is because of impurities in the metal and what each metal - SS, Ti, or AI. The impurities is Ti off gases nothing except the common atmosphere so no taste is imparted. N other metals can not make that same claim, however that does notale what is off gassed harmful.
Do they work better? Yes… however it all could be down to the measurable better draw they provide over the included stainless steel screen. The difference can be heard far, it’s far less turbulent air flow over the screen.
I have the snowtree ones showing up today or tomorrow I planned to replace the Convex 2.0 screens with, so i don’t have experience yet but I imagine there’s no negatives compared to SS and worst case they perform about the same. The biggest downside I see so far is cost.
I bought a jar of 50 Snowtree screens. I use them in my shovel head bowls. I get several months out of each screen in daily use. ISO cleaned every night, I pop the screen out of the bowl twice a week. I’ve been using them for 2 years.
So the 15mm snowtree titanium screen has a nice friction fit (much more resistance) in the 14mm bowl section, but does warp down a bit into the cooling area. I think thats a bonus because it means bigger bowls lol.
Haven’t tried it yet but I imagine I won’t notice that much difference… I just had to because I emptied my bowl into a toilet while traveling and the OG screen dropped in there too. No f’in way was I going to attempt recovery!
Would have to be a significant upgrade from the American made SS screens that I pay under $20 for a THOUSAND! Use 3-4 times, pitch put in new screen. No burning off, no soaking, no cleaning!
Is it slightly grungy? It goes in the round filing cabinet, easy peasy.
This is what I do when using my screwball and just wish the normal screens fitted in every vape. I mean you can squeeze them into stems but they pop out and/or get stuck and its a massive pain. This is a clean and more healthy way to be dealing with your screens, please keep it up!!!
The basket ones are just too expensive to do this with so I do burn off then iso soak.
As for the question “Does anyone use titanium screens? Are they worth it?” Yes I do but only in my Dani Fusion 2 because if you don’t its not the same experience and have combusted using other screens for some reason. They are expensive but 1 will last you forever.
No idea if you can get large ones like the SS screens we use but I can imagine they would be expensive.
The 12.8mm fit perfectly in the flaske bowl, enhancing the hits. I’ve been using the Snowtree Ti screens for years. The only issue I’ve with them is someone in the mailroom steals them causing delays.
My only point is that although there could be marginal increased utility in titanium screens, the cost & maintenance are prohibitive for me.
$50 usd for 100 titanium screens?? I could purchase THREE THOUSAND SS screens and have $ left over, with no concern or time cost in washing, soaking or burning screens off! You could literally use one screen a day and they would still last for years & years!
Additionally my source has sizes from tiny tiny to the size of a half dollar, American made, high grade no ragged edges etc.
I need better airflow is what… DV screens seem tight or my lungs are weak. Just ordered some “button” looking Ti screens. Tempted to punch some 8-9mm SS screens out of old bowl-sized SS mesh screens.
You can get 5/16 screens here which is very close to 8mm instead of punching. For 9mm 3/8” is 9.5mm which is probably close enough. The mesh will definitely improve airflow over the CCD.
I think I need to use Vong/dry glass more often. The Frolic and Lobo are useful medical devices, but you do need to vary your devices. My uneven heating and technique actually bring more out of the same flower. But I’ve clogged and burn-cleaned these same ccds too many times…
I did. Saw a single review that said they work well when squished flat. I do have regular SS screens coming from the bay too. Was getting seriously aggravated with cleaning and losing tiny but expensive CCDs. Yet I swear portable vapes aren’t medicating well. Which is also a tolerance issue. Refusing concentrates and ball capes, so bouncing different methods might help.
For anybody else in pain, these TENS units are also wonderful. Weed won’t give you an electronic back rub, lol
. Discussions of merit can be had, the value of that merit is up to each individual person to determine and not my problem… No I can not afford a Volcano Hybrid right now FYI.
I need better airflow is what… DV screens seem tight or my lungs are weak. Just ordered some “button” looking Ti screens. Tempted to punch some 8-9mm SS screens out of old bowl-sized SS mesh screens.
Done deal and thanks. 
Was getting seriously aggravated with cleaning and losing tiny but expensive CCDs. Yet I swear portable vapes aren’t medicating well.