The Dynavap is a palm-sized thermal extraction device or dry herb vaporizer. It’s a battery-free and smoke-free way to consume herbs, oils, and other botanicals – like cannabis.
I’ve put together this article and video to serve as an introductory crash course on Dynavap vaporizers and the Dynaverse of experiences.
In this Dynavap Guide I will cover:
- Starting Dynavap Configurations
- Anatomy of a Dynavap Vapcap
- How the Dynavap works
- Dynaverse of upgrades and customizations
- Heating Techniques & Torch Selection
- Induction Heaters
- Maintenance & Care
Dynavap Starter Configurations
The Dynavap vaporizer comes in four basic configurations or models, and the parts are compatible, interchangeable, and upgradable.
Dynavap Vapcap M – The entry key to the Dynaverse and the basic beginner model of the Dynavap. The Dynavap M is a stainless steel device, including a stainless steel tip, stainless condenser, and stainless stem and mouthpiece. The tip and condenser are positioned with high-temp silicone o-rings. [ Buy an M ]
Dynavap Vong – The Vong is a water bong compatible Dynavap with a titanium mouthpiece and crown and a wooden midsection. A titanium condenser connects the mouthpiece to the titanium tip. The Vong is compatible with 10mm and 14mm female glass joints. [ Buy a Vong ]
The Omni – The Dynavap Omni is longer than the M and Vong, at 4.25″ / 10.8cm. This is the Cadilac of the Dynaverse. The Omni is all-titanium and features a special mouthpiece with a twisted vortex condenser and adjustable airport. Simply twist the Omni mouthpiece to adjust the airflow from wide open to completely closed. [ Buy the Omni ]
Dynavap BB Stems – The BB stems are all-glass stems with no condenser. Watch as your vapor travels through the glass nipples and balls before hitting your lips or natively fit water pipe. The BB stems are available in 3 and 6 bb options, with the BB3 being the cheapest Dynavap starter vape at $63. [ BB9 Stem ]
Anatomy of the Dynavap
The Dynavap – at its bare minimum – is essentially the Dynavap tip and Dynavap Vapcap connected to a tube, or stem, for vapor delivery.
The Dynavap Tip is the extraction chamber. Herbs or botanicals are loaded in this bowl-shaped chamber made of metal. The Dynavap Vapcap, or cap as we’ll refer to it casually, fits tightly over the tip, sealing the extraction chamber.
Many Dynavap models utilize a condenser tube within the inner diameter of the stem. The condenser tube directly connects the mouthpiece to the extraction chamber.
The airport hole(s), depending on the stem, give you the option to feather a finger over the airport and introduce fresh air to mingle and mix with the vapor within the extraction chamber.
How the Dynavap Works
The Vapcap Tip can hold as little as .01 or as much as .25 ground cannabis or whole chunked nug.
With the Vapcap placed over the tip, heat is applied only to the sidewalls of the cap. Small butane torches and induction heaters are the typical heating source, but a traditional lighter will work in a pinch.
As the tip is being heated, listen for the *CLICK* as the extraction chamber and the herb within it reach vaporization temperature. When you hear the bi-metal disc in the cap make its *CLICK CLICK* sound, it’s ready to inhale and deliver vapor.
The Dynavap cap contains two metal discs that have a slight curve to them. As they heat up and reach vaporization temperatures, they curve to the opposite direction – causing the audible *CLICK*
Since there are two discs, you should hear two clicks. Sometimes they’ll be very close together, sometimes farther apart – depending on your heating technique.
Each cap is slightly different and the temperatures of the clicks may vary. They’re all very similar though!
Dynavap Stem Upgrades & The Dynaverse
Dynavap is a subculture and it has its own market of 3rd party accessories and upgrades. George and his team at Dynavap have always supported the community and openly allowed the extension of the Dynavap tip.
Early in the Dynavap Era woodturners within the dry herb vape enthusiast space were first to spin up custom Dynavap stems. Makers like Phatpiggie, Ed’s TNT, and KG Woodcrafts paved the way for dozens of Dynavap stem makers to exist today.
Aftermarket Dynavap stems can give your vaporizer a one-of-a-kind appeal and take vapor performance to the next level.
Wooden stems are popular due to the endless customizations and options. Some wooden stems may add a touch of wood flavor to the vapor, while others are titanium or stainless steel lined for pure flavor.
Glass stems deliver the purest flavor and a slightly different vapor due to the lack of a condenser tube. Glass stems cool the vapor and often utilize glass nipples for even more cooling. Many glass stems use a native male glass joint as the mouthpiece to make them compatible with bongs and water pipes without any additional adapter.
Titanium Dynavap stems are a relatively newer frontier in the aftermarket Dynavap space. Special cooling stems like the Simrell Vortex and the Mad Heaters REVOLVE stem bring vapor cooling and style to the next level. Anodized titanium adds another colorful level of artistic expression to add to the list of stem options.
See the Full List of Dynavap Stem Makers
Torch Selection & Heating Technique
Choosing the right torch for your Dynavap is essential to a satisfying experience. Small butane torches come in single jet, dual jet, and triple jet flames, with each having its own strengths and weaknesses for the Dynavap.
Single Flame Torches are most common, and most recommended for the Dynavap Vapcap. Single Flame torches provide precision heating, allowing you to heat the extraction zone accurately and efficiently without premature clicking*.
** Premature Clicking – When the cap end of the Dynavap is heated instead of the extraction zone and the cap *clicks* before the herb is at vaporization temperature.
While single flame torches excel in precision and fuel efficiency, they suffer in environments with wind or even gentle breeze. When vaping outside with a Dynavap, I highly recommend using a dual or triple-flame torch.
Multi-Flame Jet Lighters provide a larger pocket of hot flame and can heat up the Dynavap tip considerably faster than a single flame lighter. These lighters are more powerful and help compensate for cold or windy conditions.
Dual Flame Lighters provide double the heat of the single flame without excessive fuel and heat waste. Two flames next to each other provide a nice pocket of heat when heating the tip.
Triple & Quad Flame Lighters produce a lot of heat and give a really large heating zone. They’ll heat a Dynavap tip fast, even in cold and windy environments, but these torch lighters also burn through fuel much faster. Expect these lighters to be larger than the rest while refilling daily.
Dynavap Induction Heaters
Induction heaters make heating your Dynavap easy anywhere. Dynavap induction heaters are available in battery-powered portable versions as well as plug-in wall-powered.
The Orion is Dynavap’s portable induction heater. It’s a great pocket carry with USB-C charging and a built-in magnet.
The Dynavap Apollo 2 is a desktop induction heater designed to hold a small footprint on your desk or tabletop surface. The Apollo 2 plugs into the wall and uses a small button inside the coil to activate the heater.
The Apollo 2 Rover from Dynavap is the wire-free portable version of the Apollo 2. The Apollo 2 Rover can sit plugged in like a desktop induction heater or unplug and serve as a portable.
The induction heater market is evolving and moving fast, ChillMike shares his insights on many of the available heaters here.
Dynavap Maintenance & Care
Cleaning and maintenance vary depending on the Dynavap model and configuration.
With regular daily usage, you’ll need to clean your Dynavap and its vapor path on a monthly-ish basis.
The easiest way to clean the Dynavap Vapcap is to remove the tip and cap from the stem and clean the individual parts separately.
The tip, stem, and condenser can be soaked in isopropyl alcohol, but soaking is not required.
Isopropyl alcohol will degrade the silicone o-rings! Remove the o-rings if you’re going to soak in alcohol.
In the event of accidental combustion, I will often q-tip out the tip and run a rolled-up paper towel through the condenser as a quick clean. I find the burnt combustion taste goes away after a couple of fresh bowls.
