I talked to Vapor Genie about my concerns.
Hi, I'm looking at buying the Al bat. "Anodized coatings have a much lower thermal conductivity and coefficient of linear expansion than aluminium. As a result, the coating will crack from thermal stress if exposed to temperatures above 80 °C. The coating can crack, but it will not peel." This does not sound good to me. It sounds as if the anodized coating will crack or wear down with repeated high temp exposure and the user will be exposed to aluminum byproducts. I own a glass VG and use a high-temp torch lighter. If I were to buy this Al bat, how can I be assured that "There is absolutely no need to be concerned about aluminum exposure."? I feel kind of concerned and don't understand fully.
Anodized coatings are extremely adherent and do not produce particles or
flake off. Even if they crack, newly exposed aluminum instantly forms a
highly adherent oxide coating (which is identical to an anodized
coating, but thinner).
80C (176F) is actually pretty hot and will burn you. The Aluminum bat
does not get this hot.
I suppose edges of the intake hole could be excessively heated if you
hit it directly with the torch flame.
If I held the tip of the flame point approx. 1" away, as I do with my glass VG, do you think that there would be an issue?
if the flame does not touch the aluminum, or touches the aluminum only
slightly, we feel that it is absolutely not an issue.