Well, I'm back after a few more sessions with the Glass Bat GVG, to share a few comments on its use.
It's definitely not the best device for spice.
The price may be less than a third of the Sherlock (50€ = 65$+5$ shipping and no customs charges instead of >160€ = 120$+35$ shipping and an expected tax of 50€ !!!) but it's not worth the difference in my eyes, now that I tested extensively the Glass Bat with DMT.
I eventually ordered the Sherlock GVG (it's still stuck at belgian customs, as expected) and got the whole series of Turboflame lighters for tests.
The Arc is clearly destined for the Sherlock and other glass pipes for weed (steam roller and baby ROOR), but the T2 is great for standard cigarettes/joints.
So back to the Glass Bat, the problem is it's difficult nowadays to find a good quality butane lighter with an adjustable flame, as today's Bics are completely dumbed down (damn EC laws to protect us from... ourselves).
If that wasn't enough, not even a good quality lighter will transcend the faults associated with the incomplete combustion of butane, and no matter how good you are with the technique, it's impossible not to leave quite a lot of soot inside the glass and on the ceramic element.
And then it becomes rather hot quite quickly, you have to hold it close to the mouth so you don't burn your fingers. The metal hatch is even hotter than the end of the glass, and stays so for longer than the glass, so one has to be careful if reload is needed before the hatch had time to cool down.
I did some tests with the torches, but as expected, it revealed either dangerous, impractical or plain not working.
It's not that bad as to stop you from breaking through, but it's certainly not as consistent as I expect the Sherlock to be, though the adoption of copper meshes eventually helped some. Another issue is that it's a bit short to let vapor build up some, so it's difficult to evaluate if and when you're vaporizing, as it's still a VaporGenie stone and the smoke isn't harsh at all (while sometimes the air can be quite hot, the heat doesn't expand in the lungs like THC does). I never coughed with the Glass Bat, but I didn't always break through either.
In conclusion, I'd say to Tele : "of course you were right !"
But I have used the scientific method to know exactly why, I learned a lot in the process and now can share my findings with the community so the question is fully covered and can be put at rest. Sherlock Glass Vapor Genie is King. Hail to the King :lol:
Expect a new thread about another vaping device that I just ordered for tests, though
Cheers,
Silly(c)One.