So here's the deal; SWIM's extracted, and has a reasonable amount of spice, with more on the way.
Thus far, SWIM's smoking method has been a large test-tube, with a double-hole bung in the top, with a glass tube going through one of the holes. SWIM loads the spice, melts it with a standard Clipper lighter, covering the second hole with his thumb. SWIM very slowly and carefully heats the spice until melting, and then vaping. He can see the vapour coming off, and at this point he takes his thumb off the second hole and takes deep, slow tokes, holds, exhales and repeats.
This has had mixed results, but needless to say, SWIM hasn't broken through yet. Results range from open-eye visuals with 20mg to no effects at all with 70mg, and this is getting ridiculous - SWIM doesn't have too much spice to waste.
SWIM doesn't know if it's burning the spice or condensation or possibly even unusually extended tolerance that's the issue (or a combination thereof), but SWIM was wondering if the following design would be more efficient. Ideally, SWIM would prefer to not have to make The Machine if possible.
Adjust the test tube by tapping a hole in the bottom of it, and plugging this hole by poking wire mesh down the inside of the tube. Load spice in through the inside of the tube and melt into the mesh. Replace the two-hole bung with a single hole one, and place glass tubing/straw through this. Basically, redesign the airflow.
Does anyone more experienced out there have any input?
Note: With the current method there's always a dark brown, sticky, very-difficult-to-remove residue after smoking. SWIM doesn't know if this is due to burning spice or impurities in spice, but once SWIM's finished his current extraction, he'll re-X all his spice.

That's burnt spice. The apparatus you describe is efficient at one thing: burning spice.

Why so hesitant about the machine?

Mostly because SWIM doesn't have a house to himself, and room-mates would most likely be against my construction of the such (SWIM however only smokes when interruptions are definitely impossible).
Subtlety, I suppose, is the issue. That said, if SWIM's current rig is fatally flawed, SWIM shall construct a machine nevertheless.
Cheers for the input

Okay, so, that was weird.
SWIM was just heating up an old spare test tube with the brown residue in, so as to break it more precisely and easily, when it started producing lots of thick white vapour. Normally, SWIM would've ignored this as burned residue useless vapour, but, acting on a hunch, SWIM took a deep toke of it out of curiosity.
Definite effects - mind started racing, traditional buzzing in ears, losing body control, reality seemed... different, etc. This was after very strong heating of a residue which as far as SWIM was concerned was useless, but an almost negligable amount of it produced some of the strongest non-incapacitating effects SWIM has experienced. Harsh smoke, but not unmanageable - this is coming from a seasoned Old Holborn smoker though.
...the hell's going on?
About an hour from now, SWIM'll try with another old test tube which has more residue - heat strongly, keep toking all the white vapour.
Anyone got any idea what's happening? o.O

The dark-brown sticky residue is actually a mix of “toasted” or pyrolyzed DMT plus some unaffected, pure DMT and possibly plant oils and other contaminants. The “toasted” stuff is probably a mix of all sorts of decomposition products. When you heat it, you’ll get DMT vapor plus vapors from some of the other stuff.

Unless it's completely carbonized you'll get some sort of vapor/smoke, but it's hard to say how much of that smoke is actually DMT vapor.

It was just /really/ strange (and also unexpected; SWIM almost fell over before he reached his bed) that SWIM got stronger effects from the decomposed, smaller-mass, higher-temp. residue than from conventional DMT crystals. All the more reason SWIM should switch to a more reliable administration technique I suppose.
Thanks for your time gibran2. SWIM should have a proper conclusion to our discussion on my essay thread sometime soon SWIM does have to say though, DMT really does open your mind, and no matter how much people tell you this, it can't prepare one for the real thing.

Right - machine construction time it is. That is, after SWIM's done experimenting with this unearthly goo.

Peace out. <3

And of course, if the budget allows, there's nothing better than the GVG.

Alas, alack, t'budget hardly allows for enough coffee to last the day these days. SWIM will have to do with DIY for now, but the future, as always, is uncertain.