I had a recent try with DMT, while tripping coming down from 300ug of LSD (legitimate LSD). I took hits until I could no longer hold the pipe. I held the machine perfectly downwards and used a bic to get a VERY light white smoke/vapor (product tasted barley burnt at all).

I almost dropped the pipe when my friend took it from me, I could not hold it at all. I blacked out for maybe 5 to 10 seconds as I stared off into space and then shit got really intense visually and I was a bit confused about if I was high or if I had even just gotten a good hit. I however DID NOT breakthrough, or meet any machine elves or anything like that. I was still aware of my surroundings, I could see my room-mate next to me, although her face was made up of a neon blue wire-frame, I could pretty much talk to her and more-or-less understand what she was saying back to me.

I do not understand how a person could hit "The Machine" until they literally could not physically hold it anymore and yet not break through.

Did the LSD possibly corrupt the experience?
Did I possibly repress or blackout the breakthrough (those few seconds)?
Is it possible I'm just not ready for a breakthrough and therefore did not get one?
Am I expecting too much from DMT?

I doubt the LSD corrupted the experience. As soon as I get all my hits in I lay back and close my eyes. Something about closing the eyes seem to aid in the surrendering of oneself to the experience, allowing one to go much further. Sometimes keeping the eyes open can ground one in reality.

And the concept of 'machine elves', etc needs to be dropped. "Machine elves" imo is an extremely poor and limiting term when it comes to describing the nature of the experience and the intelligences one comes across. Not every experience will propel you into contact with entities. My deepest, most profound/intense experience to date had absolutely NO entities or anything like that.

much love,
tat

Could it be that maybe you didn't hold that final pull as long as you could have ?

A question while we're on the topic:
Is it best to hold in only the last inhale? I'd think that holding in every inhale would take too much time and diminish the effect.

DMT is a fickle mistress, sometimes it just doesn't work, no matter how hard you try. I've had some times when I've taken a normal (large) toke and tripped for 10 seconds, then instantly back to baseline. Just take it in stride and try again another day.

I've found it really hard to break through with the machine, so maybe try some strong enhanced leaf in a bong. It really helps breaking through if you can get a huge amount of vapor in your first hit and hold it at least 5 seconds. Sometimes I've gotten a smaller first hit and no matter how hard I try, I can't break through after that.

Hold in each inhalation 10-15 seconds and the last for as long as possible.

much love,
tat

Hey, Hey... I happen to be quite fond of machine elves! Their sense of humor is brutally rich, and their timing couldn't be finer. Really a swell bunch as far as I'm concerned.

Breakthroughs, for most people, are pivotal and intimately personal events. They come along when it's right for you, and when the situation is right... or when the situation is wrong. Horribly wrong. But that's on you.

If you're really looking to see what's up, take yourself away from the business of social situations and distractions to a safe, calm and private space. Come at the thing with an open mind and and the intention to see what there is to see, and always load just a little more than you think you'll need.