I've read a bunch about how much smoother hits are from The Machine vs. an oil pipe but I can't figure out why that would be based on the physics. Can anyone elaborate? Thanks!

Convection beats conduction hands down.

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well you technically can get an oil burner to work.

its just more finnicky.

the thing is, air cools down a lot faster than glass, so you can moderate the temperature more easily (pitting the heat against the amount of air-flow, whilst coordinating distance of the heating element from the dmt - which doesn't help with an oil pipe once the glass is already hot). but some have gotten it to work successfully, you will just happen to notice that none of those people (afaik) still use it. those that have gotten it to work recommend a cool, moist washcloth or something similar(to moderate heat), and matches (as a preferable heat source to lighters, for what reason? i haven't a clue, i am just parroting the advice i have heard)

the machine isn't perfect, but it is considerably less finnicky.

in my personal opinion, however:
make thee some changa
smoalk it in thine bonga

I suppose there could be something to be said that air is being drawn through the conducting element in the machine vs. that air only touching the heating element in a pipe. Thanks for the help.

In the Machine, its not just the glass that keeps its heat. Its also the steel wool inside. It even traps the goo inside of it, after melting. That goo is annoying to manage otherwise.