Im only interested in vaporizing a certain legally grey plant. The Key seems promising, amazingly simple, portable, easily breakdownable into ambiguous items and, of course, cheap! I seem to have found similar items at a similar price in a hardware store.

Is vaporization caused by the distance, lowering the heat , from the flame?

Since the plant wont liquify, are 7 screens needed between it and the flame?

What about replacing the wet cloth Key holder w/a tightly curved metal clothes hanger resting on a table? The hanger can be tightly held by thread and barbs and maybe duct tape.

Maybe the top fitting is not needed because a wider tube will fit over the bottom fitting's top. Or must the tube be more isolated from heat? Or will frequently slipping tube on and off the bottom fitting, to place and remove plant, loosen the tightness needed to transmit vapor?

Could the heat be applied by a glue gun, soldering iron or lava lamp bottom (as well as a match or ciggie lighter)? A tall Key holder ,to accomodate these, could be made.

I built The Key (odd name). Gas pipe 3/4" brass fittings were $9. I baked them at broil temp for an hour or so but didnt first wash w/acetone. Comments? I used about 5 screens below and one improperly small screen above. I got a piece of plant in my mouth. The top fitting has a flared thread, not barb, but its tight and quick-release. I hold the Key w/a coat hanger wrapped in a narrow spiral around the bottom barb to a wider spiral around the bowl. The other end of the coat hanger sticks out as a handle bent double and inserted into a narrow car hose for stability. Many holder variations are possible. I may build a tripod w/a coat hanger so I can rest it on a table. I used an ordinary ciggie lighter tho some claim its zinc(?) flint releases nasty bits. Is there a non-flint lighter? I may try a glue gun, soldering iron or lava lamp base but the lighter worked so quickly that that I missed the first vapor. A weak draw is sufficient. The second vapor worked very quickly. Excepting some medical plant, It was the best stone in many years, a pleasant body trip w/no anxiety. I went to a favorite watering hole where the barmaid seemed unusually friendly. I told her that I was vaporized. There seems the same amount of plant afterwards as before and it looks the same. I'll see if its still potent. A Jack and coke to the designer of the El Cheapo Vaporizer. I expect to see a commercial version at a $1 store. Why didnt the hipsters in the 1960s know about this?!

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I would say the world's your oyster Joey lol. It looks like you're using it just like a VG would be used, basically, except you spent $80 less than my friend

I would suggest just a Bic lighter. I've used a bic with a VG for a while and as long as you don't inhale the flame into the device, you shouldn't get any soot (toxins/gunk)

As far as vaping a certain particular plant, you will likely still need a number of screens on the side the flame is on, as the screens act similar to the ceramic disc in the VG.

But you'll only need one screen on the inhaling side of the device.

As far as alternative heating methods, yeah you could probably use a soldering iron or even a heating element on a stove (a la hot-knife) but tbh, a bic will be the easiest and cheapest route.

My plastic tube has unusually thick plastic which does not conduct the heat from a lighter. I removed the attached handle and now hold the El Cheapo Vaporizer by the tube. Shortening the tube may be practical. The enclosed bowl ends the occcasional horror of a tipped-over waterpipe, with the tedious, frantic scratching for Plant bits in a rug or in the dark corner of a cabinet. One may safely drop the plastic-metal ECV Mark I without concern except to one's dignity.

Removing anything which remains after the Plant has been completely vaporized requires removing the top screen and replacing it on top of a new supply. This can be tedious since its tight in the bowl so I will slightly trim it for ease of movement w/a knife, jeweler's screwdriver, etc. Maybe a tiny handle, from a wire from an unused screen, can be attached. This may seem obsessive but nothing should distract from the Plant.

Also, it seems that a moderate amount in the bowl needs only a very light draw or two for its wonderous properties to manifest themselves. This seems to allow reuse for several different occasions before refilling.

Steve Jobs' visionquest for art and efficiency is my guide. I type this, of course, on my beloved iMac.

Removing and replacing screens was difficult and screens got distorted because of internal pipe threads. Then I turned it right side up as a DMT photo post shows. Now the lower fitting ,the bowl, is internally smooth. But the lower fitting, a flare, was too short for the flame so I replaced it with a barb pipe. Now it's fine.