Hey guys, it’s Sneaky Pete here, today I want to give you a look at the various models in the Sticky Brick lineup. First I’ll explain the general operation of a Sticky Brick, then I’ll talk about each individual model and what I think their strengths and weaknesses are. My aim is to help you make an informed decision about which Sticky Brick would be the right choice for you.
What is a Sticky Brick?
A Sticky Brick is a handmade wooden thermal extraction device made by Sticky Brick Labs in the USA, that provides full convection extraction. They are available in five different models, so sometimes people are a little overwhelmed when trying to choose a model. Ultimately they all function in the same way, so the small differences between the models are what you need to consider when picking the best one for your set up. Sticky Bricks are powered with a butane torch, you wouldn’t want to use a massive torch because it’ll be way too hot, a small handheld torch and a little bit of time to learn the technique is all you need.
How do they work?
The Sticky Brick is a manual extraction device compared to something more hands-off and automatic like the battery powered Crafty+ for example. This means that rather than simply turning it on and off, there is some skill and finesse involved in the operation, it allows you to tailor your experience to suit your preferences.
To begin you need to load your flower into the bowl and reassemble the device. Then you should aim your torch into the glass flame intake hole, this is going to provide the heat for the thermal extraction of your flower, now you can inhale. How hard you inhale, how close you place the flame into the intake hole, and how you use your finger on the shotgun are all going to have an impact on the volume of your extraction. It’s really easy to choose between a super flavorful low temperature hit, or a massive high temperature hit once you’ve practiced a bit and have the hang of it.
Stick Brick Labs include an accessory with every Sticky Brick called the restrictor disc, I highly recommend that anyone new to these devices uses it to begin with at least, it makes it much less likely for you to char or burn your flower while you’re getting the hang of it. Think of it as like training wheels, it really makes a night and day difference, so if you are new to the Brick, definitely give it a go. Some people prefer to take their restrictor disc out once they get the hang of it, because without it you get better control. Personally, I have the operation very dialed in with the restrictor disc and when I use it I never char my flower, so the disc is a permanent fixture in my Bricks.
Strengths
One of the best parts of the Sticky Brick experience is the massive clouds that they can produce. This is another device like the DynaVap, that I would recommend to anybody who is switching over from combustion. You can get lung busting hits with one of these, that will satisfy even the most skeptical newbie.
Bricks are also insanely efficient. Each of them includes a small stirring tool, if you use it to give your load a stir after every hit or two, you’ll squeeze every little bit of active ingredient out of your material. This is a very good device for anybody who is looking to save money on flower.
Because it’s full convection extraction you can get insanely good flavor that will cover your tongue in tasty terpenes. Another benefit is that convection extraction will give you super strong effects, it will hit you right between the eyes when used properly. So if you want a true heavy hitter, with a ton of flavor, a Sticky Brick is definitely something that should be in your arsenal.
Weaknesses
A manual device like a Sticky Brick is definitely harder to use than something like an Arizer Solo 2. With those battery operated automatic types of device, you just turn it on, let it heat up, then inhale. With a Sticky Brick however, you do need to spend some time to learn how to use it properly, although the restrictor disc greatly speeds up this learning process.
Because they are made from wood they are harder to clean than many other devices. You can’t get isopropyl alcohol anywhere near the wood, so you’re going to need to manually scrape it out with a tool, rather than being able to dip the components in alcohol. For your first few sessions there will be a bit of a natural wood flavor in the extraction, but it’s not too offensive and soon goes away.
Some people don’t like the idea of heating the load directly with a butane lighter and then inhaling that. Based on the reading that I’ve done it’s not something that I see a problem with, but it’s a personal preference kind of a thing and you can always run it through a water piece for extra filtration if you want.
The OG Brick
The OG Brick is a big beefy unit designed to be used dry. It consists of three main parts, and you’ll notice that it has a shotgun hole that you can either plug with a cork to negate its purpose, or you can operate it with your finger to act as a traditional carb. It has a very large and thick mouthpiece, so even though it’s designed to be used dry, you’re still going to get a lot of cooling with that thermal mass dissipating the heat away.
Strengths
Since this is the biggest Brick, it’s going to give you the coolest hits out of their dry lineup. Not only is there additional mass to absorb some of that heat, but there’s also additional length on the air path, which is going to help with cooling.
Weaknesses
This is the odd one out in their lineup as there is really no way to use it with a water piece. I mean, of course you can MacGyver something together, but with all the other models it’s possible to use them dry and natively with a water piece.
The HydroBrick Maxx
The HydroBrick Maxx is the most elaborate and versatile model available. It has a nice covered silhouette, and then when you take off the magnetic cover it reveals the herb storage container, the flame intake, as well as the adapter joint. Most people are going to use this one with the whip through a water piece, but it also comes with a dry mouth piece so it can also function in a very similar way to the OG Brick.
Strengths
I really like how the HydroBrick Maxx has a magnetic lid to enclose all of the parts, it gives it a clean look and also adds protection. This one is my favorite to use with the water piece, the whip means you can position it however you want, so it’s the easiest one to use wet.
Weaknesses
It comes with a couple of accessories that you probably won’t use, so it does decrease the overall value for money a little. They used to sell a HydroBrick model which was a simplified version of the Maxx, at a lower cost, I think a lot of people would prefer that straight-up water pipe focused design with the lower price.
The Junior
The Junior is designed for portability, and it achieves that with not only the reduced size, but with the design as well. Like the Maxx, this one has a really strong magnetic wooden lid which encloses it, the glass components fold in and are protected within that lid too. All you need to add is some flower and a torch to have yourself a massively powerful portable for a pretty reasonable price.
Strengths
The portability is a massive upside of the Junior, it’s easy to take with you but it’s just as effective as any of their larger units. The Junior rips massively hard, you get a shorter air path and the hits will get you right in the dome, tremendous power on this device.
Weaknesses
That shorter air path puts your eyes reasonably close to the flame intake, if you’re at all farsighted it can be a little tough to aim the torch with this one. While that shorter air path means a really direct and powerful hit, it’s also the least smooth in their dry lineup, so for extended sessions you might want to consider the water pipe adapter.
The Runt
The Runt is my most used out of all the Bricks. It sits in the middle of the lineup - it’s either a larger and more intricate Junior, or a miniaturized OG Brick, it depends how you want to look at it. I find you get nice and smooth hits thanks to the size and long mouthpiece, so I don’t miss running it through a water piece. Because of the smaller size compared to the OG, it’s a little bit easier to handle and fit on your desk, while still providing a similar, though slightly warmer, experience.
Strengths
The Runt nails it in terms of a handheld, its extraction is cooler than the Junior and it’s significantly smaller than the OG, to me it’s the best of both worlds in their dry lineup.
Weaknesses
Compared to all of the other units, this one has the most offset magnets within the body parts. You have to make a concerted effort to get it so it’s sitting perfectly flat, as the parts naturally want to move up and down a little bit due to these magnets, pressing it against a table to make the parts sit straight is a good technique. It’s not going to have any impact on how it functions, I just wish it held as true to its shape as the other models.
The Flip Brick
The Flip Brick is designed specifically to be used with a water piece, you can always find a way to use it dry, but this one was made to go through water. It has a clever flipping design to get into water pipe mode, though if you use it in the upright mode you can use it with a vertical water piece like a Scorpion. The device is the smallest in their lineup so it has a smaller margin for error compared to the larger units, but it is also the least expensive and the perfect entry level Sticky Brick device.
Strengths
This one is the most direct unit to use through a water piece. Though you can use the junior and the Runt through a water piece with an adapter, they are quite heavy units to have hanging on a water piece, so you need a larger and stable water piece to avoid it tipping over. The Flip Brick however, is really small and light, so it will work with pretty much any water piece. The design also places the flame intake a good distance away from your eyes so it is nice and easy to use.
Weaknesses
I find that the restrictor disc is a virtual necessity with the Flip Brick. Because it has such a short air path, if you don’t use good technique you are much more likely to char your flower with this one, so it takes a bit more time and patience to nail down your technique. I just keep the restrictor disc in there, it’s dramatically easier to use that way.
Conclusion
As you can see there is a wide variety of Sticky Bricks to choose from and each of them serve a specific purpose. Whichever one you choose, you’re going to get a really enjoyable manual device experience, which is going to lead to an extremely satisfying session. They produce flavorful convection extraction, massive hits, and super strong effects. It’ll take you a little time to learn to use compared to an automatic device, but it’s time well spent and definitely the most enjoyable homework assignment I’ve ever had.
I hope you enjoyed this look at the Sticky Brick lineup and that it helped you get a sense as to which one might be best for you, thank you so much for reading.
Keep it green, keep it sneaky.
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