InstantVap User Manuals, Quick Start, Cleaning and US Service
Every InstantVap manual, the cleaning routine and the US service desk, on one page. Lorob Bees is the primary US seller of the InstantVap and handles warranty and repair for the United States from our shop in Baltimore, whichever dealer you bought from.
User manuals
| Model | Manual | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| InstantVap 18V Original | Download PDF (EN / DE / FR) | Adjustable dispenser 1–4 g. About 25 seconds per 2 g dose, 45 seconds per 4 g. |
| InstantVap 18V Compact | Download PDF (EN) | Same speed as the Original, spare-plunger storage in the handle, LED status. |
| InstantVap Lite | Printed manual in the box (EN / DE / FR) | Operates like the Compact with its own dispenser, silicone cap and brass outlet. No manual switch: it heats when the battery goes on. 25–30 seconds per 2 g dose, about a minute and a half at 4 g. Use a 3Ah or larger battery. |
| InstantVap 18V Turbo | Printed manual in the box | About 10 seconds per 2 g dose, 20 seconds at 4 g. Display shows temperature, battery voltage and the hive counter; see the LED codes below. |
A manual missing for your model or language? Email us and we will send it.
Quick start, every model
- Put on the respirator first. Oxalic acid vapor is corrosive to eyes and airways. A NIOSH-approved respirator with acid-gas or organic-vapor/P100 cartridges, gloves and eye protection, every treatment. The safety guide covers the full PPE list.
- Set the dose. Turn the dispenser to 2 g per brood box (our recommendation; the label allows up to 4 g per box). Use only EPA-registered oxalic acid such as EZ-OX. Dose by hive type is in how much oxalic acid per hive.
- Battery on, let it heat. On the Lite, Compact and Turbo the LED blinks slowly while warming and goes steady when the unit is at temperature; the Original's manual covers its heat-up indication. The Lite takes about a minute to come up; the others are faster.
- Reduce the entrance, nozzle in, dose in. Close any other openings with foam or a rag, slide the brass stem into the entrance, and release the dose. Fast blink while the acid sublimates.
- Hold the seal, then move on. Keep the entrance sealed for about ten minutes after the dose so the vapor settles on the bees and comb, then open it back up and go to the next hive. Stand upwind the whole time.
- Cap and clean between hives. The silicone cap keeps the chamber clean; a full clean is described in cleaning an InstantVap.
Turbo LED and display codes
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Slow blink | Warming up |
| Steady | At temperature, ready to treat |
| Fast blink | Sublimating the dose |
| Double blink | Battery discharged, swap the pack |
| Display | Working temperature (adjustable 446–500°F / 230–260°C, °F or °C), battery voltage, total hives treated, hives on this battery |
Batteries
Every InstantVap is sold for a specific socket: DeWalt 20V, Milwaukee M18, Makita 18V LXT, Ridgid 18V, Bosch 18V, and on the Turbo also Metabo HPT 18V. Batteries are not included. Use 5Ah or larger on the Compact, Original and Turbo; the Lite is happy on a 3Ah kit pack. DeWalt Powerstack packs are not recommended. Craftsman V20 and Ryobi 18V ONE+ packs run the DeWalt-socket models with our Craftsman adapter or Ryobi adapter; the details are in are Craftsman and DeWalt batteries interchangeable?
Service and warranty
Two-year parts warranty, serviced in the USA. Lorob Bees handles InstantVap warranty and repair for the United States, including units bought from our dealers, and we repair out-of-warranty units too.
How to send a unit in, what it costs after the warranty, and the service form: InstantVap service and warranty.
Choosing a model, planning a treatment
- InstantVap Sizer: answer three questions about your apiary and it tells you which model.
- All four oxalic acid vaporizers compared: Lite $349, Compact $445, Original $495, Turbo $550.
- Treatment Series Planner and Broodless Window Finder: when to treat, how many times, and the calendar export.
- Lite vs Compact vs Original vs Turbo: the long-form comparison.
General operating information. Always follow the manual that came with your unit and the label of the oxalic acid product you use.