Where Elev8 began

Vaporizing dry herbs started gaining traction in the early 2000s, right when a young electrician named Steve Kelnhofer was living two lives: fixing circuits by day and fighting with unreliable vaporizers at night. The idea that sparked everything was simple—build a vaporizer that actually worked, lasted, and tasted better than anything on the market.

In 2004 the silver surfer vaporizer came to life. Steve gathered the best materials he could afford, asked his mom to hold the tubing while he cut it, and built the first SSV right out of his garage. In those early days he was meeting customers in Home Depot parking lots, selling units on craigslist, and learning every trade skill he didn’t have—metal, marketing, manufacturing, and eventually glassblowing.

Teaching himself glass when nobody else would

Colorado didn’t have many glassblowers at the time, and everyone Steve approached turned him down. So he bought a torch, protected his eyes, opened a book by Bandhu Dunham, and taught himself how to blow glass in his own home. The heater covers and wands weren’t going to make themselves, so he made them—one at a time.

Soon the basement became a workshop, the workshop became a shed, and craigslist hires turned into a small team assembling vaporizers by hand.

From garage builds to a full glassblowing studio

As sales grew, Steve took a chance and traveled alone to China to secure reliable, affordable aluminum housings—allowing the silver surfer to stay high quality while remaining accessible. Like a Ford built in the USA with foreign parts, the SSV remained proudly American-made while benefiting from global partners who helped keep quality high and costs low.

This growth pushed the company into bigger warehouse spaces, and eventually into a facility that included a full glass studio. When skill levels rose, the crew started filling the showroom with hand-made pipes and functional glass art. This little shop became Elev8 presents HEMP (Higher Elevation Masterpiece Productions).

Elev8 Premier is born

As the glass team grew, the art grew with it. The studio became known for functional pieces that blended craftsmanship with performance, and Elev8 Premier was born—now one of the top art-glass studios in the country with 10 bench stations and 3 lathes.

At the same time, the vaporizer line expanded. Steve knocked himself off by creating the Da Buddha Vaporizer. Then came the Life Saber, the Super Surfer, the Sidekick, and now an expanding line of 8 vaporizers.

The rise of Elev8 Distribution and Elev8 University

In 2018, 7th Floor became Elev8 Distribution, tightening operations and allowing us to focus on education and lifestyle. Cannabis isn’t just a product; it’s a culture. We launched Elev8 University to help people understand dry herb vaporizing, full spectrum effects, responsible use, and how to elevate their wellness.

To keep everything grassroots, we built a network of Elev8 Ambassadors who teach and guide communities across the country.

Elev8 today

Today Elev8 operates out of three buildings—Elev8 presents HEMP, Elev8 Glass Gallery, Elev8 Premier, and Elev8 Distribution. Every vaporizer is still handcrafted in Colorado Springs. Every piece of glass is made by artists who respect the flame. And every product is built with the same goal we had since day one: elevating mind, body and spirit.

Elev8 Arts – giving back through creativity

As Elev8 grew, we knew it had to be about more than products. It had to be about people. Elev8 Arts is our nonprofit arm dedicated to community, creativity, and giving others the chance to experience the healing power of art.

Based in Colorado Springs, Elev8 Arts supports local artists, veterans, and youth by providing access to glassblowing, art classes, music, and community events. From Elev8 Bingo and open mic nights to hands-on workshops, the goal is simple—give people a safe, inspiring place to create, connect, and grow.

A portion of what we do at Elev8, from vaporizers to glass, helps fuel Elev8 Arts. When you support Elev8, you also help support the next wave of artists, makers, and storytellers learning to express themselves through flame and creativity.