Discontinued The Firefly Vaporizer

[hoyo77]

Actually we were speculating a couple pages back about how this might actually create conduction...a metal basket heats up in the FF chamber and cooks material via conduction. My taste issues (and also the way it cooked) made me think there was a convection/conduction hybrid happening.

hmmm....the arizer basket would retain heat and thus keep the herb warm per say...I don't think it cooks the herb because the heat is not continuous...for example in my PnP pro I can load a basket set it to one and when it comes to temp if I do not hit it immediately I can see vapors coming out..not much but enough for you to see. With the FF heat being controlled by your airflow and pushing the button I don't think there is much cooking but the herb will stay warm because of the basket. that's just my noob ass opinion, I personally like the basket mod and I notice no taste difference...but then again I am an old ass mutha fucka and I probably aint got that many tastebuds or brain cells left!!!

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

hmmm....the arizer basket would retain heat and thus keep the herb warm per say...I don't think it cooks the herb because the heat is not continuous...for example in my PnP pro I can load a basket set it to one and when it comes to temp if I do not hit it immediately I can see vapors coming out..not much but enough for you to see. With the FF heat being controlled by your airflow and pushing the button I don't think there is much cooking but the herb will stay warm because of the basket. that's just my noob ass opinion, I personally like the basket mod and I notice no taste difference...but then again I am an old ass mutha fucka and I probably aint got that many tastebuds or brain cells left!!!

You get the idea, sure. PinPro vapes even if you don't hit it because of the conduction vaporization going on (heat touches material to vape). Firefly is convection, heating air to vape material. With no hitting going on, the heat source just stays hot and whatever is near it absorbs the radiating energy. When you use the basket and use the FF normally the heat is absorbed by the screen better than the flower so it probably does lend to some small amount of conduction. Maybe why people say they're getting more even results with it? That bit of conduction might help get the higher-temp actives easier as well. Just stoned ramblings so I might be a little wrong

 

[vinhale]

Hi all, I had to write in and credit this institution for speeding me along in the journey that is this crazy device. And I have to ask a question.

Day 1: Make all sorts of mistakes, get a kind of frantic, concerned high. I'm definitely there, but it is far away and fleeting. Wispy. Much waste, much abv.

Day 2: I am grinding, I am trying baskets. Do baskets get covers? All I learn is that I have a cold Firefly. Still takes many attempts to extract, long, pleasant sessions but it requires too much focus.

Day 3: I don't know what to do but draw ridiculously slowly, mflb. It works, but again, the effort involved, the balance between breath and the tingle, eludes me.

I am a week in and I came back to my laptop on page 75ish to when steema basically lays down what I need to do and I had just passed over it. The natural draw, obey the path. There is math in the path.

So, my question. What is happening when we LET GO? It all starts there, for me. Is it because I run cold? What is it doing?

 

[mckeen]

Are you using enough alcohol into seep in the gasket area? I only dampen a q-tip and then blot out any extra on a cloth — no chance any alcohol will harm my gaskets this way. Curious why alcohol seems to screw your unit's gaskets up so frequently?

I guess I'am a little aggressive cleaning with q tips..When it was new the view port screws were a little lose and the gasket was pinched so I took it all apart. From that day I have had an issue with this seal cause it's deformed. I'm certain this will work until they get some in stock. Not a big deal, I was curious about others.

 

[mitchgo61]

Hi all, I had to write in and credit this institution for speeding me along in the journey that is this crazy device. And I have to ask a question.


Day 3: I don't know what to do but draw ridiculously slowly, mflb. It works, but again, the effort involved, the balance between breath and the tingle, eludes me.

I am a week in and I came back to my laptop on page 75ish to when steema basically lays down what I need to do and I had just passed over it. The natural draw, obey the path. There is math in the path.

So, my question. What is happening when we LET GO? It all starts there, for me. Is it because I run cold? What is it doing?

Not sure exactly what you're asking. Do you mean "why do I get vapor when I let go of the button?" It's because the chamber is still hot, vapor is still being produced, you're still pulling hot air over material that's still cooking. Excited electrons in the material are still bouncing around and cooking the material. (Some here have noticed they get the majority of their hit after button release...certainly the really big hits can occur when you misjudge how much more vapor is coming after release. And by "you" I mean "I".)

As to your other issues, my advice would be not to overthink it. There's nothing obvious about what you've described that would lead one to suspect your unit of being too cool. A week isn't a long time, yet, on the FF curve. You just have to find your rhythm.

 

[Stu]

I tried using an ELB cap as a basket and my results were very poor. The ELB caps are a tad smaller than the EQ elbows, so I'm wondering if that has something to do with it? Hot air flowing outside the rim maybe? I was left with lots of green bud that was better utilized elsewhere.

I could've sworn that I had some EQ elbow screens around here somewhere, but damn if I can find 'em.

 

[havealight101]

I tried using an ELB cap as a basket and my results were very poor. The ELB caps are a tad smaller than the EQ elbows, so I'm wondering if that has something to do with it? Hot air flowing outside the rim maybe? I was left with lots of green bud that was better utilized elsewhere.

I could've sworn that I had some EQ elbow screens around here somewhere, but damn if I can find 'em.

Yup, elb tops are too thin, air does go around the load. The only luck I had with elb caps was to warp it to be large enough to touch the glass. Better off finding a EQ basket, they work well for preloaded capsules, and slightly more even extraction.

 

[vinhale]

Not sure exactly what you're asking. Do you mean "why do I get vapor when I let go of the button?" It's because the chamber is still hot, vapor is still being produced, you're still pulling hot air over material that's still cooking. Excited electrons in the material are still bouncing around and cooking the material. (Some here have noticed they get the majority of their hit after button release...certainly the really big hits can occur when you misjudge how much more vapor is coming after release. And by "you" I mean "I".)

As to your other issues, my advice would be not to overthink it. There's nothing obvious about what you've described that would lead one to suspect your unit of being too cool. A week isn't a long time, yet, on the FF curve. You just have to find your rhythm.

Yes thats what I am asking, because it is counterintuitive that it is at the exact moment I stop applying heat that the vapor begins. To be clear, I get negligible vapor if the bowl is glowing. My draw is fast enough that I am fairly certain that I am not just then finally accessing vapor extracted at the beginning or middle of the draw. I noticed (and this may be in error) that when I let go the draw changes subtly, to the point where if the material is getting dry and light it pops out of the bowl as soon as I lay off the button. Are we sure that there is not some kind of a "gate" on the air intake?

Have you ever gotten to the end of a hit and felt the Firefly draw "hit a wall" and start to suck back? If the intake is wide open at all times, how can this be?

 

[mitchgo61]

Yes thats what I am asking, because it is counterintuitive that it is at the exact moment I stop applying heat that the vapor begins. To be clear, I get negligible vapor if the bowl is glowing. My draw is fast enough that I am fairly certain that I am not just then finally accessing vapor extracted at the beginning or middle of the draw. I noticed (and this may be in error) that when I let go the draw changes subtly, to the point where if the material is getting dry and light it pops out of the bowl as soon as I lay off the button. Are we sure that there is not some kind of a "gate" on the air intake?

Have you ever gotten to the end of a hit and felt the Firefly draw "hit a wall" and start to suck back? If the intake is wide open at all times, how can this be?

No...never. The draw, to me, is consistent on any given bowl, altered by the grind and pack only. There IS a gate on the draw, but it's physically the vents on the front and the side. No magic gating is occurring when you release the button...all that happens is the active heat stops.

I can assure you the FF produces vapor while the heater is running. I experience it every day. The vapor that occurs when you release ís no different than carry-over cooking in an oven....or the way you can power down a hot Solo and still get a big hit 30 seconds later, or the way you'd burn your hand on a stove-top minutes after the burner is turned off. It's pretty simple...it's STILL REALLY HOT. (Try holding the button for a few seconds longer than you normally do...you may find the vapor gets big at the same time point in your draw, affected by the amount of hot air you pulled over the material, not when you release the button.)

 

[vinhale]

It still makes no sense to me that the bulk of the vapor is not being produced at the peak of heat (right before releasing) but rather on the cooling down side.

That said, knowing how different things seemed before I knew the little I know now, I'm going to chalk this up to inexperience and keep at it.

Every day is better than the last, and last night was a cloudy breakthrough. I just want to clarify that I am in no way unhappy even though I may have a "cooler" unit. I am using a pretty fine grind, tamping almost to the point of packing, using top-screens every time and have had no hint of combustion, so I see the cool aspect as a plus.

The only downside I see is that its not easy (but is doable) to get very dark abv.

 

[Raskin666]

I would suspect that because the vapor is fairly difficult to feel because it is cool, what you are experiencing is that after you release the button tends to be where you start to notice your lungs are filling with the vapor. There was vapor production during the button press but wasn't evident until later in your draw. This is when I tend to "feel" the vapor as well. I wouldn't bother trying to judge from the glow of the bowl, which doesn't seem to be as indicative of the temp as one might think. Instead, I try to think about the unit intuitively. Air flow is necessary (but also is a small vapor path), as the unit grows warmer over the course of the session, less time on the button is needed to achieve a higher temperature.

Also, I wanted to mention that I tend to be sparing with the button until late in the bowl. I have also noticed that I have gone from 5-6 hits on average per bowl to many more (I'm not sure of the exact number). So in the beginning of the session, I use maybe an 8 second press on average, with a long draw following the release. Draw speed is about at the point of resistance, not much more. 2nd or 3rd hit in is where it is a bigger cloud. Later in the session I may even preheat the bowl a bit more, and occasionally a second button push (I generally wait AT LEAST 4 seconds between button pushes, and only utilize this near the end). In these later sessions I sometimes employ a faster draw. I can usually keep it reigned in so it doesn't fly up into the window, but the last few hits I don't care as much. It wipes clean easily while warm and a good blow clears it, too. Taking my time with each session not only has increased the number of hits per load, but I am also experiencing AVB that is more spent and much more evenly cooked.

Welp. There is my novel of the morning.

 

[vinhale]

"I would suspect that because the vapor is fairly difficult to feel because it is cool, what you are experiencing is that after you release the button tends to be where you start to notice your lungs are filling with the vapor."

Yes, this sounds right. I did some flashlight tests and this seems to be the reason for my misperception: the FF is smoother than any portable I have ever used. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[mitchgo61]

I would suspect that because the vapor is fairly difficult to feel because it is cool, what you are experiencing is that after you release the button tends to be where you start to notice your lungs are filling with the vapor. There was vapor production during the button press but wasn't evident until later in your draw. This is when I tend to "feel" the vapor as well. I wouldn't bother trying to judge from the glow of the bowl, which doesn't seem to be as indicative of the temp as one might think. Instead, I try to think about the unit intuitively. Air flow is necessary (but also is a small vapor path), as the unit grows warmer over the course of the session, less time on the button is needed to achieve a higher temperature.

Exactly. Vapor is being produced before you feel it. Perception colors one's sense of what is happening, and when, with vapor production.

Every day is better than the last, and last night was a cloudy breakthrough. I just want to clarify that I am in no way unhappy even though I may have a "cooler" unit. I am using a pretty fine grind, tamping almost to the point of packing, using top-screens every time and have had no hint of combustion, so I see the cool aspect as a plus.

The only downside I see is that its not easy (but is doable) to get very dark abv.

Still doesn't sound like a cool unit to me...sounds like it's working as designed. You get lots of vapor and dark ABV. The last couple of hits are hard to extract with a normal-functioning FF. Also sounds like you're enjoying riding the learning curve, and that's the most important thing.

 

[hoyo77]

Exactly. Vapor is being produced before you feel it. Perception colors one's sense of what is happening, and when, with vapor production.


Still doesn't sound like a cool unit to me...sounds like it's working as designed. You get lots of vapor and dark ABV. The last couple of hits are hard to extract with a normal-functioning FF. Also sounds like you're enjoying riding the learning curve, and that's the most important thing.

AS for the learning curve...i have had my FF for almost 2 months and it never ceases to amaze me. The thing that gets me every fraggin time is when i load a fresh bowl and fire that baby up it feels like i am getting nothing...the coolness is very misleading it plays with you sometimes, then reality hits as soon as you exhale and you are like GEEEZ, i had all that vapor in me!!! as for whether my unit is a hot one or a cold one...dont know, dont care...the unit i got works very well, sometimes too damn well cause i am always late for work after a morning session.
I just wish there were a way to make the mouth piece about 2-3 inches longer. If any of you guys got something for that, please post!

 

[Vaporipped]

Hi everyone. As a couple of you may have read previously, I am a modifier and yes I'm seeking help for it. Just keep in mind that the screens can only reach the same temperature as the vapor that passes through them. They also cool down to room temperature within a couple of seconds. There's little to no conduction happening in my bowl as I also use a fine grind and its free to move around in the basket. It's great for me. I also enjoyed using just the Vapir No2 as the cap in the FF bowl. The only draw backs that I've noticed with screens are a slightly more restricted pull, and a very very slight difference in flavor. Still tastes awesome! No combustion, and turns the herb a nice even darker brown. The screens also go together, stay together, and pull apart very nicely and they fit in the Firefly perfectly. For people that vape throughout the day, I can imagine you preloading a few of these in the morning. It's also sweet to see the amber honey collect on the portal without the bits of herb.

Vapir No2 screen + Arizer screen =

 

[fernand]

I'm sorry if this has been addressed earlier in the thread. I saw mention of a 220v version coming out later. Is there perhaps a battery charger that works with this battery at 220v?

Most electronics nowadays are specifically designed to work on 50 or 60 Hz power, from 100 volts (e.g. Japan) to 240 volts (e.g. Europe). Is there any indication this isn't true of this charger?

Maybe the official accessory kit below will take care of just about any remaining "off the grid" situations ;-)

Greetings. I got a FireFly 2 days ago, it's one of the dark gray units they shipped to stores in 3s, for Xmas? in early Jan? ... and I'm just getting caught up on this thread.

So what's the general opinion around here about a gasket apocalypse? Not really an apocalypse, I can manage, but the top window gasket is wiggling out to escape, and the big thin one (they must have a name for it like Mr Trouble) is starting to peel off.

I bought it locally, so I could go ask for the other similar unit he has. BTW, on this street we have two shops next to each other that compete. They both got 3 Fireflys and they're DEALIN'! Well, one of them only has 2 left. A red and another in BMW charcoal. But anyway, I'm still not 110% sure mine is hot enough. Dark remains? not really. More like tan. Combustion? You MUST be kidding! I love the flavor, the processor keeps the temp "there" perfectly, no matter what you feed it. In fact it's brilliant. But "there" is a bit low. Needs a trimmer to be tweaked, or the firmware to be rooted and mod'ed. As it is now, I struggle to vape all traces of green off my ABV. So ... maybe it's better to get a newer one, from FF?

Ideas? Sorry if it's been beaten to death on pages X-Y.
Thanks ...

p.s. has anyone disassembled one yet?

Mod Note: Posts merged. Please avoid back to back posts.

 

[mitchgo61]

Greetings. I got a FireFly 2 days ago, it's one of the dark gray units they shipped to stores in 3s, for Xmas? in early Jan? ... and I'm just getting caught up on this thread.

So what's the general opinion around here about a gasket apocalypse? Not really an apocalypse, I can manage, but the top window gasket is wiggling out to escape, and the big thin one (they must have a name for it like Mr Trouble) is starting to peel off.

If "the big thin one" is the silicon seal on the underside of the magnetic lid, you should return at least the lid for a replacement. The unit won't function properly if the seal fails, and unlike the wiggly window gasket, you cannot fix it yourself...nor should you have to.

Exchange it at your point of purchase and save yourself future frustration.

 

[mckeen]

Greetings. I got a FireFly 2 days ago, it's one of the dark gray units they shipped to stores in 3s, for Xmas? in early Jan? ... and I'm just getting caught up on this thread.

So what's the general opinion around here about a gasket apocalypse? Not really an apocalypse, I can manage, but the top window gasket is wiggling out to escape, and the big thin one (they must have a name for it like Mr Trouble) is starting to peel off.

I bought it locally, so I could go ask for the other similar unit he has. BTW, on this street we have two shops next to each other that compete. They both got 3 Fireflys and they're DEALIN'! Well, one of them only has 2 left. A red and another in BMW charcoal. But anyway, I'm still not 110% sure mine is hot enough. Dark remains? not really. More like tan. Combustion? You MUST be kidding! I love the flavor, the processor keeps the temp "there" perfectly, no matter what you feed it. In fact it's brilliant. But "there" is a bit low. Needs a trimmer to be tweaked, or the firmware to be rooted and mod'ed. As it is now, I struggle to vape all traces of green off my ABV. So ... maybe it's better to get a newer one, from FF?

Ideas? Sorry if it's been beaten to death on pages X-Y.
Thanks ...

p.s. has anyone disassembled one yet?

Will be an ongoing issue for some of us. One of the reps tried to tell me this is not ongoing and has been solved.
But the FF is the best vap I own. So I have been dealing with this little issue also. A new top now costs $35.00 plus frt. Sounds like a deal to me so I'm going to grab one. I have had this problem with the seals from day one and I knew it would happen to others. With a 5 year warranty one would think they will iron this out. The problem is others have no problem. Maybe we are just a little to clean or something cause my view port seal will not stay in place without glue. The larger lid seal is now working as it should but don't use any cleaners on it. I did and it came right off. FF customer service is the best around, they will take care of any issue that makes you un happy. They will send you a shipping label for FedX and when you drop it off and FedX notifies them, they ship your replacement. My first unit was a hottie, my second was a little cooler my 3rd heats the same as the second.

 

[fernand]

If "the big thin one" is the silicon seal on the underside of the magnetic lid, you should return at least the lid for a replacement. The unit won't function properly if the seal fails, and unlike the wiggly window gasket, you cannot fix it yourself...nor should you have to.

Exchange it at your point of purchase and save yourself future frustration.

Thanks. I suspect they're changing the adhesives etc, maybe the firmware, so perhaps newer is better? And on the "cool unit" issue? Are they known to "mature" into hotter ones? Or do we KNOW they're making adjustments?

MAYBE there's a trimmer in there? Or like a serial port and you can hack the controller tables?

and BTW, yes, it's a game changer vape. The way it maintains in the airflow and substance variation is stellar, just stellar. Maybe it's worth a little waste, it's not much, I can tell ya. A weighed 100 mg (0.1g) medium ground is a lovely full bowl after it puffs up. I've been enjoying a 75 mg bowl today, a drag here, another there, and there's still some life left in it.

 

[fogbank]

So, my question. What is happening when we LET GO? It all starts there, for me. Is it because I run cold? What is it doing?

It still makes no sense to me that the bulk of the vapor is not being produced at the peak of heat (right before releasing) but rather on the cooling down side.

This has always been my experience as well. I feel a little of the vapor when the button is depressed, but it is faint. As soon as I release the button I start feeling the (satisfying) vapor, and it continues for quite some time. It may just be timing etc..., but it sure feels like the real vapor starts when the button is released.

I bought the FireFly to replace my Thermovape T1, and ultimately it has done that.

The FF and the T1 are remarkably similar in function. Neither have user adjustable heat settings, and both rely heavily on convection to create vapor. With both vapes the concept is "the user must move the hot air through the medium to produce vapor". The FF and the T1 require very similar technique (something I was not expecting from the FF). Both require a bit of stirring to get evenly browned ABV. It seems like the T1 has a little more conduction heating than the FF.

The biggest difference I am finding is with extraction. I end up getting a little frustrated with the T1 because it seems to stop producing vapor after 3-4 hits from a bowl. Using the same amount of material I can get at least 5-6 good hits from the FireFly (more with frequent stirring).

A couple of other observations:

• I tried a 3/4" screen on top of my FF bowl. Like others, I got the same amount of vapor, but felt that the taste suffered unnecessarily. Some charred spots were also noted.
• If I use a very fine grind and pull hard, allowing the bits of material to "swirl around" in the bowl/window chamber, I can get VERY even, perfectly browned ABV. It's just kind of a drag to clean up.

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[sprlwyr15]

How does one know if he has a cool,hot, or just right unit?

My unit is yet to cause any combustion ..i get very little clouds on my exhale
but ..the effects are very good ..haven't been that high in a long long time

..what should I make of this? just right unit? cool?

 

[mitchgo61]

How does one know if he has a cool,hot, or just right unit?

My unit is yet to cause any combustion ..i get very little clouds on my exhale
but ..the effects are very good ..haven't been that high in a long long time

..what should I make of this? just right unit? cool?

I think this whole "hot/cool" unit thing has been blown out of proportion, and it's at least partly my fault, so let me see if I can put this in perspective....

My first unit wasn't just "hot", it was batshit crazy hot and combusted wildly and randomly, maybe one button push out of 6. You could call it "hot", but it was clearly a faulty heat sensor that was causing the temp to soar way higher and faster than designed. When I had a lengthy email chat with FF folks, in passing, they mentioned they had a few units they thought ran a little "cool" (they were considering sending me one, just to play with, because they wanted some feedback on how these units performed from someone they suspected could make a unit run hotter than normal. But they never followed up on this, and neither did I.)

They have shipped thousands of units, and only a couple handfuls have had temp issues. I'm not even 100% sure there are any "cool" units floating around out there, except that there have been a user or two who seem to be unable to get the FF to heat up sufficiently. Bottom line: it is very unlikely that any buyer truly has a unit that is running too hot or too cold, and certainly you should give yourself at least a couple weeks of learning-curve use before overthinking whether your unit runs hot or cold. Just because you haven't pulled massive clouds, or big visible rips, right away, doesn't mean your unit is cold. Just because you have some charred bits or occasional combustion when holding down the button a good long time doesn't mean your unit is hot. Until you have mastered the right combo of draw, heat button technique, grind, and bowl pack, you are still going to have variable results.

I can't speak for whatever "cool" units exist, but trust me, if you have a unit that really runs "hot", you will freaking know it. So will anyone within thirty feet of you who can smell smoke.

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[2 Paces]

Gotta agree with mitchgo61 about the 'cool' ones maybe being overblown. I was one of the originals that thought I might be running cool, but I no longer think so.

Another thing to consider is that everyone's definition of 'massive clouds' and 'huge amounts of vapor' can be different. Originally I was wondering if mine may run cooler because I wasn't getting what I would call 'huge clouds' when others were. After a few weeks with the Firefly I still wouldn't call the hits I get massive clouds, but I love this vape and the vapor & buzz it produces.

At this point I feel confident that my FF is standard heat, it is just that my definition of 'massive clouds' may differ from others. I can get great hits from the FF every time now, but after using the EVO through glass for 3 months I hesitate to call what I get from the FF 'massive clouds'. They are fantastic for a battery operated unit though. I think it may be people using terms differently to some degree.

As I said when I first brought this up, I think it was my expectations that were out of line, not the heat of my Fly.

 

[fernand]

BTW, I think I found a great fitting case for my FireFly. It's an eGo electronic cigarette case. Not much larger than the vaporizer itself, it seals its (bud bloom) scent acceptably, I can carry it in my pockets, yet it totally protects the unit when dropped, even down a flight of stairs.

Some of them are a better fit and better padded than others. The smaller rubberized ones on eBay with more rectangular edges are what you want, $5 to $10. The FF can be charged in a partially zippered case like a happy vampire in his coffin, and if the cable pulls it to the ground it's fine.

 

[vinhale]

As someone who has just recently asserted that my unit is cool, I feel some responsibility to jump back here and let you guys know I was wrong. Whether my unit has somehow "seasoned" or my technique has refined, I am now getting such huge clouds that I am consciously dialing things back.

Once I met my expectations which I formed using other vapes, I was satisfied and able to see that the Firefly is giving a much better experience than what I had once considered optimal.

After all, which do you prefer, a shot or many sips? Its almost as if the FF has helped me grow into a sipper. I needed to know that it could deliver a shot, but looking back, that was folly.