moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
And earn it they did!!
Pen Focus Vaporizer
- Thread starter PPN
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- hash hashis instruction vaping
His_Highness
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
@moondog - I'm so happy to hear that the mystery looks to have been solved and that you're as happy with the support as I've been.
Having had both the analog and the digital pro version without any smell or taste issues I was starting to doubt my sanity....especially since my digital pro was packaged in the black foam material that looked like the issue. I have a feeling that my digital pro was plucked and sent before it had a chance to sit around and infect the unit.
Having had both the analog and the digital pro version without any smell or taste issues I was starting to doubt my sanity....especially since my digital pro was packaged in the black foam material that looked like the issue. I have a feeling that my digital pro was plucked and sent before it had a chance to sit around and infect the unit.
I received the two "newer style" dry material pods from PIU but they did not come in a capped plastic sleeve.
My Focus Pro came packed in the black foam. My vape did not smell, but the foam sure does!
I found it interesting that the new Dry Material Pods for the Focus look almost identical to the Flowermate Dry Material Tanks:
http://www.puffitup.com/Flowermate-Dry-Material-Tanks-p/fm.113_pod-dry-2pk.htm
I had a chance to try the new pods yesterday and my experience was not a good one. I used the same technique as I have used with the old style pods. I filled the pod with material and dropped it into the oven, screwed the cap on tight, and turned the vape on. Once it reached my set temperature of 419 F I waited exactly 60 seconds and took a normal draw. I exhaled a barely visible amount of vapor. I tried it several more times and still got very little vapor. After 5-6 draws I gave up. I did feel effects though.
This was very different from my experience with the old style pods, with which I got a decent size cloud when using the exact same technique.
I'm a little baffled. I will try again at some point.
The way the pods are made does seem to be an improvement. The cap screws on securely and I would not hesitate to carry them around in a container of some sort.
His_Highness
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
@fogbank - sorry to hear those pods didn't do it for ya. They look like they would require a serious heat soak to conduct temp to the herb. I don't think convection is going to work with those pods in the Focus so maybe the pod needs a good amount of time to reach temp to conduct the heat..
I've noticed that when using the bubbler I tend to over-run the oven and need to wait about 30 seconds between hits. Maybe when using the pods you need to wait 2 minutes to get the pod hot before taking that first hit so the pod is up to temp?
I've noticed that when using the bubbler I tend to over-run the oven and need to wait about 30 seconds between hits. Maybe when using the pods you need to wait 2 minutes to get the pod hot before taking that first hit so the pod is up to temp?
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
I suspect that whether the vape absorbs the smell from the foam depends on how well-cured the silica gel is when it gets packaged. It's the only explanation I can come up with. No idea if it has any relationship to reality.
My pods came direct from the factory in the sleeve. The Focus website shows them with the plastic sleeve but PIU does not. I wonder how they get shipped to PIU. I would contact PIU and ask them what's up because that sleeve greatly increases the usefulness of the sleeves.
Sorry your first try with the pods wasn't satisfactory. How full was the pod? Like His Highness, I'm thinking we're talking all conduction here so a bit more of a pack might be called for.
I tried mine out last night as well. Packed a pod and took a couple of pulls at 420 (yeah, corny, but I couldn't resist) and got visible clouds. Tried backing it down to 400 and got nothing (reverse stepping worked fairly well with my miVape so I thought I'd try it). I certainly achieved the desired medicinal results and when I emptied the pod the ABV was pretty uniform and very dark. I'll try temp stepping the right way next time.
I have yet to try the old style pods so I can't compare. Maybe I'll try that at some point. Also need to try out the bubbler. So much work to be done.
I think you're right about the need for higher temps. Not sure about waiting that long, though. I was getting wisps of smoke coming out of the mouthpiece pretty soon after reaching temp.
In any event, my first impressions of this vape are positive. More feedback to come after more research.
Fat Freddy
FUCK CANCER TOO !
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
In a small box wrapped in smelly foam? I thought a stork had something to do with it.Well, I'm pretty sure that's how most of us ended up here to begin with!
.
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
Just a thought here: How is your air intake set? I've been running mine with all three holes open and I'm getting nice vapor clouds. I don't think they're YouTube video worthy, but it's enough that I know the job is getting done,
I loaded it to the top, loosely, and screwed the cap on. I seriously doubt that it was any less full, or any more loosely packed than the old style pod I've been using. With the old style pod I basically scoop up as much as I can with each half of the pod and then screw it together. That couldn't possibly lead to a completely full/packed pod, as a good amount just falls out while I'm trying to get the two halves together.
I've been running the Focus with only one hole open, however when trying to get vapor from the new style pod I tried with 1, 2, and all 3 open. It didn't affect the amount of vapor I got.
After I posted my experience with the new pod yesterday I took the new style pod out and popped one of he old style pods in. I used the exact same technique (60 second heat soak, etc...) and blew out a nice sized cloud on my first draw. No fuss no muss.
I really like the Focus Pro. It is a nice replacement for my old Pinnacle Pro. I like the old style pods. I will try the new style pod again, maybe trying the one that I haven't opened yet (I bought two). But even if the new style pods don't work out for me I will still use the Focus Pro as a backup to my Grasshopper and Firefly 2.
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
Huh. I'm definitely gonna have to give the old pods a try and compare the two.
I agree with you - I'm really liking the Focus Pro as a replacement for my Pinnacle Pro. The former is like a more evolved version of the latter, fitting the same usage scenarios. I was even able to modify the foam in the watertight case I had for my Pinnacle so the the Focus would fit in it.
The wait for my Grasshoppers just got a bit easier and I can rest easy knowing I have a good backup for them if they stop hopping.
MonkeyTime
Well-Known Member
Evening all, just thought I should update because it's all good news on my front.....
So, my unanswered emails really weren't. At the time I was questioning it, I think @His_Highness suggested I check my spam folder. I already had, but thought, just in case I should again. Nothing.
A few days later, I'm cleaning out emails and I see two from Lina in my spam folder! A first response and a follow up. I have no idea what happened, but they were there.
She offered to send me a new unit along with some extras for my trouble, very nice of her.
I replied and didn't hear anything back for about 3 days, so I followed up. Again nothing for 2 days and then another email from her saying they were on Holiday. I remember the Mars Hydro LED fixture company saying the same thing a few times after a delay. Different countries, different customs!
Could it just be a "China" thing? Are they monitoring their email? CS seems important to them, and it shows.
So, I'm not sure about tracking or when I'll see it, but it is on the way.
@moondog , did they send you a label to ship the old one back? They haven't mentioned it and I was curious. If they don't, it's a great candidate for a tear down!
I haven't played with this one much with my Evo and GH arriving withing a week of one another. Have been taking it out with my GH as a backup and used it today just cuz.
With a slow, steady draw, the temp was great and the hits were nice. It's not going to change the world, but I really like it.
So, my unanswered emails really weren't. At the time I was questioning it, I think @His_Highness suggested I check my spam folder. I already had, but thought, just in case I should again. Nothing.
A few days later, I'm cleaning out emails and I see two from Lina in my spam folder! A first response and a follow up. I have no idea what happened, but they were there.
She offered to send me a new unit along with some extras for my trouble, very nice of her.
I replied and didn't hear anything back for about 3 days, so I followed up. Again nothing for 2 days and then another email from her saying they were on Holiday. I remember the Mars Hydro LED fixture company saying the same thing a few times after a delay. Different countries, different customs!
Could it just be a "China" thing? Are they monitoring their email? CS seems important to them, and it shows.
So, I'm not sure about tracking or when I'll see it, but it is on the way.
@moondog , did they send you a label to ship the old one back? They haven't mentioned it and I was curious. If they don't, it's a great candidate for a tear down!
I haven't played with this one much with my Evo and GH arriving withing a week of one another. Have been taking it out with my GH as a backup and used it today just cuz.
With a slow, steady draw, the temp was great and the hits were nice. It's not going to change the world, but I really like it.
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
So, I'm starting a Lina Zhu fan club. Wanna join? We can have t-shirts and a secret handshake and other cool stuff.
Just a heads up: I found email to be touch and go with iFocus. There were several of my messages she didn't get. I found my chances for success were maximized by sending an email via the address on the "Contact Us" page and then sending the same message via the submission form on that same page.
It ships via DHL and I had mine 4 or 5 days after it shipped. I got an automated phone call from DHL with a tracking # so you can follow it with that. It needs to be signed for, but if you can't be there you can leave a note for the DHL person giving them permission to leave it. Mine was in my hands the day after landing at the DHL hub in Cincy, OH.
My PIU-purchased unit is still here. No request for me to return it. I may see if a friend with a less sensitive nose wants it. (Related side note - I gave the still-slightly-smelly black foam insert to my wife to smell and she couldn't smell anything. And she is VERY sensitive to smells like perfumes and such. Couldn't smell a damn thing off the foam. Still smells to me.
)
MonkeyTime
Well-Known Member
Charter member number 2, count me in!So, I'm starting a Lina Zhu fan club. Wanna join? We can have t-shirts and a secret handshake and other cool stuff.
Just a heads up: I found email to be touch and go with iFocus. There were several of my messages she didn't get. I found my chances for success were maximized by sending an email via the address on the "Contact Us" page and then sending the same message via the submission form on that same page.
It ships via DHL and I had mine 4 or 5 days after it shipped. I got an automated phone call from DHL with a tracking # so you can follow it with that. It needs to be signed for, but if you can't be there you can leave a note for the DHL person giving them permission to leave it. Mine was in my hands the day after landing at the DHL hub in Cincy, OH.
My PIU-purchased unit is still here. No request for me to return it. I may see if a friend with a less sensitive nose wants it. (Related side note - I gave the still-slightly-smelly black foam insert to my wife to smell and she couldn't smell anything. And she is VERY sensitive to smells like perfumes and such. Couldn't smell a damn thing off the foam. Still smells to me.
Hammahead
Well-Known Member
With most vaporizers, in order to get "youtube worthy" clouds, you need to carefully manage the whole lighting and camera angle staging. Imo, only with a really powerful convection vape you're able to produce those thick, shisha-like clouds in real life.
PPN
Volute of Vapor
Here my review of the Focus Pro I received around 2 weeks ago from Lacentralevapeur in France.
First I want to notice I own the previous version, I call it digital.
Package is really similar to the digital version but the metal watertool adaptater is replaced with a silicon adaptater. It comes with: A focus pro complete (vaporizer + mp+ glass mp), a replacement glass mp, a battery (18650), a silicon WT adaptater, usb cord, wall adaptater and replacement screens.
Out of the box there was a huge new/plastic smell so I proceeded to some burn offs to clean the oven from residues. But the smell took some sessions (3-4) to disappear totally...like several vaporizers in the market .
It seems to weight a bit less than the digital version but building qualty seems very similar to the previous version, the upper copper ring seems a bit different that's why I stated in my previous post building quality looks like cheap...but it's not true, building quality is rather the same and good enough.
There is still the vibrating feature to alert you the temp is reached.
Size bowl is the same than the digital version and approximatively the same than X-Max/Storm. Every part from the previous version can be used with this one so they are totally similar.
Although vaping performances are not the same. I get thick clouds and dark abv using the digital at 200°C and very light in color abv with small clouds using the Pro at 200°C....but if I push it a bit higher, at 215 I can get pretty the same abv and experience. I always thought the digital was overpowered although the Pro seems to be a bit underpowered. I agree the heat is less agressive on the load with the Pro (nice for longer sipping sessions) but there is enough power to offer some very thick clouds. I love both Focus for a flowers/concnetrates mixed bowl: Big Thick Hits!
Maybe I didn't "broke" it enough but I still prefer a lot the digital taste on lower settings (until 190°C), the Pro taste is a bit "muted" in my opinion....
Battery life seems shorter too, still enough sessions for a decent vape but a bit less than the digital does although the battery is not the same. Previous was a LG HE2 and the Pro one is a Samsung 32E ....battery experts any help please?
All in all it's a nice vape but I'm still prefering the digital version of the Focus but the Pro offers the same features I'm only used of the Digital...and the Pro is very different about vaping performances and can be a heavy hitter as well a sipper.
Here a pic of my favourite setup:
Thanks for looking!
ps: in Europe you can get it here: http://lacentralevapeur.com/la-cent...ocus-vape-vaporisateur-portable-vape-pen.html
First I want to notice I own the previous version, I call it digital.
Package is really similar to the digital version but the metal watertool adaptater is replaced with a silicon adaptater. It comes with: A focus pro complete (vaporizer + mp+ glass mp), a replacement glass mp, a battery (18650), a silicon WT adaptater, usb cord, wall adaptater and replacement screens.
Out of the box there was a huge new/plastic smell so I proceeded to some burn offs to clean the oven from residues. But the smell took some sessions (3-4) to disappear totally...like several vaporizers in the market .
It seems to weight a bit less than the digital version but building qualty seems very similar to the previous version, the upper copper ring seems a bit different that's why I stated in my previous post building quality looks like cheap...but it's not true, building quality is rather the same and good enough.
There is still the vibrating feature to alert you the temp is reached.
Size bowl is the same than the digital version and approximatively the same than X-Max/Storm. Every part from the previous version can be used with this one so they are totally similar.
Although vaping performances are not the same. I get thick clouds and dark abv using the digital at 200°C and very light in color abv with small clouds using the Pro at 200°C....but if I push it a bit higher, at 215 I can get pretty the same abv and experience. I always thought the digital was overpowered although the Pro seems to be a bit underpowered. I agree the heat is less agressive on the load with the Pro (nice for longer sipping sessions) but there is enough power to offer some very thick clouds. I love both Focus for a flowers/concnetrates mixed bowl: Big Thick Hits!
Maybe I didn't "broke" it enough but I still prefer a lot the digital taste on lower settings (until 190°C), the Pro taste is a bit "muted" in my opinion....
Battery life seems shorter too, still enough sessions for a decent vape but a bit less than the digital does although the battery is not the same. Previous was a LG HE2 and the Pro one is a Samsung 32E ....battery experts any help please?
All in all it's a nice vape but I'm still prefering the digital version of the Focus but the Pro offers the same features I'm only used of the Digital...and the Pro is very different about vaping performances and can be a heavy hitter as well a sipper.
Here a pic of my favourite setup:
Thanks for looking!
ps: in Europe you can get it here: http://lacentralevapeur.com/la-cent...ocus-vape-vaporisateur-portable-vape-pen.html
His_Highness
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
The LG battery was a 2500mAH and the Samsung is a 3200mAH. The Samsung is a stronger battery. Battery life will be affected by factors beyond it's own strength. You really have to do and apples to apples comparison to be sure. For example....I noted in my review that the higher available temps require the Focus to work a few seconds longer to reach the higher temp. This will run the battery down faster. Also using the bubbler will make the Focus work harder at keeping the oven temp steady and will also cause the battery to work harder.
Either way the Focus battery life is better than most for this form factor.
djurodjakovic
Well-Known Member
I don't understand now this above. I tough there was non-pro and pro (with digital display) version of focus.
what's this digital version now?
and I don't understand this silicone water tool??? I definitely wouldn't want a silicone adapter or water tool instead glass.
what's this digital version now?
and I don't understand this silicone water tool??? I definitely wouldn't want a silicone adapter or water tool instead glass.
His_Highness
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
The first Focus version that came out didn't have a digital display. I've been calling that the Analog version but the manufacturer name is Focus. The second version that came out that had a digital display...I've been calling that the Digital Pro Version but the manufacturer calls it the Focus Pro.
moondog
It's an obsession but it's pleasin'
My understanding of Focus nomenclature follows that of His Highness. I refer to the original Focus as analog (six preset temp selection buttons instead of a digital display) and the second gen Focus Pro as digital (because of that display and because iFocus includes "digital" in the name.
The only silicon piece included in the box for the Digital Focus Pro is the mouthpiece cap, which is great for making sure the glass mouthpiece does not disengage from the mouthpiece assembly while in transit. An excellent accessory, IMO. Although it does have a tiny hole in the top, I don't see any way that functions as a water tool adapter. They do have the stainless adapter (which replaces the entire mouthpiece assembly) and both 14 and 18mm adapters available (which plug into the mouthpiece assembly and replace just the regular glass mouthpiece.)
Hope this helps.
I tried the new pod again, same technique except I took a much longer draw. Pretty much the same result...very little visible vapor.
For me the difference between the old pod and the new pod is night and day. I have no problem getting a nice cloud with the old pod.
I'm still baffled...
His_Highness
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
A longer draw is likely to cause the pod to cool off more. What you need is that pod to get hot like the oven before you hit it. Then it will have a chance to conduct heat to the herb like the oven would. Did you try waiting longer after it reached temp for the pod to get hot? What temp are you using?
The old pod looks like it would absorb heat way better than the new ones. The new ones look like they have more metal to heat in order to conduct heat to the herb. It may be that the new pods are sturdier and will retain heat longer once they get hot but getting them hot enough may take longer. Tradeoff's?
MonkeyTime
Well-Known Member
I could be thinking of the wrong thing, but aren't the new pods called convection pods? I know that is what Lina call them in the email.
If that's the case, I don't see how heat soaking helps. Then again, if not heat soaking isn't working......
I'm guessing you need to bump up the temps 30F or so from where you normally start.
His_Highness
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
@MonkeyTime - The Focus is a conduction vape and the new pods are called Dry Material/Herb Pods or Carts but maybe they were created to allow the Focus to have a convection mode. The pods don't look like they'll allow for enough airflow from the oven alone though. As you say...maybe a higher or the highest temp would do the job..... and allow for a conduction/convection combination.
MonkeyTime
Well-Known Member
Hmmmm, now I'm curious. This could just be a difference because of language differences but.....
Yes, well aware of the unit being conduction. And a quick check of their website confirms you are correct about what they call them there. A double check of my email to confirm this isn't just an Evosight (play on oversight, I'm feeling it), and yes, she's sending 2 x convection carts and 2 x wax carts.
Could the new pods be ahead of their marketing team for the website and be convection cartridges? If that's the case, you will want to turn up the temps and hit 'er right away. This could be fun!