Firewood Vaporizer

firewood said:

Something definitely still isn't right if your herb is coming out green after a session at 440. Also it shouldn't take a long time. I never use 440 because it is too high, even if I don't combust it doesn't taste as good and comes out near black.

The only explanations I can think of is that there is still something wrong with your unit, or air is leaking in somewhere, or possibly you are using too little herb packed too lightly. Do you think it is possible you might be pulling the mouthpiece out too far and it is losing the seal with the bowl? How are you packing it? If it isn't either of those things I can definitely take another look if you send back in.

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I am suspecting too little herb could be an issue. I’m going to play around with it more consistently using 3/4 full, or full bowls (instead of often around 1/2). I just tried that now again and was getting good color. Thanks again Marc!

NOLOGO said:

This is how my unit was acting...until I switched batteries. I had 3 efest batteries (it is a recommended brand in the FAQ on the fw website) for my fw5 that I was using in my fw6. Turns out they weren't performing as well in the fw6. I found a Samsung 30Q in my collection that seems to make my fw6 happier. Even the battery level buzzes seem more confident. (I know, sounds silly.)
What battery are you using?

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I’ve been using Sony VTC5D’s and A’s, Samsung 25Rs and LG HG2’s. I might try those 30Qs or maybe their new 25S. Thanks!

Anyone else having their screen plug up quick, like in two bowls?

Or has anyone used a different less fine mesh, than what's supplied, screen?

I'm using herb stored with 62% bodeva packs. Medium grind. I empty the bowl while it's still warm. But after two bowls it's plugged enough to cause quite a bit of restriction.

Thinking about trying a different screen.

I'm new to FW so I just want to verify that thus gap is normal.

chicago_animal said:

I'm new to FW so I just want to verify that thus gap is normal.

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Yes - need to have some give in order to squeeze and hit the button.

muunch said:

Yes - need to have some give in order to squeeze and hit the button.

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Awesome, thank you!

Normal pic above.

I've used the FW6 basically exclusively for the last week, and some nice vaporizers are within reach of it too--if that says anything.

It's nice! Level 3 or 4 I like.

I agree a courser screen would be nice and would work. Although my screen isnt clogging terribly quick.

I blast the bowl, screen, and mouthpiece with hot water and that cleans them well really quickly.

Edit: Marc you should make a ceramic bowl that has 14 and/or 18 gong joint. That would be cool for water pipes. Just press the heater (half of the vape) against the bowl fitted to gong joint...

Get what I'm saying?

Beein playing around with it for a few days now. I like it a lot and I'm having good results with vtc5a.
Compared to the 5
The 6 wins on :
Fuller deeper extraction once you master the long draw technique because there is more heat building/retention. Maybe a bit more conduction ?
Easier to stirr and a lot less stirring because it vapes very even
Better taste and deeper "stone" effects on high temps.
Better temp control and setting system
Lower maintenance
Storage

A 2000's sturdy reliable SUV

The 5 wins on :
Heats faster
A bit better "crispy" taste and "high" potency ( ? ) at low temps.
Easier to move the tray than refill
Smelless cleaning possible for airport transportation
A 60's classy race car pleasing to drive with good acceleration but more finicky.

Did anyone try to remove the screen for cleaning ? Mine doesn't get clogged much but wouldn't know how to without damaging it. I can soak the whole bawl if course but didn't need to for the time being.

Daprezz said:

Beein playing around with it for a few days now. I like it a lot and I'm having good results with vtc5a.
Compared to the 5
The 6 wins on :
Fuller deeper extraction once you master the long draw technique because there is more heat building/retention. Maybe a bit more conduction ?
Easier to stirr and a lot less stirring because it vapes very even
Better taste and deeper "stone" effects on high temps.
Better temp control and setting system
Lower maintenance
Storage

A 2000's sturdy reliable SUV

The 5 wins on :
Heats faster
A bit better "crispy" taste and "high" potency ( ? ) at low temps.
Easier to move the tray than refill
Smelless cleaning possible for airport transportation
A 60's classy race car pleasing to drive with good acceleration but more finicky.

Did anyone try to remove the screen for cleaning ? Mine doesn't get clogged much but wouldn't know how to without damaging it. I can soak the whole bawl if course but didn't need to for the time being.

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I use a long pin to remove the screen. Just work an edge up and it falls out.

I like that review above. I feel that another comparison with FW5 with a working FW6 is in my future.

it's nice to see the reviews are starting to show a consistent theme, seems like most bugs have been ironed out. Hoping to receive mine in the next day or 2. Should have 4 new strains arriving same day to test with. Life is good.

shredder said:

Anyone else having their screen plug up quick, like in two bowls?

Or has anyone used a different less fine mesh, than what's supplied, screen?

I'm using herb stored with 62% bodeva packs. Medium grind. I empty the bowl while it's still warm. But after two bowls it's plugged enough to cause quite a bit of restriction.

Thinking about trying a different screen.

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yes! me! i am using another screen style that i had been using in my fw5. It is far superior...almost has a “non-stick” quality when you empty the load while warm. They have much smaller holes. The holes are maybe half the size of the stock screen....BUT the wire is also approximately half the thickness, so there i should no restricted airflow. They are a very fine mesh. It just makes it harder for material to get lodged into the holes, but still has great airflow. I bought them last year, but they are a little big in diameter since they are sized for the fw5. Marc says the 6 uses standard 3/8” screens, so i’ll try and find this style mesh in that size and provide a link. The unintended benefit of using the slightly larger diameter is it that it doesn’t go all the way to the bottom of the bowl, so i’m able to reduce the bowl size slightly, which i prefer. In fact, it therefore raises the load toward the heater slightly, and i’m getting better results!

I’ll post a link to the screens asap.

edited for clarity

edit2: here are the screens! but i can’t find this type of screen in 3/8”. Like i said though, these squeeze in and form a slight basket, and don’t go all the way to the bottom of the bowl, but i deal with that because my herb doesn’t clog the holes nearly as quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FV0RG4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I haven’t had any issues with the screen clogging yet.

Regarding extraction, I have no issues getting solid hits and good vapor production at a variety of temps. But, it does seem like this vape extracts a bit slower than my other units. Maybe this is a limitation of batteries vs. plug-in or butane, but I’ve heard of other 18650 convection vapes killing a bowl in just a few hits. With my FW, I can easily get 10+ hits on a bowl before cashing it. And I go up to 430F, so it’s not like I’m staying down at the lower temps. Not really an issue, more of an observation.

I can't find 100 mesh screens in 3/8", so I just found a 3/8" hole punch and a sheet of stainless 100 mesh screen and will punch my own

The difference in screen density on my end is dramatic. I'm clogged in a few bowls with stock screen (60 mesh I believe) vs 10+ bowls so far without clogging using this 100 mesh. Maybe because I'm not in a legal state my herb quality is, um, different? I dunno

Wet(ter) weed will gum up screens quicker. Most people dont realize how dry weed at 62% really is when they cure it, IMO.

Brewervapesalot said:

Wet(ter) weed will gum up screens quicker. Most people dont realize how dry weed at 62% really is when they cure it, IMO.

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I got a bunch in Denver a couple months ago. The problem I have is my Santa Cruz shredder tends to crumble dry herb, and so it ends up sort of powdery, which easily clogs the stock screen. This 100mesh screen seems to do the trick for me. I'm happier with a LOT less screen maintenance.

side note: the firewoods are my only convection vape that has heat source on top, herb in middle, and then you pull from bottom...just like a regular pipe works. My other vapes are heat source on bottom, herb next, and then pull through from above. Seems to me the latter way keeps the herb from clogging the bottom screen nearly as much? I suspect that orientation might have something to do with the rate of screen clogging that happens

I agree different screens could work better than stock, but stock ain't bad. I was thinking something with much bigger holes. I tried no screen. That doesn't work well.

Edit: Also, if you dump immediately after use then I'm getting a dozen bowls, at least, without thinking about cleaning.

Brewervapesalot said:

I agree different screens could work better than stock, but stock ain't bad. I was thinking something with much bigger holes. I tried no screen. That doesn't work well.

Edit: Also, if you dump immediately after use then I'm getting a dozen bowls, at least, without thinking about cleaning.

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I couldn't find the right size replacement screen in my collection, but I did find a basket screen that fit.

So I tried it, and am now just finished my second bowl using the basket screen. (I think it's a homemade basket screen for a glass underdog stem.)

It's a little less fine mesh than the FW screen. It reduces the bowl size slightly. And it makes it a little harder to stir.

But so far it's working very well. My hits seem less restrictive. It's definitely staying cleaner. Taste might be slightly better, but I cleaned the bowl and stem, so it's too soon to tell for sure. The hits seem cooler as well.

I wonder if it's more like a FW5 now?

Edit, trying some new Sony vtc6s and getting 6 bowls per charge.

2 bowls on level 5, 2 bowls on level 4, then 1 on level 3 and 2.

Brewervapesalot said:

I agree different screens could work better than stock, but stock ain't bad. I was thinking something with much bigger holes. I tried no screen. That doesn't work well.

Edit: Also, if you dump immediately after use then I'm getting a dozen bowls, at least, without thinking about cleaning.

Click to expand...

Hmm this makes me wonder: How much pressure are y'all using when tamping? (I suspect i may be doing it a little too hard.)
I make the herb into a puck that's solid enough that when I invert the bowl nothing falls out. Sort of the density of a joint I guess you could say. I think that doing this generates thicker vapor, but also pushes more herb into the screen holes. The 100 mesh screen I'm experimenting with appears to not get clogged from my preferred tamp pressure. For a while anyway I'm gonna keep switching between these 2 kinds of screens, to see if I continue getting results I like.
I really do like this vape, especially now that I'm using a battery that makes it purr!

NOLOGO said:

Hmm this makes me wonder: How much pressure are y'all using when tamping? (I suspect i may be doing it a little too hard.)
I make the herb into a puck that's solid enough that when I invert the bowl nothing falls out. Sort of the density of a joint I guess you could say. I think that doing this generates thicker vapor, but also pushes more herb into the screen holes. The 100 mesh screen I'm experimenting with appears to not get clogged from my preferred tamp pressure. For a while anyway I'm gonna keep switching between these 2 kinds of screens, to see if I continue getting results I like.
I really do like this vape, especially now that I'm using a battery that makes it purr!

Click to expand...

I just tamp lightly. Less hard than a joint, at least how I remember, it's been awhile, lol.

This basket screen is really changing this vape for me. I got my first ever vapor at 370°F on the first hit, without an insanely long hit, lol. It seems less restrictive, more vapor with less work. The hits seem cooler as well.

If you have a basket screen from a underdog glass stem, give it a try. I'll keep testing.

So, FW5 does win in a head to head challenge, IMO. Changing my opinion. But FW6 has some features that I prefer in comparison. And it's great too.

FW5: The thing that really sets FW5 apart from FW6 is the fact FW5 thrives with pretty short, very easy flowing, draws. FW6 just prefers a longer, slower, draw. And its draw is more restricted by a noticeable margin.

Additionally, good sized clouds are not hard to get with FW6 at all, but they are really, really, easy with the FW5.

Finally, there just isn't anything out there quite like vaping five, really easy to shift between bowls, in a row, in short order. It's kinda like a more adult/civilized way of chugging a beer, and with better effects than booze IMO. On the go, the feature of five ready to go bowls has no equal, especially regarding the stealthiness changing between them.

FW6: Really like the feel, the on board storage, and, now I gotta admit, the way the heater fires up with a simple squeeze. The flavor is different and I sometimes think better than FW5. FW6 flavor is definitely VERY good.

So, I guess, FW7 should make sure draw restriction is very minimal, make sure short draws hit well, keep maintenance minimal, flavor and clouds great, and try something new and great as to everything else.

EDIT: I gotta mention vapor is noticeably cooler with FW5. On highest default settings: When I put the tip of my tongue where vapor leaves the mouthpiece, on the FW6 it's warm, almost hot. On the FW5, vapor is cooler to somewhat warm.

Daprezz said:

vapes very even

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Daprezz said:

Better taste and deeper "stone" effects on high temps

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As someone above mentioned , nice review / comparison!

I don’t have a FW but I’ve always checked in from time to time since joining the forum . I almost pulled the trigger when the 4 was coming out , maybe 3 ...

Looking forward to read @Easywider initial and post honeymoon posts .

Good work FW !

is there a video on this ? I’ll backtrack the pages .

Backtracked ....

Chingas said:

@paytonpenn had a video of him just using the top heater part to get rips through water. Looked like fun

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Was this a YouTube video ? I don’t do the Instagram thing . EDIT : found one . Will watch it tomorrow

P.A.M. said:

Was this a YouTube video ? I don’t do the Instagram thing . EDIT : found one . Will watch it tomorrow

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It was on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XeBdRnPtS/

Just kind of waiting for the water pipe adapter before I have any more content. Its pretty nice native but I don't want to release an unfinished review. Hoping we get the WPA before April.

Brewervapesalot said:

Marc you should make a ceramic bowl that has 14 and/or 18 gong joint. That would be cool for water pipes. Just press the heater (half of the vape) against the bowl fitted to gong joint...

Get what I'm saying?

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Yes, this is exactly the plan! The WPA basically replaces the whole mouthpice/bowl half and is just a simple bowl with a tapered 14mm male end as the outlet. It would also be nice to have a flange around the outside edge of the bowl so that the heater is automatically centered on the bowl.

paytonpenn said:

It was on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XeBdRnPtS/
Just kind of waiting for the water pipe adapter before I have any more content. Its pretty nice native but I don't want to release an unfinished review. Hoping we get the WPA before April.

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Gimme a break! I'm just finishing up the initial waitlist now.

Besides I would have thought some of the industrious DIYers on here would have rigged something up by now. Heck you can practically just mate it up to a traditional bong/bowl as long as the heater can match up tightly against the bowl.

Versatility of FW6 is a strong selling point with upcoming water pipe adapter. But it's also not hard to connect a FW5 to water, you just have to remove the mouthpiece, slip it through a (short) silicone stopper, and reassemble.

firewood said:

I would have thought some of the industrious DIYers on here would have rigged something up by now

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It’s what I do . Vape hacks. Used silicone pieces to make the seal thightbetween my bong and vape stem for a long time not having an adaptor. I’ve used my Vapcap with my log should one lose or break a stem , I’ve used a arizer bubbler mouthpiece rigged with my Vapcap , make vapor lungs with soda bottles nd food bags, cut bamboo skewers to insert in my Battery box to conveniently have a pick /screen/and stir tool while out and about . Find cheap yet decent vape case solutions, and more ! And videos, on you tube . Lol

When there’s a will , there’s a way