Arizer Solo

GREAT NEWS

After all the problems with my Solo and the consequent problems with Vaposhop, something quite unexpected happened this morning!

There was a package in the post and it was send from Vaposhop.

Made an unboxing video to share on FC which I can only edit and upload after I get my regular PC back to work again (which broke down twice with major problems within 2 weeks). This thing I am using now is a P4, comparable to some extinct species, like a dinosaur....!

So while unpacking I found a brand new SOLO, fresh from the factory.

I think that after my initial complaints about Vaposhop, they now outdid themselves correcting previous mistakes and confusion, although it still did not work like it should and I really would urge them to get their administrative shit together because it was a very unpleasant experience.
They should make a ticket system so mails can't get lost or confused with other things, one thing is sure: it didn't go like one might expect after buying such an expensive thing as a Solo, because it isn't cheap and if you live in Europe, like me, you are likely to feel the kick-back of the financial turmoil as well and that opts for a lot of trouble getting things you would like to buy. But since there is a medical necessity in my case, I can't get around it, so I have to buy one and spend the money the best way I possibly can.
And I hope that was buying the Arizer Solo.

The first thing that struck me when I had the unit out of the box and unwrapped it, is that it SHINES than the second thing is that it doesn't have the aluminum casing but a plastic one!!!

It has a shiny surface, unlike the beautiful matte M107.

Well, I really don't like things to be shiny like that so I wonder how that came to be.

The M107 had a beautiful matte surface on an aluminum casing, not leaving any traces of use.

But with the shiny plastic that will be quite different and plastic is more likely to chip or break when it accidentally drops than aluminum does.

So that is a serious down-point for me and I really wonder why they changed that.

Than, inside the M107 had a mesh and shiny golden finish, this one is looking quite different, it is closed and doesn't shine as much, what that really means in terms of usability I don't know (yet)

So aesthetically seen I think the M1A isn't anything like the M107 IMO and the case will be likely to get broken if it drops .

Now I have to test the performance to see if it lives up to my expectations.

So, next time I hope to give you a detailed account of my findings after taking this thing in use for the first time.
For now, well I'm glad I can have access to my medication again and expect it to work like it should.

PEACE OUT!

PLASTIC? You would be the first to report that ever. Are you SURE? lol

Dam man thats weird plastic? Well it seems like there are alot of new solo users coming soon so we will have more reports. A poster on the previous page said his is coming today and I just ordered so hopefully I will have it sometime next week.

I ordered through puffitup, they have a price match department that hooked me up. So I will hopefully have legit support/service if I ever need it while still getting a good price.

vape4life said:

PLASTIC? You would be the first to report that ever. Are you SURE? lol

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For sure it isn't aluminum!!!!
Might be some unbreakable plastic compound....I don't know but it looks different than on the Solo I knew.
Might be that there is someone out there who knows exactly what the M1A casing is really made of.

^^ What?!...received my M1A on WED and doesn't seem to be plastic...when I unscrew the top and screw it back on...I hear that familiar sound of metal screwing against metal. maybe not aluminum, but surely seems like some sort of metal.

On another note, I thought I read that charge times were between 3-4 hours. Mine are generally 2 hours or less. That's with me running it down to Level one, sometimes to when it starts flashing. Seems shorter than expected, but I only seem to get a little over an hour of use...anything abnormal about this?

Curiousone said:

^^ What?!...received my M1A on WED and doesn't seem to be plastic...when I unscrew the top and screw it back on...I hear that familiar sound of metal screwing against metal. maybe not aluminum, but surely seems like some sort of metal.

On another note, I thought I read that charge times were between 3-4 hours. Mine are generally 2 hours or less. That's with me running it down to Level one, sometimes to when it starts flashing. Seems shorter than expected, but I only seem to get a little over an hour of use...anything abnormal about this?

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I had similar problems with my M107 and contacted Arizer about it, you can find the posts on this thread somewhere down the list, but they told me that the battery should be left charging for 3-4 hrs even if it doesn't seem to charge anymore (blinking has stopped), also that normally one should get between 1 and 2hrs of use out of a fully charged battery.
With the specifications of many Solo retailers however, they take a user time of 3-4hrs which according to Arzer help-desk (Kevin) is wrong.

There also is a difference according to the way you use the Solo.
Charging should start when the red light saying charge starts blinking, according to Arizer, but many users start charging just after using it.
Also you have to learn about Li-ion batteries, it seems that the battery lasts longer by keeping some rules. All Li-ion batteries will eventually die and have to be replaced, for the Solo battery it is said to take about three years before it has to be replaced.

Thanks that makes sense. Thought there was possibly a change made to the newer models

It's a pity they don't sell the power adapter as a standard part of the package but I got one and I can tell you that it works fine and maybe even better than the battery because it seems to stay on temperature more and gives thicker/tastier vapes using it on only #4.
Now this might be something that is quite subjective but I noticed a clear difference.
So when using the Solo at home I use the adapter rather that the battery and save battery power only for when it is really necessary, outside the house.
The power adapter however restricts portability and the thing is quite bulky but seems to be of excellent quality as far as my experience with it go.

I seem to be having charging problems. Blue light on. First light solid. 2nd and 3rd light irregular flashing. I left it for awhile with the flashing lights and then hit the two arrow buttons simultaneously and it fixed itself. All lights on and green flashing (Normal charging behaviour).

Red Indy said:

There also is a difference according to the way you use the Solo.
Charging should start when the red light saying charge starts blinking, according to Arizer, but many users start charging just after using it.
Also you have to learn about Li-ion batteries, it seems that the battery lasts longer by keeping some rules. All Li-ion batteries will eventually die and have to be replaced, for the Solo battery it is said to take about three years before it has to be replaced.

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These li-ion batteries will last longer if you charge them when the battery is above 40%, and the less full cycles it does, so it is beneficial to charge them as soon as one session is done although that is by no means necessary.

In fact, Arizer has changed their firmware so that the lights go to less than 1, while the battery is with ~40% left.

I think i already had this discussion with you. You should not start charging when the red light starts blinking, that light blinks when the battery is close to full depletion, a very dangerous position in a li-ion battery and one that could damage the battery prematurely.

vorrange said:

These li-ion batteries will last longer if you charge them when the battery is above 40%, and the less full cycles it does, so it is beneficial to charge them as soon as one session is done although that is by no means necessary.

In fact, Arizer has changed their firmware so that the lights go to less than 1, while the battery is with ~40% left.

I think i already had this discussion with you. You should not start charging when the red light starts blinking, that light blinks when the battery is close to full depletion, a very dangerous position in a li-ion battery and one that could damage the battery prematurely.

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Okay, well I will find the e-mail in which Kevin tells me not to start charging until the red light blinks, as soon as I got my other PC back working again, but since you are making a clear point I now start to doubt his advice.
It's a shame if people get misinformed about this but it seems very hard to find any solid consensus.

MonsterWithoutBorders said:

I seem to be having charging problems. Blue light on. First light solid. 2nd and 3rd light irregular flashing. I left it for awhile with the flashing lights and then hit the two arrow buttons simultaneously and it fixed itself. All lights on and green flashing (Normal charging behaviour).

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Good for you!!!!
I had a similar problem but it didn't get fixed, nor by it'self nor by resetting...so you might be lucky there.

But thanks to Arizers' exelent service I was provided with a brand new one, like you can take notice of in previous posts.

FIRST TEST of the new SOLO M1A.
Heating up fast like it should but I had troubles getting the stem in after being on temperature already but than after the glass got warmer it went in.
The vapes were smooth and tasty like I was used from the previous one. (using it on #4 seems to be my fav setting)
For now I will be using the power adapter whenever I can instead of the battery.
So there you go: after some three weeks my paincontrol is up and running again!

pakalolo said:

You're pulling too hard. You might think you're inhaling slowly but if it makes your mouth hurt then you're definitely pulling too hard. This is killing your vapour production.

Try inhaling as gently as possible then increasing how hard you draw until you start feeling resistance. Back off a little and that's how hard you should pull.

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Hi and thanks so much for that simple, yet effective tip! I tried again last night with much better results, and I know I can get even better results with a little more practice and patience. For me, you are right on when you say to inhale as gently as possible until feeling resistance, and then back off a little. The first draw was good but subsequent draws got even better. And all of sudden last night, my stem became very loose in the unit, but that only helped with the draw. I really wanted to like the Solo, and I'm definitely on my way. I'll do an updated post after I've mastered my technique, thanks all for the feedback!

Red Indy said:

Okay, well I will find the e-mail in which Kevin tells me not to start charging until the red light blinks, as soon as I got my other PC back working again, but since you are making a clear point I now start to doubt his advice.
It's a shame if people get misinformed about this but it seems very hard to find any solid consensus.

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If you could find it and post it here, it would be great. I'm not doubting you, of course, just want to see the email.

I find it odd that that advice goes against what we have learned so far in these batteries..

dison said:

I have always used a two screen system in my stems for the Solo. Does anyone else do this, or is it better not to use screens? I'm just curious. I love the Solo's performance as I have used it daily for the last three weeks.

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I have tried with and without screens, and for me, and the way I inhale (very gently and slowly), I prefer no screens. Never had an issue with herb in my mouth, and it's probably psychological, but I feel better about the vapor without a screen (cleaner). But that's just me, you have to consider a few variables: how fine you grind and how you inhale. I would try both and see which you prefer.

Looper714 said:

I have tried with and without screens, and for me, and the way I inhale (very gently and slowly), I prefer no screens. Never had an issue with herb in my mouth, and it's probably psychological, but I feel better about the vapor without a screen (cleaner). But that's just me, you have to consider a few variables: how fine you grind and how you inhale. I would try both and see which you prefer.

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I have to try vaping a whole nugg in my Solo, i usually grind it fine and the screen since it gets that belly, it helps to keep a smaller bowl and thus, more herb it saves.

olivianewtonjohn said:

A poster on the previous page said his is coming today

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that would be me. i will update here as soon as i unbox it.

2clicker said:

that would be me. i will update here as soon as i unbox it.

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It will hit you like an A.Macinnis slap shot

Enjoy


edit :

I have to try vaping a whole nugg in my Solo, i usually grind it fine and the screen since it gets that belly, it helps to keep a smaller bowl and thus, more herb it saves.

I have and it's pretty tasty .
My theory is that all the trichromes/CBD stay put and NOT lost in the grinder/fingers .
But ,
It doesn't cook it evenly , I had to flip the nug to cook the other side .
Also the middle part of the nug was not as cooked .
I just crushed it up and re-vaped it . either in mflb or the Solo again . ime

vorrange said:

If you could find it and post it here, it would be great. I'm not doubting you, of course, just want to see the email.

I find it odd that that advice goes against what we have learned so far in these batteries..

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Another thing, since you seem to know much about this, is what I am facing now, having a new battery again.
I either read somewhere or was told that, when charging a Li-Ion battery for the 1st time, it is best that it is depleted completely before charging.
So maybe you could shed some light on that???

Red Indy said:

Another thing, since you seem to know much about this, is what I am facing now, having a new battery again.
I either read somewhere or was told that, when charging a Li-Ion battery for the 1st time, it is best that it is depleted completely before charging.
So maybe you could shed some light on that???

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I fully charged mine and did the burn off thing .
That was last July/12 , and everything's is fine.....knock on wood ...hehe
Either way should be fine , no worries .

If it were ,
Arizer should put it in BOLD RED letters on the first page of the manual .

What kind of grinder are you guys rocking? Think the one that comes with it from pufitup is decent? Do you guys usually make it pretty course?

olivianewtonjohn said:

What kind of grinder are you guys rocking? Think the one that comes with it from pufitup is decent? Do you guys usually make it pretty course?

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I use the one from PIU when I do grind, but grinding is so unnecessary IMO with the Solo.

King you just use whole nugs and flip?

I had a bunch of grey shit come off my PIU grinder after an ISO wash when it was new. Got rid of it fast.

I'm looking at getting a solo today from PIU. I love my extreme q, but I do a lot of hiking and backcountry skiing so I need something that'll put up with that. I'm also a person who loves to use the whip at somewhat high temperatures. Is this thing going to survive my backpack, the cold weather, and still give me the milky hits I'm used to? Any accessories you guys recommend?

SteezyJ said:

Yea it is all about pulling slowly.. Pakalolo do you live on the islands?

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I live in Mississauga, Ontario for ten months of the year and in Honokowai, Maui for the other two.

I am of the opinion that designers really do test variations before they make a design decision. If the Solo has a restricted draw, Arizer decided that was how it worked best. Fighting it is therefore futile.