Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

marvil701 · Aug 25, 2013

OF said:
In the end they will die if nothing else in the vape does first. No need to rush that, and hopefully the replacement will be easy and cheap when the time comes.

OF

For the Solo, Arizer will replace it for $95. That's without shipping/customs/etc (thinking about international folk here). So it's almost cheaper to get a new unit entirely.
Or you can do it yourself (and void the warranty): www.vape-nation.com/arizer-solo-battery-replacement-photo-how-to/
Considering that most people have some of the items listed anyway or can borrow them from a friend, the costs should come down to the new battery, which is fair enough.

This is just an example, I hope some of the tinkerers here will take the Ascent apart asap and give us some information about the battery type used (although it should be very close to, if not the same as the Solo's batteries). I think if someone did a short and concise guide for the Ascent, a lot of people would be less hesitant about getting one.

JoeKickass · Aug 25, 2013

Tweek said:
It's mandatory to also purchase a monocle with every Burl Ascent.

That explains it! Instead of overheating, the monocle must be focusing the excess infrared energy from the Ascent through the user's retina, projecting a sparkling grandeur of wonders directly onto the neocortex!

I found this illustration of the science at work:

No wonder they like it so much!

Skulduggery · Aug 25, 2013

Rexxe said:
Ok, so I also have been running cycle after cycle to get rid of the mysterious off-gassing and I'm having no luck. It's almost like it's getting worse and the smell is starting to bother me. I was able to get a decent video of it for those that need reference or doubt its existence.

I can confirm, this is exactly what my stealth is doing. Ran it at 430 degrees for 2.5 hours straight last night. The constant off gas stream started to look thinner but still wasn't a successful burn off. Will try some more burn off today, had to recharge the battery. Anyone achieve a successful burn off from an ascent that had a significant off gassing from the oven??

Reveen · Aug 25, 2013

@nigel I have the stealth model.

Shrike · Aug 25, 2013

Thanks for letting me know where the monocle was, Nigel...Glad I didn't throw the foam away... :cool:

WakeAndVape · Aug 25, 2013

Shrike said:
Burl for me, Nigel

I'm thinking most or all of the Burl's are not having the extreme problems? Or am I off on that...?

I wonder...my first ascent (stealth and I loved it) has issues, peices falling off, random shut offs and it died completely in 3 weeks of what appeared to be software issues...
Then I got the burl one...not a single problem yet

nigel · Aug 25, 2013

Rexxe said:
Ok, so I also have been running cycle after cycle to get rid of the mysterious off-gassing and I'm having no luck. It's almost like it's getting worse and the smell is starting to bother me.

Thanks for the video!

I'll note you have a Stealth.

Also, I don't think anyone doubts the issue. (@thesoloman 's video showed it well too.)

What (some) people doubt, is that just because *they* have a problem, they doubt that EVERYBODY doesn't have the same problem.

Skulduggery said:
I can confirm, this is exactly what my stealth is doing.

Hmmm... another stealth with this issue.

And, please correct me if I am wrong, I don't believe anyone has yet burned off this issue. But then again, maybe there hasn't been enough time.

OF · Aug 25, 2013

marvil701 said:
Or you can do it yourself (and void the warranty): www.vape-nation.com/arizer-solo-battery-replacement-photo-how-to/
Considering that most people have some of the items listed anyway or can borrow them from a friend, the costs should come down to the new battery, which is fair enough.

Yeah, maybe.

My copy of that battery (yes, I bought one......) doesn't actually fit in the Solo. The included (necessary) protection circuit is on the top in the one I got, it has to be on the side as in the original to fit in the allotted space it seems? You can also buy the connectors 'outside' (both are common parts for RC helicopters I'm told?), I have a couple of those as well and plan to someday make a spare 'drop in' battery pack. A bit of warning to those who follow this dark path, beware of polarities. For some strange reason Solo reversed the standard (plus and minus swapped).

Whether we'll be able to do with with Ascent remains to be seen. Some, like the original DV use custom batteries (square, flat suckers like you find in cell phones and stuff, stacked 3 high). Others, like Puffit, are permanently mounted for practical purposes.

It also depends on the ability to open it up. If you can't crack it you can't fix it. Sometimes that happens too. One thing sure, given the number of clever folks around here I'm sure the best options will show up in due time.

Thanks.

OF

Snappo · Aug 25, 2013

On a much different, wantonly optimistic vein, I'm hoping that when my wood burl Ascent arrives, it can deliver lung filling rips of vapor similar to what my Solo delivers when mated with my DG Fritted disc. The bubbler smooths out the draw of the Solo an incredible amount - opens it up in a major way! The water diffusion cools and moistens so well that breathing in a lungful feels expansive and pleasurable, with ease and absolute zero tickle or cough. The cloud that comes out on exhale lets you know just how big a rip you actually got. You'd never know it otherwise. Huge! Much much more vapor than when using a stem, and that's saying something. The Water Solo process is a heavenly stairway to getting you there, that's for sure! That's how smooth and huge the experience is! If the Ascent demonstrates anywhere near the same dynamic difference when used with my bubbler, I will be making my ASCENT to heaven with a smiling face while singing Davinci praises!!!
:tup:

rickypgh · Aug 25, 2013

IM Loving my ascent.no problems so stealth. Solo u pack lite and hit hard.Ascent u pack hard and hit super lite. I'm getting nice clouds and great effect.In my opinion the solo gives better clouds

nigel · Aug 25, 2013

My looooooong post last night:

tl;dr -- I am able to reproduce, in my opinion, the "mystery smoke" issue by introducing the oil-can (silicone) lid into the vapor-path.

Could I ask for a little peer-review and/or independent confirmation?

Someone who has a non-issue unit, could you drop the oilcan w lid in the bowl, go into a dark room, run the device at 430°F, hold the flashlight perpendicular under the grill, and blow out through the air-path? Then report if you can reproduce what I found?

Honestly, I don't think the dark room + flashlight are really needed, as you can probably see under normal conditions, but let's minimize observational variables.

sam reynolds · Aug 25, 2013

nigel said:
My looooooong post last night:

tl;dr -- I am able to reproduce, in my opinion, the "mystery smoke" issue by introducing the oil-can (silicone) lid into the vapor-path.

Could I ask for a little peer-review and/or independent confirmation?

Confirmed. I accidentally reproduced this scenario this morning.

Quetzalcoatl · Aug 25, 2013

For those that had the mystery vapor that went away, can you do the lid test and see if the vapor looks/smells the same?

Rexxe · Aug 25, 2013

nigel said:
What (some) people doubt, is that just because *they* have a problem, they doubt that EVERYBODY doesn't have the same problem.
.

Yes, I do have the stealth. What I would ask those who don't see the smoke though is to smell the grill on the bottom while the unit is heated (assuming a completely clean bowl of course). That's how I first noticed it as it has a definite, noticeable odor. Once I saw @thesoloman's video, I verified that I had the same smoke coming out. I just keep trying to burn it off and I'm just not having any luck.

nigel · Aug 25, 2013

sam reynolds said:
Confirmed. I accidentally reproduced this scenario this morning.

Thank you!

Anyone else want to chime in?

Quetzalcoatl said:
For those that had the mystery vapor that went away, can you do the lid test and see if the vapor looks/smells the same?

Great idea as I don't know anyone IRL that has issue, so can only compare to video.

BUt I don't think anyone has made the mystery vapor go away yet. Am I wrong?

Rexxe said:
What I would ask those who don't see the smoke though is to smell the grill on the bottom while the unit is heated (assuming a completely clean bowl of course).

Of course, I don't know what you smell.

But on my unit, I don't recall it at first and no real smell now. On the "virgin unit" (I'm holding onto it, just so I can keep this for testing now), there is that "new vape smell."

"New vape smell" *DOES* burn off, fairly quickly.

"Mystery smoke", so far at least, doesn't seem to burn off.

zongo47 · Aug 25, 2013

I could have sworn last night I was able to get the crap almost completely burned off , then this morning it was back in full force. 4 more 10 minute cycles at 430 and its still smoking strong from the empty bowl. Probably 3-4 hours of burn in so far and no stop in sight. I'm thinking my only option is going to be to send it back and get a new ascent. Bummer.

njluvdr · Aug 25, 2013

I've been trying to burn of the mystery smoke for about 2 1/2 charges and it has stayed about the same only the smell seems to have gotten stronger or I more sensitive to it. Am happy to hear more reports of cloud producing units in good working order. Gives me hope that a replacement will solve the problem.

thesoloman · Aug 25, 2013

Ok I've visually inspected the grill area for the past 20 mins. Finding number one is that there was a small dab of what appears to be hot glue on the black part under the grill, right next to the non-charger hole. I'll post pics of where it was, i managed to wipe it off with a toothpick, I have a pic of the toothpick with the hardened thread of glue on it. My second observation is that the part i thought was all silicone, is actually two parts, you can see the line where they meet thru the charger hole. The part visible on the bottom of the grill is soft(silicone), whereas the underlying part is hard(i'm guessing it is Mica).

Edit: @nigel If i can get my hands on an aquarium pump, I'll hook it up to the mouthpiece and have it slowly force air thru it. So far i only did this using allot of air (air compressor)

nigel · Aug 25, 2013

zongo47 said:
I could have sworn last night I was able to get the crap almost completely burned off , then this morning it was back in full force. 4 more 10 minute cycles at 430 and its still smoking strong from the empty bowl. Probably 3-4 hours of burn in so far and no stop in sight. I'm thinking my only option is going to be to send it back and get a new ascent. Bummer.

This might sound stupid, but have you tried blowing on it? ("Have you tried turning it off and on again?")

Try to blow from both ends. Use a very slow air flow. Perhaps can you use a fan to slowly pump air through it while it bakes?

I'm thinking here that continuously moving hot air across it might increase the curing rate. If it is indeed silicone curing, which Is what I currently suspect, then there *is* an end to that and slow steady heated air might help...

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thesoloman said:
Edit: @nigel If i can get my hands on an aquarium pump, I'll hook it up to the mouthpiece and have it slowly force air thru it. So far i only did this using allot of air (air compressor)

FYI: I guess the site doesn't notify you if you are added to a comment by an edit. I only saw the edit by accident.

Aquarium pump sounds like a great idea. Air compressor is WAAAY too much.

Come to think of it, when I was testing with the lid last night, the smoke stopped a few seconds into each breath. Can you blow out the unit (try both ends) and report how this affects the mystery smoke?

I had perfectly reasoned thinking last night for why I don't think it is the spacer at the bottom of the bowl. Unfortunately, I did other "tests" afterward that involved something other than the lid, and now I can't recall. :smug:

Rexxe · Aug 25, 2013

nigel said:
This might sound stupid, but have you tried blowing on it? ("Have you tried turning it off and on again?")

Try to blow from both ends. Use a very slow air flow. Perhaps can you use a fan to slowly pump air through it while it bakes?

I'm thinking here that continuously moving hot air across it might increase the curing rate. If it is indeed silicone curing, which Is what I currently suspect, then there *is* an end to that and slow steady heated air might help...

@nigel, I tried this yesterday and it didn't have any effect. From what I can tell the smoke is coming from the center of the unit where the bowl is, so I'm inclined to think it's the insulation material (mica?) that they used, but I cannot confirm without taking the unit apart.

nigel · Aug 25, 2013

Rexxe said:
@nigelI'm inclined to think it's the insulation material (mica?) that they used, but I cannot confirm without taking the unit apart.

Two clarification points:

1) It wasn't mica, but impurities in mica, that were the old unit's issue. Temps this low won't affect mica, but it's a natural item that has natural other stuff in it.

So that other stuff was able to be burned away.

2) They said back in March(?) that it was a different new insulator.

Pickz · Aug 25, 2013

I can't really quantify how long it has been because I haven't been paying attention, but I have been doing a lot of burn off cycles and I still get visible gas. It isn't constant at all though. Sometimes I check it and it seems like there is none at all and at other times it looks like it did when I first fired it up. The effect has been decreasing overall and I'm seeing less gas in general, but I'm still not sure. The are are a lot of variables including the fact that I have to hold the light in just the right way to see the gas at all. I'm going to resume the burn offs as they do seem to be decreasing the visible gas in mine. I do not see as much visible gas as there is in those videos.

Also my unit gets quite hot on the bottom as well. I don't have the best temperature tolerance with my hands, but I would compare it to very hot water when washing your hands. My unit is a stealth and it was one that was shipped on the second day they were shipping them out to the masses.

Edit: No visible gas at the moment. I think I'm going to try it out for a session.

grokit · Aug 25, 2013

I sniffed the grill, blew into it etc. at 430°; there was very little odor, and no smoke at all.

Mine barely even has a new vape smell much less smoking so I'm sticking with variance and QC issues that are easily addressable. If you guys have units that continue to smoke you should contact davinci about it.

We get it, there are some bad units out there.
But not all of the stealths are bad, because mine is fine and so are others.

thesoloman · Aug 25, 2013

I really wish i could just take my Ascent apart and figure out WTF is going on in there, but i can't because then my warranty would be no-more, and i'm most likely trying to return this thing

Laukia · Aug 25, 2013

"Honestly, I don't think the dark room + flashlight are really needed, as you can probably see under normal conditions, but let's minimize observational variables."

If someone looks at the unit (stealth in my case) with a light scource behind it........is the unit closed tight at the seal where it opens and closes? This ascent unit shows daylight at the seam.........so, no it seems not to be completely sealed which would explain the no vapor clouds. Just my guess as to non functioning units. The "gassing" seems to be less than at first, but the taste is "chemical" and the unit is packed and ready to be returned. I'll post the response from Organicix.

Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

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