Discontinued Magic Flight Launch Tube

firstavailable

Well-Known Member
magicflight said:
A single fully charged fresh battery should provide at least a total of 10 full minutes of actual heating time. In real practice, the heating cycle tends to occur in 15 second increments (as advised in the product usage suggestions) and about 5 of these heating periods tend to be used per bowl filling. As such, a single charged battery should provide enough heat to vaporize at least 8 or 9 bowls worth.
Your mileage may vary depending on your usage/heating patterns and draw rates.

The provided charger should charge the batteries in 6 to 8 hours. Leaving batteries in the charger for longer times should cause no problem. If needed, you can also get one of those fast 15 minute chargers and charge the provided batteries in that. Such chargers tend to cost about $30 and can usually be found at places like "Home Depot". The provided batteries are 2000mAh NiMh type and should provide between 500 to 1000 recharge cycles.
Have you tried testing it using lithium or lithium-ion bateries? How bout standard alkalines? It is concievable that someone might be out on the town, and the included batery dies, so in a pinch some duracells from a gas station could do the trick. It would be interesting to know how long a battery like that would last in such a situation.
 
firstavailable,

duh

Well-Known Member
firstavailable, stickstones, I'm guessing the battery issues are all around some kind of Tim Allen-esque grunt style - make it jumbo. I did buy some 2300 at Target that I'd like to try - I can tell you the standard alkalies don't work. However, MF can take any of these types, Home Depot like they said, Radio Shack, and Target for me.

I got my low temps MF last week and have spent some time with it. First, to me it invokes B2TF - B2TF3 to be exact - the 2 poles with the 'flux capacitor' being the action in the middle (the magical flight). It reminds me of a ship in a bottle, except you have access inside the glass tube.

With a few different strains on this low-temps MF, I'm getting only a little charring underneath but no vapor, even with a decent draw. I'm going to email to request the 'regular' temps version (and keep x-ing my fingers I can help test the new ver). Overall, I like the size and plan to get a cool camera case to go w/the unit for traveling.
 
duh,

max

Out to lunch
so in a pinch some duracells from a gas station could do the trick. It would be interesting to know how long a battery like that would last in such a situation.
Like using alkaline instead of NiMH in a camera, gone in a flash. ;) Don't know if it's that bad in the MF, but they won't last long.

For anyone wanting extra NiMH batteries, I recommend Thomas Distributing, and this battery in particular is a solid choice at an excellent price- http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/...html?SP_id=&osCsid=naeu4qm2n4lld5bjgbe5rleot1

This one isn't much more (+35 cts. each, but they are on sale) and the technology provides a slower self-discharge rate, so you can have them charged, in reserve, for a long time without them losing their charge. They're also supposed to deliver a higher than average voltage for power hungry devices- http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/...ml?SP_id=50&osCsid=naeu4qm2n4lld5bjgbe5rleot1
 
max,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
firstavailable said:
Have you tried testing it using lithium or lithium-ion bateries? How bout standard alkalines?
Alkaline batteries do not last very long at all and are barely able to deliver the necessary energy -- realistically they are useless. Lithium-ion batteries are somewhat better -- it depends a lot on which exact brand and make of battery is used. In general, you really want to use NiMh with as much storage capacity as possible.

Note: rechargeable NiCd batteries can also be used, but tend to have lower storage capacities as well as lower costs (they do not last as long). We elected not to use them for environmental reasons.

-- MagicFlight.com
 
magicflight,

SpiralArchitect

? & beyond
duh said:
With a few different strains on this low-temps MF, I'm getting only a little charring underneath but no vapor, even with a decent draw. I'm going to email to request the 'regular' temps version (and keep x-ing my fingers I can help test the new ver). Overall, I like the size and plan to get a cool camera case to go w/the unit for traveling.
Have you had any successful toketimes with it? :/
 
SpiralArchitect,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
stickstones said:
what advantages are there to using a C or D cell battery?
Hi,

With some makes of a C battery, there is (potentially) more storage capacity (energy) per cell -- you have to check the fine print on the battery to see what it can really do. As such, the right C cell may last much longer than a single AA cell. (However, unless there is something preventing you from having more than one battery, it is also generally the case that two AA cells will have more energy than one C -- again depending on which specific batteries are being compared, when they were made, etc).

The only real advantage to using a rechargeable C battery is that it is possible to use one on a Launch Tube without the battery holder (one less part to take with you). If you peel the battery label off a rechargeable C cell, there is a groove near the + end of the battery against which you can place one of the launch tube pins. Use the pin nearest you, while holding the Launch Tube itself in your left hand and the battery in your right hand. If you roll the + side of the C cell into the other Launch Tube pin, you will find that it comes into contact in such a way as to just catch the far side of the + terminal of the battery -- completing the circuit and starting the heating. If the C cell used has a standard terminal configuration, you will find that the Launch Tube pins are just exactly long enough to have the correct spring tension to hold the battery firmly. Note that the "business end" of the C battery is at a slight angle with respect to the Launch Tube pins when this occurs. Once learned, the whole motion of attaching and detaching a C battery becomes rather natural in the hands.

The ability to use a rechargeable C battery in this way is a 'hidden feature' of the Launch Tube -- it is a bit like an Easter Egg in software: a feature deliberately put into the design by engineering people, but not mentioned in any of the product documentation due to later decisions by business people. The Launch Tube product had at one point been intended to be released with one rechargeable C battery (compatible chargers were to be sold separately). However, given various convenience factors (user training associated with battery attachment) as well as the size, cost, and bulk of C batteries (and chargers), there was a company internal decision to switch to using AA batteries instead (long story). Later, it was decided that it was "simpler" to explain how to use the product with AA batteries only, even though C batteries were more directly supported.

Personally, I find it somewhat ironic that a device that is so apparently simple as this can actually have a "hidden feature". Yet it is a definite fact that the exact spacing between the pins and their length was specifically chosen to connect in just this fashion with a C cell -- there is no other compelling reason to make them that exact size. People who have previously been wondering why the pins were manufactured so long now have their answer -- because it provides exactly the right spring tension when connecting with a C battery.

-- Magic-Flight.com
 
magicflight,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
max said:
so in a pinch some duracells from a gas station could do the trick. It would be interesting to know how long a battery like that would last in such a situation.
Like using alkaline instead of NiMH in a camera, gone in a flash. ;) Don't know if it's that bad in the MF, but they won't last long.
Using alkaline batteries with the Launch Tube gives no worries about damage, even though they will not last long at all -- one or two hits maybe -- probably not even worth it.

We have also tested Sanyo Eneloop batteries -- they are excellent cells and work really well with the Launch Tube -- somewhat better than even our own provided batteries. Unfortunately, when we were setting up bulk purchasing contracts with battery manufactures, those batteries and their chargers did not exist in the marketplace at the time -- hence we got locked in before we knew there was a better option.
However, there is one caution when using the Sanyo Eneloop -- do not place them in other fast chargers then the ones specifically made by Sanyo -- it tends to shorten their life dramatically. If you have a really fast charger, stick with the batteries we provide or NiMh specifically designed to handle that.

-- Magic-Flight.com
 
magicflight,

MrMistyTokes

Steam Engine
awesome.. thats what i wanted to know about the c cells lol as if you were hiding it you trickster :lol: im going to buy a nice one for on the go

any pics of the new test tube? im really excited to try it!
 
MrMistyTokes,

MrMistyTokes

Steam Engine
duh said:
With a few different strains on this low-temps MF, I'm getting only a little charring underneath but no vapor, even with a decent draw. I'm going to email to request the 'regular' temps version (and keep x-ing my fingers I can help test the new ver). Overall, I like the size and plan to get a cool camera case to go w/the unit for traveling.
thats because the lower heat version was made for ignorant people haha. this piece doesnt have a temp control.. your lungs are the control obviously. did you order that lower version first?
 
MrMistyTokes,

duh

Well-Known Member
MrMistyTokes said:
thats because the lower heat version was made for ignorant people haha.
It was actually because of this thread that I ordered the low-temp version, figuring I could skip the whole shuttling the battery on/off thing. But yes, after reading your posts about filling the chamber w/visible vapor, I wish I had gone w/the other version! :rolleyes:

No, I haven't had 'good times' or pain relief from my lower-temps MF yet. While the air I inhaled did taste like plant matter, the majority of the thin material on the screen did not change except for the bottom part that was lightly charred. I am going to try the 'C' battery tech next.
 
duh,

duh

Well-Known Member
I just received an email that I'm in the test program for their new product that looks like it may be called...
wait for it...
...
the Launch Box!

Not only are they going to send me this unit, but the other MF temp version I had requested - for free. Very cool to be talking with people that communicate! :D

I'll follow up next week w/my findings!

- :cool:
 
duh,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Hi MrMistyTokes,

While I am not the moderator, I do want to be especially clear about the our real intent behind offering the Low-Temp units for FC members: to find out what people really want and to see if we can deliver that. As such, I especially want to be sure that there everyone's opinions are respected, even if I or others may (respectfully) disagree. Otherwise, there would be little chance that we would get the real feedback that we would need to develop a worthwhile product.

As I mentioned in previous posts, it had been the general opinion among previous Magic-Flight testing pools that the "normal" Launch Tube calibration was fairly close to where it should be for most users (even while acknowledging that nothing is perfect). However, given some of the stronger opinions expressed in this thread -- presumably by people who also know a lot about vaporizers -- I figured it was worthwhile to ensure that some "specials" made and try find out more.

Those people who purchased the special Low temp units are either satisfied (which would be good in any case), or they have since requested a normal-temp version (which we will send if necessary). In the latter case, for the cost of our having to send out two screen units for the price of one, we asked in return that such users also report back on their experiences -- particularly so that future potential purchasers of our product were even more likely to be satisfied by making an informed purchasing decision. The user with the alias "duh" (a unfortunate pun, in this case) has done exactly that, reported back to FC. For my own part, I have seen no lack of awareness there.

-- Magic-Flight.com

MrMistyTokes said:
... the lower heat version was made for ...
 
magicflight,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
MrMistyTokes said:
awesome.. thats what i wanted to know about the c cells lol as if you were hiding it you trickster :lol: im going to buy a nice one for on the go

any pics of the new test tube? im really excited to try it!
We are planning to offer some photos and a short video of the new product in use once more of the testing has been completed and we have had a chance to incorporate that information. Not sure how long that will be, especially since the additional planned products are not for sale as yet.

Also, insofar as the new product offering has somewhat different usage intents and operational characteristics (it is not a replacement for the Launch Tube so much as it is an adjunct to it), it may be better to open a new thread for it at such time as it becomes publicly available (so as to make product specific discussions less confusing).

-- Magic-Flight.
 
magicflight,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
duh said:
It was actually because of this thread that I ordered the low-temp version, figuring I could skip the whole shuttling the battery on/off thing. But yes, after reading your posts about filling the chamber w/visible vapor, I wish I had gone w/the other version! :rolleyes:

No, I haven't had 'good times' or pain relief from my lower-temps MF yet. While the air I inhaled did taste like plant matter, the majority of the thin material on the screen did not change except for the bottom part that was lightly charred. I am going to try the 'C' battery tech next.
Hi,

If you have not done so already, please be sure to send us an email request for a normal temp unit. Using a "C" battery only ensures that the total time of heating can last longer, not that the unit will operate any hotter. The temperature has a stronger effect on taste and vapor production than heating duration (although that also has a significant effect). As such, I would recommend a normal screen to start with.

Edit: never mind -- I see that things have already been taken care of.

-- Magic-Flight
 
magicflight,

Injectsynthetic

Well-Known Member
Hello,I just Orderd one of these.

First post,First vaporizer. I'm not the best person to write a review,But I will if someone wants me to!

Should be here On Monday.


I only have one question,What is the best way to pulse the battery? To get good Vapor and to decrease burning.

Thank you! :D

P.s VERY EXCITED.
 
Injectsynthetic,

Haywood

Onward Thru the Fog
I just received a Launch Tube (actually, I ordered two; one standard, and one low temp) and I thought I'd share some of my thoughts. I'm only going to talk about the standard Launch Tube in this message, as I really haven't had the time (or desire) to fool around with the low temp Launch Tube. I plan on playing with it tomorrow or Friday, but from initial experimenting I suspect I won't like it as much as I like the standard version.

First a little background. I have a Volcano Digit and an iInhale already, and I've been vaping for a little over a year. I bought the iInhale the first week it was available, so I've been using it a while. Vaping is not a religious calling for me, though I much prefer it; still, I occasionally enjoy smoking too.

Before I get to what I love about the Launch Tube, I think it's important to say that no single vaporizer type is good for every use, and some vaporizers require you to learn the best way to use them before you can be happy with the results. My Volcano doesn't let me use it on the bus (it's not portable), but it required almost no learning to use properly, and it's still my favorite, by far, when I'm home. My iInhale, though portable, requires a LONG setup/warmup time of at least ten minutes, and no matter what anyone says, it produces enough smell while it warms up that everyone around me knows what's going on (and all the sweet terpenes are going into the air in the room, not into me). So for my use, it's no good if I want a quick hit, and it's not very stealthy if I'm not outside (outside it's great; no one knows what it is, and no one seems curious about it). The iInhale required a LOT of learning to use properly. That said, I don't think I'll be giving up my iInhale now that I have the Launch Tube, any more than I gave up my Volcano when I got the iInhale. There are a number of times when I'm working outside that the iInhale is more suitable than the Launch Tube (or the Volcano).

For me the Launch Tube fills a need that the iInhale really fails at; taking a quick sneaky hit whenever and wherever I want. Even after I got the iInhale, I always carried a (glass) one hitter, so I could grab a quick hit whenever I wanted it, and didn't have the 15 minutes required to really prepare and use the iInhale. But of course the one hitter is smoking, not vaping, and it's a pain to light outside if its windy. I have a tiny padded pouch I wasn't using anymore that I now use to carry the Launch Tube and a couple of batteries, and I don't plan on carrying the one hitter anymore. I am really happy with the Launch Tube as my new one hitter, and figure I'll use it WAY more than I used the iInhale.


The Launch Tube is a true one or two hitter. Within reason, the less you load, the better it works. A pinch or two is plenty, and if you stuff it full, and pack the load into the screen, it won't work as well, and the vape won't be as sweet. Just as important, you really, really want to grind your load before you put it in the screen. It makes a significant difference for the good when your load is ground, as opposed to just broken up into tiny pieces. Placing a single small bud in the screen is NOT the way to go. It will work, but grinding first it will work better. You don't have to grind it down to dust, a single grinding in a standard grinder is enough. You don't have to grind each load just before you use it, you can grind a days worth and keep it in a tiny container if you like, (though as with coffee, a fresh grind is always the best). I keep my preground daily load in a little capped plastic tube I got in Amsterdam that was designed to hold a single joint.

You only have two ways to regulate your experience. How long (and in what manner) you apply the battery, and the rate (and consistency) at which you inhale on the tube. Both effect how hot the screen gets, and how much its temperature fluctuates. When you're first learning how YOU like to use your Launch Tube, it really pays to have good lighting, so you can easily see the vapor stream and the color of the load as it changes. Once you've figured out what you like, you can use the Launch Tube easily in the dark, but seeing what's going on really helps when you are first learning.

The load is going to turn from green to brown as you use the Launch Tube. This change will work its way from the edges of the load toward the center, as the good stuff is depleted. The load will NOT turn from green to brown uniformly. Note that at no time does it ever burn, nor is smoke (as opposed to vapor) ever produced, even if you connect the battery for a full minute and don't inhale on the tube at all; I tried. The vape WILL taste pretty grungy if you do this though. And therein lies the whole secret of enjoying your Launch Tube. There is a trade-off between the sweetest taste, the most dense vapor, and the amount you load. Once you figure this out, you can slightly alter your usage depending on your current needs.

What do I mean by this? Let me propose three scenarios:

(1) I am sitting at home, by myself, and I want to do four or five hits, getting the most flavor, and not caring if it takes five minutes or 30 seconds.

(2) I am in an office, by myself (or with a friend), and though I'm not likely to be interrupted, I want this to be done with as quickly as possible. There are other people in other parts of the office, and I certainly don't want them to smell anything.

(3) I am somewhere where people can see me, but I can get away for five minutes (like maybe outside to a smoking area behind the building) in private. I want four or five hits, but I can't really load and reload the Launch Tube where I'm using it.

The single "key" to understanding this is to realize that how you inhale controls the screen temperature. It's MUCH easier to regulate the screen temperature through breath control than by pulsing the battery. Once the screen reaches the temperature you like, breath control will easily keep it there. If you inhale too rapidly, the screen temperature will go down; if you inhale just right, the screen temperature will remain at whatever it was when you started inhaling; if you don't inhale at all, the screen temperature will rise, until it reaches the maximum its design permits.

(1) At home, I load a small amount enough for two big hits (what I think of as my standard load). I apply the battery for five seconds before inhaling, at which point I can clearly see the vapor starting to fill the container. I inhale for about ten seconds, drawing just hard enough that it's becoming difficult to see the vapor going into the tube. About eight seconds into the draw, I release the battery, so the final two seconds of inhaling are done without the battery connected. If I am watching the load, I'll see it turn from green to medium brown, with maybe the edges being dark brown. The very center of the load may still be a little green. For that 15 second first hit, the battery was connected for a total of 13 seconds (five second warm-up, eight second draw, two second rest). This first hit is particularly sweet tasting. For the second hit, I apply the battery for about ten to 12 seconds before starting to inhale, as I've found that the spent part of the load is acting as an insulator between the screen and the remaining fresh part of the load. This five additional seconds of preheat allows the screen to get a little hotter, and the remaining fresh part to reach the proper temperature, before I start inhaling. I inhale a little more slowly (but not much) for ten seconds, leaving the battery connected the whole time. The load is now very dark around the edges, and fully brown throughout. This second hit will not have been particularly tasty, with the "roasted popcorn" flavor typical of vapor from a load that has been smoked once or more before. Then I dump the first load and reload and repeat.

(2) This is pretty much the same as the first example, with one slight change. I load only enough to do one big hit. This is a tiny amount, just enough to cover the screen (not fill the bowl, just a thin layer on the whole screen). This gives me one great, big, sweet hit. Exhaling the tiny amount of vapor from one hit doesn't cause any smell to speak of, and the whole event takes maybe one minute. (30 seconds to take out and load the Launch Tube, 15 seconds to preheat and inhale, 15 seconds to hold my breath and put the Launch Tube away). If I want another hit 15 minutes later, I just repeat the sequence. Sometimes I use this method at home, so that every single hit is sweet.

(3) This scenario is a little different. I overload the bowl, packing it almost to the very top. This is more than twice as much as I consider a standard load for me (maybe three times as much). This is so that I can get four or five hits out of a single load, and so the load is more likely to remain in the screen with the Launch Tube in my pocket (because I packed it in). You'll want to be REALLY careful not to damage the screen if you're packing it rather than loosely filling it! You MUST support the bottom of the screen with your finger while you pack it, and you shouldn't use any pointed objects. The first hit is done as described above, but each subsequent hit requires a longer and longer preheat. The second hit requires a ten to 12 second preheat, and the third and fourth hits require a 15 second preheat. If I am in a position to stir the load between the second and third hits, that helps the third and fourth hits taste better. The ten second draw time is the same for all hits. I use this method only when necessary, and don't recommend it, because it's too easy to accidentally harm the screen, (and I really like the sweet taste part, which goes away after the first hit).


There are a few things I don't like about the Launch Tube. You can't really carry it with the bowl preloaded, my scenario #3 above not withstanding. It is the most visually unstealthy device I've ever seen. Not only does everyone notice it, they all want to come over and see what it is. This is usually not good. On the other hand it gives off no odor and is totally silent when it's used (unlike the iInhale). So it depends on whether you prefer visually stealthy or smell/sound stealthy. The Launch Tube doesn't feel nice in your hands. It looks nice. It works nice. It doesn't feel nice. This last one is probably pretty silly...

When I try out the low temp version again, I'll report back, but as I mentioned in the beginning of this message, I don't think I'll like it. This is long enough for a first message anyway. What I describe above is what works for me, and isn't necessarily the only way, or the "right" way (or even the right way for YOU). I'll be happy to answer any questions I can, and I'm looking forward to hearing your experiences. I reserve the right to be wrong about something I've said, and change my mind later once you explain things to me, or I've figured it out for myself.

Vape is good. :)

Haywood

ps Dealing with Magic Flight has been a real pleasure. They answer their email and their answers are helpful. They send stuff when they say the will. They talk to us here and value our opinions. They have a warranty that is absurdly one sided in favor of the customer. They act like real people, not your parents. (Well, maybe that last one is a little strange).
 
Haywood,

stickstones

Vapor concierge
Thanks for the great and thorough review, haywood...and welcome to the forum. I look forward to more of your posts.
 
stickstones,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Injectsynthetic said:
Hello,I just Orderd one of these.
First post,First vaporizer. I'm not the best person to write a review,But I will if someone wants me to!
Should be here On Monday.
I only have one question,What is the best way to pulse the battery? To get good Vapor and to decrease burning.
Thank you! :D
P.s VERY EXCITED.
Hi Injectsynthetic,

Thank you! If you can write a review, that would be very helpful -- especially for other first time vape users who will probably be reading this thread later.

In regards to your question, we generally recommend that the battery be applied for only 15 seconds at a time. You should be able to begin drawing vapor 3 or 4 seconds after starting the battery, drawing only just as fast as necessary to pull the vapor towards the draw hole (you will be able to see this happening). This is usually a fairly slow rate of draw. After you have been drawing for about 10 seconds or so, momentarily tip the battery back -- in other words, stop heating for a few seconds -- and watch the vapor in the chamber (note; continue the same slow rate of draw as before). When you see that the level of vapor produced is about half of what it was, restore the battery contact. You may continue this on and off pattern repeatedly, using the amount of visible vapor produced (or the taste) as a guide for when to do the next battery pulse. About 3 seconds before your lungs are full, disconnect the battery so that you get the remaining vapor and stop the heating (saving what is left for the next hit).

Please let us know if there is any way we can be of further assistance.

-- Magic-Flight.com
 
magicflight,

Phaang

Fog Huffer
I think Haywood described the usage of the Flight Tube the best: as a vapor substitute for a one-hitter. This has been the exact niche my Flight Tube has taken.

I've tried the low-temp variety, and the vapor is just too weak for my taste. I have figured out how to regulate the standard-heat unit, so I am not using the low-temp. I think once one gets over the learning curve the need for a low-heat version goes away.

I echo the "feel" aspect of this device-it needs a dash of elegance somehow.

I also echo the comments about Magic Flight: top notch customer service. They have gone far beyond what I have experienced with just about any other product I've ever bought on line. Very good to deal with.
 
Phaang,

magicflight

Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Hello Haywood!

:o Wow!! :o -- Excellent post!

Thank you very, very much for such a detailed and excellent review! I had been assigned the task of writing up a new "improved" instruction sheet to be provided with the shipped Launch Tubes, and I find that your post is much better written than anything I could have put together. Do I have your permission to include excerpts from it in our printed Launch Tube directions? Can I submit a copy to our 'webmaster' for a future testimonials section (unmodified or edited as per your wishes)?

Thanks again! :)
-- Magic-Flight
 
magicflight,

Ben

Well-Known Member
this is a real review... I've learned quite a lot with your post Haywood; thanks.

This little launch tube is the next on the list. :brow:
 
Ben,

Monsoon

Well-Known Member
I read through the thread and Haywood's excellent review and I think I'll order one when I have the spare cash. Aside from it's relative simplicity, I think a major selling point is the price. The only other ones in that price range are the VaporGenie, VaporStar and the crappy BC Vaporizers.

I currently use an SSV for vaping but I like the idea of a portable vape and smaller, more measured hits. I somehow find that I don't get as good of a vaping experience unless I put in at least 0.15-0.20g in the SSV. If anyone out there has both, I'd love to hear a comparison of the two as well as comments on it's efficiency.

Would it be possible to offer a small pouch that it can fit inside at least as an option? It would add to the durability and may even be cost effective considering the kind of warranty you're offering on it. If you want to be sustainable, you could have it made of hemp.
 
Monsoon,

Beezleb

Well-Known Member
I have one coming, I dont have an ssv but I have its younger brother Da Buddha and will comment on it once I get it.

I like the idea of it taking the role of a portable hitter and im hoping the Magicflight will prove to be a reliable and efficient model at the lower price range.

Reminds me of something like the coolest science project ever hehe.
 
Beezleb,
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