Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

Norcalsun

Well-Known Member
Ive noticed that after researching many different portable vapes, that most of them if not all of them have had return issues. It seems to be a fairly new technology that's still in its infantacy. Actually I've never found a portable vape that I haven't read about customers getting defective units. Their still getting the bugs out of these devices/ maybe they shouldn't release them but that's business. And also knowing how to talk to,people can go a very long way- just saying.
 

Davinci_vaporizer

Clean First Technology
Manufacturer
I never yelled at anyone but if you can't be frank with a company but have to walk around on eggshells and then answer the troll's questions 3, that's not a company I really want to deal with. Lesson learned.

P. S. During the brief time I had a working one I found there was no learning curve for me at all. I just had to find the right temp and that took about 10 minutes of experimentation to figure out. Too bad they won't stand behind their product. Proof of that is in their rep's comments to me: It's not her company, she just works there. They don't manufacture it, it's made in China. While they keep passing the buck I'll hopefully be passing around another brand vaporizer by then. Kudos to everyone who's endured but I really think you've lowered the bar on your expectations as a customer when you expect to not get a good working unit until going through a big rigamarole with the company and then buying multiple units so that you'll always have one to use while the others are being repaired. Anyone have a rock solid single vape experience?
You unfortunately were misinformed. We own our factory in China and we do manufacture them ourselves. While it is, "Made in China" it is our factory and we have control of the manufacturing.
Also as @Ratchett said, I am currently in China taking a hands on approach to helping our company thrive both in the states and here in China.
@OF has zero affiliation with us, just like anyone else on this thread. This is a community here to help aid your problems give advice, and to educate. If you read the rules on manufacturer posting, you can see this website is geared to be totally unbiased and that's the way we like it. Problems need to come to the surface or they cannot be resolved.
 

GnuBee

New Member
I have a DaVinci Ascent that I bought directly from DaVinci. I have had a problem with it combusting at low temperatures. It even combusted at 325 degrees. I sent it back & they replaced the heating unit. I just received it back & it looks like they may have installed a new lower end. I'm still having problems with it combusting. I usually leave the machine set at 360 degrees to warm up. It produces decent vapor at that heat range. If I go higher, it will combust.

Anyone else have this type of problem with their unit? I admit that I have not read the 200+ pages on this topic. So if this has already been discussed, if you could post up a link, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.


Well... I'm still in the process of returning my Ascent back to DaVinci. It is not a very user friendly or efficient process. Had I known the problems that I would have with this unit, I would not have bought it.

Thank you

You unfortunately were misinformed. We own our factory in China and we do manufacture them ourselves. While it is, "Made in China" it is our factory and we have control of the manufacturing.
Also as @Ratchett said, I am currently in China taking a hands on approach to helping our company thrive both in the states and here in China.
@OF has zero affiliation with us, just like anyone else on this thread. This is a community here to help aid your problems give advice, and to educate. If you read the rules on manufacturer posting, you can see this website is geared to be totally unbiased and that's the way we like it. Problems need to come to the surface or they cannot be resolved.

Had I known that these vapes were made in China, I would not have purchased one. That's all I need. Vaping out of something that probably has lead in it.
 
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CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
Had I known that these vapes were made in China, I would not have purchased one. That's all I need. Vaping out of something that probably has lead in it.
You are going to be in for a disappointment because a lot of the vaporizers are made in China. There are some made in other places, like U.S, Europe and Canada. You just need to look for them.

If you really want to be combustion free you need to have more than one vaporizer. You never know when "oh shit" happens. You alway need to be prepared. You don't want to go back to old habits.
 
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OF

Well-Known Member
Had I known that these vapes were made in China, I would not have purchased one. That's all I need. Vaping out of something that probably has lead in it.

CK has already pointed to the wisdom of having a back up vape and the very small number of options if you want to consider 'made in China' a deal breaker. I'd like to address the lead issue?

I get it that some are very concerned about this (and IMO rightly so if you don't understand the issue). However, this is not a simple Lead based paint on baby toys deal. While there's sure to be trace Lead in Ascent (same as in you and I and most everything) the parts that have potential to expose us are those in 'the uptake path' we might breathe in.

In our case glass and glazed ceramic basically. The chances of lead crystal being used as opposed to lower cost, easier to work alloys makes no sense. Likewise clear glazes generally contain no lead (it's the colored ones that present the major threat).

However, we have an easy, cheap and very reliable way to test for lead in such places. This is one I bought five or so years back to do just such a series of tests:
http://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-L...&qid=1416581852&sr=8-2&keywords=lead+test+kit

I found none (thankfully), gave the remainder to a friend who tested his kitchen before passing it on to a third family. Cheap piece of mind, IMO. You might consider it?

OF
 

VaporKraut

New Member
Ok, here is an update from my experience with that vaporizer: I ordered my Ascent from Davinci back in May. I like it and the tast is great. But for some reason, I didn't used it that often. Maybe 2 times a week and for some weeks, not at all. Probably because I'm used for years to smoke a mix of herbs with tabacco.

But I don't ever smoke tabacco without herbs, and I don't like smokeing at all (especialy the smell). So I came back to my ascent, to see if vaping maybe can also satisfy me in the same way as a joint. Well, but just then, my unit began to do strange things.

I filled it up and the temp was set to 180°C. But I realised that something is strange, when the temp was riseing way faster than normal and did big leaps. Like 121°-129°-137°-180°, while normaly it goes up way slower. At 180° I took a hit, just to realise that there are tons of vape! So much unexpected vape, that I had to cough. The vape was thick and intens and it came allready out of the buttom grill! So after just a few seconds at "180°C" I turned it of, just to see, that my load of herbs was almost black! Serisously! Normaly, after a full season, with killng my load at 221°C in the end, I get dark brown ABW. But it was newer ever that dark, and the display showed only 180°C and it was just a few seconds on that temp! :uhh:

The ABV almost loked like coal, even if it was not pure black. Also, there where some residues in the bowl since quite a while. In the corners at the buttom of the bowl, that are hard to remove. This stuff was also always dark brown and turned now out to be almost black.

So I was kind of afraid to use it again, but I wanted to know, if its broken or not. So I tryed it maybe 8 times in the last week, and that problem happened 4 times (including the first time that I just described). Well, that doesn't look good...

But it gets even better: Yesterday, I cleaned my unit completly up, to see afterwards, if I can find the problem. After cleaning it I turned the Ascent on, to vape away any water or ISO left in the bowl. But to see if everything is fine, I didn't turned it off at 100°C and let it heat up. And at circa 155°C, I began to see "smoke" comeing out if the bowl :o Well, not realy smoke, but also nothing I would call vape! And there was nothing other then some thiny old residues in the bowl! The higher the temp got, the more "smoke". To makes sure, it realy not just the residues vaping away, I let the temp at 221°C for some minutes, but it didn't stopped smoeking. I made that test a view times and there is always smoke, if I go higher than circa 155°C. It's hard to explaine what the smoke smelled/tasted like. Not exactly burned, but also clearly no vape at all!

But do you know what? Just in that very moment now, it gets even better! While I write that, I wanted to see if it still will begin to smoke, but now that I turn it on, the display always shows "430 °C" :uhoh: If I press + or - the values are back to normal, like 221°C, but just the moment after, it switches back to "430 °C", while the bowl seems not to heat up. Or only so little, that even a little drop of water at the wall of the bowl doesn't care.

Well, I just Mailed Davinci some hours ago, seems like that mail needs an update now! I have no hopes left, that this unit will work normal again, without repair or exchange :\ Let's see what they say and how long it will take. After that is my only vape and I just wanted to see if it can help me stop combusting, that's quite a loss. And I have no idea, how long and expensive the shipping will be, from germany to US and back. Oh my!



Some more thought from my perspective:
- I tryed the glass flowers, but I realy don't like to use them. But maybe it's just my technic... They realy do, what they are supposed to: They store heat and help to produce more vapor and so on. But to use them is a real pain. I need the tweezer, to place them right, especialy the ones on the buttom. And for me they don't seem to work as "screens". I grind my herbs, but not too much. And yes, I try to pack it tight, using my fingers or the glass container to press it down. And then there are the flowers I put on top in the herbs and press them into the load and maybe fill any space left in the bowl with more glass flowers, if I used less herbs. But there is allway plant material flying into my mouth. And the buttom glass screen of the glass pathway looks like a mess, after only a few runs. I have to change and clean it way to often, with that technic and I still get herbs into my mouth. I tryed Fixing that, using cotton (remover pads of 100% bio cotton, because I have nothing better; I cut them into pieces). But that also didn't worked that good and I was afraid, the thick cotton will suck up all the vape... And there are also this round metal screen you get with the Asent. I tryed to put one under glass screen, but I found it almost imposible to fix it there, being hold by the rubber. And I'm not even sure, if its not just falling down, in the very moment I close the bowl... So, this technic didn't realy worked for me.

- But what worked for me, and did the same good job about heat storage and increased vapor production was the glass container (that they made for liquids). I just fill my bowl up with grinded herbs until the whole ceramic part is full or even a bit higher. Then I take the glass container and stomp the herbs so much down, that I can close my unit with the container in the bowl. Then just turn it on and have fun. It worked great for me, just like the glass flowers, but without herbs flying around. After I turned it off, I open the ascent and while still hot/warm, I take the container out with a tweezer and trow away the ABV. I newer ever had a problem getting the container out, doing it that way. For me, its way easier and faster than the glass flowers and my glass screen is way longer clean and I get no herbs into my mouth.

- But I still would love to have a real spacer from davinci. But now that they talk about maybe introducing smaller bowls, lets see what the future will bring...

- I also use the GonG adapter instead of the mouthpiece. The Ascent gives you more and better vape that way, so I realy recommend that! But yes, just like some mentioned before, it's normaly to long to use it in a comfortable way. So I took my Ascent and the GonG, just to visit my local head shop. And they just cutted it to the perfecte length for free. Since they have all the staff there, to adjust all the glass stuff they sell. Just an idea, if you don't know where to let it be done (and if you can't shorten it by your self).

-I also can recomend that "magic erasers" for cleaning the bowl! I cut small pices off, that are big enought to fit in the bowl, because that thing is way to big. Then, instead of makeing it wet with water I use ISO. But not to much! Then I grab it with a tweezer to clean the bowl. It works good, but I still can't remove all the residues left in the buttom corners. Maybe I need a pointy dentist tool for that job?


One more question: I think about buying a back up vape (just like you ladies and gentleman promised/sugested many times in this thread), now more than ever, that my Ascent seems dead and the replacement will take a while. I thought about buying a pax, or more concret a "Project X" vaporize, what seems to be a clone for europe, after you can't buy the Pax here. But all reviews say, it's the same and has only some thiny optical differences compared with the pax, and it's only 130-140 €. Would you think that is a good back up? I thought about the Firefly also, after hearing about it's great taste, but then I saw the price and that I again have to order a vape from the US, because you can't buy it in europe, so no... Other ideas?
 
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Delta3DStudios

Well-Known Member
Accessory Maker
Phew, that was a long post @VaporKraut !

Few things - 1 - if it's coming out DARK black at 180C - you have a problem with your Ascent! 180C should produce a moderate amount of vapor which is nice and tasty - the ABV at this temperature should come out a light brown color, NOT dark chocolate brown!

If I were you, I would STOP USING THE ASCENT immediately and CALL for support.

In regards to cleaning the corners of the Ascent oven - DON'T use a dental pick! The oven has a very thin glazing on it, using any sharp object is not recommended, you can easily chip the oven. I suggest using a toothpick instead of a metal pick for cleaning those spots.

Personally I'd skip on the pax and look at the Indica if you need stealth, if you don't need stealth, there are a lot of options to chose from. :2c:
 

Anon4634

Member
Hi guys,

I got my Ascent 2 weeks ago and I love it so far.
I also ordered the Hyrdotube like water bong from DHgate Link
I was not able to find the Ascent Water Tool Adapter locally so I decide to improvise.

I cut a small piece (1/2in) of a rubber hose and slid it on the end of my spare mouth piece.
It works like a charm, I don't taste/smell any rubber and I like that its shorter than the Ascent Water Adapter.
20141121230251434iOS.jpg

20141121230342964iOS.jpg
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
Hi guys,

I got my Ascent 2 weeks ago and I love it so far.
I also ordered the Hyrdotube like water bong from DHgate Link
I was not able to find the Ascent Water Tool Adapter locally so I decide to improvise.

I cut a small piece (1/2in) of a rubber hose and slid it on the end of my spare mouth piece.
It works like a charm, I don't taste/smell any rubber and I like that its shorter than the Ascent Water Adapter.
20141121230251434iOS.jpg

20141121230342964iOS.jpg
Welcome to FC. It looks like you will fit right in. We have a lot of hands on vaping modifiers around here.;)
 

venussuz

Well-Known Member
I've read through most of this thread and haven't seen anyone with same problem - my Ascent shows nothing while charging. As with many others, the battery display is erratic, but I think I've gotten 60 to 90 minutes use between charges. (I charge it every 2 or 3 days just because I think I should) I believe the battery is fine, but it doesn't show more than half full charge (when in use, as it doesn't display while charging).

The battery issue is a little concerning, but other than that I've had no problems with the Ascent. Following advice on here, I got a container of glass flowers and use 4 or 5 in each bowl and pack it really tight. I quickly learned (after reading tips from sticks, wakeandvape and several others who got preproduction units) how to use the vaporizer in the sense of sipping it like a fine claret to get the best results. I don't care about clouds, but find that I get a good amount of visible vapor even at my starting setting of 360 or 370F.

Should I just not worry about the battery, as I've yet to run it dry and charging it every couple of days seems to work fine?

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read me ramble on about my experiences with the Ascent.

ETA: I've had it two weeks, it showed ~75% battery when received, I did the 10 hour charge recommended here, it still showed 75% charge but I used it anyway. After 20 minutes use it showed 0 battery but was still working fine so I got in the habit of ignoring the battery display as it varies from showing no charge to 25% or 50% charge, none of which seem to mean anything as I've yet to try and use it and find it not working. Just did a factory reset, gonna try the 10 hour charge again, see if that changes anything.
 
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venussuz,

stark1

Lonesome Planet
Hi, @Anon4634.

Nice improv, what exactly is the type of hosing used.

A note of caution, the higher the vertical height, the broader the base needed to stabilize. Otherwise you may have a slam-dunk as the high center of gravity may cause the load to topple, and a very wet Ascent among the water, and broken glass.

You may want to devise a holder to stabilize your setup.

Just sayin.......

+ pple like me tend to be a klutz, & accidents happen.:tup:
 
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stark1,

Delta3DStudios

Well-Known Member
Accessory Maker
I've read through most of this thread and haven't seen anyone with same problem - my Ascent shows nothing while charging. As with many others, the battery display is erratic, but I think I've gotten 60 to 90 minutes use between charges. (I charge it every 2 or 3 days just because I think I should) I believe the battery is fine, but it doesn't show more than half full charge (when in use, as it doesn't display while charging).

The battery issue is a little concerning, but other than that I've had no problems with the Ascent. Following advice on here, I got a container of glass flowers and use 4 or 5 in each bowl and pack it really tight. I quickly learned (after reading tips from sticks, wakeandvape and several others who got preproduction units) how to use the vaporizer in the sense of sipping it like a fine claret to get the best results. I don't care about clouds, but find that I get a good amount of visible vapor even at my starting setting of 360 or 370F.

Should I just not worry about the battery, as I've yet to run it dry and charging it every couple of days seems to work fine?

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read me ramble on about my experiences with the Ascent.

ETA: I've had it two weeks, it showed ~75% battery when received, I did the 10 hour charge recommended here, it still showed 75% charge but I used it anyway. After 20 minutes use it showed 0 battery but was still working fine so I got in the habit of ignoring the battery display as it varies from showing no charge to 25% or 50% charge, none of which seem to mean anything as I've yet to try and use it and find it not working. Just did a factory reset, gonna try the 10 hour charge again, see if that changes anything.


Welcome!

You're correct, the battery issues you state are unusual. I don't recall reading anything like that from other users. If you have a backup vaporizer, it might make sense to send in our Ascent (If it were me, I probably would just to be on the safe side!)
 
Delta3DStudios,
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venussuz

Well-Known Member
Welcome!

You're correct, the battery issues you state are unusual. I don't recall reading anything like that from other users. If you have a backup vaporizer, it might make sense to send in our Ascent (If it were me, I probably would just to be on the safe side!)

I was thinking I'd hear that, and given that a reset and a full 10 hour charge hasn't fixed it, I think it's going back to DaVinci - bummer! Fortunately I have my old reliable Buddha and a not so reliable Puffit for when I'm away, as I doubt this will be a one week process.
 

Glass004

Consumer Advocate
Hi, @Anon4634.

Nice improv, what exactly is the type of hosing used.

A note of caution, the higher the vertical height, the broader the base needed to stabilize. Otherwise you may have a slam-dunk as the high center of gravity may cause the load to topple, and a very wet Ascent among the water, and broken glass.

You may want to devise a holder to stabilize your setup.

Just sayin.......

+ pple like me tend to be a klutz, & accidents happen.:tup:
This man needs the 3D printed Ascent charging stand for his bubbler sertup.
@Ratchett sold me mine and I find it to be a very stable platform for charging or loading. Very reasonable price for the product.
 

slatihe

Well-Known Member
@Ratchett had 3d printer? !?!? :o

I wants 3d printer! :clap:
Almost bought my self one the other day for ahhh early xmas present... but then thought should probably try to at least wait for pay day. Lol

May i pm you?

Sorry for thread derail. .. :ninja:
 

Norcalsun

Well-Known Member
Quick update: I've owned my Ascent (1AA1) for a year now. For the first 6 months I only used it about 3to4 times a week then took a 2 month break from it. For the last few months I've been using it everyday. The last 4to6 weeks I've used it everyday, 2 or 3 times a day (I still smoke joints daily but that's another story). I've never had any issues at all with my unit and the more I use it the better it seems work. I don't clean it constantly, I even use a needle to unplug the the tube with holes in it. The bowl has turned brown and doesn't clean up easily if at all with iso and a Qtip but it doesn't brother me at all. I do a through cleaning when it really needs it. The Ascent has turned out to be well worth the money to me, I have no regrets at all in my choice of portable vapes. The only drawback for me is that it doesn't have the ability to vape straight oil/wax, but that's not a big deal because vape pens work great if you find the right one. So KUDOS to Davinci.
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
The Mr Clean scrubbing sponges clean the oven pretty well. Another FCer suggested using that idea, so I can't take credit for it. Turn your unit up side down so nothing gets into the area under the bowl. Use a minimal amount of water and just cut off a piece you can work with. At the end clean with a little ISO. It's a tight squeeze, you may need to improvise a tool such as a q-tip.
 
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Norcalsun

Well-Known Member
Thanks for that CarolKing. I've been meaning to pick up a ME before my bowl gets too built up with crude. Iso does keep it down to a minimum. I wish the screen stem didn't clog so fast. I usually have to unplug the holes after about the third bowl. I grind product fine and pack it pretty firm. I've found I can get much more vapor this way, even at temps as low as 375F. Vapor production has never been a complaint for me. I can always blow clouds if I want, although sometimes it does get a little hot.
 
Norcalsun,

hoptimum

Well-Known Member
Thanks for that CarolKing. I've been meaning to pick up a ME before my bowl gets too built up with crude. Iso does keep it down to a minimum. I wish the screen stem didn't clog so fast. I usually have to unplug the holes after about the third bowl. I grind product fine and pack it pretty firm. I've found I can get much more vapor this way, even at temps as low as 375F. Vapor production has never been a complaint for me. I can always blow clouds if I want, although sometimes it does get a little hot.

Have you tried putting a screen on top of the bowl?
 
hoptimum,

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
You can wedge a screen up above the oven in the area where the mouthpieces are. The screen needs to be wedged fairly low close to the bottom where there's easy acces and the stem won't touch.

I use a WonG or a GonG as a mouthpiece. It made all the difference and gives me a tight seal. I've been doing that the last 6 months or so.
 
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Norcalsun

Well-Known Member
I use one large glass flower In the bottom, so fine particles have a harder time falling through the bottom holes, and two smaller flowers on top, which helps keep particles from being sucked through the mouthpiece. Trying to wedge a tiny screen above the bowl is too time consuming and it's pretty hard to get it to fit. I prefer the glass flowers, I can easily drop the bottom one in then thumb tack two in the top of the load.
 
Norcalsun,

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
It use the glass the flowers also to hold down my load and I have no problems with tiny pieces in the stem holes. I just clean every few weeks. I'm only using the unit about 2 times a week now.

This was just a suggestion if you were having a problem with pieces of herb in the holes of the stem. Also a medium grind will help with that.
 
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