Discontinued Hopper io

JBone65 · Mar 3, 2022

After more than 5 1/2 years, I'm still learning better ways to keep the io clean.

My normal procedure was to use a toothpick then soak the MP screen in iso for a few minutes while cleaning the chamber. I'm usually anxious to reload it ASAP.

A few days ago, I cleaned it like normal, it looked clean, then I left it soaking in fresh 91% ISO for another 1.5 hours. It made a big difference. The ISO turned brown and the MP is cleaner than it has been since new. I can see a lot more light when looking through the MP, and can draw air easier than ever.

Can't remember who, but someone recommended doing this a while ago. I don't always hear what people are trying to tell me....

Some simple cleaning guidelines from HL could have explained this, and would have helped all GH users (and HL) avoid inevitable routine problems. :myday:

Edit: Have been mixing strains (strawberry cough, super silver haze, Jabberwocky, sweet delta, more). The mixture gives a nauseating terp blast at the minimum temp setting. I think most of these strains have different terp profiles, so the mixture probably has a wide spectrum.

Vaporific · Mar 3, 2022

JBone65 said:
After more than 5 1/2 years, I'm still learning better ways to keep the io clean.

My normal procedure was to use a toothpick then soak the MP screen in iso for a few minutes while cleaning the chamber. I'm usually anxious to reload it ASAP.

A few days ago, I cleaned it like normal, it looked clean, then I left it soaking in fresh 91% ISO for another 1.5 hours. It made a big difference. The ISO turned brown and the MP is cleaner than it has been since new. I can see a lot more light when looking through the MP, and can draw air easier than ever.

Can't remember who, but someone recommended doing this a while ago. I don't always hear what people are trying to tell me....

Some simple cleaning guidelines from HL could have explained this, and would have helped all GH users (and HL) avoid inevitable routine problems.

I’ve always soaked the entire frontend - native and PFE - in ISO for an hour or two, 70% or 91% ISO depending what I have, rinse it with hot water and let it dry. Sure it takes a bit longer but it gets it pretty clean. With the OG it was easier to remove the screen from the native frontend however with the IO I find it more difficult and don’t bother - I’ve already messed up one frontend attempting to remove the screen, ordered a replacement last year, and won’t attempt it again. Soaking and perhaps a toothpick to try to get any remaining gunk out of the tracks and nooks and crannies works. I also use a HL cleaning vial too for frontend soaks, and even bought extras over the years for extra cleaning vials and for flower storage too as they’re a great size for that. :peace:

vapviking · Mar 3, 2022

JBone65 said:
Some simple cleaning guidelines from HL could have explained this

Their recommendation has always been to soak the entire front end, some instructions have said "overnight". They sell that little glass vial for this purpose.
see steps A and C;

Grasshopper Manual | Grasshopper

www.grasshoppervape.com

JBone65 · Mar 3, 2022

vapviking said:
Their recommendation has always been to soak the entire front end, some instructions have said "overnight". They sell that little glass vial for this purpose.
see steps A and C;

Grasshopper Manual | Grasshopper

www.grasshoppervape.com

Excellent info. Thanks. I wish I would have had it all along. I bought my first one via eBay for $200 in 2016. Might have had it but don't remember seeing that manual. Is it on the website now, for the io?

I was soaking my MP in ISO before, just not long enough. This manual doesn't mention a soak time that I can find. Didn't expect an hour to make so much difference.

Vaporific · Mar 3, 2022

JBone65 said:
Excellent info. Thanks. I wish I would have had it all along. I bought my first one via eBay for $200 in 2016. Might have had it but don't remember seeing that manual. Is it on the website now, for the io?

I was soaking my MP in ISO before, just not long enough. This manual doesn't mention a soak time that I can find. Didn't expect an hour to make so much difference.

If you’re soaking just the mouthpiece longer is better. It’s metal - stainless or titanium - so they can’t be hurt. Also shaking or agitating it in the cleaning vial, baggie or whatever you’re using helps. :peace:

Mr. Me2 · Mar 3, 2022

I’ve found soaking in a baggie with iso and putting the baggie in a cup of VERY hot water shortens the soaking time a lot. Usually around a half hour and the iso turns that brownish color and the mouthpiece is like new.

RustyOldNail · Mar 3, 2022

Never had to soak a front end since I only use the PFE. After every use, I qtip with 99% ISO from both ends, the only thing in that front end is the screen.

vapviking · Mar 3, 2022

RustyOldNail said:
Never had to soak a front end since I only use the PFE. After every use, I qtip with 99% ISO from both ends, the only thing in that front end is the screen.

I wholeheartedly agree, haven't used standard in years.
Sometimes I clean it by holding with tongs under running hot tap water, then a quick dry swab with a qtip.

Spleeeno · Mar 4, 2022

atleast we know someone's still working at the company, cause they put up a banner that says: "Currently there are extended lead times for all products. Please only order if you are okay to wait." on thehopper.io
so that means that in addition to not answering old customers mails, they also wont answer new customers mails

RustyOldNail · Mar 4, 2022

Spleeeno said:
atleast we know someone's still working at the company, cause they put up a banner that says: "Currently there are extended lead times for all products. Please only order if you are okay to wait." on thehopper.io
so that means that in addition to not answering old customers mails, they also wont answer new customers mails

Hmmm... sounds like they aren’t making them in advance for stock, instead sitting on orders till enough for limited run. Or they can’t get parts.

Just speculating on that based on the banner text you posted.

The FUNNY take would be they say “we aren’t currently taking new orders, till we take care of our current customers “..... time for another bowl....

JBone65 · Mar 4, 2022

RustyOldNail said:
Hmmm... sounds like they aren’t making them in advance for stock, instead sitting on orders till enough for limited run. Or they can’t get parts.

Just speculating on that based on the banner text you posted.

The FUNNY take would be they say “we aren’t currently taking new orders, till we take care of our current customers “..... time for another bowl....

Does anyone know if HL still makes grasshoppers in the USA or have they started importing? It used to say made in the USA (to ensure quality) on the website but can't find it now. I think I remember hearing the batteries are made in China.

The banner on the website is interesting. It's difficult to understand how they can shut down for an extended period and then come back. It's possible that parts, batteries or raw materials are stuck in containers waiting to be offloaded. Sounds fishy.

Spleeeno · Mar 5, 2022

we know they arent doing everything in-house, but thats true for everyone besides morwood really. the anodization is definitely not done by them, which is (one of the reasons) why the colored ios have been a mess as far as color strength and delivery times since the damn launch. now the coloured ti's are just marked as out of stock so maybe they just wanna build the stainless and plain ti versions where they already have all (or most?) of the parts ready, and the lead time might just be due to a few missing components needed for any hopper - like the chipsets. those are most likely atleast partially done in china, maybe they solder on some of the parts but I doubt its all done in the us, so if those are a few weeks away due to shipping, a normal company would probably put up that banner. but its hopper labs, and they've most likely had this problem before (duh, covid) without putting up the banner, so now ofc everyone thinks shit is hitting the fan if even hopper labs say it might take a while right off the bat :rolleyes:

Vaporific · Mar 5, 2022

Batteries are definitely made in China. HL stated so herein the few times they’ve bothered to grace us with their presence. I imagine other parts are sourced overseas but I don’t know what percentage. Indeed global supply chain issues still abound due to the pandemic and HL has traditionally suffered from this before the pandemic, so nothing has really changed for them in this regard. Couple that with any potential cash flow issues, again historically unknown and likely poor, they’ve again gone dark. It’s a shame they never consistently established a presence here in FC so all we can do is speculate. Suffice to say I doubt they’re doing well and consistently hanging by the thread of their teeth - in a growing and evolving industry which is shrinking their market share and customers’ interest in their product. It’s conceivable they may rise again from the ashes and this seeming hiatus but who knows. Does anyone really care? I’ll leave it at that… :peace:

vapviking · Mar 5, 2022

Somebody's there working, alright, they've never stopped the flow of incoming money. They had to do a bit of a shuffle two-step and drop (or were they dropped by) Paypal a while back, but they've always managed to take orders and get people's money up-front for one thing or another.

Vaporific said:
If you’re soaking just the mouthpiece longer is better. It’s metal - stainless or titanium - so they can’t be hurt.

This is not altogether accurate. We do know the housing (of the mp) is SS or Ti, and we assume the screen is SS. Also in there is a metal piece that looks like it might be copper(?) and a piece of some sort of plastic.
So, for example, I wouldn't go trying to clean it by torching (well, who would?) because it is not all metal on the inside.

Vaporific · Mar 5, 2022

vapviking said:
Somebody's there working, alright, they've never stopped the flow of incoming money. They had to do a bit of a shuffle two-step and drop (or were they dropped by) Paypal a while back, but they've always managed to take orders and get people's money up-front for one thing or another.

This is not altogether accurate. We do know the housing (of the mp) is SS or Ti, and we assume the screen is SS. Also in there is a metal piece that looks like it might be copper(?) and a piece of some sort of plastic.
So, for example, I wouldn't go trying to clean it by torching (well, who would?) because it is not all metal on the inside.

I’ll walk back my comment a bit then out of deference to you, my friend. You’re correct - there is a small plastic piece in the native mouthpiece holding both the inner copper cone and screen. It’s not flimsy though small and a precision piece of of hard plastic. Over a long period of time, yes, it would eventually degrade however it’s a hard piece of plastic so I’m not too worried about it.

As for the state if HL I’m not sure anyone knows. They’ll always take money regardless. That’s their MO and figure things out on the fly, like flying by the seat of their pants. I’m still on the fence whether I want to order a new IO body for my (now slightly) bent heating chamber. Screwing and unscrewing it on either mouthpiece (native frontend and PFE) is grating my OCD - and has been used less as of late because of it

We shall see… :peace:

tryingtowin · Mar 5, 2022

Vaporific said:
I’ve always soaked the entire frontend - native and PFE - in ISO for an hour or two, 70% or 91% ISO depending what I have, rinse it with hot water and let it dry. Sure it takes a bit longer but it gets it pretty clean. With the OG it was easier to remove the screen from the native frontend however with the IO I find it more difficult and don’t bother - I’ve already messed up one frontend attempting to remove the screen, ordered a replacement last year, and won’t attempt it again. Soaking and perhaps a toothpick to try to get any remaining gunk out of the tracks and nooks and crannies works. I also use a HL cleaning vial too for frontend soaks, and even bought extras over the years for extra cleaning vials and for flower storage too as they’re a great size for that.

Try hitting up your dollar store and look for a metal dental tooth pick..usually comes in a kit with a small tooth mirror and 2 tooth picks..the straight pick is excellent for scraping the gunk on the mouth piece screen and even to scrape out the chamber. Been using it for years and works great!

JBone65 · Mar 5, 2022

tryingtowin said:
Try hitting up your dollar store and look for a metal dental tooth pick..usually comes in a kit with a small tooth mirror and 2 tooth picks..the straight pick is excellent for scraping the gunk on the mouth piece screen and even to scrape out the chamber. Been using it for years and works great!

Coincidentally, I stuck a dull wooden toothpick in the MP nose and scraped the screen this morning after it had been soaking awhile. It only took me 5 1/2 years to figure this out, it's difficult like rocket science.

Vaporific · Mar 5, 2022

tryingtowin said:
Try hitting up your dollar store and look for a metal dental tooth pick..usually comes in a kit with a small tooth mirror and 2 tooth picks..the straight pick is excellent for scraping the gunk on the mouth piece screen and even to scrape out the chamber. Been using it for years and works great!

I would not use any metal in the heating chamber. A brush or qtip with ISO is all I’ve ever used in there. I may try picking, I haven’t in a long time. I’ll use pointy toothpicks, should suffice. :peace:

JBone65 · Mar 7, 2022

My brother ordered the black Friday SS special after Thanksgiving, but hadn't received anything almost 2 1/2 months later. He convinced his bank HL had behaved fraudulently for failing to warn customers of a lengthy delay but going ahead and processing the credit card charges immediately (he's a lawyer). True to form, HL agreed under pressure to ship the item immediately on 2/5, then hadn't yet shipped it 2 weeks later. Chase Bank eventually got fed up and reversed the charges in full. This might be the reason HL put up the delay warning banner on the website. Despite the bad behavior, HL is still indicating that they intend to ship whatever has been ordered, but I wouldn't send money until they fill the back orders.

Still mixing complimentary strains (cultivars??) and temp stepping from level 1 to 5. Only getting 7-8 flavorful hits per load these days. Although the weed is very good, it's only costing around $100/oz and not quite as good as it used to be IMO.

Spleeeno · Mar 7, 2022

JBone65 said:
Despite the bad behavior, HL is still indicating that they intend to ship whatever has been ordered...

why would they still send it out if they havent managed to do that in 3 months and now even the bank has reversed everything? that just sounds confusing...

JBone65 · Mar 7, 2022

They agreed to send my brother's order immediately when cornered by the bank, then didn't. It was two weeks later when the bank took action.

HL still seemingly intends to fulfill all other outstanding orders, in case anyone else is waiting, but I wouldn't send them any cash until they get caught up.

Vaporific · Mar 7, 2022

JBone65 said:
They agreed to send my brother's order immediately when cornered by the bank, then didn't. It was two weeks later when the bank took action.

HL still seemingly intends to fulfill all other outstanding orders, in case anyone else is waiting, but I wouldn't send them any cash until they get caught up.

My sentiment exactly regarding a new replacement body I’d been inquiring about, the last message/follow-up was never replied to. Sounds like supply chain issues. Everything on the site has the “lead time” message. I can wait - if I ever bite the bullet and decide to order it. I won’t order it now, that’s for sure. :peace:

dodgy_b · Mar 8, 2022

vapviking said:
Their recommendation has always been to soak the entire front end, some instructions have said "overnight".

Their recommendation to me was that a new body would fix my issues and they were mailing me a new one. That was Oct. 6th.

(In their defense I haven't checked the mail yet today.)

jivebuggered · Mar 8, 2022

dodgy_b said:
Their recommendation to me was that a new body would fix my issues and they were mailing me a new one. That was Oct. 6th.

(In their defense I haven't checked the mail yet today.)

I ordered 2 silicon mouthpieces that were cheaper then the postage to Aussie, that was early Feb. I emailed them two weeks after i heard nothing then got email saying they would chase it up and send straight away. Three weeks later I have heard NOTHING and just sent them a third email saying where is it and where is tracking number? They are bloody hopeless especially considering they could post it in a normal envelope . No way I will buy anything off them even if my 2 hoppers break down it would be cheaper and less stressful if i threw them in the bin. The silicon parts are for something totally different anyway.

vapviking · Mar 9, 2022

There is one person I would love to hear from here in the forum, and that is @VGOODIEZ .
There was a time that @VGOODIEZ told us he would act as some kind of informal communications rep for HL. (I do hope he corrects any mis-statements I may make here.) And I know for a time he was being helpful to some Hopper owners with issues.
As a retailer who carries Grasshopper line, he also has said that based on his conversations and relationship he thought they were worth the effort (or some such thing).
@VGOODIEZ is an experienced retailer and active FC'er.
So, I'd really love to hear @VGOODIEZ assessment of the state of affairs at Hopper Labs today?

I don't mean this to sound nasty or accusatory, simply inquisitive.

Discontinued Hopper io

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