Alfa Vaporizer by goboof

[Bass Vaper]

I did leave it plugged in over the past two nights, yes. It's been on the charger for many hours now. I did run it empty and hit it a few times as well. I'll call them tomorrow, see what they say.

 

[Justpassedu]

Well all i hate to say it but ill be saying goodbye to my Alfa , nothing is wrong with it at all but my girl got me a pax 2 , i really love the alfa but feel they are very similar in allot of ways and i don't want to hurt my girls feelings and sell my pax 2. Plus i got the Grasshopper coming hopefully. I'll still be around checking in and if anyone needs help i feel i have perfected using my alfa . It gives me great results every use.

 

[Bass Vaper]

i really love the alfa but don't want to hurt my girls feelings and sell my pax 2. .

The closing scene in 'Half Baked' is running through my head..."I love weed, but not as much as I love pussy". Good for you man, you seem like a good dude.

I have a Pax (orig) and agree, the Alfa feels similar. The hydra tube is what sets the Alfa ahead imo. I've never used a Pax 2 and I too have GH on the way.

I called Goboof today and they'll be sending me a new one once they get more in stock. I can say one thing, they have been fantastic to work with. Great customer service so far. Impressed with the company & the unit (other than the shitty taste issue). Great purchase.

 

[Justpassedu]

The closing scene in 'Half Baked' is running through my head..."I love weed, but not as much as I love pussy". Good for you man, you seem like a good dude.

I have a Pax (orig) and agree, the Alfa feels similar. The hydra tube is what sets the Alfa ahead imo. I've never used a Pax 2 and I too have GH on the way.

I called Goboof today and they'll be sending me a new one once they get more in stock. I can say one thing, they have been fantastic to work with. Great customer service so far. Impressed with the company & the unit (other than the shitty taste issue). Great purchase.

HaHa thanks Bass Vaper i like to think of my self as a pretty good guy. I honestly like both the pax 2 and my alfa , I have tried running my alfa with my hydro tube. I was never a fan , i really just liked the straight vapor on medium and low. The pax 2 is basically the same design with some minor differences. The way the oven heats the material is the same and they are both pretty stealthy. So i don't mind giving up 1 of them. Plus even though i don't want to hurt my girls feelings , i really like the fact that the pax 2 carries a 10yr warranty and for me if i ever had a problem having to go through customer service in Ireland just makes it a pinch harder for me. But cheers to both vapes , you cant go wrong with either. Also hoping all your issues are cleared up quickly and you get a great working vape.

 

[Bvapst]

Hello here !

Got my Alfa recently. I have to admit that it's my first buy of a portable-electronic-automatic vaporizer. I bought it for the only stealth and portable purpose. After reading reports and having tried an another similar vape I was still unsure. Finally decided the extra could be worth it since the Alfa had a supposed better taste and also a better form factor. The other electronic portable I tried had replaceable battery, and that is the only advantage it had over the Alfa for me.

I must say I experienced same bad smell from start. I could think I'm more sensitive since it's not the first vaporizer product I experience "bad smell" with while others had no issue. Maybe the conduction aspect and metallic parts just make it this way...
Before anything I did a few burn off, let the door open all night, ISO cleaned and burn off again. Then I vaped some light abv, then only fresh flower.. The taste is "ok" but nothing to do with my favorite portable. I still need more time to have a clear judgement on that point anyway.

So far I did only 2 sessions. I used sandwiched screen technique and 1/2 lightly packed oven. Vapor was thin on Lo. Was good on Mid but not huge. Then I checked the load, reloaded later on HI and got almost no vapor...
The abv is evenly done but I still need more sessions to convince myself on the vapor production (different material and techniques). I know I should not expect better for the taste, which is relatively good on LO, don't get me wrong, .. I think it's just so difficult coming from a really efficient manual vape.

For now : can someone tell me what is the best way to conserve the battery ? Recharging as often as possible, or not ? Using it "plug-in" when I can, or not ?

 

[Modicum]

I like to keep the buds as whole as possible when vaping.I don't own an Alfa,but with that heat rod in the oven wouldn't you be able to impale the bud on the heat
rod and vape away?

 

[Bvapst]

I do also vape parts of bud but generally grind at the end. I did try broken in pieces (not grind) and it was ok. I'll try to impale

 

[Modicum]

Was there a notable difference between the broken parts and a grind? Just doing some homework.

 

[PPN]

Hello here !

Got my Alfa recently. I have to admit that it's my first buy of a portable-electronic-automatic vaporizer. I bought it for the only stealth and portable purpose. After reading reports and having tried an another similar vape I was still unsure. Finally decided the extra could be worth it since the Alfa had a supposed better taste and also a better form factor. The other electronic portable I tried had replaceable battery, and that is the only advantage it had over the Alfa for me.

I must say I experienced same bad smell from start. I could think I'm more sensitive since it's not the first vaporizer product I experience "bad smell" with while others had no issue. Maybe the conduction aspect and metallic parts just make it this way...
Before anything I did a few burn off, let the door open all night, ISO cleaned and burn off again. Then I vaped some light abv, then only fresh flower.. The taste is "ok" but nothing to do with my favorite portable. I still need more time to have a clear judgement on that point anyway.

So far I did only 2 sessions. I used sandwiched screen technique and 1/2 lightly packed oven. Vapor was thin on Lo. Was good on Mid but not huge. Then I checked the load, reloaded later on HI and got almost no vapor...
The abv is evenly done but I still need more sessions to convince myself on the vapor production (different material and techniques). I know I should not expect better for the taste, which is relatively good on LO, don't get me wrong, .. I think it's just so difficult coming from a really efficient manual vape.

For now : can someone tell me what is the best way to conserve the battery ? Recharging as often as possible, or not ? Using it "plug-in" when I can, or not ?

Hi Bvapst,

On medium setting I get thick clouds...otherwise you need to pack it tight and fine grind if you want thicker clouds!

On low the taste is amazing imho, even as good as a lot of convection based vaporizers!
some peoples noticed a plastic/metallic/strange taste...not me, was tasty from the first bowl to now!

I think it's not really good to use too much the plugged method...it says the better is to keep your battery medium charged....so the better is to use it and charge when you need it! although if you store it without use for a long time medium charge battery is the better.

I feel bad cause I told you this vape is nice, but if you took the Storm the disappointment was worst (a lot of plastic taste!)

ps: I'll go to a concert this evening and guess which vape I'll take with me?

 

[Justpassedu]

Hello here !

Got my Alfa recently. I have to admit that it's my first buy of a portable-electronic-automatic vaporizer. I bought it for the only stealth and portable purpose. After reading reports and having tried an another similar vape I was still unsure. Finally decided the extra could be worth it since the Alfa had a supposed better taste and also a better form factor. The other electronic portable I tried had replaceable battery, and that is the only advantage it had over the Alfa for me.

I must say I experienced same bad smell from start. I could think I'm more sensitive since it's not the first vaporizer product I experience "bad smell" with while others had no issue. Maybe the conduction aspect and metallic parts just make it this way...
Before anything I did a few burn off, let the door open all night, ISO cleaned and burn off again. Then I vaped some light abv, then only fresh flower.. The taste is "ok" but nothing to do with my favorite portable. I still need more time to have a clear judgement on that point anyway.

So far I did only 2 sessions. I used sandwiched screen technique and 1/2 lightly packed oven. Vapor was thin on Lo. Was good on Mid but not huge. Then I checked the load, reloaded later on HI and got almost no vapor...
The abv is evenly done but I still need more sessions to convince myself on the vapor production (different material and techniques). I know I should not expect better for the taste, which is relatively good on LO, don't get me wrong, .. I think it's just so difficult coming from a really efficient manual vape.

For now : can someone tell me what is the best way to conserve the battery ? Recharging as often as possible, or not ? Using it "plug-in" when I can, or not ?

Charge completely full when you 1st get it Bc the battery has a memory , than let it run down to almost 0 your first few sessions and charge completely full again. This is to get the batteries memory going. After that 1st few times it is best to store at med charge if your not going be to using it much , if your using daily than it doesn't really matter. If your using it allot just let it run down kinda low than do a full charge . It is not good to let's say have a session from full battery and than charge it up right after, this I believe can deplete battery life .

 

[Bvapst]

@Modicum see PPN answer

Hi Bvapst,
I feel bad cause I told you this vape is nice, but if you took the Storm the disappointment was worst (a lot of plastic taste!)

ps: I'll go to a concert this evening and guess which vape I'll take with me?

Do not feel bad! Actually I thank you for your feedback !
I did try the Storm and reading reports + your message helped me in my decision. I would have buy the Storm for the same purpose, so anyway i'll be satisfied and I'll fill the gap in my vape-arsenal with the Alfa !

My 1st judgement seems "bad" only because I'm use to my log and Lotus super-tasty-clouds with tiny amount.. Here is a whole different world. I have to admit the first puffs on fresh load where niceness, but I need practice with more material and packing/grinding method.
For sure Alfa will get more love since I'll be able to vape one-hand anywhere .
The only obvious thing against discretion maybe : the smell in some situation

I suppose you pack it full, tight and grinded when you talk about 20min+ session ? And you are not taking hit right after hits but let it get some time between each ?

Enjoy your concert and Alfa sesh' !!!

Give thanks @Justpassedu ! I did charged it full and will go to almost 0 the few first times ! Almost 0 would be one full load after the the Low battery alert, or straight after ? I don't know how much is left in % when you get low.

 

[Justpassedu]

@Modicum see PPN answer

Do not feel bad! Actually I thank you for your feedback !
I did try the Storm and reading reports + your message helped me in my decision. I would have buy the Storm for the same purpose, so anyway i'll be satisfied and I'll fill the gap in my vape-arsenal with the Alfa !

My 1st judgement seems "bad" only because I'm use to my log and Lotus super-tasty-clouds with tiny amount.. Here is a whole different world. I have to admit the first puffs on fresh load where niceness, but I need practice with more material and packing/grinding method.
For sure Alfa will get more love since I'll be able to vape one-hand anywhere .
The only obvious thing against discretion maybe : the smell in some situation

I suppose you pack it full, tight and grinded when you talk about 20min+ session ? And you are not taking hit right after hits but let it get some time between each ?

Enjoy your concert and Alfa sesh' !!!

Give thanks @Justpassedu ! I did charged it full and will go to almost 0 the few first times ! Almost 0 would be one full load after the the Low battery alert, or straight after ? I don't know how much is left in % when you get low.

I'm thinking at the low battery alert should be fine just remember the charger does a slow charge so it will take a few hours to charge up again.

 

[eskimo_rising]

Hey guys so i'm moving out and getting my own place so i can finally use my alfa.

Just wondering being in the UK and also with my ultra low tolerance because of my disability is there any advice on mixing with a filler?

I found this article:
http://vaporblog.org/blog/guides/herbs-that-you-can-vaporize/

And also a forum post with someone saying they use cooking herbs like marjoram, basil etc.

I'd like something fairly innocuous, I think tobacco vaping will make me to buzzy as I vaped a friends liquid tobacco once and it was 100% worse then any cigarette i've smoked.

Maybe something that won't clog the screens up with residue, hurt my threat etc. the way tobacco might.

Thanks all.

 

[Reflexion]

Blue lotus flowers tatse good. Slighty relaxing effect.
See if mullein grows in ur area. It's easy to identify, is pretty much tasteless, and is supposedly good for the lungs.

 

[Bass Vaper]

I find that it works better with ground material. It is nice to just stuff pulled pieces in it, but I feel like it doesn't hit as well as long.

Other than the minor issues, I'm really digging mine overall. It's like a more discrete Pax that I can easily hook my hydra tube up to, that hits a lot harder.

I only run it for about ten minutes before the taste just sucks. I don't know how people get 20 min sessions, but more power to ya. I start on low, end up on mid. Sometimes I go up to high, but not too often.

 

[dawgrit]

Hey, brand new to the Vape world. Looks like I'm swaying towards the goboof over the summit for my first vape. I like the anodized metal and the pin in the middle of the bowl. Was wondering if anyone can tell me if there were good discounts on green (black) Friday or Christmas last year. Which had more/better deals? Which sites have good deals? Sounds like puffitup is pretty good. Thanks to you all for the good info on this thread.

 

[eskimo_rising]

Blue lotus flowers tatse good. Slighty relaxing effect.
See if mullein grows in ur area. It's easy to identify, is pretty much tasteless, and is supposedly good for the lungs.

Sounds really good, amazon uk actually sells it for making into tea but would that be too dry? Do I take the twiggy bits out?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/JustIngredi...8&qid=1441850988&sr=1-4&keywords=mullein+herb

It looks ground to the right consistency.

 

[dawgrit]

Allstarvape.com is selling the Alfa for $183.99 shipping included. Not sure if this is a sale price but there is no code needed. As of this date it says it is in stock. Not promoting the site. Just did a Goboof search on ask.com and it was the first thing to pop up. Hope this price sticks around for a while.

 

[narrowsparrow]

That's unfortunate. Maybe try email Randy at puffitup, I think the email is info@puffitup.com but I would verify. He's a great guy and helps out in situations like these. Tell him your situation, and maybe see if he can deal with the warranty for you (maybe for a small charge). But if not, maybe your only option is to send it in to goboof. By "worked on" they mean updating the software, because that was the issue. Let me know how it goes.

So, vineeetvel -- Here's how it all turned out: Randy was very helpful, but said it wasn't likely that I would qualify for a warranty. That seems to be my theme song, as you will see. I sent off the Alfa about a month ago. I think they must have sent me a new one, but there is still a little material in the bottom of the chamber, so maybe they just fixed mine. Either way, their customer service was A+. While I was putzing around finding some packaging for the Alfa, a guy (Patrick) actually called me to check on how things were going and encouraged me to send it to them. I was floored! It does seem to be working OK now. I have learned that I am a natural "ripper" instead of a "sipper," so it's been a whole new learning experience.... As for the Pax which eBay sent me in to make up for the faulty Alfa, I thought might be a counterfeit. It is not. The Pax folks verified it for me, but I am not eligible for their warranty, either. Whatever, I have a free Pax and a functioning Alfa, so I am a happy camper... Thanks for helping me out.

 

[mephisto]

Sent in my Alfa that stopped heating, and they responded 2 weeks later that my order is backordered.
So i am not sure what/when I may see another Alfa again. Thankfully my Nov. 2013 GH order has arrived and I no longer really care......

Don't get me wrong the Alfa is a great machine as well.

 

[JoeS]

hey folks, i would like to thank everybody for the great info on this small machine.
After some time spent deciding about which portable, i ended up buying the Alfa.
i have a Plenty for nice home blasting! i was looking for something really stealthy to use on the go. for this reason i've always liked the pax, even if i never had the chance to try one; but honestly i didn't want to spend that much (i live in europe) and deal with the random custom duties.
i have tried several times a few portables such as the wispr, the iolite, the davinci and the solo. i really like the solo's vapor quality and efficiency, but i didn't want to bring out a two pieces device… you know, something REALLY portable!
Bought the Alfa at Vaposhop (again, great service, got it in 48 hours), and took advantage of the FC discount…
After some days of use i can say i am satisfied even if i feel i still have to learn the right way to play with it… The other day i had to go to a big town for work and had a day off, which i spent going around the city with the Alfa in one hand.
My first goal was largely accomplished: nobody was looking at me strangely, people i know asked me "oh you got an E-cig?" (i live in a coutry where prohibition is still on and vapes are still uncommon).
No one could guess i was vaporizing herbs (well, apart from the smell!).
i really love the design and the small size: the Alfa disappears in my big hands.
The taste is nice (the electrical smell was there at the beginning, but was gone after the first day), not as nice as a good desktop (such as my Plenty) or as the Solo (i think my next vape would be the Solo or the Air, as a home cordless unit), but still really nice and smooth on low and mid (first hits expecially).
it can produce big clouds, visible clouds even at low, big dense clouds at mid and hi (at hi after a while the vapor starts to be a little throat irritating). i'm not using the auto settings for now, i usually start on low, when the vapor is fading i go up to mid ad eventually to hi for the last hits (don't wanna waste anything! )
i feel it works best if you wait some seconds between puffs.
Yes, it can get pretty warm, almost hot, expecially if you leave it on mid and hi for some time.
for this reason i think it's best to switch it off if you want to do a short break in your session. Loading the chamber is a bit tricky, but you get better quickly. ;-)
Using the Alfa in this way, that is from low to hi, with a 3/4 chamber packed (i pack it full and then press it down, don't know how much that is, but it's a small amount), i get 20+ hits with visible vapor. These days i have some low quality herbs so i think that is good enough for a portable.
Batteries last for 3 to 5 sessions depending on session's length… about an hour i would say.
do you think this is ok? What's your experience?
i think the 2 hours battery life goboof claims, would only happen if used on low, right? charging time is 3-4 hours as reported by most people.
the only thing i'm not completely satisfied with is cleaning.
i am not using the sandwich technique so far because i think that's a little annoying when on the go, but i'm trying that right now at home…
anyways, after 2-3 sessions draw resistance is much stronger; i don't like it and i have to clean it. i expected something better… (vapecritic says a dozen sessions without cleaning). i feel the problem is not in the air path but it's in the inner part of the oven's door: i think that gets easily stuck and i have to clean it with alcohol. i am trying the sandwich technique to avoid this… what do you guys think? What's your experience with cleaning? Should i always use the sandwich to avoid this? Should i grind less fine?
When a strong draw resistance occurs the Alfa doesn't work as nice: less clouds and less efficiency...
I still have to try it with a water tool and with concentrates... ;-)
Cheers everyone!
J

 

[Justpassedu]

hey folks, i would like to thank everybody for the great info on this small machine.
After some time spent deciding about which portable, i ended up buying the Alfa.
i have a Plenty for nice home blasting! i was looking for something really stealthy to use on the go. for this reason i've always liked the pax, even if i never had the chance to try one; but honestly i didn't want to spend that much (i live in europe) and deal with the random custom duties.
i have tried several times a few portables such as the wispr, the iolite, the davinci and the solo. i really like the solo's vapor quality and efficiency, but i didn't want to bring out a two pieces device… you know, something REALLY portable!
Bought the Alfa at Vaposhop (again, great service, got it in 48 hours), and took advantage of the FC discount…
After some days of use i can say i am satisfied even if i feel i still have to learn the right way to play with it… The other day i had to go to a big town for work and had a day off, which i spent going around the city with the Alfa in one hand.
My first goal was largely accomplished: nobody was looking at me strangely, people i know asked me "oh you got an E-cig?" (i live in a coutry where prohibition is still on and vapes are still uncommon).
No one could guess i was vaporizing herbs (well, apart from the smell!).
i really love the design and the small size: the Alfa disappears in my big hands.
The taste is nice (the electrical smell was there at the beginning, but was gone after the first day), not as nice as a good desktop (such as my Plenty) or as the Solo (i think my next vape would be the Solo or the Air, as a home cordless unit), but still really nice and smooth on low and mid (first hits expecially).
it can produce big clouds, visible clouds even at low, big dense clouds at mid and hi (at hi after a while the vapor starts to be a little throat irritating). i'm not using the auto settings for now, i usually start on low, when the vapor is fading i go up to mid ad eventually to hi for the last hits (don't wanna waste anything! )
i feel it works best if you wait some seconds between puffs.
Yes, it can get pretty warm, almost hot, expecially if you leave it on mid and hi for some time.
for this reason i think it's best to switch it off if you want to do a short break in your session. Loading the chamber is a bit tricky, but you get better quickly. ;-)
Using the Alfa in this way, that is from low to hi, with a 3/4 chamber packed (i pack it full and then press it down, don't know how much that is, but it's a small amount), i get 20+ hits with visible vapor. These days i have some low quality herbs so i think that is good enough for a portable.
Batteries last for 3 to 5 sessions depending on session's length… about an hour i would say.
do you think this is ok? What's your experience?
i think the 2 hours battery life goboof claims, would only happen if used on low, right? charging time is 3-4 hours as reported by most people.
the only thing i'm not completely satisfied with is cleaning.
i am not using the sandwich technique so far because i think that's a little annoying when on the go, but i'm trying that right now at home…
anyways, after 2-3 sessions draw resistance is much stronger; i don't like it and i have to clean it. i expected something better… (vapecritic says a dozen sessions without cleaning). i feel the problem is not in the air path but it's in the inner part of the oven's door: i think that gets easily stuck and i have to clean it with alcohol. i am trying the sandwich technique to avoid this… what do you guys think? What's your experience with cleaning? Should i always use the sandwich to avoid this? Should i grind less fine?
When a strong draw resistance occurs the Alfa doesn't work as nice: less clouds and less efficiency...
I still have to try it with a water tool and with concentrates... ;-)
Cheers everyone!
J

A small tip to keep cleaning to a minimum is after every session , while the oven is still warm , take a small brush and just wipe out the oven and your material. Even a q tip with a very tiny drop of iso and swab the oven should help allot. I found a deep cleaning to be very easy with this vape. I warmed it up a drop and just ran my pipe cleaner soaked on some alcohol through the air path , than swabbed the oven and mouthpiece and it was good as new. Takes about 5 minutes maybe 10 tops to clean the entire alfa.

 

[Bvapst]

Hi @JoeS ! I'm pretty much in the same situation.
You just got answer for cleaning I think the sandwich might help, the under of the door is a lot sticky on mine but no bits of abv to stick there thanks to the screen.

However about battery : I get 3 sessions and then get the red colour which have given me a tiny session left. Charging time is closer to 2H here ( between 2 and 2h30).
I found I need to use at least 0.15/0.20 sandwiched packed to get some proper results. A session is around 15mins and I get around 15 good puffs and other wispy ones. Yet I need to count better ... maybe I got the draw better now since at start a colleague impressed me with clouds while I couldn't get anymore.

I like that vape a lot for what I was expecting : discretion and portability. I found the vape to be on "LO" one day, so it might have warmed in my pocket, good there is an auto shut off.
Same as you, vapes aren't common here. I got some " Mmmh, they are really making e-cigs of any forms these days..." at work !

Alfa ? In the pocket !

 

[JoeS]

A small tip to keep cleaning to a minimum is after every session , while the oven is still warm , take a small brush and just wipe out the oven and your material. Even a q tip with a very tiny drop of iso and swab the oven should help allot. I found a deep cleaning to be very easy with this vape. I warmed it up a drop and just ran my pipe cleaner soaked on some alcohol through the air path , than swabbed the oven and mouthpiece and it was good as new. Takes about 5 minutes maybe 10 tops to clean the entire alfa.

g'day justpassedu, thanks for the tip! i know cleaning the alfa is really easy... i should have said i don't mind doing that at home, but since this is the quintessential on-the-go-vape i find it a little annoying that i will have to do that when i'm around... i was just dreaming to get it in my pocket and that's it, now i'm afraid i will have to bring pipe cleaners and alcohol... maybe i had just a wrong idea about portables' maintenance... well, i guess i will have to get myself organized! cheers

Hi @JoeS ! I'm pretty much in the same situation.
You just got answer for cleaning I think the sandwich might help, the under of the door is a lot sticky on mine but no bits of abv to stick there thanks to the screen.

However about battery : I get 3 sessions and then get the red colour which have given me a tiny session left. Charging time is closer to 2H here ( between 2 and 2h30).
I found I need to use at least 0.15/0.20 sandwiched packed to get some proper results. A session is around 15mins and I get around 15 good puffs and other wispy ones. Yet I need to count better ... maybe I got the draw better now since at start a colleague impressed me with clouds while I couldn't get anymore.

I like that vape a lot for what I was expecting : discretion and portability. I found the vape to be on "LO" one day, so it might have warmed in my pocket, good there is an auto shut off.
Same as you, vapes aren't common here. I got some " Mmmh, they are really making e-cigs of any forms these days..." at work !

Alfa ? In the pocket !

hey bvapst, thanks for the reply! yeah, i think the sandwich helps i have been using it for 3 sessions yesterday at home and i think draw resistance didn't increase that much... i will have to get used to place and remove the second screen... my thoughts about this vape are the same as yours: "alfa in the pocket" (and pipe cleaners... somewhere else! )

 

[narrowsparrow]

I have some MFLB stems coming. Am curious to see if they make for a nice home experience. Don't think I'd drag it along for an outing, though. Not in Texas!