Alfa Vaporizer by goboof
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Mike M
Well-Known Member
Just curious if this is still the method you are using? And by "The herb stays in place because of the oven screen", is that a screen you punched a hole in and put in the bottom? Does that work better than screen at top?So I removed the mouthpiece screen after another 5 bowls and it's decently gunked up. Decided to remove it altogether for the next session. Works really well. The herb stays in place because of the oven screen but you avoid the resin buildup that could affect airflow and performance with the mouthpiece screen in. I found I had more control of my hits without the mouthpiece screen in as well. At first I drew too fast but after adapting to the right draw rate I produced better hits than I did with both screens in. I was actually getting some decent vapor on Low when previously all I got was flavor and effects. Gonna try it out this way for a while and see how things go.
Thanks
Have they gotten back yet? Just curious how their customer service is. Unit was as supposed to come with a wooden loading/stirring spoon, but mine didn't have. Curious if they will send
Thanks
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Yoosh
Well-Known Member
Yep, still using this method! Still working better for me than 2 screens. And yeah the oven screen is just an extra screen I poked a hole in to fit in the oven, as others have. I like the oven screen as it holds the herb, keeps clogging from being an issue, and it doesn't catch resin like the mouthpiece screen does. Have gone 5 bowls with this method and still haven't cleaned.
Just tried some earthy indica in the alfa and was blown away at the flavor. It reminded me of my T1 for a second. Not sure why I'm vaping an indica this early in the day but....
Remember, heavy hits make for coughing fits. Where is my WATER?!
Thinking of getting one of these for my mom. Any negatives I should be aware of? I read the whole thread but there's not tons of information on this vape.
I have been very happy with the reliability, portability, and performance from my Alfa. It wants to be packed well for best production and a slower/sipping type draw allows the heater to provide good vapor production. I start a session on medium, take 3-4 draws and then shut off. I always take another draw after powering down to remove heat from the oven. I can get 3 sessions from 1 oven pack . 2 sessions on medium, then a final on high to finish the oven. I have tried many others, for me, the Alfa is my daily driver. I usually re-charge after 2 days. No screen for me in the bowl, just an occasional blow through the mouthpiece with an empty oven to clear airpath. A pipe cleaner dragged through the airpath will help with heavier cleaning.
If my mom vaped, I would give her an Alfa.
If my mom vaped, I would give her an Alfa.
How is the flavor? She is a smoker and just had surgery, I told her if she wants to still use flowers she has to vape. She can't do long pulls but I saw the Vapefiend review and it seems to produce vapor easy. Also I like the basic controls and especially the auto puff feature. Anytime I help her use my Volcano or other desktop vapes she never seems to "get" the idea of ramping up temperature as the session goes on. This seems like it would basically do the work by itself. Im also interested in that is works while charging as that is important in a small vape. This would be her daily medical device.
Yoosh
Well-Known Member
Haven't tried stopping bowls mid-session yet, glad to hear it works well! The alfa has also become one of my daily drivers too and it continues to impress me.
Flavor is better than pretty much all conduction vapes I own. You don't need super long pulls but a steady draw helps. Vapor-stepping is difficult to comprehend for those new to vaping, in my experience. Especially if they already have a history of smoking. My smoking friends will always say "Why not just hit it at the highest temp right from the start?"
I think the autopuff and autotemp features would be perfect for your mom. Cuts out all the temp maintenance that has become second nature to us vaporists. The auto settings are by far my favorite feature of the alfa so far. And yes using while charging is definitely convenient. Not sure yet if there's repercussions to using while charging as there seems to be with other devices, time will tell. Overall as a daily medical device I think it'd fair well.
Yeah that's exactly what happened to me! Glad you're getting better results now. Having the screen in the oven has made this a "no fuss, no fiddle" vape for me.
I do hope they come out with a extended mp, and a 14mm adapater mp too. In the meantime I've been sticking a mflb mp + wpa into the alfa mp and its working nicely.
I was also thinking that an extendable mouthpiece could be awesome. Perhaps similar to those metal extendable batons? Looking forward to the possibilities
Mike M
Well-Known Member
Absolutely love this device. The modifying of the screen though is crucial to getting the best performance. The filer sitting on top of the path at that point piles debris at the worst and most vulnerable point in the path. If you draw too hard you will clog the device. They need to make screens with the holes in them that perfectly fit the unit.Haven't tried stopping bowls mid-session yet, glad to hear it works well! The alfa has also become one of my daily drivers too and it continues to impress me.
Flavor is better than pretty much all conduction vapes I own. You don't need super long pulls but a steady draw helps. Vapor-stepping is difficult to comprehend for those new to vaping, in my experience. Especially if they already have a history of smoking. My smoking friends will always say "Why not just hit it at the highest temp right from the start?"
I think the autopuff and autotemp features would be perfect for your mom. Cuts out all the temp maintenance that has become second nature to us vaporists. The auto settings are by far my favorite feature of the alfa so far. And yes using while charging is definitely convenient. Not sure yet if there's repercussions to using while charging as there seems to be with other devices, time will tell. Overall as a daily medical device I think it'd fair well.
Yeah that's exactly what happened to me! Glad you're getting better results now. Having the screen in the oven has made this a "no fuss, no fiddle" vape for me.
I do hope they come out with a extended mp, and a 14mm adapater mp too. In the meantime I've been sticking a mflb mp + wpa into the alfa mp and its working nicely.
I was also thinking that an extendable mouthpiece could be awesome. Perhaps similar to those metal extendable batons? Looking forward to the possibilities
I feel they really did the Pax better here, the chamber is smaller and more effective, the maintenance is far easier , and the size and stealth incredible.
The only downsides are the battery life and door.
The door is the only item that seems out of place, and I really fear I might beak it easily, but time with tell. Also, they could have designed the unit so that it could be placed upside down on a table (like the Pax) and then both hands could then be used to load it. I still find loading it with one hand while holding it with the other awkward and clumsy.
All the great things about the until are somewhat offset by the battery life, but more important the charging time. With battery life around 90 minutes to 2 hours, and charging around 4 to 5 hours, you can really only get one full session every 6-7 hours, so you have to really plan when you are using it, and ration the time you have.
I have the Firefly, (incredible but could not be more different), and they solved this with interchangeable batteries, so the unit is never "down".
On the whole though, this Alfa is amazing.
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iolite makes screens with holes in the middle if they have the same circumference.
Mike M
Well-Known Member
Depends on your needs. I love the thing so much that I highly recommend it anyway, it's just I have to be more attentive to when and how I want to use it.
As an all day portable it has its limitations. I'm getting 90 min to 2 hours of use before it goes dead. The issue is that it does seem to take 4 hours to recharge. It can be used while charging, so it's not ever truly "down" if you are near an outlet.
On the whole though, I am incredibly impressed with this. Whoever on this thread earlier who compared it to a Leica was spot on. It was really bought as a portable to replace my Pax, but now is quickly becoming my favorite all time vape, nightly battling it out with my Firefly.
Mike M
Well-Known Member
If you like convection, I highly recommend the Firefly, the taste is amazing and with the extra batteries, it can go on forever. Feels great in your hand as well and easiest cleanup I've ever seen
Nah I'm looking for something more stealthy and easier to fit in your pockets.
The battery life is pretty freakin' astounding in my experience. I can go 2-3 days before needing a recharge. I guess if you are gonna sit back and use the thing non stop for 2 hours, then yes it will need to be re-charged more often. Using it on medium for 2 short (3-4 draws) and then 1 more session on high leaves me plenty of battery for the next day. If there are concerns about charge level, let it sit on charger overnight and it will be fresh for the morning. This thing is little bigger than a Tic Tac box, and can be used while charging. How anyone can say it has limitations because of battery life, perhaps cold fusion would be suitable for lasting charge. It is a simple device that simply works. It does not need stirring, it is stealthy, it has multi temps, auto-puff, auto temp. If it made vaping any easier, I would never leave the house. It is a conduction device so that will not appeal to everyone. No hype, just right. All subjective views as experienced by me.
Mike M
Well-Known Member
Perhaps you are right and I'm being too hard on the battery. I love this thing so much I just want to be able to leave for the day with it in my pocket, share it with friends, use it ALL DAY. and not worry about it going dead or having to recharge it on the fly. The fact is that as a portable, it's unbeatable, just never want to be without it. Perhaps it and I should get a room somewhere
Mike M
Well-Known Member
Amazing! With the Firefly there was a learning curve with me, with this (once I moved the screen from the top, to the chamber), there was nothing to learn. Kind of like the Pax, but better. The chamber is the perfect size (the Pax is way too big for me, and I end up using a screen to compress to use less), and it really gets everything out of your product. ABV is dark brown/black.
I thought the small MP would be a problem, but now love it as well. This is a Pax killer.
iowcatalyst
Well-Known Member
I got my alfa 4 days ago now so feel I have used it enough to have an opinion . At first I was disappointed as I was getting very weak hits , using the same amount of herb as I would put in my solo, filling the bowl loosely. But after I had tried packing it with maybe twice as much to fill the bowl with the herb pressed down I realized how good this vaporizer is, you can get massive hits when this thing is loaded correctly.
You do not get the same taste as say a solo, especially on lower heat settings, but I really haven't noticed a massive difference when using the higher temps which is what I tend to use, around the 200-220 c mark. For the size of this thing [about the same as a packet of 10 standard cigarettes ] and the prices it's pretty brilliant. I haven't bothered taking the screen out of the mouth piece or adding one to the bowl , I just find blowing down the stem into the palm of your hand will clear anything in the pipe and you end up with tiny balls of oil on your hand.
The battery live seems decent as well, I have yet to run the battery all the way down, I had a good 4 sessions before I put it on charge and it didn't seem to be running low .
You do not get the same taste as say a solo, especially on lower heat settings, but I really haven't noticed a massive difference when using the higher temps which is what I tend to use, around the 200-220 c mark. For the size of this thing [about the same as a packet of 10 standard cigarettes ] and the prices it's pretty brilliant. I haven't bothered taking the screen out of the mouth piece or adding one to the bowl , I just find blowing down the stem into the palm of your hand will clear anything in the pipe and you end up with tiny balls of oil on your hand.
The battery live seems decent as well, I have yet to run the battery all the way down, I had a good 4 sessions before I put it on charge and it didn't seem to be running low .
Awesome.. how much would you say your loading in there?
Mike M
Well-Known Member
Sorry, don't have a scale, but the same amount you would put in a small bowl. Maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the Pax?