Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Anyone notice the latest photo on DV's FB page? It has a pic of an Ascent in front of a movie poster for World War Z.. That pic just happens to have a release date of June 21st shown in the frame.. Hmmm....

edit - Oops. just realized I am speculating. Sorry mods!

I would hope they wouldn't pick a Friday to release on. That would make overnight shipping more expensive for Saturday shipping wouldn't it?!?!

 

[Vapor S. Thompson]

VST - Have you had a chance to test with any wax yet? We still don't have a decent review on that aspect.

Yup, I have been using something we call "butter" up here in Canada. I think this is what is referred to as "wax" in America.

So for this butter, I have been using the glass jars. It definitely works and will get you there. And then after the session you are left will a small bit of a black oil in the bottom of the glass jar.

 

[marvil701]

Yeah I noticed that here's hoping.

Also wondering if DV have used the same manufacturer as the original Da Vinci? I am one of the unlucky ones that went through 3 units in as many weeks and didn't risk a 4th before getting my Solo. Reliability is key for me. The OLED screen looks much better on the ascent than the DV. Time will tell though really as the original DV has only been out for just over a year.

Since I very much doubt that Davinci will answer this question, I'll have to speculate by saying that it probably is the same manufacturer. They are assembled in China and finding a reliable partner in China is nothing for the faint of heart, which is why they should be stuck with their old manufacturer.

I haven't read the original Davinci thread entirely, but I suppose that a lot of the problems regarding the Davincis rather short lifetime are tied up with the bowl not being isolated well enough from the batteries. Heat will really kill off those lithium-ion batteries quickly and having a 400F heat source right next to them by almost direct conduction doesn't help.

In the case of the Ascent the bowl and air-path seem to have been separated a lot more, which should give us longer-lasting batteries. Aside from the heat issue, it also depends on how often people use their vaporizer and how much they take care of their batteries - this means not letting them drain right down to 5% every session for example.

[Just as a side note for the current reviewers: it would be cool if you could keep track of how many sessions you use your Ascent for every day and roughly what your recharging habits are. Maybe someone should open a thread where people can post their statistics when it comes down to faulty units and vaporizer companies honouring their warranties etc.]

Another thing that comes to mind is faulty software. The more complex a system gets, the more likely it is to fail. Which is why I would prefer having an Ascent with just "on/off" and "higher/lower temp" instead of additional vape cycles etc. But then again, this seems to be a feature that many people have been asking for, otherwise it wouldn't have been included in the design.

 

[On the Munch]

I did several sessions last night with kiff. First I tried strait kiff inside the glass oil jar with the silicon lid. Not very good airflow that way and weak vapor. Amazing flavor though for what little vapor there was. Then I tried in the jar with no lid and that was a little better, but still weak vapor.

Thanks for the video and updates VST. That's how I vape my dark kief in the DV. Those cans are great for kief because it keeps the unit fairly clean and I don't need to use any bud. I think that if the glass jar had a hole or two in the bottom as with the DV cans, it would help cook the kief inside the jar using more convection. The air would go directly through the material and out the top instead of the current jars needing conduction to cook the material inside and then the air picking up the vapour.

munch...I'm having that kief sammich and it's working great. a small layer of herb, couple of scoops of kief, another light layer, then tamped down to about half a bowl. it's hitting as well as last night and tastes better with the herb than the cotton (herb is adding a nice taste). I put just enough herb on the bottom to keep the kief from getting to the holes and just enough on top to not have the kief stick to my finger.

Thanks for the update Sticks. I'll try out the layering and cotton methods as soon as I get one in my hands. I was hoping it would have worked better in the jars because I like the effect that straight kief without the bud gives me in the DV. And its easier to keep clean as I mentioned above. But after reading VST's post, I guess I'll have to find another way to enjoy that nice chocolaty taste.

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

I think that if the glass jar had a hole or two in the bottom as with the DV cans, it would help cook the kief inside the jar using more convection. The air would go directly through the material and out the top instead of the current jars needing conduction to cook the material inside and then the air picking up the vapour.

right, but you've gotta remember that the glass cans are for oils, which turn liquidy and will seep out if there are holes under it. perhaps an absorbent medium like some cotton would work better to hold it in place?

 

[On the Munch]

right, but you've gotta remember that the glass cans are for oils, which turn liquidy and will seep out if there are holes under it. perhaps an absorbent medium like some cotton would work better to hold it in place?

True. The original DV cans had a hole in the bottom and they came in two types. One with a bit of cotton and the other had a small spout that went inside the can. That way the oil would sit in the can and not spill out the hole. So they worked for oil and for my purposes of vaping straight hash without gunking up the unit.

The ascent's jars are good for oils, but not for kief. Without the holes, they only work with conduction. So I either have to use cotton, a bud sammich like Sticks says or somehow drill a tiny hole in the bottom of these jars (if that works for Vaped&Confused). I would rather not have to carry cotton around with me or have to buy and carry around bud.

Hopefully DV decides to sell a jar with holes!

 

[hellomyfrients]

The ascent's jars are good for oils, but not for kief. Without the holes, they only work with conduction.

Is that necessarily a bad thing? I assume that unless you're filling the cans to the brim (and even then, the Ascent should be an improvement on the DV because the cans look slightly larger), heating the kief through conduction should easily extract all the actives. I think if you tamp it down in the oil can, make sure the can heats up, and use a higher than normal temperature to have sufficient radiating heat, kief should vape pretty fully in the cans.

Reviewer opinions?

 

[On the Munch]

heating the kief through conduction should easily extract all the actives. I think if you tamp it down in the oil can, make sure the can heats up, and use a higher than normal temperature to have sufficient radiating heat, kief should vape pretty fully in the cans.

Reviewer opinions?

I hope you're right and it does work, because after following this thread for months and being early on the list, I'm probably buying this vape regardless.. I'm commenting about the conduction based on VST's post after trying the cans and my experience with the DV cans which allowed more convection.

 

[stickstones]

munch...if you end up liking the cotton, it is unnoticeable in a pocket. I was with a friend the other day and all he had was a nugget. I reached in my pocket because I remembered I had one in there from the other day and wrapped it and we were baked. so there is nothing to having cotton around...it is not a problem. However...the other night I much preferred the taste with the herb sammich as opposed to the cotton.

 

[FrogDR]

Is there any info about the availability of Ascent on the European vapor stores and his price ? There gonna be a European version of Ascent with EU standart power adapter ?

 

[Snappo]

munch...if you end up liking the cotton, it is unnoticeable in a pocket. I was with a friend the other day and all he had was a nugget. I reached in my pocket because I remembered I had one in there from the other day and wrapped it and we were baked. so there is nothing to having cotton around...it is not a problem. However...the other night I much preferred the taste with the herb sammich as opposed to the cotton.

I'm still experimenting with the cotton in my Solo in preparation for the Ascent. Q-Tips cotton is 100%, and all I do is tear off very thin whisps of cotton (you can see through it easily), just enough to create an effective screen sandwich. I find this causes absolutely no air pull restriction while providing 99.9% effective screening. I am also using this cotton-screen method with my Dave Goldstein Micro Fritted Bubbler (INCREDIBLE!!! piece of glass!!! Micro-fizzes the bubbles but somehow with all that diffusion the flavor still comes through). The cotton screening completely eliminates any plant infiltration into the bubbler (which you don't really want infiltrating the fritted disc). Also, I've swabbed the inside of the stem when visibly on the dirty side, and this makes for a great reclaim at a 5-7 setting!

How will we best adapt the Ascent to the 18mm male on the DG bubbler (if anyone here has one, or knows)? 18mm female/14mm female adapted? Thanks!

 

[Kaellan420swe]

Lucky i found this forum!
Was gona order a DaVinci orginal buth im in no rush anny more ^^
Prefer to wait to buy a ancient ;D
Always nice with latest model hehe

Does it work with hash also?
Here in Sweden hash is more common then weed (easyer to smuggle) ^^
Grow my own weed for better standard ;D

 

[salivape]

Is there any info about the availability of Ascent on the European vapor stores and his price ? There gonna be a European version of Ascent with EU standart power adapter ?

It will be sold in Europe with an EU plug but not until they have their CE certification sorted out. The estimate was 5 weeks after the US release but I wouldnt count on it. 3 months is probably more like it the way things have been going so far..

I'm very interested in the price also. It wont be cheap for us.

I got in touch with everyonedoesit.co.uk o find out but they knew nothing of the ascent.

 

[FrogDR]

It will be sold in Europe with an EU plug but not until they have their CE certification sorted out. The estimate was 5 weeks after the US release but I wouldnt count on it. 3 months is probably more like it the way things have been going so far..

I'm very interested in the price also. It wont be cheap for us.

I got in touch with everyonedoesit.co.uk o find out but they knew nothing of the ascent.

Shit, 3months it`s a long time damn it that in my country there is a limit shipments without duty and tax under 200$ :/ If the Ascent price was 200$ I could buy without any problems.... So we must wait and cross fingers for a cheap price in EU shops

 

[salivape]

Shit, 3months it`s a long time damn it that in my country there is a limit shipments without duty and tax under 200$ :/ If the Ascent price was 200$ I could buy without any problems.... So we must wait and cross fingers for a cheap price in EU shops

That's pretty good. Here the tax free limit is about $20. I have a feeling that it may still be cheaper to order from the US and pay tax rather than buying in the EU. Prices here are so inflated.

I could be completely wrong about 3 months. Im just not hopefull that the 5 weeks DaVanci estimated will be right. It's always better to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised when it comes out sooner.

It always amazes me that the very ones selling a product know the least about it. that's why i read these forums and stay informed.

I agree. It just seems difficult obtaining the relevant info here. I understand the need to not give exact dates but there must be some sort of EU r.r.p. floating around

 

[GanjaDude]

Frog I'm sure we can somehow make it look like this unit only cost you 200 to dodge the tax/duty

Shit, 3months it`s a long time damn it that in my country there is a limit shipments without duty and tax under 200$ :/ If the Ascent price was 200$ I could buy without any problems.... So we must wait and cross fingers for a cheap price in EU shops

 

[Snappo]

Waiting for my Ascent! DG Micro Fritted!


Picture of bubbler didn't post. Will try again.


Sorry...can't figure out how to post pics. Can someone guide me through it? Thanks!

Mod note: When possible, please avoid making back-to-back posts in a thread. Use the Edit feature located at the bottom of your posts. Three posts merged.

Actually, I tried to delete the post altogether by going to "Edit". Then I tried to delete the post by backspacing over it, but it didn't delete. Sorry, but I'm not very good at the science of posting.

Hope this pic works> DG Micro Fritted Bubbler awaiting the Ascent.

Mod note: posts merged.

 

[pakalolo]

I just cut 24 posts and dumped them in the Ascent gibberish thread. If your post is missing, that's where to find it.

I know this reminder will eventually get buried and forgotten, but if you have nothing new to offer about the Ascent, or if you don't have a question about something besides the shipping date, then don't post. One of the reasons that we asked DaVinci_vaporizer to open this thread was that it got impossible to weed out the garbage and off-topic posts in the original thread. We don't want to go through that again, so we're asking your cooperation.

Please, stay on topic and before you post, ask yourself if you're contributing anything or just making conversation. Thank you.

 

[stickstones]

Apparently this unit has an auto-shutdown feature to prevent overheating as this has happened twice. Last night I was vaping a full load of herb and kief at 205 and just kept the session going forever...must've been 20 minutes of basketball. I noticed the bottom was getting hotter than usual. Right when I thought I would report the overheating to DV it started to shut down. It turns off the heat to the bowl but leaves the display on so you can see it trickling lower in the temps. You can turn it off and back on immediately to get back to your session. I like this feature.

 

[C No Ego]

Apparently this unit has an auto-shutdown feature to prevent overheating as this has happened twice. Last night I was vaping a full load of herb and kief at 205 and just kept the session going forever...must've been 20 minutes of basketball. I noticed the bottom was getting hotter than usual. Right when I thought I would report the overheating to DV it started to shut down. It turns off the heat to the bowl but leaves the display on so you can see it trickling lower in the temps. You can turn it off and back on immediately to get back to your session. I like this feature.

the da vinci/DV does that too, the red light blinks 4 times and the unit shuts the heat off. I've had it happen a few times when having ultra long sessions. I've also had it do it when using the charger( car and home charger) like it was getting weird juice or something through the chargers causing the unit to auto shut down.

 

[akwardsauce]

HAHAHHAHA...funny how theres absolutely NOTHING to say thats relevant!!!

sorry...couldnt help myself!

so...(clearing my throat & thinking about how to make this post relevant)...any pics by an iphone yet? or even a pic close to something that most people would keep in their pocket (ipod, wallet, etc...). ive never seen an original da vinci so its hard to visualize the relative size.

thx...

edit: when i posted this message, there were no posts after the mod's message about the gibberish thread...i just thought it was funny how nobody had anything to say about the ascent that passed the mod's criteria cuz there is very little known about this vape.

 

[11eleven11]

HAHAHHAHA...funny how theres absolutely NOTHING to say thats relevant!!!

sorry...couldnt help myself!

so...(clearing my throat & thinking about how to make this post relevant)...any pics by an iphone yet? or even a pic close to something that most people would keep in their pocket (ipod, wallet, etc...). ive never seen an original da vinci so its hard to visualize the relative size.

thx...

edit: when i posted this message, there were no posts after the mod's message about the gibberish thread...i just thought it was funny how nobody had anything to say about the ascent that passed the mod's criteria cuz there is very little known about this vape.

It's true.. no one posted anything a long time after that.

Arrrrrrgh I was hoping for a release today. Who's betting it'll be out this week, and who's betting it'll be out next?

Apparently this unit has an auto-shutdown feature to prevent overheating as this has happened twice. Last night I was vaping a full load of herb and kief at 205 and just kept the session going forever...must've been 20 minutes of basketball. I noticed the bottom was getting hotter than usual. Right when I thought I would report the overheating to DV it started to shut down. It turns off the heat to the bowl but leaves the display on so you can see it trickling lower in the temps. You can turn it off and back on immediately to get back to your session. I like this feature.

Woah that feature is cool. Even though you can turn it off and turn it back on to keep using it, I can't see myself doing that. I'd be scared of getting the batteries too hot.

 

[stickstones]

dreamer picked up on it...this thing is my goto now. It hasn't passed the test of time yet, but from a functional standpoint it is my fave portable. I still won't get rid of my Solo simply because it is reliable and indestructible with Ed's stem, but I am using this one now.

 

[HalfQ]

Here's a question...
I have never bought a recharge unit be I'm worried that they might smell like herb when just sitting there and charging. For example, if I vape for 15 minutes and then decide to charge it... Is the unit going to smell? Will the room smell like herb cause this thing is charging. I don't want to leave a smelly phone looking like thing charging in my house. I saw that there is a little cover for the hole at the top... Maybe this will help block the smell

Like I said.. I've never had a recharge unit .. Is there much smell when just charging ( smell of burn herb etc)

 

[11eleven11]

Someone with one will answer, but I doubt it. When charging, it's not heating up the bowl -- so I would guess that there would not be a lot of smell.