Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

[Vicki]

WOW! That is one big glass star.

I am almost afraid of it! At least it will not be as easily lost.

Where'd ya get it Vicki?

A friend gave it to me. Considering its size, it takes up just enough room on top of a glass spacer.

I love doing all this experimenting! I will definitely be buying more spacers when they are finally released for retail sale. I own two Ascents, and want to make sure I have enough for both, with a couple spares.

 

[OF]

You know, Ascent is a pretty cool vape. I know that's an opinion and all, but lately I've been struck by the thought a few times. While for most it's hardly news, I'm finding new examples as I play with the spacers. More 'hands on time' has brought renewed appreciation.

I also think there's a smaller fraction of readers with bitter experiences (mostly early on?) that thinks the rest of us ill informed, or at least misguided. I'm sure in some cases they too are right. Mine never caused me grief and occasionally brings unexpected joy along with the expected vapor delivery.

To the case in point, I've given up (at least for now) on the objective test idea and instead am happily down the subjective path. Sometimes strolling, sometimes skipping. Lately I too have used both spacers most often. Flat sides to the load in the center. This puts heated surfaces above and below the load which happened only marginally (bottom) and not at all before (top). Load contact with hot glass (be it wall glazing or spacer) is MUCH better. Easily many times. Given enough time to recover, of course.

From the T/C testing we know that idle after recovery (say a minute?) is as hot as anything ever gets, it can only cool off from there which it does. Here, like with the glass flowers, more hot glass is available to keep production going. Much more, probably close to what the flowers give?

Now for the really fun part (at least to me), the ratio of bud to contact is even higher now? We're loading about 1/3 the volume but that smaller mass has many times the surface contact it had before, due to the now fully heated floor and ceiling replacing the poorly and not heated ones normally. The two 'add up' heat wise (actually they multiply.....). More surface and smaller mass. This means extraction is faster (less hits) and is more uniform (due to better, distributed contact) so the load cashes rapidly. That's not as in 'cashes soon because it's tiny and gets used up fast' but rather 'stays very uniform so the entire load cashes at the same time'. Less tapering off, more like a solid wall. Up to that point, given long enough recovery times, hits are full and rich as long as enough vapor remains in the load to support the hit.

So my current routine is keep the lower spacer in, put fresh bud in to the top I'm using fluffy well cured herb here, from a 'shreader' rather than grinder. The second spacer goes on top compressing it lightly (the lip of the spacer stays below the lip on the oven) and the door is closed. A dozen or more loads (3 strains) have not had any problems with fast/easy reloading. At the end of the session (and it cashes hard before it times out for me), I open the door, 'screw' a toothpick into an end hole on the top spacer and use it for a handle to pull the hot glass out. A second toothpick quickly clears the ABV and I load the still warm bowl for the next load. Boy Scout stuff ('be prepared is their motto).

Sorry to ramble, but this technique is working well for me right now and I wanted to suggest it to others. IMO these guys offer yet more flexibility to an already stand out vape. More options on the best personal technique? How cool is that?

OF

 

[Sativape]

You know, Ascent is a pretty cool vape. I know that's an opinion and all, but lately I've been struck by the thought a few times. While for most it's hardly news, I'm finding new examples as I play with the spacers. More 'hands on time' has brought renewed appreciation.

I also think there's a smaller fraction of readers with bitter experiences (mostly early on?) that thinks the rest of us ill informed, or at least misguided. I'm sure in some cases they too are right. Mine never caused me grief and occasionally brings unexpected joy along with the expected vapor delivery.

To the case in point, I've given up (at least for now) on the objective test idea and instead am happily down the subjective path. Sometimes strolling, sometimes skipping. Lately I too have used both spacers most often. Flat sides to the load in the center. This puts heated surfaces above and below the load which happened only marginally (bottom) and not at all before (top). Load contact with hot glass (be it wall glazing or spacer) is MUCH better. Easily many times. Given enough time to recover, of course.

From the T/C testing we know that idle after recovery (say a minute?) is as hot as anything ever gets, it can only cool off from there which it does. Here, like with the glass flowers, more hot glass is available to keep production going. Much more, probably close to what the flowers give?

Now for the really fun part (at least to me), the ratio of bud to contact is even higher now? We're loading about 1/3 the volume but that smaller mass has many times the surface contact it had before, due to the now fully heated floor and ceiling replacing the poorly and not heated ones normally. The two 'add up' heat wise (actually they multiply.....). More surface and smaller mass. This means extraction is faster (less hits) and is more uniform (due to better, distributed contact) so the load cashes rapidly. That's not as in 'cashes soon because it's tiny and gets used up fast' but rather 'stays very uniform so the entire load cashes at the same time'. Less tapering off, more like a solid wall. Up to that point, given long enough recovery times, hits are full and rich as long as enough vapor remains in the load to support the hit.

So my current routine is keep the lower spacer in, put fresh bud in to the top I'm using fluffy well cured herb here, from a 'shreader' rather than grinder. The second spacer goes on top compressing it lightly (the lip of the spacer stays below the lip on the oven) and the door is closed. A dozen or more loads (3 strains) have not had any problems with fast/easy reloading. At the end of the session (and it cashes hard before it times out for me), I open the door, 'screw' a toothpick into an end hole on the top spacer and use it for a handle to pull the hot glass out. A second toothpick quickly clears the ABV and I load the still warm bowl for the next load. Boy Scout stuff ('be prepared is their motto).

Sorry to ramble, but this technique is working well for me right now and I wanted to suggest it to others. IMO these guys offer yet more flexibility to an already stand out vape. More options on the best personal technique? How cool is that?

OF

@OF would you be able to provide pics of your spacer(s) and load configurations?

 

[OF]

@OF would you be able to provide pics of your spacer(s) and load configurations?

I could try, but am not sure right off how to photograph it in place? Not easy to show cup from flat side, either.

It seems simple enough to describe. One spacer in, cup down, flat up. A load of herb on top. Other spacer on top of that flat side down, cup up. A layer of herb sandwiched between the spacers flat sides?

OF

 

[Sativape]

I could try, but am not sure right off how to photograph it in place? Not easy to show cup from flat side, either.

It seems simple enough to describe. One spacer in, cup down, flat up. A load of herb on top. Other spacer on top of that flat side down, cup up. A layer of herb sandwiched between the spacers flat sides?

OF

@OF, Thanks for the simple description!
Yeah no need for pics, I was thinking it was rocket science.

 

[Delta3DStudios]

It seems simple enough to describe. One spacer in, cup down, flat up. A load of herb on top. Other spacer on top of that flat side down, cup up. A layer of herb sandwiched between the spacers flat sides?

That was the first way I tried the spacers. Didn't seem to care for the vapor production. Seemed to take much longer to recover between hits.

Still prefer load on bottom (any size), and a spacer on top to weigh it down.

 

[OF]

That was the first way I tried the spacers. Didn't seem to care for the vapor production. Seemed to take much longer to recover between hits.

Still prefer load on bottom (any size), and a spacer on top to weigh it down.

Yes, recovery time is longer. Then again, for good reason. It's replacing heat just used to make vapor for our pleasure. In a fun way a long recovery is also a good thing in that it means there's more heat on tap again for the next hit.

A matter of preference I think, how cool is it we have more choices of techniques to cover a wider area of owner wants?

OF

 

[CarolKing]

I find too the way @OF described is my fav way so far to use the spacer. With herb on the bottom with one spacer on top, flat side down on the herb is my second way I like.

Make sure you keep your oven clean with these spacers. You don't want any stuck glass spacers. I've been using a big needle to hook onto the hole in the spacer to remove.

 

[OF]

I find too the way @OF described is my fav way so far to use the spacer.

Hey, don't go blaming me for this, IIRC the configuration was first suggested by you?

OF

 

[Sativape]

I find too the way @OF described is my fav way so far to use the spacer. With herb on the bottom with one spacer on top, flat side down on the herb is my second way I like.

Make sure you keep your oven clean with these spacers. You don't want any stuck glass spacers. I've been using a big needle to hook onto the hole in the spacer to remove.

Definitely need to keep the bowl and spacers clean.

I ended up having to use a thin bamboo shishkabob skewer (blunt end) and slid it through the holes from the underside of the grate and in order to push the spacers out after getting gummed up.

I use 2 fine mesh screens at the bottom of my bowl therefore the skewer pushed the screens which then pushed the spacers out the bowl.

I think a toothpick or even a fat paperclip would serve the same purpose.

 

[OF]

Definitely need to keep the bowl and spacers clean.

I ended up having to use a thin bamboo shishkabob skewer (blunt end) and slid it through the holes from the underside of the grate and in order to push the spacers out after getting gummed up.

I use 2 fine mesh screens at the bottom of my bowl therefore the skewer pushed the screens which then pushed the spacers out the bowl.

I think a toothpick or even a fat paperclip would serve the same purpose.

And don't fight it cold. Heat the bowl up first to soften the deposits up.

OF

 

[Sativape]

And don't fight it cold. Heat the bowl up first to soften the deposits up.

OF

Most definitely @OF!

I should have mentioned that too that I made it a point to empty the Ascent bowl shortly after my session.

I was also thinking about @Vicki, taking pre-cautions not to burn myself with the spacers...

Amazing how the internet has effected our lives... how we are able to impact each other, even though we have never met.

I also forgot to formally thank @Davinci_vaporizer for sending these spacers out to me.

Thank you @Davinci_vaporizer for sending me a set of these spacers.

Thank you FC members for sharing your methods of how you use your spacers.

I will be back shortly to provide feedback with my end results of the Qwiso+hemp fiber glass sandwich experiment.

 

[Vicki]

Most definitely @OF!

I should have mentioned that too that I made it a point to empty the Ascent bowl shortly after my session.

I was also thinking about @Vicki, taking pre-cautions not to burn myself with the spacers...

Amazing how the internet has effected our lives... how we are able to impact each other, even though we have never met.

I also forgot to formally thank @Davinci_vaporizer for sending these spacers out to me.

Thank you @Davinci_vaporizer for sending me a set of these spacers.

Thank you FC members for sharing your methods of how you use your spacers.

I will be back shortly to provide feedback with my end results of the Qwiso+hemp fiber glass sandwich experiment.

I'm glad my stupidity has helped others. On a serious note, I did get a blister from that.

I agree. Thank you, @Davinci_vaporizer !

 

[Silvercloud538]

Always looking to improve ,have had huge success using both spacers ( flat to flat )

,leaving enuf space for .18-.22 herb ,plus .05 - .08 crumble permitting finger mixing

leaving purrfect fit ( tried wax ,but not as easy to work into and can get too wet affecting

proper vapor for such a small pack ) Anyway ,will try to improve ,just a force of habit ,but

being well medicated with easy load/ reload routine providing @ hour + of tasty flavors / fun /relaxation ??


Again things seem to improve automatically as pertinent inputs from members yield

all aspects of the Ascent

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

It's awesome reading everyone's tests! You are all the ones who should be thanked for helping us come up with this in the first place, so thank you FC!

Sorry it took us so long. I know it's really simple but we were trying complicated stuff first, believe me. It seems other than some spacers getting stuck, there have been no real complaints. We definitely appreciate the praise, but what would you guys change on the spacers to make them more efficient? Would another material be acceptable? I also caught wind of a spacer that matches the oil jar size for a small and large, or are two spacers good enough for the job?

The most common configuration I'm seeing is the sandwich approach. I really liked the idea of a toothpick handle but if you are sandwiching them, you would only be able to use the handle to pull out the lower spacer unless you put a handle on the inside of the flat side down spacer on top of your load. Should these be sold with some sort of wicking to make a handle, that way you can pick and chose where and how you want to load it? We could probably make something simple to change too so you don't have to stick with just one configuration once you're set up. What do you guys think?

 

[virtualpurple]

I definitely like the idea of something you could make a handle with. I have not yet tried the sandwich method but I think having a handle would make me feel more secure with the spacers and would alleviate some of the fear of being unable to remove them.

I have only so far been able to use the shorter spacer flat side down on top of my material. The larger spacer does not seem to fit easily enough and has to be forced out from the bottom, which displaces a screen I've installed.

 

[Silvercloud538]

FWIW ,if this was already established ,the automatic heater timer shutoff recycles to timer

sensor setting in addition to a separate motion sensitive battery shutoff

Another reason for mentioning re: no mention of heater shutoff in manual as a benefit ?

 

[Toltec]

Hey everyone, I just joined to ask a quick question.
I apologize if this bothers anyone.

Here it goes...

I just received my Ascent two days ago. On the second day I noticed a malfunction. I set the device to automatically heat up to 380 degrees Fahrenheit when I turn it on. So I power the device on, wait a minute, and it sits at 380 degrees. A few minutes later, I want to turn up the temperature. I click the + button until it reads 400 above the steaming coffee cup. A second later the 400 reverts back to 380 degrees, and never goes beyond that. I wait a few minutes, and it still reads 380 degrees, as if it forgot I raised the temperature to 400.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Can someone please help me here? Do I have a malfunctioning unit I need to return?

If you don't understand what i mean, I can email you a video of the device malfunctioning if you PM me your email address. I can't figure out how to upload .mov's to this message.

 

[MrNaturalAZ]

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Can someone please help me here? Do I have a malfunctioning unit I need to return?

If you don't understand what i mean, I can email you a video of the device malfunctioning if you PM me your email address. I can't figure out how to upload .mov's to this message.

Have you tried a factory reset? With the unit on, press and hold all three buttons on the front for five full seconds. Like this:

Also, if you find that it still won't get beyond a certain temperature, it may be that the battery is a bit low. The battery indicator isn't always accurate when new, before it's had a few complete cycles (to condition the battery and calibrate the gauge), including at least one good overnight charge. I find on mine that when the battery is getting lower it has a harder time reaching the higher temps.

So try a factory reset, and make sure you've given it a thorough overnight charge and give it another go. Let us know what happens.

 

[mandelbrod]

When i was looking for a vape to buy i was verry intrigued by the idea of a whip style vape because of the fact that you can see the vapor, but i didnt wanted to give up the portabillity of my first vape to a novelty like a whip. I found the ascent to be the most goodlooking portable vape and i am glad i choose it, but the feeling of the small glass stem to draw from whille having a telephone style apparatus richt in front of your face doesnt feel that classy. So i dreamt again of a whip to draw from. I visited the local hardware store and brought home 2 sets of tubes. one verry thin and flexible, and another tube just large enough so the small tube would fit in it snug and airtight. Another detail is that the tube with the small diameter allso fits snugg inside the glass drawing stems. I do not have any tape measure at home at the moment so i can only discribe it. and show it on some pics:

[/url][/IMG] this is my longer, thinner tube; it gives good vapor to air becous the glas part is fully inside the vape but it will still cool the vape down so you can take big hits that is my shorter model; it gives a harsher vape because of the short stem but man the clouds this thing gives I hope i havent messed up the link of the pics. anyhow this is a way i have drasticly increased my vapor production and ease of intaking said vapor(less coughing at higher temps). Allso i live in a country where smoking weed is a legal gray zone. they can arrest you for it. having this longer tube in your sleeve and putting the ascent in your pants pocket is a great way to stay super stealthy. Having plastic in the vaporpath will certainly give some people in this thread nightmares but i dont think there is a big health risk sinds the vape isnt that hot when it reaches to the plastic tube. It was definitly an upgrade for me, hopefully others can learn from and hopefully improve the concept. As davinci himself would have said it, arrivederci!

 

[Delta3DStudios]

I just received my Ascent two days ago. On the second day I noticed a malfunction. I set the device to automatically heat up to 380 degrees Fahrenheit when I turn it on. So I power the device on, wait a minute, and it sits at 380 degrees. A few minutes later, I want to turn up the temperature. I click the + button until it reads 400 above the steaming coffee cup. A second later the 400 reverts back to 380 degrees, and never goes beyond that. I wait a few minutes, and it still reads 380 degrees, as if it forgot I raised the temperature to 400.

It's a software glitch. It's affected every version of the Ascent that I've seen. Your vape is heating to the temperature you set, but for some reason the display doesn't update if the temperature you set is between 385 and 405. Try this test - set the vape to 410 and let it hit temperature and then set it to 401. You'll see it jumps back to 410. (This issue also effects those using C instead of F on the display)

I have experimented with this quite a bit and can confirm it's a software bug related to the displayed temperature, not the set temp. Your vape is still functioning properly, no need to send it in for a replacement, it won't fix the issue. Just ignore that bug.

(Welcome to FC btw )

 

[Silvercloud538]

FWIW ,have found once spacers offer reduced bowl volume ,an increase in restriction of

airpath can be countered by replacing the orig retractable mouthpiece vs WTA ,esp for

extra stealth on the street ~ this method will permit extensive visible vapor production



IMO ,the 20 min heater timer shuts down @ 5 min before load exhaustion ,utilizing

spacers ,which can be used as a convenient cycling gauge

 

[Toltec]

'Lo again

I did a factory reset, and charged it fully. The glitch was still there.

It's a software glitch. It's affected every version of the Ascent that I've seen. Your vape is heating to the temperature you set, but for some reason the display doesn't update if the temperature you set is between 385 and 405. Try this test - set the vape to 410 and let it hit temperature and then set it to 401. You'll see it jumps back to 410. (This issue also effects those using C instead of F on the display)

I have experimented with this quite a bit and can confirm it's a software bug related to the displayed temperature, not the set temp. Your vape is still functioning properly, no need to send it in for a replacement, it won't fix the issue. Just ignore that bug.

(Welcome to FC btw )

I was hoping that was the case, because I didn't want to have to go through the hassle of sending it back. I did notice the glitch was restricted to around that temperature range as well. It's a relief to know that it is solely a display issue, and not an issue with the oven.

(Thanks, I'll definitely keep following this thread for more tips and tricks. Looking forward to the release of these fabled spacers...)

Keep on vaping on!

 

[OF]

It's a software glitch. It's affected every version of the Ascent that I've seen. Your vape is heating to the temperature you set, but for some reason the display doesn't update if the temperature you set is between 385 and 405.

This does seem common enough, but it doesn't seem universal? I've only ever used two, the first kindly loaned by Nigel and used for the testing that lead to the glass flowers. One of the very first I think? And my personal one, a late production. In both cases I had no trouble at all with my routine setting, 390F. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I'm sure enjoying it......

For sure if it's a display only issue it's an owner call. Many vapes are 'over instrumented' compared to others. Some, of course have none at all. Like cars that run the gambit from 'what do all these gauges mean' to idiot lights. I once worked with a bean counter too cheap to fix/replace his watch when the stem broke. It was self winding and he knew it was one hour and seven minutes slow (2:07 in Daylight Savings). When the band broke, he just put it in his pocket. Bean counters can be mighty cheap, perhaps a good thing?

OF

 

[Delta3DStudios]

This does seem common enough, but it doesn't seem universal? I've only ever used two, the first kindly loaned by Nigel and used for the testing that lead to the glass flowers. One of the very first I think? And my personal one, a late production. In both cases I had no trouble at all with my routine setting, 390F. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I'm sure enjoying it......

It's been reported over and over on this thread. I do not believe anyone can pass this test: Set the Ascent to 375F (Let it reach temperature), then set it to 400F. The temp dial indicate it's starting to heat up, then jumps back to 375F.

Technically it seems the oven is still heating up to 400F, but the dial isn't indicating it. This is a software glitch which has affected both Ascent's I've owned, and many other owners on this thread have reported it. I haven't seen one ascent work properly in that 385 to 405F range (I once determined the exact temperature range affected, but I forget right now).

I'd love to see an official comment from @Davinci_vaporizer on the subject. Have you had the software developers look into the issue? Is it a simple firmware patch that can be done on new Ascent's, or is this impossible to fix?