Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

[1DMF]

Mate, you don't need to order alcohol off eBay - any chemist's will sell it.

Really? first time I have bought ISO so Googled and ebay popped up. Been soaking the stem screen overnight, will see how clean it is when I get home.

The Ascent has a few bad points, cleaning being one of them, but I am also happy with it, and am also not worried about the cleaning the oven, it's just the stems that seem to get gunky real quick.

I think I might ask @Hubs88 to sell me some modded stems

 

[Davinci_vaporizer]

Mate, you don't need to order alcohol off eBay - any chemist's will sell it. I pack some salt down the glass tubes before soaking, seems to help but really it's the alcohol that does the job. Can't really get the "oven" clean - people have mentioned a "magic eraser" - dunno what that is but I'm not really worried - just as long as the glass is clean I'm happy. I really like my Ascent

I get mine at the local grocery store or pharmacy...

 

[CarolKing]

If you keep on top of cleaning the stems it shouldn't be that much of an issue. if you have an extra set of stems you can soak one set while the other set is in the unit. Have a container for soaking your stems in ISO. Soak for a day or two and it should come out clean once rinsed. If any stubborn spots use pipe cleaners. Then rinse with hot water.

Be careful not to break them they are fragile. Buy a few extra sets of stems. I prefer using the GonG or a WonG as a mouthpiece. I had a couple of wooden mouthpieces made by @Ed's TnT. The GonG is made with thicker glass and more sturdy.

 

[1DMF]

Thanks @CarolKing, That's why I was looking at getting some extra modded stems.

When I got home, I put some rubber gloves on, got out an old towel, opened the pipe cleaners and then delved into the ISO that I had soaked the stem in overnight.

The gunk just fell away after a little poke with the pipe cleaner, then a quick rinse under the tap and it was as good as new.

So that ISO really is the ticket, but I find it's a bit nasty to work with and I am concerned having dishes of it lying around the house with glass soaking in it.

I have a new baby on its way, and this stuff is definitely not child friendly, this is one vapour you don't want to inhale!

 

[OF]

When I got home, I put some rubber gloves on, got out an old towel, opened the pipe cleaners and then delved into the ISO that I had soaked the stem in overnight.

So that ISO really is the ticket, but I find it's a bit nasty to work with and I am concerned having dishes of it lying around the house with glass soaking in it.

As I understand it low levels of ISO vapor is not a significant hazard but the stuff is to be avoided if possible I think for a number of reasons. It's expensive, nasty on your skin, a fire/explosion hazard and really shouldn't be dumped down sewers.

As an alternative I suggest you check out Powdered Brewery Wash, widely available on line and in home brewing supply shops. It's designed to clean/sanitize brew kettles (which are full of the same sort of nasty hydrocarbon junk we deal with in places you can't scrub.

I have a small plastic jar (I started with a glass one) I put stems in with a tiny bit of PBW and fill with hot tap water (the keys are fresh solution, heat and time). 5 minutes or so soaking (with a couple gentle inversions to mix stuff up) and the 'Oxyclean action' floats the junk off. It's buffered to work in the hardest water, and 'rinses clean' so that's not a problem. Safe in the drain, and no more dangerous around the house as say dishwasher detergent? A single pound jar should last a normal lifetime.....give or take.

Works great cleaning bubblers and long neglected Bongs.......lost of fun to watch the magic happen through the glass...... Much better than ISO and salt.

Not useful if you reclaim, of course, otherwise highly recommended over ISO:
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/pbw-the-chemistry-of-clean.7854/
http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star...3607284&sr=8-1&keywords=powdered+brewery+wash

OF

 

[1DMF]

Nice one @OF,

Interestingly I asked the wife this morning as I emptied last nights bong, 'how the hell am I going to clean this awkward piece of glass?'

I would need a large bucket of ISO to submerge the entire glassware in - far too expensive and dangerous.

Back in my youth we'd make bongs out of plastic bottles and were simply throw away items. This is my first proper bit of glassware and was at a loss how I keep all the nooks and crannies clean.

I assume this 'Oxyclean action' doesn't leave hazardous odour in the vapour path.

I don't think I'm that bothered about reclaim, still chuffed to bits I get to bake with ABV after already enjoying the herb 1st time round

 

[vapen00b]

As I understand it low levels of ISO vapor is not a significant hazard but the stuff is to be avoided if possible I think for a number of reasons. It's expensive, nasty on your skin, a fire/explosion hazard and really shouldn't be dumped down sewers.

As an alternative I suggest you check out Powdered Brewery Wash, widely available on line and in home brewing supply shops. It's designed to clean/sanitize brew kettles (which are full of the same sort of nasty hydrocarbon junk we deal with in places you can't scrub.

I have a small plastic jar (I started with a glass one) I put stems in with a tiny bit of PBW and fill with hot tap water (the keys are fresh solution, heat and time). 5 minutes or so soaking (with a couple gentle inversions to mix stuff up) and the 'Oxyclean action' floats the junk off. It's buffered to work in the hardest water, and 'rinses clean' so that's not a problem. Safe in the drain, and no more dangerous around the house as say dishwasher detergent? A single pound jar should last a normal lifetime.....give or take.

Works great cleaning bubblers and long neglected Bongs.......lost of fun to watch the magic happen through the glass...... Much better than ISO and salt.

Not useful if you reclaim, of course, otherwise highly recommended over ISO:
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/pbw-the-chemistry-of-clean.7854/
http://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star...3607284&sr=8-1&keywords=powdered+brewery+wash

OF

Yep. That's the way to go for cleaning our beloved glass. Can only recommend it and say thanks once more to @OF - been successfully using it for quite some time now!

 

[OF]

Interestingly I asked the wife this morning as I emptied last nights bong, 'how the hell am I going to clean this awkward piece of glass?'

I would need a large bucket of ISO to submerge the entire glassware in - far too expensive and dangerous.

I assume this 'Oxyclean action' doesn't leave hazardous odour in the vapour path.

The traditional way is high proof (so the salt doesn't dissolve.....) ISO to soften stuff up and salt to scrub it out. Lots of shaking. Lots of broken glassware from wet hands. Hard/impossible to get good action in some spots.

Enter PBW. It breaks the bond between junk and glass and liberates Oxygen bubbles like happens in beer with CO2. This gets concentrated under stuff and really speeds the cleaning. You watch a stream of fine bubbles rise from a bit of junk that gets smaller as bits drift off. Finally the last bit breaks free and the action shifts to other problems. Fun to watch. It comes out like dirty dishwater. It also, in addition to being a safe version of Alkaline cleaner (with buffers to keep it so) and the Oxygen trick, comes equipped with water softening and buffering so some truly nasty tap water does a great job and rinse agents so it'll rinse free (makes the remaining detergent highly soluable in fresh water as I understand it, breaking the bond with the glass or other surface. It rinses easily and completely (including the Oxygen....), it's a 'food grade' cleaner. Not that you can eat it, but it's intended to wash bottles and brewing plumbing. Safe for practical purposes if you're reasonably careful. Much safer than ISO.

Safe for 'most plastics' and seals as well, you're just washing them.....

Your bucket idea isn't too far off the mark. Buckets of citrus based cleaners ("Simple Green" the last time IIRC) have been reported used by 'Coffee Shops' and bong makers after shows for bulk cleaning. A big investment in cleaner (though less than ISO), it's not as likely to evaporate (or absorb water from the air and become 'lower proof') nor catch fire (a guaranteed buzz kill). Such schemes also lose solvent carried away in each cleaned piece and require storage between use (can be decanted back into a 5 gallon can).

I recommend a dash of PBW instead.

Hey, wanna score big with the wife (and who doesn't?)? Try a spoonful in the dishwasher. You know the mineral haze that builds up.........same stuff that combats hard water goes after them.

OF

 

[1DMF]

Hey, wanna score big with the wife (and who doesn't?)? Try a spoonful in the dishwasher.

The wife is our dish washer.

<--- ducks

But seriously, we don't have a dish washer, still do them by hand in a sink, which is where I'll now be able to clean my glassware having just bought a pound (450g) of PBW.

Appreciate the advice, hope it works as well as you claim, coz I don't like that ISO at all.

 

[MrNaturalAZ]

I'm really like the new glass spacers. They are worth it IMO.

I love the glass spacers. Not only do they let you use smaller loads, but they also help keep the stems cleaner longer and reduce the likelihood of bits of plant material making it to one's mouth. Oh, and they keep the "puck" from rising up and losing contact with the hottest part of the oven.

 

[vapedtoblaze]

Is there a portable power supply available for the ascent?

Would be very convenient to charge it while on a two day camping trip without any electricity nearby

 

[1DMF]

I love the glass spacers.

So annoying they are not available in UK yet

 

[KeroZen]

@vapedtoblaze : PM me about it and I'll forward you the reference of the one I bought. It does variable voltage output over the jack port, as well as standard USB charging over two USB ports.

 

[Nunavut Tripper]

So annoying they are not available in UK yet

They are available direct from DaVinci in US>

 

[MrNaturalAZ]

Is there a portable power supply available for the ascent? Would be very convenient to charge it while on a two day camping trip without any electricity nearby

DaVinci sells a car (cigarette lighter socket) cord for it (or you can find a "generic" one that fits and supplies the correct voltage) - that would be the easiest solution if you'll have a vehicle. You could also use a car cord with a 12-volt portable battery pack like this: http://www.amazon.com/PowerGo-Unbelievably-Portable-Battery-Starter/dp/B00E0UNF4E

Now if you're looking for a smaller portable battery, much like they sell for charging phones, I have a couple of these:

Originally marketed for portable DVD players, I use them for powering my Tascam PocketStudio 5. I still see them from time to time in the clearance aisle of stores as well as eBay. The current version can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Energizer-Univ-for-Portable/dp/B000JG7AOY/ and a similar model from a different manufacturer is here: http://www.amazon.com/Replacement-CyberHome-Polaroid-Magnavox-DVPFX810/

I can't confirm if any of them includes the correct size tip to fit the Ascent, though if one is handy I'm sure something can be fashioned.

@vapedtoblaze : PM me about it and I'll forward you the reference of the one I bought. It does variable voltage output over the jack port, as well as standard USB charging over two USB ports.

That would be cool - could charge phone and vape - so maybe one less thing to carry. Is that a portable battery? or a "car cord"? Can you just share the info or link here? I'm sure many of us would be interested.

 

[nigel]

Tooth picks, safety pins, thumb tacks, paper clips etc.. are all OK for unclogging the holes in the bottom stem.

If only there was something included with the device... like a tool or something... something that had a point on it just perfect for poking out the holes... If it were me, I'd put an Ascent logo on it and make on-board storage for it.

But we live in an imperfect world and sometimes one can only dream...

Just be careful not to crack the stem as glass is not covered under warranty.

It is quite fragile. Had a friend stir his hot coco with it (for reclaim). In stirring, hit the edge of the coffee cup an broke. Not a lot of force there. Be careful.

Mate, you don't need to order alcohol off eBay - any chemist's will sell it. people have mentioned a "magic eraser" -

Any pharmacy or grocery store will have ISO Alcohol. Keep in mind, it is usually in a few different percentages, and it might take a little looking to find the higher %s.

Magic Eraser: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_foam

As I understand it low levels of ISO vapor is not a significant hazard but the stuff is to be avoided if possible I think for a number of reasons. It's expensive, nasty on your skin, a fire/explosion hazard and really shouldn't be dumped down sewers.

Not useful if you reclaim, of course, otherwise highly recommended over ISO:

It's cheap. Don't get any on your skin. Who says you have to dump it?

I keep a small sealed jar of it with all my spare stems in it. When I want a fresh set, I CAREFULLY pull out a set with small lab tongs and CAREFULLY place the dirty ones in with their soaking brothers. A quick rinse of any residue (use the sprayer setting on the sink if there is a leaf particle stuck in the bottom stem's bulb-cavity -- better than a pipe cleaner down there), and ready to go.

When the solution is golden dark in color, I'll remove all of the stems, pour through a coffee filter, and then leave out to evap. Nothing going down drains. No dumping. Plus I get all of the reclaimed resin.

Mind you, two points:

1. I only use ISO when I've run out of everclear. I prefer to use the real (the higher % one, not available in all parts of the country/globe) Everclear as A) it's not ISO and is safe to consume, and B) Tinctures and what not.

2. Original mention of cleaning was about WTs. I redirected the convo in a more Ascent specific direction with stem cleaning, but nothing saying you can't get a few good uses out of it for WT cleaning. Something as large as a WT needs more solution to fill volume than to do actual cleaning.

That being said, PBW seems a really good solution. Just doesn't afford reclaim and ISO isn't a bad solution if that's what one has on hand.

 

[OF]

That being said, PBW seems a really good solution.

That is absolutely terrible! Not even a real pun.......

Who writes your material for you? I think you need better writers if you want to play the big time..... (meaning 'don't quit your day job yet'.....).

Back on topic for a moment, I'm really paranoid of poking out the four holes in the lower stem. They are not uniform (neither the same size nor all that round). I can visualize a bamboo skewer cracking the rim of a hole, and it's not a pretty thing to visualize.

My 'put it in a soft plastic bottle (I use the kind that restaurants put ketchup in) with hot PBW solution and rocking it so the solution 'sloshes' (sorry to use yet another technical term) through the stem and does the hard work. But as you say, reclaim is out for practical purposes.

OF

 

[CarolKing]

Blowing on the end of the stem will sometimes dislodge particles. As @nigel stated the soaking method, that works the best for me too. I do that with all my glass stems. The hot water usually rinses everything away. Having a more coarse grind might help with the small particles.

 

[1DMF]

Has anyone drilled the holes out and used a gauze?

 

[OF]

Has anyone drilled the holes out and used a gauze?

Yes, of course. We're a curious lot you know. At least two I can think of (one had her husband do it). I'm not sure they used screens, but probably tried that too.

The results were reported as 'sub wonderful'. Aside from debris issues (perhaps counted by screen) you're up against to hard facts here. First there are also similar holes in the oven bottom you can't open up, they quickly dominate in the restriction (you can only 'improve' so much) and secondly more air will only rob vapor, the actual vapor production is limited by available heat. Early on I did a series of temperature measurements within the load and reported it here. Nigel kindly loaned me a unit to try out, I ended up with my personal one based on the insights I got from those tests.

In a nutshell, the temperature in the load drops big time with normal hits. Like 100F drops!!! Vapor production disappears from the middle of the load, all the production going on after the first few seconds comes from the walls. The key to 'bigger clouds' is there, more retained heat in the load.

http://www.amazon.com/45ct-Daisy-Gl...=1443794265&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+pipe+screen

My initial attempts were using the 'little glass flowers' (half a dozen or so spread through the load) to retain more heat internally. A bit of a hassle to load, but IMO worth it. Do a search on 'glass flowers' on this thread and see how well it worked out for folks (I don't think there's a single post not claiming better results?). The glass spacers DaVinci came after and capitolize on this same idea, easier to load but probably harder to find in the UK?

IMO drilling the holes is not a useful mod, but adding some thermal mass (like the flowers which are widely available) to the load is.......and you don't break your stems trying.

OF

 

[1DMF]

OK, message received and understood. Lucky you lot are here to test this kind of thing.

I was going to ask to purchase modded stems off of @Hubs88 , but their mod is more or less the equivalent of drilling out the holes.

Instead I've bit the bullet, swallowed some bile and ordered a pack of glass spacer direct with Da Vinci, neither Namastevapes or vapefiend could get hold of any and I can't be arsed to wait any longer!

I need a stiff drink to get over the extra cost in shipping and currency conversion charges, but if they perform as good as every ones says, I guess it's money well spent.

Means the Easy Flow solo stem I was going to buy and extra screens from vapefiend will have to wait for another time, hey ho, I have plenty to keep me busy in the meantime

 

[OF]

Instead I've bit the bullet, swallowed some bile and ordered a pack of glass spacer direct with Da Vinci, neither Namastevapes or vapefiend could get hold of any and I can't be arsed to wait any longer!

I need a stiff drink to get over the extra cost in shipping and currency conversion charges, but if they perform as good as every ones says, I guess it's money well spent.

Good call, IMO. Dear as it is, I bet you don't regret the purchase......unless, of course, if you lose/break one? How many did you order? When I 'bite the bullet' I try to add backups to the order not to tempt Murphy you know.

Best wishes,

OF

 

[1DMF]

How many did you order?

Just one pack of two spacers. I wish Da Vinci took a leaf out of Arizer's book, and saved on packaging, looks like you could fit at least four if not five spacers in all that foam.

Make the box smaller and charge less or put more in the box!!!

Anyway, they should tide me over till I break / lose any, by which time I'm hoping the usual suspects will have them stocked in the UK

 

[mixchu69]

Just one pack of two spacers. I wish Da Vinci took a leaf out of Arizer's book, and saved on packaging, looks like you could fit at least four if not five spacers in all that foam.

Make the box smaller and charge less or put more in the box!!!

Anyway, they should tide me over till I break / lose any, by which time I'm hoping the usual suspects will have them stocked in the UK

I would try to purchase a pair (if they didn't ship out yet). Don't want to pay shipping twice and anything can happen to glass/easy to lose.

 

[OF]

I would try to purchase a pair (if they didn't ship out yet). Don't want to pay shipping twice and anything can happen to glass/easy to lose.

That would be my point as well. But much better stated........

Thanks.

OF