Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

k0udek

Active Member
I must say i love this forum :)
I have two questions about the Ascent:
- People who say can't get clouds or thick clouds, do you get fully medicated ?
- Has anyone tried to put there some hash and see if it does it like a champ ? (in my case i use moroccan pollen)
 
k0udek,

Meghan

Well-Known Member
Well, I just cancelled my Ascent order through EZVapes (they were awesome about it and it was simple, btw).

I've been on the verge of doing so for a couple days, but to be honest, the straw for me was the news that it's significantly less efficient than the Solo...and more on par with the Pax. The entire reason I sold my Pax (which I loved in its own way) was because it was an herb hog and entirely too high-maintenance. I was worried about the big oven on the Ascent but assumed I could vape smaller loads and still get decent efficiency. If that's not the case, this definitely wasn't the portable for me.

I have been watching the Pinnacle Pro for a week or so...sounds like it's time to head over to that thread for a more serious look. Good luck to everyone with their Ascents! I sincerely hope DV works things out in short order. I may pick one of these up in the future, if/when the issues are resolved and I start making more money to spend on meds. LOL
 

Jimmy

Member
can someone quickly tell me the dissapointing things about this vape. ive been away for a few weeks. i know some are coming out faulty but how many? and are the ones withoujt faults working good. ive been waiting a while for this and i still want it. i only can afford one and i want to make the right decision ... is it the best portablee......
 
Jimmy,

grokit

well-worn member
The main issue with properly-functioning ascents appears to revolve around the largish bowl that has to be fully packed tight for the unit to function properly, which in combination with the fact that it is constantly roasting away when not being used makes it quite inefficient for the personal stealth vaper.

edit: It seems like it would be great for passing around however.

One of us is reporting success in countering this drawback by using a glass spacer to cut down the bowl size without affecting performance, the rest of us are waiting for pictures of this!
 
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sam reynolds

because "Samantha" is a mouthful.
can someone quickly tell me the dissapointing things about this vape. ive been away for a few weeks. i know some are coming out faulty but how many? and are the ones withoujt faults working good. ive been waiting a while for this and i still want it. i only can afford one and i want to make the right decision ... is it the best portablee......
Quick rundown, and not everyone is experiencing these issues:

- a variety of cosmetic flaws regarding the display
- other cosmetic issues with panel fitting, extra glue, upside-down logos, reversed buttons, etc.
- seems noticeably less efficient than other vapes
- mystery vapor coming from the bottom (probably the most distressing issue, but not everyone is experiencing that)
- inaccurate thermostat/overheating
- loose mouthpieces
- many find the metal screen necessary to keep herb out of one's mouth--but the metal screen doesn't fit securely
- herb must be re-tamped often (and you'll need a tool to do so--many have sacrificed a pinky)
- rarer, but a few have poorly-aligned bowls, putting extra rubber in the air path
- takes a loooong time to fully charge

Many of these flaws will get ironed out with future updates, I'm sure. But I'm starting to wonder if there's a fundamental flaw with the design--it's hungry for herb, and prone to leakage. And there's no way to stop the cooking between hits.

Those with good units seem to be enjoying theirs, however. Would love to know if they're enjoying decent efficiency as well.
 
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Jimmy

Member
some say packing the bowls down to the bottom with an oil jar or stem and inhaling slowly greatly improved the hits. is this true?
 
Jimmy,

sam reynolds

because "Samantha" is a mouthful.
some say packing the bowls down to the bottom with an oil jar or stem and inhaling slowly greatly improved the hits. is this true?
Marginally, in our case. It does help, but it still doesn't stack up to other vapes.
 
sam reynolds,

grokit

well-worn member
Very good point imo. Is davinci/organix chinese or american owned? They(?) say that they own the factory but who owns davinci?

Just wondering because of all the unhealthy products I read about constantly coming out of there. It would be nice to know who is actually in charge of the manufacturing specs and qc.
 
grokit,
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theCerberus

Well-Known Member
Well, I just opened and inspected my Ascent, I smell what you are all referring too.
I inspected all my glass and found that it was in perfect condition.
I tried to turn it on but it wouldnt power up.
I plugged it in and nothing.
I was panicking that perhaps mine was completely dead and not coming on ever, when the charge light appeared about a full minute later.

I see no physical defects other than the already commented slight smudge on the screen.
 

njluvdr

Keep calm and vape on
Got a call from Da Vinci. Decided to try a replacement unit. The representative said they are testing units thoroughly before sending out. People should be getting replies soon enough. I never had a 1digit rma number so I assume they are just getting started on replacement/returns.
 

nigel

And shepherds we shall be,for Accuracy & Discovery
I must say i love this forum :)
I have two questions about the Ascent:
- People who say can't get clouds or thick clouds, do you get fully medicated ?
I love this forum too. :)

I think the consensus is that @Pappy has a bum unit. There are most likely a few other people in his boat.

My unit doesn't have that issue, and I can make fine clouds. (OThers have said the same thing.)

Of course, you don't need clouds, or even any visible vapor to get medicated.
:)

- seems noticeably less efficient than other vapes

Thanks for the list!

Some people like the larger bowl. (I'd rather a smaller one myself, but I'll allow for others' tastes). Have you tried Stick's cotton method? I haven't yet, but it seems like a short term solution. I say short term, because I have no doubt one of us will find a great "bowl reducer" solution, along the lines of the holes being drilled in the oil can. I'm imagine DV might eventually sell a reducer. I like this idea overall, rather than just "make the bowl smaller", as with some fashion of a reducer I have the best of both worlds. :)

with a large heating chamber on the bottom, you're going to lose a lot of good vapor through the grill no matter what if you're not actively drawing on it.

Where exactly do you think this vapor is going? Do you feel airflow out of the bottom? I know the heated air will expand, but so much so that it's pushing a great deal of air out of all of the openings? I ask, because, in the absence of draw, I would imagine most of the air in the bowl is stagnant, and would be in-taken on the next draw. Is this not the case?

Or, if not inhaled promptly, does the vapor just break down or otherwise disappear? What happens to vapor if you don't immediately inhale it?
 
nigel,

sam reynolds

because "Samantha" is a mouthful.
I love this forum too. :)

I think the consensus is that @Pappy has a bum unit. There are most likely a few other people in his boat.

My unit doesn't have that issue, and I can make fine clouds. (OThers have said the same thing.)

Of course, you don't need clouds, or even any visible vapor to get medicated.
:)



Thanks for the list!

Some people like the larger bowl. (I'd rather a smaller one myself, but I'll allow for others' tastes). Have you tried Stick's cotton method? I haven't yet, but it seems like a short term solution. I say short term, because I have no doubt one of us will find a great "bowl reducer" solution, along the lines of the holes being drilled in the oil can. I'm imagine DV might eventually sell a reducer. I like this idea overall, rather than just "make the bowl smaller", as with some fashion of a reducer I have the best of both worlds. :)


Where exactly do you think this vapor is going? Do you feel airflow out of the bottom? I know the heated air will expand, but so much so that it's pushing a great deal of air out of all of the openings? I ask, because, in the absence of draw, I would imagine most of the air in the bowl is stagnant, and would be in-taken on the next draw. Is this not the case?

Or, if not inhaled promptly, does the vapor just break down or otherwise disappear? What happens to vapor if you don't immediately inhale it?
I edited my post to reflect my uncertainty...I've seen thick vapor coming from the grill between pulls, but it could be escaping elsewhere.

Haven't tried cotton yet, but I don't think I want to fuss with it long-term.
 
sam reynolds,
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Reveen

Well-Known Member
This might be a dumb suggestion, but what if you opened up a cotton ball, took some cotton out of the center and put some herb in, and "closed" the ball back up to its original form and put it in the unit. Would this help insulate the herb so it doesn't just vape away by touching the hot bowl?




I realize that this in not a long-term fix and frankly, would be a pain in the ass!
 

nigel

And shepherds we shall be,for Accuracy & Discovery
It condenses, goes stale, and the cannabinoids start sticking everywhere.

If it cools, I could see the condensing. I guess it depends on how long between draws. I'm doing small but continuing sips, so I don't think there's enough time there, but if one does a big draw, and then holds the unit for 90 seconds, how much do you guess is lost if the oven is kept at constant temp?

>Sticking everywhere

This brings up the retrieval question. Certainly people have had enough use to do a cleaning by now. Are people just doing an ISO clean and letting go of everything, or are people attempting to retrieve before cleaning? If so, any suggestions?
 

Reveen

Well-Known Member
If it cools, I could see the condensing. I guess it depends on how long between draws. I'm doing small but continuing sips, so I don't think there's enough time there, but if one does a big draw, and then holds the unit for 90 seconds, how much do you guess is lost if the oven is kept at constant temp?

>Sticking everywhere

This brings up the retrieval question. Certainly people have had enough use to do a cleaning by now. Are people just doing an ISO clean and letting go of everything, or are people attempting to retrieve before cleaning? If so, any suggestions?

I take small sips on mine as well and continue to sip for at least a minute after turning off the unit, as the bowl is probably still almost up to the set temperature. I honestly feel like it should be more efficient. . . i've even sipped on it while it was heating up (once it got to about 170c) sipped on it for another minute at the set temp, and then for another minute after I shut it off. I just cant figure out where the lost vapor is!
 

grokit

well-worn member
anyone try vaping an oil jar full of kif yet?


I gave it a shot just for you (and the fact that I have no herb).

Tried it at 420°, it was a complete fail even at 430°. I tried barely drawing and full inhale with the same results.

It changed color so it's spent, but barely any taste and no vapor at all.

As far as lost vapor, it must be going to paxland because that unit has the same issues but with a smaller bowl size!
 

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
Would it be bad for the battery if I turned it on before a complete charge?
Yeah but no one's really sure "how bad" it is. I always do a full charge of new battery-powered electronics to keep optimal battery life.
 
Quetzalcoatl,
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grokit

well-worn member
I choose to believe that the constantly blinking battery indicator doesn't necessarily mean that the battery is not charging fully, but that it is being actively "conditioned" by a sophisticated electronic algorithm.

It may not be true, but it does make me feel a bit better.
 

nigel

And shepherds we shall be,for Accuracy & Discovery
I choose to believe that the constantly blinking battery indicator doesn't necessarily mean that the battery is not charging fully, but that it is being actively "conditioned" by a sophisticated electronic algorithm

I'm seeing mine sometime look like it doesn't stop charging. Other times its fine. Weird. Not TOO worried, but weird.

Also note the battery reading isn't always on spot. Had one of the "skull-ripping b" friends of mine attack my device for a (undetermined... we were talking) period of time. Was fully charged and he handed it back to me almost empty. I plugged it in immediately to get whatever juice I could on it, but we had to leave soon, and I took it off charger, and it was WAY more charged than time would allow. I confirmed by using it the rest of the night. I think others have seen this too where it mis-calculates usage, and then corrects itself after reboot.
 

Snake Plissken

Transcendentalist
alright, after waiting forever to get my ascent I couldn't wait any longer. Like thecerberus, mine was completely discharged on arrival and took at least a minute of being plugged in to display the battery charging light. I turned the unit on and it was fully operational - from total discharge - so I (incorrectly maybe) assumed that the batteries had some kinda passthrough technology (powering strictly off the ac current) and fired her up.

1st I inspected and blew through the mouthpiece while the bowl was heated. No visible offgassing at all. a slight smell for about a minute and that was it.

Load #1: I tore apart (by hand) and packed a full bowl of A+ flowers. Heated to 375. Me and another took about 5 hits/per. Tasted fantastic, but the vape was a little wispy. effect was immediate and good from 1st hit. turned up to 400. We each took about another 5 hits. Still tasted great, hits were a little less wispy, but not huge. Turned up to 430. Still tasted really good, who can keep track of how many hits anymore - probably another 5 per - and visible vapor definitely increased but, but not really 'clouds'. Dumped out to inspect and it was pretty fully browned, but we coulda kept getting hits.

Load #2: course ground 1/2 tightly packed bowl of B+ flowers of same strain. Tasted about the same as the A+ version. Didn't hit right, from the getgo - not substantial hits or vapor at any temp. dumped it out. still not much color, readded to bowl hit some more till uniform brown. I doubt we woulda got 1/2 the hits as from a full packed bowl and none of them were satisfying.

Load #3: I put about a pencil eraser sized chunk of bho (earwax consistency) into 1 of the glass jars w/ no lid. I substituted the straight adaptor for this load so that I would have the option of hitting w/ & w/o the pinnacle WT.(When I removed the glass stem and screen, they were virtually spotless after 2 bowls (a couple of leaves stuck to the outside of the glass screen. Inserting the adaptor, it catches at a point - but can easily be pushed to a lower position where it catches more firmly. Doesn't look as humongous as I thought like this, maybe some people are not fully inserting them?) cranked her up to 410. fantastic taste, wispy vapor, immediate effects from 1st hit. cranked her up to 430. better vapor, but nothing like flowers at same temp. took about 10 hits per. Turned off, let just slightly cool, inserted and attached jar lid using tool to remove while hot. Could probably have equal sessions another 10x on that load.

Load #4: Reloaded A+ flowers, hand torn, fully packed bowl. Left straight adaptor in to hit flowers w/ & w/o hydrotube. So far, this seems to be how the ascent performs best. Nice to get thicker vapors w/ a water attachment.

Initial Conclusion: Keep in mind this all happened in about 2 hours - w/ about a 2-3 hour charge from a completely dead unit. GOOD - Never tasted or saw any offgassing. Besides a slightly foggy window (when unit is off only) no visual defects. Looks and feels great. Great taste. VERY effective. Never had any particulate even enter the screen after 3 bowls of flower and 1 of oil. BAD - So far, not huge clouds, but plenty to keep me happy. It really wants to be fully loaded and packed. Will take a little tinkering to find the sweet spot. Still lots of unknowns.

I apologize for the length and my super unscientific method, but thought I'd try to balance some of the current perspective. It seems as if they work fine (so far) if you received a good unit - but many seemed not to this 1st run.

edit: I just wanted to add that the lower portion of the body (the bowl) does retain heat and keep cooking after the unit is turned off. I plan on hitting it a few times after the unit is powered down to solve this.
And after reading some of the posts that occurred while I was writing this novel, I thought that I would try a bowl of kief for myself. fully loaded glass jar, no lid - no effect at any temp. looks darker upon removal, but that's it.
 
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Reflections

Well-Known Member
Today I tried different techniques..packed versus non packed..small bowls large bowls..different temps.. I wasnt getting much vapor before the bowl was vaped. It tasted good..I wasnt going above 400 or 405. Broke out my straight gong adapter and used a small bubbler glass pipe and wow.. i had clouds.. Little while later i tried to replicate and no go.. lol.. but im trying! :)
 
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