Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci

[sxmokeUP]

Totally disagree with the above.

The pre-production units were just that...........pre-production. There was not a rush to get 100's of units made by a certain time deadline, so the workers were able to take their time and do it right. Once a unit goes out of pre-production into regular production, time constraints become an issue and QC then "should" become an integral part of the manufacturing process to correct those issues that ALWAYS comes up when ANY product goes from pre-production to production.

Whoever is in charge of QC, both in China and here stateside should either be fired, or strung up and by DV and if it's the latter, I want vids or it didn't happen.

Hi,
First my statement was a generalization (and of course I kid somewhat; main point being QC goes down after the contract is signed) and not specific to DaVinci. But since you mentioned this pre-production vs regular production units and how the regular production "should" have QC be an integral part of the manufacturing process. Obviously, that did not happen right? QC of pre vs regular production have gone down x%. It cannot even be measured it is so high because pre-production had ZERO problems we have now. They might have had others, but NONE of the problems being reported now. Totally disagree with my explanation of the above? <-- had to put a smilie

 

[Elmafuf0]

Ok here's my own thoughts after using it for the weekend. I got the stealth version.
The tubes come as a set and I found out that they don't necessarily interchange. I somehow broke a stem and when I replaced it the draw was weak because of the gap between the two glass pieces. I've found low temperature is not adequate if you're going for big dense clouds I need to heat up to about 400 for that. I was getting mediocre results with smaller amounts of herb, but using cotton to fill up the bottom helps a lot. I like the programmable feature as I start out around 390 for a couple minutes before it bumps up higher.
I also discovered a noticeable gap between the two pieces light shines through: http://imgur.com/WgnxyHw
http://imgur.com/mYObMUv
I ended up wrapping a thick rubber band from a broccoli bunch around the seam. This helped a lot with vapor production. Portability is great. I can literally pack it then ride around on my bike taking stealthy hits and put it back in my bike jersey. I have not found it gets too hot to pocket after use. Taste is awesome though there's some manufacturing taste at the beginning I expect this will fade with more use. There is a way to turn iff the heating after a hit - the options button then the down button stops the heating. All in all satisfied with the purchase. Not quite the workhorse that the Solo is but more practical and travel friendly ( no hot glass tubes to drop or figure out what to do with). I've also owned a Vapir one and original davinci. This blows those two out of the water.

Oh yeah I managed to get a screen inside the four hole glass tube. Bent it a bit then push it down with a bamboo skewer. Fits perfectly stops more herb from getting through.

 

[JCat]

I just got mine today ... and I can see a little white wire way down at the bottom ... I'm not 100% positive this would be in the vapor path generally speaking ... but I will say that there is a possibility of a very minute amount of vapor making its way to this wire and back out ... haven't tried it yet (dead on arrival ... its charging). There's a definite "new vape" smell to it (like new electronics). I'm giving everything a good 99% ISO cleaning before even firing up to do the initial burn off.

Then we'll see ... those wires are definitely troublesome ...

 

[sam reynolds]

I just got mine today ... and I can see a little white wire way down at the bottom ... I'm not 100% positive this would be in the vapor path generally speaking ... but I will say that there is a possibility of a very minute amount of vapor making its way to this wire and back out ... haven't tried it yet (dead on arrival ... its charging). There's a definite "new vape" smell to it (like new electronics). I'm giving everything a good 99% ISO cleaning before even firing up to do the initial burn off.

Then we'll see ... those wires are definitely troublesome ...

Did you try the extend-the-mouthpiece-while-covering-the-glass-screen-and-suck test to see if air is flowing in from the internals?

 

[WakeAndVape]

Did you try the extend-the-mouthpiece-while-covering-the-glass-screen-and-suck test to see if air is flowing in from the internals?

I JUST did mine...and I DO get air even if I cover the holes of the screen with the straw extended...but I dont have any of the other issues and even with the air flow it still functions great and gives me clouds

 

[JCat]

Did you try the extend-the-mouthpiece-while-covering-the-glass-screen-and-suck test to see if air is flowing in from the internals?

I did do this test ... and depending which of the 3 sets of glass tubes I use, I get almost none (face turns red from trying to get air through) but some comes through but not much ... the other 2 a little more ... so like I said ... not much will make it to the wire and back out, as most of the air flow will be drawing through path of least resistance ... still as noted ... definitely of concern. Perhaps just a matter of a longer silicone piece? (The one that snugs on the glass tube with the screen)

 

[berbano]

I'm interested in seeing a video from someone who says they get good clouds who got one from the first batch. We have seen the not so cloudy. If one was already posted I apologize.

 

[grokit]

I JUST did mine...and I DO get air even if I cover the holes of the screen with the straw extended...but I dont have any of the other issues and even with the air flow it still functions great and gives me clouds

That air flow could be coming from through the electronics. If you can see a wire in there there must be an opening in the pathway. To do a proper suck test, you have to be able to cover more than just the holes in the glass screen, because the rubber seal around the screen needs to be completely sealed as well. My thumb could barely do it, maybe a piece of duct tape would work too.

I'm interested in seeing a video from someone who says they get good clouds who got one from the first batch. We have seen the not so cloudy. If one was already posted I apologize.

Mine was from the first batch, but the bowl is so big and none of my combusting friends wants to fill this fucking thing completely when it needs to be packed down. We tried twice and it takes a lot more herb than I think any of us imagined; it's size is deceptively large.

But I tell you what, if I had some herb and a spacer to hold it down it wouldn't matter, and you would have your video.

It's simple to get thick clouds if this is followed, impossible if not:

If you want thick clouds with the ascent, it has to be packed full and tight for the load not to separate from the bottom of the bowl, because the load needs to be in physical contact with it. If you don't want to load the bowl up with 2 - 3 joints worth of material at a time, then you will have to use spacers or cotton to achieve this.

Imo, davinci needs to come up with a solution of their own, because with the way it's set up a (properly-functioning) ascent is a party vape, not a personal one.

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Like I've said my glass bead allows me to do small loads with big clouds! Davinci needs to make a fritted spacer the size of the bowl. This would hold the herb to the bottom and keep bits from entering the air path.

 

[2clicker]

been keeping my eye on this, but think i will look elsewhere moving forward

 

[Pappy]

Had a friendly chat with the Da Vinci rep, very nice fellow. I take my hat off to DV and all other manufacturers who hazard the waters of satisfying critical and demanding vape customers. That's a compliment not an insult! People who use vapes are more intelligent than average potheads to begin with and some members of FC, including some manufacturers, border on genius.

After participating in the launch and reading the critiques that followed my <3 goes out to DV. They've advanced the portable game and have my support and encouragement.

 

[mmenzie]

Had a friendly chat with the Da Vinci rep, very nice fellow. I take my hat off to DV and all other manufacturers who hazard the waters of satisfying critical and demanding vape customers. That's a compliment not an insult! People who use vapes are more intelligent than average potheads to begin with and some members of FC, including some manufacturers, border on genius.

After participating in the launch and reading the critiques that followed my <3 goes out to DV. They've advanced the portable game and have my support and encouragement.

does that mean you are going to give them a shot and get a replacement unit? i have decided to try that route

 

[Stthings]

My brother just called...he had to ring three times before somebody picked up. He asked for a refund and they said someone else would call him back later today to handle it...

[Edit: he got a call back from the original guy, saying to send it back with a tracking number and they'd handle the refund when they got it. No RMA needed.]

That is word-for-word what happened with me. I called 3 times. I asked for the refund. They said the supervisor would call me back, instead the same guy called me back almost immediately and told me to ship it back to the same address, no RMA needed. He handled it very professionally and my hat goes off to him. They're just as frustrated as we all are.

 

[mmenzie]

i wrote to them and asked if i get a replacement unit and i am STILL not happy will the 14 day clock reset and i could still get a refund. i am awaiting to hear back as this is the route i want to go. i really want to give this unit another shot

 

[lookhigh]

I'm now starting to think I should cut my losses and return this unit. I had such high hopes but I can't be eating through herb like this all the time. I guess I'll wait for a efficient and stealthy portable to come out (unless there already is one that I don't know about... time to research I guess)

pinnacle pro?

 

[theCerberus]

I called and spoke to a rep who was quite disappointed mine had a wire in its path. He offered either replacement or refund and I chose replace as I really want to try this thing out. It's tempting me just sitting in that damn box, such a bummer that I never got to use it, so I want a working replacement to finally test it.

I need to call back after work as I didn't have my serial number off hand. I hope this exchange is quick and a good unit shows up within a couple weeks. The annoying part is that it's going to be at least 1 week to USA and 1 week back to Canada

 

[nigel]

But I tell you what, if I had some herb and a spacer to hold it down it wouldn't matter, and you would have your video.

Like I've said my glass bead allows me to do small loads with big clouds! ...This would hold the herb to the bottom and keep bits from entering the air path.

So the bead is kinda a paper-weight, then?

I imagined it as a shelf, raising the bottom up.

In terms of Stick's method, I thought the cotton went on the bottom, but the cotton most likely diffuses the air and gives it a bit more chance to heat up.

I haven't tried either because I haven't had any issue with stuff being sucked up to the screen. I do the garbage-masher (on the detention level) technique of squishing the heck out of it. But then again, I'm a sipper also. (Lower draw).

 

[escierdanyc]

Whoever is in charge of QC, both in China and here stateside should either be fired, or strung up and by DV and if it's the latter, I want vids or it didn't happen.

As someone who has seen the conditions in which Chinese workers live and work under, I'd be careful joking in such a manner when it's considered Slave Labor. These mistakes that people are finding on hand-made vaporizers are disconcerting. It's a little easier to blame a robot rather than a human being who may have been so tired of working under such stress that they may have been careless with glue when assembling these.

I hope for the safety of people using these and for the sake of the laborers, especially if they are making these by hand, let them take their time. This is something that people are inhaling from.

 

[lwien]

As someone who has seen the conditions in which Chinese workers live and work under, I'd be careful joking in such a manner when it's considered Slave Labor.

I should be careful? On the contrary. While I have no doubt that much of the Chinese workforce is working under deplorable conditions, I would be careful in the assumption that ALL of them work under these conditions and there is no proof that DV's manufacturing facilities work under these conditions either. If I were you, I would be very "careful" in making assumptions that may not be true.

Also, I will continue to add humor and comic relief to situations that many would take very seriously, for it does nothing more than add a bit of levity, comic relief and perspective, regardless if you think I should be careful or not.

And for God's sakes, don't take a peek into the Parkinson's or Fuck You threads cause that would really drive you up a wall.

Sheeeesh.................

 

[HMCS.AVENGER]

man you guys are killing me ! I don't read the thread for one day n now I have to read 18 pages !!!

 

[lwien]

man you guys are killing me ! I don't read the thread for one day n now I have to read 18 pages !!!

lol.............no shit. I've been putting up with that for over 4 years here.

 

[mmenzie]

man you guys are killing me ! I don't read the thread for one day n now I have to read 18 pages !!!

i missed for 1 day and it took me 4 days to catch up.... LOL

 

[JCat]

(I'll admit to skimming a little when I fall behind ... it's the best I can do to keep up in a busy world )

 

[grokit]

So the bead is kinda a paper-weight, then?

I imagined it as a shelf, raising the bottom up.

In terms of Stick's method, I thought the cotton went on the bottom, but the cotton most likely diffuses the air and gives it a bit more chance to heat up.

I haven't tried either because I haven't had any issue with stuff being sucked up to the screen. I do the garbage-masher (on the detention level) technique of squishing the heck out of it. But then again, I'm a sipper also. (Lower draw).

I think your understanding of this needs refinement. Sticks very clearly explained that he wraps a nugget in cotton to fill the bowl, to eliminate any "dead air" on the bottom. And similarly, the glass spacer is not a weight; it's a spacer to keep the load held down as it needs to make contact with the bottom of the bowl to produce clouds efficiently. A friend of mine just made a sweet combustion bowl on his lathe out of pipestone, so my next move is to see if he has any small pieces leftover to mess with.

 

[nigel]

Sticks very clearly explained that he wraps a nugget in cotton to fill the bowl,

Yeah, I saw that recent comment about *NUGS*. I was talking about what he originally said a few months back. At one point he said kief cotton-sandwich, which had me thinking more about layers.

IAnd similarly, the glass spacer is not a weight

Sorry, when I said paper-weight, I meant, more of "something put on top of something" than I meant the little glass thing had substantial weight to it. I was clarifying the cube went on top.

So does the bead/cube touch the glass screen (perfect height) or is it just "close enough."

@grokit -- let us know how your pipestone experiment goes!