MrNaturalAZ
Tree hugging dirt worshipper
Cool! Does that improve the seal as well? I'd guess that as many (maybe even more?) people use the "water" adapters with the ascent for solving the air ingress issue as do to connect to actual water devices.
Ascent Vaporizer by DaVinci
- Thread starter Davinci_vaporizer
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Cool! Does that improve the seal as well? I'd guess that as many (maybe even more?) people use the "water" adapters with the ascent for solving the air ingress issue as do to connect to actual water devices.
Well, the silicone adapter fits over the standard mouthpiece. You will still need to retract the mouthpiece about 0.25inches. However you will notice you get better vapor production with the Ascent when you retract the mouthpiece as little as possible (try it for yourself - retract the mouthpiece all the way - you'll get a much smoother airy hit).
I will say the 14mm straight WPA is better for sealing the vapor path, but my silicone adapter is a great alternative
The glass stem we sell is not intended for use by itself. I mean, you could if you wanted too but you might get yourself a mouthful of grinds. Has anyone here used a spacer as a screen and removed the internal stem? Might be a fun way to play with your air flow.. you know for science.
HD Springer
Well-Known Member
I'm all in on experimenting. I placed my order this morning so now I just have to have patience. And I usually have no problem with that. Ha. I'm just trying to eliminate the air passing thrue the slide.
HD Springer
Well-Known Member
WakeAndVape
VapeLife X
A rubber O-ring between stems to create a seal would be dope too, it SEEMS the upper stem doesn't connect to the bottom stem as tight as it could to achieve maximum clouds... @Davinci_vaporizer...would creating a single mouthpiece/stem be difficult? Or would it just not be beneficial for vape production?
We are playing around with different draw configurations right now. I'm really curious to see what you guys think about using a glass spacer as the screen, and not using an internal stem.
KeroZen
Chronic vapaholic
I'm not using my Ascent much lately. Last time I cleaned it, a small chunk of the silicone around the bowl came off. Said silicone has changed color and its texture changed too, it's becoming harder. This is usually a clear sign that the plasticizers are leaching away, as someone else pointed out. It might be food-grade but it doesn't mean it likes repeated high heat applications.
When I got my Ascent I thought it was normal for the silicone to stink when new and people told me it was perfectly fine. Since then I got several other devices that have some silicone in them too and they had no smell when they were new.
The few times I used it after the cleaning, I could clearly taste the silicone in my hits, and this is a more than seasoned device. The FlowerMate 5 Pro has become my favorite daily driver instead: easier to maintain, better battery life, less fragile, cheaper... I'm also a bit spoiled with the Zion beta testing, as the device feels so clean in comparison, like my Firewood does.
I loved my Ascent as it allowed me to fuck combustion, but now I'm afraid the honey moon is over... :/
When I got my Ascent I thought it was normal for the silicone to stink when new and people told me it was perfectly fine. Since then I got several other devices that have some silicone in them too and they had no smell when they were new.
The few times I used it after the cleaning, I could clearly taste the silicone in my hits, and this is a more than seasoned device. The FlowerMate 5 Pro has become my favorite daily driver instead: easier to maintain, better battery life, less fragile, cheaper... I'm also a bit spoiled with the Zion beta testing, as the device feels so clean in comparison, like my Firewood does.
I loved my Ascent as it allowed me to fuck combustion, but now I'm afraid the honey moon is over... :/
WakeAndVape
VapeLife X
I will do it this morning in the name of science! The one thing I did notice about the new spacers from my initial testing was that they don't conduct/transfer heat as well as the glass flowers so there's slightly less clouds...i hope you guys come up with some good stuff! I have some awesome ideals for the ascent as well, where would be the right place to make my awesome ideals heard?
OF
Well-Known Member
I agree, I think it has to do with more surface area per pound in the flower shape (the heat can get to a surface faster), but it's not a lot as you say. IMO unless you need/crave that last bit, the spacers pay you back in the compromise with easier loading?
I agree with you, Ascent is unlike many/most vapes in that it's continuing to evolve. The maker is working hard in our behalf. I like that.
Sorry you're not happy with it (or is that 'no longer happy'?), but unless you know something I don't there're no "plasticizers" in Silicone rubbers, that's something done with stuff like vinyl and other materials that 'dry out'. Catalysts evaporate off after curing by 'sneaking through the chains' of linked rubber over time and temperature. All such rubbers 'stink' when new, the rate they 'clean up' diminishing over time (like the smell in a smoker's closet if you let it 'air out'. The difference between food grade and typical rubbers being the catalyst (IIRC the food grades use Platinum and are more expensive), the basic material being the same. If used within temperature and stress ranges it should not degrade like any other standard material.
I just got a new FM Mini (I don't have other models nor have seen them), and for sure there's a lot to like there. It may lessen my use of Ascent over time (as naturally happens with some of us) but I doubt it'll replace it.
In any event, vaping somehow is the goal. You should find and use gear you like I think. Good luck in that quest......lots of excellent choices out there and more coming to market all the time. How cool is that?
OF
JamesTiberiousKirk
Well-Known Member
I have been very derelict in my duty to report the results with DaVinci's beta glass spacers -combined with the gargantuan glass flower @Vicki sent me two weeks and change ago. I have been harried at work. That is my only excuse.
I find the combo of the spacer 'flat top up' and ginormous glass flower on top to be the thing of dreams.
This combo allows me to put the amount I, personally, need in the heating chamber (i.e. a small amount) and still get the vapor I require, while not needing to let it sit, and return later.
Small amounts + excellent vapor production = Big Win for me, and a big Thank You to @Vicki
I am all ears now about this GrassHopper discussion.
I find the combo of the spacer 'flat top up' and ginormous glass flower on top to be the thing of dreams.
This combo allows me to put the amount I, personally, need in the heating chamber (i.e. a small amount) and still get the vapor I require, while not needing to let it sit, and return later.
Small amounts + excellent vapor production = Big Win for me, and a big Thank You to @Vicki
I am all ears now about this GrassHopper discussion.
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
JamesTiberiousKirk
Well-Known Member
I am taking care of my glass flower like an orphan. I would love to know where to get a replacement when the inevitable happens and I do something stupid.
mixchu69
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, the glass flower you sent me came broken. Thanks Vicki for the kind gesture.
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
That made me so angry. It's things like this that cause me to have no faith in the USPS.
I'm really sorry. I packed all the flowers exactly the same, but it always seems to be a crap shoot with the USPS.
WakeAndVape
VapeLife X
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
WakeAndVape
VapeLife X
Hope you feel better! And we look forward to the pics
OF
Well-Known Member
I've been in bed sick since yesterday, but I will try to get the pics today.
Hope you feel better! And we look forward to the pics
Amen to that. First things first, please get your health squared away before you start looking for the camera. Photos we can get just about anywhere, Vicki, OTOH...........
OF
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KeroZen
Chronic vapaholic
I don't claim to be a materials expert but for one, it's very misleading to call silicone a "rubber" as it's technically a plastic, like all resin polymers. Then if you check the "Handbook of Plasticizers Ch11" that is available here: http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/files.php?pid=247355&aid=18568 you will see on page 357 (page 85 in PDF) that there is quite a long list of plasticizers commonly used with silicone, including the now banned phtalates and many other horrors.
We're not supposed to discuss materials safety in the vaporizer review threads as per the forum rules, and as I stated before, we SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ALL BECOME MATERIALS EXPERTS when just using vaporizers, but unfortunately it's the feeling I have, especially with all these portables coming from China. We end up having to read about the safety of X or Y and determine if it's good enough for our liking, and I pretty much dislike this aspect.
So plasticizers or not, when a material aspect and texture change over time like I'm seeing here (color change and becoming harder and brittle, losing chunks) it's a clear sign, at least in the case of plastics, that some of the components leached away.
And when you can taste or smell a material, it also means that there are free molecules escaping and becoming airborne and reaching your nostrils and taste buds. I have other vapes with silicone inside and they don't smell. All Ascent users in this thread complained that their device smelled when new, this is a fact. With mine after a while the smell was barely noticeable and it was fine but after having switched to other devices and coming back to it, and with the newly exposed surface (the part where the chunk was) I can clearly smell/taste it again.
Is it safe? I don't know. Safer than combustion? Most probably. But that was not necessarily the point. I just wish they used either a better quality silicone or a completely different material altogether. And I hope they won't use it everywhere in their next device. It might be a placebo effect, but when I use my Zion or my Firewood, which have wood, stainless steel, nichrome and glass as the only materials, it feels much healthier, and both of these devices had STRICTLY NO SMELL when new and didn't develop any over time.
It is on topic if you are discussing the odour and taste of a new Ascent and the reasons for it. The general safety of silicones or rubber or any material is not. Anyone who wants to talk about silicone safety is welcome to start a thread in Vaporization Discussion, or better yet find one that already exists.
Amoreena
Grown up Flower Child
I got my Ascent from a local retailer in March, 2014, filled the chamber and used it several times a day until late August. It was not the right vaporizer for me, but it never smelled.
Your comment that "... when you can taste or smell a material, it also means that there are free molecules escaping and becoming airborne and reaching your nostrils ..." makes sense, IMO. I've read that folks who worry about germs should protect their toothbrushes from matter which flushing a toilet adds to bathroom air.
JamesTiberiousKirk
Well-Known Member
"toilet adds to bathroom air" is part a inescapable functionality of bathrooms.