Best of the Firefly Vaporizer thread

[mitchgo61]

So it's coming cleaning time for the Fly.. After ~2 months of regular use, I've gotten by with iso-wiping the surface areas, including removing the screen and cleaning the plate. This keeps it in seemingly good shape, but I'm wondering if I need to get more thorough.

The manual says that to "clean" the mouthpiece, you simply scrape and poke at it with the handy stir pick that's included.. But logic (and vision) tells me there definitely buildup happening in there that could use a scrubbing.

How deep is everyone cleaning? And how often? I see it takes some hex screws to remove the panel.. Which reminds me I need to go out and pick up an allen wrench set, just in case

Both of my FF's get cleaned after each day's use (I alternate them, so every other day for each). Basically every three full loads I give it a full iso wipe down and clean every surface. I get the mouthpiece clean by using a pick to get out any visible debris (and blow!), and get a paper towel damp with iso in there by rolling it into a small point. (You can kinda shove it into both the mouth hole and the little exposed top slot.) Honestly, you shouldn't need to remove the top plate to keep the mouthpiece clean...although regularly cleaning that part out, along with the rest of the exposed vapor paths, will make it a lot easier to maintain and keeps the airflow unobstructed.

The screws on the top plate use the Torx 5 or 6, can't remember which one (I think the 6, and the 5 works on the port window assembly). If you get a full set you'll be covered. Just remember once you remove the plate, any malfunction that may occur when you re-assemble technically voids the warranty...and you will have to re-assemble the bowl/ceramic plate/metal plate assembly since it's held in place by the pressure of the top plate...once removed that assembly will move freely and you may have difficulty getting the pieces to re-align correctly.

If you've never looked at the tear-down photos on this page, check em out before you proceed. http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/the-firefly-vaporizer.11365/page-81#post-549916

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[fogbank]

I've been meaning to bring this up but kept forgetting...

In the discussions of techniques to get vapor from the Firefly, have we ever discussed the time taken between hits? I know that @Vitolo has said he never stirs, only shakes, and so do I. I never open the lid during a session, nor do I pause between hits long enough to let the unit cool down. To me the Firefly is not a great "hit it once and leave it" vaporizer. A full session is required each time, with a few hits at the beginning to "prime" the thermal mass, followed by strong vapor-producing hits until it is depleted. It seems like the few times I've been interrupted, I wasn't ever able to fully recover and extract the remainder of the bowl efficiently.

I'm wondering if those who have trouble getting good vapor from the Firefly are waiting too long between hits? Or they're removing the lid to stir the load, losing thermal mass etc...?

 

[Volteric]

I received my unit back along with the free replacement lid. Having a little distance from the unit was a good aid to reapproach the FF with a "beginners mind" It's interesting how we all go down differing paths with varying results--most of which demonstrate how worthy this device is.

I took some material and hand tore it. This time I didn't bother much with finely shredding it but really just hand tearing some little medium morsels. It worked like a champ and I realized that I get way better, smoother and more flavorful tokes if the material is really dry. So for me it's not just draw speed, baskets, top screens, grind and dryness of herb-but all of these variables and each variable in light of the others like Indra's Jeweled Net. Dry herb takes less preheat. Moist bud longer preheat. Hand tear less debris. Finer grind more debris but better flavor. I think the combinations of these variables lend to this device to be a steeper learning curve than anything else I've used.

I ordered the Aroma Pads for the Herbalizer to try concentrates in the FF. I'll report back.

@mckeen- I definitely notice the FF being less harsh on the lungs over the Pax. While I get better flavor hits with the PAX (first 3-6 hits on medium and the last 2-3 on high) it clearly is hotter on the throat and lungs. If I take flavor and the on the go stealth factor into consideration I still prefer the Pax, but for fast, less harsh, fairly reliable, highly effective medicine delivery system I prefer the FF. In short, for whatever it's worth for the upteenth time, I must have both devices for overlapping and differing reasons. This might explain why most of us have multiple vapes and are always lusting for new ones!

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

New poster and new vaper here, loving the Firefly so far. Two questions I have for you guys with more experience though. Does leaving it on cause any significant battery drain with the LED? And also, I've noticed my Mendo Mulcher has a rather course grind, should it still be fine with the Firefly?

Your FF will turn off after (I think) 10 minutes of non-use. Maybe it's 5 or 15 I'm a little too drunk to remember but I think it's 10.

IME, you won't notice any difference if you forget to turn it off or not. I don't believe anything significant is happening until you engage the button.

The Mendo will probably be fine. Many of us Fireflys like a coarse grind, and some don't grind at all. It should be fine, but why not try a finger grind or a finer grind and see how it works for you?

Welcome aboard!

 

[mitchgo61]

According to the creators, mass was a conscious design decision.

Though mass itself isn't addressed, they do discuss the challenge of achieving the heat levels necessary without it "exploding in the user's face"...a challenge I assume is related to mass. In any event, this is well worth reading for any FF fan who may have missed it...

http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/why-an-apple-developer-quit-his-job-to-invent-the-tesla-of-toking-up-read-more-httpwww-businessinsider-comsilicon-valley-vape-marijuana-tobacco-tesla-firefly-2014-2ixzz2tcw8p8z0/

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[mitchgo61]

Perhaps she was just trying to "seal the deal" with a new Firefly customer...who knows. Either way, I am stoked for the arrival of my Firefly (and Lotus)!

I'm sure she was being truthful. They told me back in January that they had no immediate plans for a 2.0 version, and they were focussed on shipping and servicing the current device. (In fact the person I spoke to laughed heartily when I mentioned a 2.0 version.)

On a related note, here's a must-read for FF fans. A photo tour of some of the stages of building the device. Far from comprehensive but pretty damned interesting.

http://www.supercompressor.com/home/photo-tour-of-how-and-where-the-firefly-vaporizer-is-made

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[Volteric]

In case anyone was wondering what I mean by hand torn, loosely packed and overflowing the bowl. This is what has given me thee best results to date.*

*Technique always subject to change and improvement

2 huge puff/clouds later

From here I will finger grind this down to expose more surface area....

Then
2 more huge puffs/clouds....

I'd get 2 more puffs clouds from here and for me it's spent/cashed after that.

 

[letter never sent]

Here are my very first impressions of the silver Firefly unit I just received:

The packaging is very Apple-esque, nice presentation. The build quality of the unit is good. I like the size and weight of it in my hand. My only nitpicks so far would be that the heating button feels a little cheap for the price, and the battery door could close more securely. Also, the screen seems to move around easily, and there's a slight gap between the glass bowl and the (ceramic? stainless steel?) plate the screen sits on. This seems like a potential spot for bud to get stuck in, but I'll have to read up on the design more to understand better. The 45 minute charging time was impressive.

I ground up .1g of Bubblegum to the same consistency I always use (medium fine from a small Space Case). I loosely packed it in the bowl and turned the unit on. I first held the button down for around 8 seconds to preheat the device, followed by a second button push where I waited a few seconds and then inhaled for around 10 seconds. I took 7 or 8 draws in total, slightly varying the amount of time I held the button down, as well as my draw speed, each time. I tapped the unit a few times throughout the session to promote even extraction. Does anyone think doing this could potentially mess with the heating coil alignment?

Overall, I got solid clouds, and the flavor was good. On some hits, I think I pushed the button a bit too long for my liking, resulting in vapor that was a little too hot and a little too toasted taste wise. I did not seem to approach combustion temperatures at any time. The resulting ABV was pretty evenly cooked, and there was no charring. I'd say it was fairly similar in appearance to ABV from the Herbalizer.

Perhaps most important is that the effects have been profound. I'm actually a bit too stoned for my liking right now, which is what would have happened if I took the same amount of hits in a row from my Herbalizer. I'm sure the unfamiliar vape signature is playing a role here, as well as the fact that I haven't used marijuana in nearly a week (I typically vape daily), but it's impressive nonetheless. It does appear as though the unit is utilizing a significant deal of convection, which is much more efficient than conduction IME. I wouldn't have been anywhere close to this high if I took 7 draws from my Solo.

I feel like keeping the unit 100% spotless will be a challenge, as bud seems to make its way into all the little crevices in the bowl and lid. However, it'd be pretty quick and simple to wipe the unit down after each session. Is it no problem to wipe the device down with some ISO on a microfiber cloth? It looks like the magnetic lid features some sort of rubber (or is it silicone? either way, I'm hoping the material used is high temp resistant), so I wonder if getting ISO on that part could become an issue. For now, the brush works well enough for cleaning. I already use a similar brush that came with a beard trimmer.

In sum, my initial impressions are pretty positive, and I'm looking forward to experimenting a bit more. Will report back.

 

[mitchgo61]

Also, the screen seems to move around easily, and there's a slight gap between the glass bowl and the (ceramic? stainless steel?) plate the screen sits on. This seems like a potential spot for bud to get stuck in, but I'll have to read up on the design more to understand better. The 45 minute charging time was impressive.


I feel like keeping the unit 100% spotless will be a challenge, as bud seems to make its way into all the little crevices in the bowl and lid. However, it'd be pretty quick and simple to wipe the unit down after each session. Is it no problem to wipe the device down with some ISO on a microfiber cloth? It looks like the magnetic lid features some sort of rubber (or is it silicone? either way, I'm hoping the material used is high temp resistant), so I wonder if getting ISO on that part could become an issue. For now, the brush works well enough for cleaning. I already use a similar brush that came with a beard trimmer.

1. There's an o-ring between the bottom of the glass bowl and the stainless steel plate; this prevents debris from falling onto the heating coil or inside the unit. If you brush very gently under the bowl you can keep it clean...be gentle and don't press on the o-ring. I personally like the Iolite Wspr 7 hole discs as a replacement for the bottom screen, but not everyone loves 'em.

2. The seal is silicone and yes you can use iso on it but I keep it very minimal...just a slightly damp paper towel wiped very gently against the seal. Lighter, more frequent cleans are preferable to less-frequent, heavier cleanings...you don't wanna have to use too much iso or be abrasive on the seal.

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

I need something for times when I am outside of the house, and just want to take 2-3 hits and get on with my day without a great deal of maintenance. Any positive/negative experiences or extra info that ya'll would like to share with a potential buyer?

The FF can definitely be used in this way. I do it all the time. You do need a little privacy though. Not for long, but a little bit. And maybe a stirring / mashing tool.

I just keep a tool and a mini brush in my JyARz with my extra herbs. Always good to have a little extra, in case you meet a special someone who likes herbs...

The FF CAN be carried around in your pocket and seem natural. But, as far as pants go, you need to be wearing pants that fit well, or be wearing a belt, due to the weight. Tight pants and small pockets would be a bad idea. Jeans, slacks, cargo pants, and track pants (tied up well) have worked okay for me.

Since you're a low-consumption user, you would probably not need more than two batts, possibly one - although specific numbers would be needed to confirm, of course. I only ever need one battery, but I keep an extra in the car. Hell, I usually only need one bowl of 100 % legal herbs in my FF for the day.

If you'd have access to electrical outlets, the external charger is a nice way to subtly charge up.

It sure as shit ain't perfect for outside the home, but now that I've gotten used to those early flavor hits of the FF, I'm afraid no other portable will do, outside the home, for now.

But I still strongly prefer using the FF at home instead, and am always actively looking for something to replace it for out there so that I don't have to endanger it by making it leave the house. The Elevape SV looks interesting and I might pick it up out of curiosity, even though I don't much care for its vibe.

I hate to say it, but if you're looking for something to use ONLY out of the house, I'm not sure I'd recommend the FF. Maybe, but I'd look around first, for sure. And definitely read the entire thread.

Do you experience any burning of the bud or bad odour, or difficulty cleaning certain parts of it?

Portability is at the top of my requirement list for a portable vape (believe it or not..) so the firefly looks good!

Anyone who owns a shit-ton of vapes and can swear by the FF over the apparently more 'user friendly' Solo?

Couldn't be much easier to clean. Can make it look like new, other than a few ISO streaks on the inside.

The FF ain't the most portable, but with a couple restrictions, it can be a really great experience. It is certainly not for any on-the-go situation though.

Sometimes I'll still "char" my material a bit if I get a really leafy piece of 100 % legal herb in there. Or if I forget at what point I'm at with the session. Rare, once you find your groove.

I have a Solo and an FF, and I use them both every day. I would never use the Solo during the day, and I'd never use the FF to finish off my material at the end of the night. I use them completely differently. If I had to choose one, I'd choose the FF... and then buy some other vape that utilized at least some conduction. The Solo is a great vape, but for me... it's just a reliable tool. The FF, meanwhile, IMO, offers a much more unique vaping experience. And it just looks so fucking cool.

Are FFs all different or do they just often make small changes to continue to improve their product?

It seems as though minor tweeks are continuing to occur.



Been using an FF every day since late December.

 

[mitchgo61]

It is worth keeping in mind that they've been through at least their share of first gen issues (mostly consistency and performance, not design) so it's been useful to be patient and remember how good the service is....(I've purchased two but been through five, for one example)...

Wait, maybe I should make that six...

Looks like my new Red FF, which worked like a champ for about 12 hits, has a very weird and very persistent issue. You can put a freshly charged battery in it, and by hit 3 it throws a red "dead batt" light about 18 seconds in. Toggle off, hit again, you get about 11 seconds of heating. Walk away from it for ten minutes and you get another 18 second hit before a red light appears. Take the same battery, put it in my Silver FF, and it works fine and continues for another 20+ hits. This with all three of my batteries and either adapter.

I'm guessing there's something wrong with the circuit board somewhere causing the FF to mistakenly throw a red light and shut down even when there's plenty of juice. This is something that should've been caught in testing, but obviously wasn't. I have an email into Shelby. Poor woman, probably sick of hearing from me!

The good news for Deja Vu and everyone else is that my disproportionate bad luck with FFs (track record now, two bad ones for every one that works correctly) is lowering the chances of you guys getting a bad unit. (The law of averages is killing me, but maybe it's in your favor now!) Must be my karma....I haven't really gotten upset or frustrated, I'm ok with the first gen issues, and I guess if FF has to nail anyone over and over again it might as well be their biggest fan.

Too bad, because for that first half-session it was working better than any FF I've used so far. Hopefully whatever replacement I get will work similarly...they seem to have improved the product in places. Except for QC testing, I guess! Um, onward....

 

[Trogdor]

So I finally got off my ass long enough to go the post office and pick up the torx bit I needed. I decided to snap a picture of the lid disassembled while i had the chance, and once I'm all done grinding I can start trying to fit the lotus WPA into the hole.

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Hello, fellow FF enthusiasts...

Time for one of EDA's random FF check-ins.

So, I worked close to 50 hours this weekend for my friend's catering company - which, I might add, is a little humiliating, considering my former / pseudo-current profession(s).

ANYWAY, I worked all over this damn town. Country clubs, senior centers, private residences, and even at the home base where I cooked / prepared / "plated" / delivered the meals for the local jail. I swapped out the planned stale cookie dessert for fresh peach cobbler that day...

My FF was with me, every step of the way - and I do mean EVERY step because it was virtually always in my pocket. And my external charger was pretty much always plugged in!

And sometimes "honesty" is the most stealthy maneuver - I simply said I needed to recharge my battery and left it at that. No one said anything about it - not even the owners of the homes I was bartending at! Was so nice to just be able to swap batteries AND never have to recharge through the FF. No downtime.

Although it was kind of annoying that I kept yelling out "I need three orders of Fireflies dropped!" I kept thinking FF meant Firefly, not french fries.

So, if you are a lightweight user, you can really make the FF work as an on-the-go portable. Limitations, certainly, but it's not as awkward as some might think so long as you have some moments of privacy, and it sure is a whole lot of fun.

And yeah, I made sure to wear a belt! It's not too big or heavy in the pocket, but you'll sure know it's there... I even balanced it out by having a brush / stirrer and two JyARz in another pocket - one for ABV, which I brought home to finish off in the Solo. Efficiency!

And now that I've become used to the taste of those initial flavor hits from the FF ... well, you know.

But I'm going to try, because my new ESV (Elevape Smart Vaporizer) arrives tomorrow! I will certainly be writing up a thorough review between these two high-profile portables. I imagine that there will be more than a few interested in any sort of FF vs. ESV comparisons from anyone - even me!

Really, I'm just hoping the ESV works well enough so that I am able to keep my FF at home. I find it so much more enjoyable to use at home...

After 8 months, I am still amazed that a vaporizer of the FF's size can create convection hits so quickly at such a great flavor point. Its initial flavor hits are probably the best I've had from any vape I've tried.

And for the record, I would certainly like to try the FF through water, but as others have said, it's not really necessary. I don't think anyone in the thread has ever mentioned an actual NEED for water? Would be a cool accessory though, if not TOO pricey.

-Firefly Fanboy #2 (I think @mitchgo61 holds the #1 spot ... )

 

[mitchgo61]

I got my Iolite Wispr screens today for my Firefly. I noticed the Wispr screen is about 1/2 as fine in that the holes on the Wispr screen mesh are twice as big as the stock Firefly screen. Won't that let more product to fall into the heating unit and cause problems ? I'm holding off putting it in as it works so perfectly as it is.

Yes, the Iolite screen has a slightly larger mesh. If your material is finely-ground you may get a little more debris. If you use a coarser grind, it won't make a material difference. And it's mitigated by the ease of removal...you can pop the disc out easily after every bowl and blow out anything on the plate.

Let's clear up a couple things though. 1. Stuff that falls under the screen or the Iolite disc is extremely unlikely to cause problems especially if you clean it out once in a while. There's a silicon gasket between the bottom of the bowl and the plate and it really keeps the vast majority of stuff out of the heater chamber. So don't worry about whatever may get under the screen...just clean it every few bowls and blow the crap out of there. Unless there's a break in the seal, that stuff isn't going anywhere but the steel plate.

2. Some of us like the Wispr screens because they make it easier to clean via fast removal...the stock screens work great, but they are a little small, and the edges degrade with repetitive removal and eventually they don't work as well because they don't cover the whole plate as they get a little degraded. So for me personally I like the ease of the Iolite discs because I like to clean the FF daily, and daily removal of the stock screen was destroying it. To be clear, the stock screen, when in new or good condition, performs at least as well or better than the Iolite. And the Iolite will eat up some space in the bowl, a tiny but noticeable amount as Steama mentioned.

If you want the best possible performance, a brand new FF stock screen is likely your best bet. If you want convenience for cleaning and removal, and performance as or nearly as good as the stock the Iolite is great. (Give it a try and see if you like it...if not, remove it, blow out the debris, put back the stock screen....) If you're worried about causing issues with debris on the plate, don't, it's designed well nothing should hit the heating coil.

Now get out there and compare, so we can hear what you think.

 

[maxe]

Ok, so I've had this baby around a month now and I've learnt a few things, many of you will know these things already but it may just confirm what we already know.

First is we have experimented with a few things, sucking too hard on the FF just doesn't work and it also sucks the product into the 12 channels, which in turn blocks the FF and you certainly wont get big clouds when you do that!

Best results we found were sucking long and slow and mixing up breath control up to resistance occasionally and breathing in through the nose then sucking again, being a didgeridoo player would certainly help with this technique IMO.

I was into shaking the FF between hits after a while but I found this was blocking up the 12 channels, along with under packing the bowl also, this will hinder your ability to produce clouds, so I don't recommend it, definitely best to stoke after every hit or 2 I think.

As for cleaning the FF I am yet to use the ISO wipes, I just use the brush to clean out the bowl, as for the lid best results are had just rinsing it off under a hot tap for 20 seconds or so, all resin will melt away and go down the drain and the 12 channels instantly unblocked, simple and avoids any mess.

I woke up several times during the night extremely dehydrated and also early in the morning after heavy vaping the previous night, I recommend having a glass of water before you go to sleep, if not a couple whilst you are vaping wouldn't help either.

Oh, and if you only have 1 battery like I do make sure you have a power point handy at all times.

 

[Karmaesque]

I am still experimenting but sharing the following so far.

I would also like to add that the FF is super clean due to the simple design. So far no combustion! After almost having it for 2 weeks I currently use it the following way:

1) Medium/fine grind (more medium than fine)
2) Fill it up a little over the edge of the bowl and press it very slightly.
3) Keep the heat button for 7 sec on including a 3 sec inhale and then release (only during a cold startup.)
4) Press the button again and start drawing ever slightly (like sipping tea) but constant. You will discover that you can feel the resistance and ideally you should find a constant easy and long inhale with no resistance. I inhale for 30 sec (this where it automaticly switches off and results in big hits) and continue for another 5 sec. Before inhaling I take a couple of breaths.

I get a total of 5 or 6 hits in total (based on my current extremely low quality and dry stash) with a quick shake in between.
1st on is the tastiest with least amount of visual vapor
2nd and 3rd produce the biggest visual vapours and stay tasty
4th, 5th and 6th slowly reduces vapour. Taste also reduces.

This gets me over and above the place I need to be so usually I divide this into 2 sessions.

Going back to the experiment! The sacrifice one has to make...

Q: Does a big vapour hit represent a good quality vape method. Or is less vapour a good indication? Do I want to bring the temperature as high as possible without combustion or should I discover lower temperatures in order to extract something else? Any general rules for this?

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Well boys and girls, this is a rare occurrence, but I must speak to the longevity of the FF batteries.

I have one battery I've never used, still in storage. I imagine it's as good now as it was when it was sent.

The other two batts, the ones I've had for 10 and 9 months respectively, are really, REALLY showing their wear, at this point.

The 10 month-old, lasts less than 10 medium hits at this point. The other, probably about twice as long, maybe a little less. Any way you look at it, they are entirely unsuitable for away-from-home use at this point.

Not bad, but I think it is a testament to that fact that FF batteries WILL need to be replaced. $30 bucks is a fair price, IMO. But to think that the first few batts you buy will last you forever... well, I hope you're not under that impression.

Still, got to love the fact these batts are so affordable, last a good while, and are entirely replaceable by the user.

They are not, however, immortal.

 

[letter never sent]

I gotta say, for me the firefly is the most effort-free battery-powered portable vape I've experienced.
It reminds me of a glass pipe but way cleaner, and the maintenance is simple as pie.

I like the glass pipe comparison, that's how it feels for me too.

Personally, I don't stir all that often. I'll shake the unit around every once in a while, but I don't really feel the need to stir. I use a pretty loose pack, medium grind. An average bowl for me is probably .075-.1g.

The flavor is significantly better than the Solo even without stirring IMO. The first few hits I get with a fresh bowl, when the unit is cold and I'm only holding the button down for 5-7 seconds at a time, are absolutely sublime. The best I've ever experienced.

Cleaning is a breeze. I love the design, particularly the fully exposed vapor path. The aluminum body feels great. The heater button is a bit cheap and can be finicky, but I've mostly grown accustomed to it. My only other gripes with the construction are that the screen can be annoying and the o-ring situation feels a little delicate. I'm always worried I'll knock something out of place while cleaning. Fortunately, I haven't had much of an issue with debris getting into the device.

Overall, I'm really happy with the Firefly. It serves my specific needs and style of vaping very well. The battery life isn't great and having to keep on top of charging the unit can sometimes feel like a chore. However, I don't really use my FF enough for it to be a huge issue. The desktop is my daily driver. At least it charges fast.

So yeah, hats off to the folks at Firefly. This is a great vaporizer. The customer service seems to be on point as well, let's hope that continues!

 

[Shit Snacks]

@Ratchett your work has been incredible dude! I will definitely be ordering a Firefly SonG with my Indica SonG. Too fantastic portables finally able to connect directly into 18mm waterpipe!!!

Ive been having nice results with my Firefly so far. No combustion ever, but also it seems like I don't get an extraction temp much higher than like 385 I think (is that the set temp?) which is fine for me actually. That's probably my ideal temp if there's no temp settings, and I have the Elevape/T1/Underdog for higher temp extraction anyway, its nice to have convection vape that is simple and reliably produces the headier effects that I particularly enjoy. Here's a pic of my Firefly AVB on the right with roughly the same amount of Indica AVB on the left for reference:

In the Indica i started at at the bottom (340F) and worked my way up to the top (410F). Stopped both bowls after the clouds mostly subsided. So unsurprisingly the Indica has a deeper extraction with the higher temp range and session conduction heating.

I've also found a similar grind to be effective in each, in the SC shredder (though Indica does better if the grind is a but on the fine side, and FF a bit on the coarse side). I did try bigger chunks, and smaller chunks, and even like a crumble grind my hand, and I definitely get the best hits with a regular grind. A lot of this is bc a lot of stirring is required the bigger the pieces are, making it hard to get good hits sometimes.

The system ive been using this week is filling decently full, and patting down a little to help prevent clogs a little. However when you draw, those pathways inevitably do get a little clogged. So after each hit I kinda smack the top in my hand to shake off any herb stick to the lid/pathways (and it helps stir a tad kinda too). ofcourse this can't get all of the stick herb, so draw can still be restrictive, but I never really have trouble finishing the bowl this way. For an especially full pack though, I will open it once for a stir before finishing it off a few hits later.

I like this system even if it is imperfect, since the stirring with the FF is more annoying than the Elevape with its much smaller lid and wider bowl. Emptying the load is pretty easy though, pour it out, then rub off the stuck herb on the lid and in the pathway with my finger before blowing any remaining scraps away. Yes its still dirty, but I haven't had to clean it just yet deapiye using it every night which is great, since I'm someone who doesn't like to have to deal with cleaning too often. Though I won't wait too much longer since I know it will only make it harder to clean.

Taste has been pretty nice with the instant heat and materials. The ceramic heating element+glass bowl+steel path is definitely better than the Elevape's titanium coil+steel mesh screen+aluminum bowl/path, and since it keeps to a lower temp it can maintain it better as well even without stirring. However with my Indica on low temps, especially beginning of a bowl, it is almost on par actually. It has that same steel taste ever so slightly, but mostly pretty pure despite no glass or ceramic. What sets them apart is the firefly's on demand convection, so that can give it a taste edge over the Indica.

The Indica can also have harsh hits with its conduction and short vapor path, but Firefly's path is quite short too, so its pretty easy for me to get a big harsh hit that I have difficulty holding in. The Elevape does a bit better at keeping the hits cool with its on demand vapor. I believe it may have something to do with the FFs on switch, which sets it to a low standby temp (correct?) vs the Elevape's instantaneous heat up when you being to draw. So the Firefly gets hotter in use. Also worth noting, the Firefly does use quite a bit of plastic for its body, but it seems to be of very high quality.

All in all, I'm pretty satsifed with the purchase so far, even though I had no need for it. Its become a nice home portable for me, when I want convection but I'm not in the mood to fire up the Underdog (and I try not to use the T1 too often since Thermovape shut down), while Indica remains my go to portable overall (especially out and about). Can definitely see my Solo becoming obsolete now, with the Firefly as a home portable and the Indica on the go (and home too actually...) even though Solo's heating style is kind of in between the two. It can't match the Elevape's portability and overall ease of use though, especially once they improve their screens/stirring which is supposed to happen soon. But as a more home-based, constant temp, and tastier on demand convection portable, the Firefly sure is a fun new toy and really does feel like an old school glass spoon pipe which is doubly neat!

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

I'm still working with technique to preserve battery life. I'm finding that having a light touch with the trigger helps a lot. would you mind describing your technique in some detail? I would greatly appreciate it.

Well I can tell you what works for me. Kinda hard to truly explain because it’s more like a “natural oneness” now and I feel as though I’m just doing “what feels right,” as opposed to using a “technique.” Whatever the case, it happens to lead to light battery usage, it seems.

It’s all about timing, timing, timing (and additional timing). And a light touch on the trigger will sure go a long way as well. And of course, extra frosty herbs sure do help…

This is my manner of usage when using ground material.

I do almost zero preheat. The moment before I know the heater is going to begin glowing, I put the FF to my soft, pillowy lips because I know the heater will be ready for me by the time I start inhaling.

With ground material, my hit is pretty slow at first to let the heater get/stay caught up, then faster as it reaches full operational heat, and then I maintain this speed if early on in the bowl, or slow down a bit as the bowl progresses. This all happens very quickly.

I don’t ever lean on the button for the full 30 seconds until near the end of the bowl. Mine are more like 10 or 12 seconds overall, including the pseudo-warmup. IME, there is a significant couple/few seconds of residual heat after you release the button that can help you continue your hit, and should be put to advantage.

If near the end of the bowl, I do wait longer before I start inhaling, and I will also break from inhaling for a couple seconds, then inhale again, then break, etc., for a full 30 seconds. Using this method at the end, my ABV gets to about as dark as I’d want it to – to push it any further would mean I’d probably want some water to hit through, so that’s when I dump it out and save it to hit through the HI, these days. I'm a convection-only sort of guy now.

With a FF battery, every second of usage really counts. Something to keep in mind.

I think the real key here is controlling the level/speed of inhalation so that you don’t have to lean on the battery as much. I’ve said it before and I stand by it now – that when you’re learning, or training for better battery life, exhale next to a spotlight if you can. It really helped me get a better idea in the beginning of how much vapor I was actually creating as opposed to just depending on natural light or basic overhead lights.

I always end up with quite even ABV. As even as say using my HI. I usually stir it once, if using ground material.

The FF is really just a wonderful vape that syncs up perfectly with my style of usage. We were made for each other. Well, it was made for me, anyway.

And, when it comes down to it, I just don’t take nearly as many hits as the other regular posters here, it seems. Best not to forget that. I’m a total lightweight. Use about 0.25g per day, often less, never more. And I’m medicated all day, from the moment I wake up to the moment I stumble drunkenly to bed.

When away from home and using the FF, I usually vape only three bowls worth, with battery to spare.

If I have forgotten anything or you’d like some clarification, let me know. I’m pretty blitzed right now. I’ll probably add to it tomorrow.

And don't forget that it seems just about all FF users use theirs a bit differently...

 

[fernand]

On the lid, the tolerances are tight, it's metal and retains a shape. Which is why some of them might fit a little looser. If you slowly apply (a lot of) force with your fingers you can ever so slightly bend it inward so it presses a bit harder against the chassis. It doesn't take much, a couple thousandths. Or you can add all sorts of "friction devices", say a piece of tape.


FWIW, here is some documentation. Let's start with 0.050 g of 20%+ herb. That's 50 milligrams, 1/20th of a gram.

At 20% assay, that contains 10 mg of THC, assuming full decarboxylation and extraction.
Plus luscious Terpenes and Flavanoids for max therapeutic effect. So in it goes.

After a little heat, shaking between tokes, sometimes breaking up the pieces with finger,
the vapestoffe has been transmuted.

The basket is useful to have, for all sorts of things, but not essential for
normal vaping of dry herb, even for small amounts. It's great for vertical use.

Liquid pad about to be fired. This is fine brass wool, stainless steel is better.

As to H2O adapters, a piece of run of the mill 1/2" ID tubing from the hardware store works.
The tubing can also make a sideways adapter, as for the phone-home stealth method.

Vape on!

 

[fernand]

Wow, let's think this through. If there's a stream of hot air coming in from the bottom, it's inevitable that it will tunnel to some degree. It seems to me that there are ways to get a very even ABV.

One is a combination of convection/conduction. That's how I interpret the even ABV on my Solo. I'm not getting charred bits on my FireFly. If I fill the bowl, I try to get the bowl hot enough to give a combination convection/conduction effect. That means not drawing in cold air between button-pushes.

Or I can open it once halfway and stir the load with a pair o' tweezers.

But my favorite way is to not overfill the bowl and let the stuff fly around. Shake and tap it, and let the popcorn machine effect handle all the chores. As long as I leave a little oil on the lid channels as a trap, no powder ever makes it past the mouthpiece. Below is what I mean by "leaving a little oil". As you can see, there's no gunk or particulate in the cooling channels.

But then, I can't see the point of roasting the herb anyway. I want to vaporize the oils, not approximate combustion. YMMV, but I don't find anything worthwhile in that last fraction.

 

[mitchgo61]

I have lost track of which number FF I am on, and which color is which number. But I have noticed two things about my two current devices (my red, which is from August, and my silver, which is from November)...both have the following odd behavior:

1. When a battery drains in the FF, it throws a red light for a few seconds, and then the red light goes out. Toggling on and off will not produce any light...the FF must be connected to AC to get a light.

2. On a fresh charge, every single time, the first hit causes a false red light. EG, mid-first hit, red light comes on, heat shuts down. Toggle off/on, green comes back, rest of battery charge is normal. This happens with both devices, every time I take the first hit on a fresh charge, irrespective of battery. I think EDA has experienced something similar.

I've also noticed my two most used batteries have about half of their original lives...I maybe get 15 long hits, tops, from each. I still have three new ones unopened, but being a cheap bastard I've been trying to avoid breaking them out while I use up my old ones. The pain of constant draining is just about to eclipse my tight-fistedness.

I don't know if the weird light behavior presages catastrophic failure. My last silver completely died after a few weeks of odd light issues...so I fully expect one or both if these to fail sooner rather than later. I hope I'm wrong...the Silver is only 8 weeks old.

 

[WisconsinJake]

Greeting all FFs, (Firefly friends) Curiously enough, my Firefly which I purchased in May, and which I use daily, ceased to function on the exact day of the Firefly 1st anniversary. A cosmic bummer, fer sure. I communicated with Caroline at Firefly in order to orchestrate a warranty return/replacement. She checked my unit's serial number against their database to ensure that my unit was not one of the counterfeit clones showing up on the market. My unit is authentic. Yes, imitation is truly the most sincerely form of flattery. Imitation is also the surest route to vaporization meltdown, as knock-off units of just about anything do not perform properly for very long. My Firefly was purchased from Vapeworld. Caroline told me that there are fake Firefly units on the marketplace. I look on eBay sometimes, and I am skeptical of "new" Fireflies being sold for significantly less money. Like my mom told me: "If it sounds too good to be true, . . . " So, beware of "screaming deals" online. Obviously, counterfeit units do not have warranty protection, and you could get burned (pun intended). Avoid combustion, my friends. Shop from a reputable source. Firefly has added a tab on their website which illustrates the telltale signs of counterfeititude. Be a savvy shopper, and, vape on !

Hey all. Long time reader, first time poster...but just wanted to share my unfortunate experience with a fake Firefly from eBay. After a few days, I found the performance rather poor...so I contacted Firefly. Turns out, it's a fake. Fortunately, I was able to get my money refunded. Anyway, after comparing a real and fake side by side, thought I'd share what to look for.

The package - It is a stretch, but the white space in the middle of the box is more narrow on the fake. (This is also mentioned by Firefly directly)

Serial number - the fake had a serial number on the unit itself, but not the outside of the box. The authentic has a serial number on the box that matches the one on the unit.

The mouthpiece - the glue/backing to the mouthpiece is visibly trimmed on the fake. It is not visible at all on the authentic.

The top - the rubber-ish seal around the edge of the top piece, if you look really closely, appears to be cut by hand. The authentic is clearly more precision cut.

The magnet - Interestingly, I found the magnet on the fake to feel more powerful than the authentic. However, it didn't have the same perfect "click" into place feel.

Screens - The fake did not come with extra screens. The authentic did.

Honestly, I thought the packaging and in-hand feel of the fake felt pretty "premium" still. I did not expect it was a fake. However, the taste and performance was (unsurprisingly) inferior, once I got my real one for comparison.

Watch out there folks. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.

 

[rendar1970]

Hey all, been reading through this thread and its been a lot of help. I just got into vaping (never smoked, never vaped, never done anything before, this is all new for me). Been getting a lot of my questions answered, but still had a few specifics regarding the firefly.

1. I read and have seen videos where it is recommended you use about .15g of material in your bowl. This means almost nothing to me. I have a digital food scale, but nothing meant to measure out that small, so have no way of knowing how much that really is. Does anyone have a good example of size comparison or a picture even?

2. My current technique is the hold the button down for 2 seconds (pre-heat) and then draw while continuing to hold the button down, I then release the button when my throat starts to tickle/get scratch but keep drawing with no heat for a few more seconds. This usually ends up being a 15 - 20 second draw, with only the last 5 seconds with no button pushed. I always end my draw by inhaling air through my nose to "push" any vapor down. Seems to be working ok. I want to work up to full 30 second powered draws, but im new to this so my lungs/throat are still getting used to it. Sound decent enough?

3. Usually by 2 draws with the above mentioned technique, my material is completely brown, with the bottom layer almost black. I hear of people getting 8-10 draws off 1 bowl. But for me by the 4th draw (I stir every 2 draws or so) my material is black it affects the feel and taste of the material. Is this normal and is it worth vaping if my material looks black and charred. When do you usually repack a bowl? I heard some people swap out as soon as the material looks too brown, while others dont repack until the current bowl produces no vapor.

4. My Battery usually only lasts 5-6 draws with the above mentioned technique, I have only had my FF for 3 days. Does it sound like I got a bad battery?

5. I know this question will vary greatly based on quality of material and personal tolerance. But how many draws do people usually need to get where they need to be. 4 or 5 20-second draws is what it takes for me to really feel any effects. But I constantly read of people getting locked down after 2 draws.

Thank you all for the help, love this forum so far.