Crafty/Crafty+ by Storz & Bickel

[DoubleVanos]

Great info here guys. Looks like most crafty users here are averaging about 2:30 to default temps. Make me feel better about mine, although one of my fins broke on the housing yesterday . Oh well it's only cosmetic.

@Michel , we are serial # cousins it appears. I'm in the 2xxx as well.

@Weez65 , good points. I also charge my crafty after every use. Usually I don't wait to plug it in though. I've noticed that the crafty does not charge when it's too hot, and will automatically start charging when it's cooled down enough.

I also never use pass through. As far as temps are concerned I Vape at default for a full bowl and 200 c for half bowls. I usually prefer my sessions quick and heavy. Recently 95% of my sessions are half bowls, and it only takes me about 2 mins to exhaust it. The battery only drops one bar during these quick sessions.

Going on 50 hours, daily usage. Other than a small crack in one of the upper fins it's been flawless!

 

[biohacker]

Did some battery testing on the Crafty @ 9hours usage

on a full charge with empty bowl, to 180c was 1m45s. I turned it right off. Then I filled the bowl and tried again, 2:10.

IMO you can get vapour at around 1:30 which is pretty good in my books, and similar to the Air/Solo. Waiting more than 2:30 would start to get a bit trying for me.

Also for those charging after every use, i'm pretty sure that is probably one of the worst things you can do for battery health. @OF is the guru here for that.

 

[Michel]

@biohacker
Great testing. Never thought of timing an empty bowl. This is where the slight differences in warming up time could come from, too, depending how tamped the bowl is (apart usage hours of course)

For charging batteries it depends how empty they are after one bowl. Mine is nearly half empty, so I have to charge it anyway if I don't wan't the unit to die or being nearly completely discharged on the end of my 2nd session. I can't get more as 3 bowls out of one batterie if I hurry anyway.
I would advice to charge the battery between 3 and 1 bars left to be clearer... Like nearly all devices not using Nicd or Nimh cells

Never charge a device with nearly full batteries. Unless the world goes down and you are sucking electricity everywhere you can because you missed to buy a butan gas vaporizer....

 

[DoubleVanos]

Also for those charging after every use, i'm pretty sure that is probably one of the worst things you can do for battery health. @OF is the guru here for that.

There are so many methods , and conflicting reports out there on maintaining Li-ion batteries that I seriously dont know what to believe. Most devices and li-ion batts these days have pretty sophisticated battey management systems, that are supposed to take the guess work out of charging.

I charge after every session for the last 50 hours of use and the battery life in my unit has remained consistent since new. YMMV.

 

[biohacker]

I tend to trust this, but can empathize....in the end it's not enough for me to worry about, but it can get expensive replacing batteries every 6-12 months.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries

Apparently how you treat the battery can make a MASSIVE difference in longevity.

 

[DoubleVanos]

I tend to trust this, but can empathize....in the end it's not enough for me to worry about, but it can get expensive replacing batteries every 6-12 months.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries

Apparently how you treat the battery can make a MASSIVE difference in longevity.

Thanks for the article, it was an informative read.

One of the points mentioned that it's better to turn of portables when charging. The first device I think about is my phone. I haven't turned my phone off in 18 months, although my crafty is always off during charge. The article is probably right about this, but it doesn't seem to have affected my phone too much.
Most people are not going to be following specific charging procedures for their devices (we enthusiast vaporists are not the norm )

Many companies that make these battery powered electronics are aware of their customers usage habits and design around this with battery management systems and software that likely regulate how the device charges.

 

[DMPesso]

@Joe557

@DMPesso
I'm quite sure they will warranty your unit! When sending in, point out you haven't had it used for more than 21h and everything should be fine. If not, don't be satisfied with standard email answers like @GR got back from S&B and fight in a peaceful "Martin Luther King way" for your right!

Yea I explained it perfectly how I can't finish a full bowl anymore even if I crank it up to max temp. Now your Gettin me nervous, they actually denied GR's replacement? Do you know why and why he sent it in? Doesn't seem like they would deny someone if the unit is actually bad unless he was just trying to get the upgraded version and his was still good?

 

[Joe557]

Hi, no problem man, if i where you i would also wanted to know how it got fixed. So i heard back from the technician, he told me that there was a problem with my crafty. There was residue from the production proces in the crafty (glue, plastic, Dust...). When he heated it, it had a plastic-ish smell (NOT A 'JUST-NEW-SMELL').

He also gave the hint that if you have a unit with plastic taste, to let it at least warm up 5 times and cool down and then check if its still there. If it's there send it back. If it's going away a little.. Send it back (it means the garbage inside is burning/melting away). Only if its completely gone then it should be fine. (these are a technician his words, not mine)

So i got another unit. With this unit i only had that just-new-smell/taste the first 2-3 times but nothing plastic. The taste is fine and doesn't have that weird 'chemical/plastic' aftertaste.

Personally i don't mind the plastic, because if you search it up, the plastic is cut of from the heating itself by stainless steel. So i already knew it wouldn't be because of the outside plastic (or a piece broke of and fell in, 1 chance in a million probably) but rather from residue or something inside (electronics,...) going wrong.

And to al those who give the comment of it beign the Crafty logo after warming up giving a smell: anyone who can't tell the difference between taste and smell when smoking/vaping (after 10 years smoking personally) should go to the doctor fast! something would definitely be wrong with you IMO

I just sent my Crafty back today because of the plastic taste. It just wasn't going away. We'll see if they send me a new device or not. I only had about 4 hours on the new one.

 

[Michel]

Yea I explained it perfectly how I can't finish a full bowl anymore even if I crank it up to max temp. Now your Gettin me nervous, they actually denied GR's replacement? Do you know why and why he sent it in? Doesn't seem like they would deny someone if the unit is actually bad unless he was just trying to get the upgraded version and his was still good?

Don't know the actual progress from his warranty claim. Wasn't this on the mighty thread? Perhaps @GR could jump in for a quick status update? I'm quite curious, too...

 

[trueblue]

This is my first post but I've been lurking for a while and bought a Crafty directly from S&B due to the vast amount of info I obtained here. I'm not new to vaping - been medicating for more years than I'd like to admit. I thought I'd add something here as a small contribution in thanks for all the info I received.

My Crafty is brand new (1 hour) so this will serve as a battery benchmark not only for me but maybe for some of you. My Crafty is firmware version 2.05, serial #CY0086XX.

After a full charge, pulling the Crafty right off the charger and turning it on, the time to reach 185C is 1:48 (4 measurements, all pretty much the same). So that's what my newly supplied, new battery will do.

 

[vapeppau]

After a full charge, pulling the Crafty right off the charger and turning it on, the time to reach 185C is 1:48 (4 measurements, all pretty much the same). So that's what my newly supplied, new battery will do.

Was the bowl fully loaded? Seemed like there was a difference whether u had the bowl packed or not...

 

[trueblue]

Was the bowl fully loaded? Seemed like there was a difference whether u had the bowl packed or not...

Yes there might be a difference. But it might also be impossible to get benchmark repeatability because of the differences in density of the material (did I tamp it the same way each time), the type of material, the amount of material, etc. The only way I could think of to eliminate any variables was to measure it empty. Several months from now, with many more hours on the Crafty, I can measure it the very same way and see what has changed in the condition of the battery and charging circuits.

So if anyone else wants to compare their Crafty to my brand new one they can easily do it by measuring how long it takes an empty bowl to reach 185C.

 

[biohacker]

This is my first post but I've been lurking for a while and bought a Crafty directly from S&B due to the vast amount of info I obtained here. I'm not new to vaping - been medicating for more years than I'd like to admit. I thought I'd add something here as a small contribution in thanks for all the info I received.

My Crafty is brand new (1 hour) so this will serve as a battery benchmark not only for me but maybe for some of you. My Crafty is firmware version 2.05, serial #CY0086XX.

After a full charge, pulling the Crafty right off the charger and turning it on, the time to reach 185C is 1:48 (4 measurements, all pretty much the same). So that's what my newly supplied, new battery will do.

So mine with 9hrs and 1:45 to 180c is the same. Would be cool to hear others time with empty bowl on a full charge if they have say over 50-60hrs.

 

[vapeppau]

Will try when I get home, mine had ~55

 

[Lovelight68]

I'm getting at least 4 bowls per charge filing it right up. Maybe 5.

I'll time up how long it takes to 180c. It has 9 hours on it and was bought at release!

I love this thing! But I'm new to this thread, and wondering how many hours the longest running units are around here?

9 hours and bought at release????? I'm sorry, sir. You just aren't applying yourself. ;-)

 

[biohacker]

I'm actually borrowing @lazylathe's! He only put 4 hours on it since he was busy with his minivap! I have put another 5 hours on it in only a week! Lol

I freaking love this thing! I also have his Herbie but all my attention is to the crafty! I just fear breaking it so am finally settling down. It's SO cheap plastics!

 

[6 to 9]

I'm actually borrowing @lazylathe's! He only put 4 hours on it since he was busy with his minivap! I have put another 5 hours on it in only a week! Lol

I freaking love this thing! I also have his Herbie but all my attention is to the crafty! I just fear breaking it so am finally settling down. It's SO cheap plastics!

Sounds like people should wait for Crafty 2.0. As a new vaper and Volcano-ist it surprises me to hear about Crafty's plastic bits breaking off and then your summation biohacker: "It's SO cheap plastics!" The Volcano plastic in the valves is not cheap plastic and so I wonder what has happened with Crafty (and does Mighty have same problems?).

Yet, it performs so well that you all don't seem to mind these problems. (I wont get into the battery discussion since I've get a battery-tech info hangover from the Arizer Air forum.

 

[biohacker]

Just my opinion based on feel and all the reports of breaking bits. I haven't had an issue myself, but I baby it. I have had zero plastic taste as well.

Crafty 2.0 sounds like the one for me. Especially if it had a stronger battery, but like you said it performs so damn well, I almost don't even care about any shortcoming! Wow!

 

[Lovelight68]

Solid work! Keep it up. You'll be happy you did.

 

[Michel]

...all my attention is to the crafty! I just fear breaking it so am finally settling down.

(Ab-)use it, it is your (or more @lazylathe 's) right, you paid for it. Better kill your crafty in the warranty time than in 2 years with just 50 hours on it... It could break just right after warranty voids without to much usage on it... Abuse them and hope for an updated crafty 2.0 in your warranty time.

It's SO cheap plastics!

It's not cheap, it's 300€. It's not "plastic", it's volcanos polycarbonate. For sure, it will break anyway

Edit:
just stopped heat up time with an empty bowl again: still 2:30 with 87hrs runtime. So it's not the filled bowl affecting heat time, imo. The herbs haven't enough mass to have an effect on the more massive heater, at least after first testing...

 

[biohacker]

Lol ya since it's not mine I don't wanna put unnecessary stress on it although @lazylathe is encouraging me to!

Honestly I don't even care about cosmetics (you should see my solo lol) but if pieces are breaking that affect fit of the CU, and it's not covered by warranty that would piss me off a little.

 

[GR]

Yea I explained it perfectly how I can't finish a full bowl anymore even if I crank it up to max temp. Now your Gettin me nervous, they actually denied GR's replacement? Do you know why and why he sent it in? Doesn't seem like they would deny someone if the unit is actually bad unless he was just trying to get the upgraded version and his was still good?

I was not denied warranty. What first happened in emails was someone warned me I might be responsible for a battery replacement. I very kindly informed them that I would not be on board for that since I did not feel that less then 3 months of moderate use should wear out an 18650 imo. They responded that they felt I should be covered by warranty. Just be nice and kind when dealing with them and all should be fine.

 

[Michel]

@GR
Did they inform you what exactly caused your unit to fail? If it was the heater or faulty batteries they build in your device from beginning? Or did the batteries simply fade out? (can't imagine this after our talk and since you now 18650 batts very well).

Just thinking what to do now, after I dropped crafty (with to weak batteries anyway), mighty's build quality is starting to fail again just this second and I'm not confident it will be better in the very near future, Hermes not answering, disliking solo after "I saw the light", MFLB not being magic at all and please let's just forget I have a volcano...
Need a good home unit. Should I continue to abuse s&b portables? Or simply warranty all my units, walk down the road, get some fucking papers and just restart to combust for 2 weeks?

Edit: I was smart enough to think of warranting them one after another myself, but I'm really pissed right now, sry.

 

[biohacker]

Give the Arizer Air a try maybe, as I see it's in your list? Although the Crafty is great, I still actually much prefer my Air.

Just found out how quickly the CU soils! Super easy to clean, but it smelled, and that was after not much use since last cleaning (maybe an hour).

 

[Michel]

My tolerance is too high to get medicated with the solo. I don't expect the air to be much better. I would use it only to have something e-cig-like to puff on when already medicated and not at home... Still dreaming about the ugly plenty but I'm really into battery-powered devices; they fit much better in my daily life...

Edit: 20 min with the mighty calmed me down a little. Guess I'll be patient as everybody here is, too. It's just annoying s&b changed the sticker on the backside with a less resistant one. The black paint comes of as easy as the serial number on my older unit before. Looks just very ugly, not a big deal. Top fins broke already, too. Don't even know how, I guess it's the CU not sitting 100% aligned with the housing when screwing on. There wasn't any pressure from carrying around in pockets or so.

Can't just believe that I made so many bad experiences with quality problems myself. I'm used to read about problems like this. But never experienced themselves in every other market than vaporizers. Just like you can't believe you just had an car accident. Normally it's always the others, not your car getting hit. And now you had like 5 accidents in a month! Wouldn't you combust, ahm, I mean walk next time?