Crafty/Crafty+ by Storz & Bickel

[OMEiAM]

New review by Toronto Vaporizer -

 

[Nick Brand]

Wait, so you're only getting 7-8 draws before the battery needs a charge? So now we've gotten reports of 3 bowls, 4 bowl, 8 bowls, and 8 draws? Talk about a lack of consistency.

My bad, reporting. I wasn't paying adequate attention to my intake when I made the "7-8 draws" comment.
The Crafty had only been charged using my macbookpro's USB port as well. Would the lower amperage of
that port, compared to the charger's 2 AMP output make a diff in the Craftmeister's charge capacity?

Anyway.
So yesterday, over the course of an afternoon, and after a good wall-charging, I got 28 long steady draws before the battery went Conky; using only the default 180C.

All is good in Crafty Land. I hope.

happy vaping

 

[Caelar900]

The Crafty had only been charged using my macbookpro's USB port as well. Would the lower amperage of
that port, compared to the charger's 2 AMP output make a diff in the Craftmeister's charge capacity?

So if this thing can be charged with a USB port what was up with all of Ploom's claims that they couldn't make the pax charger USB because it woulnt work!?!

 

[Roth]

New review by Toronto Vaporizer -

This reviewer also doesn't realize that hitting the unit resets the auto shut off. That really does baffle me. Did they not read the manual, or you know, just experiment and use the thing?

 

[elmomuzz]

I think they received it, glanced over the manual and started filming the review. No herb was harmed in making of this review.

 

[CarolKing]

They said it was better tasting vapor than the Solo. Also, I thought I heard them comparing the vapor to the Volcano. Is the vapor as good as the Volcano? Is that possible? Somebody tell us if you have both.

 

[elmomuzz]

I have both. They are apples and oranges and I'm not sure how valid the comparison is. The problem with the volcano is the flavor of the first several inhales is all mixed together. You never get the purity and taste that you get by going "hit by hit". But the volcano has advantages as well... For me I will use the mighty considerably more then my volcano.

 

[Detonator]

I want to see it vaping side by side a Solo.. Then we'lll see whats what

 

[natural farmer]

The Crafty gets more and more appealing to me!
I think I can live with only two temps and the occasional play with them when a suitable phone is nearby.
The only thing keeping me back is how the hell could someone clean under the bowl screen. Haven't heard anyone commenting on this yet… Those tiny specs WILL eventually find their way under the screen and inside the little holes and the heating element. What then? Shitty taste like the Thermovape T1?
Oh yeah… And my budget…

 

[Roth]

Well, I broke down and placed my order. I'll have a Crafty waiting for me when I get home next week!

 

[max]

Is the vapor as good as the Volcano? Is that possible?

If you're talking taste, an inexpensive Vapolution 2.0 with AIW bowl has better tasting vapor than any S&B product. A 100% all glass vapor path would have to taste better than metal/plastic, right?

Let's not get into attributing value to certain models based on a particular individual's taste buds, or the idea that an expensive vape somehow has to have extra tasty vapor. If someone wants to report a good taste that's fine, but listing a vape inventory by taste is going overboard IMO, and way to subjective. If HerbieVonVapster prefers his iolite taste to his Magic Flight, it's fine with me, but I'll reverse that order every time, and that's even with my big to the first hit from a fresh bowl on the iolite. In fact, taste and smell are just about 100% subjective unless we're talking something as strong and stinky as skunk smell. I hate the smell of any and all colognes and perfumes if I can detect them from about 6 ft. away, but OTOH I don't require silicone in a vape whip in order to satisfy my taste buds.

I want to see it vaping side by side a Solo.. Then we'lll see whats what

I've heard a wide range of comments about the Solo taste, from 'great' to 'mediocre'.

 

[2clicker]

A 100% all glass vapor path would have to taste better than metal/plastic, right?

IME absolutely. that is why i am surprised to here anyone say this tastes better than a solo. IMO the solo provides a very accurate flavor of the herb its vaping. all subjective sure, but the difference is pretty large me thinks.

 

[Roger D]

A good taste is also about the stability of the heat and how the heat is applied to the load.

 

[HerbieVonVapster]

Jeez no pleasing some folks...I posted my experience so far with battery life and my feelings on taste. I thought folks wanted to hear new owners thoughts experiences?

I feel it might give someone some help full info. If they read it and felt about the same choice as mine taste wise, it's something that might be of some use with there buying choice, is it not?

 

[Roth]

Jeez no pleasing some folks...I posted my experience so far with battery life and my feelings on taste. I thought folks wanted to hear new owners thoughts experiences?

I feel it might give someone some help full info. If they read it and felt about the same choice as mine taste wise, it's something that might be of some use with there buying choice, is it not?

I found the info valuable, thank you for posting it.

Obviously taste is subjective to a person, but seeing someone else's preferences can help you judge how you might feel about it.

 

[lwien]

A 100% all glass vapor path would have to taste better than metal/plastic, right?

You would think so. I know I do, but I also have to wonder how much of that is the placebo effect going on? I wonder what would happen in a blind test with a glass vapor path versus one from either stainless or from some high-end plastic like the S&B.

One other thing. I don't think it's fair to lump all vaporizers that use plastic in the air path in the same category simply because there are different grades of plastic and I have no doubt that there are some that taste and smell much worse than others. With that being said though, I hated the taste and the smell coming out of my Iolite.

 

[green2brown]

Regarding the auto-shutoff, S&B emailed me this morning stating that the auto-shutoff may not reset with a light hit. So apparently you have to pull hard enough for the sensor or whatever it is to recognize that you're drawing. This explains why some people are finding the unit shuts down even though they're hitting often while others do not.

 

[max]

IME absolutely. that is why i am surprised to here anyone say this tastes better than a solo. IMO the solo provides a very accurate flavor of the herb its vaping. all subjective sure, but the difference is pretty large me thinks.

A good taste is also about the stability of the heat and how the heat is applied to the load.

I certainly don't claim to have the sharpest taste buds. Maybe age and too many years of cig smoking (although long ago) have taken a toll. But let's not forget the brain game that goes on with taste comparisons when testers know the prices involved. A study showed the more costly wine was overwhelmingly judged to have the better taste, vs. the cheaper one, when in reality it was exactly the same wine in both glasses.

I don't think it's fair to lump all vaporizers that use plastic in the air path in the same category simply because there are different grades of plastic and I have no doubt that there are some that taste and smell much worse than others. With that being said though, I hated the taste and the smell coming out of my Iolite.

iolite was one of the first to use plastics, and even then (2008), they used high tech space age materials. Plastics able to deal with the temps in vapes are readily available these days.

As for the iolite, I've always gotten very good taste when my first hit was about 90 sec. after turn on (which proved to me that it could indeed, provide good taste), but it's very bad toward the end. Since my first use of the iolite 6 years ago, I've come to the conclusion that the iolite's bad taste after hitting the bowl a while, was due to its unkind treatment of ABV. I've had the same experience with other portables to some degree, while an AC vape like the EVO, with water to smooth the taste, doesn't make me want to grab the mouthwash.

seeing someone else's preferences can help you judge how you might feel about it.

With vape taste though, I'd be looking at as many opinions as I could find. I've probably seen as many yucks as raves on the Volcano taste, for example, especially considering that bagged vapor can't be as fresh as direct draw.

the auto-shutoff may not reset with a light hit.

That could be a plus, since with a portable in particular, draw speed can affect your vaping temp. IMO nothing wrong with light hits on a pocket portable.

 

[2clicker]

Jeez no pleasing some folks...I posted my experience so far with battery life and my feelings on taste. I thought folks wanted to hear new owners thoughts experiences?

I feel it might give someone some help full info. If they read it and felt about the same choice as mine taste wise, it's something that might be of some use with there buying choice, is it not?

for sure your review is helpful. as are those that brings up any possible negatives of the device. this shows both sides. from that the consumer can make a really informed decision instead of only hearing of ponies and rainbows from one side.

its ok for members to talk about the possible negatives as well. even if we have never used the device. we arent claiming the device is bad. just that it may have some negatives that need to be brought up. its nothing personal to S&B or to the members who have bought these units so there no reason to take it that way.

all of us who have been discussing what we dont like about it have all said how much we want to try it. we arent hating... just discussing.

 

[philosopher]

The only thing keeping me back is how the hell could someone clean under the bowl screen. Haven't heard anyone commenting on this yet… Those tiny specs WILL eventually find their way under the screen and inside the little holes and the heating element. What then? Shitty taste like the Thermovape T1?

The Plenty has a similar heating element style. In my experience, particulates falling through has not been an issue. I actually anticipate it being less of a problem if you use the filling tool, since no such thing existed with the Plenty. I would notice sometimes that small particles got caught in the plastic around the heater, but nothing actually fell through - and I'm not the most careful user either. For one, I think the screen is different covering the heater than the bowl, but additionally, the way the bowl is loaded is such that dust and particles spill around the side rather than down into the heater.

I'm really, really close to pulling the trigger on a Crafty. I have an iphone which is a bummer, but once I get my temperatures and settings set up, the whole app kind of a novelty for me. It's almost like the BIOS of the system: good for power users, but not relevant for day-to-day operations. I actually kind of like the fact that I don't have to press and hold to crank the temperature up each time. Haven't been this excited about a vape in a long time.

 

[MinnBobber]

You would think so. I know I do, but I also have to wonder how much of that is the placebo effect going on? I wonder what would happen in a blind test with a glass vapor path versus one from either stainless or from some high-end plastic like the S&B.

One other thing. I don't think it's fair to lump all vaporizers that use plastic in the air path in the same category simply because there are different grades of plastic and I have no doubt that there are some that taste and smell much worse than others. With that being said though, I hated the taste and the smell coming out of my Iolite.

I think many high quality, inert material, non-glass vapes have a taste that equals glass. Just like glass, they offer a superior taste. Such vapes, with a short and direct vapor path will offer the best taste. As you start to add more length to the vapor path and plastic whips, etc--the taste starts to diminish. Route the vapor thru water, and same thing, it may be cooler/smoother but some taste is sacrificed.
IMO, pump the vapor into a plastic bag where it sits and condenses and the flavor goes down another notch.
That's why these units could have flavor equal to or better than the mother Volcano, as they have a vapor path taste advantage.....

 

[lwien]

IMO, pump the vapor into a plastic bag where it sits and condenses and the flavor goes down another notch.
That's why these units could have flavor equal to or better than the mother Volcano, as they have a vapor path taste advantage.....

Yup. To me, any vapor that's been sitting in a bag for longer than 5 minutes tastes awful.

 

[Crohnie]

A top temperature of only 383F? Not going to do the trick for those of us who like high temp vaping. I would expect a portable vape at this price point to have at LEAST 3 temperature settings. Would it have been so hard to have 356, 383, AND 410F? Not really sure about the wisdom of one vaporizer company having 2 products that are so similar with $70 separating the 2 of them.

I've owned a Volcano, so I know Storz and Bickel's reputation for making fine products with excellent customer service is well deserved, but they insist on charging these prices, especially with technology (The Volcano) that IMHO, was surpassed a while ago. Storz and Bickel is a fine company, but they really need to rethink their pricing, especially on old technology that hasn't been updated in some time.

 

[lwien]

I've owned a Volcano, so I know Storz and Bickel's reputation for making fine products with excellent customer service is well deserved, but if they insist on charging these prices, especially with technology (The Volcano) that IMHO, was surpassed a while ago. Storz and Bickel is a fine company, but they really need to rethink their pricing, especially on old technology that hasn't been updated in some time.

But there is something to be said for not fixing something that's not broken. We don't know the selling trend of the 'Cano over the years, but if it hasn't fallen, why change anything? Hell, as far as we know, the trend may have actually been increasing.

We as end consumers would, of course, like to see running improvements, but S&B's business model may be working perfectly fine for them.

 

[HerbieVonVapster]

Was thinking of other things I like about unit...other than top cooling unit doing a great job of cooling it has a 3d type effect under where it say's crafty. To me looks like bats or the old batman light they shined up in the air. Edit just dawned on me it is the Storz & Bickel branded mark duh.

There a extra o ring in box that looks like same size as one under bowl. Kinda makes me wonder if way to replace it. Looked unit over and can't see a way to do it.