KeroZen
Chronic vapaholic
Hey guys I'm sorry if I delayed my review so much but I was hoping that the company would get back to me after they implemented what I think were crucial changes that I told them to perform... But they don't answer me anymore, so here we go:
As it is, I can't recommend this vaporizer to any FC member. I'm sorry but I really question @Just Justin's judgment, as to me there were a lot of show stoppers in this pre-production device and I don't understand how he could have let that slip through and not even complain about it.
I agreed to hold back my review to let them enough time to implement their changes, and it's something I usually refuse to do as I don't want this forum to turn into a sponsored shit-fest. Apparently Justin got an updated unit with at least some of the changes I asked for, but they never sent me any so I can't judge if they really improved it or not.
The device I got is simply unusable, exactly like the first FlowerMate8 prototype I received. Worse, I don't think it's safe to use at all. In fact there were a lot of issues that prevented me from using it, like the wallwart charger that was dead on arrival, meaning I wasn't able to charge back the device after the first empty burn-in session. But above all, that foul smell... It was there from the start and never went away even after two discharges worth of empty burn-ins in a ventilated place at max temperature.
I tried to use it a single time, and I almost puked afterwards. I was left with a lingering sensation on my teeth, thanks to the silicone bonding glue they used right next to the heater. I had to wash thoroughly my teeth afterwards. And if you wonder, yes it's the exact same white goey glue that they used in the first FM8 prototype I received, making it completely unusable and probably unsafe. Even if it's safe, the smell is just unbearable.
But it wasn't only the glue, as most plastic parts in this vape stink. It was the case when I received it, it's still the case after all the burn-ins and sitting in the open air in my room for a couple of months now. So it's not going to magically disappear I'm sorry.
Last but not least, my sample unit had the air intake directly connected to the electronics section, using a weird convoluted path (like in the FM8) : the air entered by the bottom through a grill that led to the electronics compartment, then through the hinge and into the heater. One of the changes that I made them implement was to move the grill directly under the heater so that the air intake should now be straight and doesn't flow through the left part where the wires, battery and circuits are.
The hinge mechanism is too strong and there are places where you can pinch your fingers pretty hard. It also pinches the wires that go through it and I think @Vape Dr. already experienced a failure there (I told them it was expected as the two wire pairs have strictly no strain relief and are bound to fail over time, like in the Ascent)
They thanked me a lot for all the constructive remarks and said they would implement them. Apparently they changed some parts, relocated the grill, said they would find a solution to replace the glue by something else (they thought about using Kaptan, but we know the glue on that tape stinks too, like in all the current chinese vapes) I don't know where they stand now. I let them ample time to get things right before public disclosure, now time's up, sorry guys!
I'm also sorry for all my fellow FC members: I kept delaying my review, hoping they would do it right before release. But now that I see you all jumping on it, I had to react as I don't want people to be disappointed. So as it is now, I don't recommend this vape at all. I'm sorry this won't happen again, from now on I'll stick to my immediate and unbiased public disclosure policy and I don't care if chinese companies hesitate to send me their samples because I'm too honnest.
As it is, I can't recommend this vaporizer to any FC member. I'm sorry but I really question @Just Justin's judgment, as to me there were a lot of show stoppers in this pre-production device and I don't understand how he could have let that slip through and not even complain about it.
I agreed to hold back my review to let them enough time to implement their changes, and it's something I usually refuse to do as I don't want this forum to turn into a sponsored shit-fest. Apparently Justin got an updated unit with at least some of the changes I asked for, but they never sent me any so I can't judge if they really improved it or not.
The device I got is simply unusable, exactly like the first FlowerMate8 prototype I received. Worse, I don't think it's safe to use at all. In fact there were a lot of issues that prevented me from using it, like the wallwart charger that was dead on arrival, meaning I wasn't able to charge back the device after the first empty burn-in session. But above all, that foul smell... It was there from the start and never went away even after two discharges worth of empty burn-ins in a ventilated place at max temperature.
I tried to use it a single time, and I almost puked afterwards. I was left with a lingering sensation on my teeth, thanks to the silicone bonding glue they used right next to the heater. I had to wash thoroughly my teeth afterwards. And if you wonder, yes it's the exact same white goey glue that they used in the first FM8 prototype I received, making it completely unusable and probably unsafe. Even if it's safe, the smell is just unbearable.
But it wasn't only the glue, as most plastic parts in this vape stink. It was the case when I received it, it's still the case after all the burn-ins and sitting in the open air in my room for a couple of months now. So it's not going to magically disappear I'm sorry.
Last but not least, my sample unit had the air intake directly connected to the electronics section, using a weird convoluted path (like in the FM8) : the air entered by the bottom through a grill that led to the electronics compartment, then through the hinge and into the heater. One of the changes that I made them implement was to move the grill directly under the heater so that the air intake should now be straight and doesn't flow through the left part where the wires, battery and circuits are.
The hinge mechanism is too strong and there are places where you can pinch your fingers pretty hard. It also pinches the wires that go through it and I think @Vape Dr. already experienced a failure there (I told them it was expected as the two wire pairs have strictly no strain relief and are bound to fail over time, like in the Ascent)
They thanked me a lot for all the constructive remarks and said they would implement them. Apparently they changed some parts, relocated the grill, said they would find a solution to replace the glue by something else (they thought about using Kaptan, but we know the glue on that tape stinks too, like in all the current chinese vapes) I don't know where they stand now. I let them ample time to get things right before public disclosure, now time's up, sorry guys!
I'm also sorry for all my fellow FC members: I kept delaying my review, hoping they would do it right before release. But now that I see you all jumping on it, I had to react as I don't want people to be disappointed. So as it is now, I don't recommend this vape at all. I'm sorry this won't happen again, from now on I'll stick to my immediate and unbiased public disclosure policy and I don't care if chinese companies hesitate to send me their samples because I'm too honnest.