Brewervapesalot
Well-Known Member
I bet he'll put up a sale on his website for 4/20
Firewood Vaporizer
- Thread starter Bouldorado
- Start date
rvarick
Well-Known Member
I’m finding my FW5 to be finicky and unreliable. I’m already on my second one due to issues with the first. I have a hell of a time with getting the battery door to close correctly and I dread switching the battery once I’ve gotten it right finally. It really let me down last night. Before heading out to a party I packed the whole tray for the night and put in a fresh battery. I tested a few times that the battery compartment seemed closed before heading out. When it came time to actually use it I couldn’t get it to work at all (no vapor whatsoever). Felt like a jackass handing it to a few people after telling them about it, and then it wasn’t doing anything. It seemed like the battery compartment wasn’t closed and I couldn’t get it to no matter what. My only thought was it could be the battery that was causing issues (Sony VTC6) as it seems slightly larger than other 18650s. Either way it’s super fun sitting in the bathroom somewhere trying to fiddle with a vape to work. I ended up having to hit someone’s joint instead which sucked too as I much prefer vapor.
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rvarick
Well-Known Member
After some additional testing I think the Sony batteries are the likely culprit. Using my Arizer Air, which allows a Panasonic 18650 to slide it snugly; I saw that the VTCs barely fit in this while all the other batteries slide in normally. I also was able to close the battery door easier with a Samsung 25r I picked up. Looks like the 25r or LG HG2s might be the best bet for mine, which may have tight tolerances.
Hello all, been lurking for a while but this is my first post. Ive been interested in artisan vapes for a while now and Ive decided the firewood 5 is the best choice. That being said I will probably end up waiting on the 6 in an attempt to not spend money I shouldn't. I emailed Marc fully intending on making a purchase on 4/20 (which I may still do depending on my funds). Marc however told me that he would not be doing a sale this year as he is "mainly focused on fw6 development right now". So take that information as what you like, it might be time to pull the trigger if you are on the fence and want a 5 before it poofs or wait and see what he has coming up next.
Mr Mellish
Well-Known Member
Well, I'm very eager to hear what the FW6 will be like. I have the FW3, FW4, FW5. It saddens me that I have no opportunity to get another FW3 as a backup. I still feel like it has the best flavor (but the FW4 is better for quick, inconspicuous hits).
Brewervapesalot
Well-Known Member
What features do people want for a FW6?
paytonpenn
Level 30 Nature/Healer
Maybe also features we don't want can be discussed.
rvarick
Well-Known Member
Based solely off the only FW I’ve owned (FW5), my dream list would be:
Wants:
-a fully retractable/protected mouthpiece
-wpa option (included)
-easier stirring, and stir tool (with storage?)
-sturdier battery door (maybe magnetic?)
-maybe dosing capsule option vs. tray
Don’t want:
-possibility of air leaks from battery door, or elsewhere
Sativapo
Well-Known Member
Didn't have the door problems so far. You talk about possibility, so possibility of weak calibration I had in the beginning isn't too fun. Maybe a little more intuitive and more easily powerfull overall airflow/heat and power management system.
Edit : but this would be for a different vape as once I found my technique and way of use I wouldn't change mine. The whole caracteristics : look, draw sryle ceramic and glass long airpath and tray make it a very unique connoisseur vape . I just hope the precise fitting wood parts and the electronics hold well through time. Just did a bowl to be sure of my improvement wish and really enjoyed it. I know well how to use it now.
Edit : but this would be for a different vape as once I found my technique and way of use I wouldn't change mine. The whole caracteristics : look, draw sryle ceramic and glass long airpath and tray make it a very unique connoisseur vape . I just hope the precise fitting wood parts and the electronics hold well through time. Just did a bowl to be sure of my improvement wish and really enjoyed it. I know well how to use it now.
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Trulukkyphrank
Well-Known Member
I love my FW5 and imo it works very well! I have to say I like the look the best from the series.
What could be better is the heater with the electric parts behind. Maybe more powerful, that the vapor production comes faster and a faster draw is possible!
And a fully retractable mouthpiece is a good point from rvarick!
What could be better is the heater with the electric parts behind. Maybe more powerful, that the vapor production comes faster and a faster draw is possible!
And a fully retractable mouthpiece is a good point from rvarick!
Brewervapesalot
Well-Known Member
Yeah, overpowered, and even a second battery so long as still fits in a pocket easy enough.
Then you have a mighty and a crafty so to speak, when comparing the FW5 and new FW6.
Then you have a mighty and a crafty so to speak, when comparing the FW5 and new FW6.
Hey guys, just another quick update from Marc correspondence. Sounds like the FW6 may be happening sooner than I expected. "I would suggest you wait for the 6, but its up to you. It might take me a couple more months on the fw6, not sure." I had asked him if he thought I should go ahead and get the five or wait.
Thanks for asking, and thanks everybody for the thoughts. I can definitely promise some (most?), of the things people mentioned. Keep the ideas coming.
sure, what features don't you want?
Hjalmark
Oldest boy alive
Vape that kills your firstborn and threatens war on your government while declaring your house a sovereign nation were your only allowed to consume farts as the only source of nutrition
Skip that feature because no one needs that in a vape
Brewervapesalot
Well-Known Member
I'm ok with a vape that is so good that it turns my house into a sovereign nation. Mark please get on this, probably take another month or so?
For FW6 I would want fixes for where the FW5 disappoints:
The FW5 big ceramic block was a bust; it's a massive heat-sink around the chamber that cools the herb at the edges, which is why only the center extracts and it has to be perpetually stirred. A convection vape should heat the load uniformly. A thin-walled insulated metal chamber (low heat capacity so fast heating) is more likely to function well.
My guess is the FW5 just controls the heating element temperature, and doesn't compensate for draw speed. The only way I can get good extraction is to cycle my draw speed so when I draw faster it boosts the power to the element and when I slow down that power briefly heats the chamber properly. It's almost like using a MFLB, controlling extraction by breath speed.
It should be able to predict chamber air temperature by combining heating element temperature and supplied power, and control for that. I'm pretty sure with a bit of time with a thermocouple in a chamber and you could derive an empirical model that at least approximates better than the FW5.
- Temperature control that is not dependent on draw speed.
- Even extraction, no stirring every draw
The FW5 big ceramic block was a bust; it's a massive heat-sink around the chamber that cools the herb at the edges, which is why only the center extracts and it has to be perpetually stirred. A convection vape should heat the load uniformly. A thin-walled insulated metal chamber (low heat capacity so fast heating) is more likely to function well.
My guess is the FW5 just controls the heating element temperature, and doesn't compensate for draw speed. The only way I can get good extraction is to cycle my draw speed so when I draw faster it boosts the power to the element and when I slow down that power briefly heats the chamber properly. It's almost like using a MFLB, controlling extraction by breath speed.
It should be able to predict chamber air temperature by combining heating element temperature and supplied power, and control for that. I'm pretty sure with a bit of time with a thermocouple in a chamber and you could derive an empirical model that at least approximates better than the FW5.
Sativapo
Well-Known Member
I think most vapes work with the heating element temp related to resistance. Plus it's about 2mm from the plant. Convection depends on airflow by definition. That's what all the 510 devices do with mods and they're top notch. I think just some airflow setups don't suite to some users. Thoughts on ceramic and heat sinking are interesting though.
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Trulukkyphrank
Well-Known Member
I agree with the temperature control, it could be better done. Maybe too much effort for a one person job.
For me was the 5 chamber tray a better option instead of a pod system.
That it not heats perfect evenly is a price I'm willing to pay for portability. I never had to or wanted to stir in my fw5. The edges were always lighter brown then the center, but in my opinion nothing good left in the herb.
I'm still very impressed how marc has designed the fw5! Excited for the next chapter!
For me was the 5 chamber tray a better option instead of a pod system.
That it not heats perfect evenly is a price I'm willing to pay for portability. I never had to or wanted to stir in my fw5. The edges were always lighter brown then the center, but in my opinion nothing good left in the herb.
I'm still very impressed how marc has designed the fw5! Excited for the next chapter!
Brewervapesalot
Well-Known Member
I do like the intuitive temperature adjustment on the FW5 and love the 5 dose tray. No dosing caps!
oddjobold
Vape swap shop
I agree, i like the tray system and vape interface.
I expect so - not least because to get an actual temp sensor you'd need a much more bulky and complex heat/chamber assembly.
But I think, given the additional data of how much power it takes to achieve a given temp, you could get an approximation to chamber air temp and have the control loop control for that. It would take some work to avoid runaway feedback, given that the input is a component of the output, but still doable. I would be more skeptical about this if I hadn't found that the Grasshopper achieved both better power output and control, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't do it with a direct air temperature measurement.
I'd love to have the time to play with that control system. Creating control systems has been some of the most rewarding work I've done. Perhaps when we hit the current economic bubble bursts I'll have more time, though a weed vaporizer isn't exactly good resume material!
It really has many great virtues. The interface is clever and excellent, the aesthetics are top notch in all senses, and apart from heating control issues the vapor is top quality, it brings no unpleasant extra taste. It's frustratingly within reach of being a great vape.
For controls, if I were to specify my ideal vape, it would have an (at lease pseudo-) analog dial for heat control. That is a pleasing GrassHopper feature. But the 3 discrete levels of the FW5 is adequate and cheaper and simpler.
Mr Mellish
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm the odd man out but I prefer the capsules. They are quick to refill, easy to clean and don't feel as clunky as the tray. I'd get more mileage out of a good capsule based vaporizer and a clip that can safely hold multiple capsules without major stank.