FW9 charging up for first bowl! FW8 was my DD since it came out, this was mostly an aesthetic upgrade for me, plus habit, I've been here since FW3. While it's not much smaller than 8, the single block of walnut LOOKS smaller, simpler, prettier, it's a FW7 with usb-c, tuned up heater, and a capsule system.
Feel compelled to say here how grateful I am for small vape makers like Firewood, Morwood, Tinymight, and (RIP) RBT. I left combustion over a decade ago and tried to stick with portable vapes this whole ride. I ran a fucking MFLB as my only device for a year and a half, went from 30sec sessions to 15minute+ sessions, that's as good a measure of my commitment to FC as anything. All those conduction-only devices with flashing lights, phone interfaces, cheap manufacturing but prices to match their expensive corporate structures, yuck. Convection portables made vaping awesome (I give RBT credit here but I know there were others), but we still had years of breath control and button timing, and gear bags full of tools and glass. It wasn't till FW5 that I finally got back to one, quick, reliable device in my pocket, plus a tube of ground flower. Then FW7 brought us the hybrid heater, and it pretty much felt like the journey was complete for me. I'm STILL unlearning breathing technique, served a little w FW7 but w the more powerful 8 it really wasn't necessary, just wait till the second buzz and pull as hard as I want, charging up a hill walking the dog, didn't matter. Now we're just at the point of iterative changes, with a half dozen small shops catering to our needs, so cool. Not cheap, sure, but all these devices would be twice as expensive coming from bigger companies. And back to Firewoods - simple materials, super thought through design, minimal lights, one-button interface, haptics, capsules, on-board charging w protection, amazing heater design.
Not sure where Marc will take it from here, hope he stays busy and in the black w FW9s for awhile.