pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
Has this happened to anyone else yet? I heard it 'pop' towards the end of a bowl...

Not to me, but I did break my first version 2 S2 spacer by dropping the FV on it. The good news is that unlike the version 1 spacers, the V2 is easy to keep using even though it's broken. There's no reasoon not to put that back in the FV and keep going. I used a broken one for about three weeks and I still have the pieces because it's a serviceable backup.

The question here is what caused that. How much use has it gotten? Was it a tight fit in the bowl? Were you heating it for extended sessions, say more than 20 seconds at a time?
 

Stu

Maconheiro
Staff member
I took my FV around Hollywood today playing tour guide for some tourists. It performed as expected. :cool:

Here's a pic I had to take of the sidewalk.
28slzbl.jpg

:peace:
 

Lizard King

Well-Known Member

I know, right? That's exactly what my face did when I saw it!

Not to me, but I did break my first version 2 S2 spacer by dropping the FV on it. The good news is that unlike the version 1 spacers, the V2 is easy to keep using even though it's broken. There's no reasoon not to put that back in the FV and keep going. I used a broken one for about three weeks and I still have the pieces because it's a serviceable backup.

The question here is what caused that. How much use has it gotten? Was it a tight fit in the bowl? Were you heating it for extended sessions, say more than 20 seconds at a time?

My V1 spacer also broke after a while. I will continue to use this broken V2 spacer until I can get a replacement.

How much use has it gotten?
60 bowls, give or take.

Was it a tight fit in the bowl?
It was snug, but it did have some breathing room.

Were you heating it for extended sessions, say more than 20 seconds at a time?
The max I hit it for is about 6s without drawing and then another 7s whilst drawing (like when the battery is low). My average is 4s without drawing and another 4s whilst drawing. At the time it popped, I definitely hadn't been on the button for more than 10s including the draw.
 
Lizard King,

YeeeBuddy

Well-Known Member
Im pretty happy FV made a tool to make changing the filter screen alot easier. Trying to get that screen in perfect by hand can be extremely frustrating, especially if you are somewhat OCD and want it perfect. Will definitely be getting one of these in the future.
 
YeeeBuddy,
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pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
I know, right? That's exactly what my face did when I saw it!



My V1 spacer also broke after a while. I will continue to use this broken V2 spacer until I can get a replacement.

How much use has it gotten?
60 bowls, give or take.

Was it a tight fit in the bowl?
It was snug, but it did have some breathing room.

Were you heating it for extended sessions, say more than 20 seconds at a time?
The max I hit it for is about 6s without drawing and then another 7s whilst drawing (like when the battery is low). My average is 4s without drawing and another 4s whilst drawing. At the time it popped, I definitely hadn't been on the button for more than 10s including the draw.

I've put a lot more than 60 bowls on the two I have in service now, so I don't think it's a durability issue. I've also heated mine a lot longer than you have so I don't think it overheated either. I'm going with a flaw in the material as the reason. I can't see anything else to blame.

Im pretty happy FV made a tool to make changing the filter screen alot easier. Trying to get that screen in perfect by hand can be extremely frustrating, especially if you are somewhat OCD and want it perfect. Will definitely be getting one of these in the future.

I've got one of these tools and I can tell you that it makes replacing the top screen really easy. I've removed my top screens several times, and the first few times I had no trouble getting it back in. Then I encountered one that just would not go back. The problem was the O-ring. I'd get it in place and the damned thing would creep back out of its groove no matter what I did. I finally had to switch to a different O-ring to get the screen back in. When I got this tool, I tried it with the stubborn O-ring and had it back in place in about half a minute.

There's almost no reason to remove the top screen and my recommendation is that nobody should unless it needs to be replaced. If you are careless when you are cleaning it from the top side you can push it out accidentally however, and then it's luck of the draw whether it will be easy to put back. I've since found a couple of other problem O-rings. If you do remove the top screen, this tool is highly recommended.
 

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
I'm still loving my Flashvape very much! I'm using it more than any of my other vaporizers at the moment. I just got an Herbalaire, and will be using that too, but I keep coming back to the FV. :)

***BTW, I did an ISO soak on that screen, and it did get clean. It's still stained, but I believe it will still be functional.
 

beefsupreme

Well-Known Member
I've got a new FlashVAPE on the way to replace my first gen unit which died a inglorious death by taking a header from the couch to the floor. It's now an oversized rattle :) I'm looking forward to seeing how the design has evolved and the user replaceable heating screen sounds good for longevity. Good tips about using it inverted in S2 mode to start with until the unit settles down. The FV makes a nice daily driver that I've missed lately. I've been using the MFLB again, which wins for portability but cant compete with the lovely clouds coming out of the FV.

It's still missing the feature I'd like most, a small LED light just under the glass so you can see your vapor as its made ;)
 

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
Ok, I was absolutely wrong about the screens. They are ruined by the bubble hash. I have soaked them for days in 97% ISO, and scrubbed them to death. The black will not come off, and they are still clogged, not just stained. I did try to use them, and they just won't work. Oh well, lesson learned.


20p3biu.jpg
 
Vicki,
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OF

Well-Known Member
Did you try to torch them lightly directly on the clogged pores?

And if that doesn't work, torch them heavily. I routinely 'nuke 'em 'till they glow'. I'll hold SS screens and heat them until they glow, which tends to convert everything to dust that can be brushed away. It discolors the metal, I wouldn't do it where you expect to make electrical contact, and it can distort them (but you can flatten it again).

Don't write them off without getting very aggressive with them, heat wise.

Shasta Lake just outside of Redding.

That's too far out for me. I get up there some springs (not the last two years however).....

I'm in the SF area, if you're coming down this way PM me we'll figure something out.

OF
 

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
And if that doesn't work, torch them heavily. I routinely 'nuke 'em 'till they glow'. I'll hold SS screens and heat them until they glow, which tends to convert everything to dust that can be brushed away. It discolors the metal, I wouldn't do it where you expect to make electrical contact, and it can distort them (but you can flatten it again).

Don't write them off without getting very aggressive with them, heat wise.

I just emptied my torch lighter on them both, made them glow red. It worked! You're right, though. The screens are really discolored now, but at least I can see through them in the middle again! Thanks Vitolo! I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. :doh:
 

FlashVAPE

...fast and efficient ! http://flashvape.com
Manufacturer
Ok, I was absolutely wrong about the screens. They are ruined by the bubble hash. I have soaked them for days in 97% ISO, and scrubbed them to death. The black will not come off, and they are still clogged, not just stained. I did try to use them, and they just won't work. Oh well, lesson learned.


20p3biu.jpg

Actually, I think you will likely find these screens (as you have pictures) will work fine even if the dark spots are clogged, as the surface area of those black marks are really small and very unlike to cause any kind of restriction to airflow from what I can see.

Also, as Vito mentioned above, it should be very helpful to torch the clogged spots, and subsequent cleaning will remove the charred debris. Don't worry about it if there is a dark stain on the screen from use, as its no problem and will not effect performance in any significant way. It is common for the screens to turn color with regular use.
 

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
Actually, I think you will likely find these screens (as you have pictures) will work fine even if the dark spots are clogged, as the surface area of those black marks are really small and very unlike to cause any kind of restriction to airflow from what I can see.

I did try to use them, and they wouldn't work. I just torched them, and now I can see through them again. Now, I just need to flatten them out because I really mangled them when I was trying to scrub them with a toothbrush.
 

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
I did try to use them, and they wouldn't work. I just torched them, and now I can see through them again. Now, I just need to flatten them out because I really mangled them when I was trying to scrub them with a toothbrush.

These screens are really robust. You should have no trouble flattening them by stroking them gently with a flat surface. I use the end of the brush for this but any similar object will do. You could also pull them gently over a 90 degree edge like the edge of your desk.
 

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
These screens are really robust. You should have no trouble flattening them by stroking them gently with a flat surface. I use the end of the brush for this but any similar object will do. You could also pull them gently over a 90 degree edge like the edge of your desk.

I am doing the flattening thing now. Thinking about putting them between pages of a book. Then stacking lots of books on top of that. Weight them down more if I have to.
 
Vicki,

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
I am doing the flattening thing now. Thinking about putting them between pages of a book. Then stacking lots of books on top of that. Weight them down more if I have to.

The stroking (or rolling) works much better than weighing them down. Much faster too. In fact I'm not sure weight helps much at all.
 
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