FlowerMate Vapormax V/V5.0/V5.0S/V5 Pro

[Reflexion]

It doesn't seem to make much difference to me if the mouthpiece storage is open or closed. Air also enters from the side vents and through the power button and mini USB slightly

 

[Wzfbaby7]

So how's the Flowermate mini stack up to other portable vapes around that price range? And does it need to be packed fully in order to get as much vapor in the bubbler video? I wish it went up to 440ish but I think 415 may still be a nice temp.

 

[NorthMax]

Flowermate Mini - Mini Review
I received my new FM Mini last week. After a few burn offs, I tried my first time filling the bowl about half full (I am a micro doser kinda guy) with premium well cured dry bud.
I gotta say it was worked very well at the lowest temp and gave a satisfying draw without the hacking cough and no complaints about the cloud.
Definitely a slight electronics aftertaste at first but its gone now.
I increased the temp each of the next two times I tried and for me, I really like the lowest temp so far for my preference.
Recommend .... based on my experience so far, and the research I did prior to buying, I think it stands up well to any portable value vapes in this price range. Sold build feel, micro usb and cell phone charinging ability and small size makes it hard to beat...until something else comes along, which wont take long judging by all the new products out already in 2015.

 

[FluffMolotov]

A friend of mine popped round with his shiny new Mini a couple days ago. I'd vowed never to buy another Flowermate (gifted away 3 already), so the desire for a new toy came as a shock... I decided to stave off vapelust by pimping an old V5.0 last night, turned out splendid.
USB charger (switching regulator):

Clean air bypass (silicone gasket):

The last mod comes highly recommended, draws like a champion now.

 

[Haunts]

How does one go about doing these mods?

 

[Churrucaman]

Got a FW 5.0s a few weeks ago, VAS 420 offer...

I have to say it's a very nice entry vape, far better than I thought it would be for the price. I sincerely recommend it for those that want to start with vaping or want a cheap tool to cover their rotation.

Two fast usage tips, hope haven't been posted before

- Don't use the brush while the unit is hot, it isn't temperature safe (it left some black bits i've had some difficult time cleaning).
- Switch the stock mouthpiece screen for a mesh one, less clogging and better air flow.

I would've preferred 185, 200 and 210 as preset temperatures and miss some kind of battery readout (perhaps a coded blink like crafty) but for the price you can't complain.

 

[TheIslandGuru]

When doing burnoffs is the goal to completely remove the electronic smell or just to remove the bad aftertaste? I did around 15 burnoffs with my mini and the aftertaste is completely gone but it still has a slight plasticky smell. Is it fine to go ahead and use?

 

[Old English]

Got a FW 5.0s a few weeks ago, VAS 420 offer...




- Switch the stock mouthpiece screen for a mesh one, less clogging and better air flow.

Through a whip or bubbler that's fine, but be careful. Particulates inhaled,whilst not being toxic, can lodge in the lungs or airways causing infection.
I gave up tobacco and smoking last year after I had an infection that hospitalised me.
On the plus side I was so ill it made nicotine withdrawal unnoticable

 

[Old English]

On the mini front, I just ordered a Smiss (flowermate) VT1.0 pre release model off ebay.
Seems similarly specced but is round, micro usb charger and has more heat settings. 10 settings from 330f to 420f (165c to 215c)

 

[Churrucaman]

Through a whip or bubbler that's fine, but be careful. Particulates inhaled,whilst not being toxic, can lodge in the lungs or airways causing infection.

Haven't noticed a single spot at the mouthpiece but something worth keeping the eye at, specially for the more sensitive users.

Wouldn't go for a chinese vape with such high start temperature and unisolated path in such case unless out of necessity though.

 

[Old English]

True, but compared to the abuse my body has taken, much much better than combustion.

 

[heyeph]

- Switch the stock mouthpiece screen for a mesh one, less clogging and better air flow.

I'm having trouble finding screens that fit without cutting. I measure them at 8mm. Anyone have a good source of these online with free/cheap shipping?

 

[max]

Particulates inhaled,whilst not being toxic, can lodge in the lungs or airways causing infection.

You breathe in similar sized particulates all the time, and any vape using a screen passes some of them through, no matter how fine the mesh. Ten years of vaping with screens has caused me no problems. Mowing the grass just once without a paint mask on though, is a different story for me.

Wouldn't go for a chinese vape with such high start temperature and unisolated path in such case unless out of necessity though.

But if it were made in the US it would be OK? Please don't post that 'made in China=crap' stuff here. We don't like it. There are vapes made in other countries without an isolated air path, and the starting temp is completely irrelevant.

I'm having trouble finding screens that fit without cutting.

I doubt you'll find 8mm screens anywhere, other than FM replacement screens. Get 3/8" instead. It's what I use. You'll find those cheap, from multiple sellers, on eBay. 3/8" is slightly larger, but it'll easily replace the FM's screens (without having to trim), and in the mouthpiece, a standard 3/8" ss screen will brush off (avoiding a thorough cleaning) easier than the fine mesh stock screen.

Also is the brownish deposit inside the glass thc?

It's condensed vapor. Any vape leaves it to some degree, on any surface the vapor contacts (since all surfaces are cooler than the vapor), once the vapor starts to cool (which is immediately).

 

[paytonpenn]

Well here's my overall opinion on this device since PIU asked me to do a review, I spend my time writing and see I passed the character limit by 3000+ words.

I'm not going to mention or compare any other vaporizers that aren't Flowermates in this review.

I've had the previous iterations of the Flowermate 5.0 series since their launch a year ago. This is definitely my favorite, don't let the three star dissuade you if you're looking for a dead easy device for stealthy situations.

The build quality of the Flowermate Mini is alright, nothing exceptional. The Mini appears to be made of the exactly same materials as the original 5.0, this isn't necessarily bad but the lack of actual improvements in material choice over a year is notable. The unit feels solid and is definitely quite small, for example my credit card/license is wider and taller, obviously not thicker. It's also nice having the option to hide the mouthpiece within the unit and to have it preloaded without worry about herbs escaping.

Burn-ins before usage are definitely recommend as the fresh adhesive from the polymide will be present on the first few runs. At the initial off flavor was gone I was left with a minor flavor of the internals. I will note that the herb does taste nice from the device but that doesn't prevent me from noticing the minute device flavor, which is present when inhaling from the unit cold. Luckily they designed the unit so you can mod it to exclude the device's internals from the airpath.

Heatup is about a minute probably 75 seconds when going for the max temp. The battery hasn't ever been entirely drained for me but I would expect at least 5 sessions from a full charge. The mobile power bank option works very well, I have used it many times to charge my phone, other vaporizers, and MX Performance mouse. If you remove the top lid you can also use the device while charging another, I wouldn't recommend it but the device isn't so clever that it stops these two functions from working simultaneously.

I do find the device to be one of the least efficient units I've used. I am quite often to want to load .05g and expect great hits and feel like I had a good extraction. This is an issue for all Flowermates in my opinion. Its not a big gripe as many users transitioning from combustion to vaporization are already used to consuming more than .1g at a time. However the unit does perform well when it is loaded to a reasonable amount and with the 5 minute timeout you'll be able to get at least 3 separate 5 minute sessions from a single load of .15g.

I normally accidentally leave it on after a session because I am quite quick to forget I have to press the unit 5 times to turn it off after it turns itself off. The unit will not turn off after your session but instead stops heating and you'll have to press and hold the button for 3 seconds to get it to start heating again.

Cleaning is easy and quick, I just qtip with iso the ceramic chamber and soak the mouthpiece is iso followed by the pipe brush to clean it. I would recommend using the brush after every so many sessions to prevent the unit from smelling even worse. The unit does not necessarily smell but the products inside can be smelled through the vents on the sides. I haven't found my car totally reeking of the FM when I leave it in their for a few hours but I can smell it when its loaded and a foot away from me. I imagine someone not always around it would notice it even quicker.

My overall opinion of this vape is positive, for the price I received it for upon release, 85$. I recommend this vaporizer first to users who are primarily interest in having their unit seen in public. Second if they don't want to spend the money for a mid-range priced vaporizer (100-175). Third if they don't want/can't to allocate their time to master a better unit. So all in all, I would say this vaporizer is average (3 star) based on Puffitup's 5 star system. I wouldn't call it good, as there are definitely units in the same price range that in my opinion deliver better and taste better but sacrifice stealth and battery.

Also a mention to PIU for the great shipping speed, and reading my instructions. Always a satisfying experience when dealing with you guys.

If you're interest in a little production video, I have posted one on YT

 

[Churrucaman]

But if it were made in the US it would be OK? Please don't post that 'made in China=crap' stuff here. We don't like it. There are vapes made in other countries without an isolated air path, and the starting temp is completely irrelevant.

I'd say the starting temp is quite relevant when you take into account the byproducts showing at 200ºC and higher temps, specially considering we were talking about sensitive lung users. Depending on sensor calibration it may end up taking a few degrees more and causing more benzene to show up in the mix.

Nothing to say about the "China=crap" stuff, my apologies and most sincere regret about that

I'm having trouble finding screens that fit without cutting. I measure them at 8mm. Anyone have a good source of these online with free/cheap shipping?

STORM / X-MAX2 replacement screens fit right in the spot.

 

[KeroZen]

@paytonpenn: quick questions, do you tamp your load to make a little puck when using your FM's? I'm curious as to what devices in your eyes deliver and taste better at the same price?

 

[paytonpenn]

@paytonpenn: quick questions, do you tamp your load to make a little puck when using your FM's? I'm curious as to what devices in your eyes deliver and taste better at the same price?

It depends on the occasion, if I feel it will increase production then yes. But in the video there was no tamping, but also take note I live on high temps. I like starting at 410F.

Butane based vapes, the Firewood, I honestly prefer the DV over the FM series. XMAX, Imag+, NO2 even.

I'm guessing I have different taste buds then you Kero, because I'll be damned if the background flavor on the Flowermates ever disappeared. The stronger flavors did but I still taste the unit, its not as pure as the Hammer, VaporGenie, Vapman, or Firewood. Even the DV tastes better IMO.

 

[heyeph]

@paytonpenn: quick questions, do you tamp your load to make a little puck when using your FM's? I'm curious as to what devices in your eyes deliver and taste better at the same price?

Do you hand fill to the top and tamp down? How hard do you tamp?

 

[paytonpenn]

Do you hand fill to the top and tamp down? How hard do you tamp?

If I am tamping, it sounds like I am loading a whole lot more than my desired .05g.

Irregardless of tamping the extraction is the same and vapor production is the same in the long run. Its not that the unit doesn't make clouds it's that it doesn't extract fast enough or well enough for my standards. A clear limitation in temperature and vaporization method.

 

[Reflexion]

Which vape is "DV"?

 

[paytonpenn]

DaVinci classic.

 

[Reflexion]

Ah OK. I'm also uninpressed by the mini
The imag + extracts better IMO

 

[Reflexion]

On second thought, i should mention that I haven't had a lot of experience with portables. The mini isn't bad for the price, and I really like its features. Maybe I was just expecting too much, since I've never tried the v5.0s

 

[virtualpurple]

I've no experience with the imag vapes, but my experience with the flowermate vapes is pretty extensive.

With the original 5.0 and the 5.0s I never tamp my loads and they have always worked like champs.

With the 5.0s mini and the Pro model I have found that I need to tamp the load as @KeroZen describes. I probably pack a bit looser but I'm sure you get the drift. I get great results packing those.

Why do I need to pack for the most recent models and not for the older ones? Beats me. But I am still pretty happy with these models.

VP

 

[Old English]

I've no experience with the imag vapes, but my experience with the flowermate vapes is pretty extensive.

With the original 5.0 and the 5.0s I never tamp my loads and they have always worked like champs.

With the 5.0s mini and the Pro model I have found that I need to tamp the load as @KeroZen describes. I probably pack a bit looser but I'm sure you get the drift. I get great results packing those.

Why do I need to pack for the most recent models and not for the older ones? Beats me. But I am still pretty happy with these models.

VP

I cant speak for the 5 but the s and pro have different bottoms in the oven, not the screen, the bottom ceramic plug. As it is the only difference in the air path i can see, this seems to be why the pro has a more restricted flow than the s.