Discontinued Pax Vaporizer by Ploom

[Jethro]

It's worse when I use the dual screen method and half fill the oven, obviously there is less material. But it takes about 3 puffs before it starts going to burnt popcorn. With a full oven it's noticeably better, but after that first stir it goes to burnt popcorn. Maybe I am just too critical and I really don't have a lot of vaporizer experience, so I may be a bad judge.

 

[Volteric]

It's worse when I use the dual screen method and half fill the oven, obviously there is less material. But it takes about 3 puffs before it starts going to burnt popcorn. With a full oven it's noticeably better, but after that first stir it goes to burnt popcorn. Maybe I am just too critical and I really don't have a lot of vaporizer experience, so I may be a bad judge.

I wouldn't say that. It's true that the flavor most definitely slips away with each puff. The most noticeable are the first 1-4 puffs and that's about it, but compared to the first 1-4 puffs on the FF I don't anywhere near the same flavor profile as I do with the Pax.

I'll start with lowest temp 2 puffs. Stir. 2 more puffs. Move temp to medium for 2 puffs. Move temp to high to finish off with coffee colored abv. Really everything after the first 4 tokes isn't a wonderful taste nor intolerable like combustion.

 

[DogBoy]

...don't drop your loaded Pax... (DoH!)...(LoL)

 

[scottg402]

I find that if you pack it full with finely ground herb and keep it on low you can get good clouds and the really good taste lasts a while (10+ draws). I use a coffee grinder if I am grinding up a bunch of material or a MFLB finishing grinder for smaller quantities.

Another critical element to good taste is keeping the device clean. I never go more than 10-15 sessions before a full on cleaning (pipe cleaner through the draw channel and mouthpiece in an ISO bath) and I wipe out the oven with alcohol prep pads after every use.

 

[Volteric]

I find that if you pack it full with finely ground herb and keep it on low you can get good clouds and the really good taste lasts a while (10+ draws). I use a coffee grinder if I am grinding up a bunch of material or a MFLB finishing grinder for smaller quantities.

Another critical element to good taste is keeping the device clean. I never go more than 10-15 sessions before a full on cleaning (pipe cleaner through the draw channel and mouthpiece in an ISO bath) and I wipe out the oven with alcohol prep pads after every use.

Sounds exactly like my approach and regimen and what I would advise any Pax user!

 

[eruptor]

I've had my Pax a couple of months now and think it's the best portable herb vape I've owned.
Question on the ISO bath on the mouthpiece. I use a 99% ISO, is a bath a good idea due to the space age polymer the mp is made from =)
Interesting on the mix and repack methods. I pack the oven REALLY dense and have noticed the outer herb doesn't get used up.
As far as taste, the Pax is such a huge improvement over my former WISPR that I have no complaints. Never tried a FF though.
Temp control placement is definitely bad. I think there should be a better power and temp control panel, though non LCD is fine to conserve battery.
Battery life is very good so far. Following proper conditioning and I get about 10-15 sessions before charging.

 

[Volteric]

I've had my Pax a couple of months now and think it's the best portable herb vape I've owned.
Question on the ISO bath on the mouthpiece. I use a 99% ISO, is a bath a good idea due to the space age polymer the mp is made from =)
Interesting on the mix and repack methods. I pack the oven REALLY dense and have noticed the outer herb doesn't get used up.
As far as taste, the Pax is such a huge improvement over my former WISPR that I have no complaints. Never tried a FF though.
Temp control placement is definitely bad. I think there should be a better power and temp control panel, though non LCD is fine to conserve battery.
Battery life is very good so far. Following proper conditioning and I get about 10-15 sessions before charging.

I am without my pax because of the mouthpiece. It's there for repair so I've been only using the ff. I'll tell what truly sets it apart is that you can use concentrates much more straightforwardly with ff by using herbalizers aroma pads. I mean honest to god, straight vape dabbing type ability.

Aside from that I notice better flavors with pax. The ff tastes great but there's something about conduction that brings out noticeable flavors over the ff, but again the ff tastes better than mflb.

 

[OregonStoner]

Question on the ISO bath on the mouthpiece. I use a 99% ISO, is a bath a good idea due to the space age polymer the mp is made from =)

I always give my mouthpiece a bath in 99% ISO. Ploom even endorses soaking the mouthpiece in ISO. You may wipe the oven lid with ISO but Ploom does not recommend submerging it. I use a small shot glass full of ISO to submerge the mouthpiece in. This uses the smallest amount of ISO possible. Another forum member suggested this and it works great..

 

[eruptor]

Holy cow, 400 pages since my last post in this thread, it's a lot to read

I used to use my PAX a lot, but now it's shelved, replaced by my ever trusty Solo. I have been looking for something you can carry the PAX around in, (hopefully airtight or waterproof and definitely smellproof), because "the smell" gets to me. I can carry around my Solo, and because the stem is the thing that really smells the most, and not attached to the device, I can store just the stem separately and reduce the overall smell to almost nothing.

So anyone have any slim (possibly form-fitting) case suggestions for the PAX, used mainly to make it smell-proof?

A couple of ziplock bags doesn't cut it. Bags make noise, and stink after a while, plus I feel like a schoolkid with a PB&J sandwich in a bag

Agree about the odor. I've been putting my pax in a Mylar baggie (that some dispensaries use) and that controls most of the odor, not dog proof though!

For a true odor eliminator I believe you will need something that has a charcoal liner like these Deodorizer Bags. 50 bucks is steep and an obvious gouging, i think if you look around you could find some charcoal lining on the interwebs and craft something for much cheaper.​

... when I pop open the mouthpiece with my thumb, if I don't do it slowly and carefully, the mouthpiece shoots right off of it and gets flung across the yard. It was dark. I was on my hands and knees in the yard with a flashlight for a good 8-10 minutes before I found the damn thing ...

Ha! I've had this happen to me as well, notice it more after a good cleaning and mp lubricant ... price of keeping it clean I guess =)

 

[Hottaflames]

I've had my Pax for a week now. I really, really, really like it! I clean it after every 2 or 3 uses, not because I think it's necessary but because I enjoy doing it!

The ONLY problem I have with it is the battery life! At home it's fine. You drop it on the charger between sessions. On the road (not in a car) it's gonna die on you and piss you off... My mission is to find a suitable portable charging solution. Any ideas?

 

[Jethro]

My mission is to find a suitable portable charging solution. Any ideas?

Ploom sells a car charger. I have an inverter in my truck so I can charge with the included charger on the go. When I travel I just bring my plug in charger and use it where ever I can. My Pax lasts easily 3 full ovens before needing to charge- and that is a lot of sessions. I get 3-4 sessions out of each oven so a fully charged battery lasts me a whole day at the least. If you are using it with more than just yourself it can be a problem, it's not a great device for group use.

 

[Hottaflames]

My Pax doesnt last nearly that long! Not even 1 full oven!

 

[Jethro]

My Pax doesnt last nearly that long! Not even 1 full oven!

Somethings wrong man, really wrong. I can go through 3 heating sessions easy- at least 3-5 puffs a session and my battery is still on green. You sure you have an authentic Pax? Even my first one a year and a half ago the battery was really quite good. You might want to send that back to Ploom for a looksee.

 

[eruptor]

My Pax doesnt last nearly that long! Not even 1 full oven!

This is not good. What temp setting do you use?
You might try to condition the batt before sending it back, though you could save some time and just send it back now. By condition the batt I mean bring the charge completely down and then charge all the way up but take off of charger as soon as it shows green. Doing this a few times will give you the best batt life.

ps - I know, I have been told the Lithium ion batteries are not supposed to need this kind of conditioning, but experience has shown me otherwise.

... you can use concentrates much more straightforwardly with ff by using herbalizers aroma pads. I mean honest to god, straight vape dabbing type ability...

This is very interesting, I'll need to rake a look at the FF if it can truly work with nugs or errll. That's the holy grail for portable vapes, lol!

 

[NickDlow]

This is very interesting, I'll need to rake a look at the FF if it can truly work with nugs or errll. That's the holy grail for portable vapes, lol!

If u want something for bud n errrll u want the Haze Vaporizer. Give it a look

 

[Volteric]

This is very interesting, I'll need to rake a look at the FF if it can truly work with nugs or errll. That's the holy grail for portable vapes, lol!

Truly! Go the FF thread and take a look at the photos I uploaded. Yesterday my friend who typically uses a rig came over and we used the FF with wax on the Herbalizer Aroma Pad which fits PERFECTLY in the FF bowl.

4, 10 second pulses melts it down and then viola nice huge clouds and fat flavor!

 

[btka]

@Hottaflames
maybe its a fake.... otherwise sent it to ploom they should give you a new....

 

[NickDlow]

@eruptor Or you can look into a vape designed for the use of flowers, wax, and oils. Also with rechargeable batteries and dual chambers to have the ability to go from one to the other in a flip of a switch. You can prepack cans with any material or all the materials mixed the possibilities are endless lol. And the concentrate sessions are crazy long a dab on a rig that lasts .1 seconds will last 20+ min vaping with a bomb taste till the last draw. It worth it to check out.

 

[Volteric]

Does the Haze truly vape the flower? I'm only asking because everything I've seen so far claim this but end up combusting the material. In your experience does the Haze truly vape like the pax, firefly, ascent, etc?

 

[scottg402]

Does the Haze truly vape the flower? I'm only asking because everything I've seen so far claim this but end up combusting the material. In your experience does the Haze truly vape like the pax, firefly, ascent, etc?

Yes it truly vapes.

If you use the cans exclusively like I do and keep it on the highest heat setting it will come extremely close to combusting. The ABV will be very dark brown/black.

That is only after a 20-30 minute session off one can of about .25 grams of herb. If you don't go as long you will have light brown ABV similar to the Pax.

I have experienced the same type of nearly combusted ABV on the high setting of the Pax. This with an equally long session.

With the Haze you also have a choice of two different screens in addition to the cans. Results will vary with those but you can get nice tasty vapor out of any of the methods and it comes down to personal preference and convenience.

 

[NickDlow]

Couldn't have said it better myself @scottg402

 

[pakalolo]

If u want something for bud n errrll u want the Haze Vaporizer. Give it a look

Does the Haze truly vape the flower? I'm only asking because everything I've seen so far claim this but end up combusting the material. In your experience does the Haze truly vape like the pax, firefly, ascent, etc?

Yes it truly vapes.

If you use the cans exclusively like I do and keep it on the highest heat setting it will come extremely close to combusting. The ABV will be very dark brown/black.

That is only after a 20-30 minute session off one can of about .25 grams of herb. If you don't go as long you will have light brown ABV similar to the Pax.

I have experienced the same type of nearly combusted ABV on the high setting of the Pax. This with an equally long session.

With the Haze you also have a choice of two different screens in addition to the cans. Results will vary with those but you can get nice tasty vapor out of any of the methods and it comes down to personal preference and convenience.

This is off-topic for this thread. Please take further discussion of the Haze to its own thread.

 

[Hottaflames]

Somethings wrong man, really wrong. I can go through 3 heating sessions easy- at least 3-5 puffs a session and my battery is still on green. You sure you have an authentic Pax? Even my first one a year and a half ago the battery was really quite good. You might want to send that back to Ploom for a looksee.

I believe it's authentic. I got from vaporal.com and they say it's authentic and has the 10 yr warranty. They say they honor the warranty for the 1st year and after that I send it to Ploom. Is that normal?

Coincidentally, After reading this, I got much better battery life on my last charge! hahaha
Maybe the battery needed conditioning as @eruptor said. I got thru 2 full ovens, almost... when it died on the 2nd one I was too happy about the improved performance and way too baked to really care! lol
Seriously though, the battery performance was noticeably better. Maybe close to what you get? I take more puffs per session than most people describe on here I think. And my tolerance (and desire to STAY high) are way up there too

I grind fine and pack full and tight. Stirring after every 3 draws, I start on low for about 9 long draws, go to medium for 6 draws then finish on high. Before today, it would die after about 2 draws on high.
Today however, I took about 6 good draws on high and then packed the oven fresh. I was able to make to 2 draws on medium on the 2nd oven-full before the battery died.

 

[Jethro]

Well, maybe yes, it does needs to condition? I know I could do two or 3 full ovens on Medium but I do reload when my herb is still a bit on the yellow side, so maybe it's similar?

 

[NickDlow]

Idk IMO that doesn't sound right at all 2 ovens?!?!? I get at least 4 20+ min sessions on one charge.

Like any rechargeable batteries it's best to completely use the device till it is completely dead then charge it till it's full then remove it from the charger. Leaving something on a charger after it's full drains the battery life.

Also u say u stir after every 3rd draw. Also I think this is hurting u too. Each time u open the lid I'm sure ur losing vapor and heat so the pax works that much harder. If u use the double screen method it vapes evenly. Use a reg bowl screen, roll it up an place it on ur flowers to keep it compact. Doing this u use less flowers. I was told about the volcano concentrate pad (steel wool basically) after cutting to size it works great.

All together ur pax should last at least an hour of run time at least that's what I experience