The Firefly 2 vaporizer

[BuzzDanklin]

Nice pics and comparisons, Buzz. Thx!

Can you post some pre-review thoughts here on your experience with the ff2? How do you find the taste - compared to the ff1, Crafty, and gh? How do you compare the mouthpiece between the ff1 and 2? Are you finding the need to stir before finishing a load?

Curious about your experience compared to @mitchgo61 (plus it looks like yours is a final production unit, and his is a prototype, I think).

Thx!

Taste is nearly identical to the Firefly1, so its definitely top tier for taste especially at the start of the bowl. I get better flavor than the Crafty and the GH. I am currently stirring one to two times per bowl when I want to get the very most even and consistent results, however I am working on finding a technique that does not require stirring and still gets very even results. If I do not stir, the bottom half of the bowl is a few shades darker than the top.

Have liked the FF 1, and now wondering if they have finally "perfected" it? The top case certainly looks like there will be more air flow, and easier to clean.

Don't like the idea of an app, so the only question I have is does it come with a good preset heat setting so I don't have to download and use the app?

Hoping the app isn't needed for daily usage, only for fine tuning the heat, but I prefer to do that the old fashioned way with breath control.

Also, do I need to buy new batteries , for like the 5th time, or can I still use the batteries and chargers I have.

You are right, it's definitely more airflow, and it's much easier to clean as well. In fact I have not cleaned mine yet (outside quickly blowing out excess crumbs in the bowl after I empty each one) and I am up to about 15-20 bowls since I got my production unit. I plan to see how far I can push the non cleaning.

Unfortunately I do not remember what the default heat setting was, but it does stay where you set it last, so you could easily get the app, play around with the heat settings for a session or to, find out what you like best and then never touch it again. You can definitely still affect the FF2 performance with your breath control, I still draw a bit slower at first until I can feel/taste the vapor is getting to the density I like, then I ramp up my draw speed a bit. So you can lock your prefered temps in the app, and then customize it even slightly further with your draw speed

I am not sure I would be able to replace this unit, so at the moment I am too afraid to try a Firefly1 battery inside the Firefly2 in the off chance it hurt it (although I am fairly sure it will work)

I did test my old Firefly1 using my extra Firefly2 battery and it worked normally, I also successfully charged my second Firefly2 battery in my Firefly1 external charger.

 

[Mike M]

Taste is nearly identical to the Firefly1, so its definitely top tier for taste especially at the start of the bowl. I get better flavor than the Crafty and the GH. I am currently stirring one to two times per bowl when I want to get the very most even and consistent results, however I am working on finding a technique that does not require stirring and still gets very even results. If I do not stir, the bottom half of the bowl is a few shades darker than the top.



You are right, it's definitely more airflow, and it's much easier to clean as well. In fact I have not cleaned mine yet (outside quickly blowing out excess crumbs in the bowl after I empty each one) and I am up to about 15-20 bowls since I got my production unit. I plan to see how far I can push the non cleaning.

Unfortunately I do not remember what the default heat setting was, but it does stay where you set it last, so you could easily get the app, play around with the heat settings for a session or to, find out what you like best and then never touch it again. You can definitely still affect the FF2 performance with your breath control, I still draw a bit slower at first until I can feel/taste the vapor is getting to the density I like, then I ramp up my draw speed a bit. So you can lock your prefered temps in the app, and then customize it even slightly further with your draw speed

I am not sure I would be able to replace this unit, so at the moment I am too afraid to try a Firefly1 battery inside the Firefly2 in the off chance it hurt it (although I am fairly sure it will work)

I did test my old Firefly1 using my extra Firefly2 battery and it worked normally, I also successfully charged my second Firefly2 battery in my Firefly1 external charger.

Buzz, thanks for the info, great job. I'm still wondering if I would have to download the app at all? I'm assuming it comes with a decent preset, do you have to download the app to use it or fire it up, or only if you want to change temps?

It's the simplicity of the thing that attracted me to it in the first place, I don't need fancy bells and whistles, just want like 20 to 30% more performance.

 

[BuzzDanklin]

Buzz, thanks for the info, great job. I'm still wondering if I would have to download the app at all? I'm assuming it comes with a decent preset, do you have to download the app to use it or fire it up, or only if you want to change temps?

It's the simplicity of the thing that attracted me to it in the first place, I don't need fancy bells and whistles, just want like 20 to 30% more performance.

You will only have to download the App to change the temperatures, but unfortunately I do not remember what the default temp was set at before I started switching them around.

You could probably just put the vape in your pocket, walk into a local cell phone store, download the app on one of their phones, and set the temp to what you want if you are trying to avoid getting the app on your own phone

 

[midnight rider]

mike i believe previous posters said the default heat setting is medium-high which pretty much matches the ff 1 heat zone

 

[mitchgo61]

Taste is nearly identical to the Firefly1, so its definitely top tier for taste especially at the start of the bowl. I get better flavor than the Crafty and the GH.

Interesting. I find the flavor almost as good as the FF1, but less cool temperature-wise, by a notable degree. (Apparently I'm not the only one who has noticed this....I gather it's a function of the glass in the lid vs. the SS used in the FF1 lid but I could be wrong about that.)

mike i believe previous posters said the default heat setting is medium-high which pretty much matches the ff 1 heat zone

That is correct, Med-High is the default setting.

 

[studmuffin]

I've been pondering the evolution of the Firefly. I see the comparison of Firefly1 to Firefly2 like this:

Firefly1 = 1969 Jaguar XKE, in British racing green

Firefly2 is a 2016 Corvette Stingray, in red (of course !)

Elegant performance versus performance excellence.

Both have a welcome place in my "garage"

 

[Mike M]

Interesting. I find the flavor almost as good as the FF1, but less cool temperature-wise, by a notable degree. (Apparently I'm not the only one who has noticed this....I gather it's a function of the glass in the lid vs. the SS used in the FF1 lid but I could be wrong about that.)



That is correct, Med-High is the default setting.

Mitch, when you say "less cool", is the effect that the vapor can be more irritating ? Is this the first negative I'm hearing? If so, then I can see the need for the app.

 

[mitchgo61]

Mitch, when you say "less cool", is the effect that the vapor can be more irritating ? Is this the first negative I'm hearing? If so, then I can see the need for the app.

Not really. I don't notice any harshness, even on the High setting. It's just a wee bit less cool...in some ways it may mitigate potential harshness because it's a little easier to tell when you are getting a big hit, as opposed to the 1, which can fool you resulting in a too-large hit sometimes.

It's a noticeable difference, to me, but not a dramatic one. I'm guessing that, as usual, mileage may vary on this.

 

[BuzzDanklin]

Interesting. I find the flavor almost as good as the FF1, but less cool temperature-wise, by a notable degree. (Apparently I'm not the only one who has noticed this....I gather it's a function of the glass in the lid vs. the SS used in the FF1 lid but I could be wrong about that.)

That is correct, Med-High is the default setting.

I would agree with this, I do seem to notice the original Firefly vapor was a bit more cool, but when I have been comparing the FF2 to some of my other on demand convection units like the Grasshopper, and the Firewood V3, the vapor is still quite cool overall.

I wonder if the coolness difference compared to the original Firefly is from the new lid material, or potentially because the old unit got up to temp slower, so the draw came on slower/smoother potentially, a combination of both, or something else entirely.

 

[hi_there]

Read a bunch of posts but did not really see a heat up time on the FF2? Is it 10 seconds or less?

 

[Mr. Me2]

@BuzzDanklin and @mitchgo61 - are there any noticeable or performance differences between the mouthpiece between the ff1 and 2 (aside from color)?

 

[mitchgo61]

@BuzzDanklin and @mitchgo61 - are there any noticeable or performance differences between the mouthpiece between the ff1 and 2 (aside from color)?

I posted a picture a page back....but it's plastic instead of metal, and contains a screen that catches debris. Works really well...unlike the FF1, you'll never get pieces of material in your mouth under any circumstances.

 

[KeroZen]

But wasn't the metal mouthpiece maybe contributing to the cooler vapor in the FF1? I'm not excited at all when you say the new one is plastic as it's not a material I like to put in my mouth.

 

[Mr. Me2]

Thx for the info, Mitch!

 

[marduk]

Read a bunch of posts but did not really see a heat up time on the FF2? Is it 10 seconds or less?

5 seconds per their Instagram.

 

[KeroZen]

Improved over 100% means battery life has more than doubled right?

 

[mitchgo61]

Improved over 100% means battery life has more than doubled right?

That's exactly what it means, and that's what they found in their testing. (Me too, when I avoid the prototype bugs. )

 

[KeroZen]

OO'rite! That's quite substantial of an improvement indeed!

 

[oddjobold]

Does anyone know if preorders will be international? I am in the UK.

The main reason I eventually sold my FF1 was that I was convinced I was inhaling particulates in to my lungs. Had loads of weird plegm using the FF1, felt like i had crap on my lungs. Swapped to an Arizer air and never had this issue.

How fine is the mesh on the FF2 mouthpiece? How good is it at stopping particulates? Can we have a close up shot please?

 

[mitchgo61]

How fine is the mesh on the FF2 mouthpiece? How good is it at stopping particulates? Can we have a close up shot please?

The mouthpiece stops ALL particulate matter. All of it. 100%. I also posted a clear pic of the mouthpiece and screen three pages back.

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/the-firefly-2-vaporizer-coming-2016.20281/page-11#post-918227

But wasn't the metal mouthpiece maybe contributing to the cooler vapor in the FF1? I'm not excited at all when you say the new one is plastic as it's not a material I like to put in my mouth.

You are not alone in your issues with plastic, but it's such a small piece that I really don't think it presents any "air path" issues. And it works so well, I think you'll be impressed. (And I haven't even used the final version! ) I kind of doubt the material difference is affecting the vapor temp, but as Buzz and I have both mentioned, it's not clear what is causing the noticeable (perceived) temp delta...though I still think the glass vs SS lid material is the main culprit. Maybe.

Read a bunch of posts but did not really see a heat up time on the FF2? Is it 10 seconds or less?

It's less, by a couple seconds. Once it heats up, it only requires heat-up time for one or two hits. ...thereafter, for several minutes, the light stays solid and there is no wait time. Hit after hit, on-demand, immediately.

 

[snamuh]

It's less, by a couple seconds. Once it heats up, it only requires heat-up time for one or two hits. ...thereafter, for several minutes, the light stays solid and there is no wait time. Hit after hit, on-demand, immediately.

So... how does it work? You press the button and hold it until the top light turns green and then hit? first two hits are "aight" getting the next hits primed? What is the orange light on the sides? Have you tried micro loads?

I have an AA and have been waiting for a quick vape like this because I'm usually a one hit and wait guy. With the way the GH roll out has been Im leaning towards this instead.

 

[mitchgo61]

So... how does it work? You press the button and hold it until the top light turns green and then hit? first two hits are "aight" getting the next hits primed? What is the orange light on the sides? Have you tried micro loads?
.

You touch the heat button(s). The LED flashes green. When it goes solid, you hit. If you set the temp range to at least Medium, you get big hits right away. The second hit usually requires a short heat-up time...after that, unless you allow the unit to cool, it retains enough heat to give you a solid green immediately, even if you raise the temp setting.

The orange light is the glow of the heater below the bowl. It dims a bit once the device is warmed up.

I have tried small loads, with decent but not great success. Better than FF1....but, IME, micro-loads are not in the FF's wheelhouse. YMMV and all that.

 

[SiDankies]

The thought of having to stir worries me I'm a sucker for simplicity and the more i have to do for good results the less i will use the vape. Is stirring 100% necessary?

 

[Copacetic]

IME, micro-loads are not in the FF's wheelhouse. YMMV and all that.

That's a shame, sounds good to me otherwise.
Any other testers concur re' very small loads?

For that kind of money I'd want an all rounder capable of everything.

 

[darkrom]

That's a shame, sounds good to me otherwise.
Any other testers concur re' very small loads?

For that kind of money I'd want an all rounder capable of everything.

IMO the firefly bowl is a microload. Is this bowl much bigger than the origjnal?