Discontinued The Firefly Vaporizer

[mitchgo61]

I just got mine and had black in my abv as well. I'm using the method explained by The Vape Critic in his review, heat up for 8-10 sec, let go, press again and draw. Maybe I'm holding it too long on the draw?

If you are getting charred bits so early on, it's likely due to the second button press. Press it once, hold for a four count or until you see the glow, and then begin drawing. Don't hit the button a second time...that'll start the heat cycle again and give you the hottest part of the cycle mid-hit which can cause it to run a little hot. Give it a try without releasing the button, and see if that helps.

As far as failure rate goes, my third Firefly just quit. That doesn't mean that I own three of these vapes, it means that I have had three failures. Firefly has always been very good about replacement, no complaints there, but I'm pretty tired of having to pay to ship it, then wait to get it back again. There has got to be an issue with the heating coil breaking over time. I purchased it in January, and I raved about it.(still do) but it lasted one month, then green light blinking but no heat. The second one worked for almost exactly the same time, one month. I thought about selling the third unit, an unopened and new replacement, but broke down and opened the box one day after holding on to it for about a month. This one lasted about 7 months. We have no way of knowing what the overall failure rate is, but to me.. it seems quite high.

Why are they making you pay to ship it? They should pay both ways when it fails under warranty. They always have with me. (And that's like six times or something.)

 

[letter never sent]

Well, it looks like my battery's performance has decreased substantially. I've had the unit for 3 months now and the battery seems to last only half as long as it did when I first received it. Got around 12-15 hits over the last few hours. Each hit involved holding the button for 5-15 seconds. Kinda sucks to be honest. I was thinking about buying an extra battery/external charger, but now it seems like I might as well buy two new ones because this one will be unusable soon.

I've probably charged the unit 50 times. Not very happy with the battery on this thing. A $30 expense every few months is unacceptable. Anyone else experiencing this?

They are exactly .6 inches in diameter.

Proprietary size eh? That's lame. 0.5" is something of a standard, right?

This exact person was the guy who convinced me the to get the firefly, http://www.vaporizerwizard.com/
maybe his reviews can help you too! He sent me messages on reddit and gave tips and everything!

Is it just me or does this guy seem like a Vape Critic copycat to the point where it's a bit comical? Similar website layout (especially the review page), similar ratings, similar sunglasses, similar mannerisms and review style, similar videos... weird.

 

[The_Guv]

I too have had a failing battery that's being replaced under warranty. In conversations with Firefly it turns out my error was keeping it permanently connected to the charger when it wasn't actually in use. Anyone else doing this?

Firefly's advice for maximising battery life is:
"Ensure that you are taking your battery off of the charger as soon as you see that the LED light turns solid blue.
Only turn the unit on when you are going to be using it, and then turn it off as soon as you are done.
When you take your draw, the harder you pull on the unit, the harder it makes the battery work which in turn makes it die faster. If you are feeling any resistance, back off a little on the draw. I always say to
never draw faster than the resistance will allow. I always recommend a slow and steady draw."

Being an engineer by training I researched some more and found this page very informative: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries

 

[Radio]

I too have had a failing battery that's being replaced under warranty. In conversations with Firefly it turns out my error was keeping it permanently connected to the charger when it wasn't actually in use. Anyone else doing this?

Firefly's advice for maximising battery life is:
"Ensure that you are taking your battery off of the charger as soon as you see that the LED light turns solid blue.
Only turn the unit on when you are going to be using it, and then turn it off as soon as you are done.
When you take your draw, the harder you pull on the unit, the harder it makes the battery work which in turn makes it die faster. If you are feeling any resistance, back off a little on the draw. I always say to
never draw faster than the resistance will allow. I always recommend a slow and steady draw."

Being an engineer by training I researched some more and found this page very informative: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries

Not sure if it's the weed I just smoked, but that was a great comment. Those tips are no doubt invaluable as fuck to any Firefly owner. A fatal flaw in the product so far having viewed this thread is the battery and everything associated to the battery.. I hope mine remains good (if you can call a short battery life 'good') but despite its battery it's an otherwise 10/10 unit. I am glad I landed on this one instead of the Pax which was my 2nd choice. The firefly is truly a great vape on its own merit

 

[Jambi619]

If you are getting charred bits so early on, it's likely due to the second button press. Press it once, hold for a four count or until you see the glow, and then begin drawing. Don't hit the button a second time...that'll start the heat cycle again and give you the hottest part of the cycle mid-hit which can cause it to run a little hot. Give it a try without releasing the button, and see if that helps.

That worked great, thanks

 

[letter never sent]

I too have had a failing battery that's being replaced under warranty. In conversations with Firefly it turns out my error was keeping it permanently connected to the charger when it wasn't actually in use. Anyone else doing this?

Yeah, I do that sometimes. I didn't think it was an issue to leave a lithium ion battery plugged in once fully charged, but I guess I was wrong? I'll often finish a bowl right before I go to bed, so I like to plug it in overnight. Won't be doing that anymore. I e-mailed FF about my battery's performance, will see what they say. I wasn't really expecting them to replace it.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[grokit]

I leave mine plugged in, it seems to be convenient. I also leave my extra battery/external charger plugged in. Never heard of this wearing out a battery before, but I guess I will change my routine.

The battery is doing its best given the demand put onto it, which is quite high. Imo it's the demand that is the issue not the batteries but this is just semantics, better batteries are obviously needed.

 

[letter never sent]

I expressed disappointment in my battery's performance and FF offered to send me a replacement. Solid!

 

[BabyFacedFinster]

I leave mine plugged in, it seems to be convenient. I also leave my extra battery/external charger plugged in. Never heard of this wearing out a battery before, but I guess I will change my routine.

The battery is doing its best given the demand put onto it, which is quite high. Imo it's the demand that is the issue not the batteries but this is just semantics, better batteries are obviously needed.

I had mentioned earlier that I spoke with customer service about my unit not charging or working. They did say that a bad batch of batteries went out recently with a bunch of FF. They are replacing the battery and shipping no charge. Perhaps its a bad batch and not a design flaw???

The lady told me that it is bad to keep charging the battery without letting it run down completely. I thought I read somewhere that it was ok to charge it after each use, but maybe not? That would piss me off because I like to start with it fully charged, lest it might die in the middle of a session. I only have the one battery.

The battery does seem to be the Achilles heel.

 

[grokit]

Never this many battery complaints before, a bad batch of batteries would definitely explain it.

 

[Jambi619]

I've been playing with the Firefly some more and I'm not sure it's the vape for me right now. I was looking for something more travel friendly to use out of the house instead of the Solo. I was attracted to the FF cause of the vapor, but it does have some drawbacks.

The bowl is pretty tiny. I might need to adjust the way I pack my loads, but I'm clearing a bowl in 4-5 hits and not feeling like I'm where I want to be. Changing the bowl on the fly can be a bit of a hassle since the lid almost always needs brushed and it seems easy to spill the bowl once the top is off, especially when sitting in a car or something like that.

The battery life is also not that great. I have an extra battery, but it doesn't fit in the carrying pouch so it's not very convenient to bring along. Yeah, I could just throw it in my pocket or bag or whatever, but I'd rather not have it floating around like that. It also doesn't help that I keep forgetting to shut it off, leaving it in standby mode and draining precious power.

The fact that it takes a technique to get good hits is also a bit of a drawback. I'd prefer something more plug and play, or maybe load and go is a better way to put it?

That being said, I do really like the vapor and fast heat up time. I think it would make a great vape for around the house, but my Solo fills that role nicely right now so I think I'm going to have to ditch the FF.

I've been thinking about an Ascent or splurging on a Mighty. I think the Ascent is more aesthetically pleasing and the price difference is huge, but S&B does have an awesome reputation and early reviews of the Mighty are glowing.

 

[Jambi619]

A FF/Ascent combo had crossed my mind or even a Nano instead of FF, or just the Ascent and $200 in my bank account.

I was going to purchase a completely new FF with the sale, but decided against it. Had the order placed and everything. Luckily they were able to cancel and offered to give me the sale price for a year if I change my mind. I really like their customer service!

 

[mitchgo61]

For the price S&B want for the Mighty I would rather have the Firefly or a host of other good and less expensive vapes.

No kidding. I can't imagine spending that kind of cash on a portable. But it serves one purpose....it makes me feel better about my FF purchases.

I was going to purchase a completely new FF with the sale, but decided against it. Had the order placed and everything. Luckily they were able to cancel and offered to give me the sale price for a year if I change my mind. I really like their customer service!

The service is incredible. I can't imagine it being better on another product, no matter how much you spend on it. My silver replacement ships tomorrow and they won't receive my dead one for another week. No other manufacturer treats its customers quite like that.

 

[SecureSwede]

Never this many battery complaints before, a bad batch of batteries would definitely explain it.

Also could be that people "think" there are problems with theirs since others are facing some problems. Herd mentality can grow on people if a lot of people start complaining haha. Not saying its bad or wrong, sometimes just placebo

 

[slick]

It's been a while since I've posted, but I would like to confirm 2 things: firstly the FF pairs great with a water tool using 1/2 inch inner diameter silicone tubing, secondly going from vaping exclusively for a few months to combusting is a jarring experience in terms of taste.

 

[cg_vapes]

Does anyone know what the inner part of the lid (the vapor path) is coated with. I heard or read that it's some kind of stainless metal plating of some sort. When I first got mine & opened it up, that's the first thing I noticed.. the cheap looking brushed-on finish. It looks just like it was painted on, with visible brush strokes. I took a sniff of that part of the lid & it smells "chemically" (for lack of a better word). Sort of like how paint has that distinct volatile fume. Anyways, I contacted firefly & the rep said she would try

Modnote: Posts merged.

(Sorry, cont from previous post)
..she would try to contact corporate to see if they would release that info. She did say that it is some kind of finish that's painted on, but didn't know what exactly. The reason for my concern is if I'm vaping something as opposed to smoking it, I'm basically canceling out the health benefits of it by potentially inhaling something toxic from the metal finish.

 

[Shit Snacks]

Welp, I ended up pulling the trigger on a darkgrey with a spare battery, nothing like the last minute, with less than 24hours left in the sale...

Anyone know around how fast the free shipping is? I also thought I remember seeing something about them requiring a signature on delivery? Its going to be incredibly annoying to deal with during the week if so, has anyone had success leaving a note on the door?

 

[cg_vapes]

Depends on where u live. Mine shipped from Henderson, NV and was delivered to SoCal in 1 day (free shipping).. pretty damn fast. They do require sig for the pkg, so I had fedex ship it to one of their local shipping centers by my house. That way, I can just pick it up after work without worrying about missing the delivery guy. Was excited to use it until I noticed that damn cheap looking, possibly toxic metal coating it has along the vapor path. By the way, what kind of discount did u get?

 

[Shit Snacks]

Survey2014 20% off. $240 for it with an extra battery

 

[mitchgo61]

Does anyone know what the inner part of the lid (the vapor path) is coated with. I heard or read that it's some kind of stainless metal plating of some sort. When I first got mine & opened it up, that's the first thing I noticed.. the cheap looking brushed-on finish. It looks just like it was painted on, with visible brush strokes. I took a sniff of that part of the lid & it smells "chemically" (for lack of a better word). Sort of like how paint has that distinct volatile fume. Anyways, I contacted firefly & the rep said she would try
..she would try to contact corporate to see if they would release that info. She did say that it is some kind of finish that's painted on, but didn't know what exactly. The reason for my concern is if I'm vaping something as opposed to smoking it, I'm basically canceling out the health benefits of it by potentially inhaling something toxic from the metal finish.

I've had 7 lids in the past 10 months and none of them have looked "painted on" or smelled of chemicals at all. All of the FF literature has described the vapor path as stainless steel. I seriously doubt there is any toxicity present....the FF designers and creators are health nuts and take a lot of pride in the materials used in the product. The idea that they would paint on some toxic coating after taking such care with the other components seems specious at best. If you are concerned, maybe see if they will replace your lid?

Welp, I ended up pulling the trigger on a darkgrey with a spare battery, nothing like the last minute, with less than 24hours left in the sale...

Anyone know around how fast the free shipping is? I also thought I remember seeing something about them requiring a signature on delivery? Its going to be incredibly annoying to deal with during the week if so, has anyone had success leaving a note on the door?

They have East and West coast shipping warehouses. My silver replacement was just sent out yesterday morning, and it's on the FedEx truck for delivery today. And I'm 1000 miles from the shipping center. So, pretty fast.

 

[cg_vapes]

Just curious, why did u go through 7 lids in a short period of time? What were the issues with your previous ones?

 

[mitchgo61]

Just curious, why did u go through 7 lids in a short period of time? What were the issues with your previous ones?

Well, not lids separately from the FFs. I've just had a number of them go bad on me.

1. Dark grey...combusted on day one. Replaced by...
2. Silver, worked great for 90 days, then started combusting, replaced by...
3. Silver, worked fine for five months, then the heating element died. Replaced by one this week.

That's three. In March I bought a second FF, Red...

4. Red, never worked efficiently. Finally sent it in for service in July, replaced by...
5. Red, never worked right. Fully charged batts would throw a red light and shut off the coil in seconds. Used it only one day, replaced by...
6. Current Red FF, but it came with a lid that didn't make a seal. So they overnighted me...
7. Lid number 7.

There you have it. Six FFs plus a 7th lid. The Silver replacement from this week makes 7 FFs and 8 lids.

Not that I'm counting.

 

[Shit Snacks]

Well what do you know!

Shipping from New Jersey so its already out for delivery today! Perfect so i can be here to sign for it. Exciting times lie ahead!

As far as method, ive read so many different things its hard to keep track, but I think for starters a preheat holding down the button for like 10sec after first turning it on with a fresh bowl to get it going, then I can start taking slow steady hits while holding the button. Correct?

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Well what do you know!

Shipping from New Jersey so its already out for delivery today! Perfect so i can be here to sign for it. Exciting times lie ahead!

As far as method, ive read so many different things its hard to keep track, but I think for starters a preheat holding down the button for like 10sec after first turning it on with a fresh bowl to get it going, then I can start taking slow steady hits while holding the button. Correct?

I don't do any kind of preheat, really. I just toss in a whole nug, or break it up into 2 or 3 pieces and take very short hits to "get it going." Less than 10 seconds, sometimes as little as 5. If I preheat, I tend to singe it. Once I see a glow, I start hitting.

I've found that I can inhale as hard as with the ESV and still get vapor. They both have surprisingly fast and powerful heaters. Keep your pull steady!

If I'm down to the end of the bowl, then yes, I do some preheating, and a much, much slower inhale, and often add an extra screen on top.

If you're grinding, I think a preheat is something some people do, but I still don't find it necessary then. I prefer to "chip away" at it, rather than take a big ol' hot toke.

But you'll play around with it and find what works for you. I would try without much preheat first, to see if your hitting style doesn't need it. If you don't need it, why waste any battery, right?

For my money, it's kind of a waste to not at least a try a whole nug with short tasty hits in the FF. Tasty. Scrumptious.

Hope you enjoy your new toy. For me, it was love at first toke, but for others, it's a longer journey.

 

[Shit Snacks]

I don't do any kind of preheat, really. I just toss in a whole nug, or break it up into 2 or 3 pieces and take very short hits to "get it going." Less than 10 seconds, sometimes as little as 5. If I preheat, I tend to singe it. Once I see a glow, I start hitting.

I've found that I can inhale as hard as with the ESV and still get vapor. They both have surprisingly fast and powerful heaters. Keep your pull steady!

If I'm down to the end of the bowl, then yes, I do some preheating, and a much, much slower inhale, and often add an extra screen on top.

If you're grinding, I think a preheat is something some people do, but I still don't find it necessary then. I prefer to "chip away" at it, rather than take a big ol' hot toke.

But you'll play around with it and find what works for you. I would try without much preheat first, to see if your hitting style doesn't need it. If you don't need it, why waste any battery, right?

For my money, it's kind of a waste to not at least a try a whole nug with short tasty hits in the FF. Tasty. Scrumptious.

Hope you enjoy your new toy. For me, it was love at first toke, but for others, it's a longer journey.

Thanks EDA! Makes sense, I will try no preheats at first. Interesting using he nugs, been a while since I've tried that in a vape. I've got my sc shredder so I'll try that first, but I want to try it all!

Package arrived 20min ago so its charging. It is quite gorgeous but of course huge, i was exprcting that but you can never quite tell with pictures as you can in your hand. Indica and Elevape were the opposite, so shockingly tiny.

I think the lid coating someone was referring to early was the silicone padding that makes the air seal. It does smell a little and even left some mind of residue on the metal plate after I remove the lid. Should be out of the vapor path it looks like, but do you think I should give it all an iso qtip wipe down before use?