@Ratchett your work has been incredible dude! I will definitely be ordering a Firefly SonG with my Indica SonG. Too fantastic portables finally able to connect directly into 18mm waterpipe!!!
Ive been having nice results with my Firefly so far. No combustion ever, but also it seems like I don't get an extraction temp much higher than like 385 I think (is that the set temp?) which is fine for me actually. That's probably my ideal temp if there's no temp settings, and I have the Elevape/T1/Underdog for higher temp extraction anyway, its nice to have convection vape that is simple and reliably produces the headier effects that I particularly enjoy. Here's a pic of my Firefly AVB on the right with roughly the same amount of Indica AVB on the left for reference:
In the Indica i started at at the bottom (340F) and worked my way up to the top (410F). Stopped both bowls after the clouds mostly subsided. So unsurprisingly the Indica has a deeper extraction with the higher temp range and session conduction heating.
I've also found a similar grind to be effective in each, in the SC shredder (though Indica does better if the grind is a but on the fine side, and FF a bit on the coarse side). I did try bigger chunks, and smaller chunks, and even like a crumble grind my hand, and I definitely get the best hits with a regular grind. A lot of this is bc a lot of stirring is required the bigger the pieces are, making it hard to get good hits sometimes.
The system ive been using this week is filling decently full, and patting down a little to help prevent clogs a little. However when you draw, those pathways inevitably do get a little clogged. So after each hit I kinda smack the top in my hand to shake off any herb stick to the lid/pathways (and it helps stir a tad kinda too). ofcourse this can't get all of the stick herb, so draw can still be restrictive, but I never really have trouble finishing the bowl this way. For an especially full pack though, I will open it once for a stir before finishing it off a few hits later.
I like this system even if it is imperfect, since the stirring with the FF is more annoying than the Elevape with its much smaller lid and wider bowl. Emptying the load is pretty easy though, pour it out, then rub off the stuck herb on the lid and in the pathway with my finger before blowing any remaining scraps away. Yes its still dirty, but I haven't had to clean it just yet deapiye using it every night which is great, since I'm someone who doesn't like to have to deal with cleaning too often. Though I won't wait too much longer since I know it will only make it harder to clean.
Taste has been pretty nice with the instant heat and materials. The ceramic heating element+glass bowl+steel path is definitely better than the Elevape's titanium coil+steel mesh screen+aluminum bowl/path, and since it keeps to a lower temp it can maintain it better as well even without stirring. However with my Indica on low temps, especially beginning of a bowl, it is almost on par actually. It has that same steel taste ever so slightly, but mostly pretty pure despite no glass or ceramic. What sets them apart is the firefly's on demand convection, so that can give it a taste edge over the Indica.
The Indica can also have harsh hits with its conduction and short vapor path, but Firefly's path is quite short too, so its pretty easy for me to get a big harsh hit that I have difficulty holding in. The Elevape does a bit better at keeping the hits cool with its on demand vapor. I believe it may have something to do with the FFs on switch, which sets it to a low standby temp (correct?) vs the Elevape's instantaneous heat up when you being to draw. So the Firefly gets hotter in use. Also worth noting, the Firefly does use quite a bit of plastic for its body, but it seems to be of very high quality.
All in all, I'm pretty satsifed with the purchase so far, even though I had no need for it. Its become a nice home portable for me, when I want convection but I'm not in the mood to fire up the Underdog (and I try not to use the T1 too often since Thermovape shut down), while Indica remains my go to portable overall (especially out and about). Can definitely see my Solo becoming obsolete now, with the Firefly as a home portable and the Indica on the go (and home too actually...) even though Solo's heating style is kind of in between the two. It can't match the Elevape's portability and overall ease of use though, especially once they improve their screens/stirring which is supposed to happen soon. But as a more home-based, constant temp, and tastier on demand convection portable, the Firefly sure is a fun new toy and really does feel like an old school glass spoon pipe which is doubly neat!