Discontinued The Firefly Vaporizer

[WildChild]

makes sense to me..will try it out

Good luck, hoyo77! I hope it improves your experience.

 

[Raskin666]

One trick that really helped me develop the feel for the technique is to loosely pack only half a bowl. Medium coarse finger grind. With half a bowl you can really see how the proper draw/button pressing can achieve very even extraction and results. Obviously it is easier to do with a smaller amount, but it does help zero in on what works best.

 

[WildChild]

One trick that really helped me develop the feel for the technique is to loosely pack only half a bowl. Medium coarse finger grind. With half a bowl you can really see how the proper draw/button pressing can achieve very even extraction and results. Obviously it is easier to do with a smaller amount, but it does help zero in on what works best.

Very cool...I will try that...thank you.

 

[Medical Mark]

Well just recieved my FF this morning and its a nice piece of vaping goodness lol, very sleek and well made.
Heavy like a paper weight but very sleek and pleasing to the eyes.
Looks like a cell phone in alot of ways and could be mistaken for one.
I have two batteries and I'm using the FF as my external charger.
The casing is very ll made and fits perfectly, the magnet is very powerful and the SS finish is a very nice touch with a mirror underneath the battery lol to check your eyes. Lol

I'm charging my batteries at the moment and I can't wait to try it out.
The packaging was very nice as well very stylish like the Ascent packaging very nice.
Now I know this thing uses draw to heat ration for good vapor so im going to have to test and see what the best ration is for me but I'm sure ill figure it out, this thingis like a MFLB on steroids so it should produce nice clouds of vapor.

Well ill get back to my new toy and report back later today.

Cheers, medical mark

 

[havealight101]

I don't have much time, but I wanted to stop in and say that this unit is filling my portable needs better than any of my previous portables. I am very happy with it so far.
At first, until I figured out my airflow issues, I thought it was a piece of poo, but once I figured out I was getting too much air, I started testing what this little heater is capable of. All I can sat is that the heater has a lot more uummph than what I was thinking was possible.
So, I'll make a vid later on, but I will say that vapor bonging is going to be much easier than most would think. Also, they say that it's just for herbs(?), hell fellas, mine has been a bubble machine.
To me, the flavor rivals the cloud and the MV, and as for the cloud production, It can best the MV with proper technique, but the cloud is king in that area, but I have not been disappointed at all by the vapor production.
Convection bubble FTW!
will have more for you later.
edit: I think I already have a solid design for a concentrate bowl(maybe not oil) and am going to try and prototype it tonight in the workshop. ..

 

[Medical Mark]

Well everyone I've taken part in the FF saga and have to say this thing has some major draw restriction and a very small bowl.
Still the power of the hearter is king and the key.
Finding a technique that works well isn't that hard its all about timing and inhalation.
I find that you can't really control the draw flow but rather control the heater as you take consistant draws to maintain a airflow,throu the material and produce,the vapor.
I find that pre heating the herb for 8 to 10 seconds and then drawing and adding heat for 5 seconds then release continue drawing then add heat again for 5 seconds and drawing continually produces great results.
I tried two different packs and I find that a tighter pack that is a a little higher the the bowl produces bigger results then a smaller bowl.

So I find heat on heat off heat on while continually drawing steady works for me but then again I just started using this FF but so far its nice, tastes great, for a dry vape its smooth. The only thing I don't like is the draw restriction I wish there was just a little bit less resistance when drawing.

All in all nice vape well built, cheers medical mark

 

[mitchgo61]

Well everyone I've taken part in the FF saga and have to say this thing has some major draw restriction and a very small bowl.
Still the power of the hearter is king and the key.
Finding a technique that works well isn't that hard its all about timing and inhalation.
I find that you can't really control the draw flow but rather control the heater as you take consistant draws to maintain a airflow,throu the material and produce,the vapor.
I find that pre heating the herb for 8 to 10 seconds and then drawing and adding heat for 5 seconds then release continue drawing then add heat again for 5 seconds and drawing continually produces great results.
I tried two different packs and I find that a tighter pack that is a a little higher the the bowl produces bigger results then a smaller bowl.

So I find heat on heat off heat on while continually drawing steady works for me but then again I just started using this FF but so far its nice, tastes great, for a dry vape its smooth. The only thing I don't like is the draw restriction I wish there was just a little bit less resistance when drawing.

Boy, file this under "YMMV", because your mileage and mine vary pretty wildly. Your experience is almost the complete opposite of mine. First, I don't find the FF has a major draw restriction. (The Solo, I would describe that way. Not the FF.) The FF's multiple air intake vents in the front seem to provide plenty of draw, though I agree there is *some* resistance. It's not an airy vape by any means but it has plenty of airflow in my experience. One thing you might try is The Steama Technique: pull just fast enough to feel resistance but no faster. This requires a faster pull than you would use on a regular convection vape. (Of course, if you are having major resistance, this may be difficult.) As for the heat button, if pulsing works for you then go for it, but it's worth noting the manufacturer has warned against pulsing the heat button as it can cause combustion if the heat cycle re-starts too quickly.

My personal approach FWIW: medium grind, bowl filled to the rim, lightly compacted....hold heat button for a 4 pre-coount (about half of what you are doing), draw as fast as resistance allows, hold button down for another 5-10 seconds at most, draw for another 10-15 seconds. Don't even THINK about pushing the button again until the next hit.

Give the draw thing another try...if you're still feeling too much stiff resistance, it's possible there's something up with your deivce, or perhaps you are compacting the material too densely.

 

[Medical Mark]

Well Im still working on the technique so ill have to play some more but I do think that there alot of restriction you can't control flow like with other vapes there's a cap a max resistance and when you draw n the unit it doesn't matter how hard you draw it seems to me that there s a max resistance and when you hit it there's no difference anymore.

Maybe the load being light and fluffy would make it draw with a bit less resistance but like I said these are my very first impressions. It does medicate me well and the loads in the bowl are very small compared to what I'm used to using. I just went through 4 bowls and killed the battery which is currently charging and yes I'm medicated so it works I'm feeling well.

Cheers, medical mark

 

[hoyo77]

Well Im still working on the technique so ill have to play some more but I do think that there alot of restriction you can't control flow like with other vapes there's a cap a max resistance and when you draw n the unit it doesn't matter how hard you draw it seems to me that there s a max resistance and when you hit it there's no difference anymore.

Maybe the load being light and fluffy would make it draw with a bit less resistance but like I said these are my very first impressions. It does medicate me well and the loads in the bowl are very small compared to what I'm used to using. I just went through 4 bowls and killed the battery which is currently charging and yes I'm medicated so it works I'm feeling well.

Cheers, medical mark

It takes a some play time to get used to it..but you will have fun in the process. go back and look at some of @steama's posts on technique to get some ideas and then come up with what works best for you. There is not perfect way this vape is all about personal exploration and finding your own sweetspot. once you find it you will swear this vape is the best thing since sliced bread!!

 

[dirty_honest]

I wish there was some way to summarize all the great ideas that have been discussed in this thread for future new users. A user-created FF bible of sorts

 

[havealight101]

I think the restriction MM is feeling is a fully sealed cover, and it's the natural restriction of the heater system.
Hear me out, I think that either A: FF has a naturally(designed in) leaky cover that seals 90%+, but leaves some room for air to get through to cool the vapor and open up the draw of the heater. If that's the case, my cover has too much air and is a defective part, same with MM his would be a defective cover with too good of a seal.
Or B: the cover is supposed to completely seal and the unit is supposed to have considerable amount of drag to fully utilize the heater. In which case MM would have a correctly calibrated cover, and any kind of free flowing unit may not be sealing correctly.
If anyone questions the drag, try putting your mouth over the bowl with the cover off and pulling. I'm confident you'll find considerable drag.
So far, I have gotten the thickest clouds by having hair ties around my cover to fully seal and use the natural draw of the heater. With a warmed up unit, I throw technique to the wind and just pull ever so hard, cloud like pace, and really get rewarded for it with some real lung busters.
In the end, I still don't know what I like better yet, the fully constricted but powerful heater draw, or a slightly more airy pull with a little less uummphh on the production but still very nice.
I'm playing with different tightness if the cover to decide what I like better.
@dirty_honest vaporpedia is sort of the place your talking about. User generated info and tips. I'm unsure if FF has a page yet.

 

[mitchgo61]

I think the restriction MM is feeling is a fully sealed cover, and it's the natural restriction of the heater system.
Hear me out, I think that either A: FF has a naturally(designed in) leaky cover that seals 90%+, but leaves some room for air to get through to cool the vapor and open up the draw of the heater. If that's the case, my cover has too much air and is a defective part, same with MM his would be a defective cover with too good of a seal.
Or B: the cover is supposed to completely seal and the unit is supposed to have considerable amount of drag to fully utilize the heater. In which case MM would have a correctly calibrated cover, and any kind of free flowing unit may not be sealing correctly.
If anyone questions the drag, try putting your mouth over the bowl with the cover off and pulling. I'm confident you'll find considerable drag.

I guess we're splitting hairs here. There *is* drag. There just isn't nearly the drag I get from a Solo. If I handed the Solo to someone who had never used it, I would think to say "hey, it draws like a thick shake, fyi". With the FF, it wouldn't cross my mind to warn someone about excessive drag.

I've had two FFs (first one for two days, it had a heater issue). The draw was the same on both...some resistance, but nothing severe. Nothing that impeded pulling relatively fast, compared to other vapes (like the Solo) anyway.

 

[Vapzilla]

Hello fellow FC's,
I had been away from the forums for quite some time until I had some extra time over the Christmas/New year holidays. I needed to stay away do to just another addicting habit of mine, wanting yet another new vape!

As I wanted the Ascent from the getgo and I was on the early pre-order list, I decided not to buy one for many reasons. About a month ago I started reading all the FF and some of the Ascent posts.
I'd like to say, to all the FF owners who had persuaded my interest,
Thanks!
I received my FF about a week ago and couldn't be happier.
As others have stated the build quality is outstanding, it looks sleek and works fantastic.

It took me quite a few days to get everything working/producing to perfection.
My technique is the same as most have reported. Medium grind, I use a heaping load just above level and compress it to level the bowl, about .12-.15g
Hold down the power and warm up 8-10 seconds, steady medium draw with the power still depressed until I feel the expansion in my lungs (10-15 seconds) let off the power and continue drawing for a few more seconds.
The load size/temp/draw speed are key to great hits and vapor production.
The taste is great and the vapor starts rolling on hit #2. I'm getting from 8-10 goods hits per bowl.

I find cleaning to be easy. I just brush clean it after every bowl and a good alcohol cleaning every 2-3 days.

One of the things that I am most impressed with is, for a small portable unit, the vapor is very cool and smooth. No harshness or dry irritation to my throat! It's so cool and smooth its hard to judge just how big a hit your getting!

Thanks again to all for the great info here at Fuck Combustion.

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[havealight101]

I guess we're splitting hairs here. There *is* drag. There just isn't nearly the drag I get from a Solo. If I handed the Solo to someone who had never used it, I would think to say "hey, it draws like a thick shake, fyi". With the FF, it wouldn't cross my mind to warn someone about excessive drag.

I've had two FFs (first one for two days, it had a heater issue). The draw was the same on both...some resistance, but nothing severe. Nothing that impeded pulling relatively fast, compared to other vapes (like the Solo) anyway.

I totally understand why you would feel this way about the drag, basically I'm saying the drag from unit may(!) be different than the actual drag from the heater. I don't know if it's designed in, or not. With my unit there is a large difference in heater draw and total unit draw, but I think(know) my cover is a defect. By the way you describe your units draw, it sounds to me like a little air is getting under the seal. Don't be alarmed, this may be by design, I don't know but I care to find out.
Try putting your mouth over the bowl(cover off) and drawing. This will show the true constrictions of the heater system. You may be surprised.
Btw, Im not saying this is a problem/issue, I'm just sharing what I've been seeing with my use so far, sharing experiences and figuring out issues is what FC does as a community.
Either way, I really like this vape, and may have to get a second one eventually.

 

[mitchgo61]

I totally understand why you would feel this way about the drag, basically I'm saying the drag from unit may(!) be different than the actual drag from the heater. I don't know if it's designed in, or not. With my unit there is a large difference in heater draw and total unit draw, but I think(know) my cover is a defect. By the way you describe your units draw, it sounds to me like a little air is getting under the seal. Don't be alarmed, this may be by design, I don't know but I care to find out.
Try putting your mouth over the bowl(cover off) and drawing. This will show the true constrictions of the heater system. You may be surprised.
Btw, Im not saying this is a problem/issue, I'm just sharing what I've been seeing with my use so far, sharing experiences and figuring out issues is what FC does as a community.
Either way, I really like this vape, and may have to get a second one eventually.

I hear ya...I didn't think you were saying it was a problem. (Everyone loves the Solo, and everyone agrees it has a stiff draw, even when modified.) I've done the mouth-over-the-bowl thing...I'm really not feeling any serious draw resistance. Six airvents along three sides that yes, all funnel air under the bowl and over the heater, but seem to provide plenty of airflow. Not resistance-free, but plenty.

I don't think I'm getting any airflow under my seal to speak of (again I've used two units and they had the same properties). I think this *can* occur when debris or anything that stays on the seal prevents a tight closure from occurring, but if the seal is on properly and clean-ish, that magnet is so strong that no air is getting in there. (If you pry a bit of the lid off and do a quick pull, you can see the dramatic difference between air getting in and a correct seal.) When the lid is on properly, and you hit through the mouthpiece, the *net* resistance is less than trying to hit from directly over the bowl (not because there's air leaking under the seal, but because of the extant air in the vapor path chambers, and from the natural draw leverage you get from the mouthpiece seal that you cannot get from trying to draw over the bowl directly.)

I think if someone really believes there's serious, major draw resistance on the FF they a. have a defective unit, b. have seriously overpacked and over-compacted their bowl, or c. they just have a completely different conception, from me at least, of what constitutes major resistance. (And we're back to "splitting hairs". )

Major draw resistance: The Solo. Very airy, almost no resistance: Vaporblunt 2.0. Right smack in the middle: FF. Just my (relative) perspective.

 

[Tom Funk]

I've read about 30 pages of this thread and I must say this seems like an awesome vape. A couple of questions though:

1. Can the unit be cleaned thoroughly enough for international travel? I've got a Thermovape T1 and a Solo. I'd be confident with the T1, but I reckon that herb crumbs disappear into the Solo that would be difficult to get out. How is the FF in this department?

2. What grinder(s) produce a nice consistency for the FF? SCS 4-part?

Cheers
TF

 

[pakalolo]

I wish there was some way to summarize all the great ideas that have been discussed in this thread for future new users. A user-created FF bible of sorts

There is, and you can be part of it. Check the Vaporpedia link at the top of every page.

 

[Shiggity]

Ok so I mentioned that I had a vapir one before this and my GF hated it (sound and clunkiness,cord). She has also tried the volcano and hated it (big bag, breathing in same bag as others). Vapor genie, hated it (too much work to get right). She prefers to combust through water.

When I got the FF a few weeks ago, she was like "not again!" But then she got sick and had a terrible cough. It happened the first day I got the FF and she couldn't combust without a ten minute coughing fit. So she used the FF with me for the last few weeks. No real coughing problem. She also admitted that it worked on her which she didn't really feel from the others (not sure why). She also liked the pipe like form factor and the light giving her feedback during the run. She liked the light on the side going from solid green and finally to red when the battery needed changing.

A few days ago she tried the combustion thing again and was surprised at how awful it tasted and that it left a lingering funkiness in her mouth she had never noticed before. We took some of the same flower and put it in the FF, the space coffin delivered as she always does, with beautiful flavor and nice vapor. She turned to me and said, "This is the best thing you have ever bought." Boom she is converted. We haven't combusted since.

I also note a reduction in the amount of flowers we are using through the past 3 weeks. So much less and we get much more of an effect. We don't worry about our house smelling like a shisha bar anymore when people come to visit. And she can run up for a quick med when she wants to using a bathroom break as an excuse.


Some things I have noted on extended usage.
1. It is really important to make sure that the device is clean. EtoH or Iso and cue tips do that nicely.
Every new pack or two I use the q-tip to clean out the channels around the window and the window itself. Otherwise draw quickly becomes an issue with high resin flowers.
2. I clean the steel plates once a day at a minimum. This keeps debris away from the mouthpiece and helps to make sure the seal is good around the top layer of the lid.
3. I hand grind right into the glass bowl and use a skewer (I have a bunch of 4" bamboo skewers) to rake any crumbs or kief from the hand grind into the bowl. Or sometimes get lazy and just push a flower in.
3.5 I have found that it works best for me to make sure I can see all the glass edge of the bowl with no debris or my draw becomes affected because the little channels get clogged.
4. I do a one second preheat but no longer. Then draw for 8-10 seconds, let off and draw for a few more. I use the skewer after each draw to stir the goods and break up any clumps.
5. I find that when I like to use a finger or two to apply pressure to the lid helping to make sure the seal is as tight as it can be.
6. The skewer is great to clean out the bowl into my ABV container.
7. I love carrying this thing around the house with me. One problem though, when you drive to work and realize it is still in your pocket!!!!! Good thing home is only 7 minutes away.
8. After 3 packs I switch the battery with a fresh one. L-Ion do better with shallow discharge cycles. Every once in awhile I drain it fully but I dont think they have "memory" like the old nicads do.

[URL='http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/best-of-the-firefly-vaporizer-thread.16628/'] [/URL]

 

[mitchgo61]

I've read about 30 pages of this thread and I must say this seems like an awesome vape. A couple of questions though:

1. Can the unit be cleaned thoroughly enough for international travel? I've got a Thermovape T1 and a Solo. I'd be confident with the T1, but I reckon that herb crumbs disappear into the Solo that would be difficult to get out. How is the FF in this department?

2. What grinder(s) produce a nice consistency for the FF? SCS 4-part?

1. Not sure. I'd say yes, you can completely clean it...but I don't wanna be responsible for the scenario you are worried about.

2. Finger grind baby! Tear your material with your hands to a medium grind. As you cook it, stir and break it down further. Err on the side of bigger pieces instead of a finer grind.

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

Am I the only one who is NOT treating his/her Firefly like a high-maintenance machine?

I clean it about once every ten days. I let the window get sticky and cloudy. I let the steel plate and channels get crumbs all in them and repack it anyway. Etc.

And I still am getting great results. Maybe a little nicer when clean, but not enough to make me go cleaning it every day. That's just me.

I'm just throwing this out there to show that the Firefly doesn't need to be babied. It probably should be babied, given what it costs... but damn, I don't want to be cleaning my vaporizer every day no matter what it costs. So I don't.

 

[Shiggity]

Am I the only one who is NOT treating his/her Firefly like a high-maintenance machine?

I clean it about once every ten days. I let the window get sticky and cloudy. I let the steel plate and channels get crumbs all in them and repack it anyway. Etc.

And I still am getting great results. Maybe a little nicer when clean, but not enough to make me go cleaning it every day. That's just me.

I'm just throwing this out there to show that the Firefly doesn't need to be babied. It probably should be babied, given what it costs... but damn, I don't want to be cleaning my vaporizer every day no matter what it costs. So I don't.

@EveryDayAmnesiac yeah I totally understand and agree. The maintenance is NOT necessary to get good usage. I think I just love this thing so much I just like fooling with it and getting the best possible every time. But yes dont let it scare away the people that are less likely to clean things. The FF is going to do just fine without the obsessive compulsive behavior.

Some of us are just nuts, like the guys who are incessantly washing and polishing their favorite car. I think it is as much a token of affection to the FF as it is maintenance.

 

[EveryDayAmnesiac]

@EveryDayAmnesiac yeah I totally understand and agree. The maintenance is NOT necessary to get good usage. I think I just love this thing so much I just like fooling with it and getting the best possible every time. But yes dont let it scare away the people that are less likely to clean things. The FF is going to do just fine without the obsessive compulsive behavior.

Some of us are just nuts, like the guys who are incessantly washing and polishing their favorite car. I think it is as much a token of affection to the FF as it is maintenance.

Yeah, I can see liking it so much that you do just want to coddle it. It does look incredible when it's all cleaned up and shiny and ready to impress. And once it starts lookin' all sexy like that you know it wants you to take it out and show it off.

The Firefly can definitely flaunt with the best of them.

 

[Custom Flower Hardware]

Am I the only one who is NOT treating his/her Firefly like a high-maintenance machine?

I clean it about once every ten days. I let the window get sticky and cloudy. I let the steel plate and channels get crumbs all in them and repack it anyway. Etc.

And I still am getting great results. Maybe a little nicer when clean, but not enough to make me go cleaning it every day. That's just me.

I'm just throwing this out there to show that the Firefly doesn't need to be babied. It probably should be babied, given what it costs... but damn, I don't want to be cleaning my vaporizer every day no matter what it costs. So I don't.

I agree. I just cleaned deep cleaned mine for the first time in 2 weeks. Deep clean to me is an iso wipe of the channels, bowl, and plate. A whole 2 minutes! I keep a box of tissues in my car and after a session I dry wipe the window after blowing the particles out. I also hit the plate quickly around the bowl area as needed while hot also. Don't hit the channels with the tissue or itll stick to them and that is no good! This keeps me happy and the flava good!

 

[2 Paces]

Hoping someone on here can help with a little info about their Firefly:

When I look at the bowl in my Firefly, 5 of the 6 of the holes in the bowl are blocked by metal behind them except for one that can be looked through. In the few pictures I have seen, it looks as though all of those holes should be open (like in tufftitty's avatar for example).

Are the holes open, or are they all blocked on your units?

I have had very little success getting good vapor (I have read the whole thread and tried all techniques) and I wonder if mine is defective.

If those holes are all supposed to be open for hot air transfer it would explain a lot.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

 

[Shiggity]

Mine is at home and I will check later but I know I can see light coming from all the holes not just one when I press the button. Do all your holes light up?

If all of them are blocked and do not light up I would go on Firefly live chat and they will definitely help you out.