herbivore21
Well-Known Member
Many of us may have heard of the Firefly 2 by now. It isn't exactly new. It released to some mixed feelings as a flower vape. There were definitely some major downsides. However, I'd always looked at this vape and thought that it would shine (if you'll forgive the pun) for concentrate use.
For flower use, it seemed very sensitive to draw technique and grind style/packing of load and you could just as easily get minimal clouds as a reasonable rip.
The battery life is quite disappointing. There's no way to get around mentioning that IMO. For concentrate purposes (which I'll go into more below), it'll do 5 good dabs at high temp before you're reaching for the charger (or a spare battery, they are at a least removable!).
Also disappointing is the fact that the unit does not ship with an external battery charger. Those user removable batteries are not so useful for those with large dosage needs without an external charger so they can charge one battery while using another.
I have read and seen corroborated across the web that the OG Firefly external battery charger works with the FF2 battery, and can be purchased from a number of vendors still.
I also read at one time that the manufacturer were working on an FF2 external battery charger, although cannot confirm at this time if it works.
A little while ago, I got my hands on one of these for concentrate use only. I had always suspected and heard from some people in that other forum that this was a great vape for portable concentrate use. Much like the Evo and other convection desktops but with battery limitations.
On that note, if you want to try one of these: Get extra batteries. Even if you can't find an external charger right away. While you're at home dabbing, charge a battery for the FF2. Even without the external charger, this will be manageable for most. I have fully charged a completely dead battery using the supplied charging dock (I wish it was just a USB port like everything else is these days! The dock does not keep the unit attached and so moving it around while charging is a PITA. It is not compatible with all USB powerbanks either, so keep that in mind) via 1.5 amp USB in just under an hour.
The reason why I say all this and recommend getting extra batteries, is that this thing is unparalleled as a portable concentrate vaporizer for flavor and even clouds! I have not used mine for flower, only concentrates.
I am pleased to report that this WILL VAPE FULL MELT!!!!! It tastes wonderful too, better than any pen I've hit and the clouds and effects will not disappoint. Unlike the experience with flower which was very mixed for many, depending on their preferred technique and grind, it is very consistent for concentrates! You just load up your dab in between two of the supplied concentrate pads (I find this gets the heat through the dab on both sides better than using one as the manufacturer recommends, and leads to reduced drain on battery life due to more efficient distribution of heat).
Then engage the heater by touching the capacative triggers and inhale long and slow for 5-10 seconds on the concentrate temp setting. This will melt the dab into the SS mesh (like the evo and other convection vapes, you need to melt the dab into the mesh before it will vaporize fully).
Now engage the heater again and inhale for 20 seconds (or as close as you can get), and inhale as fast as you are comfortable with. You'll notice voluminous clouds very quickly! This produces dab levels of vapor!
The SS concentrate pads are very similar to the S & B pads for the Mighty/Crafty, less thick and a slightly smaller diameter. I would advise boiling all concentrate pads in water for at least an hour in a pyrex vessel (use a double boiler or similar), they can have a kind of machine shop flavor like a lot of metal components in various vapes do otherwise...
All in all, despite the complaints about batteries and the high price, some may find it a little restrictive for their liking. The FF2 isn't the most restricted but it is not one of the less restrictive vapes that I've used either.
I strongly recommend this for those who don't want to compromise on flavor, nor clouds for on-demand (almost, very few vapes are truly on-demand in my view!) portable dabs, but are prepared to pay the price to get there.
For those who wondered, the vape has an app which apparently allows for setting temps with a temp slider by increments of 10f. The max temp is 500f from memory. I just use the preset temp for Concentrates with the power boost setting at 105%. I do recommend purchasing from the manufacturer directly if you don't want to use the app at all where possible.
The latest firmware now allows the user to change the temp settings between the 7 original presets (see the FF2 website) without using the app (using the touch buttons on the device instead)! You will need to use the app to access more specific and broader range of temp settings, as well as other functions and support/help with using the device.
It isn't perfect, it isn't pretty. It isn't even new, but IMO, as many in our various haunts have recognized before I did, this is a great concentrate vaporizer for flavor/cloud chasers. Just be prepared to make the abovementioned compromises if you want to take your portable dabbing experience to this level. I recommend this for concentrate users who tend to use tastier material like low temp flower rosin, hash rosin, full melt hashes of various kinds and any solvent extracts you might enjoy, especially these new live resin terp sauces. Be ready for surprisingly good flavor. Just remember that like a dab in the evo, that outstanding taste comes in the first few large rips. You'll get a few more rips after this depending on your temp, but it will gradually have less and less flavor.
I'm sure there's plenty missing here, but please do ask any questions that you might have about using the Firefly 2 for concentrates!
Please note: I do not have any flower related experience with this vape so cannot answer those kinds of questions.
For flower use, it seemed very sensitive to draw technique and grind style/packing of load and you could just as easily get minimal clouds as a reasonable rip.
The battery life is quite disappointing. There's no way to get around mentioning that IMO. For concentrate purposes (which I'll go into more below), it'll do 5 good dabs at high temp before you're reaching for the charger (or a spare battery, they are at a least removable!).
Also disappointing is the fact that the unit does not ship with an external battery charger. Those user removable batteries are not so useful for those with large dosage needs without an external charger so they can charge one battery while using another.
I have read and seen corroborated across the web that the OG Firefly external battery charger works with the FF2 battery, and can be purchased from a number of vendors still.
I also read at one time that the manufacturer were working on an FF2 external battery charger, although cannot confirm at this time if it works.
A little while ago, I got my hands on one of these for concentrate use only. I had always suspected and heard from some people in that other forum that this was a great vape for portable concentrate use. Much like the Evo and other convection desktops but with battery limitations.
On that note, if you want to try one of these: Get extra batteries. Even if you can't find an external charger right away. While you're at home dabbing, charge a battery for the FF2. Even without the external charger, this will be manageable for most. I have fully charged a completely dead battery using the supplied charging dock (I wish it was just a USB port like everything else is these days! The dock does not keep the unit attached and so moving it around while charging is a PITA. It is not compatible with all USB powerbanks either, so keep that in mind) via 1.5 amp USB in just under an hour.
The reason why I say all this and recommend getting extra batteries, is that this thing is unparalleled as a portable concentrate vaporizer for flavor and even clouds! I have not used mine for flower, only concentrates.
I am pleased to report that this WILL VAPE FULL MELT!!!!! It tastes wonderful too, better than any pen I've hit and the clouds and effects will not disappoint. Unlike the experience with flower which was very mixed for many, depending on their preferred technique and grind, it is very consistent for concentrates! You just load up your dab in between two of the supplied concentrate pads (I find this gets the heat through the dab on both sides better than using one as the manufacturer recommends, and leads to reduced drain on battery life due to more efficient distribution of heat).
Then engage the heater by touching the capacative triggers and inhale long and slow for 5-10 seconds on the concentrate temp setting. This will melt the dab into the SS mesh (like the evo and other convection vapes, you need to melt the dab into the mesh before it will vaporize fully).
Now engage the heater again and inhale for 20 seconds (or as close as you can get), and inhale as fast as you are comfortable with. You'll notice voluminous clouds very quickly! This produces dab levels of vapor!
The SS concentrate pads are very similar to the S & B pads for the Mighty/Crafty, less thick and a slightly smaller diameter. I would advise boiling all concentrate pads in water for at least an hour in a pyrex vessel (use a double boiler or similar), they can have a kind of machine shop flavor like a lot of metal components in various vapes do otherwise...
All in all, despite the complaints about batteries and the high price, some may find it a little restrictive for their liking. The FF2 isn't the most restricted but it is not one of the less restrictive vapes that I've used either.
I strongly recommend this for those who don't want to compromise on flavor, nor clouds for on-demand (almost, very few vapes are truly on-demand in my view!) portable dabs, but are prepared to pay the price to get there.
For those who wondered, the vape has an app which apparently allows for setting temps with a temp slider by increments of 10f. The max temp is 500f from memory. I just use the preset temp for Concentrates with the power boost setting at 105%. I do recommend purchasing from the manufacturer directly if you don't want to use the app at all where possible.
The latest firmware now allows the user to change the temp settings between the 7 original presets (see the FF2 website) without using the app (using the touch buttons on the device instead)! You will need to use the app to access more specific and broader range of temp settings, as well as other functions and support/help with using the device.
It isn't perfect, it isn't pretty. It isn't even new, but IMO, as many in our various haunts have recognized before I did, this is a great concentrate vaporizer for flavor/cloud chasers. Just be prepared to make the abovementioned compromises if you want to take your portable dabbing experience to this level. I recommend this for concentrate users who tend to use tastier material like low temp flower rosin, hash rosin, full melt hashes of various kinds and any solvent extracts you might enjoy, especially these new live resin terp sauces. Be ready for surprisingly good flavor. Just remember that like a dab in the evo, that outstanding taste comes in the first few large rips. You'll get a few more rips after this depending on your temp, but it will gradually have less and less flavor.
I'm sure there's plenty missing here, but please do ask any questions that you might have about using the Firefly 2 for concentrates!
Please note: I do not have any flower related experience with this vape so cannot answer those kinds of questions.
