Derringer RDA

Today, I'll be reviewing the Derring RDA, provided to me by www.MtBakerVapor.com. Let's take a look at this compact RDA, shall we?

Packaging

To be completely honest...this was the probably the biggest letdown. Instead of coming in a box, be it plastic, or display, the Derringer comes packaged in a tiny ziploc bag, with a hex key, a few Phillips screws, and the RDA itself. This isn't a knock on MBV, as I've read that this is how the v1.2 has been shipped out from pretty much everywhere. When you deal with authentic hardware, it's nice to feel that you purchased something worthy of the (often) heavy price tag - at 64.99, I expected a bit more than a plastic bag, but it's certainly not a deal breaker - just a let down. Also, Praxis....would it hurt to throw in a drip tip?! 

Build Quality

Now here is where authentic devices have a chance to shine! Immediately upon removing it from it's packaging, I was already floored- the Derringer is a looker, that's for sure. With it's ultra minimal design and incredibly compact form, this little RDA is definitely a stunner. I was initially skeptical, I had my doubts - I just couldn't get over the form factor. In person, however, it looks rather elegant, and when paired with similarly low profile mods, such as the Le Petit Gros in 18350 mode, it really shines.

The top cap sports the Praxis logo, and has a bit of heft to it. It's incredibly well machined, and slips on and off the deck with relative easy. The engravings are very well done, deep etchings, and they don't stand out - you know you have a Praxis product, but it's not shoved down your throat. It really adds to the minimal design. 

The Derringer sports a few airflow options, offering those who enjoy mouth to lung hits a ton of restrictive options, and for your lung hits, I'd say it is comparable to that of the Tobh. This is by no means a cloud chasing RDA, and to do so is downright foolish - while you can get some respectable clouds from higher gauge wire, anything super-sub ohm is just not fun. The condensed top cap and small frame lead to an extremely hot vape, if you're trying anything crazy. The inner barrel, which controls your air flow, is totally adjustable, and lets you dial in just what you want the Derringer to do - whether that be to flavor chase, or pull of some surprisingly impressive clouds (I found my go-to 7 wrap, 26g dual coil lead to fairly dense clouds, that were warm, but not blisteringly hot!)

The deck itself is incredibly well done as well. With such a small design, you'd be a fool to expect a deep juice well....right? While not nearly as deep as some of the other RDAs on the market (such as the Mutation X, Magma, Troll, etc) it is exceptional, size considered. I found myself not having to drip as often as I thought I would, but still more than I would normally. 

The deck itself is very well done, too. It features your standard three post design, and hex drive heads (When did this become a thing, and can it please stop?) The post holes are slotted, and while you may not be able to cram low gauge twisted builds into them, I was able to run dual 24g coils just fine. I've read online that the center-post tends to spin or wobble, and thankfully, after 8 or so builds, I've yet to deal with this issue. The deck can be a little tricky to build on if you're spoiled by easier to build RDAs, such as the Mutation and Plume Veil line, but it shortly becomes second nature after the initial period of adjustment...but maybe that's me, because frankly, I am no good at building on three post drippers....still...to this day!

The Derringer is constructed from US 303 Grade Stainless Steel, machined incredibly well, and all the interchangeable parts (AFC ring, barrel, top cap) come on and off with ease. I believe it retailed quite a bit more than it does currently (at) 64.99, and had I purchased it at the higher price point, I would've been satisfied with the craftsmanship. It is definitely what I'd come to expect from an authentic.

Functionality

Good construction and a respectable design can only take you so far - it must perform as well as it looks, right? In my honest opinion, in the right hands, this thing can generate INCREDIBLE flavor. The vortex airflow and condensed top cap can produce notes in a juice you either long forgot, or didn't know even existed - this is true, believe me. With the wrong build, however, the Derringer can turn into a fire chucking monster - not literally of course, but it puts off incredibly hot vapor. I prefer a warm vape, but I was able to get downright chest-caving coughing fits from this (my fault - please do NOT do a parallel 24g dual coil build. I warned you.....put that wire away!!) 

If you respect the design, and build to it's nature, you can get an incredibly satisfying experience from the Derringer. I guess you could say that about all RDAs, but the trend lately is versatility - in my upcoming Mutation V4 review, I'll be touching on how you can chase flavor, clouds, a combo of both, lung hit, mouth hit,... it is versatile. I wouldn't call the Derringer one dimensional, but I do personally believe your options are limited if you're looking to achieve the quality that it is capable of.

Overall, I believe 64.99 is a fantastic price for this wonderful, authentic, dripper. It deserves a place in everyone's rotation, be it as a daily driver, flavor chaser, or just a nice show-piece. You just can't top the sleekness when paired with an 18350, or small box mod. It's just too sexy.

Questions? Comments? Be sure to fill out the comment form, e-mail me. I like hearing what my readers think, and I am always looking to improve my work!

Disclaimer: The opinions contained in this review are those of the reviewer, and are in no way, shape or form to be used to endorse any other products or to defame the company by any means. The company, product and service names used in this web site are for identification purposes only. All hardware and liquid reviewed were provided for review purposes, and review purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Any third party comments/reviews published on the site (whether edited or not) are third party information for which www.vapocalypticreviews.com takes no responsibility and disclaims all liability. 

SMK Flagship Mechanical Mod

Guess what everybody? During my hiatus, I actually got a job WITH www.mtbakervapor! As such, I am obligated to tell you that the opinions in this interview are just that - my opinions - and are in no way, shape, or form endorsed, paid for, or sustained in any way, monetarily or otherwise. Let's get to it!

Let's take a quick peak at the manufacturer specifications..

Features:

• Floating Copper Firing Pin
• Copper Bottom Pin
• Adjustable Delrin Button Housing
• +/- .15 Voltage Drop @ 1 OHM
• 4 Vent Holes in Button Housing
• All Pieces are Interchangeable
• 18650 Tube 
• 22mm Diameter

Fairly rudimentary, no? Marketed as just that, the SMK Flagship is a mechanical mod devoid of bells and whistles - it has no fancy engraving, it does not stray from the tubular design, and it is not touted as the latest and greatest. Rather, the SMK rests on it's haunches knowing that it simply...works. 

It works well.

This authentic mod sports a made in america design, available in copper or stainless, and has the ultra affordable price tag of just 99.99 - showing that you can get quality material, artisan craftsmanship, and a functional device without sacrificing an arm and a leg. Let's go ahead and dive into what makes the Flagship rock.

Design

Nothing is out of the ordinary here. The Flagship sports the tried and true tubular design, with no glaring deviations - while it may do little to set itself aside from the pack, and outside of very few devices, what mechanical really does these days? In fact, I think the elegance of the Flagship is relative to it's ultra simplicity - it does not need an engraving, or a definitive stamp to call it's own. The nature of it's design lends to it's affordability and class, and I'm a big fan.

The switch itself, however, delightfully functional, and dare I say innovative in it's own right. Within the delrin housing are ball bearings, that lend a hand to not only conductivity, but rigidity of the switch. I won't lie, for 99.99, I halfheartedly anticipated a nightmare of a switch, the pitfall of many otherwise stellar mechanical mods. Surprisingly enough, it is without a doubt the smoothest switch I've dealt with to date - it has a moderate to low amount of throw, requires a firm press, and has yet to catch, stick, or otherwise fire on it's own. The ball bearings keep the switch from firing under it's weight or otherwise, and affords more peace of mind than the Manhattan/Fuhattan series type switches, utilizing opposing magnets. Good mods in their own right, but I've had more than a few auto-fire out of the blue...

Not with the Flagship.

Atop the superior switch design, the Flagship also sports solid copper contacts for ultra conductivity..and man, does this thing hit like a freaking train. It should be called the SMK Steam Engine 9000, or something (and that is why I'll probably never find myself in the marketing and development field..) The individual serialization is also a nice touch.

Have I mentioned the threads yet? No? Talk about smoother than a knife through butter. The craftsmanship and machining of the Flagship is impeccable, in fact, extraordinarily so ... I thought I was holding a mod worth it's weight in gold. In all seriousness, though, for the price, color me impressed. The switch and top cap slide off with ease, and thread back on just as well. Nothing crunched, nothing cross threaded. Upon further inspection, I could spot not one machining irregularity - they were crisp, smooth, and beyond what I'd expect from a device in this price range.

The top cap sports an adjustable copper pin, again to strengthen the conductivity between the atomizer and the mod itself. I'm a big fan of copper contacts, and it should be no surprise at this point. They're practically an industry standard, no?

Performance

After such a beaming review, you've got to be wondering, just how well does this baby work? 

It hits like Mike Tyson.

With it's all copper design, top to bottom, it should be no surprise that the Flagship is a powerhouse of the highest caliber, able to keep up with the best of the best. I built my mutation V3 exceptionally low for the Flagship, in hopes of putting it through it's paces. With a freshly charged VTC4, and my dual coil twisted build coming in at .02, I was ready to go.

This thing simply fires on all cylinders. If you're looking to produce some serious vapor, look no further. This thing should be your ace in the hole at your local cloud comp, your rig when you want to emulate a techno show in your living room, hell I swear it put off so much clouds I made rain. Simply put, I can't explain it any further. It works, and it works well. With an ultra low voltage drop, and a top to bottom copper design, look no further if you're eager to step into the authentic world and chase those glorious, glorious clouds... (unless cloudchasing isn't your thing, which is totally fine) because this can rock any setup you throw it's way. It is one of the very few mods that pose at least sustainable functionality when paired with the Atlantis v2, Subtank, or even a higher ohm dripper for all you flavor chasers.

Simply put, for 99.99, I was absolutely blown away by every facet of this device. From the top-to-bottom stellar construction, functionality, and ultra minimal design, the SMK Flagship should be the gold standard that all authentic mods are held to, in both design and price. Functionality should not be at a premium, nor should design - SMK has shown us that it is possible to get the best of both worlds on a budget. 

The Flagship was provided by www.mtbakervapor.com for review purposes. This review was not paid for, or otherwise influenced in any way, monetarily or otherwise. Everything you read are my expressed opinions, endorsed in no way, shape, or form by www.mtbakervapor.com or any of it's associates.

Red Cpoper Stingray by INFINITE

Good morning vape fam! Vapocalyptic Reviews coming at you in the early morning AM hour with another review. Today I'll be going over the Infinite Red Copper Stingray. It's a sexy mod, and I'd like to give a shoutout to Jonathan at www.alluringvapors.com for the opportunity. Make sure to get on over to www.alluringvapors.com, they've got some pretty nice prices on a wide range of mechanical mods, starter kits, and tanks. Lets get to it!

This particular stingray is a beast, no doubt about it. I have owned the Brass HCIGAR Stingray, Tobecco Stingray, and even a few fasttech clones. While this version does not particularly compare to the latest and greatest release, the Stingray X, it doesn't fall too short. Though it does employ a traditional top cap, thankfully it has silver plated contacts, and an all copper construct - highly conductive, and definitely appealing. Let me break down the specifications.

22 MM in diameter

Laser etched engraving

Solid copper

Silver plated contacts

Silver plated floating atomizer pin

Magnetic button

Floating positive pin

Houses 18350, 18490, and 18650 batteries

Reverse threaded locking ring

Low profile, just 3.4 inches in 18650 mode

Pretty appealing, right? The copper construct and silver plated contacts grapple with voltage drop, as well as boasting some serious conductivity. I've got a Mephisto RDA provided to me by www.alluringvapors.com on top of it, and it absolutely rocks. It is definitely one of the hardest hitting combinations I've got in rotation! With that said, let's get on to what I liked about the Infinite Red Copper Stingray.

PROS

Hits like a train!!! CONDUCTIVE!

Buttery smooth threads

Quality, deep engraving

Awesome top cap, almost as good as a hybrid cap

No unnecessary tubes

CONS

Does require maintenance - copper gets grimy, and is soft. Without adequate cleaning, threads can seize, and it WILL patina - this is a pro for some and a con for some.

The switch. The damn switch. Stingray owners, you know what I'm talking about. If this is your first, read on.

Copper is quickly becoming one of the prized metals in the vaping community - it is highly conductive, and cheaper to produce and manufacture than silver. If I'm not mistaken, this particular model came a bit before copper overdose we're going through now, and for it's time, it definitely reigned supremely over it's competitors

. This is not to say that it does not have a place in today's world - it definitely holds up to some of the more beefier competitors, such as the Skeleton Key, Stingray X, and the Manhattan.

If you've ever owned a stingray, the Red Copper mod will feel familiar. It can be configured in 18650, 18490, and 18350, all without having to include additional tubes. It also comes with an additional body piece to allow for a kick. It features a floating atomizer pin, 22mm in diameter, allowing nearly all RDAS and RBAS to sit flush. I'm a big fan of the atomizer pin, as it requires very little maintenence - simply back out the switch and thread your atty of choice, and watch the magic happen - it is self adjusting. No more adjusting for battery rattle, no more fiddling with telescopic pins. Outside of the hybrid cap, it is personally my favorite design.

Speaking of the top cap, it boasts silver plated contacts, which definitely conduct well - I've got a .6 dual macro build atop it...huge coils, and this mech never once hesitates - each click of the button gets a warm glow started, culminating in a fiery display of ultra subohmie goodness.

The threads on the Stingray are buttery smooth, something I have come to expect not only from the stingray clone, but Infinite. I can honestly say outside of fasttech, I have never held a stingray with subpar threads. Each individual section of the tube screws on and off with relative ease, as well as the top cap and button. If you're like me, you don't clean your mods to often, and some are prone to seizing - I have fought my nemesis top cap and switch more than I'd like to count - I feel confident knowing my red copper stingray won't seize on me anytime soon.

So with that out of the way, let's get down to the only downfall of the design - the switch. In my opinion, JDTech went too far out of the box, and because it is a 1:1 clone, manufacturers followed suit. To be blunt, this is just not a great design. The way that the switch works is that a piece of metal sits on the base, housing the magnet. With the contact screwed in, a piece of delrin is screwed atop that, housing a repelling magnet within, and the silver plated contact atop. By design, yeah, it isn't bad - but in application, it's absolutely annoying. The threads do not properly catch, and because the quality is varies vastly from clone to clone, often the button threads itself do not mesh well with the delrin. This leads to a crunchy switch that can (usually) only fire with a dead center push - if you try off to the side, you will get nothing. 

With a bit of research, it seems that some filing, sanding, filing, and more sanding will get you a semi-passable switch. Personally THIS particular model that I received isn't too bad - I have had some that were a NIGHTMARE - but unfortunately, I could compare it to the exact same model and chances are it would be a completely different story. For starters, I would recommend

Completely dismantling the button

Scrubbing it with water and soap

Scrubbing it again with ketchup (to polish the copper and pull impurities)

Scrub the threads

Reassemble, and hope that this makes an impact.

Usually, it will, however your mileage may vary. I must note, however, I do like how you adjust the throw of the button - simply twisting the delrin either way will either lower or raise it, thus adjusting your throw. I personally find that a longer throw affords ease of us, but it is all dependent on the machining quality your particular mod has.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is an exceptionally well made device. It boasts magnificent threads, and for a copper mod (soft metal) that is a definitive plus. It has a low profile, highly conductive silver contacts, a worry free top cap, and a beautiful engraving. The switch isn't the best, but with a little TLC, it can definitely turn into a daily driver. Even though the Stingray X is out, I would definitely still recommend the Copper V2 by Infinite - it is beautiful, functional, and just an all around kick ass performer.

Pick yours up at www.alluringvapor.com for the low price of 54.99. I'd like to personally thank Jonathan for his genoristy, you are part of the foundation that Vapocalyptic rests under, and people like you are what truly turn the wheels within this community. Keep up the good work!

Be sure to check out my INSTAGRAM for my Mephisto RDA review coming soon! Follow me @_vapocalyptic and give @alluring_vapors a follow as well.

VAPE STRONG, LIVE LONG.