Infinite Blackhawk Panzer

Today, I'll be going over the Infinite Blackhawk Panzer, provided by MtBakerVapor. Visit www.mtbakervapor.com, an industry standard in juice and hardware, with pricing starting at just 4.99/15ml.

Well, it has finally happened, MtBakerVapor now carries a selection of must have mechanical mods. Though they are clones, I and the rest of the community have been very vocal in our hopes of this, and the wishes have been conceptualized- they now carry more hardware. They currently offer the Infinite Blackhawk Panzer, the Infinite Black Stingray, the Infinite 26650 Hades, as well as the Stillare, Magma, and Tobh. I have the opportunity to review the Blackhawk by Infinite, and well, my findings are less than desirable. Let's get started with the manufacturers specs.

• Brass Firing Pin and 510 Connection
• Copper Battery Contacts
• Removable Tubes to accept 18650, 18490, 18500 and 18350 batteries
• Individual engraved serial number
• Locking Mechanism with Reverse Threading

Sounds great, right? With a brass firing pin and super conductive copper contacts, you would think that this mod is ready to rock right out of the box, but that is unfortunately, not the case. 

• Construction

This mod is beautiful, make no mistake about it. Though it is inspired by, -wait for it-, a flash light, it manages to retain an attractive, quality look. It is incredibly sleek, masculine and does a great job imposing it's will, so to speak. To begin with, one of the best things about this mod is the threads. I own an assortment of mechanical mods, such as the Stingray X, Nemesis, and Astro, all from a variety of vendors and manufacturers, and I have yet to witness threads as buttery smooth as on the panzer. Each section of the tube, as well as the switch and top cap, thread on beautifully, with absolutely no crunch, or force necessary. 

The blackhawk comes in four sections. Each piece is threaded wonderfully, beautifully machined, and quite thick. The Panzer is heavy, and in this hobby, I have learned to liken heavy to quality. The Panzer accepts your standard 18650, 18490, and 18350 battery.

The engravings are done well, in fact, better than most of the mods I've seen. They're deep, pronounced, and bold - something I largely prefer over your typical laser engraving. The vent holes are also exceptionally well done, as they're located on the body itself. I am a fan of this placement, considering a battery in thermal runaway can swell and with the excess pressure negating bottom vent holes, it is what essentially causes the mod to become a pipe bomb - the top cap and switch can blast out due to the pressure and gas venting.

 The mod, however, suffers from one fatal flaw, and that is...

PAINTED THREADS.

It is NO secret that paint/PVD coating compromises conductivity....this is inexcusable, at this point in the hobby, two things should be a standard in my opinion

Hybrid top caps

Non-painted threads.

Why? Well, to begin with, coating inhibits conductivity, as it disrupts the flow of energy. This results in abysmal voltage drop, and with a multimeter, I measured a 0.9 voltage drop - that is absolutely inexcusable!! A fresh Sony VTC5 reads 4.2 off the charger. To get an idea of how this thing performs, imagine firing your atty with a 3.3v battery. I don't know about my readers, but I notice a drop in vape quality around 3.5-3.6v, 3.3 is nigh unusable. Running a tobh with dual coils at 0.4 ohms, I noticed a vape similar to a Protank 3 - very, very disappointing.

Due to the painted threads and loss of conductivity, the mod also micro arcs, which is a huge pain in the ass. Every time I fire this mod, it either burns my hand, or shocks me. This has happened with a variety of attys, tanks, and builds - there is just no way around the coating..unless you remove it.

With that in mind, the mod is not a complete loss. To those that are handier than I, you've got a few options.

Take a wirewheel to the threads

Sandblast the threads

Insert conductive copper tape into the tube

These will certainly remedy the issue, but I believe that for 54.99, I should not have to perform these modifications. I cannot fault MBV, as this is their first offering - perhaps they can offer the Panzer in stainless, or discontinue it in favor of another mod - but it is a manufacturer defect. Overall, however, this cripples an otherwise beautifully made, attractive mod.

• Top cap

The top cap, primarily to the overall construction, is almost wonderfully machined. Every atty I threw at the top cap threaded on with ease, and sat flush, (including the Magma, which is notorious for it's long 510 connector). It features a telescopic copper contact pin, which can be a bit finicky when adjusting for rattle, as it threads directly into the top cap, with no insulator. spent more time than I would've liked adjusting it, something I believe could be remedied with a delrin insulator. Why the manufacturer opted out of this, I'm not sure. The telescopic copper pin is a great addition, though I find it slightly humorous that a highly conductive pin compliments coated threads.

• Switch

Now here is one thing machinist and manufacturer's can take note of. - the switch. I have yet to encounter a switch that rivals the Blackhawks design, function, and quality. You have a thick spring that sits atop the switch, connected to the tubing with a single brass pin. Instead of a delrin insulator, a large, thick o-ring secures the switch assembly - I would once again love to see an insulator, but I would press that issue more-so towards the authentic - I can deal with it on a clone. The switch is recessed, however it has a reverse threaded locking ring that can be twisted down to ensure the mod does not fire on it's own. With the copper telescopic pin adjusted properly, the switch can be completely tightened down, unlocked, without firing under it's own weight. It fires everywhere I place my finger, unlike some models that require a center push, or slightly off-side. It is simple, it is functional, and it WORKS FLAWLESSLY.

Overall, this is a beautiful, beautiful mod, boasting exceptionally machined threaded, copper telescopic pin, brass firing pin, a quality switch, and well placed ventilation. It feels like a quality device, but unfortunately I would not recommend a purchase, because the painted threads are unforgivable- ridiculous voltage drop, micro acrcing leading to hot switch and shocking, just completely tarnishes what could be a staple in any arsenal. I would love to see MBV carry the version without the painted threads, or possibly stock the stainless version, as I cannot imagine anybody being able to tolerate headache painted threading can cause. I must say, however, I will be using it from time to time - the luxury of an exceptionally well made clone is quite hard to come by, and if you can manage to disregard the voltage drop and arcing, it is just a breeze to use. I, for one, will definitely be looking into a wirewheel modification.

I'd like to thank Michael from www.mtbakervapor.com for giving me this opportunity, I have been a loyal customer since my foray into the wonderful world of vaping, and will continue to stand by vendors I trust.  It has been a great pleasure, and I hope you guys stop by to catch my MBV juice review, after they complete the steeping process!

Get in touch! Find me on instagram @_vapocalyptic! VAPE STRONG AND LIVE LONG!

Smoktech 18350 Mechanical ePipe Mod

Today, I'll be covering the Smoktech 18350 mechanical ePipe mod, provided to me by Northwest Vapors. This will be a two part review, I will be covering their juice and accessories following this. The ePipe is a well made, functional device, almost a novelty of sort. I'm genuinely enjoying the portability and look that it affords, not to mention the buttery smooth switch, a luxury in the mech world. Let's get to it!

I've come to a pretty solid conclusion in my blogging/review venture. Sending out invitation to review product isn't always an enjoyable affair. The majority of companies are very supportive of my endeavor, however at the end of the day, it is likened to a "cold call" of sorts. Outside of circumventing the stigma, one of the most important things I have learned outside of ask and you shall receive, is...

A little bit of searching can lead to diamonds in the rough.

I had never heard of the company NorthWest Vapors, being an Arizona native, as well as a staple customer of high traffic establishments such as 101vape and mtbakervapor. I stumbled upon them one morning looking for companies to work with, and after a very pleasant exchange with Will and Tim, I found myself eagerly anticipating a package. When you deal with a new company and new product, it is a 50/50 shot. You could love it, or you could hate it. In this instance, I am completely floored by Northwest Vapors. Not only do they have very reasonable prices, the carry a decent array of product and make some of the best e-liquid I've ever had the pleasure of sampling. 

As a reviewer, I do not use "best" lightly. I am not biased in the sort, I offer an honest review on every product I receive. It is a great feeling to know that I have found yet another company I can support along my vaping journey. With that in mind, lets get to the review!

The Smoktech Epipe is an 18360 stainless steel mechanical mod. It houses a single battery, both button and flat top. It is in my experience that a flat top battery fits better, but I have managed to use an eFest button top successfully. It is made with chrome plated brass, thankfully, as similar designs often fall victim to severe voltage drop. It sports a sealed 510 connection with a large ego well, so thankfully you do not need to use an adapter. The firing switch is enclosed with a delrin insert, so while the spring is replaceable, the throw is not adjustable. The switch is your standard spring, what I assume to be gold plated stainless. I'd suggest opting out for a brass spring to reduce any lingering voltage drop, as well as promote conductivity. The end caps are knurled, and quite nicely, allowing for a snug fit when palmed.

It's a pretty nice piece, to be completely honest. Here's what I like about the ePipe

• Aesthetic appeal
  It's a mechanical pipe, what more can I say? It's certainly a center piece, more of an attraction than all day device. I'm tempted to pick up some longer drip tips to compliment the design further, but as is, it is entirely snazzy. I anticipate it'll garner quite a bit of attention, being the focal point of conversation in the near future. The chrome design compliments the aesthetic factor well, as gives off an authentic vibe, not a steampunk/retro appeal I'd imagine something like brass would garner.
• Functionality
  Those familiar with the Hammer (by Kato, though cloned by many) can ascertain to this. The pipe like tube design can suffer from some pretty substantial voltage drop. In my test, I noticed 0.2 drop at best. Not ideal, but nothing I can particularly gripe about. While I would recommend you only use clearomizers (iclear 16 seems to compliment it well, as does the protank 2), it is comforting to know it can perform under the constraints the design affords.

• Ease of use
  When you're constantly toying with mechanical mods featuring telescoping pins, floating 510 connections, magnetic batteries, rebuild-able atomizers and drippers, it's almost a luxury to come across something that has an aurora of simplicity. With the ePipe, you simply pop in your battery and screw in your 510/ego carto of choice and go. No fiddling with a switch, no adjusting a center pin.
  
  Not only that, but it just fits perfectly in your hand. I keep it in my palm, in between my index and middle finger. You can fire easily with your index as it rests, and it isn't in the least bit awkward, nor does it require any force. The switch depresses with ease, and for a spring, this was quite impressive.

• Construction
  I am a huge fan of brass, and this is no slouch. Not only is it fairly conductive, it is heavy. Usually, we can (and I say USUALLY) liken heavy to quality...not always, but in this case, you can definitely gauge the craftsmanship by having it in the palm of your hand. It has a good weight to it, the knurled ends are fantastic, and the 510 connection has fired everything I've thrown at. For a novelty piece, I wasn't anticipating such a quality design, but I was surprised.

I am pleased to say I haven't found anything to complain about when testing out the Epipe by Smoktech. It is functional, it is appealing, it is well made. I have to say, what caught my eye initially was the look factor. I wasn't expecting performance like this, and I'm happy to say my expectations were definitely exceeded. I'd like to thank NorthWest Vapors for giving me the opportunity to try it, and I suggest that all my readers get over there pronto and check out their accessories and line of juice. 

Questions? Comments? You know what to do, folks! Fill out the form to your right and get in touch. I love hearing from people, and am always looking to pursue partnership and other avenues.

Stay tuned, I'll be bringing you a juice review over the weekend!

As always....vape strong and live long!

Kamry K100

Today, I'll be reviewing the Kamry K100 mechanical mod kit. The good guys at 101vape had it in stock at the very affordable price of 29.99, plus shipping. Overall a great company to do business with. You can expect lightning quick shipping and personable customer service. 

The kamry k100 was my initial foray into mechanical mods. It has an affordable price tag, comes with batteries and a charger, and has generally positive reviews. Initially I was a fan, but after using other equipment, it seems to be an entry level device and nothing more. 

The Kamry K100 is a telescoping fully mechanical mod. It supports 18650, 18490, and 18350 batteries. Due to its telescopic nature, it can support a kick. It is constructed of stainless steel and sports a very bland decision, one that has no engravings or etchings. This could be appeal to some, but I prefer a bit more personalization. It has a 510 connection surrounded by an evod cone well, which is nice because it will support a wide variety of clearomizers-glassomizers. 

What I like about the Kamry K100

• Affordability
  You cannot argue with a 29.99 price tag, even if it's contents (such as batteries and charger) are of a lower quality. Outside of an m16 clone, you'd be hard priced finding a mech mod state side with such an attractive price. 
  
  
• Ease of use
   The connector is a standard 510 to ego, so there isn't a need to adjust a center pin. The switch is spring loaded and fairly strong, eliminating the need for a magnetic upgrade. 

• BUILD QUALITY.
  If you're a fan of stainless, you'll appreciate the heft this mod affords. It has a lot of weight behind it and feels sturdy. Outside of that, I do have a few gripes with the build,  leading to.. 

What I do not like about the Kamry K100

• Bulky
  In my opinion it is unnecessarily bulky. It doesn't slide in and out of my pockets. It is fairly heavy to be carrying around all day. 

• Telescopic threading
   I am not a fan of telescoping, due to its strenuous nature. As this is a clone of the Empire mod, it doesn't sport superior craftsmanship. This is soon apparent if you frequently switch from 18650 to 18350. The threading feels delicate and I noticed a bit more crunchiness than I'm comfortable dealing with. This could be a deal breaker for those who constantly switch out batteries. 

• Reverse threading lock ring
  Again, I am no fan of this particular design. The k100 in particular seems prone to cross threading. I have had the locking ring cross threaded and, in most cases, a new switch is required. In order to avoid this, I'd recommend particular caution locking and unlocking this mod. With just a bit more force than normal you may find yourself unable to lock, or unlock,  your mod. 

• Packaging contents 
  As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and the k100 kit is a prime example. The batteries are kamry branded IMRs. I believe they're rejects, rewrapped with the manufacturer logo. With mechanical mods, you do not want to skimp on battery quality. I personally would only recommended using these in a pinch, if at all. The included charger is of poor quality as well. It has no instructions, so users will have to troubleshoot it via the Internet. It takes hours to charge, and after only three uses, it completely quit working. I have also read reports and heard first hand it has overcharged batteries, as well as overheated during a charge, both serious issues. The included cartomizers are poor as well. They leak profusely, as well as produce burnt tasting hits. I have had no luck with them. 

Overall, I would advise those interested to explore another Avenue. Save for a higher quality mod, or pick up a similarly priced Nemesis clone. The Kamry is functional, it is inviting, but it is a one trick pony. If you're on a tight budget, it may serve your needs, but it is my personal opinion that an upgrade will be desired shortly. 

If you absolutely decide you would like the k100, I'd recommend purchasing just the mod. You do not need the batteries or charger, and you may find a better price point. 

The K100, unfortunately, does not get the vapocalyptic STAMP of approval. 

Hcigar Stingray

I'd like to share my thoughts on what is, in my opinion, an incredibly well made mech mod clone by Hcigar. I'd like to avoid the semantics surrounding clones vs authentic. I do not inherently condone plagarisim, but I do respect the need to budget, and in the end, what matters, is PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING. Now that I've got that out of the way... I'd like to present the Hcigar Stringray!

I picked this beautiful mod up at ECIGGITY, a well respected company based out in Hawaii, for the incredible price of 44.99 (use code 10percentoff for 10 percent discount) plus shipping, and couldn't be happier. I live in Arizona and the shipping was prompt. Initially I had trouble with my switch, an unfortunate HCigar quality control issue, however eciggity was extremely prompt in responding and sending out a replacement. Top notch service.

I love this mod. It is in my hand all day, every day, alongside whichever 510 tank I use. I can say with total conviction that I will never give this one up. So, let's get on and find out why it earns the vapocalytic STAMP of approval!

• Build quality
  For a clone, this beast is machined so well, you would be hard pressed distinguishing it from the original. Each and every thread is as smooth as butter, even before the typically necessary isopropyl alcohol rubdown. Straight out the box, each tube, as well as connector and switch thread on without so much as a twitch of resistance. It is entirely 100% brass, a very conductive and lustrous metal.  For those who are tired of struggling with voltage drop, you will notice an incredibly small drop with this mechanical mod. It is form and functionality, perfected. The laser engraving is deep but not obtrusive, aesthetically pleasing, and well detailed. The switch and firing pins are also silver plated copper. This is amazing, as previously stated, because of the superior conductivity it provides. Another plus is a floating 510 pin. It will automatically adjust to your atomizer, eliminating the need to readjust it. This is invaluable because it supports a wide variety of batteries, 510 atomizers, as well as the capability of kicking it in 18500, 18490, and 18650 mode! Keep in mind, if you plan to use EGO cone devices, you will need a 510 to EGO adapter. The atomizer connection is also 22mm in diameter, so tank's such as the Mini Protank 2 and Kanger Aerotank will not sit flush. User preference, entirely.

• Ventilation
  This is a very important aspect to any mechanical mod. Without asking you to take a seat for batteries 101, you want a mod that affords the user an ample amount of ventilation in case  thermal runaway occurs. The vents are created by spaces left between the brass and steel, as well as accentuating the firing switch. I feel extremely comfortable knowing a potential thermal runaway will not go unnoticed.

• Magnetic switch
  Nemesis owners will be glad to know that the included switch is magnetic. In my opinion, I feel that the magnets are a bit on the weak side, but it is all a user preference. A lot of people have complained that the button has an atypical crunch. This is true, but an easily rectified problem. As with all clones, you should give it a through cleaning before use, as machine oil can and usually will be left on the threading. An initial disassemble followed by a nice isopropyl bath leads to a smooth switch with a very sensitive throw.

Overall, it is an invaluable mech to my growing collection. I do not see it leaving my rotation, nor being replaced anytime soon. If you're in the market for a well made clone, look no further than the Stingray by Hcigar!

As always, you can pick it up for 44.99 + SHIPPING at Eciggity. You can't put a price on superior customer service!