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. 

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!