Gunz Blazing 26650 mod

Today I'll be going over the Gunz Blazing mod. My good friend at www.smokenmist.com sent this over to me for review, and I've got to say, it's a damn good mod. Be sure to check it out, at 37.99, it is one of the best deals in vaping PERIOD.

Specifications

• Heavy Duty 26650 Mechanical Mod
• Comes with metal insert to fit all your 18650 batteries
• Solid copper contact pins for maximum conductivity
• Made from surgical grade aircraft 304 stainless steel
• Ultra Low voltage drop
• Unique styling that fits comfortably in your hand
• Knurled Locking Ring with Beautifully Smooth Spring Loaded Switch
• Machining is Amazing

Packaging

For a clone, the Gunz Blazing sports some of the sleekest packaging I've come across. It is delicately placed in a very nice protective box, embezzled with the logo. Inside the box is a felt liner, and the mod itself is stored in a huge, felt, grey mod sock. It is elegant, but simplistic; premium, however minimal. The sock is a great addition to a stellar piece, as you can carry it around knowing it is safely protected. Right out of the box, I'm impressed.






Build Quality

Okay, I'm going to go on record and say this is the best clone I have ever held in my hands,. Everything about it absolutely commands your attention, demanding that you admire it's wonderful craftsmanship, it's intricate but minimal design. Let's start by going over the main tube...it is a brick. This much stainless steel weighs a metric fuck ton, and I can safely say if you ever find yourself in a dire situation, fending off a would be attacker, one club to the head with this thing would probably render a person comatose. It has the sort of heft you come to expect from a well made product, something that when you hold in your hand, you know is of great quality.

The tube itself is similar to a panzer blackhawk with it's rigid threaded pattern and the "Gunz Blazing" logo in it's ornate glory adorned alongside tube. The logo is laser engraved, but it definitely looks like it'll withstand many, many handlings. I like that it has a familiar feel with an edgier take, as the panzer series is a personal favorite. Alongside the top cap, and just above the bottom cap, you will see some knurling, which is both attractive and functional when you're interchanging pieces.

The threads are the main tube are extremely well machined; so much so that I'd believe this was an authentic if you handed it to me. The top cap threads in and out without even a hint of resistance, and this was AFTER weeks of no thread lubrication. The switch slides in with comparable ease, offering piece of mind in knowing that the threads will hold up for ages.

The switch itself is nearly identical to the blackhawk, however it has knurled, which provides an easier grip when removing and reinstalling. The switch itself boasts solid copper contacts, which absolutely kicks ass - this thing hits like a monster. It is a spring loaded mod, the spring itself being ridiculously thick, no chintzy clone business here.

The top cap itself is knurled as well, featuring an adjustable copper contact. The contact threads in and out with ease, as does the switch, thanks to the wonderfully machined knurling. Each atomizer sat flush, with a few exceptions - the magma coming to mind, as well as doge.

Lastly, the gunz blazing includes an aluminum tube adapter that lets you use an 18650 battery instead of a 26650. I personally don't own any 26650s, so this is awesome addition. The adapter is solid alumimum, which slides into the main tube just like a battery would. It is a perfect fit with all 18650s I've thrown at it, and when the switch and top cap are adjusted accordingly, their is no noticeable battery rattle.

All in all, the Gunz Blazing is a premium mod, with a clones price tag. Unbeatable. Unfathomable, really. Seriously. This isn't biased, people. You've got to get your hands on it.

...........buuuuuut how does it perform?!

Performance

It hits like a truck on steroids. Aptly so, as it weighs nearly as much as a truck, constructed out of metal probably better than my last car was. Thanks to the solid copper contacts, their is little to no voltage drop, leading to some super serious, kick ass conductivity. Every atomizer I threw at this thing roared like a dragon outta hell, be it super sub ohm builds or your standard 1.0 ohm+ builds. It fits perfectly in the hand despite it's size and weight, of which is largely acceptable due to just how well it performs. This is my go-to mod when I'm not rockin my regulated
boxes, and it definitely holds up to my daily punishment. It fits nicely in my pocket and after a while, I started to not notice its weight. Plus, if somebody tried to rob me, I could totally give them a wicked concussion, so it's a win win situation.

Verdict

If you're in the market for meticulously well made device that can withstand abuse, be used in 18650/26650 mod, and hit like tyson, look no further. I have kept away from 26650s due to their size, but after a few weeks with the Gunz Blazing, one thing is clear...

SIZE DOES MATTER.

At 37.99, you can't go wrong, so do yourself a favor and PICK ONE UP TODAY!

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.

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!