Video: Electronic Cigarette Health Risks and Benefits

The Rainbow Heaven MKB-TS

Welcome to our first review by request. A short time ago we received an email from Vape Squad reader Debbie, asking if we could review the Rainbow Heaven MKB-TS. We mentioned that we’d had our eye on this particular GGTS clone for a while, and were hoping to find a way to get it cheap before we took the $100 plunge and bought one retail. Debby’s request, however, completely destroyed our willpower, and not long after receiving her request we were making a purchase at Stormy’s Vapor Cellar.

MKB-TS with Terminator-C (aka Imeo’s Worst Nightmare)

The MKB-TS is easily the most faithful replica of a GGTS to come out of China yet, and it has all the features of the Golden Greek mechanical mod.  There’s the familiar three-piece telescoping feature, the bottom-side-mounted button, and the signature knurled airflow control ring of the GGTS. It even duplicates the popular two-toned look of some models of the GGTS, using a gold-plated top ring and bottom cap, the latter sporting recessed venting holes very similar to the GGTS.

Another features the MKB-TS shares with the GGTS is the way the connector works.  Just like the GGTS, the connector on the MKB-TS is set far down inside a collector tank. This leads to the same challenge many GGTS users have faced: it’s not always a simple thing to get an atomizer connected.  While the GGTS Adapter can be used on the real GGTS, we were disappointed that this solidly-built adapter does not fit on the MKB-TS.  For the MKB-TS, you’re going to have to go old school, and daisy-chain a couple of adapters, if you want to leave the air control and the gold-plated top ring attached under your atomizer.  Fortunately, we can help take some of the guesswork out of that for you: we found that a 901/808-to-501 adapter, paired with a 510-to-510 shorty adapter, both of which we’d ordered several months back from Hoosier E-Cigs, were the perfect length to reach right up to the top of the ring with almost no gap at all between the ring and the atomizer. Also, the manufacturer of the MKB-TS has announced they will be producing their own adapter, but until that becomes available the pairing we are using is working very well.

For all the similarities to the GGTS, there are some notable differences.  First, as should be expected, the build materials aren’t quite GGTS-grade.  Not that they’re bad at all, mind you; it’s just that GGTS-grade is a very high bar to reach.  The stainless steel used to build the MKB-TS is certainly thicker and sturdier than most Chinese-made mods, with a brushed finish that should help ward off fingerprints. The gold-colored pieces, however, are not brass, but gold-plated.  We’ve been told it’s copper underneath, but haven’t put it to a scratch test yet.  We are, however, tempted to take sandpaper to it to expose the copper, if that’s what under there.

We particularly like the switch — unsurprisingly, since it’s an almost exact replica of the one on the GGTS, complete with throw adjustment and a locking ring, and it is just as easy to remove and keep clean as the one on the GGTS. The spring also has a very similar feel to the one on the GGTS, though the throw feels just slightly lighter on our MKB-TS.

All in all, we’d have to say we are very impressed with the build and feel of this mod. While it hasn’t quite got the weight of the GGTS, and the pieces may not mesh quite as seamlessly, but taken on its own merits the MKB-TS is still a very well-built, very good-looking mod.

The Scores

Build Quality: 8/10

The materials used to build the MKB-TS are a cut above the sort normally found in Chinese mods, and clones in particular.  It is fairly thick and sturdy stainless steel, though some parts are covered with a gold plating, under which, we’ve been told, is copper.

Looks: 8/10

The MKB-TS looks a bit like a somewhat boxier GGTS: all the same parts are there, but the MKB-TS lacks some of the rounded edges and other small details of GGTS. The gold-plated accents look great, but being plated, we’re not sure how long they’ll keep their shine, especially considering that the plating has been used on two of the parts of the mod that typically receive a lot of wear: the bottom and top caps.

Flexibility: 8/10

We were pleased to find that our GGTS-based atomizers such as the UFS and Z-Atty-G, as well as the GG iAtty, Odysseus and Ithaka with the GGTS base attached, all fit the MKB-TS. The telescoping feature accommodates a wide array of batteries as well. We’d have scored this category even higher than we have if not for the fact that using a non-GGTS atomizer requires the use of third-party adapters, at least until such time as Rainbow Heaven’s adapter becomes available.

Performance: 9/10

Our first impression of the MKB-TS was that it performed quite well. Opting for a setup as GGTS-like as possible without actually using any GG parts, we paired it with a Terminator-C, and the pair worked very well together.

Performance of the mod was unexpectedly good for a Chinese mod.  The use of brass contacts internally seems to improve throughput greatly, and the MKB-TS exhibited an average voltage retention of approximately 92% in our tests (a drop of .33 volts of a 4.25 volt charge) both with adapters and without, putting it up there with some of the best we’ve tested.

Price: 7/10

We bought our MKB-TS for about $100 at retail. While this is more expensive than most other Chinese mechanicals, we’ve also found the MKB-TS to be a better-built mod than most Chinese mechanicals as well. While the MKB-TS may not be capable of winning a head-to-head match against a GGTS, is it a good enough copy to justify a price about half that of the GGTS?  We think so, and if you get a chance to pick one of these up at co-op prices, we think you’ll be very pleased with it.

Overall Score: 8.0

The Rainbow Heaven MKB-TS

Co-Op Update

As we’ve been doing these updates, one thing has become apparent: The weekend isn’t really the right time for a weekly update, since a lot of new co-ops seem to go live on Saturday and Sunday.  As a result, we’re moving the update to Monday to hopefully catch more co-ops right as they’re getting started.

Kamry K101

Speaking of getting started, there’s a new forum on the block, with its own co-op section. Rebuildable E-Cigs Forum (which we’re abbreviating as REF in the Co-Op Tracker) should have lots of familiar faces if you’ve spent some time at nu-vapor. It’s also already got a couple co-ops being run by Hoosier Vapes, through whom we’ve bought a lot of the gear we’ve reviewed here on Vape Squad in co-ops they’ve previously run, and we’re pretty comfortable recommending them.

The new co-ops on REF include one for the new version of the the Kamry K-100 we reviewed here previously; the new model is the K-101, and it’s available in a few new colors and features a safety fuse. The second item is one that’s been very popular in recent days: the Youde AGI dual-purpose dripper and Genesis tank atomizer.

Recent additions to the tracker from Facebook include Bucky’s offering of the Sigelei TMax box mod in it’s latest two-battery design, and the Pinoy Trident rebuildable dripping atomizer from Legit Group Buys.

Finally, a group buy for the Cyclone rebuildable dripping atomizer from Vicious Ant is running at CaliVaper, and due to close on Friday.

As always, links to these buys along with pricing information and current status can be found at the Co-Op Tracker.

Co-Op Update

The Marlboro Men of E-Cigarettes

A rather lengthy published in Sunday’s New York Magazine covers the marketing challenges facing e-cigarette companies. They compare the challenges to the ones faced by Marlboro in 1955, a time when filters were seen as something less than manly. Similar challenges are being faced today by e-cigarettes, with many see as too trendy, too hipster, and maybe a little wimpy. It raises the question, “would James Dean smoke one of these?”

James Dean

The article focuses on NJOY, going into great detail about what NJOY has done to combat the image, and to make their product as realistically cigarette-like at possible, from testing various flavors and construction, to coming to the discovery that one of the things people appreciate most about an e-cigarette is big, fluffy clouds of vapor.

“To see people’s faces and reactions when this big plume of vapor is coming out, we knew we were getting close.” – Mark Scatterday, NJOY creator

The piece closes with an explanation of how a tweet from Courtney Love to NJOY praising their product turned into a commercial for NJOY, and suggests that what e-cigarette marketing needs to appeal to smokers might just be a little less emphasis on health, and a little more on attitude.

Has NJOY Resolved the E-Cigarette’s Image Problem? — New York Magazine.

The Marlboro Men of E-Cigarettes

Genny Joose from Bucky"s Bargain Vaping

Followers of our Co-Op Tracker are probably already familiar with Keith Gossett, aka Bucky. A respected manager of several co-ops on ECF, Bucky has recently started his own co-op group on Facebook, Vaping Group Buys from Bucky, and has aspirations of eventually opening his own store.

In a recent detour from offering things like cartos and clearomizers, Bucky began offering a new juice he’d created in the Facebook group, named Genny Joose. Genny Joose is billed as a juice intended for use in Genesis atomizers, but Bucky has offered very little in the way of description otherwise, other than that there are nine ingredients. We decided to take a chance and give his new juice a shot.

The juice was shipped relatively quickly, and we received it within a few days of ordering. It arrived very well bubble-wrapped in amber 30ml glass bottles, with a “Bucky’s Bargain Vaping” label (perhaps the name of Bucky’s upcoming retail venture? Remember you heard it here first).

The aroma of the juice is strong, but not easily identifiable.  It is sweet, and somewhat reminiscent of peaches and vanilla, though we wouldn’t swear to either of those being in the ingredient list.  It is also a thick juice, no doubt due to heavy use of VG in the mix.  We’d estimate it is at least 75% VG if not more, judging from Genny Joose’s viscosity, and the high VG content certainly contributes to impressive vapor production when Genny Joose is vaped.

The flavor of the vape is very complex and layered.  While several of the flavors included in the juice seem to stand out on their own, like the distinctive tongue bite of cinnamon on the inhale and a menthol-like coolness on the exhale. Other components of the juice, however, are not quite so identifiable. There’s a noticeable coconut note that reminds us a bit of the flavor of Alice in Vapeland’s White Rabbit, and a bit of fruity sweetness that we just can’t pin down. Sometimes it seems like the peach we thought we may have smelled when opening the bottle, and then we try it again and the identity of that flavor is back out of reach.

The flavor of this juice as one that adapts differently to various delivery devices.  While we’ve tried it in low and high-resistance Genesis atomizers, we’ve also run it through a Bauway CE8 clearo and a Nimbus dripper, and it’s tasted different in each one. Depending on the power level it’s vaped at, different components come through stronger or weaker.  In the CE8, for example, the cinnamon and coconut are quite prevalent, but in our Cobra there’s a bit more of the coolness and fruitiness, and the overall flavor seems more blended.

So, in the end, after vaping quite a bit of Genny Joose, we can’t really say what it is, other than a complex, flavorful, moderately sweet vape. We can say, however, that whatever flavors are in there, they work together very well on a lot more than just the Genesis atomizers the juice has been named for. Whatever we put it in, Genny Joose was flavorful without being overpowering, and sweet without being candy-like. It’s a kind of juice that’s distinctive and very flavorful, but won’t stomp on your taste buds to the point that you’ll need to put it down after vaping it a while. It’s the kind of juice that really lends itself to being an all-day vape, and we suspect it will be for many of those who order it.

Genny Joose from Bucky"s Bargain Vaping

Leonardo DiCaprio Vapes at "Gatsby" Press Conference

“The Great Gatsby” Movie Poster

Free newspaper am New York report in their online edition that actor Leonardo DiCaprio loves his e-cigarette.  So much, in fact, that he can’t help taking a drag or two between questions at a press conference for his new movie, “The Great Gatsby.”

We’ve known for a while that Leo’s a vaper, and he’s been spotted using e-cigarettes before, many times, including on the set of “Django Unchained,” in which he played chain smoker Calvin Candie.

Quoted as saying in 2012 that he couldn’t quit smoking with patches because they gave him nightmares, apparently vaping’s been working for him, as he hasn’t been spotted with a smoke for months, and has been known to be using e-cigarettes for at least a year or so now.

DiCaprio’s vaporizer of choice is a cig-alike.

Leonardo DiCaprio puffs on e-cigarette during ‘Gatsby’ news conference.

Leonardo DiCaprio Vapes at "Gatsby" Press Conference

King E-Pipe by Beautiful

We’ve had a few chances recently to pick up Chinese-made e-pipes at what looked like pretty good prices. First there was the Oakley X Cube, which you may remember we didn’t find particularly impressive.  Then there was the Fortunecome F-106, which also didn’t score very highly. Most recently, the King from Beautiful arrived. Is the third time the charm? Let’s find out.

King E-Pipe Unboxing

We received our King E-Pipe as part of a kit from Beautiful which contained the pipe itself, a plastic mouthpiece, an assembled carto tank with punched cartomizer, a battery charger, a spare 510-to-510 adapter, two 900 mAh 18350 batteries, and an instruction booklet. All of this came rather nicely presented in a foam-lined gold and black gift box.

The King E-Pipe supports a couple different configurations right out of the box. The first, and easiest to set up, is to use the included carto tank.  Since it already has a cartomizer in it from the factory, the only setup required for this configuration is to fill the tank, screw it onto the King’s 510 connector, and pop in the mouthpiece/drip tip.  Unscrew the brass top of the pipe, at the top of which is a small brass button used to fire the King, and drop in one of the included 18350 batteries, and you’re off and running.

King E-Pipe in XL Cartomizer Configuration

The second configuration, using an XL-length cartomizer is somewhat more complicated. In this configuration, the 510-to-510 adapter pre-installed into the pipe’s shank must be removed, and a cartomizer inserted in its place.  Then a black plastic ring is pushed over the top of the cartomizer, and the drip tip inserted.  While this may sound relatively simple, in practice it was a bit frustrating.  Most of the problem came from the black ring that extends the shank about an extra half-inch and hides the end of the cartomizer: it was very difficult to fit into the end of the pipe’s shank.  Of our two Kings, we were only successful at doing this with one of them.  On the other, the ring just would not fit into the shank, no matter how much we twisted and shoved. The other fit, but only after pushing really hard.  This, of course, leads to a second problem: if we decide to take that piece back out, it’s probably going to involve a pair of pliers, which probably won’t go well for that plastic ring.

King E-Pipe in Tank Configuration

Thankfully, given the size and shape of the King e-Pipe and the basic, flat 510 connection at the end of the shank in “tank” mode, the only reason to use the cartomizer configuration is if you really want the King to look just like an analog pipe (or at least an analog pipe with a big brass lid over the bowl). The included XL-length cartomizer tank work just fine and fits very well, but any 510-based atomizer device could be used on the King. The shank has a large enough diameter that we’ve seen photos of the King with atomizers as large as a SmokTech RSST looking right at home on the e-Pipe.

The King, however, is not without its flaws, some of which are fairly significant. We mentioned the issue with the carto adapter ring earlier, but we’ve also found that the drip tip connector on the mouthpiece fits very loosely on everything we’ve tried it with, including the tank and cartomizer provided with the King. While replacing the O-ring with one we had lying around has helped considerably, not everyone is going to have spare O-rings to do that with.

King E-Pipe Spring Collapse

A more serious issue, however, may be the battery and switch mechanism.  While we have had no trouble with our two test units, at least one other person who acquired his King E-Pipe in the same group buy as our reported shortly after receiving it that the unit would sometimes fire without pressing the button.  Not long after came a report that he later went to pick up the King and found it to be too hot to touch, and after it had cooled he opened it to find the spring had collapsed. This, obviously, is the last sort of thing you want to find a mod ever doing, as it’s the sort of thing that can lead to battery explosions.  That didn’t happen in this case, thankfully, and apparently the King in question is still operational, but it’s certainly got us keeping a close eye on ours.  We haven’t heard other reports yet of the same type of malfunction, but it’s certainly concerning.

One other cosmetic issue with the King E-Pipe: the black sandalwood ones have some inconsistencies in coloring.  Ours, for example, has a small patch of blonde-colored wood on the rim of the bowl, and a similar defect (though much larger than ours) is visible in the spring collapse photo above. However, many may not mind this at all, and see these blonde patches as adding a little extra character to their King E-Pipe.  However, if you’re not a fan, we suggest not choosing the black sandalwood unless you can get assurances from the vendor that the coloring is consistent.

The Scores

Build Quality: 3/10

While the individual parts of the King E-Pipe seem to be well-enough constructed, we did find a few quality issues with the King E-Pipe, including a loosely fitting mouthpiece, a cartomizer adapter that fits so tightly we couldn’t get it to connect on one of our two Kings (and may not be able to get it out of the other without damaging it), and inconsistencies with finish on the black sandalwood unit.

Perhaps most concerning was another owner’s experience with his King self-firing, leading to dangerous overheating and a spring collapse. While we can’t be sure how common this sort of malfunction might be with the King, it is a very serious one.

Looks: 8/10

The King E-Pipe has a very classy, clean look, both in the cartomizer and tank configurations. We did, however, experience a small gap between the tank and the head on one of our units, and the finish inconsistencies in the black unit as noted above.

The padded gift box puts the packaging of the King E-Pipe a cut above that of other units we’ve reviewed.

Flexibility: 8/10

The broad shank of the King and its use of a removable 510-to-510 connector present multiple configuration options for the King, and allow it to be used with any atomizer with a 510 connection (though some options, obviously, will look much better than others).

Performance: 5/10

The performance of the King has been moderate to low with the included components. Much of this is probably due to the use of a single 18350 battery and the high resistance of the included cartomizer (ours measured as high as 2.9 ohms).  While Beautiful suggests not using cartomizers lower than 1.7 ohms, 2.9 is high enough to severely limit vapor production and flavor, and we suggest using lower resistance cartomizers than the ones provided.

Price: 5/10

While not easy to find at retailers, the King E-Pipe kits we have seen out there seem to be selling in the $90-$110 range.  While the kit does include a pair of batteries and a charger, as well as a couple spare parts, we’re not sure those justify the relatively steep price of this pipe, particularly when its rather significant flaws are factored in.

We purchased ours through a co-op at $52 for the black sandalwood, and $47 for the red. At those prices we’re relatively pleased with the purchases, but had we paid retail prices we would probably not be quite so happy.

Overall Score: 5.8

Spring collapse photo by Craig Marino

King E-Pipe by Beautiful

Audio: E-Cigarettes Bring Smokers Back Inside, For Now - NPR

Ohio Casinos Mixed on Allowing E-Cigarettes

It wasn’t long ago that cigarettes were as much a fixture of casinos as slot machines and blackjack tables. While those days are mostly gone now, as e-cigarettes rise to take the place of cigarettes for many, the question is coming up again in Ohio’s gambling halls: should they be allowed or not?

Horseshoe Casino, Cleveland

The Columbus Dispatch reports that there’s more than one answer to that question, and whether you’ll be allowed to vape or not in an Ohio casino depends on which casino you’re in. While many of the state’s casinos have banned the devices, others such as the Horseshoe casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati, and the Thistledown Racino near Cleveland, all owned by Rock Ohio Caesars, welcome vapers. E-cigarettes are allowed indoors in Ohio, according to Tessie Pollock of the Ohio Department of Health, since the states Smoke-Free Act, enacted in 2006, applies only to burning tobacco.

The Dispatch article highlights some of the unfounded paranoia around e-cigarettes.  For example, Elizabeth Lessner, owner of six Ohio restaurants, cites a rather bizarre health concern.

“This winter, we had a major flu epidemic and there was concern that people’s spit was coming out in the mist.”

Others, like Scott Schweitzer, manager of the Park Street Tavern, take a more pragmatic view, saying “We don’t really have a policy, but as long as they’re legal, people can use them.”

This sentiment on allowing the use of e-cigarettes is echoed by Jesse Clendenin, manager of Arena District bar The Three Legged Mare, who says “there’s no reason not to.”

E-cigarette users out of luck in Ohio’s casinos

Ohio Casinos Mixed on Allowing E-Cigarettes

The Bagga Mod from Wu Tang

You may recall that when we reviewed the Pisces Mini a short time ago, we mentioned we had received a couple of Pinoy mods.  The second was the Bagga, built by Wu Tang. Our is #11 of a recent limited-edition run purchased through a Facebook group buy.

Limited Edition Bagga Mod with VaporWerks Stratus Atomizer

The Bagga is a brass mod from top to bottom.  The body and contacts are all solid brass, though we had the option of a gold-plated center pin, which we used in our test runs. This gives it an exceptional level of conductivity — the Bagga, in fact, has shown to have less voltage drop in our load tests than any mod we’ve tested so far, and it’s less by quite a respectable margin.

The brass doesn’t just add connectivity; it also really makes the Bagga stand out in a crowd. Ours arrived with a shiny mirror polish, though we don’t expect that to last long, given brass’s tendency to tarnish quickly.  We look forward to seeing how the Bagga looks once it’s had some time to build up a little patina.  The tubes are engraved with Wu Tang’s logo, a serial number, and “Philippine Pride,” written in the ancient Tagbanwa script used in the Philippine islands until the 17th century.

[Editor"s Note: At least we think that"s Tagbanwa.  If any of our readers would like to confirm that, or let us know we got it wrong, feel free.]

It comes with two tubes: one for an 18650 battery, and a second tube for use with an 18350. While we were somewhat disappointed that there is no 18500 tube available, Wu Tang has stated that there will be one for his next mod, which he has said will be named “El Capitan.”

The Bagga has a bottom-mounted button that is quite similar in appearance to the style of button used on the newer iHybrid models.  The cutouts around the button, however, are more decorative than functional, as they’re really too small to fit a finger through. However, the cutouts do allow the Bagga to stand on end without the button being pressed, which we find a lot more practical than the locking ring used on many other mods: it’s definitely nice not to have to keep locking and unlocking the button just to be able to put the mod down.

The Bagga was extremely well-received by the members of our group buy, who almost universally praised it for its workmanship and performance, though there were some complaints that the black etching on the mod rubs off too easily.

The Scores

Build Quality: 8/10

The Bagga is a very well-built mod.  It’s got a very good heft to it, and the threading is extremely smooth. The button works very well, and we have experienced no misfires after adjusting the springless bottom pin to fit our battery. The top pin also easily adjusts to allow the atomizer to sit flush with the mod.

Looks: 8/10

The Bagga is a very good-looking mod, with its gold-colored brass body and intricate script ecthing. Deep rings cut into the body add an element of depth, though we’re not sure how much we like the knurling used on some of the rings. While it seems to have been added to ease opening and closing the mod, it’s not really necessary and we think it detracts from the mod’s clean looks slightly.

Given what’s happened to other Baggas from the same group buy as ours, it seems likely the etching on ours won’t be around long, which is disappointing. The archaic script is a unique and beautiful feature of the Bagga.

Flexibility: 7/10

The adjustable top and bottom pins (the top pin available in a gold-plated version) and the inclusion of an 18350 tube with the mod both give the Bagga a bit of welcome extra functionality, not only allowing the atomizer to cleanly sit on top of the mod, but also giving the mod an extra little bit of throughput by allowing it to be adjusted for any battery type. We do like out 18500′s here, though, since they strike a good balance of size to battery life. We’re glad to hear Wu Tang’s considering such a tube for his next mod.

Performance: 10/10

The Bagga is the first mod we’ve reviewed to receive a 10 in our mechanical mod performance tests. No doubt facilitated by the its all-brass body and gold-plated center pin, the Bagga exhibited an astonishing 96% voltage retention rating under load, surpassing any other mod we’ve tested so far by a fairly wide margin.  While the contacts will certainly need frequent cleaning to maintain that level of performance, the throughput when they are clean is truly impressive.

Price: 9/10

We paid $115 for our Limited Edition Bagga mod, including shipping from the Philippines  which we find more than reasonable for a mod with its craftsmanship and level of performance. We simply cannot think of many mods at that price point or lower that could compete with it on a performance level.

It seems unlikely to us that you’ll be able to get one at the price we did, however. As this was a limited run, there will likely only be a very small number of Baggas to be found on the second-hand market, and we suspect word of their stellar performance will spread fast, and make these mods very sought after, on the rare occasion that one should become available.

Overall Score: 8.4

The Bagga Mod from Wu Tang

SAotD: Could E-Cigs Change the Tobacco Industry Forever?

Our Stupid Article of the Day comes to us from The Week Magazine’s Carmel Lobello. Usually we reserve the award for writers who get facts horribly wrong, present false or misleading information, or just have really bad grammar. Lobello actually does none of these to any great extent. In this case, the journalist wins the award for dragging out practically every e-cigarette article cliche ever conceived.

First, there’s the attempt at comedy. At least we hope it was an attempt at comedy:

“And possibly the best part? They don’t smell bad.”

We’re talking about a technology that could literally save millions of lives, and the smell is the best part? Priorities. Get Some.

Next, it’s the old “flavors … such as piña colada and vanilla” could entice children to buy e-cigarettes. And yet, strangely, I’ve never seen a child drink a piña colada. Even more strangely, it’s a flavor obviously intended to appeal to adults: adults who drink alcohol, a substance most likely far more dangerous than anything in an e-cigarette. Why is it that we never hear the uproar over piña coladas leading to binge drinking in toddlers? I’ll tell you why: because it’s a non-issue when it comes to anything not related to cigarettes. For some reason, when it comes to smoking (and, by extension, vaping), everyone act like it’s a problem if it tastes good, as if people start smoking for that yummy flavor of burnt leaves. Meanwhile, they’re putting every flavor in the universe into vodka, and nobody cares. They don’t care because it’s not an actual problem. Unfortunately, anti-tobacco zealots just love the argument, no matter how ridiculous it is, and hang onto it like a baby with its favorite blanket. They’re strange that way.

Lobello even manages to work in an explosion, referring to the early 2012 incident where a man blew out his teeth and a chunk of his tongue while using an e-cigarette he had most likely either modified himself, or in which he was using dangerous batteries. She doesn’t mention that part, though… just the explosion, probably because a man being stupid isn’t nearly as salacious as an e-cigarette trying to kill someone.

Then, as the cherry on top of her sensationalism sundae, she closes with a video of Courtney Love’s NJOY F-bomb.

There’s very little we here at Vape Squad love more than a good, spirited, two-sided debate over e-cigarettes. However, when the debate turns into a headfirst dive into the muck for every last bit of overused dirt someone can scrape off the bottom, well, that’s what the Stupid Article of the Day award is here for. Congratulations, Carmel!

E-cigarettes: Could they change the tobacco industry forever? – The Week

Illustration courtesy of OtherWords

SAotD: Could E-Cigs Change the Tobacco Industry Forever?

Dear Abby on E-Cigarettes

From today’s Dear Abby column:

Dear Abby: I work in a small office with two former heavy smokers who have now transitioned to vapor/e-cigarettes. My concern is that they “smoke” their e-cigarettes in the office constantly, and I don’t know what chemicals I am now breathing secondhand.

Both of them are senior to me in rank and age, and they pooh-pooh the notion that anything but water vapor is being exhaled. Am I making something out of nothing, or should I be worried about this? —CLEAN AIR

DEAR CLEAN AIR: You don’t have anything to worry about, but your co-workers may. In 2009, the FDA announced the findings from a laboratory analysis that indicated that electronic cigarettes expose users to harmful chemical ingredients, including carcinogens. However, those elements were NOT detected in exhaled vapor.

Vapor-emitting smokes no danger to others – Chicago Sun-Times

Dear Abby on E-Cigarettes

Fortunecome F-106 E-Pipe

As anyone who has bought more than one of them already knows, not all PVs are created equal.  The same goes for e-pipes.

This classy, some might say pretentious, arm of the mod family includes a wide variety of colors and styles, at a broad range of prices.  Somewhere near the middle of the scale comes the F-106 e-pipe from Fortunecome of China, a somewhat hefty-sized pipe powered by an 18350 battery which is inserted into the bowl of the pipe.

The F-106: Big and Bold, and Maybe Too Much of Both

The F-106 takes the classic approach to pipe styling, with a large, rounded wooden bowl.  Fortunecome doesn’t specify the type of wood used, but it is a darker wood… possibly walnut. On the side of the bowl is mounted a small rhinestone-like firing switch, which has the common eGo-like 5-press on/off function. A blue LED lights up the tiny switch when fired, and will flash three times when the e-pipe is turned on or off.

A Questionable Choice of Threading

Now that we’ve covered the basics, here’s where things start to go downhill with the F-106. Let’s start with the threading on the stem.  While it’s somewhat typical to find eGo threading on an e-pipe, you’ll usually find that the stem has both the internal and external threads common to eGo devices.  In the F-106′s case, it only has the internal threads. This greatly limits the number of atomizers you’ll be able to use with it.  We were able to use an Innokin iClear 16 and a Bauway CE8, for example, but not a Kanger EVOD, as the EVOD does not have internal eGo threads. Unless you’ve got a very thorough knowledge of the atomizer you want to use with the F-106, and how that atomizer is threaded, whether it will work with it or not may be a real crap shoot.

I’d Swear I Charged that Battery…

Our second major gripe about the F-106 is the internal battery contacts.  The bottom of the e-pipe has a spring, which works well enough, but the top positive contact consists of a thin, flimsy-looking arm that swings out to make contact with the top of the battery. It doesn’t fit particularly snugly, and we couldn’t get the F-106 to work at all with our flat-top 18350s. The only way we could coax it into firing was to attach a small magnet to the top of the battery to raise the contact point enough for the arm to connect to it.  It may work better with button-top 18350s, but we didn’t have any lying around to test with.

Attack of the Giant Mutant Bedazzler

The last of our major gripes would be the huge plastic faux-ruby attached to the top of the cap that fits over the bowl, covering the battery.  It is, in a word, tacky as hell. OK, that’s three words, but “tacky” alone doesn’t quite cover it. Maybe it’s supposed to simulate the red glow of an analog pipe as it is fired, but if that’s the intent, it’s a dismal failure.  Rather than looking like a glowing analog pipe, the giant ultra-fake gem just makes the F-106 look cheap. A simple metal cap, or a wood insert, would have looked much better, and probably would have allowed us to take the F-106 out in public without being embarrassed by it.

The Scores

Build Quality: 5/10

The wood bowl of the F-106 e-pipe is admittedly rather nice.  The wood finish of our test unit as clean and scratch-free, with a nice grain to it.  However, that wasn’t enough to make up for what we consider to be a rather shoddy mechanism for making contact with the 18350 battery. The F-105 will not work with an unmodified flat-top 18350 battery, and we can’t even be sure it’ll work correctly with a button-top.

We’re also not particularly happy with the switch.  If it stuck out a bit more, the pipe could be held more like an analog pipe, but it’s very small and doesn’t stick out far enough to really be pressed with anything but a fingertip.

Looks: 4/10

We love the look of the bowl of the F-106, but that’s really all we like about this e-pipes looks. The small rhinestone switch alone probably wouldn’t have given the F-106 an air of “oh my God that looks ridiculous,” but the humungous plastic red monstrosity covering the bowl certainly does. The cheap plastic pipe stand included with the F-106, which looks a bit like a plastic folding chair and has problems holding the pipe upright, doesn’t help much.

Flexibility: 3/10

The internal-only eGo threading of the F-106 is an unusual choice that severely limits what you’ll be able to attach to it. Only a few of our eGo-based clearomizers had the type of threading required to be used with the F-106.

The battery issues mentioned above also limit what sort of 18350s you’ll be able to use with the F-105 e-pipe. Unless, like us, you happen to have a small stockpile of magnets lying around, your best shot at a working battery will be a button-top.

Performance: 4/10

We can’t say we were particularly impressed with the F-106′s performance.  Vapor production and flavor were very weak with all but our lowest-resistance atomizers.  Even then, performance was nothing to write home about.

Price: 3/10

While we haven’t found any U.S. retailers selling the F-106 e-pipe, the wholesale price from Fortunecome is around $26-$30, which would probably put it at $50-$60 retail.  Frankly, considering the low performance, cheap looks, and questionable engineering of the F-106, we find it hard to justify paying anywhere near that much for it.

Overall Score: 3.8

Fortunecome F-106 E-Pipe

E-Cigs A Rapidly Growing Problem For Big Tobacco

Business Insider’s MoneyGame Chart of the Day is titled “E-cigarette Strength An Incremental Secular Volume Headwind (2013 MSe ~0.5%).” If that makes sense to you, then you can probably skip the rest of this post, because it probably says everything you need to know. If, like us, that title gave you a splitting migraine, we’ve done the work of figuring out what the hell it means.

What it shows is a chart from Morgan Stanley that tallies how much of the total cigarette market, including both analogs and personal vaporizers, is taken by e-cigarettes. It shows that e-cigarettes, while an insignificant share of the market in 2007 and 2008, have been growing exponentially in the last couple years. At current rates, David Aldeman of Morgan Stanley estimated that e-cigarettes will take the place of 1.5 billion analogs this year, a huge increase from 600 million in 2012. This number is even more impressive when you take into account that it using “stick equivalents,” meaning that it is counting on a per-cigarette basis.  This most likely means it is not taking APVs and juice sales into account, and only including things like disposables. There is a large number of vapers who are probably not included in this chart.

The context of the article is that it’s a bad time to be in the business of selling traditional cigarettes: they’re more unpopular than ever, and people are using them less and less. However, it also shows a little black line on a graph that’s may look like a drop in the bucket today, but it’s poised for a massive shift in the future. That shift is going to come in the form of a lot more people stubbing out their analogs and vaping instead.

Chart: E-Cigarette Growth – Business Insider.

E-Cigs A Rapidly Growing Problem For Big Tobacco

The J2P Pisces Mini

Pisces Mini with Mini-DID Clone

We recently received a package from the Philippines that included a couple new mods. One of these, the J2P Pisces Mini, is the smallest mechanical we’ve tested yet. It uses a 14500 battery, which is the same size as the familiar AA size. Adding just a small amount of overhead for a button on the bottom and a 510 connector on top, this little mod is about as pocketable as mechanicals get.

Small Fish in a Big Pond

In a world dominated by telescoping, 18650-powered mods, the Pisces Mini is really small. Take a look at that picture at the top of this post.  It doesn’t really give a good sense for how tiny this mod is, but get a look at the drip tip. That’s not a particularly large tip — it just looks huge because the mod is so small. We’ve got our Pisces Mini (without the atomizer attached) sitting next to a 30ml bottle of juice at the moment, and the entire mod would fit inside the bottle if the mouth was just a little wider. Yes, we actually just tried to shove it in there.

We’re not typically huge fans of bottom-mounted buttons, as they can be a bit uncomfortable to reach and use if you’ve got smallish hands, which we do, but we compensate by having frightening large feet. But we’re talking about the button here, and on a mod this small the bottom position really isn’t a problem, since the entire mod can easily be held in the palm of the hand. Reaching the bottom really isn’t a problem here. The button’s also got a good amount of tension, giving a decent enough amount of pushback to let you know you’re pressing it, but not so much that it feels stiff. Surrounding the ring is a reverse-threaded locking ring that prevents the button from being pressed when it is screwed out. Our Pisces Mini’s button is also engraved with the Pisces names and zodiac logo, as well as a serial number.  The engraving is deep and not likely to wear down any time in the foreseeable future.

Pisces Mini size compared to 18650 battery

The drawback to this mod, of course, is that a 14500 battery won’t last long. While the Pisces Mini is going to be very easy to carry around, you’ll need to keep in mind that the charge won’t last long, and it’s not always easy to find a way to charge them back up. So far, though, we’ve had no problems charging our AW 14500′s in the same chargers we use for 18500 batteries. They may fit a little loosely, but they seem to charge just fine. You may be tempted to recharge them in the sort of charger used for typical AA rechargeables. Don’t — not only will it not work, it may destroy your batteries in the process. Also, don’t use AA rechargeables in the Pisces Mini, unless vaping at 1.5 volts sounds like a good time to you. It certainly doesn’t to us.

The Scores

Build Quality: 8/10

While we’ve heard some complaints about imperfect threads and misbehaving buttons on other people’s Pisces Minis, we’re not seeing those flaws on ours. Not having experienced those type of issues ourselves, we won’t mark down the mod’s score based on them. Our Pisces Mini is a solid little mod with a good button and decent threading.

We do have some concerns about vent holes.  While there are two visible on the Pisces Mini, they are blocked by the battery, and we’ve got our doubt they would prevent the Pisces Mini from becoming a shrapnel grenade if the battery were to go Chernobyl on us.

Looks: 7/10

The small size of the Pisces Mini surely limits what could be done to make it look good, but a few mince touches have been added. The engraving on the button is particularly nice, and the brushed finish of the mod’s stainless steel is clean and consistent on our test unit.

Flexibility: 8/10

The tiny size of the Pisces Mini makes it one of the most pocketable mechanical mods we’ve used.This may be a no-frills mechanical without a lot of fancy features, but it can easily be taken just about anywhere, while occupying a minimum amount of space… as long as you don’t also have to carry a boxload of batteries to keep it charged up.

Performance: 8/10

The Pisces Mini scored well in our load tests, displaying a voltage retention rating of just over 89%. We frankly expected less, given the small amount of metal in the mod, but the solid build and the use of copper contacts at the top and bottom posts seem to go a long way toward providing good performance for such a small mod.

Price: 7/10

We acquired our Pisces Mini from a group buy on Facebook for $80. It’s likely that the price if bought directly from the Philippines would be similar, but without the savings we got by splitting shipping charges across a group, the total to get one in your hand might be prohibitively expensive.

Overall Score: 7.6

The J2P Pisces Mini

Altria to Enter E-Cigarette Market

Yesterday we reported that Altria, the makers of Marlboro, L&M and other major cigarettes brands and the largest tobacco company in the world, was the last of the three largest American tobacco companies not to have entered the e-cigarette market. On the heels of that report comes a story from the Wall Street Journal announcing Altria’s intention to market an electronic cigarette product, for which it has not yet announced a name, later this year.

Sales of traditional cigarettes have slowed, dropping 5.2% for Altria, and 6.2% for the industry overall, in the last quarter. Other companies such as Lorillard, makers of the Blu e-cigarette brand, have still managed to show increased revenue thanks in part to e-cigarette sales growth.

This is probably a mixed blessing for vapers. While more visibility and a wide variety of choices are probably good for users of e-cigarettes, and will surely save the lives of smokers who switch, we’re already seeing efforts from tobacco companies like R.J. Reynolds to enact legislation designed to crush smaller e-cigarette makers and vendors, to give large tobacco companies an advantage. Legislation currently under consideration in Oklahoma would require expensive licenses and prohibit Internet sales, giving a huge lift to companies like Atria who already have the licenses, and depend on brick and mortar stores for the bulk of their sales.

Altria to Enter E-Cigarette Market – WSJ.com.

Altria to Enter E-Cigarette Market

Simon Cowell Quits with E-Cigs

53-year-old Simon Cowell, who rose to fame here in the U.S. as the ill-mannered judge of American Idol, has quit smoking, according to Amanda Holden, who shares judging duty with Cowell on the UK’s Britain’s Got Talent.

His secret to success: e-cigarettes. Cowell has reportedly been, until recently, a two-pack-a-day menthol smoker.  After getting down to less than a pack a day with the help of hypnosis, apparently vaping has helped him quit cigarettes altogether, says Holden.

“Simon does not smoke any more. He has got a vaporising cigarette instead. He smokes air, or rather water. It’s amazing.”

We wish him luck.

Simon Cowell quits smoking | Metro News

Simon Cowell Quits with E-Cigs

Video: E-Cigarettes Help Smokers Quit

This video on the rising popuarity of e-cigarettes, and their potential as a tobacco cessation aid, comes to us courtesy of Fox 7 in Austin, Texas.

Video: E-Cigarettes Help Smokers Quit

E-Cig Popularity Hurting Traditional Cigarettes

Both Lorillard, Inc, and Reynolds American, two of the largest traditional cigarette makers in the world, are citing electronic cigarettes as a factor in a 6.2% drop in analog sales during the first quarter of this year.

Lorillard, owner of the Blu e-cigarette brand, attributes 1% of that drop directly to the rising popularity of e-cigarettes, which has overtaken the company’s sales of snuff and disolvables. Lorillard sees that trend increasing as they become more widely known.

“There is no doubt in my mind that e-cigs have tapped into a real consumer need [and] that this could become a very big category.” -Murray Kessler, CEO of Lorillard

Reynolds has jumped into the e-cig business as well with its Vuse brand. While still a minor player in the market, it is clear that Reynolds is jockeying for a spot against market leaders like Blu and NJOY.

The top player in the market, Altria, the makers of Marlboro, seem content to sit and wait for the results of FDA rulings, which were expected from the federal agency before the end of this month.

Rising E-Cig Popularity Hurting Traditional Cigarette Demand – WSJ.com.

E-Cig Popularity Hurting Traditional Cigarettes

Unattended E-Cigarette Explodes, Car Burns

In another of those stories that’s a reminder not to ignore warnings never to leave charging batteries unattended, a Glendale, AZ man left his eGo charging in the cigarette lighter of his car earlier today, When he came back, the back end of the battery had blown off and his back seat was on fire.

It’s about 84 degrees in Glendale today. That’s not exactly hot by Arizona standards, but heat combined with an enclosed space and a charging battery is definitely not something to just walk away from.

Although the fire was extinguished quickly and nobody was hurt, we are certain that car is not going to smell normal again for a long, long time.

Unattended electronic cigarette charger explodes, car catches fire – CBS 5 – KPHO.

Unattended E-Cigarette Explodes, Car Burns

The Innokin iTaste SVD

The Innokin iTaste SVD took its sweet time arriving. Plagued by production delays, vendors and co-op buyers often waited months beyond the SVDs scheduled arrival for their mods, but in recent weeks Innokin has finally started cutting them loose, working through what must have become a heavy backlog to get the PV into buyers’ hands. They had a long time to get it right, but did they?

What’s That Other Tube For?

Innokin iTaste SVD

The Innokin iTaste SVD is a telescoping mod, and can accommodate 18350, 18500 or 18650 batteries, and it also supports the use of dual 18350 batteries. It comes with tubes in two different lengths. Oddly, while the marketing literature for the iTaste SVD says the shorter tube is for an 18350, with the second tube for longer batteries, we found that an 18650 fits just fine with the shorter tube, so we’re not really sure why the longer one is included.

This is a variable voltage and variable wattage device. In variable voltage mode, voltage can be set from 3.0 to 6.0 volts in .1 volt increments, and in variable wattage mode the SVD can be set from 3.0 to 15 watts in .5 watt increments. With the SVD’s three buttons, this is relatively simple: you use the “-” button to decrease voltage or wattage, and the “+” button to increase it. The SVD uses a “press and hold” system, sometimes with multiple buttons, to set various functions such as voltage/wattage mode, access the built-in atomizer resistance meter, and check remaining battery voltage. While we’re getting used to the system with time, we’ve found ourselves referring to the manual quite a bit to figure out which ones to hit for which functions.

The SVD also uses a three-click system to turn the PV on and off, and has a locking function to prevent accidentally changing power settings. A three-digit LED display is used for user output, and the fire button will glow one of three colors when used — green, yellow, or red — to indicate remaining battery power.

Both 510 and eGo-threaded atomizers are supported by the SVD, and the connectors are set into a deep drip well to catch any atomizer leaks.

iTaste SVD with iClear 30

Dive! Dive!

The iTaste SVD certainly has a unique look.  With its brushed stainless steel finish, engraved button labels, large backlit button and a display frame with exposed screws, the SVD looks a bit like something that could have been salvaged from a submarine. While we quite like the look, some may find it a bit busy.

We should probably mention that when we received our test unit, the “+” button was stuck and for a short time we thought we had a dud on our hands.  Impatience got the best of us and we tried pressing very hard on the button, and it made an audible snap as it popped back into place, and has  been working fine since.  This stuck “+” button seems to be a common issue with other SVDs in the batch we received, but in our case, at least, it was one that was easily solved.

The Scores

Build Quality: 7/10

The iTaste SVD seems to be solidly-built, though there are a few minor issues common to mods made in China: the threads are a bit grainy, and we had a temporary problem with one of the three buttons. The finish is clean and consistent, and the engraving of the button labels is deep enough that it’s not likely to wear down any time soon.

Looks: 8/10

We like the look of the SVD, though it’s a bit eclectic. The base has a clean, modern look, the middle section is a bit more retro-sci-fi, and the dimpled top cap is a bit industrial. The looks of the SVD are all over the place, but as an overall look we think it works.

Flexibility: 8/10

The use of two bottom tubes and limited telescoping functionality allow the use of a wide range of batteries with the SVD, including the option to use a pair of 18350s, and the inclusion of 510 and eGo threading mean the SVD will work with a very wide range of atomizers.  It is, however, like many variable voltage/wattage devices, a bit large. For comparison, the SVD with an 18500 is a millimeter or two longer than a Provari with an 18650. With an 18650, the SVD stands about a half-inch taller than a Vamo with the same battery, which puts it pretty solidly into pretty damned long territory. We were able to use both button-top and flat-top batteries without any problems.

Performance: 8/10

The range of the iTaste SVD is pretty impressive for a variable device, with its top end of 6 volts or 15 watts. Accuracy was good, if not great, with about a .1 to .3 variance between the mod’s power output and what we’d set it for being fairly typical across the PV’s range. Interestingly, we found the SVD to be somewhat more accurate at the higher range of voltage than at the lower end.

Price: 6/10

The SVD can be found at retailers for around $100 to $120, though it’s out of stock at most of the places carrying it due to the long wait for its arrival, and stocks were depleted quickly. While this price includes both bottom tubes and a pair of iClear 30 tanks, we expect the price will come down before long. While we like the mod, we’re not sure we like it enough to justify a price quite a bit higher than most of its competition. It should be noted that the iTaste SVD is quite popular with co-ops right now, and may be available for much less — one recent co-op go them for $42 — if you can catch an active co-op, and you’re willing to wait for your SVD to arrive.

Overall Score: 7.4

The Innokin iTaste SVD

New York"s First Illegal E-Cigarette

For all the talk from anti-tobacco zealots who’d like to crucify anyone who uses anything that looks, smells or reminds people of tobacco, you’d think sales of e-cigarettes to minors to be an actual problem.  It comes up all the time as one of their rallying cries, in various forms.  “Kids will get hooked on nicotine… it’s a gateway to cigarettes!”, or “they come in flavors to attract children!”  We all know the “for the children” spiel is political smoke and mirrors nearly every time it’s used, but it’s one of the very few arguments anti-vaping activists have.

Today we got an idea of just how prevalent the sales of e-cigarettes are to minors: Dutchess County, New York, set a milestone today by issuing the first documented violation of a New York law prohibiting e-cigarettes to minors.

This law has been on the books for nearly five months now, and this is the first violation.  There are 19.5 million people in New York state, and 24.7% of them, or about 6.5 million of those are under 18.  One of those 6.5 million was caught buying an e-cigarette in the state, making the odds of being caught buying an e-cigarette while underage about 6 times more likely than dying in a plane crash or being struck by lightning.

You’d think if e-cigarette sales to minors were a problem on anything like the scale the anti-tobacco zealots say it is, they’d have been able to find more than one by now.

Dutchess County reports first illegal e-cigarette sale to a minor

New York"s First Illegal E-Cigarette

ECF"s E-Cigarette Battle Map

ECF has posted a great map showing the legal status of e-cigarettes across the U.S., using Google Maps. It displays which states have passed or defeated anti-vaping legislation, and which are currently under attack.

Legal status of electronic cigarettes in the USA – Map – ECF InfoZone.

ECF"s E-Cigarette Battle Map

The Kanger ProTank

The Kanger ProTank is something of an oddity: it looks like a tank, but works like a clearomizer. With its stainless steel and Pyrex construction, it’s a much heavier-duty unit than your average clearo, which has led to some retailers calling it a “glassomizer” to distinguish it from the typical plastic clearomizer, and the ProTank has received a lot of attention recently. We gave it a spin to see if the excitement about the ProTank was justified.

Not Quite a Clearo

That the Kanger ProTank is a cut above the typical clearomizer is made very clear right out of the box — in fact, the box is part of what makes the ProTank stand apart.  The ProTank comes packaged in a faux leather, foam-lined presentation box that keeps the atomizer secure in shipping; something more important than usual with the ProTank given the use of glass. Packaged with the ProTank itself are two 2.4 ohm coils (ours measured 2.5 and 2.6 ohms), a 510-threaded base, and a matching ring for covering eGo threads if used on a device that has them.

About the ring: While the ProTank comes with an eGo thread cover it is not, like many other Kanger clearomizers, an eGo-based device.  The ring is for aesthetics only, and the Kanger ProTank requires a 510 connection to function. While the ring will cover the threads on an eGo device, the ProTank is attached using the included coils, which fit a 510 connection. While this will not be a factor for most, the ProTank will not work on a device that does not provide a 510 connection.

The Kanger ProTank operates much like any standard bottom-coil clearomizer.  It is easily filled by removing the bottom cap and pouring in juice around the center post familiar to clearomizer users. The coil piece is then inserted into the post, and the 510 base screwed down onto the coil and tank.  This is a minor difference from other clearomizers, where the connection is provided by the base. In the case of the ProTank, a hole is cut in the base to allow the coil to pass through and connect to the PV, somewhat similarly to how a cartomizer tank would connect.  While this opens up the potential for leaks through the bottom (and, in fact, there were many reports of such leaking with the first run of Pro-Tanks), we haven’t had a problem with ours.

Well, Maybe it Is a Clearo…

As far as performance, the Kanger ProTank is pure clearomizer.  Ours exhibited flavor muting fairly typical of clearomizers, particularly at lower voltages.  Vapor production was good, but certainly not excellent. Using the same juice, vapor output and flavor seemed better on our T3′s and EVODs than on the ProTank.

Where the Kanger ProTank shines, however, is with juices that would eat other clearomizers alive. Since the tank is glass, it will not crack or discolor when used with citrus, cinnamon or other juices that eat through plastic, finally giving an easy-to-use option to people who prefer to use clearos, but have been reluctant due to their heavy reliance on easily damaged plastic.

The Scores

Build Quality: 8/10

The ProTank is certainly built from better materials than other clearomizers. The polished finish is clean, the glass is clear and unmarked, and the padded box the ProTank is shipped with ensure they stay that way.

Looks: 7/10

We suspect the appearance of the ProTank will be something many people love, and just as many hate. The permanently attached, rounded, nipple-like mouthpiece contrasts somewhat oddly with the knurled base. However, when used on a slant-topped PV it all actually meshes together fairly well. On a flat-topped PV, the ProTank looks a bit strange. On eGo-based devices, the included thread ring is a nice touch that adds a bit of continuity.

Flexibility: 8/10

The Kanger ProTank doesn’t really bring anything new to the clearomizer table that other 510-based clearos don’t, with one exception: the use of glass, rather than plastic. This makes the ProTank one of the only clearomizers which can be used without worry with any juice, and that’s a big thing. Most clearomizers will quickly disintigrate under the onslaught of cinnamon or citrus, but our ProTanks withstood Pluid without a meltdown, and that’s a juice we wouldn’t even think of trying in other clearos.

Performance: 6/10

The performance of the Kanger ProTank was mostly average for a clearomizer. It didn’t crank out the kind of vapor we see from other Kanger clearos, and flavor was noticably muted.

Price: 7/10

The Kanger ProTank in the type of box we received retails for just under $20 at most retailers, and about a dollar cheaper in a paper box. While this is certainly expensive for a clearomizer, we suspect people who like clearos, but can’t use them with a lot of juices, will have no problem with the higher cost.  Replacement coils are reasonably priced, at around $8 for five replacement coils.

Overall Score: 7.2

The Kanger ProTank

HuffPost: Can"t Quit Smoking? Try Vaping

In a short article posted day, the Huffington Post’s Paul LaRosa describes how e-cigarettes helped his wife quit. In the process, he lists some of the things that make e-cigarettes a better choice than smoking: they don’t smell bad, they won’t fill up your ashtrays, and they’re good for scaring the crap out of your friends:

“Perhaps best of all, these e-cigarettes are good for party tricks. They look almost exactly like real cigarettes and you can fool your friends by “putting one out” on your face or placing it on their new couch after taking a drag.”

One downside to the article: apparently, LaRosa had noticed that the old “they’re cheaper than cigarettes” claim may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Judging from our stockpile of vaping equipment, unfortunately, we have a hard time disagreeing. It’s not often you see an article written by a guy who seems to actually know what he’s talking about.

Paul LaRosa: Can’t Quit Smoking? Try Vaping

HuffPost: Can"t Quit Smoking? Try Vaping

Weekend Co-Op Update, Monday Edition

Due to this weekend’s road trip, this week’s weekend update is a bit late, but there’s a lot to report.

After a long dry spell, a co-op spring has finally sprung, with a lot of good stuff out there at some really good prices.  A lot of the new deals come courtesy of a new group on Facebook: Vaping Group Buys from Bucky. A highly-respected veteran of ECF’s active co-op groups, Bucky’s branched out on his own, and in a big way. A very large number of the open co-ops we’re tracking at the moment are Bucky’s, from his offerings of Boge F-Series tanks and cartomizers (an area that those who have dealt with Bucky before will know he’s got a lot of experience with), as well as a wide variety of Kanger clearos, vGo batteries and the new, very popular Pro-Tank, and a rainbow of Vision Spinners. Having bought through Bucky before, we can highly recommend him as someone who runs a tight, smooth co-op and highly recommend checking out what he’s got to offer.

We also suggest keeping an eye on Legit Group Buys this week. With several co-ops coming to a close there, we expect some new stuff to come available there in the coming week.

Be sure to check the Co-Op Tracker for the current deals, or subscribe to the new RSS feed of open co-ops to keep up with updates as they are added.

Weekend Co-Op Update, Monday Edition

Road Trip

The Squad’s on the move this weekend, so updates are likely to be scarce and not too fancy for a few days.  All will return to normal some time Sunday.

Road Trip

The Golden Greek Ithaka

After a wait that’s kept people in anticipation since December, the latest Golden Greek atomizer has arrived: the GG Ithaka, but not without it’s share of controversy.  Was it worth the wait, and the frazzled nerves?

The Ithaka, or The Odysseus Improved

Ithaka on GGTS

The Ithaka, like other Golden Greek offerings such as the iAtty, Odysseus and Penelope that preceded it, is a silica-based atomizer. While the setup of the Ithaka is quite similar to those other atomizers, there are significant differences.  This time around, for example, support for dual coils has been significantly improved, greatly increasing the potential output of this atomizer in comparison.

With two coils, the Ithaka is a powerhouse.  In a video tutorial about the Ithaka, maker Imeo Thanasis warns that if the Ithaka is set up this way, you may need to reduce your usual nicotine level a notch or two.  Knowing Imeo’s penchant toward overstatement, we were a bit skeptical, but after giving it a shot ourselves, we have to admit he may be right. After a little chain vaping, we’re definitely feeling the effects of the 12mg juice we filled it with for the first run.

The dual-coil configuration is supported by a fairly major change in the rebuildable part of the atomizer from the earlier GG atomizers: rather than having channels for a single wick, the Ithaka has two. Not only does this make it easier to set up two wicks with one coil per wick, but even in a single coil configuration we’re finding that the Ithaka wicks juice extremely well, and this becomes even more important with multiple coils.  While we did experience some dry hits with two coils, we suspect that with slightly thicker wicking material than the small strand included with the atomizer, this problem could be easily eliminated.

GGTS Performance without the GGTS

Ithaka on Poldiac

Another new feature of the Ithaka in comparison to other GG atomizers is its support for multiple PV types without needing to buy a special adapter.  Every Ithaka is capable of being used not only natively with a GGTS by threading directly onto the collector tank, but it has its own airflow control, identical in design to that of the GGTS, even when used with the included 510 base.  This means the Ithaka can be used on any PV the same way as on a GGTS, complete with GGTS-like air control. An adjustable center pin ensures the Ithaka will sit flush with the PV, even on mods without adjustment of their own.

The Scores

Build Quality: 9/10

The Ithaka, unsurprisingly for a GG atomizer, is a beautifully made device. The threading is smooth as can be, the finish is flawless, and it feels like a piece that could last a lifetime.  Our only reservation about it is the plastic tank common to other windowed GG atomizers.  Given the current lack of an available stainless steel replacement tank, a particularly hostile juice could potentially render the Ithaka unusable until a replacement can be obtained, and right now replacement tanks don’t appear to be available anywhere.  A stainless tank would provide a bit of peace of mind.

Looks: 10/10

If you’re a fan of the GG look, you’ll probably love the Ithaka.  It is styled very similary to the UFS or Odysseus (and, by extension, Odysseus clones like the Terminator-C) and looks right at home on top of a GGTS, though it’s also stunning on other PVs as well.  The added engraving of the GG wings and a serial number are crisp and deep, and add a little flair to the Ithaka.

Flexibility: 9/10

The Ithaka is easily the most flexible of the GG silica-based atomizers built to date.  With its built-in support for the GGTS, and any 510-based mod, it’s ready to use out of the box with whatever you want to use it on.  In addition, the Ithaka includes an overhauled rebuildable part that can easily support dual wicks if desired, in a couple different configurations. Further adding to the Ithaka’s options, an optional mouthpiece is available (though out of stock everywhere we’ve checked) that allows the use of any 510-based drip tip.  We’d probably give the Ithaka a 10 here, but it does not yet have all of the various configuration options of its predecessor, the Odysseus.

Performance: 9/10

We have been extremely impressed with the performance of the Ithaka. Particularly in dual-coil mode, it cranks out massive clouds of vapor and the flavor is excellent.  One caveat here: the use of silica wicks does affect flavor somewhat. This isn’t going to bother a lot of people, but some will surely not be fans.

Price: 7/10

At nearly $200 from Clouds of Vapor, the Ithaka is an expensive atomizer, and the spurts in which GG items are produced ensures this atomizer will be relatively hard to acquire, except in the second-hand market. However, GG devices are known to hold their value rather well, and we don’t doubt the Ithaka will be no exception to the rule, making it easy to get back the investment should you choose to sell your Ithaka.

Overall Score: 8.8

The Golden Greek Ithaka

Armed Robbery Steals $1350 in Electronic Cigarettes

Caught on security cameras Monday morning: An armed robber, dressed completely in black from his shoes to his ski mask, threatened the store clerk as he escaped with $1,350 in e-cigarettes.

“If you call the cops, you’re dead.”

The hold-up occurred at around 1:35am Monday morning in a Kum & Go Store (there are a million off-color jokes we could make about that, but we won’t) in Gypsum, Colorado. The man, described as about 5’8″ tall and thin, with a light complexion, made off with an entire display case full of Blu electronic cigarettes.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Eagle County Sheriff’s Department at (970) 328-8500, or Eagle County Crime Stoppers at (970) 328-7007.

7NEWS – Masked, armed robbery suspect steals $1350 in electronic cigarettes from Gypsum Kum & Go

Armed Robbery Steals $1350 in Electronic Cigarettes

Lorillard CEO on E-Cigs as Harm Reduction

An editorial was posted at The Hill this morning by Murray Kessler, CEO of “Big Tobacco” company Lorillard, manufacturers of the Blu e-cigarette brand.  In it, he strongly and clearly calls for the FDA to consider a harm reduction strategy in relation to e-cigarettes.

While there is plenty to mistrust about the tobacco companies, and it’s certainly in Lorillard’s best interest to see e-cigarette sales continue, we also completely agree with everything Kessler asserts in his article.  As more and more people take up e-cigarettes to replace “analogs,” there seems little doubt that public health will improve as result.

“Even a modest reduction in exposure and risk for a product that is broadly accepted by consumers may, in the final analysis, offer the greatest benefit to the public health.”

One of the greatest dangers we face at this stage of the game is that the FDA will continue in the vein of what Kessler refers to as an “all-or-nothing” tobacco policy: that anything containing nicotine must be fought, regardless of the possible health benefits of promoting their use.  We see this sort of attitude every day, as more and more states consider legislation to limit e-cigarette use.

Despite that fact that e-cigarettes share almost none of the health risks of traditional cigarettes, there are many who will fight tooth and nail to eradicate them, and who will only be satisfied if nothing containing nicotine is available to the public. It’s an extremely short-sighted view: nicotine is not the cause of any of the health problems attributed to cigarettes, and countless lives would be saved if everyone smoking switched to e-cigarettes today. Unfortunately, public health is not the primary concern for many of these people; a good number of them just hate cigarettes and anything that looks like them, and will do anything to prevent their use. It’s a battle based, in very large part, purely on anti-tobacco prejudice, and there are many who would rather see all smokers die than to allow them a safer alternative. Even the FDA has been guilty of spreading misinformation in the anti-tobacco-and-anything-that-looks-like-it crusade.

“It is imperious and flatly wrong to withhold truthful information about relative risk in order to protect the all-or-nothing tobacco policy.”

It’s a bit of a shame that this comes from the CEO of a tobacco company, and will no doubt be seen by many as self-serving and deceptive as a result. Harm reduction in general, and e-cigarettes specifically, no doubt can and do save lives, and that’s something the FDA must keep in mind as they consider regulating the industry.  This isn’t just about us vapers getting to carry on as usual: real human lives depend on them getting this right.

Electronic cigarettes should be part of the harm reduction debate – The Hill’s Congress Blog

Lorillard CEO on E-Cigs as Harm Reduction