BD Vape, a brand that started making a name for itself about 6 years ago with the Precisio, is now active again, offering a series of products that stand out quite a bit from the crowd. Partly because some have references to what can be defined as pop culture, partly because several proposals seem like throwbacks to the past but with a modernized design and many small touches that make them easier to use. Sample sent free of charge by Sourcemore.
The BD Vape Blaster Mod is a semi-mechanical tube. It doesn't have a circuit board but features several protections that I will list later. Made of steel (not specified), it weighs 97 grams, is 100 mm tall, and has a diameter of 26mm. Dual configuration for 18650 and 21700 batteries. Included in the package are the Blaster Mod tube, an adapter for 18650 batteries slightly different from "common" ones, two spare o-rings, and an instruction manual.
The steel finish, at least in my "Silver" color, I consider almost brushed, so not mirrored and in line with that of stainless steel atomizers. On some coil-head atomizers, it's not exactly tone-on-tone, but on RTAs, even those with a slightly polished finish, the transition isn't noticeable. If you're really worried about not finding the right color harmony, it's also available in black and gunmetal versions.
The top cap, if it can be called that despite being a tube, offers the convenience of a spring-loaded, plated pin identical to those used on box mods, which I will also show from the inside later. So there's no need to do anything but screw on the atomizer and the battery, with everything automatically making contact. To avoid pushing the pin too far in, as well as jamming the atomizer and preventing liquid infiltration, BD Vape has thought to include an o-ring, a solution that all manufacturers should adopt. Two spare o-rings are also available, so there's no need to use a spongebox.
The dimensions are a bit strange. As mentioned, the BD Vape Blaster is a 26mm device, a somewhat atypical diameter given the absence of popular aesthetic rings on the market. Even with actual cloud chasing atomizers and not MTL, you constantly find yourself with a step because they often have constrictions to fit on as many box mods as possible. The fire button, the only one present, is placed frontally near where the atomizer will go. It has an average travel, "physically" it doesn't touch the battery to make contact, precise given that it could be confused with lamella box mods. Nearby, the LED, which I will explain later, allows you to check the battery charge. It lights up with every fire but is very discreet.
The body of the BD Vape Blaster is much more perforated than it appears in photos when the 18650 adapter is not used. Grip, as BD Vape advertises, is high, but in 21700 configuration, before each battery change for charging, it's necessary to check if anything has infiltrated inside. Although the BD Vape Blaster Mod is made of steel, thanks to the well-machined profiles of the various holes, there's no risk of cutting yourself.
The bottom cap / battery cap itself has a slight bevel to make the aesthetic more pleasing. Despite this, thanks to the weight balanced specifically on the bottom cap and the presence of the battery, it's possible to stand it upright even with "missile" atomizers installed on top. Engraved, besides the machining to help unscrew it, are the BD Vape logo, CE mark and disposal symbol, and serial number. USB Type-C ports are absent, which other manufacturers should also start doing since charging via the device is not the correct way.
The battery cap is the only point where the BD Vape unscrews, so there are no ways to configure it with 18350s. The threading is well-made, inside the cap is a spring-loaded pin that automatically makes contact with the battery, much like the one present in the 510 threading of the top cap. The "-" sign indicating polarity is also engraved. Venting holes are absent.
The two faces of the BD Blaster, meaning when it's configured with 18650s and the battery is completely covered by the black BD Vape branded adapter (though aftermarket ones in different colors are also available) or in 21700 configuration with the battery visible where the wrap can be glimpsed. Considering its dimensions and diameter, with 21700s it can be considered compact if you think that an average box mod is about 90 mm tall, as well as its weight under 100 grams. A note on the adapter: it's longer than common standards to completely cover the battery. Using different ones therefore leaves the battery slightly exposed.
The BD Vape Blaster is a semi-mechanical tube: therefore, there is no screen with wattage regulation, and the power delivery is based on the ohm value, with the battery delivering "watts" accordingly. Therefore, research on these topics should be done beforehand, and in turn, practice should be done, for example, on a box mod in bypass mode. Despite this, the Blaster has a MOSFET that may forgive some mistakes or thoughtless errors with various protections. But I repeat, their presence should not be seen as a shortcut to not learning what I have listed above. The Blaster can be turned on or off with the usual 5 clicks. There are no other ways to lock the button, either physically as happens in some tubes or via 3 clicks. The LED installed above the button allows you to see the remaining charge in volts:
Green - more than 3.8 volts
Blue - 3.8 - 3.4 volts
Red - less than 3.4 volts
I anticipate that at 3.2 volts, the low voltage protection kicks in, but it's useless to insist on firing once the LED turns red: both because the power delivery is much lower than initially calculated with a full cell, and because it unnecessarily strains the battery. The Mosfet also has a "nano-coating" to protect it from liquid infiltration.
Other protections:
reverse polarity
cutoff after 10 seconds of firing
short/check atomizer
shutdown if the circuit reaches high temperatures
The BD Vape Blaster Mod is a semi-mechanical tube, and that alone would make it a novelty, as it's been years since a manufacturer offered a commercial tube with a removable battery at this price. It can be an excellent device for those who love the aesthetics of tubes but, despite their knowledge, are afraid to vape in pure mechanical mode or find the idea of having to adjust the pin every time makes them lose the desire to try. It can also be an excellent way to practice precisely to prepare for pure mechanical vaping given the protections. Despite the protections, however, attention and, above all, research are still required. The dream now is to see a 22 or 23 mm model because they hit the nail on the head across the board.
BD Vape Blaster Mod available on Sourcemore
BD Vape Blaster Mod at the price of $28.79 using code BDBM during checkout.
Thank you to
Sourcemore, the
Staff, and the
e-cigarette-forum community.
