ACHILLES RDA by Titanium Mods

[MostlySunny]

Alexandr (the Ukrainian maker) produces his RBAs and RTAs only on occasion and in lots of 20, and it's safe to say he isn't using the proceeds to finance his CNC equipment—and least not very quickly, at that rate. This is conjecture, but he appears to be a machinist with a small operation who took up vaping devices as a labor-of-love sideline. In any event, even at €85 a pop (the current price of the Achilles II), he ain't making a fortune at it.

It's tempting to draw a parallel between authentic RBAs/clones and brand-name pharmaceuticals/generics, but in this instance it's a reversal; Alexandr runs a tiny mom & pop operation in the middle of the war-torn Ukraine and eeks a few Euros out of his RBAs, while the cloners are far larger enterprises making the real money if anyone is.

This is exactly how I feel and what I think is going on over at TM. Supporting him in a war zone while I go to my job, collect my paycheck, live a nice home and can afford the extra seems like the right thing to do. I hope it helps him out a bit while I get to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

 

[MostlySunny]

I'm going to look for a little shorty drip tip. I have one around here somewhere!

But not now... This is killing me! But I have stuff to do and this has to wait.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

That drip tip is gorgeous but I don't do wide bore at all.

Agree on that. I ain't throwing the thing away but I've already replaced it with the VaperRev titanium tips you turned us onto.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

It is very pretty and I'm number 019

#18 here. I suppose he's giving them out starting at #20 and counting his way down.

 

[gmoney$]

I got 029

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

I got 029

029? So much for my 0-through-20 theory. What kind of sense does that make?

 

[AndriaD]

Maybe he made 30 instead of 20.

Andria

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

Maybe he made 30 instead of 20.

Andria

I hope not. My whole sense of being is dependent upon being among a select owner of only 20 Achilles IIs.

 

[AndriaD]

I hope not. My whole sense of being is dependent upon being among a select owner of only 20 Achilles IIs.

Until the clones come out and confuse everyone.

Andria

 

[klrcommute]

As long as there's enough demand & he has the capacity to meet it this makes sense, I suppose. The more materials you can source in bulk, and more units you can produce between retooling would be cheaper. So maybe the recent price drop has to do with a larger production run? Probably has some data this time round for forecasting with the version 1 sales figures.

You guys all liking it? Only good changes in version 2 that you've seen?

 

[Woofer]

Vaping my 5 buck Tobec Prometey... pretty sweet lil unit.
Alexandr is a good designer.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

Vaping my 5 buck Tobec Prometey... pretty sweet lil unit.
Alexandr is a good designer.

I got an Achilles clone, which had filler material with it. What's this? This is an Achilles, don't need that. I threw it away.

Next I got the $5 Prometey. No filler.

 

[Woofer]

I got an Achilles clone, which had filler material with it. What's this? This is an Achilles, don't need that. I threw it away.

Next I got the $5 Prometey. No filler.

Can't win for trying. I'm probably going to use the Prom san filler like an Achilles. Top fill is just to handy.

 

[Bronze]

Received those two-tone titanium drip tips today from VapeRev. Me likes..a lot!!! Good fit. Matches the Achilles perfectly and definitely is cooler than the all-delrin tip I was using. It's a narrow draw (not wide bore). Wish it were just a smidge taller but I'm sure I'll adjust quickly. Best $3.60 I spent. Very pleased!

 

[MostlySunny]

Received those two-tone titanium drip tips today from VapeRev. Me likes..a lot!!! Good fit. Matches the Achilles perfectly and definitely is cooler than the all-delrin tip I was using. It's a narrow draw (not wide bore). Wish it were just a smidge taller but I'm sure I'll adjust quickly. Best $3.60 I spent. Very pleased!

Of course it's pretty darn perfect. I'm almost neurotic about things like this. Glad you're enjoying it.

I still haven't had time to coil my new one

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

My second Achilles II has shipped!

I realized I couldn't bear to wait for the cloners, so I ordered another authentic. Now I just have to wait a week for the Ukrainian post offices to pass it back and forth, then another week for US Customs to declare it bomb-free

 

[Bronze]

My second Achilles II has shipped!

I realized I couldn't bear to wait for the cloners, so I ordered another authentic. Now I just have to wait a week for the Ukrainian post offices to pass it back and forth, then another week for US Customs to declare it bomb-free

Maybe the Turks will take out a few Russian fighters and things will go smoothly.

 

[AndriaD]

I have a question, maybe more than one, which I'm hoping someone here will know the answer(s) to.

I was rambling around the www last night, ran across a link to Yeahsmo, the mfr who made/makes the Achilles clones; apparently it's part of, or affiliated with, Alibaba. What I saw was that apparently these things still are being made, though purchasing from Alibaba means you have to buy more than one -- in this case, 10 is the minimum order.

When I clicked the link to check the current price, all it gives you is a place in which to email someone there, and it has some language about including your business card. I know NOTHING about Alibaba, or ordering from them, and I'm wondering, do they only sell to businesses? Or could anyone who was willing to buy in bulk order from them?

Seems to me that there may be enough interest around here to justify a co-op for Achilles, since they're no longer available from Frog in Fog. Can anyone help me with info about this? About Alibaba, ordering from them, and/or the idea of a co-op on given products?

Thx!
Andria

 

[Bronze]

I know what you speak of Andria but I'm not sure how to purchase from them.

 

[AndriaD]

Maybe I should find out who's in charge of the co-op forum and private-message them with my questions. It feels like when I first started buying vape gear, and I didn't have a clue what to buy, or from whom, or at what price. A whole new ballgame!

Andria