3RD GENERATION PV 'CAR SHOW'
Come and join me as I compare the Carlos juice Box to the upstarts seeking to overtake it: the Mr. Puffer, Reo wooden box mod by Redeyedancer, Petercro's MkV, GG Automatic Feed System, version 2, and the Kaji 'Journeyman' wooden box. These mods are so different, in looks, style, functionality and-for lack of a better word-personality, that a straight ranking or 'yea or nay' doesn't do them justice. Any such comparison is by definition subjective, and would probably inform the reader more about my prejudices than about the capabilities of each machine. The perfect way to compare and contrast these unique mods, and enable someone to make an informed decision about them, is to compare them to automobiles, hence the name of this review. Otherwise, I'm attempting to argue with a suburban soccer mom why my turbo-diesel VW Beetle is a better vehicle choice than her mini-van.
But first, some definitions:
1st Generation PV's: 801, 901, rn4081 and 510 and other mods originally designed to look like a pen or an actual cigarette.
2nd Generation: 'Big Battery' mods. Specialized casings or housings developed for larger, longer lasting, and more easily replaceable batteries, such as the Screwdriver, Bartleby, Chuck, x-haler, etc.
3rd Generation: Mods designed to quickly and efficiently get juice to the atty without having to drip or refill carts.
The Carlos Juice Box, one of the first 3rd gens. Plastic project box with an 18650 battery connection, choice of LED, and a juice bottle with a tube leading to a specially modified homemade atty. Demand for this mod is incredible, with people scrambling to spend a minimum of $90.00 to get on a waiting list that easily takes three months or more to receive an order.
Pros: One of best attys I've ever tried, period. Incredibly durable, and efficient, it can take a single drop or two of liquid to seemingly fill an entire room with thick, tasty, intensely flavorful vape. Forget throat hit, this is a eight inch caliber throat howitzer. You will have to drastically cut down the nic on your juice or you'll make yourself sick. Forget the juicing system, it is the atty that is the standout feature of this mod, and the only reason why you should consider it's $90+ price tag and long wait.
Cons: Complex, handmade mod, initially broke after 3 days of almost glorious vaping, and subsequently modified and retrofitted during the repair. Long wait time due to handmade nature of mod and abysmal customer service to boot. This device, depending on its version, can have one of the highest, steepest learning curves known to vaping. If you had any problems with the atty like I did, forget about fixing it yourself, you will have to mail it back to Carlos and wait for an extended time again with little feedback or support. 801 atty tip tends to come off during transportation; if you travel with the CJB, you will spend time either searching your pockets or the ground around you when you start using it again. The handmade, craftsman like nature of this mod leads towards some inconsistencies: others have reported repeated problems with this mod, while mine has been vaping great since being repaired and retrofitted.
Comparison: Ultra Exotic Sports Car, i.e, Ferrari. Not everyone can, or will want to, drive it. Long wait for delivery from showroom with incredible performance on the highway followed by watching it sit on lifts in a mechanic's garage-and the mechanic may not return your phone calls. But you'll be thinking about it every day when you get into your daily driver.
Mr. Puffer 901. Constructed and designed by ECF's own Mr. Puff, this extraordinarily small, simple and robust mod takes a different approach to juicing, with tubing from a contained juice bottle going to a standard cart instead of the atty, a connection for a single 14500 battery, and an option for a color changing LED light.
Pros: Well built, simple, reliable and tiny mod. Great value at stated list price of $40 and up. Elongated juicing bottle and visible piping outside of the box takes the guesswork out of juicing. Juicing elements may be easily fixed from materials found in any craft store. And probably the biggest pro of any 3rd gen mod so far-no learning curve.
Cons: Juicing tubing coming outside of box to cartridge gives it a 'rube goldberg contraption' look, can be caught on things being transported, limited to only using the 14500 battery, LED lights up when on and NOT vaping, and the most limited taste out of the group (which is still high praise).
Comparison: Imported compact car, i.e. Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. The complete opposite of the CJB, the MP901 is not the most exciting or versatile vape out there. But it's affordable, efficient and dependable. It is unsurpassed for daily basic vaping and simple enough for new users. Like Hondas or Toyotas, I suspect that this will be the most popular model with the general vaping public.
Reo wooden juicing box from Redeyedancer. Basically a well finished, carved out block of solid wood with simple connections for 18650/cr123 batteries, connected to a 801 atty connection and a simple vaping button on the side. A sliding wooden door with a spring mounted juicing button covers the enclosure.
Pros: Extremely simple and durable mod-it's a block of wood! Bottom feeding 801and 901 atty has good vape, great taste and TH. Flooding can be dealt with quickly and easily. Despite its size, its shape and button placement make it a natural one handed vape for large handed folks. Adapters allow use of different atomizers on the same mod. Any leakage is securely contained with the brass fitting on top. O ring placement between atty and top brass fitting allows for a adjustable draw.
Cons: Size, weight and extreme retro styling may be a turn off to some. Due to flooding, its a bit of a juice hog compared to the other mods until its slight learning curve is mastered. Vape switch is durable, but 'softer' than I'm used to.
Comparison: Domestic Farm Truck. A real farm truck, as in actually used on a farm. It's not terribly pretty, fancy, stylish, compact, or efficient. But it will start up and run. Unlike the MP901, it does act up, but you can easily fix it in two minutes or less. And like a good farm truck, it's versatile: it's use of adapters allows a choice of attys, and it seems to handle any mixture of juice that you decide to burn with it. Unlike many other 3rd gen models, it vapes straight PG without a problem.
Petercro's Mini Vape Box, Mk V: Custom fabicated and painted PVC pipe enclose a 18650 battery and juicing bottle connected to a rn4801 atty and micro switch on the side. Another proof of concept mod, this is not commercially available-yet.
Pros: PVC construction promises the best dependability of any plastic mod out there. RN 4081 atty delivers a very warm, dense, tasty vape with no problems. Small size and overall design makes this ideal for one handed or stealth vaping. Microswitch with sliding cover is reliable and easy to use without requiring a on/off switch.
Cons: The only fault I could find with the MkV was with the paint, which was a rushed, initial version. This should be fixed when and if it comes into commercial production.
Comparison: This was the hardest analogy to make out of the bunch. It's rough, capable, comes with a lot of almost hidden features, and almost feels subversive. Though it's small, I'm comparing it with a military HUMVEE, NOT the civilian Hummer. It's just so rough, rugged and masculine that it seems to be military equipment. If the US Department of Defense ever decides to issue e-cigs to its troops in the field, I'll kindly point them to petercro.
Golden Greek Automated Feed System (GG AFSv2AM) version 2 for all mods: Recently released from Golden Greek products, the v2 is an improvement from its complicated and complex older version, which still has its staunch advocates. This new version can be purchased for any mod with a 901 connection, the other upcoming one can only be purchased for, and be used by, his existing Golden Greek Telescopic Storm (GGTS) customers.
Pros: No squeezing, lets gravity and air pressure do all the work. Can take any juice that I've thrown at it without a single complaint. Can be used with any mod with a 901 connection. Imeo and the enthusiastic GG community keeps adding updates to the mod, such as using regular (non GG made) 901 attys, and KR808D-1 cartos. Solidly built, attractive, almost intuitively simple mod. Addition of using cartos with a additional venting hole makes this mod unstoppable at both 3.7 and 6 volts. Like any GG product, it comes with unparalleled service from Imeo, Rob, Lisa and the entire GG online community. Further updates promise more atty choices in the future.
Cons: Pricey. Costs $107 for AFS unit, atty or mouthpiece not included. Specialized mouthpieces that enhance the use of the mod start at $16. Many users have reported leaks or seepage with this mod and have had to resort to altering or removing included o rings or adding white/blue foam disks to its atty or brass base. While the AFS can take regular 'off the shelf' 901's, GG attys made for this mod are priced at $13 and up with occasional shortage problems.* Unlike every other mod on the list, changing juice flavors requires you to disassemble and clean the entire mod, and not just switch a juice bottle. Assembly of the mod is a big improvement on its prior version, but still comparatively laborious.
Comparison: Your favorite luxury sedan. Yes, you will pay a premium for this mod (especially when combined with the Golden Greek Telescopic System [GGTS]), to the point that some people will think you're either insane or an extravagant fool. But its style, dependability, versatility and customer service has no equal. Best of all, KR808D-1 cartos at 6 volts makes this a high performance luxury sports sedan. If you pull up to a red light and see another AFSv2am owner, you'll be tempted to ask if they have any grey poupon e-juice.
Kaji 'Journeyman' Wooden Juicing Box. An attractive, smaller, two toned juicing box that holds a 3ml juice bottle, on off switch, and connections for a 18650 battery. A copper tube design similar to the MkV feeds juice into the atomizer. A front panel held on by magnets contains a juice bottle plunger, and like the Reo, the vaping button is on the side of the unit. The unit natively handles a 510 atty, and adapters allow a 901 atty to be used.
Pros: Attractive and dependable mod can actually get good vape and decent taste from a 510 Low Resistance Atomizer. Smaller size and on off switch promise ease of transportation and may appeal to those put off by the size of the Reo. Like the Reo, the Mod promises to be able to use a wide variety of popular atomizers through use of adapters.
Cons: Small juice bottle (3ml) dictates that you'll have to carry a spare for all day vaping; bottle is a bit troublesome to refill.
Comparison: Imported Asian pickup truck. It's a lot smaller than the Reo, but has the same basic design. Some may think it's a little prettier than its larger rival, and others may like it's 510 LR atty compared to the 801 that natively fits on the Reo. It's not a true farm truck, but is great for doing errands around town; just don't be surprised if you find your wife has already borrowed it when you want to use it. I mean that. Really.
Overall Conclusions:
If you want to try a 3rd gen device, but have a trusted old 2nd generation vape that you rely upon, keep it. The 3rd gens are new concepts and new designs from new modders and proto manufacturers. The reliability of the designs have drastically improved in even the four or five months that I've been playing with them with varying degrees of success on the models I've showcased here. But (so far) as a whole they are not quite up to the dependability and quality of the best of the 2nd's. Your trusty old protege, bartleby or GGTS can still serve you well as a change of pace or a backup. And unless you're extremely handy with a fully stocked workshop, any mishap or malfunction on a 3rd gen may likely require a trip back to the manufacturer with at least a minimal wait.
But it is absolutely worth it to try a 3rd gen PV. Portability and ease of use are two major reasons to try these exciting new mods. Being able to carry around a single unit in your pocket all day by itself (or another battery if you're paranoid) promises to make vaping more appealing to the still-smoking masses. Safety is another-I'll confess that I've dripped while driving, and bet that I'm not the only one to have engaged in that practice. But it is the enhanced, pronounced taste from your favorite juice that is the biggest reason to try these new mods. The comparison is drinking your favorite flavored coffee from a expresso machine versus an automatic drip coffee maker.
Much like buying a car, it helps to do your homework and figure out your needs and priorities before you buy a 3rd gen PV. Once that is done, here are some questions to ask before you make a purchase:
1.What is the warranty on this, and what does it cover? How long do repairs take, and what do they cost? Can any repairs be handled at home by the consumer (with or without the mailing of replacement parts) or does the whole unit have to be returned?
2.How extensively has this been beta tested, and for how long?
3.How easy is it to contact the manufacturer, and what kind of instructions/resources do they have if any problems are encountered?
4.What kind of juice can it take, and what is recommended?
5.Where can I get spare or replacement parts, like attys, battys or bottles?
6.Can the unit be upgraded?
7.What kind of 'learning curve' do other users report for this mod?
3rd generation mods are the future of vaping, and the pace of innovation is daunting. Other modders and manufacturers are starting to make and test designs on what seems to be a daily basis. If what you really want to see isn't out there yet, keep an eye on the ECF modders forum, and try to patiently wait.
*It has recently been stated in the GG forums by a supplier that the regular 901 attys work so well that the specialized imeo attys (iattys) may not be manufactured anymore. Accordingly, the possibility of shortages may not be an issue any more.
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