Squape clone...

[EDO]

CaptainColeSlaw....I think you need to chill a little. No one is arguing with you. You said that FT's stuff is bottom-of-the-barrel junk and that is simply not true and we are sharing our experience with FT products. My experience has been 100% positive with them but I usually wait and get feedback before I order anything from them. The only time I ordered anything from FT that wasn't reviewed was the squape and it is ten times better than the hcigar squape at less than half the price. I think most of the people who got DOA squapes form FT were do to user error. Mine was DOA but if you read my previous posts here you would see how the problem was resolved.

As far as the FT squapes not being Winsmoke, I personally don't believe that for a second. The same factory that made the Winsmoke squapes made these...they are exactly the same. They also have the same flaw of not having an adjustable 510 pin...which is the reason behind the DOA issue. Why would a company make a clone of a clone when they could clone the original?

 

[Nibiru2012]

I so far have ordered two Squape clones.

The first came from Focalecig and looks similar to the EHPro brand. The base was internally shorted and ohm readings would jump all over the place from no connection, to dead short, to ohm readings up to 6.6 ohms. Doris at Focalecig refunded my purchase price in FULL via PayPal. Now that's great customer service and taking care of the customer.

My second I ordered from a seller at bonanza.com. It was an hcigar brand clone. The unit is really nicely finished and deep channels on the build deck. However the bell chimney's threads would not engage into the top portion of the main body. The threading in the main body was poorly done and the chimney's threads won't even engage into the threading on the main body. It just slips in and out with no grip at all. The seller is emailing me a prepaid return shipping label today and will send me a replacement once he receives my return.

Frustrating to say the least! So far I'm batting .000 on two Squape clones. I do have another ordered from a supplier on Ebay and it's an hcigar model too. I hope this one works!

I am really looking forward to trying out these highly reviewed RBA units.

 

[nelsonm64]

I just got a squape clone from FT today, "squape A" the one that has had a huge failure rate! and is now discontinued. however, I am one of the lucky ones. no shorts and it hits well. machining is a little lacking in places but, i'll buff that up

 

[tw33k]

I got my FT Squape clone today, the discontinued one and I am not one of the lucky ones. There are grooves cut into the 510 connection on both sides above the air hole. I managed to screw it onto my ohm meter and threw a 1.5mm 7 wrap coil into it and it read 4.3Ω. I've opened a ticket asking them to send me a new base. Hopefully I get lucky the second time round. Might just bite the bullet and buy a real Squape if I can find someone that has it in stock

 

[mbliffert]

I went through many defective Squape clones before giving up. The first run of Ehpro Squape clones had a problem where the glass was too long causing a seal with the chimney (i.e. no way to fill it). Other than that major issue though, the threads and overall finish of the Ehpro version was much, much better than the Winsmoke.

Come to think of it I've had terrible luck with any RBA other than the Kayfun. They either have a less satisfying vape or are broken. The Aqua so far has come the closest, but its diminutive juice capacity combined with dual coils burning tons of juice frustrates me sometimes with how often I have to fill it.

 

[AnsonJames]

There's a fix for the Squape from FT and focal;

Drop a wire (Kanthal or Nichrome) through the center pole connection, put the center pole in to the hole and then screw it and unscrew it - do this a couple of times and remove the remnants of the wire.

Fire it up!

Worked perfectly for me with a completely dead Squape clone...

From Johnnymac on the FT forums - he also did a rather spiffy illustration to let you know what you should be doing;


image upload no limit

 

[AnsonJames]

Incidentally after using JohnnyMacs trick, the center pin is completely adjustable as advertised.

This is the Winsmoke version, I don't why they would have any kind of disdain for FT - the only reason anyone knows who they are is because of Twisted mentioning them on Youtube. Even If it's not Winsmoke brand, the parts are exactly the same and from the same sources - still ends up being Winsmoke at the end of the day.

It's not like you're getting something from a company like Pioneer - they'll probably be gone in a year.

 

[tw33k]

Thanks DirkB, that seems to have worked. Hope it lasts. Got a .8Ω coil with some cotton. Great vape.

 

[iowajosh]

I checked this thread yesterday and tried another build. Still not the vapor quality I can get from other devices.

 

[tw33k]

Yeah...I'm not getting great vapor either, not as good as my Russians at least.

Update: changed the 1.5mm coil to a 2mm coil and it's much better. If I do lung inhales, the vapor is crazy (but I can't do them a lot without choking). Mouth to lung inhales the vapor is at least as good if not better than my Russians now.

 

[nelsonm64]

Yeah...I'm not getting great vapor either, not as good as my Russians at least.

Update: changed the 1.5mm coil to a 2mm coil and it's much better. If I do lung inhales, the vapor is crazy (but I can't do them a lot without choking). Mouth to lung inhales the vapor is at least as good if not better than my Russians now.

odd, i'm running a 0.8 ohm coil in my squape and it chucks the vapor! just as good as a taifun and maybe better than a kayfun. i'm really liking this thing

 

[tw33k]

I think the problem is that I got the wick right the first time with the smaller coil but wasn't able to when I changed it. When I change juices I'll try again.

 

[nelsonm64]

I think the problem is that I got the wick right the first time with the smaller coil but wasn't able to when I changed it. When I change juices I'll try again.

remember "less is more" sub ohm coils need lots of juice flow

 

[tw33k]

I read somewhere that some Squape clones have a small o-ring on the top of the chimney which can cause the chimney to come into contact with the posts and create a short. Mine did so I removed it, re-wicked it with cotton in a 2mm coil @ 1.1Ω and it's really, really good again. Fasttech are also sending me a new base due to mine having grooves cut into the 510 connection so hopefully the new one will work even better.

 

[BOATMANBONE]

After getting the center pin issue squared away and finding a build that I like, the Winsmoke version is a great vape. So good in fact that I've ordered whatever version it is that FT is still selling ( it's the PC tank version (Tobeco?) and I'm going to give it a shot. I'll update after I've received it.

 

[zipflint]

Could I trouble you for some photos of your build? I've had rotten luck with my clone. It came from focal. No problems with shorting, but I get nothing but flooding and dry hits. I thought I had a good build a few weeks ago but it didn't last more than 1/4 of a tank before the same problems started.

I've sorta abandoned it now that I've got a working Flash-E V2 clone. Never in a million years would I have thought THAT weird doohicky would be easier to monster than a KFL/Russian clone. But it is. I still prefer the Taifun clones overall though. I can build those in my sleep, but maybe that's just because it's an overall more simple device, and I haven't run into any real QC issues with the three that I've got. :shrug:

After getting the center pin issue squared away and finding a build that I like, the Winsmoke version is a great vape. So good in fact that I've ordered whatever version it is that FT is still selling ( it's the PC tank version (Tobeco?) and I'm going to give it a shot. I'll update after I've received it.

 

[BOATMANBONE]

I'm not good with a camera, hope this helps

 

[zipflint]

Hey, that DOES help! I think I've been running the tails on the wick a bit too long. I had 'em about 1/2 way down the channels.
Thanks!

I'm not good with a camera, hope this helps

 

[bkVolcom]

i just fuzz the ends down the sides a little bit not much.

my SQUAPE has been rockin!!! its the version a shipped with spare parts kit.
i got a spare base on the way too but so far the coating has been just fine.
had it for almost 2 weeks and im loving it. no leaks or anything. how the base threads on the tank part is nice and smooth and i love the weight of it.

 

[BOATMANBONE]

Hey, that DOES help! I think I've been running the tails on the wick a bit too long. I had 'em about 1/2 way down the channels.
Thanks!

to the edges of the deck so that it just brushes the chimney and very very little in the vertical channels is what's working for me.