Tobeco vs Infinate Stingray

[onebadtwo]

I'm thinking about picking up a stingray in the next week or two. What are the differences between the Tobeco and the Infinate versions? I currently am using a copper Nemesis clone with no markings and a Panzer clone. The copper Nemesis has been an absolute dream , my Panzer has locking ring issue which I would love to avoid with a Stingray purchase. I also had a pleasure of fiddling with a SS Nemesis that was absolutely HORRIBLE. The machining on the SS Nemesis was so rough the switch would stick in ... We never even inserted a battery !
Curt

 

[Bad Ninja]

I have over 20 clones.
I have the Tobeco stingray.
I don't have the Infinite to compare, but the Tobeco has a magnetic switch, smooth as silk, finish is awesome, and was one of the only clones I've use that I literally tossed on a topper, added a battery as vaped for days with zero fiddling.
The Stingray's design is sweet, and tobeco's version is a very nice device.

Hard to imagine it being better, but the infinite ones do seem to get some rave reviews around here.

I wouldn't pass on a Tobeco version for an infinite after owning mine.

 

[bluesbishop]

I have over 20 clones.
I have the Tobeco stingray.
I don't have the Infinite to compare, but the Tobeco has a magnetic switch, smooth as silk, finish is awesome, and was one of the only clones I've use that I literally tossed on a topper, added a battery as vaped for days with zero fiddling.
The Stingray's design is sweet, and tobeco's version is a very nice device.

Hard to imagine it being better, but the infinite ones do seem to get some rave reviews around here.

I wouldn't pass on a Tobeco version for an infinite after owning mine.

Bad Ninja...do you have one of the Tobeco's that came from the white stag pre order? those seem better than others ive heard reviewed...just curious if there was some additional quality control with them because it seems most of the stingray love seems to go to both infinite and Hcigar the most, then fasttech.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Nope mine came from a box of inventory sent to my local B&M.
Nothing special about it as far as I know.
Maybe I got lucky, but I must get lucky alot...lol.
I have a Tobeco Nemmy,Hades, and two KFLs that are awesome.

Only Tobeco dud I own is an Origen and its partly the design itself.

 

[Drizzledog]

I have a brass infinite stingray clone and a copper authentic stingray. Haven't held the tobeco version. The infinite clone is so nice, it's hard to justify buying an authentic. The no load voltage drop between the two is identical (.06 volts). Differences between the two include less turns to lock the button on authentic, authentic has 350 tube 500 tube and a 650 extension where the infinite has a 350 tube and extension tubes for 500 & 650, authentic has engraved logos on 350 & 500 tubes as well as the button, and the negative magnet has slightly different shape( doesn't really matter). If you're interested in an authentic one, I think vaperev will have some brass versions available on Monday.

 

[roflwaffles]

I had both, the Tobeco is a dud compared to the Infinite version. The threads are much more visible and the floating pin isn't floating due to the delrin being too tight and thus some atomizers won't make contact if they're too short.

 

[Bad Ninja]

I had both, the Tobeco is a dud compared to the Infinite version. The threads are much more visible and the floating pin isn't floating due to the delrin being too tight and thus some atomizers won't make contact if they're too short.

I have none of these problems with mine.
Every atomizer I own works on it with no problems ( and I tried about a dozen so far lol).

I'm using it now with an Origen v2
Had a kraken, IGO , trident v1, patriot and an aqua on it earlier today as I was building coils and rewicking for the week.

 

[ukeman]

so therefore i guess the answer is ... ?

I have spent thousand/s on high end mechs over the last couple of years and have a small drawer full of high end mechs that for the most part either need maintenance or replacement of contacts and/or drive me nuts with adjustability issues.

Lately I've settled on magnet switch Neme's for my daily chain vaping 4mg nic; 2 NB Brass and a 2 brass Neme clones (one Hcigar/ one FT) and the clones fire all my high end toppers just fine.
I have an alumi-neme in the drawer because i can't get the top cap off after trying all the techniques... until i get some strap/wrenches (whatever the hell those are).
Because the Brass Neme clones work a trick, I refuse to buy any more real mechs... I've paid my dues.
I was curious about the Stingray because of the "floating" pos pin and although the switch is supposed to be interesting, i think I heard there were issues.

If Bad Ninja says they're great, i will believe it, but seems like as far as clones go, it can be a crapshoot.

Just ordered a Hcigar copper Neme and another FT with a 10 pak of magnets...heheh

btw brass neme's have such low v drop, I'd never go with SS again, but I don't knock vapers who get satisfaction out of their mechs of choice.

PS: I want to narrow down my sig since lots of my gear is not being used at all. Gonna have a half price sale or something.. that's another thing; these days with clones being so good, you can't sell off high end gear like you used to.

 

[roflwaffles]

Maybe my batch was just bad then, it turned me off from Tobecos in the future.

 

[bsoplinger]

My gut feeling is that one of the ways that Tobeco is able to manufacture so cheaply is to completely ignore quality control or inspection of completed units. So its a crap shoot as to the quality of an individual piece. Infinite and whomever EHPro chooses for the various clones they carry just seem to put a bare minimum of effort into quality and consistency of the product.

My Tobeco Nemeses (own 4) are comparable to those from the better manufacturers but the design has been around for awhile and is pretty simple. But even with them, there is a difference in the finish. Not that one is bad and the other good but just looks a bit sloppy perhaps is the way to describe it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2

 

[roflwaffles]

This is something I wrote for a Facebook group buy group.

I'm doing a comparison between tobeco and infinite stingrays. Tobeco on the left, infinite on the right. Note that my infinite is 2 months old so its been patinaing and has lost its polish. Also note that I paid $45 for my infinite while Tobeco's was $30 here.

1. The seam is much more visible in tobecos. When polished, you can't see the seam on infinites.
2. Font is different on the serial number, tobeco is bold and big and infinite is sharp and smaller.
3. The button on tobecos is super shiny, even when my infinite came ib , it didn't shine as well as this.
4. The tobeco top pin doesn't seem to float while the infinite does, might need to hammer it out and do some sanding.

 

[ukeman]

I just looked on ebay and there are a few brands.
So far from reading the reviews around here folks seem to prefer the Infinite, but some seem to be confused between that and the Hcigar one.
I also see theres a JD clone... not sure about that one but i'd guess the quality would be better than Tobeco (which can be good but its a crapshoot from what i've heard.)
I can't decide between Infinite and Hcigar right now...

 

[NerdVap0r]

Fasttech has arguably one of the better stingray clones. Especially their non polish brass.

 

[Johnny Phatsaqs]

I have the Hcigar Stingray, and I gotta say....I'm not too impressed by the switch. But, the seams all but disappear on it.

I also have the Hcigar Caravela and Nemmy. The switches on these two are awesome. So far, of the 4 mods I have, the Hcigar Nemmy is my favorite. Zero switch issues. Seams also disappear.

 

[nic_fix]

the tobeco is not as nice as the infinite. neither is exactly like the jd but the infinite is better.

 

[JulesXsmokr]

I really like my Hcigar nemisis with the magnet upgrade by Fatdady's... Blows my magneto out of the water..(Fit, Finish, and Vape)
Would anyone care to surmise the quality of construction and vape on the "Phantom" Brass Stingray by Infinite compared to the nemisis I have.
One downside of my SS Neme is that the SS is kinda soft (low grade), rendering it easy to nick up.. I know the brass would be even a softer metal, but it would be easier to polish it back up..

 

[nic_fix]

I was told in another thread that the clones are not phantom brass. I have what I thought was a clone but it may be a jd in fact. it is phantom brass because I tested the metal content. you can read the other thread.

 

[onebadtwo]

Wow... A bunch of good information right here! Thanks guys... I guess I'll be looking for an Infinate version.
Curt

 

[dugga]

Does anyone know how the Infinity Stingray handles Sony VTC5 flat top batteries? Just curious with the floating + pin if the battery is secured firmly.

 

[roflwaffles]

I just looked on ebay and there are a few brands.
So far from reading the reviews around here folks seem to prefer the Infinite, but some seem to be confused between that and the Hcigar one.
I also see theres a JD clone... not sure about that one but i'd guess the quality would be better than Tobeco (which can be good but its a crapshoot from what i've heard.)
I can't decide between Infinite and Hcigar right now...

If the listing just said JD clone then the poster is just omitting the manufacturer name, I wouldn't risk purchasing from them unless you could tell from the pictures which clone it was.


Both the Tobeco and Infinite handle Sonys perfectly fine, they won't fire on my MNKE though.