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Clone vs real deal
- Thread starter stockpot1
- Start date
depends.
99% of the time when it comes to attys the clones are just as good as the real deal. Hell, sometimes they are even better made.
If you get into the ethical side of things, then that becomes a whole other argument. One the one hand, you have respecting peoples intellectual property, supporting their originality and work product.
On the other hand you have people like me, that have played with a mill or CNC or two, and have no clue how some of these people sleep well at night charging what they do for an atty (dont get me started on mechs).
99% of the time when it comes to attys the clones are just as good as the real deal. Hell, sometimes they are even better made.
If you get into the ethical side of things, then that becomes a whole other argument. One the one hand, you have respecting peoples intellectual property, supporting their originality and work product.
On the other hand you have people like me, that have played with a mill or CNC or two, and have no clue how some of these people sleep well at night charging what they do for an atty (dont get me started on mechs).
As much as I hate to say it, when it comes to drippers, there isn't a huge difference when it comes to clones. The authentic ones are typically machined better but in virtually all cases as @Boogie states it's not even close to enough to cover the price differential from purely that standpoint.
The main benefit of getting an authentic device goes beyond the price point and more to the fact that you'll get a better machined device, have local support, and most importantly support the innovation of better devices.
The main benefit of getting an authentic device goes beyond the price point and more to the fact that you'll get a better machined device, have local support, and most importantly support the innovation of better devices.
You guys must be finding good clones, I have seen a lot and most I have built for friends are pure and utter garbage..... Screws are cheap o rings are cheap, threads strip by looking at it wrong all the tolerances are sloppy....AGAIN this is my opinion, I'm not saying that to start a pissing clone authentic match but for the twisted messes I have seen the clone and the screws are ok and it is close BUT the tolerances and differences are not worth the price difference with this rda being its 50 bucks..AGAIN MY OPINION
Plenty of 30 dollar authentics that kick ass also, mutation, doge, etc.
Plenty of 30 dollar authentics that kick ass also, mutation, doge, etc.
Infinite makes some damned good 1:1 clones. I have a Infinite Magma that one well known You Tube reviewer compared to the authentic and almost got confused as to which was which while he was breaking them down.
I also have a Vertex V2 clone by SteamGear that feels as solid as an authentic and kicks butt on flavor and vapor. I will never let it go.
Flipside: I recently ordered a Mutation X V2 clone from Fast Tech because I wanted the SS top cap for my V3 authentic. (The V2 top cap is all steel bored for a 510. The V3 is all steel, bored for a wide derlin tip with a derlin 510 insert). The clone I received came unassembled. The top cap worked fine for me, but the cloned
Tube would not even come close to fitting the cloned build deck! IMHO, the factory discovered this and shipped them anyways.
So, to me, clones are a coin toss though Gearbest or Fast Tech. Stick with what others are buying and enjoying.
I also have a Vertex V2 clone by SteamGear that feels as solid as an authentic and kicks butt on flavor and vapor. I will never let it go.
Flipside: I recently ordered a Mutation X V2 clone from Fast Tech because I wanted the SS top cap for my V3 authentic. (The V2 top cap is all steel bored for a 510. The V3 is all steel, bored for a wide derlin tip with a derlin 510 insert). The clone I received came unassembled. The top cap worked fine for me, but the cloned
Tube would not even come close to fitting the cloned build deck! IMHO, the factory discovered this and shipped them anyways.
So, to me, clones are a coin toss though Gearbest or Fast Tech. Stick with what others are buying and enjoying.
Exactly, just like authentics some clone builders are better than others. I have a no-name derringer clone that I love that is nigh indistinguishable from the real deal.
There really isn't any secret sauce when it comes to building these either. They are incredibly simple devices, it gets even funnier when you consider how many high dollar authentics are actually contracted out to China.
Moving to a more general area, as you're hitting on mechs, regulated mods, and RDAs all in your original post, @stockpot1 ...
I use legit regulated devices, batteries, and chargers. Clone mechs and atties - some are good, some are bad, but at my cost savings I can afford to experiment.
With the Twisted Messes, I believe the real deal is pretty cheap (sub-$50) - I've actually considered buying one as my first authentic RDA, but I've got so many $10-12 clones that work fine I just can't justify buying another atty of any type...
I use legit regulated devices, batteries, and chargers. Clone mechs and atties - some are good, some are bad, but at my cost savings I can afford to experiment.
With the Twisted Messes, I believe the real deal is pretty cheap (sub-$50) - I've actually considered buying one as my first authentic RDA, but I've got so many $10-12 clones that work fine I just can't justify buying another atty of any type...
The problem with clones is that there are good ones and there are bad ones. You're taking a chance. If you know what you're doing, it's perfectly possible to get a good setup for significantly less. (Of course, that doesn't address the ethical issue.)
As a store owner, I have problems with clones because I'm the one people come to when their stuff won't work/leaks/has dry hits/whatever. (My favorite is still the person that came in with a genuine Ospire Atlantis. LOL)
As a store owner, I have problems with clones because I'm the one people come to when their stuff won't work/leaks/has dry hits/whatever. (My favorite is still the person that came in with a genuine Ospire Atlantis. LOL)
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When I started vaping the 35-40 dollar authentic did not exist. So you were either dropping 80-100$ on am authentic, getting a dirt cheap funknasty clone from slowtech or getting a 25-35 dollar clone.
Ill admit, I did not know what I wanted or how I preferred to vape, all I knew was I did not want to smoke so I bought a bunch of clones... Not to mention my financial situation made buying aithentics impractical.
Flash forward to now....i don't do clones. I know what I like, I can usually tell from the specs and people I trust what I will and won't like, what to look for and how to build.
Not to mention with authentic gear running 5-10$ more than the clones what's the point?
That said, I personally don't give a monkeys ass what someone else uses, why they use it or how. That's choices everyone has to ask themselves.
Ill admit, I did not know what I wanted or how I preferred to vape, all I knew was I did not want to smoke so I bought a bunch of clones... Not to mention my financial situation made buying aithentics impractical.
Flash forward to now....i don't do clones. I know what I like, I can usually tell from the specs and people I trust what I will and won't like, what to look for and how to build.
Not to mention with authentic gear running 5-10$ more than the clones what's the point?
That said, I personally don't give a monkeys ass what someone else uses, why they use it or how. That's choices everyone has to ask themselves.
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Heres how I think of it. There are good clones, and bad clones. Im no expert I just got my first clones this week. I have a authentic set up (Sig 150W with Atlantis V2) and absolutely adore it but how I think of it is there are some things I really like and want lets say a High Voltage Tank and I would most likely buy it authentic. Then there are some things Im interested in but not ready to dish a ton of money into (For me this would be mechanicals) so till I find out how much I like them, I will just buy clones. I got 2 cloned RDA's and to be honest I think they work 100x better than a friend of mines authentic RDA.
I guess it really comes down to the maker and quality of the clone, and how you personally feel about clones in general.
I guess it really comes down to the maker and quality of the clone, and how you personally feel about clones in general.