Got a black one from HC for $38. Bought a bunch of odds n ends so shipping didn't really increase the cost too much. Seems to be authentic with scratch code and all. Came with everything except the 2 batteries. HC for some reason does not ship them with batteries so as to be able to ship via air mail or whatever. After about 3 hours total usage, it shorted out. Going to attempt to fix using Rocky's instructions.
Anyhow, I bought 2 batteries as I can get batteries cheap. Both were ehpro batts. I thought I saw or read somewhere that the batts that come with the pipe are flat top batts, So that's what I bought. Are the original batts flat top or nipple top (on the positive end, of course)?
And BTW, the firing button on mine I think is maybe defective as after you get about half way, it's kinda, well, hard and crunchy - best way to describe it. But I noticed that I have to push far to get a good fire. So I was wondering, would it be best to use nipple top batteries instead of flat top batts?
I think I read on the pipe forum link posted on this thread that you should buy a 1mm x 5mm magnet to extend the battery and therefore get a better fire/push on the button. But that seems silly seeing how you could just use a nipple battery instead,right? Unless I misunderstood the reason for the magnet, but I'm pretty sure it was to simply extend the length of a flat-top battery.