RDA Clone vs authentic .

[Two_Bears]

I bought a clone of the Freakshow Mini; and LOVED it. A nice warm tasty vape.

It gave me everything I wanted in a vape except one thing. The ability to work single coil instead double coil.

So I bought an authentic Freakshow Mini made by Wotofo.

Both the clone and authentic came without drip tips but I have a plethora of drip tips from Protank 2, 3, aero, Kanger Subtank mini, Nano, Zephyrus tank.

Now my tale of woe.

On the clone every drop tip mentioned above worked with the Freakshow Mini clone. Not a single one of the drip tips will fit the damn authentic. The hole for the drip tip is .5-.75 mm too darn big for any of the drip tips to fit.

So I have an authentic I can't use. GEE THANKS WOTOFO.

So I said F___ IT. and bought a N22 clone that could be used in single coil mode.

I don't think I will ever buy another authentic.

 

[DaveSignal]

Do you realize that wotofo a-mod is primarily a Chinese clone manufacturer and has only recently started to manufacture some cheap authentic devices at their cloning facilities?

Genrally, wotofo makes good clones. I have a wotofo wide-bore cap for my wotofo freakshow and it fits perfectly.

Especially with any mass manufactured atomizer that sells for under $30, there is a higher chance of getting something less than perfect. Even though I generally don't use the tiny 510 sized drip tips, if that was my freakshow and I really wanted to use a 510 tip in it, I would just put a different o-ring on the drip tip to make it fit. And vape on. Actually, I would probably prefer it slightly bigger, cause that way I could use friction tips like a cherry vapes 510 and just stretch it to make it a little bit wider bore... IMO, wider is better. I would be using a chuff-style cap on it.

 

[DaveSignal]

speaking of 510 openings, I bought a Mephisto v2 back in May through the classifieds on these forums. I got a discount on it because the El Diablo friction tip was slightly loose in the 510 opening of the Mephisto.

Got the Mephisto in the mail, immediately stretched that El Diablo friction tip slightly with a pair of pliers and stuck in back in the atomizer. Snug as a bug. The thing is perfect. It is so easy to build, the clouds are huge, and the vape is just fantastic.

 

[katsu911]

@op why dont you exchange it back to where u bought it, most probably machining defect or you can try washing the driptip o-ring with dishwasher soap. It will remove oils and give more friction / grip.


Didnt know there's a clone of freakshow..
I thought those things are priced cheap enough to compete in clone market
So a clone of an original product made from a company who cloned other company's product..

I do not wanna mess with Wotofo, they have so many scary Phantom right at their disposal at a push of a button

Phantom mod by Wotofo

 

[anavidfan]

I dont know if this thread is specically to WOTOF...

I had my eye on a dripper but it was not cheap. I heard great things, but Im weird and 90% of the drippers I buy are not for me...

So I bought an Origen V3 dripper CLONE... I tried it out, really love it. Easy and simple design. Only thing is the pos post keeps spinning, not really a problem but resistance started to jump around and with my bad hands a PITA to keep fiddling around with during the day.

I got the authentic. Let me tell you, on the outside you can NOT tell the difference. Id challenge anyone to try. On the inside is where it really makes a difference. The pos post weighs twice as much, and is not plated or whatever. The insulators are better, the neg nuts are also so much stronger.

The quality of the vape? Same.... You cant tell the difference... For me if my hands were not so messed up and if I went from atty to atty depending on whats the latest and greatest, Id stick with the clone as I dont expect it to be in use for a long time.

FOr me , I tend to keep stuff and expect it to be around for a year or so... So, I got the authentic...

Clone vs Authentic , its all up to you and there is a need for them. Please dont bombard me with the "morality" of them, Ive been on this thread for a few years now. I have my feelings for them and dont want to start a "war"

At least this time I did not have to pay premium price to see if it was for me and then end up having to sell it at a big loss like always....

 

[jhhollier]

@anavidfan - nicely put. I generally buy clones of the attys that are wildly expensive to try them out. If I like the vape, I will buy the authentic at some point. Case in point - the Velocity. I bought the Tobeco, enjoy the vape and will pick up an authentic at some point.

Another example - (and it's not an RDA but bear with me) the Kayfun V4. I bought a Tobeco version for $20 and I'm glad I only spent $20 because it's not worth the hassle. The vape is okay at best IMO but it's definitely over-engineered and I'd have been pretty irritated if I had dropped $180 for the real thing.

Some people have morality issues with clones and that's fine. I don't mind as long as they aren't slagging people off about it.

 

[DaveSignal]

I have many clones. And many authentic devices too. There are certain things that I only want a clone. And some things that I want authentic. But I have never 'tried out a product' as a clone and then bought the authentic because I liked the clone. I have bought newer versions of a product as authentic after I liked the previous version clone, though.

But this is kind of irrelevant. OP is saying, essentially, "I bought a cheap $30 authentic (made by a clone manufacturer) and it wasn't perfect, so all authentic devices must be bad and all clones must be perfect." This is not good logic. Additionally, it is easier to get manufacturer support if you are having an issue with an authentic device.

Issues are more common with low priced devices, either authentic or clone. I have had issues with clones and authentic devices. There are more cheap clones I have had issue with than authentic devices, though. Sometimes, I can fix these issues myself.

 

[mr.fabe]

I dont know if this thread is specically to WOTOF...

I had my eye on a dripper but it was not cheap. I heard great things, but Im weird and 90% of the drippers I buy are not for me...

So I bought an Origen V3 dripper CLONE... I tried it out, really love it. Easy and simple design. Only thing is the pos post keeps spinning, not really a problem but resistance started to jump around and with my bad hands a PITA to keep fiddling around with during the day.

I got the authentic. Let me tell you, on the outside you can NOT tell the difference. Id challenge anyone to try. On the inside is where it really makes a difference. The pos post weighs twice as much, and is not plated or whatever. The insulators are better, the neg nuts are also so much stronger.

The quality of the vape? Same.... You cant tell the difference... For me if my hands were not so messed up and if I went from atty to atty depending on whats the latest and greatest, Id stick with the clone as I dont expect it to be in use for a long time.

FOr me , I tend to keep stuff and expect it to be around for a year or so... So, I got the authentic...

Clone vs Authentic , its all up to you and there is a need for them. Please dont bombard me with the "morality" of them, Ive been on this thread for a few years now. I have my feelings for them and dont want to start a "war"

At least this time I did not have to pay premium price to see if it was for me and then end up having to sell it at a big loss like always....

I had purchased an Origen v1 clone because at the time, Origens were very difficult to find. It performed so well for me that when v2 came out, I bought the authentic immediately. I did it once again for the v3. I would have never known how good the Origen design was if not for the clone being available. I too have purchased many authentic atties that I no longer bother with... k.loud, CLT v3, atomic, IGO W, and hobo v3 to name a few. Although the quality has improved with the clones, authentics like the Origen can't be beat. The pride in worksmanship absolutely shines as well as the support for their product.

 

[herb]

If you do your research on clones you can get fantastic quality ones, i would never buy an authentic RDA as i don't see the value and the cloned RDA's i have received are truly outstanding but not all clones are. Problem is many people don't do research and buy a bad clone than rip clones as sucking for the rest of their lives lol.

I am talking strictly vape gear here , i feel very differently about some other non vape related products but with vape stuff i find quality clones to work great , never had an issue.

 

[anavidfan]

I have many clones. And many authentic devices too. There are certain things that I only want a clone. And some things that I want authentic. But I have never 'tried out a product' as a clone and then bought the authentic because I liked the clone. I have bought newer versions of a product as authentic after I liked the previous version clone, though.

But this is kind of irrelevant. OP is saying, essentially, "I bought a cheap $30 authentic (made by a clone manufacturer) and it wasn't perfect, so all authentic devices must be bad and all clones must be perfect." This is not good logic. Additionally, it is easier to get manufacturer support if you are having an issue with an authentic device.

Issues are more common with low priced devices, either authentic or clone. I have had issues with clones and authentic devices. There are more cheap clones I have had issue with than authentic devices, though. Sometimes, I can fix these issues myself.

I did not want to turn this OPs thread into an argument, but this is the main reason I hesitate buying clones.

Ive always worried about that "logic" if a clone is not so good, is it because its not made well, or the Quality control people were distracted. Is it just the design of the authentic? I might make an unfair opinion on an atty based on a bad clone or a bad design. IF the authentic IS a great atty, and people base their dislike on a bad copy, then it gives the modder a "bad rep" unfairly.

So again, its all about doing research. CUstomer service is the most important aspect of buying anything. Authentics can be poorly made, QT'd etc. Its how the modder takes care of the occasional "bad egg" that slips through ... And if you get a clone with a bad post or missing insulator etc. LEt the vendor know, usually they are so cheap that they rather send you a new one than mess up their reputation.

BTW, thank you all for being so courteous, nothing wrong with opinions, arguments etc, its just the way we express it

 

[DaveSignal]

If you do your research on clones you can get fantastic quality ones, i would never buy an authentic RDA as i don't see the value and the cloned RDA's i have received are truly outstanding but not all clones are. Problem is many people don't do research and buy a bad clone than rip clones as sucking for the rest of their lives lol.

I am talking strictly vape gear here , i feel very differently about some other non vape related products but with vape stuff i find quality clones to work great , never had an issue.

Sometimes. I think clone mech mods are a much safer bet with research though. I've got a lot of devices. All of the clones were purchased after looking into the clone manufacturers and reading multiple reviews. Still, I have had way more issues with clone RDAs than authentic. The majority of my researched clone mechs are excellent, though.

 

[herb]

Sometimes. I think clone mech mods are a much safer bet with research though. I've got a lot of devices. All of the clones were purchased after looking into the clone manufacturers and reading multiple reviews. Still, I have had way more issues with clone RDAs than authentic. The majority of my researched clone mechs are excellent, though.

The cloned RDA's that i have had were the ones that i never had issues with lol, i never owned a Mechanic so can't comment on that . Unless it's a very complicated RDA most clones seem to work fine imo , i got a few Infinite Magma clones that are superb , a Tobeco Veritas that is excellent as well .

I never buy anything that doesn't have a ton of excellent reviews though, i rarely take chances but for $12.00 no biggie , i have not noticed the superior quality that many talk about when comparing an authentic to a great clone , i just don't see the $100 .00 difference in price.

 

[anavidfan]

I recently bought a Flash-e-vapor clone that was highly rated. It was a V2 version that I got mostly for certain parts that came with it. I already had a genuine so I got to compare.

Physically it was right on, only difference I could see was the little notch on base was a touch larger. Maybe the V2 was like that compared to the V3. After less than one day of use, the positive post started spinning, as I tightened it broke. Apparently it is "wired" not knowing this I ripped it out as I was trying to tighten the post.

The older Flash-e's were wired also. Which worried me... Unless one knew that ahead of time, I could see where many probably broke theirs too.

I got a hold of the maker and he said that the new V3's were no longer wired for that reason.

Ive had bad luck with copies and had I not already had a Flash-e , I would have been really disappointed in the FLash-e's. I probably got the one bad version of the clones or one that did not quite pass the QC.

 

[SomeTexan]

I have an EHPro derringer clone that I got for 9.99 shipped. Compared it to a real one at a local Vape shop and the employee was amazed. He got confused and handed me the $85 real one and started to put mine back in the case. I had to get him to open it up and see that it was the one with a coil and wick in it. They were that close. The real one had a loose top cap, the clone is just a little on the tight side. Identical otherwise. At least I didn't wipe my .... with $75 for a too loose top cap. A little Emory cloth fixed the clone right up.

 

[Monotremata]

@op why dont you exchange it back to where u bought it, most probably machining defect or you can try washing the driptip o-ring with dishwasher soap. It will remove oils and give more friction / grip.


Didnt know there's a clone of freakshow..
I thought those things are priced cheap enough to compete in clone market
So a clone of an original product made from a company who cloned other company's product..

Yeah the Freakshow is like a $30 atty. I still laugh when I think that someone bothered cloning it. I dont mind clones, all of my attys are, like jhhollier said, I like my $20 Tobeco Kayfun 4s but no way I wouldve paid $200 for one. Especially considering that just 2 months after buying 3 of them, I finally started using RDA's and for almost three months now, I havent even touched one of my tanks except to clean em out and put em away.

As for the drip tip issue.. This is why you always put in the time to research before you buy, its been mentioned in plenty of reviews that people have trouble using alot of 510 tips with em. Wotofo probably really wants you to buy the chuff cap they make for it instead.

I have an EHPro derringer clone that I got for 9.99 shipped... The real one had a loose top cap, the clone is just a little on the tight side. Identical otherwise. At least I didn't wipe my .... with $75 for a too loose top cap. A little Emory cloth fixed the clone right up.

Oh man I know that feeling. My Derringer is a Tobeco ($10 woohoo!) and man there is no way you can get the top cap off without either jamming a really thin nail file or something in there or just screwing it down on your mod and yanking it off! Where did you have to use the emory cloth? Inside of the cap?

 

[SomeTexan]

Oh man I know that feeling. My Derringer is a Tobeco ($10 woohoo!) and man there is no way you can get the top cap off without either jamming a really thin nail file or something in there or just screwing it down on your mod and yanking it off! Where did you have to use the emory cloth? Inside of the cap?

Yup. A bolt, 2 metal washers, 2 rubber washers and a nut. Rubber washers against the top cap, one on each side, metal washers over them, bolt through the middle. Tighten the nut, chuck the bolt in a drill then spin it and lightly let the Emory cloth polish out a little extra room inside the top cap. Worked like a charm and didn't scrape anything else up. Poor mans lathe...

 

[DaveSignal]

Many of my clone RDAs are great.
I do have an acerig plume veil that the orings made the top cap not fit right. I changed them though.
I've got a veritas (had good fasttech reviews) that I eneded up melting the insulator
I have a tobecco 454 with a spinning positive post
I have an infinite cats with a broken positive post
I have an Ivogo Onslaught with loose negative posts... sometimes this messes with resistances if not seated correctly
I have an Ivogo Little boy with a positive post that is manageable, but sometimes can spin and mess up my build
I have an alien from angelcigs that the positive post got completely pushed out of the deck by the spring loaded 510 on one of my box mods
I have a Lancia from angelcigs that the 510 threading is not quite right and so it won't screw on a majority of mods

I could keep going with more of these, but the point is really that they are all cheaply made devices and not something that I really expected to last forever. I do have many more clone RDAs that are still perfect.

I have had less issue with authentic RDAs, but there are some of these that I have had problems with as well. But it is less common than with the clones. Is an authentic worth the extra money? Often not, especially if you can buy multiple clones for the price of one authentic. But, with any bargain basement priced RDA (either clone or authentic), there is a little bit more chance involved.

But if its something I have been reading about and I believe that the authentic is reasonably priced or better made, then I sometimes choose to buy authentic.