Cheap High Quality Bubbler

[MinnBobber]

@stonemonkey55 I agree with most of what you are saying, but I think you need to look at this more like music piracy.....

I would also take issue that the only use for a hydratube is an EVO. The e-nano and herbalaire can both accommodate them. Also the extreme q could use them with an adapter. Or just as a mouthpiece on pieces with removable mouthpiece such as the fc-ufo.

........................................................................................................................................

1. I agree with most of what stonemonkey says BUT would hope that inexpensive knockoff HT's would allow folks on a very limited budget to get into a HT and later they might very well buy the real thing.

2. And current VXL HT owners might like to add to their collection so they have a option for guests (read-clumsy mo-fos who I don't trust with any glass worth more than $50).

3. I would also be more supportive of "just say NO- knockoffs" IF the current VXL HTs were more moderately priced, where more folks could get into one. If VXL was $150 I'd own more AND not be looking at future knockoffs I don't know if HT design makes them way more expensive to craft or what, but they seem very expensive to me.

4. Like @weenstoned said, I don't see HT at all as being exclusive to Evo. I discovered VXL HT before discovering Evo and don't even own an Evo.

HT works with miniVAP, Herbie, Mighty/Crafty and I assume many more vapes.
I consider it a universal piece, originally developed for the Evo but useable on many vapes.

Complicated issue ....

 

[alltoreup]

Is VXL planning on offering any non final release HTs that are not sidecars? Once that one Evolver bent neck on the site is gone, that's it?

All the house glass HTs on their site are currently sidecars. As an owner of both a bent neck and a sidecar HT, I actually use my bent neck much more. What if I break it and don't want a side car as a replacement? What are a customers options, then? I'd have to go with the China piece if I wanted something in the same form factor as before.
Or have one custom made locally, but that is technically a violation of the patent, too.

Not trying to justify anything, just asking something I've been wondering for a while since the new fat bottom sidecar glass HTs came out.
So does anyone know if there are there gonna be any more non sidecar HTs offered by VXL?

 

[Stu]

Here's the video I shot last night of the first hit through the FC-Mod Max. My YouTube app no longer lets me upload videos directly from my phone, so I had to plug it into my PC in order to upload it. Argh!

 

[LBsEveryday]

Hey @Stu if you don't mind me asking your opinion, I was wondering if you noticed any subtle differences in flavour/performance when it came down to can size(in regards to the ion vs max). Thanks!

 

[Vapor Clouds]

........................................................................................................................................

1. I agree with most of what stonemonkey says BUT would hope that inexpensive knockoff HT's would allow folks on a very limited budget to get into a HT and later they might very well buy the real thing.

2. And current VXL HT owners might like to add to their collection so they have a option for guests (read-clumsy mo-fos who I don't trust with any glass worth more than $50).

3. I would also be more supportive of "just say NO- knockoffs" IF the current VXL HTs were more moderately priced, where more folks could get into one. If VXL was $150 I'd own more AND not be looking at future knockoffs I don't know if HT design makes them way more expensive to craft or what, but they seem very expensive to me.

4. Like @weenstoned said, I don't see HT at all as being exclusive to Evo. I discovered VXL HT before discovering Evo and don't even own an Evo.

HT works with miniVAP, Herbie, Mighty/Crafty and I assume many more vapes.
I consider it a universal piece, originally developed for the Evo but useable on many vapes.

Complicated issue ....

Totally agree with point 3 and also that they can be used with other vapes. I personally think it's ridiculous that a patent would be granted for such a general use thing. 18mm gong joints arent anything new, and literally all an HT is is a bubbler/bong with an internal 18mm gong on the bottom.

 

[MGG]

Imo I own a vapexhale and a hydratube, i use the hydratube for other things asides from the vapexhale
(arizer solo and mighty with attachment).

I also own an original Stereo Matrix and two matrix knock-offs.

I also did this

I'm all for supporting the manufacturer, but just buying the vaporizer itself was a huge investment for me.

In closing, they are creating a piece which you guys don't even produce anymore to my knowledge, so eh.
This is the best vaporization forum in the internet, with one of the best communities I've ever seen on any forum PERIOD. Honestly I think if anything these new hydratubes will encourage more people to get a vapexhale cloud.

 

[Stu]

Hey @Stu if you don't mind me asking your opinion, I was wondering if you noticed any subtle differences in flavour/performance when it came down to can size(in regards to the ion vs max). Thanks!

Flavor/performance wise, no. But I do seem to prefer the mouthpiece of the ion over the Max mouthpiece, if that counts for anything. Next test for me will be using Max with my Vertigo tree HT as a mouthpiece.

 

[stonemonkey55]

Look, like I said, from a consumer's point of view, I understand what you guys are doing. If I could get something reasonably similar for cheaper, I would do the same. I'm only biased here because I have a lot personally invested in this and something like this sets a precedence for anyone else that wants to do the same thing. We are required to send a cease and desist letter to anyone we know that violates our patent because if we don't, we lose our patent. Unfortunately, this just runs up legal fees for basically what results in a net zero scenario and unfortunately, the only people who profit are the attorneys.

I guess that's the cost of doing business but what we will do is work hard to bring down the price of Hydratubes. Perhaps people are ready for Chinese made Hydratubes and we will ditch our American only philosophy. We will collect more data before making a decision as that is something that we have been very proud of but we don't make our money on the EVO, we make it on the glass and if counterfeit glass takes that market away from us, then this company will require another business model to evolve with this new situation. I would have much rather this be because a worthy adversary created a product that delivered the same experience of the EVO at a cheaper price but if the end result are cheaper Hydratubes of comparable quality, then everyone wins.

 

[u bwade wunner]

Flavor/performance wise, no. But I do seem to prefer the mouthpiece of the ion over the Max mouthpiece, if that counts for anything. Next test for me will be using Max with my Vertigo tree HT as a mouthpiece.

Thanks for rigorously testing out Max

It would be interesting to hear about the MODs stability with the vertigo in place.

Do you think increasing the height of the main can by 30% is the way to go Stu and do You think width of main can will work or should it be increased slightly.I can definitely see the need for a 30% increase in height of main can.Its hard to know without having the piece In front of me.

Thanks in advance

 

[Herr_Dampf]

I would have much rather this be because a worthy adversary created a product that delivered the same experience of the EVO at a cheaper price but if the end result are cheaper Hydratubes of comparable quality, then everyone wins.

Except for the U.S. blowers. At least if you switch over to chinese production.

 

[Stu]

Do you think increasing the height of the main can by 30% is the way to go Stu and do You think width of main can will work or should it be increased slightly.I can definitely see the need for a 30% increase in height of main can.Its hard to know without having the piece In front of me.

If the goal is to re-create the Devastator, then yes I think the can should be not only heightened, but also widened. Same for the a/c.

Having said that, the piece functions fine as is, but it's just not quite in the same league as the OG Devastator.

Edit: I tried the Vertigo HT on max.

The cons with this configuration were that you can't see the vapor forming in any of the three chambers, and the flavor is pretty well stripped out of the hit. On the plus size, the hits were smoooooooth.

The HT kinda dwarfs the FC-mod, though.

 

[MGG]

Look, like I said, from a consumer's point of view, I understand what you guys are doing. If I could get something reasonably similar for cheaper, I would do the same. I'm only biased here because I have a lot personally invested in this and something like this sets a precedence for anyone else that wants to do the same thing. We are required to send a cease and desist letter to anyone we know that violates our patent because if we don't, we lose our patent. Unfortunately, this just runs up legal fees for basically what results in a net zero scenario and unfortunately, the only people who profit are the attorneys.

I guess that's the cost of doing business but what we will do is work hard to bring down the price of Hydratubes. Perhaps people are ready for Chinese made Hydratubes and we will ditch our American only philosophy. We will collect more data before making a decision as that is something that we have been very proud of but we don't make our money on the EVO, we make it on the glass and if counterfeit glass takes that market away from us, then this company will require another business model to evolve with this new situation. I would have much rather this be because a worthy adversary created a product that delivered the same experience of the EVO at a cheaper price but if the end result are cheaper Hydratubes of comparable quality, then everyone wins.

I was actually going to suggest considering offering both american and chinese glass,
I think if anything this will boost sales, I find it really really hard to believe your company doesn't make money on the evo's but the hydratubes they come with, I bought my cloud originally without a hydratube.

 

[hafalump]

I bet half of head shop "glass" is chinese. And not priced as such.
At least you know what your buying.

 

[MGG]

I bet half of head shop "glass" is chinese. And not priced as such.
At least you know what your buying.

some of the places around here are like 100% chinese XD

 

[Dangus]

Those pinnacle 14mm hydrotube knockoffs have been coming out of China for months now, I'm confused why joint size would matter...just saying. That patent has been being infringed on for awhile now by a *bunch* of sellers.

 

[MGG]

Those pinnacle 14mm hydrotubes have been coming out of China for months now, I'm confused why joint size would matter...just saying. That patent has been being infringed on for awhile now by a *bunch* of sellers.

That's what i'm saying lol. Like with most chinese glass, you always have the option to support the creators, but it's still great that there's also the availability for cheaper glass for those of us who may not be as financially well off as others here.

 

[justcametomind]

@stonemonkey55 I would agree if we were debating on how to clone the Cloud Evo, we are talking about a mouthpiece that costs 250$.

 

[MGG]

@stonemonkey55 I would agree if we were debating on how to clone the Cloud Evo, we are talking about a mouthpiece that costs 250$.

Just reiterating I agree also. I would personally have a moral problem with trying to create a chinese knockoff of the cloud and i'd also have legitimate health concerns, hydratube is a different matter though.

 

[vjt324]

I don't own an evo, but if I can get a variety of glass for it without breaking the bank, I would order one today.

It's a catch22 when it comes to knockoffs in everything. There's a certain market for certain ppl. Not everyone is gonna pay the American glass premium, and this opens up opportunities for people who want the vape but can't cope w spending hundreds on a glass solely for it.

The fact that it's supposed to only have use w the evo makes it even less justifiable to spend the cash.

Cheaper glass could result in more evos out there

 

[gaseous_clay]

I think the biggest drawback to official Chinese produced hydratubes would be in being associated with the lesser quality.

I have 2 Chinese pieces and while there are no obvious problems that I noticed (like others have posted,) you can tell the quality of the glass is less than that of the HT's I have made by Swagger & SSFG. I detect a yellowish tint to the glass and the joints are clunky. Basically the Chinese glass looks like someone designed and constructed them to be "good enough," not to be "good."

If VXL were to offer cheap Chinese HT's they would have to be very careful when it comes to the quality of them. It may be more trouble than it's worth, particularly when considering the potential hit the company might take in the perception of endorsing and offering what is actually lesser quality merchandise.

My criticism of the current HT lineup is that there isn't that much variety. The HT's all look the same and cost the same. The website could do a bit more to sell them... demo videos to show the perc action, a better description of what the different percs do and what they are for would help to sell them. Also, there are pics of HT's that are no longer available. That has to hurt sales a bit when someone sees that SSFG inline as the main HT pic, but then it is nowhere to be found. I realize that VXL is not a glass shop, but maybe have a "Hall of Fame" area for retired HT's with a place to be placed on a mailing list to express interest if certain retired pieces were to be produced again. I don't know how many pieces need to be ordered to get them produced, but I know personally I would have signed up for a couple pieces if they were to be available.

On that note, I got my fake Devastator today. (I ordered it because I know the likelihood that I will ever get my hands on a real one is slim. This gives me a bit of an idea on what I missed out on by getting to the vape party late.

 

[LBsEveryday]

some of the places around here are like 100% chinese XD

If I didn't want to wait on e packet I could just take a 2 hour drive to Venice... They seem to be fairly priced @ 10-20 dollar mark ups from wholesale.

And.. Today was payday! Gonna order the fc mod, and some adapters from Stevie. Also wanted to buy a piece at a local headshop while waiting. I'm interested in two makes, Anyone have any work by either black sheep(its a double shower head bubbler) or
black market( hexagon base )?

 

[Vapor Clouds]

Ordered a mini pillar from CCG after seeing @pacifica333 's post. Hopefully it gets here half as fast as this little knock off Pinnacle water tool I just ordered. 5 days from placing my order it was in my mailbox somehow...quicker than most American shipping lately.

 

[GetLeft]

Around a month or so ago I took a trip to a shop I hadn't been to before. Plenty of glass, including a newly arrived stash of dhgate stuff, but of course at 4x$. Even so, significantly cheaper than the other glass. I didn't pick anything up then. But today I went back to the shop and bought one of the two pieces that would have worked easily with my nano. I looked it up when I got home and this piece is labeled "Cheapest bubbler hand blown pipe ..." No neat name. Yes low cost for shop owner. Not for me.

First water hits in a super long time for me, so I have no clue as to what is good and what is not, aside from what I read about here. But this "greatest cheapest bubbler ..." worked really well with my nano. I'm a virtual newby to glass but this was simple and productive. So I'm classifying it as good.

 

[jojo monkey]

@GetLeft I have one of those and fill only the bottom chamber and then take a hit so the water pops to the top. I got this idea from FC.

 

[gaseous_clay]

Those who have or had the original Devastator... Did the increased size provide for stability when the Cloud was inserted (I believe that the EVO is lighter from what I hear.)

One thing I noticed is that while it is fine when alone, when I insert my EVO it definetly pulls to the side. I find that the bend below the mouthpiece is a nice notch to grab with a finger.