Old Head Hot Rod

[The Chemist]

Finally the wait is over, I got one with the heat shield and the scoop, I can't wait to try it.
I really liked the Terp Torch but it was far from perfect, hopefully the Hot Rod will perform better.
I'll be back with my thoughts on the vape after I spend a bit of time with it.

 

[SquirrelMaster]

Finally the wait is over, I got one with the heat shield and the scoop, I can't wait to try it.
I really liked the Terp Torch but it was far from perfect, hopefully the Hot Rod will perform better.
I'll be back with my thoughts on the vape after I spend a bit of time with it.

What did you not like about the TT?

 

[Madri-Gal]

Thrilled, but also vaguely queasy. Ordered a Hot Rod from Sticky Brick Labs. Grabbed a heat shield and scoop. Just got a message that it's been shipped.
I've been wanting one, but thought I'd convinced myself I didn't need it. Misjudged the strength of my conviction a bit. It took courage to admit I was wrong, and my reward is ...I Get A Hot Rod!

 

[emily]

Damn this thing looks nice, but no 220v version available as yet for me to even consider dropping the readies. Defintely looking forward to hearing what you all think, though, once you get 'em in hand . . . . so please keep us posted.

Found a couple of 220v options

UK: https://vapefiend.co.uk/products/hot-rod-thermal-extraction-heater
Australia: https://monksvapes.com/products/hotrod

 

[The Chemist]

What did you not like about the TT?

It was the hot spot and the cord.

The Terp Torch always leave a spot of almost burned up herb if you don't rotate the vape while inhaling. Too much heat is concentrated on one spot because of the c-clip.
The cord of the TT is stiff and won't cooperate when you rotate, it's always caught on something too.
You can get the TT to work the way you want to, but it's gonna take a bit of time to learn.
For the price it was a good deal for the vapor it could produce.

Like I said, I like the TT but I don't love it.

The Hot Rod is looking very good so far, I hope I'll fall in love when I get to try it.

 

[Esquire]

It was the hot spot and the cord.

The Terp Torch always leave a spot of almost burned up herb if you don't rotate the vape while inhaling. Too much heat is concentrated on one spot because of the c-clip.
The cord of the TT is stiff and won't cooperate when you rotate, it's always caught on something too.
You can get the TT to work the way you want to, but it's gonna take a bit of time to learn.
For the price it was a good deal for the vapor it could produce.

Like I said, I like the TT but I don't love it.

The Hot Rod is looking very good so far, I hope I'll fall in love when I get to try it.

Good feedback and much appreciated. By the time I decided I was willing to try the Terp Torch it was already unavailable. Personally, I did not think highly of a vaporizer that I had to assemble out of the box. But once I saw the feedback everyone was giving about how good it was hitting, I regretted not purchasing it and bought the Herborizer instead. That was not a mistake at all; I love it to death. But I'm excited to see what a bunch of hot balls do to the vaping experience, and for all the money I spend on flower, it makes sense to spend on the best devices to get the most out of that flower IMO. I'm looking forward to the arrival of The Hot Rod!

 

[VegNVape]

Hey @emily, thanks so much for pointing these out - I totally missed them as was only looking on the OldheadTC website, but now see it mentions them at Oldhead.co, so I clearly should have looked a bit further.
O.K. now it is a serious consideration - can anyone tell me if this is expected to be in the realm of the heavy-hitters, capable of single hit extraction? I need someting comparable to my years old Sublimator for doling out those headbanger hits & I'd kinda fallen out of the FC loop for a bit when the Terp Torch was doing the rounds so not very familiar and I haven't really caught up on that thread too much as yet . . . .

Cheers

 

[ThirdEyeHigh]

Troy from vapezone just put an unboxing / review on his youtube channel.

He does state it is side by side the current heavy hitting desktops on thr market, capable of doing giant one hitters if that is your preferred method or dial it down for easier on the lungs.

I hope to have my Oz 220v unit by early December, I'm waiting on the retailer receiving their shipment, my name was on the wait list as soon as I could.

I will finally put down my Tinymight when it arrives.

 

[ChreasyBear]

I hope to have my Oz 220v unit by early December, I'm waiting on the retailer receiving their shipment, my name was on the wait list as soon as I could.

https://monksvapes.com/ - You can get hem here :-)
Just curious, What store were you going to get them from?

 

[The Chemist]

Hey @emily, thanks so much for pointing these out - I totally missed them as was only looking on the OldheadTC website, but now see it mentions them at Oldhead.co, so I clearly should have looked a bit further.
O.K. now it is a serious consideration - can anyone tell me if this is expected to be in the realm of the heavy-hitters, capable of single hit extraction? I need someting comparable to my years old Sublimator for doling out those headbanger hits & I'd kinda fallen out of the FC loop for a bit when the Terp Torch was doing the rounds so not very familiar and I haven't really caught up on that thread too much as yet . . . .

Cheers

I can't compare with the Sublimator since I don't have one but I expect it to be a heavy hitter for sure, the Terp Torch was one and the Hot Rod is supposed to be a more refined version of it.
I won't know until I try it but I would be very surprised if it didn't deliver on the vapor production.

 

[coolbreeze]

can anyone tell me if this is expected to be in the realm of the heavy-hitters

Pretty good review here with comparisons to some of the current heavy-hitters. Not compared are the Atlas and Halo, which are making a splash with plenty of info available here on FC.

 

[Texus]

Pretty good review here with comparisons to some of the current heavy-hitters. Not compared are the Atlas and Halo, which are making a splash with plenty of info available here on FC.

Yeah, that is probably the most comprehensive review to date. But wish he did more comparisons than just limiting it to baller designs.

Also a bi concerning that the fit and finish didn't sound as polished as the pre-production units (that both broke, another concerning detail; but looks to be due to the earlier more flexible cord).

 

[ThirdEyeHigh]

https://monksvapes.com/ - You can get hem here :-)
Just curious, What store were you going to get them from?

I was not aware Monk had a vape shop

I'm getting mine from HTV.

 

[coolbreeze]

the fit and finish didn't sound as polished

Hope they got that together for launch because they're launching amidst burgeoning competition and they've got a heck of a partnership to build on.

 

[ChreasyBear]

I was not aware Monk had a vape shop

I'm getting mine from HTV.

HTV is awesome! Great customer service, great range of products, and great pricing.
I almost bought the Elev84 from them, then i heard about the Hot rod, and its way too perfect for my aesthetic tastes

 

[VegNVape]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Pretty good review here with comparisons to some of the current heavy-hitters.

Thanks, yep, that is the Troy from VapeZone review which @ThirdEyeHigh had previously mentioned & I watched early yesterday morning after seeing his post. Pretty comprehensive as @Texus said. And I really do love the look of this thing (both aesthetics & performance) but I held off as following a fairly considerable forced T-break (which I then, for some unknown & bizarre reason, felt happy to continue for several more weeks), I was thinking as much as I was tempted (it sat in my basket for most of the day) I probably shouldn't drop over £300 on a new heavy hitting desktop when my Vapman & MFLB are kicking my arse right now (lol) - and then it sold out anyway. So the final decision was made for me. For now, I shall experience the Hot Rod vicariously through yous lot - at least until my tolerance levels back up - so please keep on posting! Hopefully it won't be too long before you have them & I'll no doubt start feeling the pangs of regret!

Thanks again, all.

 

[ThirdEyeHigh]

HTV is awesome! Great customer service, great range of products, and great pricing.
I almost bought the Elev84 from them, then i heard about the Hot rod, and its way too perfect for my aesthetic tastes

Yeah HTV have been majorly helpful to me, I consider them to be the vgoodiez of Australia.

 

[PossumMD]

For us Australians, the hot rod is live on HTV.

 

[coolbreeze]

Been trying it on my Hydrobrick and it's a whole new beast. I'm at about Sputnik level out here.

 

[heyitsyourboy]

I got mine earlier today and the performance is insane but I am a little let down with the security of the handle on the base - the magnets aren't matched so the handle hangs pretty loosely. If I tip the base over 45 degrees the handle shifts from the base. I personally am a fan of how the unit looks but I feel the build quality control could be tightened up where the magnets are concerned. I'm also having a little bit of trouble attaching the heat shield due to the awkward angle and wish it came installed. All that said I am still very happy with the early purchase - this is incredibly easy to use and gives far and away the most uniform extraction of any vape I've used. Hope to hear others' first impressions, especially concerning how the magnets line up.

 

[coolbreeze]

I got mine earlier today and the performance is insane but I am a little let down with the security of the handle on the base - the magnets aren't matched so the handle hangs pretty loosely. If I tip the base over 45 degrees the handle shifts from the base. I personally am a fan of how the unit looks but I feel the build quality control could be tightened up where the magnets are concerned. I'm also having a little bit of trouble attaching the heat shield due to the awkward angle and wish it came installed. All that said I am still very happy with the early purchase - this is incredibly easy to use and gives far and away the most uniform extraction of any vape I've used. Hope to hear others' first impressions, especially concerning how the magnets line up.

My magnets seem to line up OK but the hold is not as strong as, say, the OG's magnets. I think that's because this thing is smaller and lighter than you'd think, and maybe if the magnets were much stronger you'd be picking up the base with the handle. Otoh, the cord is sorta heavy and stiff; I need to make sure I've seated the handle well after a hit. But these things are more inconveniences, just something to be aware of. Also, be aware of where your dome's at, it's easy to lose with this.

 

[Texus]

I got mine earlier today and the performance is insane but I am a little let down with the security of the handle on the base - the magnets aren't matched so the handle hangs pretty loosely. If I tip the base over 45 degrees the handle shifts from the base. I personally am a fan of how the unit looks but I feel the build quality control could be tightened up where the magnets are concerned. I'm also having a little bit of trouble attaching the heat shield due to the awkward angle and wish it came installed. All that said I am still very happy with the early purchase - this is incredibly easy to use and gives far and away the most uniform extraction of any vape I've used. Hope to hear others' first impressions, especially concerning how the magnets line up.

I was worried since Troy's video that this might be an issue. Too bad. I'm hoping for a vape where the polish is there so that it clicks like those prototypes everyone raved over did. Crossing my fingers.

 

[heyitsyourboy]

I was worried since Troy's video that this might be an issue. Too bad. I'm hoping for a vape where the polish is there so that it clicks like those prototypes everyone raved over did. Crossing my fingers.

Looking a little more closely at mine the magnets don't seem to be much out of line (if at all) and the weakness is just with the magnets, which echoes @coolbreeze 's experience. Everything they said is spot on.

 

[coolbreeze]

I'm hoping for a vape where the polish is there

If yours is like mine, you'll probably be satisfied. Typical SBL fit and finish: looks great, works great, hits like a truck. So far i can't recommend it enough.

 

[Texus]

If yours is like mine, you'll probably be satisfied. Typical SBL fit and finish: looks great, works great, hits like a truck. So far i can't recommend it enough.

Arrived today. And it'll be a while until I can try it out, but I've gotta say I am pretty disappointed in the strength of the magnets. And wouldn't consider this the same level of fit and finish I see with my Sticky Bricks.

Coming from Sticky Brick, and knowing the great magnets they used in my Maxx and Junior, in combination with what Troy and Jerry showed off about the strength of the magnets, I really expected the handle to solidly click into place and to be able to withstand a little nudge, etc. But especially with the weight of the cord, this handle is really susceptible to sliding off on either side. Any little brush against or movement of the cable will do it. And tough to rearrange cable without handle coming off if you aren't holding it down. The CH FLower Pot stand and heat sheild or the @VGOODIEZ 18m female glass stand are both much more secure ways to keep a hot heater and handle in place. Going to need to be much more thoughtful and careful about where I keep the Hot Rod. I just refuse to risk that hot handle hitting anything and burning it or even worse, starting a fire. Too bad.

Starting to think about how to put stronger magnets in handle and base.

So not quite the product I was expecting in terms of polish and a secure handle. Let's hope it hits like a champ. If it rocks my world, time to start searching for better ways to secure that handle (unfortunately, while it fits in my 18mm female base from VGoodiez, weight of cable also seems to make that unstable (again, issues arise when rearranging cable, which can cause that stand to tip. Need something with more weight or mass, or that is secured to a surface so it doesn't tip).

As for the finish: Not a great photographer, but think you can see where it looks like there were nicks that weren't sanded out etc at the seam of these two pieces of wood. Three of these lil nicks at least. Too nitpicky? Maybe. Son of a woodworker mom, comes with the territory.