Eh... I'll throw up the video (though, a couple people even beat me, to viewing my own u/l... wtf? lol!). Just finished shooting, editing and getting it online. I think it does this little beast justice.
(blow it up HD FULL-SCREEN)
15" SSFG Gridded Inline Perc
My latest SSFG piece. Once again, reaffirming my belief, Ray Verling makes the best inlines. I noticed when this piece arrived, it had a slight lean (4 degrees) to the perc and chamber. I've always been function, over form and I was concerned this was a bad omen for the piece.
Wow, was I wrong. I tried using the tube, flat on the table. Holding it in my hand and
finally balancing on the palm of my hand, slightly swinging it back and forth. Not only does this lean, not have any effect whatsoever... the motion of swinging it, didn't even interrupt the airflow of the pull. Amazing, really. I don't think I have any other piece that could pull that one off.
I mention the lean, because its obvious. I saw it as soon as I pulled it out of the box. I let Allison know, I was going to mention it. I sure as Hell made sure I put it thru the trials, before I made a call on it, though. It was a gift, from a friend. Like them, I don't judge something necessarily on how it looks. We all have blemishes. But, in something as obvious as lean... I wanted to make sure, it didn't effect the relationship... whether it became a closet lurker or a rotation piece.
Keep in mind.
This is a $150 tube. However, you'll pay that for a lot of Chinese glass, same configuration. Plus, you'll more than likely end up hating inlines, just like I did. This piece isn't going to win a beauty contest. It has flaws. But, its hand-made, its from a good name and special people. As I told Allison, its priceless to me (after hitting it, I'm more convinced). Bang/value for the buck, is a consideration. At least, in my opinion... and this passes with streaming, flying colors.
This would rank up in Top 3 for flavor saver/savor. I'm tempted to say, "Top Dog", in that category. It really was surprising, that first vapor hit I took off it, I tasted things in Romulan, I haven't before. Impressive... considering 12 other pieces didn't. I'm reticent to do that, because it seems impossible, considering how many pieces I have and the $$$ in some of them. I'm not saying this piece is better than them... but in the category of flavor... I have to call it, like I see it.
As you can see in the video, it pulls for quite some time (big hitter), without really producing much more than a tickle in the throat. Dabs are a bit more, obviously... but even they are smoothed down considerably. Again... surprising for a 15" piece, this can pull of massive hits. One of the reasons, I use Ray's mini inline ac/perc with so many pieces. It just makes everything seem smoother. Though, even the mini doesn't hold flavor as well.
The Marias in conjunction with the ice pinches, make an adequate splash break... though heavier pulls, will splash your lips lightly. A good steady pull, will keep water up to the pinches half-way up the tube.
Function:
9/10
Form:
7/10 (knocked some extra off for the lean and bubbles in the glass)
Drag - is pretty non-existent. You actually have some downward force pushing on the inlet... so its a quick starter and easy to keep going. However, adding too much water (come close to filling the perc chamber) and drag does come into play. Glug to.
Rotation Piece:
9/10 (oh yeah, this will be used a LOT)
Something I just noticed on dabs, is it spreads that harshness (for lack of a better word) and spreads/compensates for it, over the entire pull. A lot of my other pieces hit you at different times, most on the pull/clear.
I wouldn't think twice about purchasing another, if this one breaks. This or the stemline they sell for $135. Heck, the the travel beaker with a showerhead DS is hard to beat. Thanks to SSFG, we have access to stuff, made by a guy that puts out some truly awesome custom jobs. Make a plain jane version of it, for the rest of us.
REVIEW EDITED: 10:57am pst