As I mentioned previously, I got a little care package from the good folks at Mt. Baker Vapor, chock full of clones. This selection is of the Panzer clone, which is a little less subtle in its inspiration than the Cana I previously reviewed. Stick around and check out this review of the Infinite Panzer Clone.
Disclosure: I received this item from Mt. Baker Vapor for review. This review contains affiliate links.
Check out options and pricing at Mt. Baker Vapor
Infinite Panzer Clone Review
I’m pretty sure the titles make it abundantly clear this is a clone of the Panzer by an outfit out of the Philippines called MCV. The review unit I received is a complete 1:1 clone with branding in tact. However, looking at the images on Mt. Baker Vapor’s site it’s not clear if that is the case in the versions they are now selling.
Otherwise, I’ll refer you to my post on clones to address the ethics of cloning.
Now on with the overview. There’s quite a bit going on from a design standpoint. This mod is made from stainless steel and is heavy. There’s a lot of detail as far as knurling and lines and the such go. The overall effect is of something very tough and industrial. I can see why it was named after a tank.
I received the black version which I think further adds to the toughness factor. While much of this detail work is purely for aesthetics, there’s one almost practical application. The main body tube has flattened sides.
In theory, this should mean the device won’t go rolling off my wobbly desk. Too bad it doesn’t quite work in practical application. The upper and lower portions of the device are still round. Essentially, they lift the flat parts of the tube off the surface when it’s laid down on its side. That means it’s probably going to roll away anyhow.
I suppose the detailing also helps keep this thing from being overly slippery. The various grooves and things help you to keep a grip on the Panzer while in use, but they can be uncomfortable after prolonged use.
The overall tube design is modular. By removing various parts of the tube top and bottom, you can adjust the size. The Infinite clone will take 18650, 490 or 350 batteries. To be honest, I almost never bother with the smaller batteries on mechanical mods.
Moving to the top of the mod, things are fairly straight forward. It’s a flat-top 510 connector. There’s a little gear pattern etched in the top. There’s no drip well or vents, so leaky drippers could end up getting messy — the lava atty I reviewed earlier is quite leaky.
The underside of the top cap features an adjustable brass battery contact. The contact on the switch is of similar construction.
Unlike many mechanical mods I’ve reviewed in the past, the Panzer is magnetic, and the implementation is clever. There are two magnetic washers located on either side of the switch. The magnets are powerful and with the polarity matched, they provide a very satisfying resistance and a smooth action.
The bottom ring of the switch is a counter-threaded lock ring. Turn it clockwise to lower the ring below the button. While it’s fairly easy to use, there’s an annoying drawback.
When locking the device, there’s a propensity for the fire button to also turn. Since it’s going counter-clockwise, the switch will, in time loosen.
Eventually it gets loose enough for the magnetic force to send the button flying off the device. The fix is simple, just take the switch assembly off every once in a while and tighten the contact screw.
Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve come across a locking ring that I’ve actually loved. This is one of the better ones, but I’m convinced that there’s got to be a better way to lock out the firing mechanism for storage.
At the most basic, all mechanical mods are just a tube in which to stick a battery. The thing that tends to separate them is the overall designs and the little things like a smooth fire button.
Design tends to be a personal taste thing, but I happen to like the way the Panzer mod looks. I’m also a sucker for magnetic switches.
For anyone looking for a rugged and stylish mod, the Panzer clone is certainly worth a second look.
You can take that second look at Mt. Baker Vapor.
