While products from other brands come with a premium price tag, SteamCloud Vapes produces simple, affordable, and reliable devices that get the job done without the bells and whistles. SteamCloud Vapes offer “frustration-free and user-friendly wax vaporizers,” like the SteamCloud EVOD Vape Pen. (The Eiffel Tower in the photo above took about an hour, including starting and stopping.Not the largest company in the wax vaporizer industry, but they easily compete with the big guys with their amazing vape pen platforms. That’s a fivefold difference, but considering that 20 feet is enough filament for roughly two hours of constant drawing at the Create+ pen’s fast speed, it’s not a huge difference on a per-project basis. (The company says that using third-party filament voids the pen’s warranty, as 3Doodler’s pen motors are designed to handle straight, short strands of plastic, not the longer, coiled strands common to inexpensive third-party filament.) For example, a pack of 25 10-inch strands (20 feet of filament) for the Create+ starts at $8, compared with 240 feet of third-party filament for our budget pick for around $15-which works out to about $1.25 for 20 feet. However, the ABS and PLA filament refills for the Create+ pen-which come in a wide range of colors and types-are the most expensive of any pen we tested. The Create+ comes with 75 10-inch strands of plastic, which is more than you get with most of the pens we tested. Safe: The pen shouldn’t give off dangerous or overly smelly fumes.A 3D pen that can work with a range of materials and brands is better. Widely compatible filament: Most 3D pens are compatible with lots of different brands of filament, but some require uniquely designed plastic that has special features-or locks you into buying from the same company.It’s a bonus if the pen has a generous replacement policy or warranty. Good customer service: The company behind the pen should be reachable if something goes wrong.In our experience, a cord of less than around 6 feet of length still felt a bit too short. Portable: The pen should be cordless or at least have a cord that’s long enough to use in a variety of work environments.Swappable tips: Pens that come with (or have the option to buy) multiple tip sizes allow you to draw in different thicknesses, which is useful for switching between details and filler.Easy to load: Whether you want to load in a fresh string of plastic or swap the existing one for a different color, it should be simple and fast to load and unload filament.Continuous extrusion: A continuous-extrude option (where you simply press a button once to start drawing) is easier on your hand during longer drawing projects than a button you have to hold down.Customizable settings: Pens that give you a choice of extrusion speeds make it easier to switch between slower detail work and faster infill work, and multiple temperature settings make it possible to work with a wider range of filament types.Steady plastic extrusion: The pen should put out a steady, even strand of plastic at a comfortable speed, adding to your sense of control over the pen.Reliable: The pen shouldn’t be prone to filament clogs or break easily. And the heat from the part of the pen that melts plastic shouldn’t make the grip area uncomfortable to hold. Although one of our experts said it’s possible to get used to the shape of any 3D pen, we preferred a pen with a more ergonomic shape that’s comfortable from the start. Comfortable to hold: Because 3D drawing projects usually take significant time, comfort is important.
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