Yocan Pillar E-Rig Review: An Affordable Concentrate Vaporizer

Yocan is a Chinese based manufacturer of vaporizer products. They offer a wide range of products, from box mods to dab pens, to portable concentrate vaporizers. The one thing that I noticed right away was that Yocan has some really affordable products. 

This review I will be talking about the Yocan Pillar E-rig, which is one of the most affordable concentrate vaporizers that I have gotten my hands on. When it comes to concentrate vaporizers, you can usually expect to spend hundreds of dollars. But the Yocan Pillar is a lot less expensive than most e-rigs, with a price of just $120.

The catch is that the Yocan Pillar doesn’t come with a lot of the extra features that you see on higher-priced devices. It does not require or have an app, and it does not come with any cool LED lights throughout the device. It also does not have specific temperature settings.

There are some pretty awesome features included in the Yocan Pillar though, such as its two different operating modes. There is the option of Auto Mode, which preheats the coil and in just 30 seconds you are ready to go. There is also On-Demand Mode, which allows you to instantly heat up and inhale, all while holding down on the power button. There is no need to preheat.

The Pillar comes with a 1400mAh battery that should get you a bunch of sessions before needing to recharge. Using Type-C charging, you can expect the device to take about 2 hours to fully charge.

If you are looking at getting your first e-rig and you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Yocan Pillar might be the perfect device for you. Keep reading to find out more.

This device was sent to me by Yocan for the purpose of this review. However, this does not in any way affect my thoughts or ratings of this device.

Box Contents

• 1 x Yocan Pillar Smart e-Rig
• 1 x Glass Bubbler
• 1 x TGT Target Coil
• 1 x TGT Quad Coil
• 1 x Dab Tool
• 1 x USB Type-C Charging Cable
• 1 x User Manual

The Yocan Pillar comes with all necessary items to get you started. However, when the time comes for any replacement parts, you can easily find them online. They sell replacement glass bubblers for around $25USD, and replacement coils for $10USD each. That is incredibly affordable and thankfully won’t break the bank.

Specifications

• 183mm x 40mm⌀
• 285g
• Zinc Alloy Body
• Lab-grade Glass Bubbler
• 1400mAh Battery Capacity
• USB Type-C Charging Technology
• 3 Preheat Settings
• Two Operating Modes (Auto Mode & On Demand Mode)
• TGT (Target Tech) Coil Technology
• Very affordable ($120)
• Available in 5 different color options

Design & Build Quality

The Yocan Pillar is made of high quality materials and appears very well built. The device is solid and it looks really nice as well. The Pillar can be used at home or taken on the go, however it does not come with a travel case. 

The Pillar is 83mm tall and 43mm in diameter. The Pillar is the same diameter from the bottom of the base all the way up to the top of the glass bubbler. The small diameter of the device makes it very comfortable to hold. There is no grip on the device so it can be a little slippery, but I found using my pinky finger to hold up the device helped. 

For the purpose of this review, I received the Pearl Green version of the device. The entire base of the device is painted in a beautiful, sparkly green paint that looks great. I did not have any issue with any paint peeling or flaking while using this device.

The front of the device features a crisp, high-quality screen that shows three small white dots that represent the heat settings, as well as a Yocan logo. The screen only lights up when you are using the device, which helps save on battery usage.

Above the screen you will find the power button, and below the screen you will find the Type-C charging port. Finally, below the charging port, you will see a Pillar logo engraved on the device.

On the back of the base you will find the airflow adjustment slider. The slider works without any issue and moves smoothly from side-to-side. The airflow adjustment dial allows you to move the slider to the perfect setting for you. The wide opening also allows for a looser to more tight draw depending on which you prefer.

On the bottom of the device there is a ring of silicone that ensures the device will not move when it is placed on a table.

The glass bubbler is made of lab-grade material and features a water filtration system that makes for smoother hits. Even though this glass bubbler has a wide mouth opening, I had no issues with water getting into my mouth. I actually found that this was one of the easiest glass bubblers to clean because of its wide opening. The bubbler attaches to the base using a super strong magnet that is attached to the bottom of the glass. With a little pressure, the glass is easy to remove and clean.

Like I mentioned previously, the Yocan Pillar comes with a single button. This button is used to power on and off the device by pressing it five times. You also use this button for the Auto Mode by pressing the button two times, or for the On-Demand Mode by pressing and holding the button while you draw on the device.

The button combinations are simple and easy to remember. I think that the simplicity of the device is one of the best things about it. Not having to use and get used to a new app, or worry about LED lights, makes it really easy to use and I think that this makes it a great device for beginners.

Features

The Yocan Pillar comes with three preset heat settings ranging from 3.2V-4.2V. The three heat settings are:

It is super simple to change the heat setting on the Yocan Pillar. To toggle through the heat settings you just press the power button three times, then one time to go through each of the levels.

One of the best features about the Pillar is that there are two different operating modes. There is Auto Mode which allows you to preheat the device, then use it like you would any other e-rig. But the game changer for me was the On Demand Mode, which allows you to instantly heat up your device and draw without having to preheat. I was extremely surprised by how powerful the device was and by the amount of vapor I was able to achieve, especially while using the On Demand operating setting.

Button Combinations

• Power On/Off: Press power button 5 times
• Change Heat Setting: Press power button 3 times to access preset, then press once to cycle through each level
• Auto Mode: Press power button 2 times
• On Demand Mode: Press and hold power button

Coils

The Yocan Pillar uses coils and comes with two different coils in the box. You will receive one TGT Target coil, which is just like your standard ceramic bowl. You also get one of Yocan’s TGT Quad coils, which is made of ceramic but also features four spring coils that are wrapped around quartz rods. 

I found that the experience with both of these coils is quite different, and figuring out their appropriate use took a little bit of trial and error. On the website they claim that both coils are made for ‘wax concentrates and various extracts’. However, if you want to get the best experience then you actually have to be careful about which products you use with each coil.

I found that when I used oil-based concentrates with the TGT Target coil (regular ceramic bowl), the product was getting used up way too quickly. I then tried a wax concentrate with the same coil and my material lasted much longer and vaporized much better. I would strongly suggest using only thicker, wax concentrates with the TGT Target Coil..

The TGT Quad Coil is good for wax concentrates as well, but it performed best with my honey oil concentrate. This coil is the one to use for thinner, less-viscous concentrates.

Yocan offers replacement coils on their website for affordable prices. You can purchase 1 replacement coil for around $10USD. They also sell 5 packs for $35USD and 10 packs for $60USD. This is much more budget friendly than other coils that I’ve seen, which is good news for your wallet.

How to Use the Yocan Pillar

Like all other vaporizers, you’ll want to make sure that your device is fully charged before using it for the first time. If for some reason your device comes out of the box with zero battery life, it is going to take around 2 hours to fully charge, so make sure you put it on charge well before when you want to get started. 

You will have to remove the glass bubbler to fill it up with water. This is super simple as the glass bubbler is attached using magnets. With a little pressure, you can remove the glass to fill. Fill the glass to just above the holes that are visible through the glass. 

Next, you’ll want to ensure that your coil is installed correctly and then load up your product into the bowl. There is a loading tool included in the box to help with this. 

Before replacing the glass bubbler, take some paper towel and ensure that the bottom of the glass is dry. This is going to attach on top of your device and you do not want any water getting in there. 

With everything back in place, you are ready to start your session. To get started, select your preferred voltage setting. Press the power button three times to toggle through, then press the power button one time to cycle through the levels, until you get to the setting you desire. 

Now, there are two operating modes with the Pillar. You can use the Auto Mode or On-Demand mode. 

Auto Mode allows the device to preheat before starting your session. To start in Auto Mode, press the power button two times. 

The other operating mode is On-Demand Mode, which allows you to press and hold the power button while you draw on the device. This is instant and does not require a preheat. 

Cleaning the Yocan Pillar

To ensure that the experience with your Pillar E-rig is as good as the first day you got it, make sure that you take the time to clean it after each session and give it a deep cleaning frequently. 

Cleaning the Yocan Pillar is quite simple and with only a few items (99.9% isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs/cloths), you can make your device to last longer and continue to perform well for a long time. 

How often you clean your device will depend on how often you use it. You should give it a really deep cleaning once a week if you use it daily, or at least once a month for casual users. If you aren’t sure how to clean your Pillar device, follow these simple steps:

1. Remove the glass bubbler from the base of the Pillar.
2. Unscrew your coil from the base of the Pillar.
3. Using a cotton swab or cotton wipe dipped in 99% isopropyl alcohol, wipe the inside of the coil, ensuring that you clean the threaded area.
4. For a deeper clean of the coil, fully submerge the coil in a cup filled with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Allow it to soak for 3-5 minutes, then remove the coil and rinse with water. Allow the coil to air dry completely before using. 
5. To clean the glass bubbler you can wipe the glass with a cloth and 99% isopropyl alcohol. I suggest using a bottle brush as well, as it helped me to clean the glass really well.
6. For a deeper clean, you can fully submerge the glass in a container filled with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
7. Use warm water to rinse the glass bubbler. Do not use hot water or boiling water to rinse as it may cause the bubbler to break.
8. Once all of the pieces are completely clean, you can reassemble the device and you are good to start using again.

Battery Life & Charging

The Yocan Pillar comes with a non-removable 1400mAh battery. It uses Type-C charging and you can expect to get anywhere from 5-10 sessions before needing to recharge. How much usage you get will totally depend on the length of your sessions, but with the size of the battery you can expect plenty of sessions before needing to recharge.

The Yocan logo on the screen will blink when the device is dying. As the device charges it will blink red until fully charged and then will remain a solid red color to let you know it is fully charged. It can be a little tricky tracking the battery level on the Pillar, so be sure to keep an eye on the logo as you use the device. You don’t want to go to have a session, only to find out that the device has died. 

Performance

If I’m being totally honest, I wasn’t expecting the Yocan Pillar to blow me away. I have used quite a few high-end concentrate vaporizers and, given the price point of the Pillar, I wasn’t expecting much. However, I was wrong. 

For the price point, you get a solid, well-made device that performs really well. I am a huge fan of the On-Demand mode, which is something I haven’t seen on any of the other devices that I have used.

I personally really liked the experience of the device while using the TGT Target coil with the use of more viscous materials such as wax concentrate. This paired with the On-Demand was my go to and made my sessions super quick. The sessions were always really flavorful and the vapor was warm. The glass bubbler also does a really good job of cooling the vapor.

Now, the downside to the Pillar is that you don’t get fine-tuned heat settings, nor do you get much control over customizing the experience. It’s closer to the experience of using a torch than to that of using a digital rig, but it’s also a straightforward experience. If you’re trying to vaporize your material and get the effects, the Yocan Pillar does a good job of accomplishing this goal.

Verdict

The Yocan Pillar is a great device for someone who is looking for an easy to use device that is also super affordable. For $120USD, you really can’t complain. You won’t get some of the extra features that come with other high-end devices, such as LED lights, the option of an app, or fine-tuned temperature settings, but you do get a solid device that performs quite well.

I think the only issue I had with the device were the coils. I do wish that I was able to use both coils with all concentrates, but that is not the case. I also do wish that they were a little easier to clean. But for $10USD, I can purchase replacements, which is not bad at all. 

The Pillar isn’t going to give you precision control over the temperature of your concentrates, nor is it very customizable, but if you’re after the e-rig experience and don’t want to break the bank, it fits the bill. Just don’t expect all of the bells and whistles of higher-priced devices.

If you are looking to enter the e-rig world and are intimidated by the $400+ price tag of other devices, I can easily recommend picking up the Yocan Pillar. It will cost you a fraction of the price and will get you decent results that you will enjoy.

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