Billet Boutique – The BIG 4DCB Interview
Our resident Lord of Drippington, Stephen Sculley has recently grasped the opportunity to spend some valuable time speaking with the living legend that is Mike, from the globally celebrated accessory brand, 4DCB. This one is so cool folks. So without further ado, Let’s Talk … Sculldog, over to you my G.
Sculley – Firstly thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit and chill with me for a hot minute.
What would you be doing now if you weren’t here giving us an insight to ‘The Mind Behind’
4DCBMike: I would be Fly Fishing. I’m unavailable most summer evenings; on the stream after Trout………
Sculley: What does Big Worm bounce too in the Car?
Mike: I’m super eclectic. I listen to everything. Some of my recently played list:
- Nahko & MFTP: Dear Brother
- Jedi Mind Tricks: Rise of the Machines
- The Doors: Spanish Caravan
- Jadakiss: You Dont Eat
- Run The Jewels: Ju$t
- Skynyrd: Ballad of Curtis Lowe
- Diabolic & Immortal Tech: Frontlines
Sculley: ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ One Last Meal & Drink – What is it?
Mike: Steak and Lobster for the meal… Ayahuasca for drink (Cause why not hang with some space titans before it’s over?)
Sculley: So how did you get into the Vape scene? & did it stop you smoking?
Mike: I got into vape buying cigalikes back in like 2012 but they were pretty terrible. Curbed a lot of the smoking while at work during the day but didn’t make the switch until 2014 or Early 15 completely off cigs.
Sculley: When did you start modding and why? And did you do it for you and your friends for fun, or for the community straight out the gates?
Mike: I am no Modder. In my opinion, this is reserved for the ones who make mods. All I do is make stuff to go on mods. These guys put a lot of time and energy and money into designing and making a mod – it’s intricate and deserves to be stand-alone from other makers. Everyone can make panels or parts. Something special to make a mod you’ve designed. What I’m saying is I respect the true modders and appreciate what they do. I Started making stabilized wood then moved onto cutting it up into various things.
Sculley: What was your first product ever produced under the 4DCB Umbrella, when (Year) and was it a hit?
Mike: I mean the first product I ever sold was just straight up stabilized wood circa 2016. It did alright. But it took me years to get the process down. My first blocks were awful.. eventually with enough time and trial and error I figured it out, but it wasn’t easy. The people who made wood back then held the secrets close. No useful information online, you had to put in the work to figure it out. I spent a few years figuring it out.
Sculley: Was 4DCB always going to be called 4DCB and what does in stand for?
Mike: Yep it was the name out of the gate. It means 4th Dimension Custom Burlwood. 4th dimension comes from a reference in a certain book – a plane of existence – a goal – a signal flag. Friends of Bill will get the reference.
Sculley: Where do you draw inspiration from and who else is killing it in the Boro scene right now?
Mike: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” I usually start by finding something I don’t like or something that is annoying to me and then trying to figure out how to fix the problem that’s the inspiration. This is how the two-part magnetic inners were born (Linx) As for who is killing it… Any of the guys who have been in the game non-stop since the start. I have respect for that in particular because these guys did something right to stick around. I’ve seen a lot of businesses tank after a few months or a year. I know what it takes to balance it all. They take care of their customers and their business. The list is short: Conor. Estes. Ashley Fields. Nick Ricotta. Evan Ripple. Daniel Coleman.
Sculley: If you ever did a new Collab piece with someone who would it be and why?
Mike: I would love to collab. Top choices in no order would be: Mission. Desce. Mums. JB Mods. Why? Because all of these guys have been around awhile, I’ve owned their products and am aware of the level of detail they pay attention to. Problem Solvers.
Sculley: What’s harder – Coming with the idea of a fresh new product or actually making what you dreamt up?
Mike: Absolutely and unequivocally the hardest is actually making the new product. Put it this way: you have an idea, and on paper it looks great – but then you’ve got to do a few things once you have the concept. Now you have to figure out what the measurements are to make it all work. Then figure out how to set things so it is not only solid but works well consistently. Especially if you’re making a product to work with someone else’s product: If you don’t have the files to make it work you’ve got to manually figure out everything. Radius on corners, how deep mags should be, what the tolerances are between materials. Can it hold up for everyday use? How long does it take to make? Do you need to invest in new machines to make it work correctly? The other half of that is you are gambling. You take your time and energy from something that sells and does well to put it into something else that could flop if it’s not done right. You might spend your time on a project and at the end it doesn’t work, so it gets scrapped. I have many projects I started and never completed because it wasn’t working well.
Sculley: If you could change anything in the Vape scene right now what would it be and why?
Mike: Negativity. What purpose does it serve to be a dick? I don’t even check some groups anymore because there is always someone being a dick to someone else or a pile on a thread. It’s unattractive and bad for business. Don’t bring that to my page I won’t have it. We all do this because we love the vape game and it helps direct our energy into something positive. We all together built this. If I have a problem with someone I just stop answering them or block them. Period. I don’t have time to feed into it so I don’t.
Sculley: If you could have any color BB in the next drop – What color would it be?
Mike: FU Nuggy cause GOLD.
Sculley: If you could give one piece of advice to any budding Modder – What would it be?
Mike: Super Simple. It’s on a canvas behind my mill to help me remember three things: 1. Stay Humble 2. Be Kind 3. Work Hard.
Sculley: What does the future for 4DCB look like?
Mike: Wood is what’s next. Going back to wood. Making and milling stabwood is where I am “Home” so that’s where I’m going. As for products I’ve got a few other things in the pipeline… always working on the next thing but no previews yet.
Sculley: Thanks so Much Mike, it’s been amazing to talk to you, Hey could we do a ‘Live Stream’ on the Boutique sometime for a Hang Out with the Boutique Community?
Mike: 100 Percent I would love to live stream.
Any Closing words?: Be Decent.
You can find 4DCB on Facebook. Also, take a moment to check out Mike’s awesome Hex Panels.
4DCB Interview originally posted on Billet Boutique.
