Anyone give up on the Lipton Pyramid Tea Bag filler?

**Scottes** · 10-28-2009, 06:01 PM

I almost gave up on PTB. Even bought the latest craze, the Blue Filter material from a pet store.

But then both my 510 PTB carts started working perfectly. One on a 5-volt Prodigy, the other on a 3.7-volt Chuck. When either one starts to go dry I notice a drop-off in taste - not vapor, not burning. So I top them off with 8 or 9 drops of juice, depending on how patient I've been between vapes. If I've been very patient between vapes I have gotten 11 drops, but this has happened only 4 or 5 times in the last week.

The PTB in both carts is a mess. The centers are mashed in from forcing against the bridge. Both have one section of the outer-most layer partially folded-over on one side. And both have 2 small holes running down the center. Kinda like the PTB was wound around 2 needles and then the needles were removed.

They vape like a dream, and usually suck up 9 drops of juice between fills, and they're not even dry at that point. Almost every other PTB I've made would only take 4 drops, occasionally 5, when they were dry. I'm afraid to touch these cartridges, or clean them. I just keep on filling and vaping.

Other than the 2 holes, I have no idea what is different between these and any other PTB cart I've made.

**sunsetnkc** · 10-28-2009, 06:17 PM

I have been using the PTB but like most of you, can't really see much difference between anything I have tried. Seems the trick is just to keep adding drops every now and then. I do get lot of gurgling with the PTB if not really careful, and most of the thinner fluids are the worst.

**Winace** · 10-28-2009, 06:20 PM

Hell yea, mixed up no nic juice, all VG and 20% (by volume) rasberry extract (Walmart brand "Great Value") and damn this is good! I cut a foam insert with no compression, just cut to fit, to handle this extra thick stuff.

Oh yea, pretty good throat hit too, due to the alcohol is my guess!

**Winace** · 10-28-2009, 07:03 PM

The PTB mod is very dependent on the space between the rolls. The more even the spacing the better. The bigger the spacing, the more potential of atty flooding. The tighter the space, the less wicking (capilary) action and less volume the cart will hold. With the foam you can more easily control the interstitial spacing by compression, more viscous (thick) fluids need less compression of cart filler, less viscous (thin) fluid needs smaller air spaces. In either case, PTB or foam, the more control you have over this spacing will be the leader in wicking material. As far as I see it, the foam wins hands down. Even rolling the center as tight as I could with the PTB I could not get a controlled spiraling when in the cart, which led to big headaches and flooded attys. On a good note, I think I just created my favorite vape! Had some Marlboro 36mg I needed to cut down. Mixed 40 drops 36mg Marlboro base with 12 drops coconut extract and 8 drops glycerin (made a 24mg juice). Feels like I am vaping one of those coconut covered marshmallows... friggin awesome!

**Winace** · 10-28-2009, 07:32 PM

I have officially exceeded the most hits I have ever taken without topping off. I also have exceeded the most hits without taking off the atty and blowing it in my shirt because it is flooded. I'm sold. I have 4 carts made up with juice in each one, this is the first time I have been able to do this, just pull one cart off and pop another on with flavor coming through on second hit of the new cart. I am now a believer. I was looking at getting a different PV, but looks like the 510 will do just fine now.

**gotthelife4u** · 10-28-2009, 07:59 PM

I was using the PTB and really was having a hard time getting it to work right. I just started using Fluval and I have to say its really easy to work with. I have noticed with Fluval I don't get as much flavor but the throat hit is there. I would say I get more flavor with fluval than I did the the PTB.

**Eric in AK** · 10-29-2009, 06:57 AM

My results with PTB were hit or miss: They never flooded the atomizer, but some were almost impossible to inhale through and others were wonderful. I realized that the filler material in the pre-fills that came with my 510 worked just fine, so now I use those exclusively. They're consistent, they draw nicely, I get great vapor, they hold plenty of liquid that they release evenly to the atomizer. I have absolutely no reason to spend any time cutting, folding, shredding, experimenting, etc.

I rinse the filler stuff (whatever it is) every few days, dry it out, and it's good as new. I don't think I need any more vapor than I'm already getting, which is quite a bit. I just make sure to top off the filler every now and then and I'm good for half a day easy on each one. Maybe I'm not a serious enough vaper!

**FizzleFisch** · 10-29-2009, 09:19 AM

Aeennnhhh... (*supposed to be a 'buzzer' sound)

I tried the PTB. Worked with it quite a while.. both with Joye510's & Janty Stick(801eqivalent)

It was (in my experience) pretty subjective to say the least. Hit-or-miss is a very good way to describe it. -- I'm a technical guy, so all the previous posts (lots of detail) about how you prep &/or work with the material wasn't lost on me.

-- After all was said & done.. I can happily report that MY SOLUTION was to abandon the PTB approach and go for the 100% wool alternative.

Works like a charm....trust me. (or not..whatever you like

)

fisch