Question about refilling cartridges

[Kat]

Today is my 7th day of vaping, and so far I'm loving it. I haven't quit analogs completely yet, but I've cut way, way down from the 30+ cigs a day I've been going through for the past 28 years, so I figure it's all good. My husband goes through 2 cartons a week, so I figure if he can even cut his consumption in half, we'll come out ahead. (A girl can dream, right?)

So far, I've been able to figure stuff out from going through the forums and watching some of the excellent videos that people have made for newbies like my husband and me. I've got a question about cartridges, though, that I haven't been able to find an answer to so far.

We've been topping off cartridges with e-liquid and it's working great, but how many times can we keep doing it before we need to remove and wash the batting and start fresh? How often should we break out a brand new cartridge? And I've been switching between different flavored carts -- I put the little white "condom" thing back on, and the black cap over that and keep them in a small plastic box when a cart's not in use -- how long are these open but filled carts good for?

OK, so it was THREE questions, but they are related.

Kat

[Idahojo]

Very good questions, Kat. I'm new at this too & was wondering the same thing. So far I've been adding liquid to 3 of them but can't vape full time because I'm having issues with the batteries. They seem to be lasting longer every time I charge them. I have the Pilot 401. I need help with that too. Am wondering if that is normal. I love this forum. Very helpful. But a HUGE time killer.

[Kat]

I love this forum. Very helpful. But a HUGE time killer.

LOL! Agreed!!

My husband and I got several different kinds to try out: we've already got a pair of 901s and a pen style, and the Pilot Hybrid from PS should be arriving soon. I'll have to keep an eye on the batteries and let you know.

[breakfastchef]

Topping off tends to be a superficial way to extend the use of the cartridge until you are ready to spend some time cleaning and refilling your used carts. I find a topped off cart is only good for a few decent drags and it is dry again. When you are topping off excessively, time to move on to a new/refilled (i.e. fully-saturated cart.

I generally refill carts once every week to two weeks. Spent carts are stored in a ziplock bag until then. Old cart fillings are removed and e-liquid is squeezed in a large diameter syringe into a special bottle contains squeezings of all the flavors that I may have used. I keep this for emergencies, but have been know to sample it just for fun.

I have thrown away some of the stuffing if it looks nasty or if it has completely lost its shape. Both are subjective criteria. There have been several suggestions about replacement material on the e-cig forums from aquarium filter material to batting one might use in quilting. Just about any spun poly material should work, but you do need to experiment to find the right amount of material that can hold and wick e-liquid to your atomizer.

I like to store newly refilled carts in a Tupperware-like container or ziploc baggie. Anything that is relatively airtight is good. I would be comfortable with saying the carts will remain useable for several weeks. And yes, safe storage using the white 'condoms' and the inner rubber 'IUD's' is essential to preventing unnecessary leakage. Our carts must always be in formal dress prior to consumption.

[jimgman]

as long as you dont burn the material in them, they pretty much last forever. i've been using one single cart for months, and dont wash it or anything. it looked burned once(i guess i was fiending and smoked too fast and it burned a little). i took the material out, and squeezed it in a paper towel. it looked like new after that, so i put it back in and refilled. i think it was the fluid that burned, not the material. it made the material look burned though.

[ZambucaLu]

We've been topping off cartridges with e-liquid and it's working great, but how many times can we keep doing it before we need to remove and wash the batting and start fresh?

You'll know it when you need to.

How often should we break out a brand new cartridge?

When you feel the need to.

And I've been switching between different flavored carts -- I put the little white "condom" thing back on, and the black cap over that and keep them in a small plastic box when a cart's not in use -- how long are these open but filled carts good for?

I once read "use carts within 2 weeks once opened". I don't remember where I saw that and I haven't seen it since....but they may mean they will dry out if left open that long....and not necessarily something health related. But that's also open to interpretation.

OK, so it was THREE questions, but they are related.

Kat

I'm really not being wise here but I do believe you will be able to tell when a cartridge "has had it" and either needs to be cleaned or ditched once you get the hang of things.

Good luck!

Lu

[Kat]

Thank you all for your advice. It's exactly the sort of info I was looking for!

Lu-- you're right, I'm sure I will be able to tell when a cart is totally toasted. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't one of those things that you only find out for sure after it's too late. Like the coffee yogurt I found lurking about in the back of the fridge a few weeks back: no expiration date and I don't remember buying it and I can't really tell if it smells a bit or if I'm just imagining it, but what's the worse that could happen, eh?

Yeah. Right.