I am sure someone will do a more comprehensive thread at some point, but I thought I would make it easier on us all by starting a thread where each of us can post the question we answer most, and the answers that we found with regard to this model. I will start:
Q. I thought cartomizers were disposable. Can you refill them like you refill carts for the other models? It seems expensive to just toss out a cartomizer when the juice is gone.
A. You can absolutely refill a cartomizer, in fact, most of us do. I personally refill mine at least 6 times each, and quite often more than that! Once you get used to it, refilling a cartomizer is just as easy as refilling a cart on the other models. An added benefit - cartomizers hold much more juice than carts and as a result you refill them less often! Here is a great video by kc0cmp showing one of the methods.
For those who can't view videos, some written instructions:
Refilling a cartomizer:
Q. I thought cartomizers were disposable. Can you refill them like you refill carts for the other models? It seems expensive to just toss out a cartomizer when the juice is gone.
A. You can absolutely refill a cartomizer, in fact, most of us do. I personally refill mine at least 6 times each, and quite often more than that! Once you get used to it, refilling a cartomizer is just as easy as refilling a cart on the other models. An added benefit - cartomizers hold much more juice than carts and as a result you refill them less often! Here is a great video by kc0cmp showing one of the methods.
For those who can't view videos, some written instructions:
Refilling a cartomizer:
- Take the cartomizer off of the battery and insert the plug piece. Some also put on an end cap condom for stability while working.
- Hold the cartomizer with your non primary hand. Use a dental hook or other strong metal hook to insert into the mouthpiece end. You can either brute force it here (yank hard as heck) or you can gently pry going around in circles to loosen all the edges.
- Remove both the plastic cap and the inner "o" ring. At this point you should be able to see the batting and the metal piece that is hooked into it.
- Hold the empty cartomizer with the open end toward you at a slight angle and drip 10-20 drops into the batting (I let it run down the side). The drop variation is significant because all juices have different thicknesses and different bottle drip larger or smaller drops.
- If you have a small white section left unsaturated you can add one or two more drops to that side.
- If you have pooling above the batting you can try the plunger method. Take one of the round condoms that comes with each cartomizer and place it over the still open mouthpiece end. Slide it down about half way and place your fingers underneath the edge to hold it in place and keep it from slipping when you "plunge." Use your other hand to gently plunge the condom up and down, this will shove juice further down into the batting and help clear out any that spilled in the center tube. If you still have pooling, twist up a Kleenex and mop out the juice.
- Put the "o" ring back in so it is flush with the top of the mouthpiece end. Put the white cap back on (this will push down the o ring to the right position)
- Remove the plug from the battery end.
- You can use it now or save it for later. If you save it, just keep the plug in place and condom both ends (will keep the batting moist longer)
