902 Cartomizer Impressions
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I got questions about these cartos:
1) Is the filler "washable"
2) Is there any way to possibly "clean" the atty and reuse (see #1)
1) Is the filler "washable"
2) Is there any way to possibly "clean" the atty and reuse (see #1)
Great, questions. I haven't tried for one reason. If the filler comes out, you ain't getting it back in. It is wrapped AROUND the atomizer element. So the only way that will happen is to clean both the filler and element together, and I haven't bothered. I gave up on cleaning attys quite a while ago though (other than blowing them out).
An update:
These things I feel do last more than long enough for the money. In fact, technically I haven't killed one yet, but I did move on to fresh ones because the filler seems to be the thing that goes first - which is a good sign on build I guess. I like that I can get 5 of these for less than one atty. I'm still loving how consistent each drag is, and how easy to refill it is. I do still use an atty too sometimes though, at night when I'm home, for a harder hit.
An update:
These things I feel do last more than long enough for the money. In fact, technically I haven't killed one yet, but I did move on to fresh ones because the filler seems to be the thing that goes first - which is a good sign on build I guess. I like that I can get 5 of these for less than one atty. I'm still loving how consistent each drag is, and how easy to refill it is. I do still use an atty too sometimes though, at night when I'm home, for a harder hit.
Well, I ask that question because my mother-in-law bought an njoy Pro, and when she brought it over, one of the first things I did was take one of her empty cartos, remove the filler, rinsed it, dried it, and refilled with MV RY-4, then showed her how. The filler in those carts was like a piece of cloth wrapped around the atty.
Took 5 minutes and little bit of patience, but it's actually pretty easy. So, I'm wondering if the filler in these carts is similar. If so, I'm in...
Took 5 minutes and little bit of patience, but it's actually pretty easy. So, I'm wondering if the filler in these carts is similar. If so, I'm in...
OMFG! I'm IN LOVE!!!
(and I take back every awful thing I ever said about cartos without ever trying one...THEY ROCK!!!)
I got some empty cartos (along with a gift, THANKS JULIA!!!), filled one up with RY4 (pop out the cap, easy as cake, holds a little more than a cart for sure), left the outer cap off and put on a round tip, walked out the door, then proceeded to put on a Steam Locomotive impersonation for two hours solid while out shopping. Still not empty. Never got "weak"...extremely consistent vapor. TH is slightly lower than stock, but still there. Doesn't really get hot either, like a regular atty will if you treat it like a pacifier.
Now, we'll compare and contrast the "care and feeding" vs carts later, but I have a very good feeling about this...
I can't stop sucking on the thing. It's like CRACK now. Thanks, MV!
(and I take back every awful thing I ever said about cartos without ever trying one...THEY ROCK!!!)
I got some empty cartos (along with a gift, THANKS JULIA!!!), filled one up with RY4 (pop out the cap, easy as cake, holds a little more than a cart for sure), left the outer cap off and put on a round tip, walked out the door, then proceeded to put on a Steam Locomotive impersonation for two hours solid while out shopping. Still not empty. Never got "weak"...extremely consistent vapor. TH is slightly lower than stock, but still there. Doesn't really get hot either, like a regular atty will if you treat it like a pacifier.
Now, we'll compare and contrast the "care and feeding" vs carts later, but I have a very good feeling about this...
I can't stop sucking on the thing. It's like CRACK now. Thanks, MV!
You said it perfectly. Great vapor. Little weaker hit but crazy consistent to the end, which takes a while to reach. I didn't see the point either until I got one. Very easy to fill, but I keep that inner cap/o ring off as well.
I still use my attys sometimes at night when I'm home and I've learned to use an atty for trying a new flavor, because you don't want to fill a whole carto with a flavor you wind up not liking.
I still use my attys sometimes at night when I'm home and I've learned to use an atty for trying a new flavor, because you don't want to fill a whole carto with a flavor you wind up not liking.
Nope, and I have many attys, a passthrough, and SideShos (plural) for trying out new flavors. But I'm def hooked on the carto for the "portable". My carts will probably get pared down to passthrough duty and a couple of spares with an atty for "emergencies".
Question: Do these cartos separate at the battery end like most? I'd like to know before I break one trying to get it open.
Question: Do these cartos separate at the battery end like most? I'd like to know before I break one trying to get it open.
Good question, but I can't answer that one. Yeah the potability factor is great. I just got home from being out all day. Had a LUX attached to a 902 carto and never had to mess with. I'm home now and slapped on an atty for a bit.
well, almost a month solid with cartos, and I can honestly say I've 98% switched. I still keep my SideSho attys around for testing flavor combos (or quick drip-hits), but my 902 carts have been largely retired. Foam tastes yucky now, filled cartos last "a year", and refilling is a 30-second affair with no mess.
Oh, btw: I've successfully cleaned a couple of cartos also. Here's how I did it:
After you pick it back up, you'll notice the carto filling is a very bright white, almost like it's been bleached. I can't speak for the state of the filament, as I have yet to fully autopsy one of these, but I've cleaned one particular carto three times, and it's still going strong.
Oh, btw: I've successfully cleaned a couple of cartos also. Here's how I did it:
- Peel the sticker and clean off the glue (a paper towel partially moistened with alcohol works wonders for getting the glue off). Your carto will now be stainless steel, but at least you know which are "new" and which aren't
- From the "business end", take out the o-rings, and fill with alcohol. Blow the alcohol through the atty end (careful, don't get any in your mouth), repeat 3x
- On last blow-out, keep blowing to ensure you get as much alc out as possible
- set aside, let dry for 2-3 days.
After you pick it back up, you'll notice the carto filling is a very bright white, almost like it's been bleached. I can't speak for the state of the filament, as I have yet to fully autopsy one of these, but I've cleaned one particular carto three times, and it's still going strong.
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Funny you should revive this thread today when I came here to do the same. I'm going to post my thoughts before reading yours though. Surprisingly, not much has changed since my initial impression. Each cart does seem to hold up for at least a week. In my case though, I'd say I give them a week. I rotate three at a time so I have to refill less often and about three weeks later, I feel like its time to get some fresh ones. I don't think its the element that goes bad though. I feel like the filler material stops being as efficient. I actually love this filler but after time, it either doesn't absorb as much or doesn't pass the juice to the element as efficiently. Hey, that's why these are disposable. So it costs me about $6/month plus juice compared to A LOT on analogs.
The main reason I like these is the consistency. Every drag is like the last. No gurgling or sometimes have too much or too little juice. The vapor is just as consistent and I'd say as the amount of vapor is as good as the atty, or at least very close. The throat hit is almost as good. I need throat hit, so its definitely close enough to the 902 atty that its not an issue. The only slight issue for me still is that the taste is slightly different than the atty. Some people say they taste the blue foam (which I use in my atomizers) and perhaps I actually do taste it - and like it. Who knows. Or perhaps its that the cartomizers run a little cooler, accounting for the a possible slight decrease in throat hit (maybe vapor) and an increase in flavor, which I'm not as accustomed to. Obviously none of these differences have deterred me from preferring the cartomizers - and I was one of those that couldn't see the point in a "disposable" carto over and atty and cart. The other selling point for me is still the easy of refills. I know the different method but I still prefer simply removing the end of the carto and the inner o ring, leaving them off and using a 902 round tip. Its so easy to pop off and refill with no mess. Also, being I use these mostly with a LUX battery, the round tip allows it to stick out far enough.
A few other things to be aware of though....
-When you fill these the way I do, if you want to avoid any clean-up what so ever, drip your juice 5 drops at a time around the edge into the filler material while trying to avoid getting too much directly in the cent hole of the filler as it can go straight through and out the battery end. Its rare that this happens though. I initially drip a total of 25 drops in a fresh carto. After that I refill with about 20 drops until about a week in when it will only seem to take 5 or 10. Still, I drop 5 at a time and let it soak in, which only take a few seconds. If the filler appears to be saturated, I'm done.
-I don't like the sticker around the cartomizer. Once it starts to peel, feel free to peel it off and then rub the adhesive off of the carto. For those not using a tip like me, I'm sure the sticker feels better on the mouth than metal, but I use a tip - and actually prefer the metal look no matter which color LUX I'm using.
-It appears that about one carto out of every 2 boxes has the filler packed a little too tight (or loose?) with only a small hole in the center. This hole allows the air to flow when you take a drag. Feel free to use something like a paperclip to reopen that hole by gently pushing the filler out to the sides. Be aware that you may ruin your carto though by messing the filler up or pulling it out.
That's about it for now. I do still use an atomizer when I'm home at night sometimes, but honestly that is happening less and less.
I'm going to post my thoughts before reading yours though. Surprisingly, not much has changed since my initial impression. Each cart does seem to hold up for at least a week. In my case though, I'd say I give them a week. I rotate three at a time so I have to refill less often and about three weeks later, I feel like its time to get some fresh ones. I don't think its the element that goes bad though. I feel like the filler material stops being as efficient. I actually love this filler but after time, it either doesn't absorb as much or doesn't pass the juice to the element as efficiently. Hey, that's why these are disposable. So it costs me about $6/month plus juice compared to A LOT on analogs.The main reason I like these is the consistency. Every drag is like the last. No gurgling or sometimes have too much or too little juice. The vapor is just as consistent and I'd say as the amount of vapor is as good as the atty, or at least very close. The throat hit is almost as good. I need throat hit, so its definitely close enough to the 902 atty that its not an issue. The only slight issue for me still is that the taste is slightly different than the atty. Some people say they taste the blue foam (which I use in my atomizers) and perhaps I actually do taste it - and like it. Who knows. Or perhaps its that the cartomizers run a little cooler, accounting for the a possible slight decrease in throat hit (maybe vapor) and an increase in flavor, which I'm not as accustomed to. Obviously none of these differences have deterred me from preferring the cartomizers - and I was one of those that couldn't see the point in a "disposable" carto over and atty and cart. The other selling point for me is still the easy of refills. I know the different method but I still prefer simply removing the end of the carto and the inner o ring, leaving them off and using a 902 round tip. Its so easy to pop off and refill with no mess. Also, being I use these mostly with a LUX battery, the round tip allows it to stick out far enough.
A few other things to be aware of though....
-When you fill these the way I do, if you want to avoid any clean-up what so ever, drip your juice 5 drops at a time around the edge into the filler material while trying to avoid getting too much directly in the cent hole of the filler as it can go straight through and out the battery end. Its rare that this happens though. I initially drip a total of 25 drops in a fresh carto. After that I refill with about 20 drops until about a week in when it will only seem to take 5 or 10. Still, I drop 5 at a time and let it soak in, which only take a few seconds. If the filler appears to be saturated, I'm done.
-I don't like the sticker around the cartomizer. Once it starts to peel, feel free to peel it off and then rub the adhesive off of the carto. For those not using a tip like me, I'm sure the sticker feels better on the mouth than metal, but I use a tip - and actually prefer the metal look no matter which color LUX I'm using.
-It appears that about one carto out of every 2 boxes has the filler packed a little too tight (or loose?) with only a small hole in the center. This hole allows the air to flow when you take a drag. Feel free to use something like a paperclip to reopen that hole by gently pushing the filler out to the sides. Be aware that you may ruin your carto though by messing the filler up or pulling it out.
That's about it for now. I do still use an atomizer when I'm home at night sometimes, but honestly that is happening less and less.
Funny you should revive this thread today when I came here to do the same.
Great minds think alike!
I have a large paper clip that I bent completely straight with a small "L" on the end for control. I use it to "hook" the o-rings out of my cartos, as well as for clearing blockage as you've mentioned above.
Just GENTLY push a straigtened paper clip or stickpin straight down through the atomizer end of the carto. If you feel it bump something, that's the element. Retract a bit, wiggle in a slight different direction, and keep going until it emerges through the hole in the filler. Once you get it all the way through, you can play it around to open that hole up. Ideally, you should be able to see light all the way through the cartomizer from either end. Don't make it too big, though. That will allow juice to leak right through too easily. I usually go for about a 1-1.5mm hole.
I just read you post, auTONYmous. I forgot to mention using an atty to test flavors is best rather than dedicating the filler of a carto.
Good to know about cleaning - its just never worked out well for me with any atty even haha.
Good to know about cleaning - its just never worked out well for me with any atty even haha.
THE NEW REDESIGNED 902 CARTOMIZER
I got my package today. The sticker, filler and element seem to be like the new Sidesho cartomizer. I don't know if its LR. As much as I liked and mostly moved onto the original 902 cartomizer, I was missing a touch of the throat hit and missed the type of flavor of the atty. These were minor so the positives outweighed the negatives. I really really liked the Sidesho carto though. This new 902 carto definitely reminds me of the Sidesho carto. So far I like it even more than the original 902 carto for the reasons I listed. The throat hit is almost dead on to the atty and the flavor is much closer. I'm very very happy. I will admit that for the past few weeks, I drip on the newer LR SS Sidesho atty with the longer bridge. That thing is amazing. But now I'll be even happier all day long.
I got my package today. The sticker, filler and element seem to be like the new Sidesho cartomizer. I don't know if its LR. As much as I liked and mostly moved onto the original 902 cartomizer, I was missing a touch of the throat hit and missed the type of flavor of the atty. These were minor so the positives outweighed the negatives. I really really liked the Sidesho carto though. This new 902 carto definitely reminds me of the Sidesho carto. So far I like it even more than the original 902 carto for the reasons I listed. The throat hit is almost dead on to the atty and the flavor is much closer. I'm very very happy. I will admit that for the past few weeks, I drip on the newer LR SS Sidesho atty with the longer bridge. That thing is amazing. But now I'll be even happier all day long.
Well, we are split here. I agree with you on the TH and taste, but my wife thinks they produce a harsher taste than the original 902 carto. My only problem is that it will not make a connection with my LUX batt. I've tried to raise the center contact on the battery and the carto but it will not make a connection. Works great with my 902 batts.
I forgot to mention that is works fine with the pass-through also.
I forgot to mention that is works fine with the pass-through also.
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Oh no, that's weird, I had no problem getting it to connect to my LUX. Hopefully Tony reads this or send him an email so future cartos can be checked. I agree with your wife actually but prefer that. The original 902 carto had a cooler burn I felt which made the juice less harsh and more sweet. These new cartos taste much more like an atomizer or Sidesho carto and to me that is a truer taste.
Oh I forgot one of the most impressive things. on the old cartos I was impressed that my initial fill would be 25 drops and my refills would be about 20 drops (although over time that would drop to 10 or 15 drops). I fill until it still looks a little saturated after a few seconds without soaking in. I filled two of these new cartos. One too 35 drops and the other too FORTY FIVE.
I wondered about that because i dripped 25 drops and it seemed to want more. Nice!
After talking to my wife again, it's not so much a harsh taste but a unpleasant aftertaste. She vapes menthol so you might be right that the original carto burned cooler. Maybe Tony will comment.
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