A couple carto questions

[vapedraper]

Now im kinda new at this, but i have already learned a lot from everyone here (thanks guys) and on my own, but there is one thing i am not to sure of.

My cartos seem to be losing performance.

It seems to me that their are two different vapors, those that think cleaning is required, and those who think it isnt necessary. This is where i need help.

I bought a 5 pack of 2.0 boge cartos from liberty flights a couple weeks ago and they are already starting to lose their kick (i admit, i did incinerate one of them). They have a bunch of gunk on the connector and threads (dried liq from a couple over fills) and i wonder if that is drawing power from the carto. I am about to clean them to find out, but if it doesnt work, what else could it be?

I currently use a riva 510 (which is excellent) and that also has a little build of of liq on its connector (just enough to be visable).

Could this be my problem? Or is their something else i am over looking?

-Charlie

 

[GregH]

You should definitely wipe down your threads. Gunk increases the resistance and, therefore, lowers the performance.

You could also try blowing them out to clear out any old juice and then refilling. Also, can you see light through the center hole? If not, blow it out some more until you can. I've read that some have stuck an unbent paperclip into the hole to help clear out any gunked up juice. Just be careful, though, and do it as a last resort (at least at first).

Another question: how old are your cartos that are currently in use? Their performance does degrade over time; they are considered disposable after all. I use only one at a time and use it for a week. It's still working OK at the end of the week (not as great as when I started it, but still satisfactory). But they're cheap enough, I just toss it and start fresh.

Some people have reported using one upwards of two weeks. And some people boil them. There are some Youtube videos on how to do that.

 

[CardinalWinds]

I don't bother cleaning out cartomizers...too much hassle. As GregH says, they are a consumable part of the setup. I do take meticulous care of them, however. I always keep them wet and after filling I carefully rid the threaded end of any excess juice. I have one that's been going fine for a month now. It's about time to chuck it as it has some carmalization built up around the center tube, but as long as you keep them up. any one carto should be good for 1-2 weeks at least.

 

[vapedraper]

They are only a couple weeks old, and yes now when i fill them i always check to see the center is clear (it is also a good indicator of over filling). The thing is that its not only the threads, but the center post on the bottom. Im not sure if you have seen a boge 510 carto, but they have a hollow thread and a post in the middle, and the post is insulated from the threads. This makes me believe that gunk in between the threads and post could be the problem.

 

[hairball]

Use a q-tip and some alcohol to clean everything including your battery connections.

I clean my carto's. I've had one Boge standard that has been kicking for close to a month and I use it almost everyday. When the draw gets tight, I rinse in hot water and shake out as much as I can. Then it goes into an ultra sonic jewelry cleaner for 4 cycles (3 minutes each cycle) with plain water. Drain jewelry cleaner. Remove carto's and sling out again. I put mine in a food dehydrator overnight on high. Done and dried out by morning. I do a bunch at a time so it's not a waste of time and energy.

 

[Nomoreash]

Keep the connections clean no matter what your using. Both male and female. You don't have to go overboard with it, just periodically wipe the threads and end down with a Q-Tip and alcohol or something. I use alcohol because it evaporates quickly. You can use other thing as well, just make sure to dry it good.

I doubt that's your issue though, cartos are mde to be disposable and getting a few weeks out of them is actually pretty good. Some people have had success cleaning cartos with filler but I never have and spent to much time trying so I just tossed them.

 

[LeAnn]

I think carto's are expensive so I clean mine. I pour boiling water on them in a bowl and let them soak till they cool. Depending how much build up and gunk in them I may do it several times. Then I put them in the oven on the lowest setting after slinging and blowing them out, let them set for a day or two and they are good to go again.

 

[mistinthewoods]

Yeah, you do need to keep the connections clean (cartos AND PV connections).
I toss my cartos when they start to get a bit funky (usually a week or two). Using an $8.00 or $9.00 box of cartos in a month and a half is less than I spent on cigs in a single day.

 

[Bozzlite]

Well, a couple of weeks is not bad for cartos. That's about what I get out of mine refilling once a day. (Rotating 4 Egos and cartos)

At a minimum, you should wipe down the male threads on the carto and the female threads and contact on the PV each time you refill a carto or recharge the battery.

Also, clean the threads and contact point on the charger once in a while so that you have a good connection for charging.

 

[Tiari]

I use boge cartos, and found, cleaning them never works. I've tried just about every method under the sun, and never get a draw off them again...... and waste a lot of juice trying. In general I just use one until it dies, but always clean the threaded ends after a fill, and blow it out a bit. Seeping juice getting cooked on the connectors on both ends will ruin a battery, and reduce the performance of the carto.

I still seriously don't know how people are getting a week or two out of a single carto, I have to change mine about every day and a half or so due to drop in performance.

 

[vapedraper]

How well does the jewelry cleaner work? i have never heard of anyone cleaning a carto with on and im interested.

 

[vapedraper]

Then it goes into an ultra sonic jewelry cleaner for 4 cycles (3 minutes each cycle) with plain water. Drain jewelry cleaner. Remove carto's and sling out again. I put mine in a food dehydrator overnight on high. Done and dried out by morning. I do a bunch at a time so it's not a waste of time and energy.

this system sounds great!, how well do you think this works compared to more conventional methods?

 

[wdave]

I never cleaned my 3-piece JOYE 510. That seemed to give the best results, because I never the attie dry out. It's best for my carto as well.

However, my experience is that the eGo-T needs to be cleaned regularly.

HTH,
Dave