A couple questions on cartos.

[FranC]

I've only been using these for a month or so and I've lost 2-3 to bad atty's and another 2-3 got plugged up (hard to draw thru). I tossed them but now I'm wondering if they can be cleaned. Seems like I saw a post on that somewhere.
What is the difference between Gold and Plat cartos? I recently ordered and received some Plat. cartos from Iken cause when I ordered he had no gold. I have one in use and it works great but no better than the gold.
Has anyone tried the new V2 cartos yet? I have some ordered and was wondering.

 

[mistinthewoods]

Hi Fran. The V2 Golds are the "Drip Style" cartomizers That I've been raving about. I think they perform a LOT better than the Premium Golds that their design is based on. I think they perform better than any carto or atty I've tried yet. Isaac hasn't gotten them in yet. He thought he got them a couple days ago but the ones he got turned out to be some LR platinum's that were supposed to be for beta testing.

 

[FranC]

Hi Mist. Yes I have some of those cartos (V2 Gold) on order. Can't wait to try them.
Ever tried to clean a carto?

 

[mistinthewoods]

Yep. I cleaned this V2 I have about a week ago. I flushed it out with Everclear and a syringe. Isaac has since told me that there are fibers in it that you shouldn't expose to alcohol and suggested just rinsing it out with warm water. I'm starting week 3 with this carto and it's as good as new.

 

[FranC]

I rinsed 2 regular cartos out with hot water yesterday. How long to dry??

 

[Pokeygizmo]

I rinsed 2 regular cartos out with hot water yesterday. How long to dry??

Regular cartos with filler? Lots of ways to speed up drying time...

*Get all the excess water out by blowing, spinning, or using a syringe/turkey baster with a homemade adapter to "push" it out.
*Place in the oven at 170 (Heat oven to 170, place cartos in/on cookie sheet or pan, leave overnight - ready to go in am)
*Air dry - can take days, risk of becoming moldy; some people place them in a bag of dry rice, mold can still happen
*Place near a fan, use a hair dryer

I'll see if I can find a link to post here for you with some other tips...

 

[FranC]

Regular cartos with filler? Lots of ways to speed up drying time...

*Get all the excess water out by blowing, spinning, or using a syringe/turkey baster with a homemade adapter to "push" it out.
*Place in the oven at 170 (Heat oven to 170, place cartos in/on cookie sheet or pan, leave overnight - ready to go in am)
*Air dry - can take days, risk of becoming moldy; some people place them in a bag of dry rice, mold can still happen
*Place near a fan, use a hair dryer

I'll see if I can find a link to post here for you with some other tips...

Thanks Pokey and Merry Christmas.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

Merry Christmas to you, too, FranC!

Here is a video that I watched when I first started cleaning (note that cartos don't have o-rings anymore, don't let that throw you!)
The adapter she has on the end of the syringe is a pencil grip -- can be bought at office supply stores, dollar stores, CVS, etc.

YouTube - How to Clean E-cigarette Cartomizers (KR808D-1 Compatible)

Here's a second video that I watched (loooong ago) to get the idea down. I think, though, that most people have gotten away from boiling them? I am sure someone else will chime in.

http://www.ecignation.com/wordpress/?p=23

For some reason, I can't find the really good threads this morning, you may want to try typing in "carto cleaning" or "carto drying". I bet a gazillion hits will pop up!

 

[FranC]

Merry Christmas to you, too, FranC!

Here is a video that I watched when I first started cleaning (note that cartos don't have o-rings anymore, don't let that throw you!)
The adapter she has on the end of the syringe is a pencil grip -- can be bought at office supply stores, dollar stores, CVS, etc.

YouTube - How to Clean E-cigarette Cartomizers (KR808D-1 Compatible)

Here's a second video that I watched (loooong ago) to get the idea down. I think, though, that most people have gotten away from boiling them? I am sure someone else will chime in.

Cartomizer Cleaning (with video!) | Vapin' Valerie

For some reason, I can't find the really good threads this morning, you may want to try typing in "carto cleaning" or "carto drying". I bet a gazillion hits will pop up!

Thanks for taking the time Pokey. I'll have to hunt the pieces up now.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

I just had one of those a-ha moments, but it has nothing to do with cartos...

I remember you were asking about vape alternatives that weren't sweet. When I first started vaping, many, many die-hard tobacco analog fans were posting that they were pleasantly surprised how satisfying a menthol vape could be for a change-up.

These were the peeps who would NEVER have smoked a menthol analog, but they became "addicted" to menthol type juice for their alternative to their tobacco juices...

Just a thought for you consideration since sweet vapes don't sit right with you...

 

[mistinthewoods]

Fran, several people whom I trust say that they set their cartos on a cable box or some other electronic device that produces a gentle heat to dry over night. Just an idea. Make sure they're blown out good first. Don't want water dripping into your electronics.

 

[Shihzam]

I still use the hot water method with distilled water because I can taste our city water and it's not good. I tried the PGA and that was a disaster for me, ruined a couple good cartos, can not stand the taste. I figure if I can get a week to 2 weeks of use from a carto and making my own liquid, I get my cost of cartos and juice down to less than $1.50/day. Now if I can just kick this Mod habit I could start to save some money!...LOL

 

[mistinthewoods]

That's gonna be a hard one to quit. I seem to go shopping for a new one every three months or so and by the time I get it three more new ones come out. Why must they torture me so?

 

[FranC]

I just had one of those a-ha moments, but it has nothing to do with cartos...

I remember you were asking about vape alternatives that weren't sweet. When I first started vaping, many, many die-hard tobacco analog fans were posting that they were pleasantly surprised how satisfying a menthol vape could be for a change-up.

These were the peeps who would NEVER have smoked a menthol analog, but they became "addicted" to menthol type juice for their alternative to their tobacco juices...

Just a thought for you consideration since sweet vapes don't sit right with you...

Strangly enough I've been considering that for some time. haven't brought myself to taking the plunge yet as I hated Menthol cigs. Maybe I could add a sample of somthing from my reguler vendors. Any suggestions from BWB,VapeRite or VaporStation? Or Halo and AV.

 

[Wharf Rat]

I haven't had BWB menthol, but his eJoker is awesome! I've never tried Fire & Ice, but I guess this is Don's version, though I've heard much more sudued. Very nice cool inhale with a little heat on exhale. It's hard to get, e-mailing Don is the way to place an order for this as well as the RY4.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

Halo's Menthol Ice was favorite of mine for a long time, it has a hint of vanilla in the exhale. Cool is lighter menthol (I think they call it Cool Mist, now) and didn't have as much a vanilla hint. Newport/Newpure was a very bright menthol, no taste of vanilla but (back then, anyways) no tobacco tones.

I was a menthol smoker and spent the first 4 months of vaping trying various menthols trying to find the "right" one. But I've never tried any of the vendors' you listed... I've ventured into other juices and only vape menthol occasionally and I hadn't found them at that point. I actually use a mix of Vermont Vaper Menthol and Ry4 as my goto menthol, now.

I know that a lot of people like FSUSA's PureCig with a splash of menthol added as it mimics a good menthol analog. Can't vouch for it myself.

Might I recommend getting some menthol drops and adding it to your favorite tobaccos to give it a try? Just be wary, a little menthol goes a LOOOONNNG way !

Something else I learned on my hunt for the perfect menthol...some vendors' menthols are just that, pure menthol. Some vendors' menthols are minty/menthol mix (meh, for me, but loved by others). Some are menthol/tobacco vapes. Read the fine print carefully, look for reviews so you know what you're gettting.

PM incoming!

 

[mistinthewoods]

My menthol is just PAs tobacco blend in PG (tobacco absolute diluted ) with a touch of menthol liquid (crystals disolved in PGA) and I've been told by several people that it's better than any that they have bought. I think it's good to keep it simple and light on menthol.

 

[FranC]

Halo's Menthol Ice was favorite of mine for a long time, it has a hint of vanilla in the exhale. Cool is lighter menthol (I think they call it Cool Mist, now) and didn't have as much a vanilla hint. Newport/Newpure was a very bright menthol, no taste of vanilla but (back then, anyways) no tobacco tones.

I was a menthol smoker and spent the first 4 months of vaping trying various menthols trying to find the "right" one. But I've never tried any of the vendors' you listed... I've ventured into other juices and only vape menthol occasionally and I hadn't found them at that point. I actually use a mix of Vermont Vaper Menthol and Ry4 as my goto menthol, now.

I know that a lot of people like FSUSA's PureCig with a splash of menthol added as it mimics a good menthol analog. Can't vouch for it myself.

Might I recommend getting some menthol drops and adding it to your favorite tobaccos to give it a try? Just be wary, a little menthol goes a LOOOONNNG way !

Something else I learned on my hunt for the perfect menthol...some vendors' menthols are just that, pure menthol. Some vendors' menthols are minty/menthol mix (meh, for me, but loved by others). Some are menthol/tobacco vapes. Read the fine print carefully, look for reviews so you know what you're gettting.

PM incoming!

I've decided to try VaporStation's Frost which is described as a menthol blend with an icy flavor.No mention of mint but if it turns out to be a minty menthol that's OK too.I never liked menthol cigs so I'm not going with a menthol tobacco but when I get it I think I'll see if it can make some tobacco's I don't like vapable. I was trying to vape one of my not favorite tobacco juices today and decided to add a drop of Berry Mint. It was pretty good.
Where would I find menthol drops? If I turn out to like menthol I might want to get some.

 

[FranC]

Halo's Menthol Ice was favorite of mine for a long time, it has a hint of vanilla in the exhale. Cool is lighter menthol (I think they call it Cool Mist, now) and didn't have as much a vanilla hint. Newport/Newpure was a very bright menthol, no taste of vanilla but (back then, anyways) no tobacco tones.

I was a menthol smoker and spent the first 4 months of vaping trying various menthols trying to find the "right" one. But I've never tried any of the vendors' you listed... I've ventured into other juices and only vape menthol occasionally and I hadn't found them at that point. I actually use a mix of Vermont Vaper Menthol and Ry4 as my goto menthol, now.

I know that a lot of people like FSUSA's PureCig with a splash of menthol added as it mimics a good menthol analog. Can't vouch for it myself.

Might I recommend getting some menthol drops and adding it to your favorite tobaccos to give it a try? Just be wary, a little menthol goes a LOOOONNNG way !

Something else I learned on my hunt for the perfect menthol...some vendors' menthols are just that, pure menthol. Some vendors' menthols are minty/menthol mix (meh, for me, but loved by others). Some are menthol/tobacco vapes. Read the fine print carefully, look for reviews so you know what you're gettting.

PM incoming!

PM returned.

 

[FranC]

Fran, several people whom I trust say that they set their cartos on a cable box or some other electronic device that produces a gentle heat to dry over night. Just an idea. Make sure they're blown out good first. Don't want water dripping into your electronics.

Thanks Mist. You know it has completly slipped my mind that we have a wood stove going 24/7. It's an Ashley and the firebox has a metal cabinet around it. Perfect for drying. LOL