Adeventures in Juice-land: Filling my Own

[katz-in-boots]

Monday morning here, my first attempt at filling my own cartomizers, using the syringe method, Wow Wowboy Peppermint into cool carts, wow carts & used prefill wow carts.

What a mess! My house reeks of Wowboy Peppermint, and it may put me off one of my favourite flavours for life. Do you think it's possible some people are just not meant to fill their own???

Problem 1. Wrong size needle gauge.
My bevelled needles are 23 gauge, couldn't get juice into syringe. Had to use blunt needle 18 gauge, so not a great start. Will have to order correct size.

Problem 2. Filling syringe.
couldn't get blunt 18 gauge needle into juice bottle. Had to squeeze the juice into syringe top, then replace plunger, and the juice started dripping out of the needle as soon as I did this.

Problem 3. Getting blunt needle into bottom of carto
Wouldn't have been so much of an issue, except with juice already dripping out, it was messy so I wanted to get it in there faster.

Problem 4. Getting the right amoung of juice in
I've watched Sno's vids, I've read the posts, and I figures 1ml would be right. I thought Cool carts took more juice than wow, but for me they took less

Problem 5. Topping up used pre-fills
juice seemed to go straight through, or at least they didn't need much. Maybe they were already dead?

Not a great start to my adventures in juiceland. It's not something I want to do again, but I will reserve judgement until I have vaped the results. Fortunately I bought a manual battery that I dislike the colour of, just in case juice comes out.

Any tips on how to get around some of my (preventable) problems?

 

[Charlie58]

Untill you get a larger gauge needle you can pop the drip tip out of the bottle by gently pulling it to the side.
It should pop right out.
Then you should be able to get the needle into the bottle.
I've found that when topping off it only takes 1/3 to 1/2 of a ml. to fill the carto, also if you get a little too much juice in just draw it back up into the syringe.
Also for some reason I've had the odd carto where if you fill it too fast or have a little too much juice it gets in to the tube from the bottom so I always have a condom on the battery end just in case when filling.
If you do end up with a little juice in the center tube just take off the condom and do a quick blow through the carto from the muoth piece end holding a paper towel under it to catch the little bit of juice that comes out.
You can also do this if the carto gurgles during use after filling as this usually means it's over full.

 

[lujin4]

1,2 &3 The correct needle will take care of those.
4 ?
5 Were you using the .... plug and condom while doing this?

 

[Madcaprym]

I don't even use a syringe anymore , I just drip about 16 drips of liquid in the carto at a 45 degree angle, rotate , (it usually settles all at once) then wait a few sec and top it off the same way with about 3-4 more drops , if I over fill then I use my syringe to suck up the unsettled Liquid! This way works really well for me, I like this the best because it is less messy an works fast. I've tried every method you can find on YouTube but this is the best for me

 

[williebb123]

start dripping , no carts needed or if u are content to refill , remove the top from the bottle of juice insert syrenge , it should on drip from the needle tip , as for the ammount of juice to refill if its 1ml it may not hold 1ml when refilling inless its completly dry, try filling syrenge to 1ml but stop when 1/4 is left in syrenge maybe that will keep your mess to a minamum, after u do this several times youll get see about what workes for u , i use clearomizers xl sometimes if im driving you cen see the juice thru the sides of the cart , but i normaly just drip , a lot less fuss hope this helps dont give up or if all else fails try a different product ie ego tank , clearomizer, ect

 

[Chesterwiz]

Use drip method. Thats how I started and am currently.

 

[williebb123]

man i need to proof read b4 i post sorry

 

[Lisa66]

I don't even use a syringe anymore , I just drip about 16 drips of liquid in the carto at a 45 degree angle, rotate , (it usually settles all at once) then wait a few sec and top it off the same way with about 3-4 more drops , if I over fill then I use my syringe to suck up the unsettled Liquid! This way works really well for me, I like this the best because it is less messy an works fast. I've tried every method you can find on YouTube but this is the best for me

Same for me. Only thing I do differently is give it a few "thermometer" shakes between drops to help it move to the bottom of the carto.

 

[katz-in-boots]

1,2 &3 The correct needle will take care of those.
4 ?
5 Were you using the .... plug and condom while doing this?

Thanks all. Yes, I used a condom with inbuilt plug on all cartos. I should've thought, taking the lid off the bottle would've solved my syringe filling problems. I have managed to find a vet supply place that is sending me correct needles.

For those suggesting or about to suggest dripping - please don't. Moving to filling/refilling my own cartos has been a big step for me, one I've been reluctant to take.
I admit that keeping used cartos for refilling has made me realise how much I vape and that I could save quite a lot of $$ by doing refilling.

 

[Glam]

Katz: I am here to help you and give you the proper advice. Disregard all of the above and just read my tag line below.

 

[Morandir835]

Ms. Katz are you using a cool cart condom/buttplug? Those do not go far enough into the tube to provide adequate seal against juice leaks. You want to use the wow ones... As for the needle issues, you really need an 18 gauge beveled. Wowboy peppermint is a very thick juice...

 

[genuinefraud]

I use the drip and spin method. It's really easy for me.

for a blank cart, i add about 8 drops, use a cart plug and condom and attach the drip top, then spin it using the v4l battery bag.
remove the drip tip, add about several more drops, then reattach the drip tip and spin it again.

 

[jbmcdan]

the syringe method really will work better than condom fill in my opinion (at least on blank carts) ...but it does take some practice. And with the correct size of needle for your syringe, you can just stick the needle through the hole in the bottle's dropper top -- then turn the bottle upside down. You won't lose any juice and it'll flow into the syringe much better flowing down than trying to pull it up...

 

[SnowDragon]

Don't give up katz....your issues were all needle related. When you get your new needles simply apply a light amount of pressure and the needle will go into the bottle and provide a leak proof seal. So if your needle tip can't reach the liquid simply turn the bottle upside down, adjust the needle so it is in liquid and pull the plunger back. After you have the amount you need, turn the bottle right side up and pull out the needle.

When you get the right needle it will all go much smoother for you. It's like riding a bike, you don't want to quit because the very first time you tried riding it, you fell.

Now I am going to leave you with 2 links, forum members can decide which of these 2 methods is easier, quicker, and more efficient for them.

YouTube - Refilling Vapor4Life Cartomizers

YouTube - Refill for e-cig condom method!

For the record I use a syringe at home, drip method when away, and would never recommend the Condom Method. That being said, the best way is always what works for the individual.

 

[teslastick]

Drip method to refill carts is sooooooooo easy...... Once you do a few you get it down to be able to tell when is full. Then a lil paper towel wad is all you need to soak up an extra drop or so from the filler when you rarely overfill.

 

[Glam]

Now who would you rather trust? A dragon or a sweet little old gramva lady?

 

[Mary Kay]

I have a needle to do the syringe filling..but I have a needle phobia..it took once to make me realize my once a day insulin shots are all the needle per day I can handle...lol Good luck Mook! I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I do the condom fill..I am a grandma too!

 

[Lisa66]

I have a needle to do the syringe filling..but I have a needle phobia..it took once to make me realize my once a day insulin shots are all the needle per day I can handle...lol Good luck Mook! I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I do the condom fill..I am a grandma too!

Just as long as you don't get the insulin and the juice mixed up!!!

 

[katz-in-boots]

Ms. Katz are you using a cool cart condom/buttplug? Those do not go far enough into the tube to provide adequate seal against juice leaks. You want to use the wow ones... As for the needle issues, you really need an 18 gauge beveled. Wowboy peppermint is a very thick juice...

Ahhh! Thanks M'Dir, I was using the cool cart buttplug style condom. I will know better in future.
Snow, thanks, have watched the vids. Alas, I think I was mostly undone by the needle issue today. I will persevere and have another try once the new needles and more juice arrive.

I really need to get this down to a fine art: quick, clean and efficient, if I am to continue.
Onwards & Upwards!

 

[Rappel_Welch]

Now who would you rather trust? A dragon or a sweet little old gramva lady?

I think I'll go with the dragon. If I make him mad the worst HE can do is set me on fire and toast marshmallows while I scream. I know you well enough to know that you could do much worse, Gramva.

Keep up the battle Katz. It took me a while to get there, but once I did, it was well worth the effort. And if this gal can do it, anyone can.