advantages of cartomizer?

[ACM]

There are a lot of discussions on burnt cartomizer filler, but I actually find that I burn more polyfill when I use the regular cartridge/atomizer combination. Often, when I pull the cartridge off the atty to refill it, the polyfill stays stuck on the atomizer bridge and needs to be pulled off. When I do that, threads of polyfill usually remain on the bridge and need to be removed. Also, over time, the polyfill gets dark and more solid. I toss it by then, and I don't generally get that burned taste that turns people off of cartomizers, but clearly some polyfill is burning on the atty and getting into my lungs.

So from what I can tell, the burning issue is just part of the process no matter what you use. The only way to totally avoid it is to use a box mod that works with atomizers and doesn't require any filler material at all. I think the Ali'i is one like that.

Thoughts?

 

[DC2]

There are a lot of discussions on burnt cartomizer filler, but I actually find that I burn more polyfill when I use the regular cartridge/atomizer combination. Often, when I pull the cartridge off the atty to refill it, the polyfill stays stuck on the atomizer bridge and needs to be pulled off. When I do that, threads of polyfill usually remain on the bridge and need to be removed.

Don't ever twist your cartridge once you put it on the atomizer.
That is how people get filler snagged on the atomizer bridge.

This is a well known issue.


There is, however, no doubt that cartomizer filler burns if you don't babysit it well.
And that is proven by many pictorial threads.

Also, over time, the polyfill gets dark and more solid. I toss it by then, and I don't generally get that burned taste that turns people off of cartomizers, but clearly some polyfill is burning on the atty and getting into my lungs.

The general consensus from those who've studied this subject is that the filler in an atomizer model does not burn.
At least under reasonably normal circumstances.

The obvious explanation, at least to me, is that people are sucking dry atomizer.
They think it is filler material burning, but it isn't really.
It is just dry atomizer.

And that is one of the most common issues known to man.

 

[ACM]

The obvious explanation, at least to me, is that people are sucking dry atomizer.
They think it is filler material burning, but it isn't really.
It is just dry atomizer.

Makes sense. If it is, in fact, just a dry atomizer, it would make me feel better. "Vaping" is great, but "polyfilling" doesn't sound so good!

I don't twist my cartridges, though, and filler still manages to get stuck on the bridge. Maybe it's just that my juice is sticky.

 

[Agrion]

I've tried both cartos and attys/dripping but prefer cartos. The hassle of dripping was just too much for me. Drip drip puff, dry atty taste, drip flood. With cartos I keep a napkin around just in case I overfill, with attys/dripping I needed a roll of paper towels LOL.

Another thing about dripping that I haven't seen emphasized a lot is that you have to keep your PV almost vertical (at least I did) or you get a leak. I got to the point where I was keeping my PV completely vertical and bending over it to vape, like I was praying to it.

The key to cartos is the same as attys, keep them wet. The carto just needs less effort/fiddling to do so IMO.

I've read a lot about the concern of burning carto filler but if you keep them wet it's not an issue. I'm actually more concerned about the bad taste from a new atty (primer fluid) and the even nastier taste of vaping on a dry atty. I took a large hit from a freshly dripped atty and got a lung full of that dry atty taste, I literally got sick. That was the final straw for me.

I know a lot of people swear by dripping but cartos just work better for me.

 

[ukeman]

I drip because I heard over and over it is the best way to get the best flavor out of vaping.
So far that is true... I've tried carts and cartos. Carto's lose the clean flavor for the most part. They are developing
better carto's that don't have filling, and some carto's are pretty clean, but with the pictures of burnt material closest
to the coil, even on non-burnt carto's convinces me dripping is better. ( I do use carto's for convenience, but keep them full and wet.)
A good juice box (Ali'i, Reo, etc) is the answer for those that complain about convenience, but hard to get as they are custom made. I find the Wetbox is too flimsy. Juice boxes are for those that know how to drip.

Dripping takes time to learn. But the trick is simple; not easy; simple.

Learn to get the primer taste done with, keep atty wet, but not over full; just right (2-3 drops). You have to have the
right voltage/power/atty ratio, and there are a few different ones.

 

[ACM]

A filler-free cartomizer would likely be the answer to a lot of problems and concerns. Any idea when we might see one hit the market?

I have a Wetbox, and while it does feel somewhat flimsy, it works pretty well. It eliminates the need to carry around a lot of the supplies that you need with a regular e-cig. Because the juice is contained in a 3ml "onboard" bottle, you have enough for a day's worth of vaping. And the Wetbox's 14500 3.7v battery holds a pretty solid 8-12 hour charge. I carry an extra battery in my pocket, just to be safe, but I'm usually good to go for a full day, usually a day-and-a-half.

That being said, its drawback IMHO is the fact that it uses cartomizers and, therefore, has filler material in it. I believe the Ali'i is "filler-free", since it uses an atomizer and no cartridge. But I'd double-check on that. That is the ideal set-up, though. I believe in the relative safety of juice vs. tobacco, but I still have concerns about how toxic filler might be when it burns.

Even though the juice box mod is super convenient (really good to have one for longer road trips, for example), I do find myself still going back to my trusty old RN4081 with a cartomizer. With a fresh or newly filled cartomizer, it still gives me the best vapor and throat hit.

 

[wv2win]

.....Another thing about dripping that I haven't seen emphasized a lot is that you have to keep your PV almost vertical (at least I did) or you get a leak. I got to the point where I was keeping my PV completely vertical and bending over it to vape, like I was praying to it......

I drip and also now use 801 cartomizers. My guess is that your problem with your dripping might be the PV you are using. I have never had the problems you are describing when I drip. But friends who use a traditional PV (3.7 v) and especially if it is an auto have all sorts of problems if they drip. I use a BE112 atomizer on several 5 volt PV's. I would suggest that the bigger atomzier coil and the better power allows you to drip without the issues you described. That combination is much more efficient in vaporizing the liquid which is why it provides such good TH and flavor. No leaks and I could vape lying on the floor if I wanted to.

 

[Agrion]

No leaks and I could vape lying on the floor if I wanted to.

That's interesting, maybe it was just my experience, I don't know. I was using 510 attys on a GLV2 (5v). I was constantly taking off the atty to clean out the atty well, it was always full of liquid. I may have been over dripping because I was trying very hard to avoid the gross dry atty taste I was getting but I could never find a middle ground, either I was getting a gross dry atty taste or cleaning up liquid.

At 5v using 3-3.5 ohm cartos I'm very happy. Great vapor, great taste, no fiddling.

 

[ukeman]

I find that there is a balance that comes with experimenting; carefully. You don't want it too dry or too wet. IMO the more to the dry side the better the vape... I don't mean dry dry, but just to the wet of dry (sorry for lack of explanatory words).

In other words, I like a regular 510 where it is almost dry, then just add 2 drops. That should give about 3-4 good vapes.
It is important to keep an "eye" or be mindful of just how wet, or not, the atty is. For higher voltage, it's easier to burn off, or vape-off any over drips. Once it starts to taste a little burnt, you add 2 or 3 drops and you know exactly where you are in the spectrum..

LR attys at true 3.7 or less vape-off faster, but over dripping, or too wet will take a while to vape-off to where you get it just right; not to wet nor too dry.

 

[Kent C]

ACM:A filler-free cartomizer would likely be the answer to a lot of problems and concerns. Any idea when we might see one hit the market?

I have a Wetbox, and while it does feel somewhat flimsy, it works pretty well.

ACM,

There IS a filler free cartomizer - the E2 for a 510 connection:

E2 510 Cartomizers

510 E2 Cartomizer - Ceramic

And imo, it's perfect with the wetbox. The E2 needs a needle tip or syringe to fill and fortunately the needle tip bottle on the wetbox can be used to fill it initially and then after that (unlike with any other mod/PV) you don't have to go through the refill deal. Just squeeze. I've had the same E2 in the wetbox since I got it weeks ago now and it's vaping just fine. The ohms on these can vary a bit from others' reports. The ones I have range in the 2.5-2.6Ω area, which is about as low as you want to go with the wetbox switch. No burning, no cloth taste. Just flavor and vapor. For more technical stuff see:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...13951-e2-cartomizer-technical-discussion.html

... long thread but if you start lurking the most recent posts, you'll soon absorb what's going on - a bunch of good people there who are willing to answer any questions, or direct you to links/videos that may help.

 

[badkolo]

YouTube - DJbizzum's Channel

 

[Kent C]

And one of the 'good guys' shows up here! Thanks badkolo (although I'm liking that 'madkolo' tag ;-)

 

[ACM]

Thanks, Kent, for the great info. I have been looking through the forums and I find there's a lot of good information, Sometimes too much to process. And in some cases, so much of it older that it gets confusing as to what's up to date technologically. The E2 cartomizer issue was particularly confusing to me. It seemed that there was one version with a melting glue issue, another that leaked too much. One thread mentioned that a third (or possibly fourth?) version was in the works. I wasn't sure where things stood with it.

I think one thing that adds to the confusion is many people post their opinions about new products, but they do it "in code" (abbreviating the name of the product) and don't often include links to the vendors selling it. So when you go looking, you come up short. That happened to me with the newer version of the RN4081 atomizer. Lots of people posted that one existed, but nobody posted who sold them. At first. The key in your reply is "start lurking the most recent posts". Still, I wish more people would post vendor links.

I am glad to know that you have one that definitely works with the Wetbox. I'll get one and see how it works for me.

You mentioned the need to fill them BEFORE first use with the Wetbox. Good tip. I actually find that if I fill any 510 cart first (either by dripping or the condom method), they work better, and taste better, with my Wetbox. So I've been prefilling the blanks I bought with it. Once it's been prefilled, it takes "sqeeze refills" easier and lasts longer.

 

[ACM]

Thanks for the video link, Badkolo.

 

[martha1014]

I was having trouble with atomizers dying. I switched to cartomizers. I was spending at least $70 a month on atomizers but with cartomizers is only cost around $30. I don't like constant dripping with atomizer or cleaning them. Cartomizers are cheap and you just throw it away and get another one.

Where is the cheapest place to buy 510 cartomizers. Is there a different in 510 cartomizers.

 

[kcinci]

Started using the ego cartos again this weekend. Bought them last week and wasn't impressed much. Seemed to make so much of a mess in refilling that it just wasn't worth it. But after watching again this video at YouTube - How to Refill eGo Cartomizers by 0smitty and adjusting my process a little by letting the carto sit and rest on the bottle I've been very happy with the results all weekend.

I don't know what the difference is in the atomizer between the 510 and ego carto but it vapes like diesel tractor blows smoke. Generates a pretty decent and more importantly consistent TH, too, and I'm going 2-3 hours between needing to refill or switch, though ymmv.

 

[ACM]

Seemed to make so much of a mess in refilling that it just wasn't worth it.

Would the "condom method" worth with the Ego Cartos? It's really simple and not at all messy. Google vids on it - you should find plenty.

 

[Kent C]

ACM:Thanks, Kent, for the great info. I have been looking through the forums and I find there's a lot of good information, Sometimes too much to process. And in some cases, so much of it older that it gets confusing as to what's up to date technologically.

Yep. Avoid the 'dissertations', and most stickies. lol

The E2 cartomizer issue was particularly confusing to me. It seemed that there was one version with a melting glue issue, another that leaked too much. One thread mentioned that a third (or possibly fourth?) version was in the works. I wasn't sure where things stood with it.

Sounds like you're tracking pretty well. Good summary!

I think one thing that adds to the confusion is many people post their opinions about new products, but they do it "in code" (abbreviating the name of the product)

Yep, doesn't matter what forum or subject - that's natural. You know some abbreviations are underlined and you can mouse over for the actual word....

and don't often include links to the vendors selling it. So when you go looking, you come up short. That happened to me with the newer version of the RN4081 atomizer. Lots of people posted that one existed, but nobody posted who sold them. At first. The key in your reply is "start lurking the most recent posts". Still, I wish more people would post vendor links.

Acknowledge that, that isn't going to happen and just ask. That almost always works.

I am glad to know that you have one that definitely works with the Wetbox. I'll get one and see how it works for me.

You mentioned the need to fill them BEFORE first use with the Wetbox. Good tip.

Actually it isn't a necessity but because of the cutout the Wetbox, as you or someone said, can be 'flimsy' - again the nature of the beast. So filling before is a good idea, imo.

I actually find that if I fill any 510 cart first (either by dripping or the condom method), they work better, and taste better, with my Wetbox. So I've been prefilling the blanks I bought with it. Once it's been prefilled, it takes "sqeeze refills" easier and lasts longer.

Again, you know your stuff. I use blanks and prefill. Vendor prefilled cartos are 'different' many times. Blanks are best.

 

[ACM]

BTW, Kent, I love the title they gave you on these forums: "Omniscient PV Master". Awesome!

 

[kcinci]

Would the "condom method" worth with the Ego Cartos? It's really simple and not at all messy. Google vids on it - you should find plenty.

That wouldn't work with these as they are the "mega" sized cartos and don't have a condom. These have to be filled through the tip using a syringe.