Anatomy of a Cartomizer?

[knightofcups]

This could be obvious, but I read the thread about fixing nonworking cartos, and as a new vapor got curious and dug inside a cart that didn't work. It looks like the end that connects to a battery has a long metal wire inside (atomizer?) and that is what heats up the material soaked in juice, am I right? And would that mean that burned taste when one is done is that material burning?

Also, do you stop using it as soon as you first detect a hint of this taste? At first I was worried about wasting them and suffered through it.

I figure the more I understand how it works the better I can fix bad ones and learn how to refill (my next task)!

 

[Mactrick]

It's recommended to stop using a carto when the vapor production starts to diminish, or at the first hint of a "chemical, burning taste". This will ensure that you don't singe the filling material. If that material gets singed you'll never get rid of that chemical, or burnt taste.

When you get to the point of refilling your carts take a look at some of the excellent video tutorials posted on this forum.

 

[knightofcups]

Thanks Mac! Very helpful, I feel like I've been learning trial and error. I better throw out my singed carts! I will start refilling as soon as I get my shipment. I've watched the video for dripping inside, as well as the "condom" method and "taryn spin". Does one work better than the other?

 

[Mactrick]

I like the condom (a.k.a. plunger) method as it is much faster than dripping and spinning. You can do the Taryn spin with the plunger method, but that can over-saturate the cart. After filling, I like to be able to look down the middle of my cart and see daylight, this way I know I won't get the liquid in my mouth on those first few vapes.

 

[GrannyFrets]

Thanks for the tip about looking down them. I've gotten juice in my mouth a few times after filling one. I just never thought to look through them.

 

[Mactrick]

To be clear, here is the filling scenario that I use. It works well for me, but you milage may vary:

1. I remove the soft cap and wipe it clean.

2. I use a straightened paperclip and carefully run it down the middle, all the way through the cart to make sure everything is lined up.

3. I fill a condom with juice, leaving about 1/8" from the top unfilled.

4. I SLOWLY push the cart into the condom, battery end down and watch the juice as it fills up. Do this very slowly, or you may end up with air trapped toward the bottom of the cart. You want to make sure that the cart fills from the bottom up, not trickle down from the top.

5. Once the batting is swimming in liquid (actual standing liquid above the filler) I pull the cart up about 1/4", which will clear a lot of the excess liquid through suction.

6. I replace the cap, then pull the cart completely out and wipe the outside of the cart.

7. I give the cart a very light blow from the mouth end to clear the center channel and CAREFULLY clean the battery end and threads. Don't use a lot of pressure when doing this.

8. Then I replace the plug and top and bottom condoms for storage.

It seems like a lot of steps, but I can fill a cart in about 2 minutes using these steps. I never get an overfilled, gurgly cart, just pure vaping heaven.

 

[tlynn]

7. I give the cart a very light blow from the mouth end to clear the center channel and CAREFULLY clean the battery end and threads. Don't use a lot of pressure when doing this.

Thank you for these instructions. What do you clean with?
What kind of solvent and tool?

 

[GrannyM]

Thank you for these instructions. What do you clean with?
What kind of solvent and tool?

Just a kleenix.

 

[wader2k]

solvent or tool? I use a tissue!

 

[Sallyem]

Someone once recommended pipe cleaners. I now have a lifetime supply (lots of them in a package)
For cleaning the gunk out of the threads, just wrap around the threads and twist. Does a great job!
Also, alcohol on a piece of paper towel to twist around the threads works well.

 

[5cardstud]

That long wire looking thing is a tube to keep the juice in the filler material. The heating element, positive side, is connected to the end of that then the negative side of the element connects to the wall of the cartomizer. There are pics on ECF somewhere. I used to wash mine out and re-use them over and over until they were no longer functioning correctly but as they got less expensive and I got lazier I quit doing so.
Here is a pic of drawing I found.

 

[GrannyM]

Lest we get confused....I think Sally is referring to batteries, not cartos.

Someone once recommended pipe cleaners. I now have a lifetime supply (lots of them in a package)
For cleaning the gunk out of the threads, just wrap around the threads and twist. Does a great job!
Also, alcohol on a piece of paper towel to twist around the threads works well.

 

[Mactrick]

Also, alcohol on a piece of paper towel to twist around the threads works well.

I just want to be clear. In step 7, I was simply referring to wiping up the excess juice in the thread area that is left over after filling and clearing the center channel by blowing. I find that there is little need to rigorously clean any sediment left over from using the carto. They do get a little build-up, but not enough to hinder the connection to the battery.

If you twist a tissue or paper towel around the threads then you run the risk of spinning that center post, which is attached to the atomizer. If that atomizer twists around too much, it will collapse the center air channel causing the draw to be difficult, or impossible.

 

[Sallyem]

Lest we get confused....I think Sally is referring to batteries, not cartos.

Yes, I was referring to batteries. Oops. Sorry if I confused you.