Lately my punched cartomizers just refuse to wick; I fill the tank, fill the cart--off I go---for a while. I have to continue to refill the cart--the juice in my tank doesn't move. Short or long draws without engaging my provari produces no bubbles. This has been happening with double punched cartos as well as single---I have also been slitting cartos--with not that great a result. My juice is about 30/70 pg to vg--but I don't think that is the problem. Any suggestions out there? I'm going through a lot of carts.
anyone else having this problem
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It depends on the juice you are using. People that use carto tanks should use 70/30 or 80/20 PG/VG so they wick well. I never had luck with them because I prefer higher VG eliquids.
Yea, you have to use thinner and higher PG juice for them to work. I have a hard time with high PG juice. It chaps my lips and nose. Lol.
I've been having the same problem today using 50/50 blend with new Ikenvape Platinum V2 SR cartos in my IBtanked tanks. I uesd the drip and swirl method to pre-fill the carto before installing it and filling the tank. I took my time filling the carto and haven't had this problem until using my new V2 cartos. I am using Vaperite Rous Hazelnut in the one giving me trouble. Weird being usually their VR4 is traditionally harder on equipment.
Edit: I haven't had to replace a cart yet, just having to drip into the cart to keep the flavor.
Edit: I haven't had to replace a cart yet, just having to drip into the cart to keep the flavor.
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Thanks for the responses. While it is understood that thicker e-liquids would have a harder time wicking, I have used this same juice in punched cartos at another time and they worked fine. I have heard that it is important to get the right pressure in the tank, but I am not sure how to fill to make this happen---and can't find the thread that might explain the process---any advice?
I too am having problems with my carto's handling my 50/50 mix. Doesn't seem to matter if they're double punched or slotted.
Welcome to winter, the colder weather will make your liquid thicker than it does in the summer, try thinning it out.
More info would be appreciated:
Quality control of cartomizers can be hit or miss carto to carto, and from pack to pack. Your e-liquid is on the thicker side with a 30/70 pg/vg ratio, which can affect wicking from the tank. Changes in temperature and altitude can affect the pressure in the tank.
- The manufacturer of the tank.
- The brand of cartomizer used.
- Does the tank use a juice fill hole?
- Method of priming the carto.
- Number of holes used in the carto.
Quality control of cartomizers can be hit or miss carto to carto, and from pack to pack. Your e-liquid is on the thicker side with a 30/70 pg/vg ratio, which can affect wicking from the tank. Changes in temperature and altitude can affect the pressure in the tank.
This is going to be long. I'm sitting in a hospital bed with nothing better to do but prattle endlessly on.
Negative pressure (vacuum) in the tank is generated by two things... the vacuum you create when you take a draw, and the vacuum naturally increasing as fluid level drops. The wicking material serves as a "seal" of sorts... with a slow leak. ;-)
You'd know fairly quick if you had a real, full time "air leak"... the carto would, to one degree or another, flood.
You can actually improve flow - temporarily - by forcing out the vacuum in the tank. Temporarily opening it to the atmosphere, or, less effectively, capping the 510 end and blowing through the drip tip end. It goes back to "normal" within a few draws though. Just letting it sit on it's side for a few hours or more, with a wick hole uncovered by juice, can have a similar effect.
As Bad commented on, there can be winners and looser in every box of cartos... and all in between. Boge quality control has improved dramatically so it's more like (IMO) 5% that's a bit sketchy, rather than the "good ol' days" where 30% were complete crap. Considering cartos run only $1-$2 ea. and are disposable, recent longevity and quality has been pretty darn consistent.
As has been said by a few already, the thicker the juice, the poorer it tends to wick. Bigger or more holes - longer slots, all have a case of diminishing returns. IMO - You could have five 10mm slots, or 4 3mm holes... and it wouldn't make a bit of difference once you've reached the juices wicking potential.
I've got a Ikenvape 2X3mm Platinum (made by Boge to Isaac's specs) in one 22mm IBT right now that's not living up to typical Ikenvape standard expectations... vapor is weak, flavor is only OK.
In another IBT is a Boge 10mm slotted carto... and it's just a few degrees away from a Kayfun or Russian for flavor and vapor. Both are filled with a 60/40 medium body/color juice. Luck of the draw, literally.
These days, when I install new cartos, I expect them to work up to the standards I've come to appreciate... but you still can't guarantee it.
Gratzee. The wife "smuggled in" a Kayfun with a 0.5Ω 24ga (!) coil on a 650 high drain mech, and a bottle of Pluid - to go with my equally double secret handshake carto tanks... so, I'm good for now, thanks.
But the nurses are... none too happy with me.
30/70 is all I use. I mostly use the 3 hole Smok, and get a great vape. On occasion I use 2 hole Boge or Ikenvape cartos. Most of my juice is from MBV. Another vendor I use also makes 30/70, but it's thinner. So, that goes with the Boge. The Ikenvape goes with a specific MBV flavor that seems a bit thinner. Now if I was using my DIY 30/70 from Wizard Labs, I'd probably have to go with slots. It's really thick.
I guess what I'm saying is that not every 30/70 is the same. You may need 3 holes or big .... slots. Do you have a punch so that you can experiment? If not you could try thinning the juice with a very small amount of distilled water or PGA.
Are all the seals on your tank tight? I suppose that if they are not that it would mean that vacuum couldn't be achieved. Probably a stretch on that one though.
I guess what I'm saying is that not every 30/70 is the same. You may need 3 holes or big .... slots. Do you have a punch so that you can experiment? If not you could try thinning the juice with a very small amount of distilled water or PGA.
Are all the seals on your tank tight? I suppose that if they are not that it would mean that vacuum couldn't be achieved. Probably a stretch on that one though.
Good point to as my Blackberry Kiwi Cooler 70VG/30PG turns to Blackberry Kiwi Frozen walking I have to stop long vape and that's with a Vivi, so a carto trying to get it through the tiny holes would be oh so much harder.
To reiterate on an earlier post of mine, think I just got a bad one. I've had such good luck with the Ikenvape brand, I guess I thought they(Ikenvape) were immuned to common issues with all carto brands. New one installed and working flawlessly. I have three other tanks with the same set up that have been issue free. It could have been operator error, who knows!
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