Bad taste from polyfill?

[TeeFour]

Hey all. I'm aware that a large number of people mod carts by replacing the polyfill with, for instance, blue aquarium foam. Does the polyfill impart a bad taste? Im using an eGo with a 510 atty, and I find that unless I keep the cart filled all the way to the top, the taste starts to change. It starts out with thick, full flavored vapor. But then once the juice gets down to the polyfill (still fully wet, just not filled almost to the brim) the vapor starts to thin out, taste diminishes, and there is a slight overtone of... something. Its not overly harsh, but gives me a little bit of a dry mouth feeling. The taste is hard to describe, all I know is its not what the juice tastes like.

Is this a result of the polyfill?

 

[Zal42]

This was what got me to switch to the blue foam, and I'm happy I did. I'd get that taste, and then when I started examining the polyfill, I'd notice that the end toward the atty would be dry and show signs of melting, but the end away from it would still be quite wet.

After reading here, I changed to the foam. It solves that issue completely (no more melting!), and I can vape almost every drop I put into the cart. Also, the cart hold a lot more juice now. I top off when the flavor starts to fade or when I start getting an off-taste, and typically it takes 10 drops or so.

The downside is that it's easier to flood the atty, but I don't find that terribly annoying.

Try the foam. It's cheap, so if you don't like it (and you've kept the original polyfill), you haven't really lost anything.

 

[Stosh]

Most likely the polyfill is to blame, doesn't matter if you're using poly, blue foam, PTB or
old sweat socks for filler. It need to supply the juice from the filler to the atty to keep it wet.
If it doesn't wick the juice fast enough (and it's a balance between supply and leaking) the
atty drys out and no vapor / bad taste. Blue foam and PTB wick better than polyfill, and there's
a load of youtube videos that show how to do them.

 

[TeeFour]

Great, thanks! I'll drip the rest of tonight and pick up some blue foam tomorrow. Which tutorial did you follow, this one? My guess is to follow the standard procedure of filling up the empty cart and sticking in a small piece on top.

 

[dormouse]

If you are using standard 510 carts try the precut blue foam for 510 at strictlyejuice.com - cheapest easiest way to try it

Else for 10x the price buy the uncut - Marineland Rite-Size U Foam Sleeve at Petsmart (aquarium dept)

Some recommend rinsing under plain water before using than pat dry thoroughly.

You can still get a bad taste if you run it dry on top but for me not as bad a taste. I think it wicks as well as new white stuffing and it's super easy to take out and put in (tapered end goes in if you get the precuts), extremely easy to clean - rinse under running water and pat totally dry with a paper towel.

 

[Stosh]

..... My guess is to follow the standard procedure of filling up the empty cart and sticking in a small piece on top.

That will work, just adjust the size of the piece of blue foam so it wicks well enough to keep the atty wet. Too little foam will leak juice, too much and the atty will taste like you're still using poly.

 

[JamesGang]

Yep, sort of.

I tried the super blue foam, and although it provided better wicking and vapor than the stock polyfill, it was messy and required contant attention to keep filled.

I even tried the mega carts. Although they hold more juice, my experience was vapor production and throat hit wasn't as good. To me it seems the battery power of the ego is optimized for 510 atomizers. The megas also flood the atty if full and pointed downward as well.

Since I started dripping with an actual drip tip, I wont go back to messing with cartridges.

It seems that the taste of all juice trails off with consistent use. You just get used to it.

 

[britny]

AquaClear Foam works well, you can find it at pet stores. Good luck.

 

[Bradder]

One other thing - if you go with the foam plug (or a polly plug for that matter) the type of e-fluid you are using help dictate the size (length) of the plug. If the e-fluid is think (lots of VG), then a shorter plug works best - a think plug with thick juice doesn't wick well. Same is true the other way: thin fluids may need more "hold" to keep from leaking so a thicker (slightly longer) plug works better. To help avoid a real mess, don't fill the cart all the way - leave some head space so the plug can be placed without overflowing, then drip the last few drops onto the plug to top off.

Best of luck - won't take too much time to get the hang of it.

 

[jeannest]

I think the blue foam works great next to polyfill. I do get a bad taste from polyfill too. I wish using a cart with blue foam was as convenient as a cartomizer when you are out. I get the best taste from dripping and blue foam.

 

[Zal42]

I cut my foam so that it is the full length of the reservoir. As Bradder says, just using a plug didn't work so well with thinner juices. I also cut it so that it isn't compressed when in the cart. It's just big enough to hold itself in. I've had no leaking or mess problems, but it does tend to flood when I stand it battery end down. So I don't do that.

 

[Lmaiuri]

I am using vapor4life. I am new here. I was unaware you could change the fiber in the cartomizers. I sometimes tastes something burning even when there still seems to be vapor. Also, I'm buying the cartomizers and I'm not sure about refilling them. Is that more cost efficient ?

 

[Zal42]

I don't know about cartomizers -- I was talking about cartridges.

 

[nordoe]

I am looking to try the blue foam. I am in the US and have many pet stores in my area. Does anyone know exactly what I need to use, dont want to get the wrong stuff.

 

[Zal42]

Yes, see dormouse's post

 

[Lmaiuri]

Ok. Vapor4life calls the cartridges cartomizers. It's all new to me. I didn't know you could replace the fibers inside.

 

[Zal42]

Ok. Vapor4life calls the cartridges cartomizers. It's all new to me. I didn't know you could replace the fibers inside.

Cartridges and cartomizers are different things. Cartridges just have a reservoir for the juice, and you use them with a separate atty. Cartomizers have a built-in atty and hold more juice.

 

[ABS]

lipton pyramid tea bag mod....I think there are still a few youtube vids up .....never have a better vape that with this cart mod... blue foam and any other cart mod has nothing on this mod.. check it out...YouTube - Quick Easy Lipton Pyramid Tea Bag Cart Mod for 510 ecig or 901 e-cig