Before you throw out that "bad" cartomizer

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ericoahu

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Aug 30, 2012
84
470
Oahu
I had the strangest experience with a carto. This was a prepunched replacement carto from Volcano. Brand new it seemed to work well after thoroughly priming and filling the tank, but after about 3-4 vapes I got a burnt taste. Tried priming again. Same behavior.

Then I noticed if I sucked through the drip tip without hitting the button before vaping regularly I could make the burnt taste go away and it would work well again. For about 3 vapes. When I did this I noticed a bunch of air bubbles exiting the punch hole which made me believe there was something wrong with the flow of juice to the wadding inside - but the presence of the air bubbles indicated it wasn't blocked.

This went on for a few days. Being frugal and stubborn I couldn't bare throwing it out.

So, I tried one more thing. With a thumbtack I simply punched through the hole into the wadding maybe a millimeter. I felt it go through something - probably the first layer of paper or whatever. (The hole was punched fine.)

Since then (two tank refills) it has not only worked flawlessly but I'm getting the best vapor with that carto I've had since I began vaping. Absolutely wonderful!

tl;dr If you have a tank carto that doesn't seem to be getting enough juice to the coil and you know the hole is fine, puncture the wadding a little with something sharp.

Hope this helps someone.
 

jabtay

Full Member
Oct 12, 2012
9
5
Arkansas
I had the strangest experience with a carto. This was a prepunched replacement carto from Volcano. Brand new it seemed to work well after thoroughly priming and filling the tank, but after about 3-4 vapes I got a burnt taste. Tried priming again. Same behavior.

Then I noticed if I sucked through the drip tip without hitting the button before vaping regularly I could make the burnt taste go away and it would work well again. For about 3 vapes. When I did this I noticed a bunch of air bubbles exiting the punch hole which made me believe there was something wrong with the flow of juice to the wadding inside - but the presence of the air bubbles indicated it wasn't blocked.

This went on for a few days. Being frugal and stubborn I couldn't bare throwing it out.

So, I tried one more thing. With a thumbtack I simply punched through the hole into the wadding maybe a millimeter. I felt it go through something - probably the first layer of paper or whatever. (The hole was punched fine.)

Since then (two tank refills) it has not only worked flawlessly but I'm getting the best vapor with that carto I've had since I began vaping. Absolutely wonderful!

tl;dr If you have a tank carto that doesn't seem to be getting enough juice to the coil and you know the hole is fine, puncture the wadding a little with something sharp.

Hope this helps someone.
Excellent! My lava tank showed up last week, with 5 extra cartos. First one was giving me that burnt taste. I took it out and put another one in. I switched again and this new one was doing the same thing. I just punctured it with a push pin, and wow it worked instantly. Thanks for advice, it worked.
 

Royaldrunker

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Oct 26, 2012
424
122
54
Vancouver
I notice with the punched cartons that if you don't use the tanks for a little while or every now and then I take the tank off and put my thumb on the 510 threaded end and suck rapidly 4-6 tomes drawing in the juice..

You will see the bubbles

Very important with these

Cheers


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 

IntelligentDesigner

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Feb 13, 2013
538
453
Raleigh, NC
Hmmm...interesting. I use Volcano cartos and have a problem not getting enough juice since I'm a chain vaper and there never seems to be enough time for the fluid to wick before I want my next hit. I tried drilling a second hole in my first carto from the pack and failed. As soon as the drill bit penetrated, it crushed the center tube and i couldn't draw anything thru at all. Will definitely give your idea shot. I imagine it would also help by spreading the filling immediately inside the hole away from the hole and allowing the juice to make it's initial entry beyond the steel a little better.
 

jazon1

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Dec 16, 2012
1,662
1,075
Phoenix,AZ
Hmmm...interesting. I use Volcano cartos and have a problem not getting enough juice since I'm a chain vaper and there never seems to be enough time for the fluid to wick before I want my next hit. I tried drilling a second hole in my first carto from the pack and failed. As soon as the drill bit penetrated, it crushed the center tube and i couldn't draw anything thru at all. Will definitely give your idea shot. I imagine it would also help by spreading the filling immediately inside the hole away from the hole and allowing the juice to make it's initial entry beyond the steel a little better.

i did the same thing once but its easily fixed just use a unfolded paperclip and wiggle it down the center hole and its good as new again:)
 
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