Best Carto Punch

[DancingHeretik]

I know this seems a little trivial. But, I haven't been able to decide which carto-punch to get. Some of the supposedly best ones are SO EXPENSIVE.

Then, I stumbled upon this: Supco BPV31 Bullet Piercing Valve - Amazon.com.

Is it too good to be true, good, junk? Any opinions. I just want something that I can use that won't deform my cartos and make them hard to slide in and out of my tank.

 

[State O' Flux]

Yep... a whole bunch of us bought the exact same one off eBay about a month ago. Works at least as well as my friends $40 custom carto puncher... with minimal tube distortion.

The Amazon price is even better than the one we paid.

Lube up the piercing screw threads... and you're ready to go. ;-)

 

[debinnv]

This looks way cool, thanks for posting it. I could not get it at amazon due to it being a add on item but I found one on ebay. Had to pay a couple bucks more but it was still under $5

 

[JJOOHHNN]

I don't know what is the best but I doubt the two I have are the best. I wish what I have would bunch smaller holes and not deform the carto as much as it does.

 

[Jayvaps]

Interesting. thanks for the link. And yes, that one was cheaper, but it was an add on item.

So I just bought this one for under $5 including shipping.

Line Tap Valve by Sealed Unit Parts Co., Inc.: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[DancingHeretik]

That looks like the exact same model number by the exact same manufacturer. Just a different vendor.

Let me know how you like it.

 

[State O' Flux]

I don't know what is the best but I doubt the two I have are the best. I wish what I have would bunch smaller holes and not deform the carto as much as it does.

That's a big problem. A lot of the punches you see have a "wide taper", non-carbide piercing tip. You can tell just by looking at many of them that it will take a good deal of pressure, and crush the hell out of a carto before there's enough pressure to pierce the tube.

With the "narrow taper" carbide tips, they pierce quick with minimal pressure and distortion. Yes, you may have to punch 4 holes to equal the laser cut 1mm holes... but at least you have a useable carto.

I usually buy pre-holed cartos, but sometimes, I like to toss in a few extra holes with the Boge 2X1.0mm cartos... they wick thicker juices a bit better. IMO, Boge/Ikenvape laser-slotted and Ikenvape 2X3.0mm work fine as is.

 

[debinnv]

Yep... a whole bunch of us bought the exact same one off eBay about a month ago. Works at least as well as my friends $40 custom carto puncher... with minimal tube distortion.

The Amazon price is even better than the one we paid.

Lube up the piercing screw threads... and you're ready to go. ;-)

when you say "lube up" would a little VG be good?

 

[State O' Flux]

when you say "lube up" would a little VG be good?

Any kind of oil or light grease will do. When you get one, they're a bit, ah... not exactly clean, so a quick clean-up of the threads with a q-tip and a drop of any kind of oil will be fine. I suppose VG would be better than dry eh? ;-)

You can hear and feel when the tip pierces through the tube... what you really want to feel is when the base of the tip bottoms out on the tube. If you can't feel that, then you start to crush the tube.

 

[Jayvaps]

That looks like the exact same model number by the exact same manufacturer. Just a different vendor.

Let me know how you like it.

Yes. It just was not an add-on item, so I could order it individually. I typically buy pre-cut, but I have been thinking I should have a punch in my arsenal, as sometimes I think another hole maybe helpful for some juices. So that is what this will be for. thanks for the post.

 

[debinnv]

Got mine and you guys were right, this thing is simply awesome! Thanks so much for all the info on getting one and how to use it.

 

[State O' Flux]

For the price of a triple shot venti mocha choka at the local Starburnt... a very good carto punch. ;-)

 

[debinnv]

Starburnt heh heh....Yah, I don't do them either. I actually buy my beans green and I have a roaster. Once you have a cup of that you will think you have been drinking swill previously. lol

 

[AlB53]

I got my BPV 31 at Grainger, it's right down the road from me, $4. 05 with tax..works great. I've punched hundres of cartos and still works like new

 

[DancingHeretik]

Thanks for the help, guys. I did buy the BPV31. I haven't used it yet because I already have pre-punched. But, now I'm ready for anything!

 

[State O' Flux]

Thanks for the help, guys. I did buy the BPV31. I haven't used it yet because I already have pre-punched. But, now I'm ready for anything!

This thread just seems to have a little life of it's own, don't it?

I don't know what brand cartos you're using DH, but as the holes punched are pretty small, you might try experimenting with a few extra in one of your PP cartos. As I mentioned earlier, a few extra holes in a Boge 2X1mm makes for a noticeable difference with juices thicker than 60/40... at least in my experience. YMMV.

I've also been known to punch a few extra in cartos (like Ikenvape 2X3mm), where the holes are a bit high up in a IBT tank... mostly because I'm lazy and don't want to refill until I've drained a tank dry. ;-)