Best cartomizer questions and tips?

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jerzig

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Oct 17, 2012
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Hi Everyone,

I'm still fairly new at this so bear with me please. I started with Blu and quickly started upgrading.

I currently have a JoyeTech Ego-T upgrade 1000 mAh battery and I've been filling Boge 2.0 cartomizers with liquid.

My cartomizers seem pretty inconsistent. They seem to lose flavor or taste burnt really quickly. For example; last night I filled up a blank carto with about 30 drops of Johnson Creek Silverthorn juice. I was vaping it this morning off and on for a couple of hours and it was great. Then my next draw tasted burnt and gross. This seems pretty quick for it to have run out of juice and gone dry, right? Am I using the wrong cartos for my battery? I really hate that I just wasted a bunch of juice filling a carto that I barely got anything out of.

Also, I filled up some of these same cartos weeks ago with some juice that I don't vape all the time. I've topped them off and they work still but just kind of taste weird... almost "wet" tasting, if that makes any sense. What's the expected life span for these things assuming they don't burn up super quick?

Thanks again for all the help! I'm really hoping I can find a consistent and easy set-up so I can finally phase out analogs for good.

-Jerzig
 

VinPuff68

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Jan 10, 2012
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Poconos, PA
Hi jerz.
I think you have the right carto for your 3.7ish V device.

I tend not to count drops as much as making sure that I drip and fill slowly, wait for it to suck into the filler and keep doing that until it drips out the bottom.

I also use a thermometer type "shakedown" after I think it is full, then add some more till it tops off again.

The amount of juice a carto can hold will vary a little based on the amount of "filler" that particular carto happened to get.

Some carts are packed tight with filler, others a bit looser. this seems to effect a bunch of performance elements with cartos.

You might want to try the "condom" fill method .. It does a nice job as well.

Good Luck and Peace,

- Vin
 

yzer

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Nov 23, 2011
5,248
3,870
Northern California
I vape at 3.7 V and love the Smoktech single coil low resistance cartos. My favorites are the XL size in stainless steel 1.7 and 2.0 ohms. I've used these for over a year and never had a single dud. I purchase from two trusted vendors, either Hoosier or 310Vapers. I get one week or about 15 ml of juice through them before changing them out.
 

r77r7r

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  • Feb 15, 2011
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    Hi Everyone,

    I'm still fairly new at this so bear with me please. I started with Blu and quickly started upgrading.

    I currently have a JoyeTech Ego-T upgrade 1000 mAh battery and I've been filling Boge 2.0 cartomizers with liquid.

    My cartomizers seem pretty inconsistent. They seem to lose flavor or taste burnt really quickly. For example; last night I filled up a blank carto with about 30 drops of Johnson Creek Silverthorn juice. I was vaping it this morning off and on for a couple of hours and it was great. Then my next draw tasted burnt and gross. This seems pretty quick for it to have run out of juice and gone dry, right? Am I using the wrong cartos for my battery? I really hate that I just wasted a bunch of juice filling a carto that I barely got anything out of.

    Also, I filled up some of these same cartos weeks ago with some juice that I don't vape all the time. I've topped them off and they work still but just kind of taste weird... almost "wet" tasting, if that makes any sense. What's the expected life span for these things assuming they don't burn up super quick?

    Thanks again for all the help! I'm really hoping I can find a consistent and easy set-up so I can finally phase out analogs for good.

    -Jerzig

    I vape 1 dry in 40 minutes.
     

    yzer

    Vaping Master
    ECF Veteran
    Nov 23, 2011
    5,248
    3,870
    Northern California
    I use Smoktech single coil 2.0 ohm XL without a tank most of the time. I generally get two to three hours of vaping time from them before needing to refill. However, the vaping time before refilling means absolutely nothing because everyone uses vapor at a different rate. What matters with cartos is how much liquid is vaped off before refilling.

    The Smoktech 2.0 LR XL will hold at least 1.8 ml of juice. It's a XL carto, meaning it's 45 mm long and 9 mm wide. The length of the 510 connector base is not included in carto measurements or size determination.

    If I drip fill one of these cartos when brand new it's going to take at least 1.8 ml of juice, usually a bit more. That's about 50-70 drops of liquid from a 30 ml dropper bottle. The average being 60 drops.

    To prevent burning a 2.0 ohm XL I never vape one down to 1/2 fluid capacity. Doing that is likely to burn and ruin the carto. When I refill I usually add 15-25 drops of liquid until excess fluid starts to pass from the bottom 510 connector to some tissue paper.

    I also use the Smoktech 1.7 ohm LR XL. It runs hotter than the 2.0 ohm so I never vape it down past 2/3 capacity. That's adding about 12-18 drops of liquid for each refill.
     
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    yzer

    Vaping Master
    ECF Veteran
    Nov 23, 2011
    5,248
    3,870
    Northern California
    Condom method isn't all that good.

    It wastes a lot of juice by filling the center air passage. Also, the silicon caps on Smoktech XL cartos are both the same size and neither will hold the minimum 1.8 ml of juice you need to fill the carto the first time.

    I think it is worth a little extra time to either drip fill the carto the first time or use a syringe. I generally drip fill unless I need the syringe to fill with heavy all-VG juice. Even with all-VG, I never need the syringe to refill a carto. Once a carto is saturated with all-VG, it will drip fill easily for all following refills.
     

    DaveP

    PV Master & Musician
    ECF Veteran
    May 22, 2010
    16,733
    42,645
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    I got tired of the poor performance of Boge cartos and went looking for a good replacement. I like the LR Smoktek DCT tank cartos, but never have tried the plain (non-flanged) cartos.

    I was over at Stormy's Vapor Cellar's web site the other day and read a Blog about their new in house, specially made for them, stainless steel cartos. They were also looking for a carto that saturated well and produced good taste and vapor. I ordered a box of Stormy's SVC Cloud Makers and tried them. I liked them so well that I ordered 4 more boxes during the Thanksgiving Sale.

    The SVC Cloud Maker is more like the Boges were when you could depend on them to be consistent. They absorb juice quickly and have a good flavor. Like the old Boges, some are good for several days and sometimes two is about all you get. The key is keeping them saturated and never letting them run down to a dry hit. I top off about once an hour regardless of taste just to make sure they don't run dry and they are proving to be good realiable cartos.
     

    jerzig

    Senior Member
    ECF Veteran
    Oct 17, 2012
    79
    169
    California
    Thanks for all of the help guys. Good to know that I have the right equipment, just need to refine my filling techniques I guess. I think I might look into higher capacity cartos since I vape constantly through the day in my office at work. I used go out for a smoke every 45-60 minutes. Having good cartos filled up and ready to go has made it to where I don't smoke at all while at work.
     

    Absintheur

    Ultra Member
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    Jan 7, 2012
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    I prefer Ikenvape single coil cartos and generally use a syringe...that way you can fill from the bottom (where the coil is) to the top. The 801 Fusion cartos from Ikenvape are great as well but a 510 to 801 adapter is needed. You might consider a carto tank also...5ml of juice should last you all day and if you like a smaller tank a 3.5 would work well too.
     

    Kevin Brown

    Senior Member
    ECF Veteran
    Mar 8, 2013
    184
    72
    chi
    oh and that wet taste in old cartos is from the vg and pg absorbing water from the atmosphere. better to fill them fresh.

    yeah ever looked at a fan after use

    your lungs are pretty strong and pull in dirt zombies
    that straw gets uber nasty after a days vape session vlean daily is my theory
    and habit....

    i use a cup of peroxide and tweezers
    vinegar once a week
    keeps my gear new and havent popped a coil or gummed up my factory wicks
    i think if i stay with same juice i never will
    cepting for the wick but its silca and it also should last ...
    and it is
    keep your glass spottless clean and it will wick and wick
     

    Kevin Brown

    Senior Member
    ECF Veteran
    Mar 8, 2013
    184
    72
    chi
    as mentioned, the burnt taste is your carto running dry after 2 hours of vaping it. i can NEVER last 2 hours without refilling in between. every half hour or so i add another 10 drops or so and never get burnt taste (i only use boge 2.0 cartos).

    yeah it needs a pooling for best tasting vapes

    btw to know when its ready for a bump
    when after a while it starts billowing thicker plumes of vapor
    it needs a bump

    its a tell-tale
    you can get about 3-4 good huge vapes then re-bump it
    or you will burn your wick and gum your coil
    the gurgle is great if you get it right
    it goes gurgle gurgle silent to nice vapes
    and keeps your coil clean and spotless
    no worries if you drip bump it right that gurgle
    should not get in your mouth

    so much flavor lol
     
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