Blank cartridges are in stock, but we want to ask you all something...

[leeshor]

I think small stickers are one of the best ideas. I'm certain the current labels are designed they way they are, (waxy - and all) for a reason. I also think that if you put a label over a label there may be a problem.

To some extent the cart is acting like a radiator. It's not a requirement that the outside of the cart get hot but it is a good indicator that the inside is surely hot. If the cart gets an extra layer of insulation it will not wick the heat away and the cart would probably burn up quicker.

I have some smaill round stickers that seem to stay on the cart fairly well. Also it's easier to write on the flat surface first, duh

Just a thought.

 

[leaford]

Keep in mind that in the factory they are filled with juice before they are rolled up and put together.
It's never the same when you fill them after the "fill" is rolled up as tight as it is.

It's just common sense.

Now that's interesting. Mind sharing how you know that? That's one of the things I've been wondering about, and was going to find out when I get there.

If true, that may be what I need to change, since I am getting much better performance from refilled used carts or self-filled blank carts than from fresh carts, so I was already looking at the factory fill methods as something to change.

 

[rp_iowa]

The logo would be nice,how about the 6 batt colors.

Fantastic idea - I totally agree with this one!!!

 

[emberl]

It's generally more helpful to tell a person how to do it instead of laughing at them for not knowing.

My goodness, you take a piece of a white blank sticker and write" RY4" or "Marlboro" or whatever on there, cut it, and paste it on the cartomizer.
A kindergartner can do that.

 

[emberl]

Now that's interesting. Mind sharing how you know that? That's one of the things I've been wondering about, and was going to find out when I get there.

If true, that may be what I need to change, since I am getting much better performance from refilled used carts or self-filled blank carts than from fresh carts, so I was already looking at the factory fill methods as something to change.

Steve did not tell you how it's done in the factories?
He should know.

I cook a lot........It just makes sense to me to add whatever before you put it together.
Imagine a jelly roll, they spread the jelly on before they roll it.

Once "pancaked" together, it's much harder to add the liquid in between.

In a way the cartomizer is the same as a jelly roll........
The "fill" is stretched out, liquid is spread out, roll it up and cut it.

Duct tape is made the same way, layer by layer, in huge rolls and then cut up.

 

[Taryn]

Interesting concept but it's a liquid not a jelly and I would think there would be much loss and leakage when stuffing the carto with wet batting. Let us know what you find out Leaford!

 

[m1273c]

Double post - sorry

 

[m1273c]

Okay, question first:
Are the cartos made of metal? If not, then forget the rest of the post. If so...
Are they a metal that a magnet might adhere to? Is there a way to make a magnetic label that you could transfer from one cart to another? So, instead of glue or sticky stuff (that we would be putting into our mouths) a magnetic "sticker" might be a neat idea. That way you could sell the blank cartos without coloring/labeling (possibly lower cost) and then sell labels separately (sp?). Mag labels could also be the same colors as prefilled w/indicators of strength. You could buy those and just transfer from blank to blank (reusable just like the blank cartos) - that way you could re-use the blanks for any flavor and not have to put another insulating (possibly that would overheat the carto) label on top of the other sticky one etc.

Just a thought

 

[maaron]

Steve did not tell you how it's done in the factories?
He should know.

I cook a lot........It just makes sense to me to add whatever before you put it together.
Imagine a jelly roll, they spread the jelly on before they roll it.

Once "pancaked" together, it's much harder to add the liquid in between.

In a way the cartomizer is the same as a jelly roll........
The "fill" is stretched out, liquid is spread out, roll it up and cut it.

Duct tape is made the same way, layer by layer, in huge rolls and then cut up.

I would love to know how you "know" all of this! Have you been sneaking to the factories and not telling Steve Mark or Leaford??

 

[leaford]

Interesting concept but it's a liquid not a jelly and I would think there would be much loss and leakage when stuffing the carto with wet batting. Let us know what you find out Leaford!

That's pretty much what I was thinking, but I suppose they could be doing it machine assembly style by running the fabric through a tray of liquid, or under a spray of liquid before being rolled.

I rather doubt it, though. I understand most of the componants are made by machine, but they are assembled mostly by hand. I expect to find they are assembled dry, then filled either by a pipette, a syringe, or something like that.

But of course, I won't know until I get there.

 

[Taryn]

Okay, question first:
Are the cartos made of metal? If not, then forget the rest of the post. If so...
Are they a metal that a magnet might adhere to? Is there a way to make a magnetic label that you could transfer from one cart to another? So, instead of glue or sticky stuff (that we would be putting into our mouths) a magnetic "sticker" might be a neat idea. That way you could sell the blank cartos without coloring/labeling (possibly lower cost) and then sell labels separately (sp?). Mag labels could also be the same colors as prefilled w/indicators of strength. You could buy those and just transfer from blank to blank (reusable just like the blank cartos) - that way you could re-use the blanks for any flavor and not have to put another insulating (possibly that would overheat the carto) label on top of the other sticky one etc.

Just a thought

They carto shells are metal, but not magnetic. Possibly aluminum?

 

[Taryn]

That's pretty much what I was thinking, but I suppose they could be doing it machine assembly style by running the fabric through a tray of liquid, or under a spray of liquid before being rolled.

I rather doubt it, though. I understand most of the componants are made by machine, but they are assembled mostly by hand. I expect to find they are assembled dry, then filled either by a pipette, a syringe, or something like that.

But of course, I won't know until I get there.

I know you've been experimenting with blanks and refilling, how much are you getting into your cartos without flooding? I'd love to hear an expert's thoughts and ideas! What steps are you using?

 

[maaron]

I know you've been experimenting with blanks and refilling, how much are you getting into your cartos without flooding? I'd love to hear an expert's thoughts and ideas! What steps are you using?

exactly!

 

[leaford]

I know you've been experimenting with blanks and refilling, how much are you getting into your cartos without flooding? I'd love to hear an expert's thoughts and ideas! What steps are you using?

I get just about 1ml exactly into a fresh blank cartridge. Even with the twirling method, 1.1ml leaves it too wet, and it has to be blown clear. From what I can tell, the factory fills them with about .8ml. Steve's been trying to get that to 1ml for awhile now.

I've tried just dripping it, the battery end fill, and a syringe. I find the syringe works best, but filling the syringe is a pain, especially from a partly empty bottle. The regular mouth end fill is easiest, but only works consistantly with the twirl, and has to be left to sit overnight without it.

 

[~Gazoo~]

Steve did not tell you how it's done in the factories?
He should know.

I cook a lot........It just makes sense to me to add whatever before you put it together.
Imagine a jelly roll, they spread the jelly on before they roll it.

Once "pancaked" together, it's much harder to add the liquid in between.

In a way the cartomizer is the same as a jelly roll........
The "fill" is stretched out, liquid is spread out, roll it up and cut it.

Duct tape is made the same way, layer by layer, in huge rolls and then cut up.

That's an interesting thought. Guess I don't have much common sense...

Leaford, it would be awesome if you can take some pics and maybe some videos...I have always been interested in what things look like in these factories.

 

[IceCreMan]

I like the black labels. White would be nice too.

 

[KathyinColorado]

I would be happy with white or light colored cart with the V4L (of course). You can use a fine point sharpy on them and it stays pretty good until you wash or wipe it off. I was using one on my green menthol carts to mark an R on the ones I had refilled. It does wipe off clean when you want to.
Also - FYI - if using the twirl method to refill you find you have overfilled - put the condom back on the open end about halfway on - put that end down in the battery bag and give about 3 or 4 turns - when you take it out you will see juice in the condom. Take that off carefully and put a new condom back on and start over. You can then add back the juice in the condom and it is pretty easy to squeeze the condom and do a little at a time. Just don't put all of it back in! This worked for me. Also works to dry the water out after rinsing.

 

[Osculum]

Whatever you do... do not get rid of the black ones. Additional colors are a great idea but I'm glad they are black as they match my batteries and other equipment. I don't need different colors for the different flavors I fill them with but know that others would like that option.

BTW... these blanks have been a godsend for those of us waiting for VG cartos or at least for me.

I also understand that nobody is saying there shouldn't be black or that you guys are even thinking about getting rid of the black ones. I just want to be clear that black is awesome and my vote is for black.

Black should stay an option is all I'm saying.

p.s. black, black, blackity, black, black.

Thank you!
-
Black!

 

[Moonstruck]

What color did you want? (just kidding)

 

[kc0cmp]

leaford, i looked at the listing for the blanks on the web site and it doesn't say how many come in the order. I assume it is 5 for $8.95?
If so any chance of getting a bulk amount like 25 in a batch?

I would say either the colors of the batteries or plain white. I would simply label mine as per the flavor i load in them. I also had an idea you may be interested in.

I reload used carts with different flavors and thought it would be nice to have small stickers to place on these used carts to show the flavor i have in it at the time. This might also work for the new blank carts rather than lots of different labels.

Since I change flavors from one to another more than once it might be useful to just add the new sticker over the old one.

I seem to recall they had them in bulk many months ago at the rate of 60/$100. Undoubtably with the increase in demand and customs issues, that pricepoint is no longer possible. You can bet that if it were, I'd have a couple cases of them around here for hard times already as that was one killer deal.