Boiling/Washing K808 cartomizers?

[snorkelsandy]

I have read about refilling the cartomizers, and I just got my first order. I have been previously filling the cart/atomizer units.

For the cartomizers, some folks suggest boiling them to clear out flavors in between refilling. But, isn't there some sort of electrical gizmo inside of these things?

Wouldn't putting them in water ruin them? I realize that the answer is NO b/c folks are doing it, but I just wonder if someone could explain this to me.

thanks
sandy

BTW - I tried the condom method of refilling and it worked very well through the battery side, just like the videos suggested. Don't know if it makes a difference to go through the mouthpiece side, or if I am threatening these innard gizmos mentioned above, but oh well.....

 

[JerryRM]

Sandy, in the center of the cartomizer is the atomizer. I soak mine in water, to clean them, it works ok, if I let them dry thoroughly. E-juice is water soluble so water will clean them well. If you fill them from the mouthpiece, using the condom method, you risk getting a mouthful of juice, I know, I tried it. I don't use the condom method, I remove the cap and washer and use a needle to put juice directly into the filler material.

If you remove the cap, be careful not to widen the hole in the center. They don't work well if the center hole is larger. I use a small knife and pop them off from the side.

 

[snorkelsandy]

I mispoke. I filled my carts from the mouth side, not the metal side. Gotta get used to all of the language.

I did get a mouthful of juice, but I was used to this from filling the carts atomizers with my other e-cig. But I definitely want to avoid this as much as possible. Next refill will be from the screw side (what do you call this side?) If I am doing the condom method, I should probably fill from the screw/metal side for better results. Will try next time.

Jerry, as I understand the answer, there is nothing inside the cartos that would be damaged by putting them in water. The electronics are inside of the batteries, right? The atomizer inside of the cartos has no electronic stuff to be damaged, right?

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[Stephra]

I agree with Jerry, popping off the endcap and filling from the mouthpiece end is about the easiest way to go. Doing that, you can just drip into the filler from around the edge, avoiding that center hole altogether (getting juice in the center hole is what causes the mouthful of juice).

Check out the beginning of this video. It shows the most hassle-free, waste-free way to fill them. Newer models don't have the o-ring he shows, but otherwise it's just the same!

YouTube - Care And Feeding of Cartomizers Part 2

 

[JerryRM]

I mispoke. I filled my carts from the mouth side, not the metal side. Gotta get used to all of the language.

I did get a mouthful of juice, but I was used to this from filling the carts atomizers with my other e-cig. But I definitely want to avoid this as much as possible. Next refill will be from the screw side (what do you call this side?) If I am doing the condom method, I should probably fill from the screw/metal side for better results. Will try next time.

Jerry, as I understand the answer, there is nothing inside the cartos that would be damaged by putting them in water. The electronics are inside of the batteries, right? The atomizer inside of the cartos has no electronic stuff to be damaged, right?

Thanks,

Sandy

Sandy, I call them the "mouthpiece side" and the "battery side".

Correct, all the electronics are inside of the batteries. Inside of the cartomizer is the atomizer, surrounded by the filler material.

Look at Stephra's video, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[snorkelsandy]

The video was very helpful. Bear with me, but I have another question.

As I watched the video I saw that he emphasized not to get liquid in the middle of the hole. If the idea is NOT to get liquid inside the middle of the carto, how to avoid that by dropping the whole thing into boiling water in the cleaning process? I don't get it Won't that get water in the middle?

TIA.
sandy

 

[bigblue30]

Sandy.

The reason you do not want to get e-juice in the middle is because if you do the liquid will fill up the hole….then you have a straw filled with liquid. It you draw on the carto you will get a mouth full of e-juice (yuck).

The other reason not to put e-juice down the center is because it will run out of the hole in the bottom and get all over the battery. Not something you want to do with automatic batteries.

Water or e-juice will not hurt the atty inside of the carto. All the atty is is a piece of metal wire. There is nothing electronic inside and nothing that can get hurt by putting it in water.

 

[snorkelsandy]

Sandy.

The reason you do not want to get e-juice in the middle is because if you do the liquid will fill up the hole….then you have a straw filled with liquid. It you draw on the carto you will get a mouth full of e-juice (yuck).

The other reason not to put e-juice down the center is because it will run out of the hole in the bottom and get all over the battery. Not something you want to do with automatic batteries.

Water or e-juice will not hurt the atty inside of the carto. All the atty is is a piece of metal wire. There is nothing electronic inside and nothing that can get hurt by putting it in water.

Thanks, but won't this same water run down into the battery? It is still a liquid like the ejuice, and does this damage the batteries also? Not sure if this question makes sense. thanks,
sandy

 

[MsUnderstood]

I never wash out my carts. I will label them and keep filling them with the same kind of juice. I will usually keep them filled and just drip from the bottle into the battery end. An empty cart takes 18 to 20 drops and a half used around 8. I keep filling them until I notice they taste crappy and use a new one. I get around a weeks use out of it. It helps that they never go dry. I really don't feel like taking all the time to boil them because I am to lazy.

 

[bigblue30]

Yes, If you do not dry them out after cleaning (as Jerry said above).

The steps are:
Boil...or run then under water
DRY...until no more water is in them
Fill...without getting in the center.

Thanks, but won't this same water run down into the battery? It is still a liquid like the ejuice, and does this damage the batteries also? Not sure if this question makes sense. thanks,
sandy

 

[the86d]

I have been getting the premium cartos lately because the tops are not glued on, and are the soft rubber kind.

I have rinced a few to try cleaning, but they don't seem much better, might as well pay the few dollars for new ones in my eyes. I use them roatating between a few for a few days, then change to new ones wh I start to have issues.

If you blow from the batt end after a condom fill (fill from the mouth piece end) for about 2 seconds (sustained) I have had better luck with less juice spew whilst vaping (as I could never swing the other way... I can't even chew that liquid-filled gum that squirts in your mouth hehee).

 

[snorkelsandy]

I am learning a lot and trying to help others learn to vape rather than smoke. So far, the cartos are working much better for me than the cart/atty combos,
sandy

 

[mjones]

Yeah water is fine you should have no problems, having water in the carto is no different than having almost a mill of liquid e-juice in it. If you have a 510 and some other models they are sealed batteries so no worries there.

The other main reason not to get juice in the center is that is where the heating coil is and too much juice will flood it out and degrade vapor performance.

Always good to see another "South Cackilackian" hehe.

 

[snorkelsandy]

Always good to see another "South Cackilackian" hehe.

Not quite! We are recent transplants from pittsburgh, but loving the life here! Always vacationed in HHI and OBX, but now living in the Charlotte area. Never thought we would make it, but all is good!

sandy

 

[Jackal3]

I have both used the condom refill and the drip. I fill the bottom condom about 1/3 full with juice, gently and slowly drop the carto down the condom. Then when finished I wipe the battery end off with a napkin. If I accidently fill too much and it oozes out the top, I gently blow into it (from the mouth end) and blow the excess out the battery end. Wipe both sides dry thoroughly and vape.

I've also done the drip method, right into the battery end. They are right, about 20 drips to fill a carto. Again, blow out the excess and dry the ends well. I've refilled my cartos with the same juices. I labeled the condoms so I know which flavors are which. Not always a good thing to think you're putting on a mandarin orange to find you've put on whiskey... Either way, I get my nic and my monkey is pleased. Cartos seem good to refill about 20 times before the built in atomizers burn out.