Calling all Carto Tank Experts - Ignorance is Not Bliss! (help!)

[Vwls]

OK so yay - I bought my first carto tank. It's really pretty and reflects my personality because I love purple and aqua green, minty, ocean-y colors. Also it's glass, which is like... a must for me (hate plastic).

Only problem is, this is my first time using a carto tank and I have already screwed up. I had my Youtube vids all queued up and ready when I began. (LOL it's amazing how excited you get when the vape mail comes, and when you are sitting down to try new (new to you) technology for the first time.)

So OK, first problem I had off the bat: because the tank glass is decorated with the aqua swirl design, I really can't see what the heck is going on in there like the tanks in all the how-to videos.

I got the carto in there fine, made a great seal. Pushed the carto down as instructed with the tank tool, and got the tank filled up about halfway just as I was supposed to, except it was a real bear figuring out how high the liquid was since I couldn't see into the inside through the glass.

But I got a flashlight, turned it on, and set it on the opposite side of the tank - the light shining through helped to barely identify just a shadow of the fluid level. LOL what a production already.

So bear with me here - I realize this is long and boring but I really do need your help.

OK so fluid level - good. Check.

I then popped the carto back up and put in the drip tip - everything sealed up nice and tidy just as it was supposed to. And as the pretty girl in the video instructed, I started giving it little sucks ("priming draws") to fill the carto. They were crazy airy draws though, not in any way airtight, even though I was covering the base of the carto well with my finger. I could hear the air rushing in and it didn't seem like any juice was disappearing into the carto through those tiny holes. But then, it was hard to tell because I couldn't see inside the tank! LOL.

BTW, these cartos are Smok 3.2 ohm Single Coil 2 Hole Standard - they come with the tank from IBtanked. The holes are really tiny - makes me wonder how the juice will ever seep in there! I filled this with a 50/50 menthol from Mount Baker.). Could it be that this brand of carto doesn't seal well at the base when you hold your finger over it?

Well realizing I wasn't getting the carto primed this way, and not "grokking" how I could possible get the thing airtight with only a lonely finger, I looked up a different YouTube instructional video where they prime the carto once it's already in the filled tank by dripping juice into it.

Drip, drip, shake, spin, drip drip, flick... blah blah. Looked slushy on top. Check.

Ok so get the drip tip back in - let it sit for about 30 minutes just in case it needed time to absorb into the carto filler.

Took a few puffs. Nice, nice - a little gurgle (oops - got some down the center hole?) Then BOOM.

Dry hit.

Can someone please guide me? I need my own personal vape guru!

 

[Robino1]

PM Baditude. I've heard dry hits are BADDDDDDDDDDD!

 

[volume control]

Check out my carto blog, even if you have primed your cartos other ways you may want to use my vacuum prime method to make sure you have juice in that wick. I also go over filling and replacing cartos

E-Cigarette Forum - volume control - Blogs

 

[EmeraldLeo1982]

I don't know anything about using carto's. But I just wanted to say I love your post and the pictures were spot on lol.

 

[Elantis]

If you received this from IBTanked then you should pay special attention to the following thread:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-forum/339809-do-you-fiddle-your-thingy.html

Since the first day of receiving my IBTank, I have always primed my cartos using the "thingy" that the tank comes in, I fill the tank, push the carto all the way in, then place both in the "thingy", screw the top on the "thingy" - remove top - repeat about 6 - 7 times, place carto tank on device and voila! I have a solid black IBTank and can't see much in it unless held up to the light, and use this method exclusively.

Hope that helps!

 

[r77r7r]

I'd try Volumes' method- worked for me. Understand that "slushy on top" doesn't mean fully absorbed.


Is that coloring on the outside? Something that you can make a nice scratch-line from top to bottom for viewing??

 

[SissySpike]

Heres how I do it I fill the cart first till its slushy. You can do this any number of ways dripping, syringe, condom method. A quick blow and your good to go.

Now insert you filling tool in the cart. Insert the cart in to the tank so you can fill.

Fill the tank almost to the top its not like a clearo it wont flood from filling it 90% full

now your ready to vape.

When you refill put in your tool bush it down refill the tank bush it back up drip a few drips in the cart and vape some more.

Unfortunately you have most likely ruined your cart once singed that flavor will not go away:-(

BTW nice looking tank and DT

 

[kbjoran]

I take it you didn't try dripping or using a carto without the tank first.

I use the condom method to prime my cartos then do the two or three unpowered draws after I fill the tank and place it on my device. I use Phiniac tanks and one of them is cobalt so I also have to use a backlight to see where I stand (I use a small LED flashlight). I've never (thank goodness) had the problems you're having but, being an ardent viewer of Taste Your Juice, Phil Busardo showed me several times how to do things. Don't give up. I agree that you've most likely destroyed that first carto. Just grab another and try again.

>>>><<<<​

You might want to also try just using the carto without the tank until you're comfortable with your own preferred priming method. Once primed and vaped a bit, put that carto in your tank and fill 'er up. AND don't forget to use that tank tool to drain the tank PRIOR to removing the carto.

 

[fourthrok]

One thing that will help is to go ahead and put the assembled tank w/ carto on your device. Don't just hold it in your hand and try to prime. Ain't gonna work so good! Once you have it screwed on your PV, then you can prime by drawing pretty stiffly without firing a couple of times. Of course..you will have already filled the carto with juice before filling the tank with juice. "Sipping" isn't very effective for priming. Give it a good PULL or two. Or three. Maybe four. Or more. If you do get juice in the center tube somehow..just unscrew from the device and LIGHTLY blow out. Remember that if you blow too hard and/or too long...you can end up blowing everything out, including the contents of the tank!

 

[RoseB]

If you primed the carto and are still getting dry hits here's my suggestion: take the tank appart, grab a clean safety pin, and poke the punched feeder holes a bit. The filler in smoktech cartos is pretty dense. Sometimes a little poke gets the e juice a flowing

 

[ppeeble]

I've read about so many different (and exotic) ways to fill a carto that my head spins.
*****************************************************************
If you want to fill a carto from new drip 4-5 drops into the top. Get a pin and prod the filler material repeatedly until the juice absorbs. Drip 4-5 drops in and then gently blow the carto from the top. The juice will absorb. Repeat this up to 10 times (depending on carto size).
Then insert the carto into the tank, fill the tank and vape. 5 Minutes. Foolproof.
No spinning, no condom, no magic beans required.

 

[Orb Skewer]

I use cartos regularly, not used them in a tank for a while, but this method has always worked for me

Boil a small amount of water, let it cool, take the carto (de-rubbered) and drop it in the water-leave for 2 minutes, remove and blow through, add to your tank and fill, or drip jiuce in if your using it on its own

VG and PG are both 'hygroscopic' -they eat water rapidly (that empty juice bottle that always ends up with a mil of liquid in it?)

By capillary action the juice will be drawn quickly into the absorbant material in the carto-has never failed me yet

 

[Vwls]

If you received this from IBTanked then you should pay special attention to the following thread:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-forum/339809-do-you-fiddle-your-thingy.html

Since the first day of receiving my IBTank, I have always primed my cartos using the "thingy" that the tank comes in, I fill the tank, push the carto all the way in, then place both in the "thingy", screw the top on the "thingy" - remove top - repeat about 6 - 7 times, place carto tank on device and voila! I have a solid black IBTank and can't see much in it unless held up to the light, and use this method exclusively.

Hope that helps!

Perfect. I replaced the first carto with a new one and used the "thingy" (airtight plastic bottle the tank comes in) to prime. I screwed and unscrewed the cap 12 times, and voila - perfectly primed and almost all the juice had gone into the brand new carto. Refilled the tank - screwed it on the battery, and all was sublime.

Thank you my friend, and thanks to everyone who helped.

 

[crxess]

Arrived to late to help, but Thanks for a great story and sorry you had such a bad first attempt.

I normally slow drip about 30 drops into a New carto and keep an eye on the wicking holes near the 30 mark. Once I see wetness or color change I insert the carto into the tank.
I use a smoke Carto tool and press it down just enough to expose the side holes into the tank. Turn the tank so one hole is down and one is up to allow air out.
Start dripping into the filler and it will almost completely fill the tank.
I sit mine down for about 15 minutes and then after 1-2 primer pulls I hit it and Wowwwwww

 

[Vwls]

After all this, here is what I have learned:

1) "Fiddling with the Thingy" is by far the easiest, fastest, and most fool proof way to prime the carto. One minute and done. Bam!
2) Carto tanks are awesome because if you are an aesthetics freak (like me), it opens you up to a whole new world of pretty things: tanks, glass, colors, drip tips, designs, etc.
3) I can taste the carto filling, as many who have posted on this site have warned of. I agree that this is still not the perfect vape because it's not the most pure flavor. However, if you are vaping menthol like I am, it really doesn't matter as much - menthol is a strong and imperfect flavor to begin with - a little added carto material flavor isn't that bad.
4) Still searching for that ideal vape - one that tastes just like the juice and nothing else, gives the full flavor of the juice, and doesn't require constant dripping. I guess what I want is a bottom feeder/Reo, but my problem is, I hate the way they look.

 

[SissySpike]

I switch between a Katfun and a Ithake Nice vapor and excellent Vapor but you have to rebuild them so they are not for everyone

 

[crxess]

I think what a lot of people are actually tasting is the Silica Sleeve that wraps the Coils to prevent it from burning the Polyfil. I've actually had Polyfil in my mouth before.(car audio thing, don't ask) and it really has no taste. Polyfil pillows are hypoallergenic.
Can't say the same for silica.

 

[Baditude]

Late to the party again. Oh well, it looks like Vwls got her tank working properly. Enjoy!

Gathering from the numerous responses you received, there's more than one way to setup a cartotank. Everyone has their favorite method that they have found works for them. Mine is different and works for me. If you get inconsistant or otherwise unsatisfactory results with one method, try another one, as Vwls did. Eventually you'll find one that works.

For the record, this is the method that I use when the other ones end up failing on you.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3710-5-cartomizer-tank-setup.html

 

[SissySpike]

For the record, this is the method that I use when the other ones end up failing on you.

Ha since when did you become so tactful ;-)

 

[r77r7r]

After all this, here is what I have learned:

1) "Fiddling with the Thingy" is by far the easiest, fastest, and most fool proof way to prime the carto. One minute and done. Bam!
2) Carto tanks are awesome because if you are an aesthetics freak (like me), it opens you up to a whole new world of pretty things: tanks, glass, colors, drip tips, designs, etc.
3) I can taste the carto filling, as many who have posted on this site have warned of. I agree that this is still not the perfect vape because it's not the most pure flavor. However, if you are vaping menthol like I am, it really doesn't matter as much - menthol is a strong and imperfect flavor to begin with - a little added carto material flavor isn't that bad.
4) Still searching for that ideal vape - one that tastes just like the juice and nothing else, gives the full flavor of the juice, and doesn't require constant dripping. I guess what I want is a bottom feeder/Reo, but my problem is, I hate the way they look.

That taste May go away. Most cartos I've used have a taste upon start-up that Does go away-usually within a half-tank.

I don't think filler "tastes", I think there's some residue leftover from the production of it or maybe washing it to clean.