Can't punch a hole in carto

[wildarmtins]

I've got myself a lil mama tank, but I just cannot punch a hole in the a carto so I can use it!! I'll be investing in a hole puncher as soon as I get some money, but in the mean time, does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried a hammer and nail but it's impossible to even make a dent :-S

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[hellsh0cked]

You could try a self tapping saddle valve that you should be able to find at a hardware store. A power drill with a small drill bit. A dremel tool with a cutting disk.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

I use a nail and first mark the hole spot and the put the carto in a vice grip plier. Slowly hammer nail until you get a very small dent. Once the initial dent is made realign the carto in the pliers and nail VERY SOFTLY because once the nail punches through it may make too large a hole. I vape 60/ 40 PG/ VG and the hole is 2.5 mm.
Good Luck.

Also try sharpening the nail on a grinder OR on a rock/ sidewalk- makes a huge difference IMO.

 

[Ratchet]

I've got myself a lil mama tank, but I just cannot punch a hole in the a carto so I can use it!! I'll be investing in a hole puncher as soon as I get some money, but in the mean time, does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried a hammer and nail but it's impossible to even make a dent :-S

Sent from my LG-P920 using Tapatalk 2

If you can spare $7, just go to Lowe's/Home Depot or whatever home Improvement stores there are in England and get a "Self-piercing Saddle Valve", In the US, they sell for $7 at any Hardware store.... I'm sure they have something like that in England, too......... Here's a link to the one that's sold here so you'll know what they look like if you don't know that already.... I haven't tried the hammer/nail thing, many people report that they end up denting their cartos to the point that they won't fit anymore so I'm staying away from that....

Shop EASTMAN Brass Self-Piercing Ice Machine Saddle Valve at Lowes.com

 

[wildarmtins]

Cheers for the help guys ^_^

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[Flyer]

Do you have a Dremel (or other rotary tool) with a cutting wheel? If so, slot them like PBusardo shows -

A PBusardo Tutorial - How I slot my cartos!.wmv - YouTube

I now only slot my carto's, no more punching for me!

 

[iowajosh]

I tried a nail and it bent the nail. Too soft.

A sharp center punch works fine.

 

[salemgold]

If you have an awl, the metal is harder than a nail and works great. I leave the condom on so the carto will not roll and the awl goes right through the condom to make a perfect hole in carto without leaving a dent. Aim towards the top of condom and the hole will be positioned just right.
Good luck!

 

[Iffy]

Be sure to use a very sharp item to puncture the carto. If you use a 'blunt' point, the carto barrel will distort where you can't insert it into the tank.

 

[bassworm]

I have found setting the carto in a bunched up dish towel helps stabilize it and helps keep the carto from rolling around as you try to punch it, it takes a bit of practice to figure out how to hold the nail with thumb and finger and brace the carto enough with the same hand, but once you sort it , it becomes pretty easy, remember to puncture softly, if you pound to hard you will puncture the air tube in the center of the carto and ruin its functionality.

 

[Zooker]

I had bought that saddle valve thingy to punch cartos for my lil mama tank as well, and still had to go back with a nail to try and make the holes bigger, I must have punched and tested over and over at least 5 times, trying to make those holes big enough to let the juice in, and really, they still need to be bigger. GAH. I'm going to go look through the dremel stuff in the garage and see if there's a wheel in there that will cut the SS of the carto and try to slot it, I watched the PBusardo video, and he makes it look so easy. Of course, then I remember it's me I'm dealing with here, I will probably end up cutting the carto completely in two!

 

[Flyer]

Slotting is just as easy as the video shows. Have no fears. Just cut enough to get through the carto shell. I make two cuts just like in the video. The carto's work great for my 70/30 and 50/50 juices. Have never had a flooded carto. I'm using Boges though. I did have problems with Smoketech's.

 

[markfm]

Try this: http://www.valleyvapes.com/Cartomizer-Punch_p_15.html

Get the screw to touch the carto, then two full turns. The hole size will be decent, since it is a metal screw, not a piercing needle.