Cartomizer Cleaning

[Morandir835]

Yo Vapo (sir or Ms.?) use that methos once a week to clean my used cartos (and something really awesome to dry them), works very well. When you vape 13ml's a day, and on average a carto needs cleaning after the 5th-6th refill, go through at least 2 cartos a day. If I didn't clean them would be going through 60 cartos in a month... That severly cuts into the batt and juice budget... Which is equally as high oddly enough...

 

[yo vapo]

The turkey baster method? Yessir, that looks like the easiest I've seen. I only vape ~4-5 ml a day, so cartos last a couple of days before the draw gets tight. So, cartos aren't a huge expense for me; I'm just a cheapskate. Anyway, I should have a few needing cleaning by the weekend.

Do you use just hot water, or alternate water & PGA? If PGA, then I imagine that the Everclear budget might be kinda high too at 2+ cartos / day.

Thanks, Jon

 

[Morandir835]

For really strong flavors have a solution I soak them in overnight Yo Vapo sir, otherwise just hot water.

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

Wow M yeah you go thru alot .I only go thru like 2 blanks in a week !

 

[katz-in-boots]

For really strong flavors have a solution I soak them in overnight Yo Vapo sir, otherwise just hot water.

I am verrrry curious M'Dir; are you prepared to share the contents of the 'solution' that you soak them in overnight? Vodka? Vodka & orange? Vodka Martini? Enquiring minds want to know .....

 

[Morandir835]

Not prepared yet Ms. Katz....

 

[katz-in-boots]

Not prepared yet Ms. Katz....

I need a 'pout' emoticon

 

[Morandir835]

LOL Ms. Katz

Still working on it. It removes all the traces of the wow and premium lines, but the usa lines are a different story. The mixes that do best on them also degrade the coil on the carto quicker.... Time will tell.

 

[SIC08869]

LOL Ms. Katz

Still working on it. It removes all the traces of the wow and premium lines, but the usa lines are a different story. The mixes that do best on them also degrade the coil on the carto quicker.... Time will tell.

When they start to degrade will they take on a metallic flavor? I have some older carts now that have been washed a few times and are starting to taste like I am sucking on a penny. They are going in the trash but I was wondering if that is what is causing it.

 

[Tinky]

Soooo...I'm new and my cartos are piling up...how exactly do you guys clean them??? Does this effect the poly fill? I saw one poster comment that it would shrink...I'm checking out the link too...thanks for your patience...I'm still learning.

 

[Morandir835]

SIC0 sir when they degrade their resistance changes (lowers) and after a bit just stop working, no taste was noticed on my end. Usually can get around 30 uses out of a carto, the harsh batch of cleaner will lessen that to around 15-17 uses.

 

[SnowDragon]

SIC, if you have washed them a few times and the flavor isn't right...toss them. I burnt up a bunch of cartos when I first started mostly due to my taste buds being so dulled after years of smoking. If you are going to toss them, yank out the polyfill with a pair of pliers and inspect them....you might be surprised how many are burnt.

A quick way to check if they are burnt is when refilling. If the wick tube is compromised they will leak after 8-10 drops, some will leak immediately. A good carto will not leak at all after refilling or when you top it off.

Tinky, welcome to the forum if you have any questions on cleaning, drying, or filling just let us know. Cleaning cartos, like refilling, is actually very quick and easy process.

Like Morandir noted, if cleaning is done correctly after multiple uses the Atomizer simply starts to fail. The flavor will have a noted muted taste to it and vapor production will fall way off. It is kinda cool when you look at your Carto and think, man..I have been vaping on this Carto for a month....sure got my money's worth out of that one. I just had a Chocolate Wow Carto that was a bonus that I had spun out to use with juice. It worked like a champ and after 5 weeks it died.....I was actually kinda bummed out...we spent so much time together I was getting attached.

 

[SIC08869]

SIC, if you have washed them a few times and the flavor isn't right...toss them. I burnt up a bunch of cartos when I first started mostly due to my taste buds being so dulled after years of smoking. If you are going to toss them, yank out the polyfill with a pair of pliers and inspect them....you might be surprised how many are burnt.

A quick way to check if they are burnt is when refilling. If the wick tube is compromised they will leak after 8-10 drops, some will leak immediately. A good carto will not leak at all after refilling or when you top it off.

Tinky, welcome to the forum if you have any questions on cleaning, drying, or filling just let us know. Cleaning cartos, like refilling, is actually very quick and easy process.

Like Morandir noted, if cleaning is done correctly after multiple uses the Atomizer simply starts to fail. The flavor will have a noted muted taste to it and vapor production will fall way off. It is kinda cool when you look at your Carto and think, man..I have been vaping on this Carto for a month....sure got my money's worth out of that one. I just had a Chocolate Wow Carto that was a bonus that I had spun out to use with juice. It worked like a champ and after 5 weeks it died.....I was actually kinda bummed out...we spent so much time together I was getting attached.

LOL now that is awesome!

 

[Tinky]

SIC, if you have washed them a few times and the flavor isn't right...toss them. I burnt up a bunch of cartos when I first started mostly due to my taste buds being so dulled after years of smoking. If you are going to toss them, yank out the polyfill with a pair of pliers and inspect them....you might be surprised how many are burnt.

A quick way to check if they are burnt is when refilling. If the wick tube is compromised they will leak after 8-10 drops, some will leak immediately. A good carto will not leak at all after refilling or when you top it off.

Tinky, welcome to the forum if you have any questions on cleaning, drying, or filling just let us know. Cleaning cartos, like refilling, is actually very quick and easy process.

Like Morandir noted, if cleaning is done correctly after multiple uses the Atomizer simply starts to fail. The flavor will have a noted muted taste to it and vapor production will fall way off. It is kinda cool when you look at your Carto and think, man..I have been vaping on this Carto for a month....sure got my money's worth out of that one. I just had a Chocolate Wow Carto that was a bonus that I had spun out to use with juice. It worked like a champ and after 5 weeks it died.....I was actually kinda bummed out...we spent so much time together I was getting attached.

Cool! Thanks snow dragon...very helpful!!

 

[yo vapo]

I'm still doing something wrong.
I turkey basted 'em in hot water, hot distilled water, and pga.
Also soaked them in pga and then turkey basted them with the pga. Little black flecks came out & everything.
But they still have such a tight draw they're not worth fooling with.
I'm getting only a couple of days out of a carto (in a carto tank) at a rate of ~4-5 ml per day.

 

[Tinky]

I'm still doing something wrong.
I turkey basted 'em in hot water, hot distilled water, and pga.
Also soaked them in pga and then turkey basted them with the pga. Little black flecks came out & everything.
But they still have such a tight draw they're not worth fooling with.
I'm getting only a couple of days out of a carto (in a carto tank) at a rate of ~4-5 ml per day.

What's PGA?

 

[yo vapo]

Pure Grain Alcohol (Everclear). See how PGA is underlined? Just roll your cursor over it.

 

[Morandir835]

Yo Vapo sir are you using stainless steel blanks for the tank or ones where you removed the cover?

 

[Darrigaaz]

I'm getting only a couple of days out of a carto (in a carto tank) at a rate of ~4-5 ml per day.

I have this problem when I use certain non V4L juices. What juices/flavors are you using?

 

[Tinky]

Pure Grain Alcohol (Everclear). See how PGA is underlined? Just roll your cursor over it.

Oh! Got it...thanx...the red underline not working in tapatak...