Cartomizers: Costs? Value? Reliability?

[bonnienclyde]

It seems EVERYONE loves cartomizers. I started vaping in Sept. of last year, and haven't been on here much since about Oct. or so. Well, they weren't that popular then, heck, the only people who had them were making their own.

Now, a different story. All the "good" suppliers have them, and a lot of the "old timers" on here loooove them. Which leads me to think maybe I'm missing out?

My attys usually last me a pretty good while. Hubby, however, chain vapes and goes through them like crazy(we both use 510's)! I think we should switch...

So, are they expensive to keep up daily heavy use? Are they "re-usuable", and are they refillable? Anything else you may have to say would be helpful, also.

 

[cyberwolf]

There are two features of cartomizers that I really like and cost savings isn't really one of them. The benefits are that they hold a lot of liquid and deliver it to the atomizer efficiently, unlike a typical 510 cartridge and atomizer setup. I have found that they also run a little bit cooler, so flavors come through better. If your hubby is going through a lot of atties, he may like hotter vapor and they may not satisfy him.

They are a little harder to fill than a typical cart, but still not that difficult. I typically get a lot of life out of an atomizer, so at about 1/4 the price of an atomizer, a carto would have to last me a few weeks to make them more cost effective. I think they will, but they do require cleaning to make that work; the filler seems to get gunked up after a few uses just like that of a regular cart. Since they have to be flushed out and then thoroughly dried before use, this may or may not be worth the effort on a $2 item.

All-in-all, I think they are well worth a try. I am still dripping regularly, but it is really nice to have a 510 that I can just pick up and use for almost a day without messing with liquid.

 

[zoiDman]

I would DIFFINATELY suggest you try cartomizers.

I bought some of these for my 510 and they work great...

FIVE (5) Joye 510 compatible e-Cigarette blank cartomizers (This is NOT Genuine Joyetech!)

Easy to refill and they last a Loooooong time.

 

[brandon555]

I think they work well at 3.7 volts...

However I still prefer a 510 over a carto anyday.

 

[ImYourSalt]

I love Cartomizers! I tried going back once... It only lasted a few days.

For me, I love the convenience of not having to top-off every 3-4 drags! I can go almost a whole day on 1 full carto. I refill them for about 2-3 days. Then toss it as the flavor becomes less desirable. Many people get them to last longer.

A 510 atty would only last me week. So the cost, for me, is on-par. Catos are about 1.75/each, at 3-4 cartos a week, i spend only about 6 bucks. Keeping in mind I used to spend that every day on smokes!

 

[Smokin Joe]

Totally with you ImYourSalt! They are far far cheaper than buying cigs, the taste is great, and the convenience is off the charts.
I enjoy the vaping, not the screwing around with the juice, and the cart, or the atty or whatever. I need something that's quick, reliable and as easy as smoking. The cartomizer makes vaping fit the bill.

 

[AlexTM]

Cartomizers are a nice idea, only, almost all models burn their filling, so you get to inhale burned plastic, which I for one would rather not. Also, they are more complicated to refill (although it's managable), and probably slightly more expensive. So far, my 510 atties all still live, even those I vape since November last year; cartos may be cheaper initially, but they hardly last that long.

Part of their popularity stems, IMO, from people running around in the forum making ridiculous statements like "you have to refill carts every 3-4 puffs" and "cartos are sooo cheap".

FYI:
Burning Cartos

• Burned filling I – II – III – IV – V
• With 510 carts, too #27 + #458
• Turbo Cart
• burning-cartomisers-dangerous-e9-vk-bloog-totem-808-dpv9-smoke51-etc.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...views/66900-my-quite-personal-kr8-review.html

 

[keyzygirl]

If you use cartomizers properly and keep them wet they are wonderful.

 

[ChipCurtis]

My experience with cartomizers is that they don't seem to deliver enough throat hit and the vapor is way too cool for my taste. They might be a good back-up for traveling or for demonstrating to others new to vaping, because of the ease and convenience. But I don't think that's where the best vapor production and throat hit are.

 

[doxzilla]

I don't know where people get off saying that cartos are more complicated to refill than carts... I mean, literally take the mouthpiece off and fill, it's not rocket science...

 

[5cardstud]

I use both kinds the 510 cartos and the KR808D-1 cartos and I will never go back. They hold more juice and they make it taste better I think. The only problems I've found is that from carto to carto the resistance changes. Some are around 2.3 ohms and some are 3.5 ohms and anywhere around those levels. So some work better at 5 volts and some work better at 3.7 volts. I've found most of the 510 cartos I've gotten work best at 3.7 volts. But I do love them and will never return to attys.

 

[doots]

Cartos are less expensive I think to use,, but you cant beat the flavor from a good 510 atty.. case closed.. lol

Cartos are better at 5 and 6v to me that at 3.7 but still never can get the full flavor i get from a 510..

Try them for yourself so you know what to choose..

 

[zoiDman]

When people say that cartos burn the filling, I guess that could be true. If you completely drain a carto and keep holding down the battery button, you might just burn the filling.

I don't know where people get off saying that cartos are more complicated to refill than carts... I mean, literally take the mouthpiece off and fill, it's not rocket science...

Yeah, refilling a cart is a pretty complicated process. Perhapse it's the removing of the mouthpiece that throws people?

 

[doxzilla]

Yeah, refilling a cart is a pretty complicated process. Perhapse it's the removing of the mouthpiece that throws people?

No kidding right? I mean, some of the hard cap cartos are a bit of a pain, but it's not like that cap has to be used for that particular carto... Plus, most cartos are now coming with the rubber soft caps.

As far as the burning issue goes... I mean, for all intents and purposes, cartos were not originally designed to be used more than once so of course the heat tolerance of the wicking material isn't going to be super high. Can't really be mad about the filler melting/buring when you're using them outside of the manufacturers specs. I refill mine & I'm comfortable with the risks involved. No biggie...

 

[AlexTM]

When people say that cartos burn the filling, I guess that could be true. If you completely drain a carto and keep holding down the battery button, you might just burn the filling.

BS, and if you ever had read those threads where the problem is discussed, you'd know it. People had burn holes in new cartos that were only half empty, people who knew about the problem and vaped extra carefully had burned filling … you can have burn holes in a pretty wet and gently vaped carto, and there is no foul or dry taste whatever to warn you. And it happened to people who were very experienced vapers, too.

Yeah, refilling a cart is a pretty complicated process. Perhapse it's the removing of the mouthpiece that throws people?

Nobody said it's complicated, but you need a tool (not much of one, but you need it) to remove the end, and you either have to do it extremely slow or do odd spins or make a mess with silicone caps or …. It certainly is managable, but it also is certainly more complicated than refilling a cart.
BTW, this advise to "keep them wet" – wasn't not to have to refill them "all the time" the one great advantage of cartos? How does that go with "just keep them wet"? That is, providing "keeping them wet" works at all, of course.

And you know, how good can something be where the defenders feel they have to make utterly ridiculous or flatout untrue statements about their favourite toy?

 

[Dogsbody]

Definitely try them and judge for yourself,

I think they are much easier to fill than a cart, no tools necessary. (Carto-cap-fill-method. (1. Tip liquid in condom. 2.push carto into liquid filled condom)

The burning filler may be an issue depending on your vaping style so keep an eye on it and adjust to minimize this. (top up sooner/drip/remove filler etc)

I use both attys and cartos, but mostly cartomizers, I would be lost without them.

Everyone is different, and I would encourage anyone/everyone to try them and make an educated and experience based decision on what is best for them, especially now with the 510 cartos.... you will not need to buy adapters, different batts or chargers and you should be able to get a 'test' pack of 5 for about the same price as one new atty.

There really is no good reason why you should not try them out.

 

[bonnienclyde]

Are you saying "condom"??? Like a .....well... condom? LOL!!! What the heck are you using a condom for?

Please forgive my stupidity, but I seriously don't have a clue about that!

 

[CartHeadMod]

Cartomizers are a nice idea, only, almost all models burn their filling, so you get to inhale burned plastic, which I for one would rather not.

sure, they burn their filling if you run them dry....so do cartridges.....so don't run them dry....

 

[CartHeadMod]

Are you saying "condom"??? Like a .....well... condom? LOL!!! What the heck are you using a condom for?

Please forgive my stupidity, but I seriously don't have a clue about that!

he's referring to the silicone cap that comes attached to the end of a cartomizer....

 

[CartHeadMod]

Nobody said it's complicated, but you need a tool (not much of one, but you need it) to remove the end, and you either have to do it extremely slow or do odd spins or make a mess with silicone caps or …. It certainly is managable, but it also is certainly more complicated than refilling a cart.
BTW, this advise to "keep them wet" – wasn't not to have to refill them "all the time" the one great advantage of cartos? How does that go with "just keep them wet"? That is, providing "keeping them wet" works at all, of course.

And you know, how good can something be where the defenders feel they have to make utterly ridiculous or flatout untrue statements about their favourite toy?

yeah, I'm seeing it in action right now.....you don't need any tools, you don't need to remove any end caps, you don't need to do anything extremely slow or spin anything or make any messes......you also don't need you're own mod section on the forums to discuss the changes you have to make in them just so they will work the way they are supposed to.....you put some juice in the condom and push the cartomizer into it.....I've done it while driving......