Cartotank VS Clearomizer?

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MikeRocGuy

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SO, I am a newbie to the forum. Been Analog free since Mid August 2012 so about 6 months now! I started off using the SafeCig for about a month or 6 weeks. Then I found a local shop that sells some Vape supplies. I have a non VV EGO style battery ( I think). And a Vision Clearomizer - Version 3. It looks like it at least. The battery brand is smok. I have tried 1 smok flavor and didn't love it(Vanilla) I have also tried a local brand called Sweet Mystery that is good but reallllly thick. I have been happy so far but also looking down the road I would like to step it up a bit. I like my long battery life, no idea the MaH on my battery, based on research, I am guessing either 900 or 1100. Not really sure if Cartotanks are a step up or what would be? What is the difference in a cartotank and clearomizer? What suggestions do people have for a Clearomizer with a easily replaced post/middle part? Like these http://www.mountainoakvapors.com/eGo-CE5-Plus-Clearomizer-2-6ohm-p/ce5-plus.htm ?
 

SilentScreams

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I use both carto/tank's and a Vivi Nova clearo's. I tend to get better flavor from the Vivi Nova's. However everything has a down side. While the carto/tank is a bit easier with the feed than the Nova's it mutes some flavor. Vivi's get get low and they have wicking issues. So yeah nothing is perfect. I hear good things about Kanger T3's and CE4 clearo's but never used them.

I suggest you try a few different ones and see what you like best. You can get some really cheap.
 

ShayBabe15

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Jan 29, 2013
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I used to use Carto's..but then I switched to Clearo's, which I like a lot better. I get a lot more flavor.
My experience-
Carto's: Juice lasts longer, not the best flavor. Easy to clean and re-fill.
Clearo's: Depending on Juice, lasts a long time or runs out faster, has the best flavor. Can be a pain in the ... to clean and re-fill..worth it though.
That's just me. Experience both, get disposables first, then go for the big money.
I'm vaping on two disposable CE4 clearo's(have lasted a month so far[each]) and a Titan Tank.

As for the "replaceable middle part", any Clearo can be replaced. There's videos on how to do it if you'd like me to link them to you. As far as my experiences go, I've never had to replace an atty(Clean them well), just the wicks and coils after awhile. Suggestions? Anything from any vendor works really. However, I don't recommend getting CE5 Clearomizers.

Lol I've edited this five times..it's wayy to early. The Replaceable posts..again, I suggest staying with wicks and coils..better flavor, to me at least. Might have to do some research on that one.
 
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Kable

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An atomizer is actually the heating element in any delivery device (or anything that turns a liquid into a fine mist), so the wick and coil in a clearo is technically an atty. I like carto tanks better than clearos. They don't look as great on ego batteries, though. If you want a clearo, kanger t3 (or mt3) is pretty good, I like the kanger evod better (performance was better for me, the heads are cheaper to replace, but a little smaller than the t3). I don't like vivi novas that much, but a lot of people love them.
 

Plumes.91

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a carto tank has a carto in the middle with holes punched into the sides.
As you suck on the carto, juice enters the holes, saturating the filler material within.
In the middle of the filler material is an atomizer, aka a coil around silica wick. the filler feeds the coil/silica wick.

I like both equally but I use clearomizers because I like to rebuild/replace rather than throw out.
I believe the clearomizer heads can last longer, especially once you use sense to figure their quirks out.
 

Kable

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a carto tank has a carto in the middle with holes punched into the sides.
As you suck on the carto, juice enters the holes, saturating the filler material within.
In the middle of the filler material is an atomizer, aka a coil around silica wick. the filler feeds the coil/silica wick.

I like both equally but I use clearomizers because I like to rebuild/replace rather than throw out.
I believe the clearomizer heads can last longer, especially once you use sense to figure their quirks out.

Looks like I was too slow ;)
 

zapped

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Gravity.....the carto in a carto tank is punched....you can buy them pre-punched or punch them yourself. Then you fill the tank and the wicking material inside (its looks like a cotton batting rolled around the coils) sucks up the juice and keep the coil wet. Its important to prime them properly first for best results.

Difference between cartos and clearos? ....clearos have 4 strings absorbing your liquid while a carto tank has ten times the surface area sucking up the juice and keeping the coil constantly wet.Many people have noticed a big increase in flavor and vapor production when moving up from a clearomizer to a carto tank and this is partially why.

The design of a clearo versus a carto is the other. A clearo has the coil wires on the outside which can reduce the flow of liquid ifits wound too tightly around the wicks while a carto has the coil on the inside which allows it to flow virtually unimpeded.

Id ignore the advice from the person who stated theyd only tried cartos by themselves (without a tank) and then moved on the clearos as that isnt an accurate representation or comparison between either.
 
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subversive

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A carto is filler wrapped around a heating coil. They can hold anywhere from 1ml to 4ml depending on size. You fill them with liquid and then top off once an hour or whenever the top of the filler looks dry or the taste diminishes. Carto tanks hold cartomizers that have a small hole punched in them. They hold 3ml-6ml of liquid and feed liquid to the cartomizer. A full tank will last all day without topping off.
 

Baditude

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So a Clearo works with have wicks which suck the juice into he atty, how does a carto tank work?
Below is a "picture dictionary" that I made as a sort of crash course on juice delivery devices for beginners, which among other articles I've written is in my blog entries in the link below my avatar:

Proper terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? Juice delivery attachments.
(712 Views)Originally Posted by Baditude

laser-drilled.jpg
CARTOMIZERS are steel tubes filled with a polyfiber that looks very much like a cigarette filter, and have a heating coil within it which heats e-liquid into vapor. There is a small air tube in the center of the carto running its entire length which directs the vapor into a drip tip that is placed on the end of the carto.

Single coil cartomizers have one heating element in them and dual coil cartomizers have two heating elements. These can be used alone to vape your e-liquid.

Cartos may be filled by using a couple of methods, but I prefer to fill them by dripping into the top, using a toothpic in the center air hole to prevent liquid from getting in it, thereby preventing "flooding" the carto, not a good thing. Fill slowly until the polyfill has the appearance of a slushy drink. Then shake the carto downward like a thermometer; this acts like a centrifuge does by forcing the liquid down into the carto. Add more liquid, and shake it down again. It should now be ready to use.
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The above pic is of a "pre-punched" cartomizer (note the small hole near the bottom of the cylinder) ready to be filled and inserted inside of a cartotank. Cartomizers may be purchased with these holes (pre-punched). Use only stainless steel cartos for tanks, not the black ones, which have a sticker applied for appearance purposes.

Un-punched cartos can also be used in tanks, requiring the user to make their own holes in order for the juice in the tank to be able to make its way to the heating coil inside the cartomizer. A carto punch tool can accomplish this. I recommend for beginners to purchase the pre-punched cartos initially. One or two holes is adequate for all but the most thick e-liquids.
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cartotank.jpg
Above is a pic of a typical CARTOTANK. It is made up of a clear tube with end caps on either end. A punched cartomizer is inserted between the two endcaps. A drip tip, or mouthpiece, fits into the end of the carto. This combination is what is referred to as a cartomizer tank.

These can have a juice capacity of between 2 - 9 ml.

Tube material can be polycarbonate or polypropylene plastic, pyrex glass, or stainless steel. Pyrex is the preferred material. Endcaps can be made of plastic or metal.

Tanks sizes are generally categorized by length as a standard (using a 35mm cartomizer) or an XL size (using a 45mm cartomizer). The diameter of tanks can vary greatly, but typically are between 19mm and 25mm.

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clearomizer.jpg
Above is a CLEAROMIZER. This can be considered a small tank as the container holding the juice is typically clear plastic. Instead of polyfill like a cartomizer uses, these use string-like wicks that draw the e-liquid to an atomizer head, which contains the heating coil to make vapor.

These can have a juice capacity of between 1.5 - 2.5 ml. These are filled by removing the top cap and dripping in the liquid, careful to not get any into the center airhole.

Some flavors, such as cinnamon and citrus flavors, can react with the plastic used in these and cause the material to crack or actually melt.

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CE3's.jpg

Above is a CE3. These are sort of a hybrid cartomizer/clearomizer. They typically are the same length and diameter of a cartomizer, but are clear and use the same atomizer head with string wicks like a clearomizer.

I find these quite useful to test out new flavors from juice samplers because they can be easily emptied and refilled with another flavor quite easily.

These can have a juice capacity between 1 - 1.5 ml. Most versions require removing the top and injecting e-liquid into the tube with a fine needle and syringe, but there are newer versions that may be filled by just removing the top, such as a device known as the Nano.
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vivi-nova-mini.jpg
VIVI NOVA TANKS use wicking strings and an atomizer head like a clearomizer, but have a larger juice capacity in their tanks of between 2 ml and 3.5 ml. The atomizer heads in these are replaceable, so if you are relatively handy you can replace a bad head with a new one so that you don't have to buy an entire tank replacement. These are filled by removing the top cap. These are often recommended for beginning vapors because of their ease of use.

The tube material in these is still polycarbonate plastic to the best of my knowledge, so these tanks are susceptible to damaging effects by certain flavors.

There are metal tubes available to replace the plastic ones should you wish to use one of the above flavors. Just make certain that it is metal all the way around, as some of the metal tubes have a juice window which is made of the same kind of plastic that is susceptible to the tank-cracking juices!
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* Please be aware that certain flavors, such as cinnamon and citris flavors, can
have damaging effects on the clear plastic tubes of these attachments that use polycarbonate plastic.

This is why pyrex glass, polypropylene plastic, and stainless steel is recommended for the tubes. A relatively up-to-date list of these flavors can be found at this link:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-crack-tanks-ce2s-clearos-30.html#post7805448

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