Cartridge filler materials

[Kate]

Please could folk give their opinions, links and advice about what makes good cartridge fillers.

I have read some posts about wadding, toy stuffing and fish tank filter all being used successfully but haven't seen a compilation of ideas and products that have been tested and work.

Just a thought from me. Please be careful to use something that doesn't have potentially dangerous chemicals that might react with eliquid, I'm thinking mainly of flame ......ant.

Here's Terraphon's video on how to restuff cartridges

How to re-stuff EVO e-cigarette cartridges
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...e-stuffing-m-401-carts-up-close-personal.html




Please don't tell us about experiments with novel materials here, just tried and tested fillers.

If you want to read more about cartridge fillers you can find threads here - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat - Threads Tagged with filler

Thanks.

 

[jennydotz]

Kate, I'm glad you mentioned flame ......ant materials. Lots of folks have recommended polyester batting from Wal-Mart. I noticed some brands specified "flame ......ant", so I worried about that. If A brand is NOT marked as FR, is it safe to assume that it is chemically untreated material? I guess I could try to burn it and find out, but does polyester even really burn anyway?

Then I wondered what they are really using in pre-packaged carts anyway? They could be flame ......ant scraps from the sister factory, we'll never know. hope I'm not messing up the intentions of your thread, but this is the first mention of this topic I have seen.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

This Works --Walmart--cost 7 dollars and that bag will last me a year--Sun

 

[smokingclam]

I'm using the same brand as Sun except in a quilters batting. BTW Sun does yours say flammable on the package? Mine does on the bottom. Never noticed this before though I haven't had any problems with it.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

I'm using the same brand as Sun except in a quilters batting. BTW Sun does yours say flammable on the package? Mine does on the bottom. Never noticed this before though I haven't had any problems with it.

Clam--just like any other material, polyester will burn at a high enough heat. I have burned this and the original cores only to get the same results. I certainly do not want any flame ......ent chemical in my core if you know what I mean!! Sun

 

[smokingclam]

I agree but after reading the label it got me wondering about this stuff. Right from the warming label.....
Hazardous gases released by the burning fiber can be incapaccitating or fatal to human beings if inhaled in sufficient quantities!

You can be damned sure I will be keeping my cartridges well juiced from now on.

 

[Lika]

Kate, I'm glad you brought this up. First of all, I'm not totally satisfied with any of the materials recommended as cart material replacement in the forums. Heck, I'm not even happy with the original material in our carts. Whatever that material is...

That's why I've taken it upon myself to design a completely new dispensing system that could be used to replace all of these wicks/fillers in various cart models. The exception to the rule would be those that have the atomizer and wick contained in one component. This new system will be extremely sanitary, fire proof, melt proof, fray proof, etc. It will be somewhat expensive to manufacture compared to what we're used to in OEM cart fillers but it should last a very long time and of course be reusable via a simple rinse with warm water.

I can't really go into much more detail yet because at this point it's just on paper. Within the next few weeks I should be ready for a few 'beta' testers. Btw, what's a beta tester called when it comes to testing hardware as opposed to software? Guinea pigs? Don't fret though - there should be no safety issues to concern anyone with.

If it all works out to what my schematics suggest this new system could even convert the most devout drippers back to using carts. Wouldn't it just be heaven to have a happy medium between cart topping and dripping via a built in mechanism without all the hassle? Not to mention less stress on the atomizer while holding liquid that is dispensed consistently till the last drop.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

First of all, I'm not totally satisfied with any of the materials recommended as cart material replacement in the forums. Heck, I'm not even happy with the original material in our carts. Whatever that material is...

That's why I've taken it upon myself to design a completely new dispensing system that could be used to replace all of these wicks/fillers in various cart models. The exception to the rule would be those that have the atomizer and wick contained in one component. This new system will be extremely sanitary, fire proof, melt proof, fray proof, etc. It will be somewhat expensive to manufacture compared to what we're used to in OEM cart fillers but it should last a very long time and of course be reusable via a simple rinse with warm water.

I can't really go into much more detail yet because at this point it's just on paper. Within the next few weeks I should be ready for a few 'beta' testers. Btw, what's a beta tester called when it comes to testing hardware as opposed to software? Guinea pigs? Don't fret though - there should be no safety issues to concern anyone with.

If it all works out to what my schematics suggest this new system could even convert the most devout drippers back to using carts. Wouldn't it just be heaven to have a happy medium between cart topping and dripping via a built in mechanism without all the hassle? Not to mention less stress on the atomizer while holding liquid that is dispensed consistently till the laest drop.

Glad to hear you are working on a new cores. In the meantime there is no need for our members to waste 69 cents rpiece for cores that are made out of 100% polyester.

Here is a quote from the Ruyan patent application about the original cores:

"The atomization is constantly supplied by the one hundred percent polyester fiber core that has been filled with the specially formulated liquid that wicks the wire mesh bridge"

So there is no need for us to speculate on what the core is made out of. If it is 100% polyester--you are using the same as the original. If it does not work for you either you have packed it too tight or to loose.

I look foward to seeing some alternatives to this method and Lika sounds like they are on to something---Thanks--Sun

 

[strayling]

I've mentioned this in a couple of other threads, but I guess once more won't hurt. I went to the local fabric store and bought the smallest amount of the thinnest grade polyester batting they had (BTW, be sure to check the material - some batting has cotton mixed in). Anyway, I got 1/8 of a yard from a roll; it cost the princely sum of 40 cents and there's enough to make hundreds of refills.

Like Sun said, the trick is to get the packing density right. The first one I tried, I packed it too tightly and it soaked up a bunch of juice but wouldn't let go of it onto the atomiser mesh. Matching the density of filler in a per-stuffed cart seems to be the way to go.

 

[jennydotz]

BTW Sun does yours say flammable on the package? Mine does on the bottom. Never noticed this before though I haven't had any problems with it.

I would think flammable would be better, that means you can be sure it's not treated with some chemical. I just looked at mine and it says "meets the flammability requirements of the California Bureau of blablabla. . ." Wonder what that means?

 

[Sun Vaporer]

I would think flammable would be better, that means you can be sure it's not treated with some chemical. I just looked at mine and it says "meets the flammability requirements of the California Bureau of blablabla. . ." Wonder what that means?

Jenny--look at the package again. If it does not say 100% polyester fiber--do not use it. You do not want to use anything treated. Very easy to find this stuff and the labeling is usuall very good---Sun

 

[jennydotz]

Well it says 100% premium polyester, but does that mean it couldn't be "100% premium polyester treated with some chemical so it meets Cal. flammability requirements"?

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Well it says 100% premium polyester, but does that mean it couldn't be "100% premium polyester treated with some chemical so it meets Cal. flammability requirements"?

For it to meet the California standard, it has to be treated--so I would not use it--it should have a warning on it that if it burns in a fire and you inhale tons of it, it could be harmful or fatal--The stuff you have Jenny is treated--so can it and get some regular stuff--Sun

 

[jennydotz]

Thanks Sun, better safe than sorry. The nerve of these companies! I want a big warning that says "Unsafe for use in a Personal Vaporizer Cartridge"

 

[Lika]

Thanks Sun, better safe than sorry. The nerve of these companies! I want a big warning that says "Unsafe for use in a Personal Vaporizer Cartridge"

LOL, wouldn't that be something if all of sudden that was imprinted on big bags of treated polyester fiberfill. Or, better yet, a label that says "Safe for use in Personal Vaporizers" on untreated bags. Anything to make a sale, ya know?

Honestly it wouldn't surprise me once the ecig craze is in full force. Presuming the FDA eventually lets it happen. All the big non-tobacco companies will be trying to get their share of the dough. I'm sure the eyeballs are already watching...

 

[Lika]

"The atomization is constantly supplied by the one hundred percent polyester fiber core that has been filled with the specially formulated liquid that wicks the wire mesh bridge"

Thanks for that bit of info, Sun. It's fairly obvious to me (just by observation) that the filler core is polyester but all over the forums people continue to question it. Somehow I've missed the Ruyan quote before until now, thanks again.

I agree that we shouldn't have to shell out additional money for a fresh cart when the old cores becomes over used. I've been rinsing the OEM cores and reusing them since I started with ecigs. But even those tend to reach a point of no return.

So far my favorite substitute is the polyester water filter for fish tanks. I've got a box of it that's lasted a while now. I choose it because it's basically cut, fold and pack for me. Plus I am assuming it's additive free since it's intended for a clean environment for fish.

Still, I don't like using polyester because I know it melts (toxic gasses) at least a little, it frays and may inhibit atomizer production and just gets all funky after a while. Those things can get quite ugly after a few top-offs. Plus it holds liquid that isn't ever wicked. That's a big waste for me since I don't care to squeeze the cores. Every time I wash one out I'm throwing a few drops of gold down the sink which probably isn't good for the environment either. When I've tried saving the juice in the past it appears aged, darker and more concentrated than what I started with. Just not my cuppa juice so-to-speak.

Btw, I'm not discounting the use of polyester as a replacement core filler. It's really about all we have right now that's viable and readily available. I just don't like it for the stated reasons and think we could do better.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Thanks for that bit of info, Sun. It's fairly obvious to me (just by observation) that the filler core is polyester but all over the forums people continue to question it. Somehow I've missed the Ruyan quote before until now, thanks again.

Still, I don't like using polyester because I know it melts (toxic gasses) at least a little, it frays and may inhibit atomizer production and just gets all funky after a while. Those things can get quite ugly after a few top-offs. Plus it holds liquid that isn't ever wicked. That's a big waste for me since I don't care to squeeze the cores. Every time I wash one out I'm throwing a few drops of gold down the sink which probably isn't good for the environment either. When I've tried saving the juice in the past it appears aged, darker and more concentrated than what I started with..

Lika --I totally concur with your theory about the toxic gasses--even ever so small and look forward to your work in the area of cores--we are working in the area of atomizer restoration as fast as possible and hope for some results soon that are across the board as these atomizers simple do not have any broken parts upon inspection after they are "allegedly" dead---we conclude that the coil is in fact so coated with residual that it can no longer heat even though the electical current is flowing--an issue we hope to resolve soon----thanks for your efforts and look foward to seeing your results in the arena of the cores---Sun

 

[Happy Jack]

I can't really go into much more detail yet because at this point it's just on paper. Within the next few weeks I should be ready for a few 'beta' testers. Btw, what's a beta tester called when it comes to testing hardware as opposed to software? Guinea pigs? Don't fret though - there should be no safety issues to concern anyone with.

I volunteer...

 

[rlorange]

Forget polyester guys. I now use stainless steel wool! It delivers the liquid better than any synthetic and doesn't wear out. You can completely fill it with direct dripping without removing the steel wool. ALL of the air bubble out between drops in record time

 

[ZambucaLu]

Forget polyester guys. I now use stainless steel wool! It delivers the liquid better than any synthetic and doesn't wear out. You can completely fill it with direct dripping without removing the steel wool. ALL of the air bubble out between drops in record time

There was a concern with fibers breaking off, and rust. Where do you get the one you use?
Lu