Cartridge problems - Safety hazard as cartridges often fall apart when vaping

[johncookson]

Hi there

Does anyone else experience the disconcerting problem of sucking in parts from the end of cartridges when vaping ? I actually worry about accidently inhaling or swallowing these parts when I am vaping (cue Heimlich Maneuver).

I used to have a model 901 and now use the eGo model (I have four of these). I use plastic cartridges, some with round ends and others with whistle shaped ends. I refill these with e-juice just like most other people. What I find happens frequently is that the end of these cartridges can become detached when vaping and you end up with a mouthfull of plastic parts from the end of the cartridge. This is driving me crazy and I end up bracing the end of the cartridge with my teeth as I suck on the cartridge to avoid this happening. Initially I had assumed these cartridges were a single molded part but they are not. The cartridges I use are a mix of ones that I ordered from China and ones purchased locally in Canada. All the cartridges seem to suffer from this same problem. It is of course possible that all of my cartridges are manufactured by the same vendor. I have looked to see if there are any higher quality blank cartridges on the market (even metal ones) but this does not seem to be the case. Only drip tips seem to have significant variety but I don't really want to use these.

Any comments, suggestions and recommendations from others would be appreciated

 

[ScottinSoCal]

You could look at cartomizers. They're the same basic idea, but the atomizer and cartridge are built into one unit. The end typically comes with a tight fitting white soft tip, but they'll accept a drip tip or whistle tip if you prefer that mouth-feel (I do).

In the time I've been vaping I've been through several types of cartomizers and mods (tank mods that hold more juice, so you don't have to refill as often). I'm currently running a Boge type cartomizer and that's what I'll probably stick with until someone comes out with something that suits me better.

 

[MickeyRat]

Those pieces are there to keep you from getting juice in your mouth. If you are managing to suck them out, I'm surprised you aren't drinking the juice. They probably aren't doing you any good. Just take them out and leave them out.

 

[Mickster]

On my cartomizers I pretty much have taken out and lost all of them. They work find without them.

 

[dormouse]

I use a drip tip in the end of cartomizers. But if you are sucking out carts then you would suck out drip tips.

Why sucking so hard? Are you using auto batteries? Most people use and recommend manual batteries.

 

[Bozzlite]

Are you biting down on the tip? That will cause the end piece to pop out.

I used the Genuine Joye carts before I switched to cartomizers. Never had that problem tho. The only time I had one pop out was when I dropped my Ego on concrete floor.

 

[johncookson]

I just don't understand why the end of the cartridge is a detachable piece, it should be moulded as part of the cartridge body. I agree that a cartomizer would'nt help as my guess is that the end is probably designed in the same way as the mouthpiece of a cartridge. I don't think the way cartridges are made has been particularly well thought out. I would like to see a "better mousetrap"

I only use manual batteries and have never tried automatics as I suspect they are inferior.

MickeyRat - I don't get any juice in my mouth and certainly with the round end cartridges (which I generally prefer) leaving the parts out would cause the gauze to end up in my mouth.

I'm guessing that the end plate on a cartridge (the bit with the hole in it) is probably glued on to the body of the cartridge and that over time the glue degrades and becomes ineffective.

I've done some more looking around and came across the following items which might provide a solution for me :-

The following items are mentioned on the page linked below

Stainless Steel Whistle Tip, Non-Drip. Features smaller thru hole
Delrin Whistle Tip, Non-Drip. Features smaller thru hole

Super T Manufacturing, Innovative manufacturer of electronic cigarette products.

I think I might be able to get these from Jack at HappyVaper. I'll send him an email to see if he thinks these might work for me.

 

[swedishfish]

Are you using the mega cartomizers? I always take the middle piece out. If they aren't well made I don't think they align properly. The least bit of pressure of biting on it probably does that.

 

[Newbz]

Yes, I have had this issue.

While cartridges look the same and fit the same onto the PV, I've found that the parts for the cartridges themselves are not neccesarily universal with each other. As an example, the little disk piece with the hole in it for taking a drag (or the top of the '....') of the cartridge may fit tight into one cartridge, but be completely loose in another cartridge.

I personally like that the cartridges break down into 3 pieces. This allows for thorough cleaning of the cartridges, which I think is important since I'm sticking the thing in my mouth all day long. You just have to pay attention when you put the cartridges back together that the correct top goes onto the matching body of the cartridge.

 

[johncookson]

swedishfish - No, I don't use cartomizers, just normal cartridges.

Newbz - Glad I'm not the only one to have had this problem. I don't worry about breaking the cartridge into parts for cleaning as it is a simple matter to remove the gauze and flush boiling water through it anyway.

I've sent an email message to Jack at HappyVaper inquiring about the Super-T Stainless Steel Whistle Tip, Non-Drip part that he sells as this might solve this problem (although they are not a cheap part).

Thanks to everyone for commenting on this issue.

 

[Eli Huffman]

Try the cartos with hard tips. They will never fall apart. I've been ordering mine from smokelessimage.

 

[bfj]

A stainless steel whistle tip? I gotta get me like 5 of them!

 

[jbblack]

You know, I was thinking about that same thing...I have a tendency to bite the whistle-tip 901 carts too. Little touch of superglue on the inside, pop the piece in, let it sit overnight (just in case) and it worked out great. No more surprise plastic bits.

 

[OldDragon]

I think most of the normal cartridges are made up of several pieces that are just press fitted together. A little tooth pressure(chewing) the ends can cause the parts to come out. I would pop those parts out and super glue them back in. You may want to try the cart's without some of the inner parts, could be easier on the draw.