Carts vs. cartomizer?

[bushmaster]

Still contemplating my first purchase of a pv and trying to decide whether I'd prefer carts or cartomizers. I understand the basic differences, but would like to be able to compare the respective differences in refilling, cost of replacement, etc. I assume this has been covered elsewhere. Anybody have a link? Thanks.

 

[~Jo~]

Both cartomizers and atties are considered disposable, but how long they last seems to vary quite a bit between different users. The cartos are cheaper to replace--five prefilled cartos will cost me $12, and five atties will cost me $35--but as for which purchase will last the longest, I haven't the foggiest clue. Part of it is how they're treated, how they're cleaned, etc.

As for refilling, 510 carts are very easy to refill, but you may find yourself topping off constantly. Many people who use 510s either modify the cart or just direct drip. I haven't tried many cart mods because I'm just not that interested in fiddling with it, so when I use a 510 atty, I direct drip. That means I'm dripping juice straight onto the atty every five to fifteen puffs; YMMV.

I don't have much experience with refilling cartos yet, but there are some really easy methods out there (LMK if you'd like links). Once a carto is filled, it can be used for much longer than a cart before needing refilling.

Having used both now, I can see why many people prefer one over the other. They are different vapes. However, since it *is* a personal preference, there's no definite "this one is better." TH is not an issue, in my opinion-- both products have made me choke when I drew for too long. If you want more vapor, and you don't mind topping off the cart or dripping, or you like the idea of playing with cart mods, then the 510 is your unit. If you want something that you can just pick up and use, go with the cartos.

I will say that I find the V4L premium cartos to be superior. I bought cartos from another vendor first, and had poor performance. I personally won't buy cartos from anyone else after that experience.

Whichever model you buy, you can buy adapters to use your batteries with other atties/cartos, so you are not tied to one model, and you don't have to buy a whole new starter kit just to try a different model.

 

[bushmaster]

Thanks for the comeback, Jo.
Pardon me for being a simpleton, but a cartomizer consists of an atomizer and a cartridge but is less expensive than an atomizer, right? Why would that be?
Also, I've read various threads about how to rejuvenate a dying atomizer. I assume that is not an option with a cartomizer.
Thanks in advance. I won't be a permanent pain in the ....--I'll catch on, I promise.

 

[~Jo~]

Oh, just keep asking until you understand. That's what the rest of us do. Though for these questions, I don't think I'll be much help. Hopefully, someone else will come along with more info.

I'm pretty sure that cartomizers were (at least originally) intended to be a single-use disposable product, the same way that some people might choose to use pre-filled cartridges. Some people actually use them that way. To me, and apparently to a lot of other people, that just seems like a lot of waste in both money and materials. I don't know if there's some huge difference in how they're made that makes the cartos less expensive, or if it's merely that cartos are marketed as single-use and atties aren't.

So far, I've come across no threads about fixing dying cartos. With the filler in there, the techniques used on atties wouldn't work the same for them, and they're so inexpensive that it might simply just not be worth the effort to try to figure out a fix.

 

[Drozd]

A 5 pack of cartomizers is around $10...they were intended for single use and then dispose of..a heavy smoker would go through about 2-3 a day..
People started refilling them and they're good for a varrying # of refills (repending on how you use/abuse them..ie if you vape them too dry they might not be reuseable) but generally 4-20 refills (though some have reported getting more refills out of them)
An atomizer will run you $9-$16...and depending on use can be run anywhere to a couple of days to months upon months (again depending on level of use/abuse ..ie, running it dry, at HV, excessive tinkering).. the average atty is around $9 (I get the $16 ones because they have a 6mo warranty on them)..
So for me atomizers are the cheaper way to go because they last me far far longer..
That said I have both because the taste/vapor/TH IS significantly different between a 510 atomizer and a KR8 cartomizer....and now they've even come out with 510 cartomizers (which I haven't tried)

 

[needtoknow]

...and now they've even come out with 510 cartomizers (which I haven't tried)

I have not heard of that? Who has it, where, what and how much?
BTW
I have a kr8 from v4l and so far refilling cartos is very easy and I have done some several times and you can wash them to make them last even longer as long as you don't vape them completely dry. ;-)

 

[5cardstud]

Cartos on 5volts is the hit. Cartos love volts and thats all I use. I just wished one would burn out so I can use the remains but they seem to last forever. I'll bet I've refilled these ones at least some of them 35 refills and there still going strong. I messed up when building my mod and had 8 volts go through one. It was smoking laying on the table and I grabbed it and yanked the batteries out of it and said "there goes a good carto, couldn't have made it through that" but it did and I'm still using it today.

 

[Cali]

I love my cartomizers. As long as you keep them filled (which takes less constant vigilance than regular carts or dripping). I have my original cartomizers I bought almost 2 months ago and haven't had one die on me yet You can EASILY find cartomizers (especially blanks and fill em yourself) for under $10 per 5 pack just shop around a bit. $10 would actually be kind of pricey in my book I normally find them from $6-$8 for a five pack....

 

[~Jo~]

I have not heard of that? Who has it, where, what and how much?

The only ones I've found are these at LeCig, and I'm not sure I'd want to try them. I read somewhere that they hold less than KR8 cartos and therefore have to be topped off more often. The description says, "These soft cartomizers look and feel like a real cigarette. Cartomizer tube is surrounded by a soft spoungy sleeve." That just doesn't sound very durable to me. Hopefully, some company will start experimenting more with 510 cartos.

Here's a YouTube review of them:

YouTube - Smokie Reviews Lecig 510 Cartomizers

 

[Drozd]

I have not heard of that? Who has it, where, what and how much?
BTW
I have a kr8 from v4l and so far refilling cartos is very easy and I have done some several times and you can wash them to make them last even longer as long as you don't vape them completely dry. ;-)

The only ones I've found are these at LeCig, and I'm not sure I'd want to try them. I read somewhere that they hold less than KR8 cartos and therefore have to be topped off more often. The description says, "These soft cartomizers look and feel like a real cigarette. Cartomizer tube is surrounded by a soft spoungy sleeve." That just doesn't sound very durable to me. Hopefully, some company will start experimenting more with 510 cartos.
QUOTE]


There's those and he has them over at nhaler..in a couple more flavors,,for $9 for a pack of 5..
They're kinda strange in that they're a "soft" carto...they have spongey foam around the outside so they look/feel like a regular cig filter..

 

[dg99]

Still contemplating my first purchase of a pv and trying to decide whether I'd prefer carts or cartomizers. I understand the basic differences, but would like to be able to compare the respective differences in refilling, cost of replacement, etc. I assume this has been covered elsewhere. Anybody have a link? Thanks.

The cartos are "disposable", but many folks have methods to refill them. I personally feel atomizers are a better option, and you can do up a few carts with blue foam mods so that they hold more liquid more efficiently. Atomizers are more expensive (they are not disposable), but they last longer, my first one is still going strong and I've been using it over a month. Some folks have problems with cartos burning the filling, I feel it's easier to use atomizers as you'll know for sure when they need replacing.

 

[jericoriver]

The cartos are "disposable", but many folks have methods to refill them. I personally feel atomizers are a better option, and you can do up a few carts with blue foam mods so that they hold more liquid more efficiently. Atomizers are more expensive (they are not disposable), but they last longer, my first one is still going strong and I've been using it over a month. Some folks have problems with cartos burning the filling, I feel it's easier to use atomizers as you'll know for sure when they need replacing.

Never had a regular cart. last as long as a cartomizer. Mine usually take 10 or so drops to refill. Most times my regular carts only take 4 or 5. I seldome ever use my 510 or 801 anymore.