CE3 Cartomizers Only Good For 2-3 Fills...

[Blazar]

Hello. I recently ordered some CE3 cartomizers and all of them worked great for the first fill, but on the second fill they taste burnt. I sent a support ticket (#QTP-36021) and this is the response I received:

"The CE3's are a limited life cartomizer. (this is why they are only $2 each) They are usually good for 2 or 3 fills and then the will taste burnt. Thanks -Steve"

If this is indeed the case, what do you guys recommend as an alternative that doesn't die so quickly? Am I better off sticking with the standard cartomizers? Or is it time for me to move on to a different setup?

Thanks!

 

[jafmf95]

I use CE3s quite a bit for flavors I like to vape occasionally, but don't want to waste an EVOD or MT3 on.

I've never had one give a burnt taste on any flavor, so if it happened once I'd say it's a bad one. If it happens more than once, then you are using them differently than I am. Mine just die once the coil gives out. I probably average 4 or 5 refills before it dies.

These are cheap, so unless you have a DOA, good luck getting a replacement. But, these are super simple to re-wick. I can pop one open, clean and re-wick it in about 5 minutes.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jafmf95]

As a follow up, are you using thick juices with these? I read somewhere that thick juices will give dry hits, which I suppose can taste burnt. The solution I saw was to take a couple "dry" pulls (I.e. vape it without powering on your battery) every 3 or 4 vapes. It pulls more juice onto the wick. Maybe give it a try...

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Blazar]

Not using thick juices. Air bubbles rise away from the wicks quickly. I've tried cleaning them, but still get this burnt/dry taste. I had one sitting for ~24 hours that I just tried. The first couple of pulls were fine and then it started tasting burnt/dry again.

 

[jafmf95]

The "good at first, bad after a couple pulls" thing would definitely lead me to believe it is a wicking issue. But if you are seeing air bubbles out of the wick vents consistently, then, well, that would suggest it isn't a wicking issue

Not sure what to tell you. I use these on little 510 batts or spinners at 3.5 to 4v. Are you using them on something giving out a lot of power?

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Blazar]

Just using a standard Volt battery.

 

[claywalker2000]

I am currently using a CE3 with a liquid that is 70% VG and 30% water, it is a thicker liquid but I am not having issues with dry hits, instead I am having issues of leaking out of the battery end, I do not know if it is just a bad CE3 or if it is the liquid. I am afraid to try it on a new CE3 because I do not want to waste it.

I would recommend the nano clearomizer from SI. Although I only bought one to try out so my experience is limited. I have refilled it maybe 6 or 7 times with the same e-juice and it is still going. The E-juice I am using is a thin liquid and so far I find it comparable to how well the CE3's work (as in same vapor and almost same warmth) except I have yet to have a leaking issue. I will definitely be buying more for my other flavors.

A side question: How well do the nano clearomizers handle the thicker liquids?

 

[Standpoint]

If I ever get dry hits with my CE3s I squeeze the outer shell a few times, and it 'pumps' extra liquid into the unit and I get better hits. I find after a few refills that I occasionally get dry hits. It seems dependent on the refill, as some refills will get dry hits and others will give good hits through the whole tank.

 

[awsum140]

I've been using CE3s since they came out with no real burnt taste other than when the run out of liquid. I mix my own liquids at 60/40 and have no problems with wicking. I do "wash" them out before first use to get ant primer or machine oil out. I can tell you the primer tastes like old socks!

I would suggest washing them after every third fill or so. All you need to do is pump clean, hot, water through using the filling syringe. Of course, do this over a sink because it does get a little messy. Simply fill the syringe with hot water and fill the CE3 the same way as you would with liquid. Once some water is in it, and it may not actually fill all the way because water molecules are small enough to get through the wicks easily, pump the plunger up and down to force the water left in the syringe through the CE3. I usually do this using a 5 or 10ml syringe to get lots of water through them. They can be refilled and used immediately, but the first few drags, maybe up to ten drags, will not produce any vapor as the water is boiled off.

Alternately, the mouthpiece can be removed, then the inner seal is removed. I use a paper clip with a little right angel bend at the end for this. At this point the air tube can also be removed using a pair of tweezers. This will expose the coil and wicks and allow a direct stream of water to get to them for a better cleaning. For the really adventurous, the outer barrel can also be removed to provide complete access to the coil and wicks by screwing the CE3 onto a battery and gently rocking the barrel back and forth while pulling firmly.

Thick liquids, those with over 50% VG may be slower to wick, but even then they should work fine together.

The Nano is actually a micro carto tank. That is a cartomizer inside a small tank. It does have wicking issues, at least according to some reports I've seen on them, with liquids over 50% VG. It is also much more difficult to clean. In terms of durability, being able to take some physical abuse, it isn't as strong, physically, as a CE3.

Any device, carto, clearo, CE3, Nano, T3, will develop a burned taste over time, especially if liquids containing higher amounts of sugars are used. The sugar, and other components of the liquids for that matter, do burn, carbonize, and attach to the coils. After a while the accumulation can be high enough to effect taste and performance.

Just my opinion, worth what you're paying for it. Your results and mileage may vary. No warranty or guarantee is expressed or implied. Proceed at your own risk.

 

[jafmf95]

I wash mine pretty often, but would never consider spending the time necessary to do so with a syringe. Just pull the body off the base, rinse them out, slide the body back on the base. First time takes a little wiggling. After that they slide right on and off. They seal back up just fine. Between re-wicking and rinsing I've got a couple that have probably been taken apart 20+ times and still work great.

 

[jefbob]

Am I the only one that has been using CE3s for an extended time? I got a pack with my initial purchase about 2 months ago and am still using them. Granted they kind of got "phased in" and I've really only been using probably 2 for that time period, but other than cleaning I haven't done anything but fill them. I'd say I vape a medium amount, mostly in the evening and driving to work (45 minutes each way). I do get a slight leak when I fill them, but wipe away with a tissue or something and it seems to hold liquid fine.

 

[TehGoobz]

if these are meant to use only 2-3 times, then what is the point of them over the standard cartomizers?

 

[awsum140]

I use them for months at a time. Yes, they need to be cleaned and dry burned occasionally to maintain output. They do produce more vapor and much better flavor, at least to me anyway, than a standard carto and you can see how much liquid is left in them unlike a carto. Now I'm even rebuilding them, coil and wick, simply because I'm cheap!

 

[CurlyK]

For me they are VERY inconsistent. I have a couple that work amazingly well, and for a long time. I have some that taste horribly burnt, I have some that leak all over. I prefer them over the mini clearomizer, but they are just so hit or miss. For the 78mm batt, the standard cartomizer works consistently well, IMO.

 

[itschoice]

I was never able to get the CE3 working with my preferred juices. I think it is a viscosity issue that may also be related to molecule size. I was never able to fiddle with them or the Nanos enough to make it work. I switched to the T3s and I find them to be better than the clearos over the long haul because they last longer and give more moisture without leaking.

 

[Tramd]

CE3s are the best thing I've ever used, until they get down half way and leak. Then they suck as you sit there trying to get it to stop. Then they're good again!

I've never had any dry hits or problems like that, they just leak, consistently. I've found tipping them upside down and drawing air through it helps stop the leaking once its started.