Confessed Carto Killer needs advice !!

[MechTechVpr]

So far, I have never burned a carto that I didn't know it was happening ........

But it sound to me like it may also be over heating. I find that touching the side of the carto to the outside of my upper OR lower lip tells me if it's hot. That's a sensitive spot and will tell you if there is a problem quicker than feeling it with your fingers.

I can tell you you won't exactly look suave doing it but it works for me.

Lee

That seems to be where I am the slow learner...knowing when its happening as apposed to happened and I agree a couple of the cartos were still semi wet and therefore probably overheated ....most likely when I was reading about the bans with the PT in my hand ... thinking I better get all I can before I can get no more...lol

 

[Katya]

I went to my "I'll have to deal with these later" pile and ripped the guts out of 5 cartos; all of them had been topped off once or twice just to keep them moist, never refilled or washed. Two regular cartomizers were still moist, nice, and light and fluffy; I was mad I ruined them. Two Premo SMILINs and one Premo Milk Chocolate had a nasty-looking dark stain right next to the wire and a hole burnt through both layers of filling (the little fabric-like layer right next to the wire and the fluffy outside layer.) By the way, the "fabric" layer next to the coil was moist to the touch in all three prems, the outer layer was dryish, but I assume the liquid made its way to the center while they were resting. I only vaped them on my shorties and regulars. I don't even own an XL or a PT.

The new softies seem to burn hotter and go from sheer perfection to marshmallow very quickly, almost without a warning. I never had a problem with regular cartos; I do have problems with premium soft caps only (those were the only ones that were burnt through), even though I vaped them all in the same way.

 

[MechTechVpr]

Thank you, to everyone that replied... you guys are great. you have all had good ideas and I didn't feel threatened by any of them ... maybe my taste buds are still adjusting and I need to work on technique a bit more ... and now that I will be stocked well (after my fourth order of V4L gold is shipped anyway) I can try to rotate more and have juice to top up when "power vaping", as mischief so eloquently put it!

Dont know what I would do without the support of my new family....thanks again

 

[MechTechVpr]

I went to my "I'll have to deal with these later" pile ...............................................................................................
The new softies seem to burn hotter and go from sheer perfection to marshmallow very quickly, almost without a warning. I never had a problem with regular cartos; I do have problems with premium soft caps only (those were the only ones that were burnt through), even though I vaped them all in the same way.

I didnt pay much attention to which carts they were actually ...but i dont know that i have ever seen a soft cap but not sure I would know it if I saw it. I did have some prems in my previous orders ... ill have to check now ...and by the way I must have missed the tip that says not to boil your caps ...I melted half of them to a little blob and the other half just fall off now .... i even ruined the ones I had salvaged from my burnt cartos ...sasa frasa fricka rickin !!! But on the bright side of that I can top off easier now... with a condom cap installed ....and it gives me a softer bit to bite on too!!

 

[~Gazoo~]

Just top it off often.When you have a chance and your not busy add a few drops.Or you can change carts and top them off in the evening.Dont let them get dry.Thats all.

And that's the very best advice to avoid burnt carto's. Personally I rotate between 8 carto's and refill them every few days whether they need it or not. I don't use the pass through..only batteries. Very seldom I end up with a burnt carto but it does happen and it's very telling.

 

[MechTechVpr]

thank you GaZoo ... Now I have some things to try ...hopeful that I will overcome this affliction soon!!

 

[Belletrist]

you will, mechtech. it actually took me over a month to get it, but before that point, i gave up on 'getting it' and started topping off whenever i'd vaped a carto 'for a while'... once i got really accustomed to vaping full cartos most of the time, the drop in flavor (prior to the toasty taste) became more noticeable for me.

 

[Kimmy]

I dunno what you guys are talking about! =) I never top off! I've never had a burned cart and I vape like there is no tomorrow! As soon as my flavor starts getting altered in any way, I put it in the container and save it for potential bans.

 

[shemp]

Here are my tips..when it gets hot on your lips STOP, you are hitting it too hard and long. Easy long slow drags are the way to go. When you notice the flavor drop or change for even one drag STOP. You are vaping it dry and will burn it. Time to refill or top it off. Thats my 2 cents and how to get a carto to last a while.

 

[bobtow]

I vape a lot too. I vape a pt and a manual battery at the same time. Just go from one to the other. Or two manual batteries at the same time. That way they won't heat up so fast. As soon as one gets hot I switch.

 

[jamvector]

Mech, I'm not sure how you used to smoke analogs, but you may want to consider changing how you draw from the PV's. With analogs, I used to inhale directly from the cig; with PV's, I draw heavily into my mouth, inhale some, exhale the majority through my mouth and nose. I still get plenty of nicotine, but this technique allows me to taste and smell the vapor to avoid inhaling anything hinging on "burnt" taste. It might help those who are having trouble distinguishing the initial toasty taste which is the primary warning sign that the cart is starting to overheat or burn, and to prevent inhalation of burning aerosols into the lungs. As others have said, be patient; you will acquire your own optimized techniques for both use and maintenance of the VK PV over time, and with the substantial help from your new found friends here as I have.

 

[dracis]

I've already gone through two carts and I just got my order yesterday. My first reaction was "Noooooooooo~".

I could tell because there was a nasty burnt flavor like metal. The Kamel Menthol ran out faster than my regular Kamel, but the taste in the menthol one was horrible when it got burnt. I was waiting for the pleasant "burnt marshmellow" flavor, but nearly gagged when I got a chock full of metal flavor, lol. I tried to pop off the top to see, but was having a hard time with the cap. The Kamel just popped off with no force whatsoever. I did see brown residue from what looks like burnt liquid. I took that as a sign of it's time to retire the thing.

I don't drag until the thing gets hot, but I've been vaping like there's no tomorrow. I figured that with experience, I'll learn to get more used to the carts. For now, I think I can afford to toss them and buy some more from V4L since they're so awesome.

Either way, I see it as a good thing since I haven't touched an analog since yesterday!

 

[critterbug]

there's a place for people like you.

in the electronic underworld.

 

[keyzygirl]

Im so glad its nice and friendly and helpful in here.I like how understanding and supportive you guys are to eachother.I try to send everyone new here.I wish everyone could start out with a VK instead of all the stuff I tried.Its so much easier.Thanks guys!!

 

[bobbysox10]

Two things that are musts. Don't over heat the carto and don't over heat the carto. I honestly feel like this is only happening to people that are over heating the carto. Just because there is a 10-13 second cutoff don't think it would be a good idea to do that.

 

[bobbysox10]

Does anyone know if the hard capped longer premium cartomizers may be more unlikely to burn up? Has anyone burned up one of these yet?

 

[Skyler]

Two things that are musts. Don't over heat the carto and don't over heat the carto. I honestly feel like this is only happening to people that are over heating the carto. Just because there is a 10-13 second cutoff don't think it would be a good idea to do that.

I think you're on to something here. I found with the older batts I ordered in Sept that had a less cutoff time made it much easier to not over heat. The newer ones have a longer cutoff time and they do get hot. Very hot. Which tells me to put it down for awhile.

As far as the burnt taste goes. I pretty much know when my cart is empty and just toss it in the bath box.

 

[MechTechVpr]

....for all the good suggestions ...I have analyzed the poop out of my problem and come to this conclusion (with a little help from my friends ...OK A LOT OF HELP) :

When I smoked analogs I would smoke incredibly fast because I never took the time to just sit and smoke (always trying to be considerate of others, not smoke in the house, around the kids, in the car, etc etc...you know the routine) So I would smoke like a chimney until it was into the filter....When I started vaping that habit carried over... I was puffing on the sucker until it was so hot it had no other choice but to succumb... I was lucky if I used up all the juice before I just plain starved the heating element; the juice just couldn't wick that fast.... I think it was so fast that It didn't even give it time to heat up the case to a undesirable temp thus alerting me to the hazards of my technique... or lack thereof.

anyway, I am now
--using several cartos at a time, to limit the demand on each.
-- working on relaxing a bit more and not Power Smoking constantly,
-- I have more supplies coming so that I can top off frequently instead of draining the carto and moving on to the next. (wooohoo...an excuse to order again)
-- And I have found that I can re-inhale (if that makes sense) each drag a couple of times and seriously amplify the effect ( as you suggested jamV)

I smoked analogs in a similar fashion (heavy draw to mouth> inhale) but never got this kind of taste/enjoyment out of it. That is also one of my problems ...I just enjoy the heck out of vaping; never got this much out of analogs!

I wish I could thank everyone individually, and acknowledge your part in helping me figure this out, but I have to get some other stuff done and maybe sleep a bit tonight ...lol. There has been so much helpful input here that It would take me forever and a day to express my appreciation to each....So please everyone know that you have all helped me and I am very much thankful for all of your kindness, courtesy and selflessness...this is an amazing "family" and you are all incredible ....So THANK YOU ALL

Steve
(and no I didn't change my name to Steve because I admire Smilin so much, its just one more thing we share ....lol... but I do admire him a lot!!)

PS congrats Dracis....your on your way...a week to go for my one month mark of analog free...and lovin it!!