Confused by IKV Cartomizers?

[sheik124]

I've heard people rant and rave about these cartos. And just reading about how they're made had me impressed; it's clear that a lot more goes into Iken's equipment than the run of the mill China stuff. I never meant for vaping to become a hobby, just an out from the cancer sticks, although the small shelf of DIY flavors I've now got speaks against that. Still, I'm not too warm on the idea of a mod, since I like a 3.4V vape (eGo-C), and the 650 mAh eGo-C passthrough is extremely convenient. My only issue with vaping has been the wonkiness of cartomizers, so I got curious, and I bit the bullet on some IKV stuff.

Being that I'm at 3.4V, I only ordered LR cartomizers.

[h=2]IKV MEGA LR 510 Cartomizer[/h]

Rated at 1.8Ω-2.0ΩRecommended for 3.4-4.19V
Derived from the legendary IKV 808. We proudly present the signature 808 internals in 510 form! This one will offer a smooth warm vape.

[h=2]IKV LR 510 Cartomizer Gold V2 2.0[/h]

LR 510 Gold V2 Stainless Cartomizer is rated at 2.0Ω and promises to deliver a strong flavorful plumes of vapor like never before on 3.7V. These have been fine tuned and reconstructed from the ground up by IkenVape and are the exact twin to the GoldV2 Drip Style w/out the Driptip ofcourse. When we say ground up, we mean literally! We have remodeled the bottom 510 adapter to deliever a smooth draw that cannot be compared. More soaking material.

[h=2]IKV 510 Platinum LR[/h]

The Premium IKV Platinum 510 2.0Ω cartomizer is a significant powerhouse and hits with blazing vaping power. Like our Premium 510 Golds they have the ability of retaining a healthy amount of liquid. We took on a manufacture that has revolutionized the cartomizer experience by utilizing a vertical coil to distribute heat evenly through out the cartomizer to give off this intense experience and thrown in our signature IkenVape trademarks to ensure the best vape as possible.

[h=2]IKV Gold 510 Cartomizer LR[/h]

Come and witness the All new 510 Gold Stainless Cartomizer! Built with tightly woven high density filler with a horizontal coil. These have been specially made for perfection on 3.4-4.2V and are guaranteed not to burn. They retain liquid and disperse vapor with finesse. We do go above and beyond overall resistances with the perfect aim of execution focusing on other internal components such as wiring, environment, and actual heating element resistances. Cartomizers are of a different species than atomizers. They can last just as long if not longer with the proper care, but they are known as disposable. As an atomizer has metal mesh, cartomizers are made with polyester type batting. They're job is to hold a good amount of liquid and avoid constant dripping.The setup on the GoldV1 gives moderate flavor and moderate feel (throat hit,TH) depending on applied voltage. For true potential apply 4.4V with varible voltage device. %v is just as acceptable for those who crave higher tolerances.

I hope to turn this thread into a review/comparison thread once I have all the cartos (and order more of my favorite). But what are the differences? Should I be expecting a Boge+ or ST+ or Kanger+ from any of these? I understand that more goes into them than the run of the mill cartos, but how do I compare them?

 

[5cardstud]

Here's a comparison for you. I used to use Boges and some other vendors cartomizers until I started buying Ikenvapes. I must of had 25 boxes of them and after I started using these I gave the others away. I use mainly variable voltage though so I don't need LRs but if I didn't I would be using LR. Ikenvape cartomizers, used correctly, will outlast, produce more flavor, and give better vaping than any other one around and I've tried a lot of different cartos in the last 2 yrs. JMHO.

 

[sheik124]

Here's a comparison for you. I used to use Boges and some other vendors cartomizers until I started buying Ikenvapes. I must of had 25 boxes of them and after I started using these I gave the others away. I use mainly variable voltage though so I don't need LRs but if I didn't I would be using LR. Ikenvape cartomizers, used correctly, will outlast, produce more flavor, and give better vaping than any other one around and I've tried a lot of different cartos in the last 2 yrs. JMHO.

Thank you. I already gathered that they're better than other brands. But what's the difference between the individual Ikenvape cartomizers? Haven't been able to figure much of that out.

 

[Switched]

IMO you need to try them all and find the one you love best. Vaping is far too subjective. Each of IKVs cartos are designed to do a specific thing

 

[sheik124]

IMO you need to try them all and find the one you love best. Vaping is far too subjective. Each of IKVs cartos are designed to do a specific thing

And what is that specific thing? The only two with useful descriptions are the MEGA LR and the Gold 510; the mega is warm, the 510 has a horizontal coil. What about the Platinum and Gold V2?

 

[Switched]

The gold V2 draws like a cigarette, the Platinum, well you will have to ask Isaac about that one. As stated before vaping is extremely subjective, what I might find airy you may find tight etc... One thing for certain which ever you go with, you will be pleased.

 

[5cardstud]

The Fusion is, as everyone knows, my favorite. It has excellent throat hit, taste and massive vapor. It lasts forever too. I've gotten only a couple days out of them but the norm for me is around a month or more. The Mega 808 ialso has great vapor and it holds around 60 drops of juice as the Fusion around 25. The 510 V2 is another great carto and really has some work that's gone into it. It's like Switcher said it's subjective. What I think has a tight draw or great taste others might not like. One thing is for sure. His cartomizers fly off the shelves and sell themselves. You are just going to have to see which ones are suited to your vaping style.

 

[Ma'am]

Just got the Gold V2's and they're awesome! All of the qualities I was looking for, warm and smooth! No harsh filler material taste! Thanks Issac, first time buyer here and I'm very satisfied! Going to make another order very soon!

Only question I have regarding the cartos is.....are the Megas longer than the others? If so, about how long are they? Need some longer ones for my XL size tanks.

 

[sheik124]

Searched and found a post by Iken explaining the differences and likening them to the carto's they're sourced from! Can't wait to get my order. Getting sick of 1 or 2 excellent cartos, 1 that tastes like polyfill from the get-go, and one that scorches on the first puff from a pack of Boges. Any tips for vaping 100% VG liquids (Gorilla Juice)? I ordered Iken's PG RY4, so I figure I'll load that up in a Boge and see how I like it before testing the cartos.

The Platinum is much like the Boge/LiquidXpress cartomizers as LQ developed the core of it. It has an airy draw much like a fresh 801 and disperses heat throughout the body due to it's vertical coil position. The Gold has a bottom horizontal set up and works much like a well providing heat to vaporize the liquid from the bottom of the unit. The Plat does deliver more flavor than the Gold but the Gold makes up for it by providing a bigger capacity and a lower juice consumption rate. Most comparable to the Gold would be the Joye set up. Even though the two derive from the mentioned manufactures they both have been fine tuned in filler density and strengthened heating elements.

The Gold V2 is our own personal creation that combines best of both styles by keeping the capacity at maximum, vertical element position and modified adapter to keep air flow constriction evenly. All 3 of the mentioned units can operate in between 3.4V through 5V.
Like Vaporo said, 100% VG is never a good thing with cartomizers. If you are allergic to PG, I would suggest mixing a dash distilled (mineral free) water or PGA (Pure grain alcohol) as a replacement for PG. Too much VG will shorten run times and will clog up and destroy cartomizers in as little as 2 days worth of use. The same princaple applies to atomizers except 1-2 weeks.

 

[Switched]

Ah ha, Allien Vision's juice is the thickest out there and will not perform well in cartos. I vape 100% VG (not by choice) and VG requires to be diluted 15-20% with distilled water. This will provide a viscosity similar to PG which = great for cartos.

 

[5cardstud]

Ah ha, Allien Vision's juice is the thickest out there and will not perform well in cartos. I vape 100% VG (not by choice) and VG requires to be diluted 15-20% with distilled water. This will provide a viscosity similar to PG which = great for cartos.

Great info to follow for VG vapers. I tried to and had planned to use VG when I started this vaping thing but soon found that I get terrible headaches from it. It sounded like it was healthier than PG so I was bummed.

 

[MikeE3]

Just got the Gold V2's and they're awesome! All of the qualities I was looking for, warm and smooth! No harsh filler material taste! Thanks Issac, first time buyer here and I'm very satisfied! Going to make another order very soon!

Only question I have regarding the cartos is.....are the Megas longer than the others? If so, about how long are they? Need some longer ones for my XL size tanks.

I use the IKV 510 Mega standard carto's in Smoketeck DCT tanks. The tube (not including the threads) measures about 5 cm long. They're actually a bit longer than the flanged DC carto's that come with the tanks.

 

[sheik124]

PRELIMINARY UPDATE:

IKV MEGA LR 510 Cartomizer

The only way I'm ever buying another cartomizer, is if one of the other IKV cartos I ordered is better. The description mentions a smooth, warm vape, and I have to concur. The draw on an eGo battery with the cone attached is so much like an analog it's making me look at my stack of Boges with contempt. Taking the cone off makes it hit like an Abrams tank. I loaded it up with UNDILUTED Gorilla Juice, and I'm actually rather surprised that the filler took the juice up so quickly. The draw isn't too tight, or too airy. I like my PV to have a draw similar to a filtered cigarette, which is one of the things that immediately turned me off from ST cartos (way too airy), and CE3s (way too tight). Boges have alright draw, but after the first day or two, the filler loosens up and it's no longer enjoyable. These are just right </Goldilocks>

MEGA is not an understatement; these are noticeably bigger than ST cartos. Makes the whole setup look symmetrical. I put 45 drops in before I started to worry about overfilling it. At almost 2 mL full, I can comfortably leave home without a bottle of ejuice in the car or a spare carto. I might get ostracized for saying this here, since many seem to love dripping on fancy atomizers, but this actually tastes better than Gorilla Juice did on an HV 510 atomizer @ 5V/2.1A. No wicking issues. Will update with reliability on Friday, since that's how quickly GJ would kill an LR Boge.

 

[sheik124]

IKV Gold 510 Cartomizer LR

This carto is unique. The filler is wound very differently, and the carto itself is shorter than your average Boge. It has a nifty "splash guard" underneath the usual white soft cap. This one took a lot more liquid in than a Boge as well, but not nearly as much as the ~50 I got into the MEGA LR (I mentioned 45 in the previous post, but after a few puffs, it took 10 more drops).

Rather than the usual, loud crackle, the IKV Gold gives you a satisfying hiss. The flavor is stronger than a Boge, but weaker than the MEGA LR; it makes up for it in throat hit.

The only quirk I can find with this cartomizer is you have to give it a break every 3-5 seconds, otherwise you get that "dry atomizer" taste. It doesn't seem to be scorching anything, giving it a break allows the flavor to return; it might be the 60/40 VG/PG Copper Creek juice I'm using. This probably has something to do with the horizontal coil in the bottom of the carto instead of it being vertical.

The draw is airier than the draw on the MEGA LR. Airier than a Boge too. But in a good way; it seems the filler is wound in a way to allow good airflow, while retaining a lot of liquid in a short cartomizer.

Were it not for the burning taste issue, I'd buy more of these. I guess if you've got issues with chain-vaping, and you want something more than just your self-control, these cartos would help out. I'm going to cap it and keep it in my laptop bag as a spare.

 

[LegioX]

I just ordered some of the Gold 510 cartos and am going to be slotting them for my Lil Mama tank. I hope they fit alright and everything works well. I've only used the plastic single tubed single coil LR cartos from IKV as far as the 510 lineup goes and they are great. My tank will be getting an upgrade from boges, so as long as the Golds fit I'm sure it will be an improvement. I need to start paying more attention to cartos now and give my io6 a break once in a while lol.

Just to clarify...bottom coils are better for carto tanks, yeah? Just checking.

Does anyone know if the Mega 510 stainless steels 3.0 ohm are horizontal bottom coils like the Gold? If I upgrade to a 5ml tank I will want to give it the IKV touch of course.

 

[sheik124]

IKV 510 Platinum LR

OFF-TOPIC: If any of you are familiar with computer parts, there is a concept called "binning," and I'm sure it carries over to other industries as well. It's when they take the cream of the crop, and "bin" them as a higher grade part. For example, the most resilient processors get binned for the highest speed, server applications, etc, before they ever see a box or a label. Similarly, the chips with defects get binned and sold as dual cores, for example (AMD was making quad-cores that they couldn't make reliably, the chips with bum cores had them disabled and were sold as dual, or triple cores). That's what these are; binned Boges. Ever buy 25 Boges, and only really like 5 of them, maybe one or two from each pack? IKV must buy up all the good ones, because this one hits/tastes/fills like a Boge. But like a Boge that was built to last for eons. IKV might've done something to the bottom end, because the draw is a little bit clearer when this is empty compared to an empty Boge. A+++. If you like Boge cartos, but you don't like playing Russian Roulette when you buy them, stock up on these. They also have a nifty silk screened resistance on the carto body, 2 thumbs up.

IKV LR 510 Cartomizer Gold V2 2.0

I've found it. The holy grail of cartomizers. 40-50 drop capacity. More than 1 week, 18 mL of AVE Gorilla Juice, AND COUNTING (sadly, I'm out of Gorilla Juice) and this sucker is still kicking like its new. If you like vaping "carto-killer" juices, vape these, because they last. I'm buying more of these and a few Platinums. Vape is a little warmer than the Platinum, and it has a stronger TH as well. ALSO brings out more flavor. I really can't put into words how much I like these, I was very pleasantly surprised.

 

[5cardstud]

I still haven't tried mine. I'm going to have to give one a test run. The gold standard carto he sells is the only one he makes I don't care for. I think they are wound too tight. But that's where the PV comes in. Different PV gets different results.