Dripping and Topping: A Happy Medium?

[daniel2828]

I've noticed in all the videos showing how to re-stuff cartridges (at least the ones I've seen to date) that the filler is trimmed exactly to the length of the cartridge, just like the original filler. Eventually, this results in the filter being pushed further down by the atomizer coil and taking the shape of the coil itself. In effect, the coil is then merely resting against the filler material rather than coming into full contact with it.

So I tried refilling a cartridge (with Fluval), leaving about 1/8th of an inch additional material above the cartridge. Initially, it's a little messier to fill with liquid, but the atomizer coil will eventually push the filler down so that it is flush with the top of the cartridge rather than recessed. This is much better than having to fluff it back up now and then with a pair of tweezers to provide better contact. After top ups, the amount of vapor and throat hit is quite impressive, and I would think this method is better for the atomizer than direct dripping.

And speaking of making messes, I got tired of jumping up and down to clean my fingers after getting juice on them, so I went to an office supply store and purchased one of those sealable trays with a sponge in it, the kind secretaries use to wet their fingers to better flip through pages of paper. Wiping my fingers off on that throughout a day at the office saves a lot of triips to the sink.

 

[Rogue X2 v2]

^ I refill mine in the bathroom and just wipe the excess off with toilet paper!

 

[Puter]

hey Thanks! This was very imformative.
puter

I've noticed in all the videos showing how to re-stuff cartridges (at least the ones I've seen to date) that the filler is trimmed exactly to the length of the cartridge, just like the original filler. Eventually, this results in the filter being pushed further down by the atomizer coil and taking the shape of the coil itself. In effect, the coil is then merely resting against the filler material rather than coming into full contact with it.

So I tried refilling a cartridge (with Fluval), leaving about 1/8th of an inch additional material above the cartridge. Initially, it's a little messier to fill with liquid, but the atomizer coil will eventually push the filler down so that it is flush with the top of the cartridge rather than recessed. This is much better than having to fluff it back up now and then with a pair of tweezers to provide better contact. After top ups, the amount of vapor and throat hit is quite impressive, and I would think this method is better for the atomizer than direct dripping.

And speaking of making messes, I got tired of jumping up and down to clean my fingers after getting juice on them, so I went to an office supply store and purchased one of those sealable trays with a sponge in it, the kind secretaries use to wet their fingers to better flip through pages of paper. Wiping my fingers off on that throughout a day at the office saves a lot of triips to the sink.

 

[TheColoradoDude]

I look like the total junkie and I guess I am a vaping junkie. I have a tray with empty carts, fluv, syringes, e juice. Man it will be a funny day when I have to explain all of that!

 

[kittycatt]

I started using e-cigs a month ago. I haven't smoked a real cig since then. I really like it but getting frustrated. Started with a Liberty but just had problems. Now I have a mini which I really like.

My problem is refilling the cartridges. It seems the pre-filled cartridges have much more of a kick & last much longer. When I refill them it's just not the same. I want to keep going with this but it's gettng so frustrating. I'm spending way too much time trying to figure it out - time I don't have because I have 2 small children to take care of & they are trying to see what I'm doing. I really need some advice. Thanks.

 

[framitz]

I started using e-cigs a month ago. I haven't smoked a real cig since then. I really like it but getting frustrated. Started with a Liberty but just had problems. Now I have a mini which I really like.

My problem is refilling the cartridges. It seems the pre-filled cartridges have much more of a kick & last much longer. When I refill them it's just not the same. I want to keep going with this but it's gettng so frustrating. I'm spending way too much time trying to figure it out - time I don't have because I have 2 small children to take care of & they are trying to see what I'm doing. I really need some advice. Thanks.

If you have a syringe and needle (I always dull the needles with sand paper then polish the tip to prevent accidental sticks, that's just me) fill the cart from the bottom up instead of dripping juice on the stuffing and waiting for it to absorb. When you fill by dripping there are often air pockets that decrease the amount of juice. You can also look for the "Straw Mod' which also helps prevent air pockets in the cartridge.

 

[ADRUNKK]

Kitty, just a guess but you may not be topping off the carts like you think. I had the same problem when i started vaping. I could see the juice puddling on top and i thought the cart was topped off. What was happening is the top half of the cart would be full of juice but the bottom was dry. What i do now is top off the cart and use and unbent paper clip and pull some of the polyfill from the egde of the cart. Air bubbles will come up from the bottom and allow the juice to get to the bottom of the cart. Sometimes i have to repeat this process many times before the cart is actually full. I can put about 11 to 12 drops of juice in a blank 901 cart.

 

[tmbrown327]

Kittykat, it sounds like you need a low maintenance solution. Personally, I would recommend a Janty Stick. It would resolve most of these problems for you. Long lasting (inexpensive) batteries, huge cartridges, consistent delivery and performance, excellent customer service etc. IMHO

 

[kittycatt]

Wow - thanks for the response! It is puddling on the top!!! I feel like I'm wasting the juice. I don't have a syringe but I was thinking - if I take the stuff out & maybe soak it in the juice would that work? Anyone tried that?

I'm going to look into the Janty. They have a website? I really do need a low maintenance solution.

 

[happily]

Wow - thanks for the response! It is puddling on the top!!! I feel like I'm wasting the juice. I don't have a syringe but I was thinking - if I take the stuff out & maybe soak it in the juice would that work? Anyone tried that?

I'm going to look into the Janty. They have a website? I really do need a low maintenance solution.

U can also take tweezer and push the filler down to squeeze the air out and add juice while pulling up the filler. There is also a straw mod for cartridges here that helps as well

 

[Antebellum]

Wow - thanks for the response! It is puddling on the top!!! I feel like I'm wasting the juice. I don't have a syringe but I was thinking - if I take the stuff out & maybe soak it in the juice would that work? Anyone tried that?

Hi, Kitty,

Before I got a syringe, I used a pair of tweezers to pull the filling out about 2/3s of the way, then dripped on the filling while turning it over. This is a little wasteful of juice, since when it's saturated outside the cart, it will be overfilled when compressed. The trick is starting just short of it being totally saturated.

However, you can buy a 3 or 10 ml syringe at the pharmacy and save a lot of tinkering.

 

[kittycatt]

Thanks so much, this has definitely helped!

Now about the fact that you are suppose to discard the cartridges 24 hours after opening? How to avoid this?

 

[tmbrown327]

Thanks so much, this has definitely helped!

Now about the fact that you are suppose to discard the cartridges 24 hours after opening? How to avoid this?

I think you'll find that most participants in this forum re-use their carts until they start degrading, then either start a new cart, or put new stuffing in the cart (or wash the old one, depends I guess). I think it's fairly safe to say that this precaution is overly cautious. I get 3 to 7 days use from a cart before I toss it into the bin for re-stuffing myself (801 style carts).

 

[Rhetoric Camel]

been using the same 5 cartridges for a month, clean them every other day or so. Has saved me money on carts but I did just put in an order for a bunch more, I want to be fresh again. Plus I'm going to need all the carts for all the flavors I have.

 

[Moonflame]

I use a big safety pin to stick down in the cart filling to make liquid go to the bottom or to fluff up the filler when refilling. It's about the width of an unbent paper clip with the bonus of being able to pin it to the zipper pull of the bag I keep my supplies in so I don't lose it or have to hunt for it.

 

[kittycatt]

What is the stuff that comes in there? Can you buy it or is there something else you can substitute with? How do you wash them?

I'm just full of questions. But all the advice is really helping me get it.

Thanks

 

[tmbrown327]

There are a bunch of threads on this forum discussing cart filler material, it is generally thought to be just polyester batting (pure polyester, no other chemical treatments), which many people have found to be identical to a fish tank filter material manufactured by a company called Fluval, available in many pet stores (cheap). There's even a video of how and what posted somewhere on here.

Again though, I'd recommend the Janty Stick to eliminate most of your maintenance issues.

 

[Bigbob]

Had the same air-pocket issues with topping off. I have had good success using the syringe method of refilling.

 

[Sebastian]

IMO dripping and topping in general is a bad thing. Besides the fact that more often than not, people are careless and 'misdrop' causing hardware to fail, there is also the more scary fact that harmful bacteria can grow when this practice is used. We currently don't know the effects of heating and inhaling that bacteria, but it doesn't take anyone with more than a basic understanding of science to realize that it can't be good...

If you are already making a decision to switch over to what is likely going to be found via scientific clinicals/studies etc. to be a safer and healthier alternative to traditional cigs, wouldn't it make sense to limit or eliminate exposure to something else?

 

[tmbrown327]

In my opinion, your opinion may be biased by the fact that you're a supplier and your income is at least partially dependent on people buying cartridges. Of course, that's just my opinion as a regular joe.