Finally got my Riva!

[Hyppy]

After ordering it on Thursday, I received my full Riva kit on Saturday (thanks for the fast shipping LF!). It's a huge upgrade from my 303B/RN4081 knockoff. I grabbed a 2-battery kit with a pack of cartos, an atty, and a pack of carts. So, how does it compare?

The Good:

• Battery life is great! This lasts easily twice as long.
• No more cigarette lookalike. It's a steel battery with a small blue button near the adapter.
• The 3-click on/off is great for keeping it in my pocket

The Bad:

• Filling cartomizers is a lot more messy than the cartridges I was filling. Tilting a bit off or adding just a little too much juice causes a messy battery or even spilled liquid.
• The second cone doesn't quite fit right, which isn't a huge deal because I don't really need two full units.

The Ugly:

• It may have been my incompetence, but the atty doesn't do anything more than just produce a nasty burning smell and taste for me. In the process of trying to figure out what went wrong, I destroyed it . I chalked it up as a loss and a lesson learned: I guess I just don't like attys, or they don't like me.

I'm using a completely different flavor in the cartos, and don't want to waste one on my old juice, so I can't really compare taste/TH performance. Vapor production overall seems about the same, though perhaps a bit in the Riva's favor.

Dollar for dollar though, I'm a lot happier with my Riva. Yay!

One question to pose, though; How do you label your cartos? I don't want to accidentally mix flavors (grape menthol? yuck!). The ones I have are black, and I think sharpie would just rub off.

 

[dormouse]

Grats!

They are probably 2.2ohm LR atomizers so you have to keep them damp and they probably came with primer on them which may taste bad like machine oil.

Re cartomizers - I use Boge and I rarely get leaks, very rarely. Here is how I fill (off the battery of course). I don't force it in or use any tricks to force more liquid in.

---
How I fill Vapor4Life KR8 cartos and Boge 510 cartos

With the carto off the battery... Pop out the soft cap with an unbent paperclip in the mouth hole, very careful not to catch stuffing or the wire loop.
Shake and open the eliquid

Fill
Hold a bit of tissue on the threaded end hole, tilt the carto, and add 18 drops per ml of capacity into the stuffing (Boges and most KR8 cartos are about 1ml).
Wait 15 seconds or so then see how many more drops the carto stuffing will soak in easily.

Cleanup
Clean up the threaded end, tilt open end down into tissue, puff into threaded end to clear air channel (Boges and the KR8 cartos I use have a defined center air channel and I want to see light through that) While the carto is still open end down, touch a soft bunch of tissue to the top of the stuffing to get the loose juice - this will help prevent leaks.

Settle (first fill only)
Cap and let it settle - I lay it on different sides for 15-20 minutes to make sure every bit of stuffing gets damp so I won't singe the carto. if you use thicker juice than me (I use 20% Vg or less) then you may need to wait much longer.

While vaping
While vaping, if the vapor gets a bit light or a bit dry or the carto is getting hotter than normal, I take the carto off the battery and add eliquid. Also, I use such light sediment-free juices, I can look at the stuffing and see if it needs juice because the stuffing goes back to near-white.

I often use a plastic or delrin drip tip as a mouthpiece on Boge and KR8 cartos (not to drip into since the juice would head for the central air channel). Easy to pop out to add juice.

 

[Hyppy]

Great guide, thanks!

Pop out the soft cap with an unbent paperclip in the mouth hole, very careful not to catch stuffing or the wire loop.

I think I may have figure out a great alternative to a mangled paper clip: Bobby pins! The rounded end is less likely to catch on something inside, no bending is really necessary, and they're the perfect strength to grab the end cap off

 

[HeadLikeOrange]

As usual, Dormouse nails it in one. The only thing I can add is that most people give up using the cone pretty quickly. It is basically just there for looks. I can see how it might protect the carto from breaking in your pocket, but I haven't used a cone in weeks and I carry my Riva in my pocket and never had a problem.

 

[Matt_417]

I tried a bobby pin today. It was on a NLA carto that I buy locally when I'm in a pinch. The plastic broke off the end of the bobby pin and my mouth piece flew across the room. I normally use a derlin drip tip. It's a much better solution. They come in different colors so so you can tell your cartomizers apart that way.

 

[mynameisrob]

You should def consider using a syringe to fill your cartos.


Here's how if you ever consider it. Try it, youll catch on quicky.

I posted this in another thread where someone asked the best way to fill cartos so I'm copying and pasting it here. You can use the drip or condom method but I find the condom method is kinda messy at times and the drip method takes awhile bc you have to let it settle. I really think the best way is to use a syringe bc you don't have to wait at all since your sticking the needle all the way to the bottom.

My original post was for someone that asked how to fill the "ressurector" cartomizers, which hold 2ml of juice, but this can really be for any carto. You will just put the Amount of juice the cartos you are using hold instead of 2ml. I think this method is the easiest by far and ESPECIALLY if you use XL cartos. dripping into an XL carto will take forever because they are so much bigger and it will take quite a while for the juice to settle.

Here is my copy and paste on how to fill a cartomizers with a syringe,

"All you have to do is take the dropper part of the bottle off your juice and fill your syringe with 2ml for a new carto. Take the rubber tip off the carto and carefully insert the needle down the side pushing against the metal. DO NOT go thru the filler because it will move it and you could potentially break a connection and your carto. Slide the needle down the side and go all the way to the bottom. Then slowly start dispensing some juice. Dont dispense it all bc then it won't be evenly distributed. Put alittle in, then take it out and insert the needle in a different spot. I normally do it in 3 spots (in a triangle) I found it distributes the best, but you could just do it in 2, on opposite sides. Make sure the needle is at the bOttom bc then you will not have to wait at all for it to settle. Disperse slowly and you will begin to see the toP of the filler become slushy. It is full then, don't put more. If its a new carto is will def hold 2ml, if your refilling it won't take a lot so pay attention and once it gets alittle slushy stop. While your filling hold a napkin or something under the carto bc if you do it too fast a few drops will come out the battery end. If that happens its only bc you did it too fast and the poly fill didn't absorb quick enough.( that happens to me bc I am impatient and fill it in about 10 sec, so I just hold a paper towel or napkin underneath.) wipe up the drops and put the rubber cap back on the carto. Then put the carto between your hands and rub back and forth spinning the carto quickly. This will insure the liquid is evenly distributed in case you put too much on one side from the syringe.
Now you have a perfectly filled ressurector that is ready to be used right away!"

Goodluck!

 

[Hyppy]

I tried a bobby pin today. It was on a NLA carto that I buy locally when I'm in a pinch. The plastic broke off the end of the bobby pin and my mouth piece flew across the room. I normally use a derlin drip tip. It's a much better solution. They come in different colors so so you can tell your cartomizers apart that way.

I giggle-choked on my drink when my mind caught up enough to visualize you sitting there in bewilderment as the mouth piece made a mad dash for the nearest wall/ceiling/furry animal in the room.

Guess the bobby pin idea isn't for everyone, eh?

 

[Matt_417]

Definitely not for me. I really like this drip tip for the 510/901. No tools necessary.