First try: New Ikenvape carto on new IBTank

[Baditude]

When doing dry draws to help prime the carto, should you continue to do them till no more bubbles come from the carto holes? I don't because I'd assume that would result in a flooded carto. Could an airflow that is too free or unrestricted cause a lack of pull or suction of juice from the tank? I've done primer draws occasionally and notice bubbles coming out of the wicking holes. On my first successful day I didn't do any and had no problems.

Since I threw on a new carto yesterday but have been using it very sparingly, mainly using my PT 2 mini. Kinda paranoid now, only a couple of cartos left. I'm going to have to order some replacement carto's but Ikenvape is out of mine so I'll need some other brand in the meantime. smok maybe?

I use Smoktech, 3.0 ohm 2-hole single coil as my backup cartomizers when I don't have Ikenvapes.

If my cartotank is wicking & performing well, I don't do primer puffs.

If you have too much airflow resulting in no vapor, you won't be wicking any e-liquid into the carto from the tank - you'll only be pulling air from between the tank/battery device and up into your mouth. There's no negative pressure in the tank for some reason. Perhaps you are filling your tank over 80% full. There needs to be some air in the tank for negative pressure to be created.

One common noobie mistake is filling the tank with the entire top cap off, and then putting the top cap on. The immediate increase in pressure in the tank forces too much juice into the carto resulting in a flood carto.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I don't fill past 80% and certainly don't remove the cap. I use the filling tool. I'll take it easy on the carto for now. Only using it when in hotel room, taking PT outside where it happens to be cold as hell and snowing right now.

I will be ordering some Smok cartos as you suggested real soon. Thanks dude

 

[Asbestos4004]

I honestly don't know why your looking for a fight. Cool it with the insults dude. I was just speaking out of newb frustration and didn't specify anything other than the fact that I am still in search of a delivery system that works best for me. I think mom needs to limit your internet time.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Easy there, Skippy...I wasn't insulting you. There seems to be a trend on here lately of accusing people of having ulterior motives when recommending a product. All this conspiracy theory stuff is crap....not you...just in general. I wasn't calling you out. If I was, I would've included your quote.
And hush, mom doesn't know I snatched her laptop...I'm hiding in my tree fort right now.

 

[txcolt]

Sorry you are having trouble and hope it works out for you. There are so many variables that can get you on vape gear. Thin or thick juice, priming method, draw length and strength etc.

For me the Ibtanked gear has been great. I am running single hole Smok cartos and punching an extra hole to help with my near 100% VG juice. I prime with the thingy from Ibtanked and so far no complaints. I am using the 22 XL as I spend a lot of time out and about and i can fill it in the morning and not have to worry about it until I get home. I have managed to dump juice a couple times when refilling but that was me having brain farts.

Please post if you figure out the problem as I will probably have the same problem soon!

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Is there a video demonstrating hoe to prime with the thingy?

My latest carto hasn't failed yet but iv'e barely used it. I wait a bit longer before declaring a small victory though I wouldn't know how it became so.

 

[txcolt]

I have never seen a video on it but have done it a fair amount. The only issue you may have is if your carto's have no flange on the bottom. I have some Boge cartos that have no flange and if I am not careful the tank will slide too far towards the bottom of the carto and leak some juice. My Smok cartos have the flange so that eliminates that problem for me.

When I use the thingy I insert the carto using the drip tool. I fill my tank to around 75% full and remove the drip tool. I drop the tank into the thingy and screw the cap on 8 or 9 times. (This is an XL size and I don't know if that will change the amount or not) Each time I screw the cap on I see bubbles coming out as juice is forced into the carto. I remove the tank and put my drip tip on and do a draw with no power a few times. Then I put it on my MVP and vape away.

If your carto has no flange just watch your tank during the prime. If you see it slipping to far down the the tank just remove it and adjust and then pop back in the thingy and prime some more.

I am no pro but this is what works for me. I hope it helps you out!

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I've gone a couple of days with the latest carto, no flooding or dry hits. It may have to do with the priming. I guess I gotta get it down right even though my 1st issue carto occurred a day after good usage. Well I'll keep trying for a while longer. Going to order some of the Smok cartos in the meantime.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

My carto-tank filled with Tribeca still going, it's on a week now. I'm finding some dark brown condensate on the battery post, much darker than the liquid so it could be a sign that the carto is winding down to being exhausted, flavor a bit off too but the tank is half filled with my last bit of Tribeca so i'll finish it off before chucking it.

I just setup another Fusion SR XL carto with HHV Legend on my 2nd new IBTank about an hour ago. Working good so far, very nice vape/flavor. I'm hoping I got my carto setting up method down right so no more of them fail.

I only have one more Fusion carto left until my Smok cartos arrive tomorrow. Hoping Ikenvape restocks soon.

 

[jwag1973]

My carto-tank filled with Tribeca still going, it's on a week now. I'm finding some dark brown condensate on the battery post, much darker than the liquid so it could be a sign that the carto is winding down to being exhausted, flavor a bit off too but the tank is half filled with my last bit of Tribeca so i'll finish it off before chucking it.

I just setup another Fusion SR XL carto with HHV Legend on my 2nd new IBTank about an hour ago. Working good so far, very nice vape/flavor. I'm hoping I got my carto setting up method down right so no more of them fail.

I only have one more Fusion carto left until my Smok cartos arrive tomorrow. Hoping Ikenvape restocks soon.

El Pistoffo, I'm glad your having some success with your new setup! I've had a few problems myself lately and I know how bad it sucks! Well, congrats and good luck in the future!

 

[txcolt]

Glad things are working out for you! It sounds like the priming issues are behind you now. I would love to hear how the Smok cartos compare to your Fusions.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Glad things are working out for you! It sounds like the priming issues are behind you now. I would love to hear how the Smok cartos compare to your Fusions.

I'll post that in the next few days when I try one. Gotta finish up the last bit of Tribeca in my tank. Been busy building my first micro-coils for my mini-PT 2. Lots of vaping going on right now.

 

[txcolt]

Nice. I have been tempted to raid FT for a couple of RBA's but have not pulled the trigger. Trying to keep it simple over here but slowly being lured to the dark side.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Some more bad news. Another Fusion carto has failed prematurely after a couple days of light use. I set this carto up on Sunday and used it occasionally on Monday. It was working very nicely. Tuesday night I was using it since it had HHV Legend which I love to vape when drinking spirits. It was going well for a couple of hours, BAM, it burned and pretty bad by the taste too. Tank was 3/4 full. I can't explain why it happened but it did. I noticed through out the use that air bubbles would come out of the punches while drawing on it, so it seemed to be operating as expected. That's 3 out of 4 Fusion cartos that have not made the cut.

I just setup my first Smok carto with the same juice to see how it goes. So far initially it's working well. Flavor tastes just a tad different from the Ikenvape. Not bad in any way just slightly different, but does feel smoother though which I'm fond of.

The other detail I noticed between the two cartos is that the Smok has poly-fill at least 3/4 the way up the tube. It took much more juice to prime it. The Ikenvape Fusion has poly-fill only half way up at most. Both cartos are 3.0 ohm, single coil XL.

Lets see how it goes with this Smok carto. I only have one Fusion left.

Edit: That last Fusion carto was on my 2nd new IBTanked. New Smok carto on the same tank.

 

[Robinowitz]

I've recently returned from the dark side (RBA) to using cartos. I've done a full circle: carto-tanks, PT's, a couple RBA's and it's great to have an easy, reliable, great tasting delivery system again. I've been lucky and have only had good experience with Smok LR (watched a ton of videos, asked lots of questions and read a bunch too). Maybe you got a bit of a bad batch. It's easy to see how that could happen. Hang in there! I can't say that I won't wander to the dark side again, as I do like to learn, but for now I am enjoying the ease.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Wanted to try out my last Fusion carto. FAIL!!!!

I primed it as I've been priming all my cartos. The Smok cartos though not as good have been working. First hit off the Fusion carto, burn.

Man I am not impressed at all with these Ikenvapes. Great flavor but what good does that do me if most of them don't work.

 

[Robinowitz]

Wanted to try out my last Fusion carto. FAIL!!!!

I primed it as I've been priming all my cartos. The Smok cartos though not as good have been working. First hit off the Fusion carto, burn.

Man I am not impressed at all with these Ikenvapes. Great flavor but what good does that do me if most of them don't work.

ElPistoffo, that is a bummer. Although I have not purchased any of the IkenVape Cartomizers (out of stock), I did correspond with Isaac and he certainly seems like a decent person. I would suggest you email him or go to the Ikenvape thread. Perhaps there are other problems with this last run?
Take care and don't give up. We all go thru learning curves and weeding out what will work for us.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I'm trying out one of My Platinum XL 2.0 ohm cartos. It's working well so far. Flavor is very similar to the Smoke 3.0 ohm but smoother i think. I'm almost out of my juice. I 'll have to see how this goes. I preferred the flange of the fusion, might accidentally push the carto up off the tank. I don't like having to treat everything so delicately.

 

[Robinowitz]

I'm trying out one of My Platinum XL 2.0 ohm cartos. It's working well so far. Flavor is very similar to the Smoke 3.0 ohm but smoother i think. I'm almost out of my juice. I 'll have to see how this goes. I preferred the flange of the fusion, might accidentally push the carto up off the tank. I don't like having to treat everything so delicately.

Yeah, I've had better luck with flanged. It's all personal preference really.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I don't know if it's my taste buds or what but everything is tasting pretty harsh and flavorless regardless of what carto's iv'e been using the last few days. I'm finding the flavors that I usually liked are pretty dull and un-inspiring. Plus this HHV Legend i'm vaping in my cartos has become really scratchy on my throat. What the heck? I feel like i'm losing my mind. Just when I think I've found the right niche it all goes south. Talk about frustrating.

I have an IGO-L on the way. I'm hoping that it helps me get some accurate, straight-forward flavored vape from my juices.

If spending $100 or $150 on a KayFun or whatever other high-end juice delivery system would solve my problems, I'd be on it in a heartbeat.

 

[Pocha]

FWIW I recently orders Fusions and Platinums and I'm having poor luck with the Fusions. The Platinums (with the 2 big punched holes) have been great...really good flavor, nice draw and AWESOME vapor!