Frustrated. Considered giving up on vaping HELP!

[Susan W.]

I use Virgin Vapor 100% VG juice in clearo, cartos, protanks and never had a problem with clogging. Their VG isn't that thick, seems the same as 50/50 juice to me.

 

[Ryedan]

Here's my issue - I use almost 100% VG based juices, or like a 60VG - 40PG. I've mostly used a carto tank and a boge 510 carto. They ALWAYS clog up.. sometimes within hours. and I'm not exaggerating..

Last night I go out to have a few drinks, my carto clogs up, gurgles, no draw from it, burnt taste. I had just opened and filled it brand new from the box less than 2 hours before. I ALMOST bummed a cig at that point. This is a regular thing. I go through about 5 cartos a week because they clog up, have awful taste and are just un usable within sometimes 6-8 hours.

Thank you all for your replies. I use a Lavatube V2 with a "Texas tuff" tank, SR Boge 510 cartos pre punched at 3.0 ohms, run it between 4-5 volts. I am using EC Blends 40% PG 60% VG or an All natural 100% VG (theirs seems to have a liquidy viscosity despite the VG)

Or I use the same texas tuff tank, same carto, similar juices on a sigelei Z max at roughly 7-8 watts

Also, only and always fruit flavor, honeydew mellon, acai berry raspberry blue berry etc

Your PVs are great, no problem there. The Boge 3.0 ohm at 4-5 volts or 7-8 watts is not a problem. The PG/VG mix does not seem to me to be a problem, since the 100% VG is thin. I don't know EC Blends juices, but they probably add something to thin it. **I'm assuming the fruit juices are clear?** If so, they are not the issue. If they are not clear, let us know.

Re-reading your original post I realized I missed you saying 'carto clogs up, gurgles, no draw from it, burnt taste'. All these are indicators to me that your cart is at end of its life from simply the volume of juice put through it. If you generally get one of these symptoms before the others, that would help troubleshoot this issue.

How many ML of juice do you vape per day?

I used Boge 2 and 3 ohm carts in tanks very similar to yours Mom and Pop sub tanks. Loved both the tanks and the Cartos. Used at about 7-10 watts and with mostly 50/50 juice. I started out punching the holes myself for the learning experience and I stuck to it for the control it gave me. I found that I needed to make different hole sizes for different juices. Holes too small and the cart would dry hit after a short while. Too big and it would flood early. I always make sure to thoroughly prime the carts before using. I still use carts but nowhere near as much lately since discovering RBAs.

I think on average I would get about 15 ml through one, so about 4-5 days for me. Not bad for a buck a pop and a great vape. It differs greatly though. Maybe one in 10 is a dud and will draw hard very early and/or start to flood. Maybe one in 10 lasts for 40 ml. Using a dark, coil-gunking juice in these can reduce the average life to as low as 5 ml. After experiencing that a couple of times I used those juices only in juice delivery systems I could dry burn frequently like Vivi Novas.

So, I'm not seeing any reason yet why you are getting such short average run times from your carts. How much do you vape? Are your juices dark and/or are they known to gunk up coils quickly? I've never used 100% VG, so I have no experience with that in cartos and it might be a factor even if it is thinned down. I've explained a bit of my experience with Boge cartos which might help you troubleshoot too.

Keep this in mind too. In the end, every piece of vaping hardware works great for some people and lousy for others.

 

[ghost62]

Try switching cartos. I'm a tank user and use SMOK LR cartos. The Boges, as it's been explained to me, have a denser polyfil and don't wick high VG juice as well.
I know this contradicts a previous reply to your thread but VG is much thicker than PG.
Properly prime your carto inside the tank (there are numerous threads on ways to do that) and keep the polyfil wet. The gurgling comes from your carto flooding the air hole. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it is VERY possible to flood a carto and still not have it primed. Filling methods can cause this as well as air leaks in the tank o-rings.
I'm a heavy vaper and my cartos last me upwards of ten days- longer if I run lighter colored juice.

For the record:
3.7v mechanical mod
Smoktech LR cartos (standard length with two laser drilled holes)
19mm pyrex tank

Hang in there, ok?

 

[DoogieTony]

First of all, your set up needs tweaking. Get some Ego batteries, and a passthrough (allows you to vape while it charges, then get some vivi nova (mini) tanks with some extra atomizer heads. You can clean these out when they dont operate properly, which is a must when you use VG juice, which is also what I use. Next, find some quality juice and ALWAYS stay away from the super dark juices. I dunno what flavors you like, but Johnson's Creek, High Brow, and MtBaker all make some fantastic VG liquids that tend to be thinner. If you want, you can add 2-3 drops of distilled water.

When you clean your tank parts, soak the atomizers in alcohol for 24 hours, since you have extras, this is not an issue. After that, boil the suckers in distilled water to remove the ethanol and impurities. Let them dry, they are ready to reuse for many, many cycles. Keep your battery head terminals clean with qtips and always have back ups read and chraged. The passthrough helps to ensure you can constantly vape.

When you first fill a tank, before you screw onto battery, take a few long sucks to draw up the juice and start the wicking process. This is all you need to do to have a positive vaping experience and to enjoy this whole thing. You dont need fancy mods or batteries, glass heads that tell time and sing you to bed at night, or any of that. Just get some joytech batteries, make 1 a pass through, and some mini nova tanks..................viola.

And one more thing, I dont like the Kagner tanks at all. They have an airy draw that can give you a headache from sucking so hard. They also leak and I have never had luck with them.

I promise if you take my advice, you will enjoy vaping. You dont need expensive "mods" or batteries, or any of that variable voltage stuff. It complicates it all to unnecessary levels and gets confusing. I like to fill, puff, refill, sleep, and then puff again. I dont have time for problems or crap.

Considering the OP has a LT & a Zmax, the egos you suggest would be a step in the wrong direction....
It seems the only problem is with the juice delivery device.

Plate, you might want to take a look at several clearos and see if any seem appealing.... be it evods, vivi novas, or protanks.... maybe even a dripping atomizer or RBA depending on comfort level.
I know for a fact that 60/40 juice will wick like a champ on a vivi nova (especially after rewicking)
Point being.... there are so many different options out each to suit specific wants and needs, one is bound to help immensely.

 

[DoogieTony]

Can get 2.5 ego batteries for 30 bucks.

Yeah but, they will not have the power or durability of the Vamo. The Vamo is variable voltage and variable wattage as well.

Why would they need a vamo if they already have a zmax and lavatube? The vamo doesn't bring anything more to the table that can't be done by these 2.

It kinda seems like some people are assuming that everyone else will love what "they" love. Vaping just doesn't work that way.

 

[The Ocelot]

Another vote here for a Protank. High vg and top coil/string wick devices often seem to have a gravity issue. (YMMV) The EVOD is very similar, but I prefer glass so I don't have to be concerned about what type of juice I put in it.

 

[Nicadmus]

My recommendation would be a bottom coiled clearomizer as well. Specifically an EVOD, which runs in the six dollar range (and even cheaper in one of the previous links). Incredibly easy to fill, clean and maintain in my opinion.

Review/Rebuild of the Kanger EVOD:
A PBusardo Review All About The EVOD - Includes Recoiling - YouTube

EDIT: Not to imply your current set up is now useless. I just don't have experience with carto/tank systems to help with your problem directly. A clearomizer is an excellent option in the mean time.

 

[The Ocelot]

Why would they need a vamo if they already have a zmax and lavatube? The vamo doesn't bring anything more to the table that can't be done by these 2.

It kinda seems like some people are assuming that everyone else will love what "they" love. Vaping just doesn't work that way.

I was wondering why a Vamo would be considered better than a Sigelei Zmax as well.

 

[Ken_A]

another vote for trying tank-o-mizers
Kanger and Vivi-nova both make some very good ones.

 

[lasttango]

100% vg eh?
Have you tried dripping? Get a nice 5v set up... some premium atties from Ikenvape... some sweet drip tips and you should never have a problem...

Many folks get VG to well in tanks, but I never have... it's not an optimal system for all vg in my experience...

 

[John Blaze]

Its obviously the delivery part of the setup. The cartos may be punched too small or the cartos aren't any good. Try another vendor for your cartos and perhaps a different tank as well. I use IBtanked and I'm very satisfied with it. Also try using a 3 hole punch for all vg.

 

[jerzi]

I agree with most of the comments on here. I used cartos and they never really worked for me, they ran into the same issues you are talking about, not as often though. I always went back to analogs when using them. I even had the lavatube v2 with the tank and punched cartos didn't really enjoy it. I just got the itaste mvp with some iclear clearos and after 3 puffs I was floored, it was like chain smoking 2 analogs, let out a big "ahhhh" and finally knew analogs would never creep back in ever again.

The clearos and the other suggestions made without a carto are probably your best option to get the kind of experience you are looking for.

 

[lissa5168]

I was wondering why a Vamo would be considered better than a Sigelei Zmax as well.

I <3 the Zmax. I want one to be the sister to my CVI. My life would then be complete. Unless Provari adds vw ... then I'll have to have one of those too.

 

[zapped]

Have you thought about ditching the Boges? I havent had very much luck with them. IMO even with the clogging issues youd be taking a BIG step back going with a ViVi Nova and high VG juices.They mute the flavor enough to make it almost unrecognizable.

I use prepunched Smoktech cartos from Smoktek.com and all of my juices are at least 10/90 pg/vg. and my cartos typically last 2-3 weeks. My choice of juice vendors may have some bearing as well as Alien Visions adds more flavoring to their vg juices than most.

Barring that, I would recommend a Kanger Protank over a Nova any day of the week. I was seriously impressed by its performance. Having the coil at the bottom makes a ton of difference in flavor and in wicking.

 

[crxess]

Why not add a few drops of distilled water to your juices to make them more runny and tank friendly. Can you up to 70/30? That works great in tanks. You might also like a different carto,

I tried a couple prepunched from Ikenvape and they are out performing the boges, which I used to love, but Boges just aren't what they used to be sadly. Try some clearos too, you just may like them. Good luck! bnrk

This is the ONLY response so far that was given with a grain of logic and then it ended.

I spend Most of my Vaping time on Kangers - this does not make them the best.
Boge Had a Manufacturing issue...........That has been corrected.............Same with Smoktech and others, it happens from time to time.
No Vamo, or Ego or any money thrown at any other Power source is going to help. He has functional gear.

Op is using Gear that Hundreds on ECF are successfully Using so the problem is Odd at best.
Op is complaining of a carto Gurgling, Stopping up, Burning - Oddity is:
Gurgling is Over wicking
Stopping up is Flooding OR Caking on coil (opposing effects)
Burning is Lack of liquid at coil - opposite if Flooding

Suggestion:
1)Dilute E-liquid with Distilled water and test
2) Purchase a single Evod and 2 2.2ohm-2.5ohm heads (Op is used to higher resistance) Remove (1) flavor wick in (1) head - Test each

Report results here

ETA - Evod test is simple to see if a different type delivery system(well reviewed) may give better direction in handling e-liquid choice.

 

[salemgold]

Why would they need a vamo if they already have a zmax and lavatube? The vamo doesn't bring anything more to the table that can't be done by these 2.

It kinda seems like some people are assuming that everyone else will love what "they" love. Vaping just doesn't work that way.

Nope. I also have a Zmax and LT and the Vamo has a much better hit. The Vamo has a 5 amp limit, the Z has a 4 amp limit and the LT has a 2.5 amp limit. There is nothing even close to a Vamo in the vape experience. I have many, many friends that will tell you the same JMHO

 

[AgentAnia]

Also, only and always fruit flavor, honeydew mellon, acai berry raspberry blue berry etc

I hope I'm not out of line here cause I'm a relatively new vaper and don't really know hardware at all. But, I am familiar with ECBlend juice. You don't say if you order it with sweetener, or extra sweetener, or if ECB automatically sweetens the blends you order. If any of the above, be aware that the sweetener they use is ethol maltol, and EM gunks up coils in nothing flat. I had that problem, and solved it by only using sucralose to sweeten my juice. Have not had a "gunking" problem since switching to sucralose.

Just a thought. Something to add to the equation...

 

[volume control]

Ecblend liquids ALWAYS caked up on me, i ditched them pretty quick...

 

[Ref Minor]

Slower longer drags?

 

[supermarket]

Hey guys, I've been vaping for almost a year now, and if I had to give it an annual performance review, it would get fired, and I'd go right back to smoking. I do NOT want this. I have had a generally crappy vaping experience. My mods have all been garbage, and the tanks.. THE TANKS.

Here's my issue - I use almost 100% VG based juices, or like a 60VG - 40PG. I've mostly used a carto tank and a boge 510 carto. They ALWAYS clog up.. sometimes within hours. and I'm not exaggerating..

Last night I go out to have a few drinks, my carto clogs up, gurgles, no draw from it, burnt taste. I had just opened and filled it brand new from the box less than 2 hours before. I ALMOST bummed a cig at that point. This is a regular thing. I go through about 5 cartos a week because they clog up, have awful taste and are just un usable within sometimes 6-8 hours. I know I'm not drawing too hard, or running them too hot, I know the general Voltage Vs. Ohms table, and I have no idea why I have such bad luck.


I need your help. Why is this ALWAYS happening? Shouldn't they last a few days or even a week before they clog up to the point you can't use them anymore? Is it the juice? If so, what should I use? I'm at my wits end, and on the verge of saying screw it - this is way too much effort and I'm just sick of it.

I could really use a solution. I can't stand PG based juices so I won't change that. (sensitivity to PG)

I just wat a clean hit with good vapor production and good taste, the boge 510's are NOT doing the job for me.
Any suggestions would be great!

Thank you for reading my rant :/

Two things I would suggest to you:

1) Cartos SUCK for ME. You have to understand that is just MY PERSONAL experience......but it sounds like they aren't living up to your standards....and therefore there is NO reason to mess with them any longer!

Either get a carto tank...which I hear good things about......or switch to EVOD BCC AND/OR KANGER PRO TANK. I assure you, once you try and evod bcc or kanger pro tank, you won't look back.


2) You can also use higher PG / VG ratios. VG is really dang thick. I don't care for how thick it is. The HIGHEST VG I'll go is 50%. I PREFER anywhere from 50%-80% PG (20%-50% VG, TOPS).