Going through cartomizers like crazy!

[tyeryann]

I should start off by saying that I really do love cartomizers, and part of the reason why is that I would also blow through atomizers like crazy when I used them. Typical atty would last me 2 weeks, max. Cartomizers last me a day or two, no matter which ones I try. It's cheaper to replace the cartomizers than the atomizer, so there you go. So far I've used about 5 different brands, including the clearomizers (leaky .......s) - everything from low resistance to dual coil (or both).

So, I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong to go through these so quickly. Is there a trick to making them last longer? Or is this just the price I must pay for my heavy-vaping habit?

I don't know if it's because I burn them too hot, use them too often, need to blow them out randomly...what?

I exclusively vape Tasty Vapor juice, and I know some of the juices (Geoff's Blend, for example) can be hard on attys and cartomizers, but this was happening way before I discovered the delicious goodness of TV.

Oh, also, I do try to clean them. I've tried boiling them, hitting them with steam from my high-powered steam cleaner...but by the time I blow through them, I think it's just too late to revive them enough for much re-use.

I use an Ego battery (the smaller one), if that makes a difference. And I tend to vape pretty much consistently throughout the day while I work (writing), drive, or whatever else.

I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[rolandpibb]

CCV 1.7 resurrectors last me a week before I choose to chuck them. That's after I've pushed around 20mls of juice through them. My 808 volt cartos take about 20 mls before I toss them also.

 

[Tersur]

Dark juices can kill your cart quicker. As well as high VG. So can overfilling and underfilling. These are the most common culprits. For me i used to blow an atty every 3-4 days. I use boge cartos and smoketech dual coil cartos now. As long as i dont overfill i get 5-8 days out of them.

 

[tyeryann]

Ooooh, maybe that's my problem. I think I get so paranoid about not keeping them filled enough that I over fill them (to the point I get leakage from the bottom). I'll try being more careful with filling and see if that makes a difference.

 

[tyeryann]

I'll check those out!

 

[brian1g]

I think your problem is the tastyvapor juices.

Some of the tv juices can ruin a carto in a couple hours (geoffs blend and cherry cola come to mind) while some are a little better ( waffle and atomic cinnacide). I have gotten to the point of considering tv atty juice only.

A few tips- Try to find a good pg juice that doesn't have a ton of sweetener in it. Dekang juice works great in cartos imo (yes I have bottles of dekang setting right next to bobas, bounty hunter and vaperite juice lol). Don't overfill the carto as it seems to swell the filler and starts to effect the airflow. When you get a new carto make sure you can see through the air hole, sometimes they come from the factory slightly off center and will fail faster.

Hope that helps

 

[tj99959]

If you really want a carto to last, put it in a tank. I get two weeks to a month out of one carto.
The way I look at it, the tank was free when I don't blow through two boxes of cartos in the same time frame.

 

[dormouse]

You left out necessary info. What PG/VG are you using?

Also every juice I tried from Tasty Vapor (about 6 juices) tasted great but had a lot of flavoring sediment. Flavoring sediment clogs up cartos and gunks up coils. And if your juices have too much VG, the stuffing can can very sluggish, ruining the drag and preventing the liquid from moving fast enough to keep the coil damp (ditto for wicks in clear cartos - thick juice moves slow). I only use thin clear juices, PG with 20% or less VG and I avoid all dark or cloudy juices or any juice I see dropping flavoring sediment in the stuffing.

I can get 10+ days good use at 2ml per day out of a Boge carto. I can get 7 days out of a KR8 carto at 2ml per day. (my actual usage is twice the time with each of those vaped 1/2 the time, so 20 days for a Boge at 1 ml per day, 14 days for a Bloog etc carto vaping 1 ml per day).

 

[DaveP]

Use high PG ratio juice, no more than 30% VG if that much. Use the carto filling method in the video below, at least for the first filling, and then drop a couple of drops in the mouthpiece end periodically. You don't want them to go dry. That's when the stuffing gets cooked and you'll get nothing but burnt taste from that point.

Use a drip tip for your thicker juices. A 306 LR will do nicely (510 threads).

 

[mynameisrob]

Dormouse said what I was thinking.
While yes, higher VG and dark juices does clog cartos quicker. I think the main culprit is using juices that have sediments in it.

I use the Ressurector cartos and they last a really long time. 2 of them Ive been using for about 3 weeks.

Ive noticed though, that juices with sediments are what really kills my ressurectors faster than anything. I have 2 juices that Ive been vaping a lot lately.

One is 85% VG but with no sediments(Black & Mild from CCV).
The other is 80PG/20VG with sediments (Cafe Caramel from Blue Mist Vapor)

Even though the Black & Mild is MUCH thicker (kinda hard to get into a syringe) and the Cafe Caramel is very thin, the Cafe Caramel juice clogs up a carto much much quicker than the Black & Mild. Ive been using the same carto for the Black & Mild for the past 2 and a half weeks and it still has good airflow, even though it is mostly VG. With the Cafe Caramel Ill be lucky to get past a week, and thats 80%PG. It normally starts to become restricted after a few days. The finished bottle of juice doesnt look like there is sediments in it but there is. I make it myself so thats how I know. The flavor bottle of Cafe Caramel is like half sediments. I have to shake the crap out of it before I make a batch of juice.

So I really think that is the problem you are having. I would recommend you try the Ressurector cartos because they are wrapped more loosely than other cartos and generally take VG juices better than some others, but I feel that even with them they will clog because ofthe juice you are using. They will last alittle longer though.

I think the best thing for you to do is to maybe try to use another juice. I know thats tough bc you prob really like it ( I still vape the Cafe Caramel because its so good, even though I know it will clog my cartos), but it will help. Or at least try to find another few juices you like that dont clog up cartos quick. Thats what I do and its not too bad. I use a few juices that are great in cartos and I can get a few weeks out of one, and then I also vape the Cafe Caramel which I only get about a week out of. Doing that at least kinda evens it up some. The ones I go thru quick are kinda countered with the ones I can make last a few weeks.That way I dont go thru them super fast. Otherwise ifyou keep vaping juices that are all like that, then your going to just keep going thru a pack of cartos a week.

 

[mynameisrob]

I would also HIGHLY recommend that you use a syringe to fill your cartos. It will ensure they are filled correctly, and help lengthen the life of your cartos.
I originally wrote this in another thread for someone who asked how to fill ressurectors, but this is essentially for all cartomizers. Just instead of the 2 ml the Ressurectors hold, you will put in your syringe the amount of juice the cartoa you use hold. Heres the copy and paste.

How to fill a cartomizer 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!

 

[Renzuli]

Again , siding with dormouse on this issue . I use Boge's exclusively , and my carto's last at least two weeks . When they start to get a bit clogged , I burn em at a higher voltage , to clean off the gunk from the coils . Been working for me anyway . And your atty's probably go , because you let them get dry . I have some , that are several months old and still working . Most of my juices are of a lighter color and thickness 75/30 , but I do vape some coffee flavors that have a lot of sediment , but doesn't seem to effect mine . Good Luck .

 

[tyeryann]

You left out necessary info. What PG/VG are you using?

Also every juice I tried from Tasty Vapor (about 6 juices) tasted great but had a lot of flavoring sediment. Flavoring sediment clogs up cartos and gunks up coils. And if your juices have too much VG, the stuffing can can very sluggish, ruining the drag and preventing the liquid from moving fast enough to keep the coil damp (ditto for wicks in clear cartos - thick juice moves slow). I only use thin clear juices, PG with 20% or less VG and I avoid all dark or cloudy juices or any juice I see dropping flavoring sediment in the stuffing.

I can get 10+ days good use at 2ml per day out of a Boge carto. I can get 7 days out of a KR8 carto at 2ml per day. (my actual usage is twice the time with each of those vaped 1/2 the time, so 20 days for a Boge at 1 ml per day, 14 days for a Bloog etc carto vaping 1 ml per day).

My bad. And there I was trying so hard to make sure I included all the info lol. I always vape a 70/30 PG/VG mix.

So, perhaps it'll get a bit better if I switch my juice over to an 80/20 mix? I'm about ready to re-order some, so I may just give that a try too.

 

[tyeryann]

I would also HIGHLY recommend that you use a syringe to fill your cartos. It will ensure they are filled correctly, and help lengthen the life of your cartos.
I originally wrote this in another thread for someone who asked how to fill ressurectors, but this is essentially for all cartomizers. Just instead of the 2 ml the Ressurectors hold, you will put in your syringe the amount of juice the cartoa you use hold. Heres the copy and paste.

How to fill a cartomizer 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!

Awesome, thank you. I generally use the syringe for the first fill and then just drip a bit more on the rest of the time, since I have no idea how much to add after I've filled it once. This is actually very helpful info.

 

[tyeryann]

If you really want a carto to last, put it in a tank. I get two weeks to a month out of one carto.
The way I look at it, the tank was free when I don't blow through two boxes of cartos in the same time frame.

A tank? This is the first I've heard of a tank setup for a carto...is it a mod?

 

[tyeryann]

You left out necessary info. What PG/VG are you using?

Also every juice I tried from Tasty Vapor (about 6 juices) tasted great but had a lot of flavoring sediment. Flavoring sediment clogs up cartos and gunks up coils. And if your juices have too much VG, the stuffing can can very sluggish, ruining the drag and preventing the liquid from moving fast enough to keep the coil damp (ditto for wicks in clear cartos - thick juice moves slow). I only use thin clear juices, PG with 20% or less VG and I avoid all dark or cloudy juices or any juice I see dropping flavoring sediment in the stuffing.

I can get 10+ days good use at 2ml per day out of a Boge carto. I can get 7 days out of a KR8 carto at 2ml per day. (my actual usage is twice the time with each of those vaped 1/2 the time, so 20 days for a Boge at 1 ml per day, 14 days for a Bloog etc carto vaping 1 ml per day).

And also, yeah, that's exactly what's happening to mine - stuffing is getting really sluggish, starts burning even when I know juice is in there, etc. I'm definitely going to grab some more Boge cartos. I used them for a while and then switched to the Smok ego mega ones, thinking it would solve my problem. No dice. But I like the Boge better so I'll be switching back - and they're cheaper to boot.

 

[tyeryann]

Again , siding with dormouse on this issue . I use Boge's exclusively , and my carto's last at least two weeks . When they start to get a bit clogged , I burn em at a higher voltage , to clean off the gunk from the coils . Been working for me anyway . And your atty's probably go , because you let them get dry . I have some , that are several months old and still working . Most of my juices are of a lighter color and thickness 75/30 , but I do vape some coffee flavors that have a lot of sediment , but doesn't seem to effect mine . Good Luck .

Thanks. Back to Boge I go. Those did seem to last slightly longer for me (by maybe a day or so). I don't know why I thought a bigger carto would equal fewer problems. Heh.

 

[tyeryann]

I've tried other juices, but they all have this odd chemical-ish taste to me, which is why I love TV so much. I do have some Dekang juice here, though, so I may use it on a fresh carto just to see if it lasts longer than the ones with TV do.

 

[Moon62]

I vape quite a bit and recently started using cartos. IMO they're much better than attys. I have filled mine 8 times and it's still going strong. Haven't cleaned it out, so I can see how long it lasts compared to one that is cleaned. I use a 70vg/30pg mix and add distilled water to it so it flows really well. I have only used clear flavorings in them and, from reading what others have written above, will continue to do so if they make cartos last longer.

I'm not sure if the same principle applies, but when you make juice using menthol crystals you have to let the bottles sit in warm water so the crystals dissolve. Would this work for for the sediment in flavors such as the Café Caramel?

 

[mooreted]

I should start off by saying that I really do love cartomizers, and part of the reason why is that I would also blow through atomizers like crazy when I used them. Typical atty would last me 2 weeks, max. Cartomizers last me a day or two, no matter which ones I try. It's cheaper to replace the cartomizers than the atomizer, so there you go. So far I've used about 5 different brands, including the clearomizers (leaky .......s) - everything from low resistance to dual coil (or both).

So, I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong to go through these so quickly. Is there a trick to making them last longer? Or is this just the price I must pay for my heavy-vaping habit?

I don't know if it's because I burn them too hot, use them too often, need to blow them out randomly...what?

I exclusively vape Tasty Vapor juice, and I know some of the juices (Geoff's Blend, for example) can be hard on attys and cartomizers, but this was happening way before I discovered the delicious goodness of TV.

Oh, also, I do try to clean them. I've tried boiling them, hitting them with steam from my high-powered steam cleaner...but by the time I blow through them, I think it's just too late to revive them enough for much re-use.

I use an Ego battery (the smaller one), if that makes a difference. And I tend to vape pretty much consistently throughout the day while I work (writing), drive, or whatever else.

I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks!

My Boge 2.0 cartomizers are almost a month old and they're just now wearing out. I can still get by with them while I wait on my order of resurrectors that just shipped. So, the last pretty long.

Are you keeping the coil wet? Not letting the cartomizers dry burn? As soon as my vapor tastes a little "off" I grab another filled carto, I never let them run dry.

Nevermind, I should have read the rest of the posts. Looks like you keep them full. As much as you like those juices, I think I'll stay away from them.