Having Issues...

Status
Not open for further replies.

carpedebass

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 10, 2011
2,168
1,500
56
The Alamo City
OK, so it all began yesterday. My Sparkplug SP3 has been working flawlessly with two attys this entire month after I took the button apart and cleaned it really well with alcohol. Suddenly though I'm getting very little vapor production. My cart material stuffing stuff is wet as can be, but the bridge doesn't seem to be wicking properly on either atty. That leads me to believe that it's the stuffing stuff inside the carts.

The carts are about two months old so, upon further inspection, they seem to have lost their "fluffiness." I can grab them (the stuffing stuff) with my grabbers (tweezers) and pull them back to the top of the cart and I can get a few good hits before they slip back down a bit.

Am I right in diagnosing this condition as worn out stuffing stuff and that it's just not making good contact with the bridge?

I can drip on the atty and I get good hits as well.

If I am correct, I'm seriously thinking about heading up to Petco to pick up some aquarium filler stuffing stuff.:blush:

I have searched the forum high and low, and I have seen what kind to get (type U) but I don't see anywhere that says exactly what size to cut it into. Any suggestions? By the way, the SP3 uses a 510 cart.
 

carpedebass

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 10, 2011
2,168
1,500
56
The Alamo City
**UPDATE**

I went to Petco (where the pets go...lol) and picked up a box of Fluval foam for less that a 5 spot. Brought it back, cut a peice and am happily vaping away. The TH and vapor production thus far is FAR superior to what I got with even new stuffing stuff.

** On edit...the juice flavors have come back to life BIG TIME with the Fluval addition as well!!
 
Last edited:

carpedebass

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 10, 2011
2,168
1,500
56
The Alamo City
If you've been using the same two attys for a month you may want to get a couple of more because the ones you have may die at any time now. If I keep mine clean they usually last between one month and two.

I plan on it. Until then, however I have a 510 adapter and some cartos to try out. Funny thing...the adapter didn't fit my original SP3 for love nor money. But it fits the replacement SP3 like a glove. As soon as I get home, I plan on trying out those cartos and clearos. Then I'll alternate between them and the attys. Unless I like the cartos better...then I'll shove the attys in the drawer for emergency use...after a good cleaning of course.
 

Nomoreash

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 9, 2010
3,261
931
Chattanooga, TN
I've had better luck then most with attys but they all will die eventually, get some extras. Also you might want to consider cartos really soon. I went through the cart, blue foam, fluval stage and while the fluval did work best for me also it's still a pain to be topping off carts all the time. Find a carto you like and it's much less hassle.

Ok nevermind, we were writing at the same time, you've already got some cartos to try, gl.
 

carpedebass

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 10, 2011
2,168
1,500
56
The Alamo City
I've had better luck then most with attys but they all will die eventually, get some extras. Also you might want to consider cartos really soon. I went through the cart, blue foam, fluval stage and while the fluval did work best for me also it's still a pain to be topping off carts all the time. Find a carto you like and it's much less hassle.

Ok nevermind, we were writing at the same time, you've already got some cartos to try, gl.

Yea I have a 5 pack of clearos, a 5 pack of cartos and a couple of DCs to try out. I'm pretty stoked about the idea of not having to refill so often.

Better yet, get a drip tip, and use the carts for mouse trap bait.

Funny you mention that. I got up the nerve to try it out last night with a blank cart. Not sure what I did wrong, but I ended up with a mouthful of juice and juice everywhere. Probably the difference between having a drip tip and not having one. It was awesome up until the bottom fell out after about three drags.

Speaking of which...are the rubber tips that come with cartos not drip tips?
 

tj99959

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
  • Aug 13, 2011
    15,114
    39,582
    utah
    Speaking of which...are the rubber tips that come with cartos not drip tips?

    If you are talking about the little white rubber plug in the end, NO they are not.
    here is a pretty little drip tip
    13129452884331907562121.jpeg

    However, I learned how to drip just using a cart with the stuffing pulled out of it.
    Remove the empty cart, drip in 3 drops, put it back in and vape away.

    Sounds like you did a whole lot of things wrong.
    The magic number when dripping with a normal atty is THREE, 3 drops - 3 hits - 3 drop - 3 hits. Believe me, the atty will tell you if you can get away with more hits, or if you are putting to much juice in it.
     
    Last edited:

    carpedebass

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Jul 10, 2011
    2,168
    1,500
    56
    The Alamo City
    If you are talking about the little white rubber plug in the end, NO they are not.
    here is a pretty little drip tip
    13129452884331907562121.jpeg

    However, I learned how to drip just using a cart with the stuffing pulled out of it.
    Remove the empty cart, drip in 3 drops, put it back in and vape away.

    Sounds like you did a whole lot of things wrong.
    The magic number when dripping with a normal atty is THREE, 3 drops - 3 hits - 3 drop - 3 hits. Believe me, the atty will tell you if you can get away with more hits, or if you are putting to much juice in it.

    Yea, I pulled the stuffing out of my cart...but I did 5 drops. Then I put the rubber tip from my cartos on the atty, but I couldn't get any vapor from that. I'll try the 3X3 thing. Thanks!!
     

    carpedebass

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Jul 10, 2011
    2,168
    1,500
    56
    The Alamo City
    See you got some foam. The foam should be cut wider than the cart and squeezed in, and you can fit more juice into cart than with polyfill. Here's a link with picture https://strictlyejuice.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67_49&products_id=222&zenid=a9diupijmpgmm59s8nfhfq8ac0

    Yea, I got the Fluval foam. I cut the first one a little small, and got some leakage, so I cut it again and it was still too small! :p

    Seriously though...the second one I cut seemed to do the trick. It does take some stuffing to get it into the hole, but it sure vapes a lot better than the old filler stuff!
     

    M_FactorX19

    Super Member
    ECF Veteran
    Jun 22, 2011
    326
    39
    38
    N.E. Tennessee
    Yea, I pulled the stuffing out of my cart...but I did 5 drops. Then I put the rubber tip from my cartos on the atty, but I couldn't get any vapor from that. I'll try the 3X3 thing. Thanks!!

    you dont need to use the rubber tip from the cartos when you are dripping. it sounds like you used way to much juice when you tried to drip the first time. you can use an empty cart as a drip tip just dont over drip. 3 drops will do it.

    you can use the rubber tips with the cartos though. i actually remove them though and use a drip instead because i like the feel better but there is nothing wrong with using the rubber tips instead. the trick with cartos is filling them right. do a search on youtube for videos on how to fill them correctly. honestly i find cartos the easiest way to vape. if i were you i would give up of the whole cart thing. jmho. good luck
     

    carpedebass

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Jul 10, 2011
    2,168
    1,500
    56
    The Alamo City
    you dont need to use the rubber tip from the cartos when you are dripping. it sounds like you used way to much juice when you tried to drip the first time. you can use an empty cart as a drip tip just dont over drip. 3 drops will do it.

    you can use the rubber tips with the cartos though. i actually remove them though and use a drip instead because i like the feel better but there is nothing wrong with using the rubber tips instead. the trick with cartos is filling them right. do a search on youtube for videos on how to fill them correctly. honestly i find cartos the easiest way to vape. if i were you i would give up of the whole cart thing. jmho. good luck

    Yea, that's what I'm thinking too. I have done prefilled cartos before and I really liked them, just wished they would have lasted longer...that said they still lasted a lot longer than the atty/cart thing. I'm just kinda sick of all the fiddling I have to do with the attys and carts. Although, the Fluval has helped a lot with that as well.
     

    JustaGuy

    Vaping Master
    ECF Veteran
    Jul 19, 2011
    3,483
    91,179
    Beyond The Sea
    Yea, I got the Fluval foam. I cut the first one a little small, and got some leakage, so I cut it again and it was still too small! :p

    Seriously though...the second one I cut seemed to do the trick. It does take some stuffing to get it into the hole, but it sure vapes a lot better than the old filler stuff!

    Yeah, the foam (un-squeezed) needs to be twice as big as the cart opening, pinch and squeeze into cart. That tension is what keeps from leaking. You're on your way with "home made" tanks. :)
     

    tj99959

    ECF Guru
    ECF Veteran
  • Aug 13, 2011
    15,114
    39,582
    utah
    I am not an advocate of putting your lips directly on the metal tube of an atty or carto (they can get to damn hot), and that is just asking for problems. I don't think the risk of lip cancer is something anyone should take lightly. So i won't use those little rubber disks even in a carto. It is just to easy to use a drip tip.
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    Users who are viewing this thread