How Long Do Carts Last?

[grego66]

Hi All,

First off I'm new and this is my first post here so ....hello!!!.

Received my first e.cig early last month (May) on the 7th at 4.45pm and haven't had an analog since. I bought the 78mm Volt that comes in the middle starter kit and so far I am very happy with it. I'm still experimenting with flavours and trying to settle into a comfortable routine. It's a big learning curve but very well worth it and I'm enjoying the education. I thought the honeymoon period would be well and truly over by now but I can't see it ending with all those different juices!

I am still at the stage where I am trying to work out how much this is going to cost me on a monthly basis and one of the biggest things for me that will determine this is how long does or should a cart last until it gets unusable. I am filling up on average I would say three times every 2 days (48 hours). I haven't yet had a cart that doesn't perform but I don't know when it's telling me enough is enough. What markers if any should I be looking for?

Also can carts be washed out and used again? If yes do they perform as well as new or is it worth it just to buy new?

Thanks.

 

[sailorman]

Hello! Congrats for making the switch.

You'll know when your cartos done for when it either burns out or gets hard to draw on. Whichever comes first.
It sounds like you might need to top them off a bit more often. That helps their lifespan. You don't really fill them up after the first fill, you top them off, the more often the better. If the vapor starts to thin, add more juice. Never wait for a burned taste.

IMO, cartos aren't really worth cleaning. Some people disagree, but it's a pain and some don't survive anyway. They rarely last as long or work as well after a cleaning either.

 

[AttyPops]

Welcome to ECF!

Just an FYI (There's so much terminology around e-cigs) a cart is a plastic piece that is used on an atomizer... 3 piece system...cart, atty, battery. A carto (cartomizer) is a single piece cart+coil/atty thing that you may refill and is considered more disposable. You're asking about cartos, not carts.

Anyway, you CAN refill them, but some clean easier than others. I'll leave the volt specific answers to others. In general, darker juices will clog them faster. So does high VG content. So what you're refilling with matters as much as anything else.

Also remember they are considered disposable. Also, you can order blank (empty) cartos from many vendors that will fit that e-cig in a variety of styles and sizes/capacities. You'll need to check the volt section for more info since I'm too tired to go look it up Here's a link for KR808D-1 : KR808D-1

Good Luck!

 

[grego66]

Hello! Congrats for making the switch.

You'll know when your cartos done for when it either burns out or gets hard to draw on. Whichever comes first.
It sounds like you might need to top them off a bit more often. That helps their lifespan. You don't really fill them up after the first fill, you top them off, the more often the better. If the vapor starts to thin, add more juice. Never wait for a burned taste.

IMO, cartos aren't really worth cleaning. Some people disagree, but it's a pain and some don't survive anyway. They rarely last as long or work as well after a cleaning either.

Thanks sailorman.

I have been filling up the cartos every time rather than top them off, to the point where it floods out a little, I thought that was the way to go. Thanks for the tip so would you say less than ten drips to top off?

 

[bodrell]

Welcome to ECF! And congratulations on quitting smoking.

I'm not familiar with the cartridges you get with the Volt, but I've used BOGEs, Resurrectors and clearomizers, refilling/topping off multiple times a day depending on how many flavors I have going. Sweet/cinnamon/dark juice clogs them up quicker, but I get anywhere from a week to a month-plus out of them. Considering on average they cost less than $2.00 each, that's not bad.

They can be cleaned and sometimes come out good as new, sometimes not. Search the forum for instructions on cleaning your type out...people do it all kinds of ways. I soak in rubbing alcohol, then boil for a few minutes, then let them dry for a day or three (or in the oven at very low heat.) But really they are inexpensive so it's worth having an extra stash on hand...try cleaning them, if it doesn't work, no big loss.

You'll know when one is on its way out when you can't get a good draw, when the filler material gets all fuzzy and dark, when the taste starts diminishing.

 

[bigdavid]

Mine usually lasts a couple months and the easiest way is to search youtube

 

[grego66]

Welcome to ECF!

Just an FYI (There's so much terminology around e-cigs) a cart is a plastic piece that is used on an atomizer... 3 piece system...cart, atty, battery. A carto (cartomizer) is a single piece cart+coil/atty thing that you may refill and is considered more disposable. You're asking about cartos, not carts.

Anyway, you CAN refill them, but some clean easier than others. I'll leave the volt specific answers to others. In general, darker juices will clog them faster. So does high VG content. So what you're refilling with matters as much as anything else.

Also remember they are considered disposable. Also, you can order blank (empty) cartos from many vendors that will fit that e-cig in a variety of styles and sizes/capacities. You'll need to check the volt section for more info since I'm too tired to go look it up Here's a link for KR808D-1 : KR808D-1

Good Luck!

Thanks AttyPops, yes I realised I used the wrong terminology from sailormans post, I'll remember that one.

I had bought some 100% VG content from a different place and saw it was a lot thicker. I think from what you said I will probably buy new, it will still work out a lot cheaper than analogs. It's just I have a pile of used cartos from various sample packs and didn't have the heart to just dump them. I will view them as disposable from now on.

Thanks.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks sailorman.

I have been filling up the cartos every time rather than top them off, to the point where it floods out a little, I thought that was the way to go. Thanks for the tip so would you say less than ten drips to top off?

Yeah. When I used 808 cartos, I'd top them off and it usually took about 6 to 10 drops or so. Just be aware of any degradation of the vapor quality or taste and top off as soon as you notice it. After a while, you'll just sense when you should top off. A drip tip comes in handy so you don't need to pry the cap off each time. Just tilt it a bit and drip your juice right through the mouthpiece.

 

[grego66]

Welcome to ECF! And congratulations on quitting smoking.

I'm not familiar with the cartridges you get with the Volt, but I've used BOGEs, Resurrectors and clearomizers, refilling/topping off multiple times a day depending on how many flavors I have going. Sweet/cinnamon/dark juice clogs them up quicker, but I get anywhere from a week to a month-plus out of them. Considering on average they cost less than $2.00 each, that's not bad.

They can be cleaned and sometimes come out good as new, sometimes not. Search the forum for instructions on cleaning your type out...people do it all kinds of ways. I soak in rubbing alcohol, then boil for a few minutes, then let them dry for a day or three (or in the oven at very low heat.) But really they are inexpensive so it's worth having an extra stash on hand...try cleaning them, if it doesn't work, no big loss.

You'll know when one is on its way out when you can't get a good draw, when the filler material gets all fuzzy and dark, when the taste starts diminishing.

Thanks bodrell,

Yes I think my initial thoughts now are to just buy new when they start showing the symptoms you describe. It does seem like a lot of work to clean them through and like you said new ones are not that expensive.

Thanks.

 

[Eduardo]

I think the cartos last a week or two, it will depend if you top of then constantly, to avoid burn taste.
I tryed to cleaned them, it also works to change the liquid flavor, except if the burn taste is present, there are no remedy. Maybe somebody here helps you in this point, but I throw then way.
If you can I suggest you to try the clearomizer Vision/Stardust, it's ease to handle.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks AttyPops, yes I realised I used the wrong terminology from sailormans post, I'll remember that one.

I had bought some 100% VG content from a different place and saw it was a lot thicker. I think from what you said I will probably buy new, it will still work out a lot cheaper than analogs. It's just I have a pile of used cartos from various sample packs and didn't have the heart to just dump them. I will view them as disposable from now on.

Thanks.

Just FYI, in case you didn't know, if you like any of the samples you can buy the same flavors in bottles from SI and continue to use those cartos. Their juice is really not priced too badly for an e-cig company. Many of them stick it to you pretty hard if you try to buy refill juice, if they offer it at all.

 

[grego66]

Yeah. When I used 808 cartos, I'd top them off and it usually took about 6 to 10 drops or so. Just be aware of any degradation of the vapor quality or taste and top off as soon as you notice it. After a while, you'll just sense when you should top off. A drip tip comes in handy so you don't need to pry the cap off each time. Just tilt it a bit and drip your juice right through the mouthpiece.

Ah thanks, I'd usually flood it when it was time to change the battery for convenience. I'll definitely go the top off route now. Yes I've been looking at getting a drip tip I think that will be one of my next purchases.

Thanks again.

 

[sailorman]

I would suggest taking a look at the 808 Fluxomizer XL clearomizers. A pack of 5 costs a couple bucks more than cartos, but they last 3 or 4 times longer. You can swap flavors in them and they hold about 30% more than a cartomizer. The taste is better and you don't have to top them off at all because there is nothing to burn. You can vape them until they're empty and just fill them back up. Or rinse them out and fill them with a different flavor. They work great on the volt if you get them between 2.4 and 2.6ohms. They never leak either, which is a big deal for clearomizers. You can find them at Gotvapes.com

 

[fbdugan]

I agree--I've tried everything--boiling, steam, alcohol, even cleaner for ice-machines. Nothing works very well. With cartos so inexpensive, I just bag them and give them to my more ambitious and thrifty friends.

 

[AttyPops]

Yeah, but you can still refill them if they are working! I just wouldn't wash those out. But it depends on the carto too. Some people do. Others only use clear juice and say they last longer. So, kinda read up. There's several variables. You could, for example, order Boge cartos and they are easier to wash out, or so I hear. Clearomizers are even easier. There's 100 options (welcome to e-cigs!) that will fit on an 808.... I won't even start talking about atomizers!

So use these up! Refill them if they are working. On your next order... try some others if you wish.

 

[grego66]

Mine usually lasts a couple months and the easiest way is to search youtube

Thanks for the info bigdavid, YT has been a big influence on the change over for me a great resource.

I think the cartos last a week or two, it will depend if you top of then constantly, to avoid burn taste.
I tryed to cleaned them, it also works to change the liquid flavor, except if the burn taste is present, there are no remedy. Maybe somebody here helps you in this point, but I throw then way.
If you can I suggest you to try the clearomizer Vision/Stardust, it's ease to handle.

Thanks Eduardo for the info on the carto also I was reading about the clearomizer, it looks and sounds like the biz but the regular minis that Volt do are working good for me at the moment.

 

[grego66]

Just FYI, in case you didn't know, if you like any of the samples you can buy the same flavors in bottles from SI and continue to use those cartos. Their juice is really not priced too badly for an e-cig company. Many of them stick it to you pretty hard if you try to buy refill juice, if they offer it at all.

Oh yeah sailorman I have a bottle of their grape and chocolate, it's good stuff

 

[grego66]

I would suggest taking a look at the 808 Fluxomizer XL clearomizers. A pack of 5 costs a couple bucks more than cartos, but they last 3 or 4 times longer. You can swap flavors in them and they hold about 30% more than a cartomizer. The taste is better and you don't have to top them off at all because there is nothing to burn. You can vape them until they're empty and just fill them back up. Or rinse them out and fill them with a different flavor. They work great on the volt if you get them between 2.4 and 2.6ohms. They never leak either, which is a big deal for clearomizers. You can find them at Gotvapes.com

I was just replying to Eduardo about clearomizers I thought this was a Volt product only. I will have a look at Gotvapes.com the more I read the more I like the sound of how these work.

I was initially looking for info on cartos but looks like I will be getting a clearomizer. Sounds like it makes more sense to go this route.

Edit:
I just read on their site I would need to get the X2 battery for the clearomizers this will be a future purchase for me. For now the topping up of cartos is the way to go...

Thanks.

 

[John D in CT]

Man, I wish I could get as much life out of a carto that some of y'all are getting. I vape a lot, but they seem to last about two days before the draw starts getting hard and the vape starts going downhill. I've had llimited success cleaning them, but I haven't really even begun to explore some of the better options for cleaning them.

Boiling them for 15 minutes or so works fairly well, but soaking them in water doesn't seem to work very well at all, and I wouldn't recommend rubbing alcohol. Some use vodka or grain alcohol, but I haven't tried that myself.

I just bought a plunger setup from MyFreedomSmokes -

The Plunger - MyFreedomSmokes.com

that might do a decent job at cleaning them as well as filling them, but we shall see. I'm also going to get a Codyson CD-4820 ultrasonic (heated) cleaner for about $88; a lot of people say that ultrasonic is a good way to go, and you can use it for other stuff as well. The way I go through cartos it might end up being a worthwhile buy.

Codyson CD-4820 Ultrasonic Cleaner 2.5 litres Heater Coins Jewelry 110V or 220V | eBay

Lastly, I'm going to try moving away from cartos altogether with tank systems that use replaceable/rebuildable coils like the Vivi Nova, GG Oddyseus, or the Bulli atomizer. For those, you'd likely need a slightly bigger battery/PV than what you currently have. Check out the Joyetech Twist if you haven't already; variable voltage in the eGo form factor for about $25-30.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...sion/302432-why-ego-c-twist-game-changer.html

Review by the amazing "Steve from Liverpool" on the Bulli A2-T atomizer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkDIud1d7K0

 

[Mroutlaw]

Ok, I am a volt owner and I can tell you, you are getting good advice. The volt cartos seem to last longer than others because of the horizontal bottom coil. This type of carto doesn't burn as easy as others. I have 5 cartos that are a month old and still going strong (and other than the battery connection, I haven't cleaned them) They are still producing alot of vapor and have a good taste. Over the last 6 weeks, I have tossed two, one because i accidentally burnt it and the other because i was using a thick, dark juice and it just clogged up after about 10 refills.

What Sailorman said is correct. The best way to keep them going is to top them off. There is no specific amount, just drip some in until it doesn't take anymore. The worst thing you can do is let it run dry. Carry extra filled cartos and once you notice the vapor isn't there, or you have a very airy draw, change cartos and fill the other when you can.

Sailorman kind of hinted to it, but I will elaborate. If you are using si juices, when you order a bottle, get a pack of cartos in the same flavor and then refill them. The reason being is the blank cartos are the same price as the prefilled. So if you buy the prefilled with a bottle if juice, you just refill those cartos and get 5 free ml. Save the blanks for juice from other companies. On average, a pack of prefilled volt cartos last me through 2-3 bottles of si juice.

I am currently experimenting with the fluxomizers that Sailorman talked about, and so far, I love them. The only thing you have to get used to us using a drip tip with them. I don't mindvdrip tips since I use x2's and clearos at home, but on the road , I like the traditional cig feeling. IMAGINE from smokeless image said they are working on getting a similar product in, but did tell me until they do, the 2.4-2.6ohm ones from got vapes will work well