How long does a carto last you with your maintenance routine?

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Conard

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I've always looked at recognized cost per Carto as being $3.18. Sales are icing on the cake but I just straight line them out to $8.95 + $6.95 divided by 5.

If that were what I paid for cartos I may wash them once myself. My cost is still $1.40 each and that just isn't worth the effort to me.
Not a V4L product and this is a V4L forum so I'll leave it at that.

Happy vaping:)
 

Darrigaaz

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Most readers probably won't believe this reply, but it's the way it is.

1) how many refills you average before throwing a carto? 60+

2) What is your maintenance routine? Once a week or so, take used cartos to bathroom and put hot tap water into a very large cup. Put each carto into a 3/4 inch clear tube bought from hardware store, put end of tube into water, and suck on the other end to draw water up through the carto and blow back through to push water back through. Do this until water runs clear on each carto (about 10 quick pulls/blows). Blow through carto until no water comes out. Put juice in cartos.

3) How often do you clean it? after 5 refills? or til it stops working well? After vaping a carto down, I throw into a small bucket on my computer desk. At end of week, grab bucket and go through cleaning. Each carto gets washed before every refill.

I've thrown out 2 cartos since December of 2009. That's 2 cartos in almost 16 MONTHS. In fact, I just looked at the date of the carto I've got on my battery right now, and it is stamped with "2009" on the top, and "11" on the bottom, which means it was created in Nov of 2009. It's an old Nuport 8mg carto that I got in a pack originally with my kit. The vapor production isn't great, but since it's before "Premium", "WoW", or "Coolcarts" came out, it never was what some of you are used to now.
 

DawnsFolly

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Dang but this is like being back in school ;p Soooo much to learn, etc., etc.! I have to start collecting videos so I can quickly reference them and share them!

Fer sure Kanza. I've gotten kits as presents for people I can't be with and emailed them a couple of links to get started, then send them more later. Hope V4L puts up more video links for new people on their new website (and don't forget to include the ones that Snow made).
 

MaiTaiMary

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Nov 10, 2010
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In the almost 4 months that I've been vaping, I have thrown away about 5carts and that's only because they were burned. I don't do anything fancy but refill with a syringe I have about 10-12 that I rotate and when the flavor fades, I replace it with another refilled one. I have a couple I probably need to throw away as they're harder to draw than the others. 99% of the time I use light colored juice.
I haven't saved all the money I could have, though. I'm a sucker for those V4L sales.
 

DawnsDone

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Jan 2, 2011
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Most readers probably won't believe this reply, but it's the way it is.

1) how many refills you average before throwing a carto? 60+

2) What is your maintenance routine? Once a week or so, take used cartos to bathroom and put hot tap water into a very large cup. Put each carto into a 3/4 inch clear tube bought from hardware store, put end of tube into water, and suck on the other end to draw water up through the carto and blow back through to push water back through. Do this until water runs clear on each carto (about 10 quick pulls/blows). Blow through carto until no water comes out. Put juice in cartos.

3) How often do you clean it? after 5 refills? or til it stops working well? After vaping a carto down, I throw into a small bucket on my computer desk. At end of week, grab bucket and go through cleaning. Each carto gets washed before every refill.

I've thrown out 2 cartos since December of 2009. That's 2 cartos in almost 16 MONTHS. In fact, I just looked at the date of the carto I've got on my battery right now, and it is stamped with "2009" on the top, and "11" on the bottom, which means it was created in Nov of 2009. It's an old Nuport 8mg carto that I got in a pack originally with my kit. The vapor production isn't great, but since it's before "Premium", "WoW", or "Coolcarts" came out, it never was what some of you are used to now.

WOW Thats incredible! What kinds of juice do you use? Are they clear or dark? Do they have sweetner?
 

Darrigaaz

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Dec 11, 2009
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I only use two companies for juice. V4L juices are 70% of what I vape, and TV is the other 30%. I do have a bottle of sucralose that I can use to sweeten my juices, but I've rarely used it.

My main vapes are V4L Vanilla (dark juice), V4L Butterscotch (pink juice), V4L Redcow (darkish juice), TV S'Mores (very dark), and TV Strawberry Cheesecake (very dark). I never let a cart run dry, as I throw it in my "to wash bin" as soon as I suspect flavor dropping. Sometimes they get hard to draw, but I use a straightened paperclip to clean it out and they get better again.

Now, to be fair... once I've gotten the WoW & Coolcarts in, I don't use my 2009 cartos as much anymore. It's not that they are dead, but the WoW & Coolcarts are SO much better so I use them on savory juices. The menthol/mint juices I still use the old cartos with, mostly because it's less of a TH to use those cartos, and the mint flavors are really high TH for me.

Oh, and I've gotten two clear-o-mizers, and they suck.
 

jeffree

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Jan 18, 2010
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Hey Keelala!

Just slide the syringe down in-between the filler and the outer wall of the carto. The sharp needles should go in very easily.
A larger blunt needle will still go down but not quite as easily. I use an 18guage blunt myself so I know it works.

Just noticed this now. Wade, you know how much I like and respect you, right? That said, why on earth are you still using a blunt needle? Unless you've got pets or kids playing nearby, a sharp (bevel) needle is the only way to go, dude. It'll slide effortlessly down the side or even right through the filler, which keeps the insides in top shape. (Of course, I speak with such authority after refusing to refill for 9 months and then using only condoms to refill for another few!)
 

wader2k

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Feb 8, 2010
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Just noticed this now. Wade, you know how much I like and respect you, right? That said, why on earth are you still using a blunt needle? Unless you've got pets or kids playing nearby, a sharp (bevel) needle is the only way to go, dude. It'll slide effortlessly down the side or even right through the filler, which keeps the insides in top shape. (Of course, I speak with such authority after refusing to refill for 9 months and then using only condoms to refill for another few!)

Lol. That is just what I happened to order online back when I first checked out syringe filling. The only other needles I have are 29 gauge sharps and they are just too thin. I am a big proponent of "make do" with what ya got...and they work just fine for me!
 

mmcall12

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Apr 9, 2010
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ok, I am getting ready to get some of the needles and syringes, I have read some much, what do I need to get to fill my carts, I have thick juices, I have read pointed needles now i read about blunt I want something easy and good. Do I get the 5cc or the 3cc do I get 16 g or the 18 g needles I know it has to be a 1.5,,,, tyia
going to go to a vet supply place to see if thay have any if not it will be the online place.
 
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