I broke down and got some cartos - not really loving them.

[styxzan]

The first one I opened, newbie mistake, I tried to pull the stuffing up, and detached the coil from the carto (at least I'm pretty sure I did). Flooded it, now it doesn't seem to do anything at all. Fine, next. I filled it to a reasonable level and have enjoyed the flavor, but they are thicker than my cartridges. It's more of a workout drawing the vapor with that extra .5mm of diameter (the rubber tip goes down inside the tube, rather than over the edges like a cartridge's tip does.). I'm just not digging that at all. Do they make flat tip ones, and do they last as long?

ALSO, I know you can fill them a couple of times, but when will you know the carto is spent for good?

 

[uba egar320]

The first one I opened, newbie mistake, I tried to pull the stuffing up, and detached the coil from the carto (at least I'm pretty sure I did). Flooded it, now it doesn't seem to do anything at all. Fine, next. I filled it to a reasonable level and have enjoyed the flavor, but they are thicker than my cartridges. It's more of a workout drawing the vapor with that extra .5mm of diameter (the rubber tip goes down inside the tube, rather than over the edges like a cartridge's tip does.). I'm just not digging that at all. Do they make flat tip ones, and do they last as long?

ALSO, I know you can fill them a couple of times, but when will you know the carto is spent for good?

What kind did you get? You can take a whistle tip from a 901 and cut a little off of the insert part(maybe a heavy 1\8"). It works fine if you prefer that over the flat silicone plug. If you don't trim it down though, it will mash the stuffing, and mess with your draw. I wasn't a fan of cartos at all....until I found some I really like.

 

[colt45]

first off if the draw is too hard you can loosen the carto just untwist it a tiny bit, that will give more airflow. second you can get a drip tip at any supplier most folks use them as a mouthpiece even if they dont drip. last you will find that when you just cant draw any vapor anymore you can either pitch them or clean them there are tutorials on the site for that

 

[markfm]

If you hold the carto up, look through the center hole, you should see cleanly through it -- if you cannot, then it is misaligned. A large straightened paperclip can be used to gently straighten the tube out. I prefer doing it from the top, so I don't catch/break the wire at the top, but it can also be done through the bottom (the battery connector end).
Top it off whenever vapor production/flavor drops off.
On initial fill, at least for me, I find that after one or two puffs I need to do the first top off, then it's good to go.
Also for me, I leave the rubber mouthpiece off, which makes it fast to top off during the day. If you get juice down the center shaft, blow through the carto onto a tissue to clear it, then wipe the threads down before putting it on your PV.
Carto use comes pretty quickly, but like anything else it takes picking up the couple steps to make them work well.

 

[styxzan]

What kind did you get? You can take a whistle tip from a 901 and cut a little off of the insert part(maybe a heavy 1\8"). It works fine if you prefer that over the flat silicone plug. If you don't trim it down though, it will mash the stuffing, and mess with your draw. I wasn't a fan of cartos at all....until I found some I really like.

I honestly don't know what kind they are. They're big and black and came in a plain white box. They fit my 510s perfectly, but they are just bulkier, and I'm not sure why.

 

[uba egar320]

Maybe they are jumbos? Idk. I've gotten a few types I wasn't thrilled about either. I'm not a 510 guy at all lol.....so I wish I could help you out more with your search, should you continue to try some. Maybe start another thread asking everyone's fav 510 carto. Boge(spelling?) I think is the preferred one for 510's, but like I said...those aren't really my thing.

Good luck, and I'm sure someone will hook you up with some good info.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

You know your carto needs to be tossed when they either taste burnt even after cleaning or when they stop producing any vapor. Most regular sized cartos take around 20-25 drops and need to be topped off with around 10-15 drops once vapor production drops off or you get a slight burnt taste.

The filler isn't meant to be taken out and it's not supposed to be flush with the top. I suggest getting a drip tip because it'll protect your lips when the carto gets hot and it makes them easier to top off.

If you post a link to what you bought that would help us out a lot!

 

[dormouse]

What carto did you buy? And what PG/VG juice did you put in it?

I can get a week of use out of most cartos though the KR8 carto may be feeling a bit degraded by the end and the Boge 510 carto may work for more than a week. I only use normal size cartos with no inner seals and a defined cental air channel. Boge on 510 and Vapor4Life WOW cartos on KR808D-1. I only use juices with 20% or less VG and avoid juices that drop flavoring sediment. Any more VG and I can feel the drag get sluggish.

If you are vaping 510 and bought cartos that have an inner seal and a big wad of stuffing with no defined center air channel, they are awful. SLB. I used one and threw 4 away. There is a reason Boge are the most popular cartos on 510 threaded devices.

And BTW if you are vaping a KR808D-1 carto (I now see you are not) and bought some weird brand that is not notched across the post of the carto to let air in, you will get the worst airflow possible unless you are using them on a device with a notched battery post.

----
How I fill Vapor4Life KR8 cartos and Boge 510 cartos

Pop out the soft cap with an unbent paperclip in the mouth hole, very careful not to catch stuffing or the wire loop.
Shake and open the eliquid
Hold a bit of tissue on the threaded end hole, tilt the carto, and add 18 drops per ml of capacity into the stuffing (Boges and most KR8 cartos are about 1ml).
Wait 15 seconds or so then see how many more drops the carto stuffing will soak in easily.
Clean up the threaded end, tilt open end down into tissue, puff into threaded end to clear air channel (Boges and the KR8 cartos I use have a defined center air channel and I want to see light through that)
Sop up any loose juice above the stuffing
Cap and let it settle - I lay it on different sides for 15-20 minutes to make sure every bit of stuffing gets damp so I won't singe the carto. if you use thicker juice than me (I use 20% Vg or less) then you may need to wait much longer.

While vaping, if the vapor gets a bit light or a bit dry or the carto is getting hotter than normal, I take the carto off the battery and add eliquid. I sometimes use a plastic or delrin drip tip as a mouthpiece on Boge and KR8 cartos (not to drip into since the juice would head for the central air channel)

 

[markfm]

If the white box has "Atomized Cartridge" printed on it in black, with a black band running around near the bottom, with "5PCS" in white, they would likely be Boge. A standard size Boge 510 carto has a body (the black part) that is 35mm long (about 1-3/8").

Boge are generally pretty good, solid, cartos. Other than for needing to top them off after the first couple of puffs they tend to run multiple days, have a decent draw (not too hard). You can try using them without putting the rubber tip back on, though if you can see clear through the center tube that shouldn't make much difference (I just leave the rubber piece out to simplify topping them off).

 

[dormouse]

I use a plastic or delrin 510/901 drip tip as a mouthpiece (just not those fancy swirl aka twist handmade ones - they do not fit).

 

[styxzan]

Thanks. I've got cartos with a center hole in the filler. The boxes are plain white - no writing, I bought them off an ebay seller before they got yanked. They are new, still in individual plastic wrappers.

I use 0 nic, 100% PG or 90/10 PG dominated liquids. My vapor production seems to be ok. I'm just not sure how much juice to use, or when to top it off. I'm also not enamoured with the width of it. Logically, it should be the same width as a cartridge, but it is definitely a bit fatter, which makes pulling more irritating for my chicken lips.

I might look into a drip tip - I'm tried of getting juice jiz in my mouth when I overfill it a little (same with my cartridges). Just not excited about learning a "new" piece of equipment. I'm kinda bored with the learning curve. I just want to get on with vaping already.

 

[dormouse]

My Boge 510 cartos are the same width as my 510 othern than possible the thickness of the black paper itself on the carto body. The smallest one is my 510. I mostly use black batteries and then it really looks all the same.

 

[styxzan]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has circus colored cigs. LOL

 

[dormouse]

Haha. Those KR808D-1 cartos especially! That is a 510 PCC from NoSmokeVA but I store occasional KR808D-1 flavors in there too and one KR808D-1 standard/78mm battery in the non-charging battery slot. It cannot charge one but one will fit there. I vape both models.

If not for that cool roomy PCC I would be using the 280mah Joye 510 mega xl manuals instead of the short ones. The megas seem to hold the voltage up better(and of course longer)

 

[styxzan]

Hey - what's the difference between a regular 510 manual battery and a mega 510 manual battery? Can I use a mega on any cartridges/carto/atty/charger (except the reverse polarity, of course)?

 

[markfm]

Regular 510 is 180 mAh, mega is 280 (runs longer between charges). They use the same cartos, atties etc.

 

[dormouse]

Yes! The Joye 510 mega xl is longer (128mm long with a Boge carto) and has 60-70% more charge than the short 510. I also think they do a slightly better job of holding the voltage up.

LiteCigUSA.net has Joye mega xl manual batteries. As long as you have a Joye 510 charger or at least the same electrical polarity as Joye 510 (not that reverse polarity FS510) then you can charge Joye 510 mega xl batetries in the same charger. Just not in the same PCC (though Vaporkings.com sell the metal Joye mega xl PCC with an adapter to charge the short batteries too). Joye 510 mega xl uses all the same atomizers and cartomizers as the short standard 510. It is still a slim mini, still 510 threaded.

If you buy Joye 510 mega xl as a kit, it may come with these longer mega 510 attys that have longer mega cartridges. I just buy the batteries.

I vape Joye mega xl manuals at home and bring the short ones out with me.

 

[fairydust]

if i was you id try some ce2s i like the medal ones the best becouse i dont have to worry about cracking my tubes. theres is no filler just a wick and your flavors on them are great tasting. id also invest in a cheap drip tip you can find them all over the cheapest ive seen is on goodejuice.com there is a wider selection on the cheap drip tips at madvapes.com. but my fav drip tips come from cherryvapes.com i love there pawn tips. they fill great in my mouth and the to cute lol. but they are on the more expensive side.