I giVe UP!!!

[WOW]

I GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watched Leaford's videos twice.

I read and re-reread the posts here
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/98646-another-carto-cleaning-question.html

and here

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/98387-cart-refill-question.html

and here

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/98235-still-more-questions.html

I was doing fine until I rinsed these things and I've followed Leaford's instructions down to the last detail after sorting out which plug goes on which end for re-filling.

Out of 8 cartos, two collapsed and had to be thrown out, 3 sizzle but have no flavor or vapor, 1 is too hard to suck on, 1 works great and one is prefilled and running out of juice.

Of these 6 that didn't have to be thrown out, three are blanks, two are emptied pre-filled and 1 is the pre-filled with some life left. The one that works will only work on my PT.

I've re-charged my batteries at least 5-6 times in 24 hrs exhausting them to try this out.

In total I have 34 cartos (including the 8 I've been working on).

I have spent over 24hrs to get 1 excellent refill and one barely tolerable re-fill + $10 for a bottle a vodka I don't drink but feel like it might help to. :-s. I've also missed a completely, otherwise, excellent day getting obsessed and frustrated to the max about this! - Everything is dry - there's nothing left to dry. There's only two cartos I can't see an air hole in.

I have no clue what the problem is but I can't seem to re-fill these.

I now have 1/4 of a 30mil bottle of menthol left that I've gotten 4-5 re-fills from.

I can't take it anymore. My neighbor gave me back my analogs and my headache, I think from a sudden drop in nic I've been fighting all day to get over, is finally going away.

I am now officially depressed.

 

[Mary Kay]

I am sure you did it right..but what it sounds like to me is that you got a bit carried away with cleaning. You do know they don't need to be cleaned after each use right? Once in a while is fine!
My other suggestion is that the hard draw sounds to me like they didn't get dry enough. After a nice rinse in hot running water, I blow out from the mouth end and give them a thermometer shake. Then I just leave them alone for a day. When you get ready to refill, look inside to make sure the little tube is in the middle..ish then fill and recap.
In between washes, use the condom refill method.
Don't give up yet..it is a pretty steep learning curve. You have lots of helpful people around here to make it easier and to encourage you!

 

[WOW]

There's a whole lotta of shaking going on. I don't know what these are. I don't know what topping off a V4L carto is.

All I know right now, MaryKay, is that my brain is fried and I'm both too exhasted and untrusting of the remaining cartos to keep putting myself through this for nothing.

Thanks but, I'm really upset right now.

Take care.

I am sure you did it right..but what it sounds like to me is that you got a bit carried away with cleaning. You do know they don't need to be cleaned after each use right? Once in a while is fine!
My other suggestion is that the hard draw sounds to me like they didn't get dry enough. After a nice rinse in hot running water, I blow out from the mouth end and give them a thermometer shake. Then I just leave them alone for a day. When you get ready to refill, look inside to make sure the little tube is in the middle..ish then fill and recap.
In between washes, use the condom refill method.
Don't give up yet..it is a pretty steep learning curve. You have lots of helpful people around here to make it easier and to encourage you!

 

[v1John]

I think it's sad to be at the point where analogs are the solution to the problem (temporary or whatever). It is for times like these when I wish V4L had an 808d1 atomizer. Sometimes someone only has only drops left, and no time left for troubleshooting.


Did you try posting in real time to try to get people to help you through the course of the troublshooting?


I was busy all day today tho. I hope things get better, and that analogs taste worse. V4Ls flavors are really yummy, but I do know how sometimes one bad carto can ruin the entire juice it holds, I have been through that.

 

[WOW]

The majority of my cartos are bad. Some were blanks. Others had to be rinsed to used a lighter flav and died while wet.

On the surface, it looks like they should work but they don't. If I would have known you can't easily(or more like at all) re-fill the cartos over 80% of the time, I wouldn't have even bothered trying this.

For the most part, all I ordered was e-juice with this latest very generous sale. I couldn't afford buying only pre-filled.

I'm just out my league in too many ways right now.

The light at the end of the tunnel went out about 12hours ago. If these things can't handle being rinsed out......

Have a good weekend, John.

I think it's sad to be at the point where analogs are the solution to the problem (temporary or whatever). It is for times like these when I wish V4L had an 808d1 atomizer. Sometimes someone only has only drops left, and no time left for troubleshooting.


Did you try posting in real time to try to get people to help you through the course of the troublshooting?


I was busy all day today tho. I hope things get better, and that analogs taste worse. V4Ls flavors are really yummy, but I do know how sometimes one bad carto can ruin the entire juice it holds, I have been through that.

 

[JennyJo]

Don't give up! I agree with MaryKay...I think you are rinsing your cartos too soon and too often. I too am pretty new to this and just started filling my own cartos less than a week ago. I haven't had to rinse any of mine out yet and they all work great. Please give it another try...it's so worth it! We are all pulling for you and are here for you.

 

[Mr.Stick]

Maybe I'll step in? I am a convert to non cleaning. I refill my cartos 3 or 4 times, with the same flavor, or one that compliments the previous one, and then I toss them in the recycling bin (after boiling them so the recyclers don't need to worry about my nicotine). I top mine off by using the Taryn (?) spin method, or dripping. I've been at it (not cleaning them) for almost a month now, and I can safely say that my own germs have not gotten the better of me. With careful foresight, I've also not run into any accidentally horrid flavor combos, and, quite oddly, have developed a love for the flavor of Red Cow Blueberry.

 

[WOW]

What is dripping? What the bleep am I am supposed to do with so many rinsed cartos, rinsed to get out the heavy flavs and use my menthol?

I'd be happy to not to clean these things but what does that do to the expense when even filling a brand new blank carto isn't working?

Maybe I'll step in? I am a convert to non cleaning. I refill my cartos 3 or 4 times, with the same flavor, or one that compliments the previous one, and then I toss them in the recycling bin (after boiling them so the recyclers don't need to worry about my nicotine). I top mine off by using the Taryn (?) spin method, or dripping. I've been at it (not cleaning them) for almost a month now, and I can safely say that my own germs have not gotten the better of me. With careful foresight, I've also not run into any accidentally horrid flavor combos, and, quite oddly, have developed a love for the flavor of Red Cow Blueberry.

 

[scott58]

I don't rinse mine either. I put 4 drops max in mine at a time and they last until the sides are blistered so bad i just throw them out (about 2 months). The key is to carry several of them and rotate them. I've been doing this for almost 10 months with no problems. I don't spin, stand on my head or any other acrobatics. Don't care if they can hold 20 or 30 drops or whatever. 4 is what they get until the taste starts to change then I switch them (usually carry 6 with me).

 

[WOW]

Scott -

How are you putting the drops in? from the top w/a srynge & cap off or some other way?

Do you think anything can salvage the ones I rinsed and if so, how much longer should I leave them alone?

I'm running on a burnt peppermint and the one that works and just scared to touch anything else & waste my e-juice.

The analogs are totally to stop the headache. Cold turkey never worked for me. I'm surprised I got through this long without a really good hit.

I also ordered 1 taste tester of tobacco flavors. I would think anything can be mixed with those when they run out and just have the tobacco undertone. I'm just totally miffed my blanks didn't work and those weren't rinsed first, obviously.

TIA


and MaryKay - thanks for your quick reply. I'm not out the woods yet but thanks for not letting go. (JennyJo - nixw to meet you..... )

I don't rinse mine either. I put 4 drops max in mine at a time and they last until the sides are blistered so bad i just throw them out (about 2 months). The key is to carry several of them and rotate them. I've been doing this for almost 10 months with no problems. I don't spin, stand on my head or any other acrobatics. Don't care if they can hold 20 or 30 drops or whatever. 4 is what they get until the taste starts to change then I switch them (usually carry 6 with me).

 

[bones25]

My 2 cents worth:

Starting vaping at Easter....all prefilled V4L cartomizers.....since then they have changed the cartomizers (a lot--see below). I have tried a lot of flavors. Most can be used again without washing with the same flavor about 3-4 times, but you can also use compatible flavors. If you want to change to a major different flavor, don't use a menthol cart, use something else less pungent. I have found that you can also remove the top, blow hard thru battery end to empty residual fluid in used up cart, and refill with new liquid and the old flavor usually doesn't come thru if it is a lighter flavor.

--Old regular ones or hard cap premiums.......GLUED ON CAP....these worked ok and come back to life when washed for me after refilling 3 to 4 times

--Current premiums and wows have soft caps.......burn easily for me as I tend to chain vape as a noobie......last half as long....even less when refilled...had a lot that never worked right or burned after several drags using their brand batteries...I never use the PT


---New Cool Carts with soft caps....GREAT!!!!....last longer, don't burn as easily, can refill over and over and over without washing.....when washed, take a long time to dry

I just washed and refilled 40 cartos of various types today and it took me all of 6 HOURS! Mind you....I soak them in vodka in an old glass mayonnaise jar, then soak them in hot water, then again in hot water. Then I blow them out myself from battery end and finish with a turkey baster...blowing from both ends over and over. I do not condom refill but drip the liquid in at an angle into the mouthpiece end, same as I do for refills between washings after removing the cap. The condom refill wastes juice to me and I don't like to have to clean all the threads and outside of the carto. Plus I like to use auto batteries and this makes a difference in preserving your batteries. These 40 are all capped and will sit for 2 days until I start using them. I gave up on the Taryn spin and trying to force more liquid in....it's just too much work and can be messy too. I will just give them a tap in the palm of my hand before screwing them on my battery.

I have found that this whole vaping thing can get very complex if you let it. Its just easier to go smoke a cigarette and I don't want to do that.

I am tiring quickly of this washing and drying stuff. I think I may just try using one for each of about 5 flavors so I only have 5 going at a time, then just keep refilling these over and over till they are dead or hard to pull on etc.....then throw them away.

I have decided to only use cool carts as I think they are a better value for me and I can't tell any difference in flavor or vapor production. Also, I am only going to get blanks and fill with liquids that I want, not the prefilled, which I have found can vary in flavor. The cool carts last so long and can be refilled so many times that I will not feel bad just tossing them when they no longer produce a satisfying vape.

For you veterans out there......have you ever noticed how much residual fluid is left in a used carto before refilling.....I am amazed at this. I wonder if some of mine are not wicking well or if I am burning them easily by chain vaping. I blew out my used ones before washing and got lots of residual liquid, albeit ugly and dark in color, but not black. I guess that is why they need to be washed to perform well again.

I welcome all comments, but mainly was trying to help WOW with another perspective.

 

[scott58]

I use the rubber cap from the mouth piece side (not the one with the post inside). Put it on the mouth piece end not quite 1/2 way squeeze and hold it. Get a drop (straight from the bottle) over the battery end hole and release. Releasing the rubber will create a vacuum that sucks the drop down into the hole. Don't forget to use a small piece of paper towel to wipe up any excess juice. Since you rinsed you may have to do it a few times to get the flavor going. You shouldn't have to wait, it will just take a bit longer as you still need to burn the water out.

 

[Mr.Stick]

You don't need a syringe to fill them, unless you want to be fancy. You just pop the cap off the mouthpiece end, drip from your juice bottle right onto the filler until it looks wet, just a little wet, and then vape away. If the carto is a brand new blank, you may need to drip, then let it sit for a few, and then drip some more.

If you didn't live all the way out in California, I'd offer to stop by and help, but this might have to do for now

 

[Adrenalynn]

Mine last, on the average, close to fifty refillings before either physically failing or just getting gross enough from carbon build-up to not be worth messing with any more. I primarily buy new cartomizers when I'm wanting a color change or something to compliment a battery color.

I wash them when they get gross and harsh. Rinse them out with near-boiling water, blow the excess out, set them in a rubber-banded bunch in front of a box fan and forget them for a couple days until the fan starts to annoy me.

This really can be made much more complicated than it needs to be. But even if one is buying new pre-filled cartomizers every time, in most instances the math proves-out that it's still marginally less expensive in most states than a typical smoking habit.

That said - I'm sure there is some percentage of the population that won't be able to take to vaping. And that probably is as it should be.

 

[CatMommy]

If I would have known you can't easily(or more like at all) re-fill the cartos over 80% of the time, I wouldn't have even bothered trying this.

I put 4 drops max in mine at a time and they last until the sides are blistered so bad i just throw them out (about 2 months).

I can honestly say, I've purchased cartos from V4L for about 10 months and have only discarded approx 15 cartos (and that is a high end estimate).

I do what Scott does...sort of...

1) Vape, Drip, and Switch:
Vape until the flavor is not as strong, pop off the white end cap and add 4-5 drops...Vape until the flavor is not as strong, pop off the white end cap and add 4-5 drops...etc...you get the drift.

After a week, I switch to fresh cartos and rinse the ones I've just used for a week.

2) Rinsing:
I pop out the end caps and just run the cartos under hot tap water until the batting looks white again. I blow the extra water out by blowing through the mouth end of the carto. I also rinse the end caps. I then set them on a paper towel upright to dry. By the time I'm ready to switch again, they are perfectly dry and ready to be filled.

I have not had a problem rotating through my cartos like this.

 

[bones25]

Speaking of peppermint cartos....I got a box on my last order and so far 2 of them are bad....one just gurgled and the other burned up after about 6 drags......maybe the peppermint has a quality control problem...and I'm reluctant to try the other 3 yet!! I did spin the liquid out of them with the Taryn spin and put together in a new blank and it tasted great!

 

[WOW]

ya - that'd be a long drive even if we met somewhere in the middle

I never appreciated yoga instructors to help a person close their eyes and meditate until now.

You don't need a syringe to fill them, unless you want to be fancy. You just pop the cap off the mouthpiece end, drip from your juice bottle right onto the filler until it looks wet, just a little wet, and then vape away. If the carto is a brand new blank, you may need to drip, then let it sit for a few, and then drip some more.

If you didn't live all the way out in California, I'd offer to stop by and help, but this might have to do for now

 

[jeffree]

Guess I'm really in the minority here. I'm passing my sixth month since quitting cigs, and I've never refilled. I'm definitely not rich either. Just seemed worth the extra bucks to quit cigs without many hassles. May have to try refilling in the coming months, now that cigs have lost their appeal.

 

[WOW]

I've been rolling on a peppermint sample since Wednesday. I love the minty stuff (and outside of a 5mil sample of the Apple-Cinnamon & Irish Whisky (if you ever try that one there's two - I'm guessing the one that I didn't get that looks like creamed coffee is better unless you like that flav straight) all I got was mint and menthol.

I haven't found my flav comfort zone, yet but the peppermint is quite good - even burning out - lasts a long time.

Irish Cream - straight is not for me but, could not get the flav out w/o vodka. Now have to figure out about flav in!

Speaking of peppermint cartos....I got a box on my last order and so far 2 of them are bad....one just gurgled and the other burned up after about 6 drags......maybe the peppermint has a quality control problem...and I'm reluctant to try the other 3 yet!! I did spin the liquid out of them with the Taryn spin and put together in a new blank and it tasted great!

 

[WOW]

I use the rubber cap from the mouth piece side (not the one with the post inside). Put it on the mouth piece end not quite 1/2 way squeeze and hold it. Get a drop (straight from the bottle) over the battery end hole and release. Releasing the rubber will create a vacuum that sucks the drop down into the hole. Don't forget to use a small piece of paper towel to wipe up any excess juice. Since you rinsed you may have to do it a few times to get the flavor going. You shouldn't have to wait, it will just take a bit longer as you still need to burn the water out.

Guess I'm really in the minority here. I'm passing my sixth month since quitting cigs, and I've never refilled. I'm definitely not rich either. Just seemed worth the extra bucks to quit cigs without many hassles. May have to try refilling in the coming months, now that cigs have lost their appeal.

Thank-you both. That is simple enough. I just tried it on one and it came back to life!!!

Going to try the others and if I lose the ones I rinsed, it would be cheaper to avoid the blanks and just throw them out. I ordered the CoolCarts this time around and better flavs, for me, so outside of the headache I gave myself, the light's back on! (I'm just thrilled it wasn't anywhere near the four pack backslide - just two analogs, now safely tucked away)



Intervention Status: Success Research Status: Ongoing
Conclusions: Condom Fill/Vodka Rinse too complicated Roger: Headache Over!!!!

Happy vaping, everyone!



WoW