I really want this to work, but...

[pesky_human]

I got a Reo Mini in trade thinking it would be a good out and about / backup piece and I just can't seem to get anything approaching good performance out of it. It had a flavor stuck in the tube, so I rinsed it out and started from scratch with a fresh short Boge carto and my favorite juice. I primed the carto like I usually do with a carto that I am going to put in a tank. I was still getting the old flavor that I tried to rinse out in the first place from the guy that traded it to me, and any squonking is giving me the gurgle flooded nonsense that one tries to avoid when using cartos. Re-rinsed, fresh carto, and tried the method of not priming the carto from a top fill, but filling from the juice feeder (which I was highly skeptical of, but bought I would give a try) and I got no vapor, and flooded the juice cup.

I am bummed now because I feel like I made a terrible trade for something that I don't know if I am ever going to be able to make work. I guess my next step is to get an HH .357 and see if I can make it work that way, but I can't believe the amount of fiddling I have done with this thing to get only mediocre results a fraction of the time and nothing most of the time. I'm just surprised because there are so many people who swear by these mods. I just honestly cannot figure out what I am doing wrong and how I can correct it. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to have this mod sent in for a rebuild right off the bat because that would put me upside down in my trade on a device that I can't seem to operate without flooding. It's frustrating to say the least. I have successfully built coils, filled cartomizers, and worked with all manner of fiddle vaping gear, but the Reo has me flummoxed. I just can't believe that it takes that much of a finesse technique to use this thing.

Can anyone point me in the direction of where I should look in order to use a Reo with a cartomizer, because that is really what I would like to do. I am assuming that the flavor from the Boba's clone that the last guy had in here is never going to go away until I replace all of the tube, bottle, and o-ring, but once I do that, I want to have some hope that I will be able to vape a carto on here without it constantly flooding and putting off almost no vapor.

For the record, I am not dissing the device. It seems well made and obviously has strong devotees here. I just want to know what I am doing wrong and if it is something I am willing to fix, or if it's just something that is so dependent on some technique that I should just cut my losses.

 

[super_X_drifter]

Try this: screw on a new carto. Put on a drip tip. Put the mod to your mouth. Squeeze the bottle without firing, while drawing, till you hear / feel a slight gurgle. Now fire and vape. That method is called blind squonking. It works very well with cartos.

Flavor removal is tough. I had a hell of time removing them from two of the three RBAs I bought off the classies.

What kind of battery are you running - an AW IMR?

We'll get you up and running. It's not too tricky

 

[Pissy]

pesky_human...get some fresh tubing, they sell it on reosmods website, or get some fish tank tubing, I think it's the same size. When squonking, try it without depressing the power button, squonk and lightly draw the juice up into the carto by "sucking" it up a bit while depressing the bottle...that took care of the gurgling flooding issues for me. I hope this helps you out, it's a great device!

 

[unsure]

FYI, you don't come across as dissing the REO but have a llegitimate issue on what someone new to the device has. I'll let others that can better express/answer your problem. I will say rinsing with 91% ISO will help with lingering flavor. All my wood REOs reek of cinnamon and no amount of rinsing or waxing will ever remove it but thats how I like it.

 

[Bob57]

Soaked in Pure Grain Alcohol over night will help also.
I'm talking about the REO

 

[Justice]

Also if you take the oring out of the bottle cap and give it a soak in iso alcohol the oring tends to trap flavor in the lid and self. It really does sound like you are over squonking so just go slowly with it and do the suggested blind squonk. The flooded Cartos you can blow the excess juice out and try again.

 

[debzcf]

I'm a relative newbie at this. If I may add another tip (which helped me)...if you find your carto or atty is flooding, take it off the REO and gently blow into the top of the carto (over a sink or into a tissue). By doing so, you will get rid of some of the excess juice. Put the carto back on the REO and vape without pressing/squonking the bottle. This should help. Once you need to squonk, do so ever so slightly.

Don't give up...once you get it, you're set!

 

[pesky_human]

Thanks for all of the tips. I am going to go ahead and order new bottles, feeder tube, and o-ring. I am on the Reo site right now and it looks like this can be done pretty cheaply. I am not even going to mess with trying a new carto until I am positive that the residual flavor is 86ed.

Oh wait, the repair kit is out of stock so no fresh o-rings for me! Arrrrrrgh!

I am also going to score a couple of red Aw Imr batteries while I'm at it. I'm afraid the ones that shipped with this trade are not holding the greatest charge, but given my spotty results thus far, I'm not sure how long these are supposed to last in the first place. I actually am curious as to what kind of life folks are getting out of a mini running on these tiny batteries under the best circumstances, given that the mini is a mech and is thus going to lose a little power with every button push...

 

[Justice]

If its a 18490 mini I vape quite a bit during the day and will go from 5;30 am is until around noon on one some days more some less at that point it is still working well but I know it is going to drop soon PM Redeyedancer here on the site ask if he has any oring for bottle caps http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/members/29299/redeyedancer.html

 

[redeyedancer]

The 3 ml bottle tube and cap are in stock
http://www.reosmods.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=145&category_id=3&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=9

You will need to clean the contact and apply noloax


It sounds to me like your just over feeding your cartos

 

[Justice]

I forgot to tell you Rob ^^^^ has porcupine senses if ya call his name here he just shows up

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Welcome, pesky_human
You're getting lots of good advice...and I agree with it all...especially about the o-ring holding on to old flavors. If it doesn't clean up, you can simply replace it all with a 3ml Bottle & Tube Kit.

Technique is important, but not impossible to figure out. For some people it takes a few minutes, for others a few days. It is very different than using other devices. Cartos are well known for their ease of use on these, especially for those just beginning. By the way, do you know how old your mini is? As far as your squonking goes, the blind squonk mentioned above is a great method, but don't squeeze for a 5 count...maybe try for a 2 or 3 count.

Worst case, there are a few options to consider. First, your Reo can be sent in for a full tune up...which might be a good idea if it is from the 1st or 2nd run. Yes, it does cost a little, but you know you will get it back running like it was just brand new. Second, there are other Reonauts in Colorado, if you are near enough to them, it might be worth a little meet up where they can help you work it out in person.

Keep us posted...we want this to work for you.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Thanks for all of the tips. I am going to go ahead and order new bottles, feeder tube, and o-ring. I am on the Reo site right now and it looks like this can be done pretty cheaply. I am not even going to mess with trying a new carto until I am positive that the residual flavor is 86ed.

Oh wait, the repair kit is out of stock so no fresh o-rings for me! Arrrrrrgh!

I am also going to score a couple of red Aw Imr batteries while I'm at it. I'm afraid the ones that shipped with this trade are not holding the greatest charge, but given my spotty results thus far, I'm not sure how long these are supposed to last in the first place. I actually am curious as to what kind of life folks are getting out of a mini running on these tiny batteries under the best circumstances, given that the mini is a mech and is thus going to lose a little power with every button push...

If you are using the original Mini, the 14500 battery should get you through about 1.5mls of juice before the drop is really noticeable. If you are using a Mini 2.0 or 2.1, the 18490 should get you through about 3mls. The difference between the 14500 and 18490 is huge.

 

[pesky_human]

The 3 ml bottle tube and cap are in stock
http://www.reosmods.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=145&category_id=3&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=9

You will need to clean the contact and apply noloax


It sounds to me like your just over feeding your cartos

Thanks Robert. I see the bottle assembly is available per your link. I am assuming that also includes the o-ring (?)

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Yes, it includes the o-ring.

 

[pesky_human]

If you are using the original Mini, the 14500 battery should get you through about 1.5mls of juice before the drop is really noticeable. If you are using a Mini 2.0 or 2.1, the 18490 should get you through about 3mls. The difference between the 14500 and 18490 is huge.

It's the 14500 model unfortunately. I really should have held out for one of the 18490 models in retrospect. I get the feeling I will do everything to get this working correctly ie send it back to the maker, get a bunch of fresh batteries, and learn how to work the thing only to find out that it eats too many batteries to be practical for me.

It could be perfect, all things being equal, for using as a stealth device. I mean, the size and form factor are basically ideal for stealth and pocket carry in general, so long as I can work out my particular "user error" issues. An 18490 version would be dope as I am already married to the 18490 batteries that I use for my main mod. I can basically go all day with 2 fresh 490s.

 

[pesky_human]

Yes, it includes the o-ring.

Good looking out. Ordering along with a couple of extra bottles now.

 

[Justice]

It's the 14500 model unfortunately. I really should have held out for one of the 18490 models in retrospect. I get the feeling I will do everything to get this working correctly ie send it back to the maker, get a bunch of fresh batteries, and learn how to work the thing only to find out that it eats too many batteries to be practical for me.

It could be perfect, all things being equal, for using as a stealth device. I mean, the size and form factor are basically ideal for stealth and pocket carry in general, so long as I can work out my particular "user error" issues. An 18490 version would be dope as I am already married to the 18490 batteries that I use for my main mod. I can basically go all day with 2 fresh 490s.

Its been awhile since ive used my 14500 but in a 8 hour day at work I'd go thru 2 -3 batts if 2 they'd be pretty well drained but still not a big deal to change on breaks or even on the fly I vape all day while working depending on what I'm doing so you should be ok for a good start anyways my 18490 has become my at work mod while my VV is for at home my other Reos tend to sit her looking pretty

 

[ltrainer]

Have you thought of selling the mini and looking for an 18490 2 or 2.1 . Being that you have the batteries already and your concern for vape time perhaps this would be a better route for you in the long run.

 

[Justice]

Have you thought of selling the mini and looking for an 18490 2 or 2.1 . Being that you have the batteries already and your concern for vape time perhaps this would be a better route for you in the long run.

It doesnt hurt to have a real Mini as a backup too