I'm going to show my ignorance here but MOD's... high maintenance?

[toddrhodes]

So a cartomiser is basically a clearomiser except it holds more juice and you can't see how much juice is in it? Also they seem to be metal instead of plastic. Is there a reason to use them beyond more capacity? Does the juice taste better using these?

No. A cartomizer is a device that can be used on its own. It is basically an atomizer device tucked inside dense foam which wicks juice to the atomizer in the center. Some cartomizers are "punched" which exposes the wicking material so that they can be placed in a tank (aka a "cartotank" when a carto is used in a tank) and the juice wicks into the cartomizer via the punched holes or slots in the outer metal casing of the cartomizer. A clearomizer works similarly but doesn't employ the use of a "cartomizer" per se. A clearomizer is just a tank/reservoir that wicks into an atomizer head directly. The atomizer in a clearo can be bottom fed, top-fed with wicks, or be encased in a center section that very closely resembles a cartotank setup (examples of this latter example would be an Aspire BDC clearomizer). At some point the line between the two types of setups blurs quite a bit. Cartomizers and related "cartotanks" do have a bit of a learning curve but when done properly, rival even top-end RBA setups.

 

[Silent Scream]

Thanks a lot for the help guys. I'm definitely going to look into a new battery I have to admit I have MOD envy when I see some of the amazing things people have done with their batteries that look so fantastic. I don't like the metal look of mods it all looks a bit industrial to me and kind of cold but I love the personalised ones.

Cartos sound great for on the move I'll have to look into that. As usual I ask a question on ECF and come away much the wiser thanks to you great folks sharing your knowledge.

 

[toddrhodes]

Thanks a lot for the help guys. I'm definitely going to look into a new battery I have to admit I have MOD envy when I see some of the amazing things people have done with their batteries that look so fantastic. I don't like the metal look of mods it all looks a bit industrial to me and kind of cold but I love the personalised ones.

Cartos sound great for on the move I'll have to look into that. As usual I ask a question on ECF and come away much the wiser thanks to you great folks sharing your knowledge.

This place is incredible for how helpful and informative it can be. I only wish I had become more active in it when I first got into vaping 18 months ago

 

[Ryedan]

So a cartomiser is basically a clearomiser except it holds more juice and you can't see how much juice is in it? Also they seem to be metal instead of plastic. Is there a reason to use them beyond more capacity? Does the juice taste better using these?

Cartomizers have a vertical coil & the tube is filled with filler which absorbs the juice. That filler is essentially the wick. Clearos are horizontal coil & there are wicks, usually silica, that hang down in the juice. The juice gets sucked to the atomizer through these wicks.

They both have the benefits & drawbacks so really the only way to know if you will like a carto is to try one. I personally find both useful. I use clearos mostly as I really like bottom coils but I do use cartos when I'm on the go as they are hassle free once filled.

Zealous gave a great explanation of the physical differences between them . I find I get significantly more flavor and vapor from cartos than clearos and you can put a lot more power on a carto than a clearo without having burnt hits. The same juice also tastes different between them. Some people say it's because you taste the filler, but I don't buy that. Cartos are my second favorite device compared to RBA/RDAs. Clearos are third.

Take your time with it and have fun exploring

 

[vjdossey]

Silent scream -this is a great.thread. Thanks for posting I am interested in learni.g more cuz tinlering is fun for me. I recently researched all the mods available and ended up choosing to wait to get something fancy. I did order the ego v3 vv/vw and hope to learn more using that. has an ohm reader which is mostly what I wanted and having an extra battery never hurts!!!

Yes, the Kayfun, AGA-T, RSST, Trident, IGO, etc are all RBAs or RDAs. All you have to do is Goole the name if there's one you don't recognize and you'll find some pictures which will make it obvious what they are.

If you've never tried a cartomizer, IMO you owe it to yourself to try a couple. They are quite different from clearos, though I think clearos have advanced a ways since I last bought some. You don't need a tank for the trial and they are really cheap. Just make sure you fill one properly and you're set. Google how to do that or check out Baditue's blogs.

Batteries are just power supplies. For the most part, 3.7 volts from one is the same as 3.7 volts from another. You can get fancy with VV, VW, replaceable batteries, big batteries, high power devices, but in the end as long as you have the power you need for your vape the topper is much more important.

I have yet to venture into carto world simply because it is unknown territory and I have little wiggle room in my budget. However I do want to try them especially now that ive got a few main juices for my adv-can you suggest some cartos (possibly give a link or two) that will work well with my ego vv v3 vv/vw 1300 mah batt??? I read a lot on here trying to learn as much as I can and one thing I read it the cart holes are not good enough out of the box- and the simple carto punch folds cartos making them leak. Anyhow, I appreciate any advice.

 

[toddrhodes]

VJ, cartos can be used two different ways primarily - alone or in a tank, aka a cartotank setup. When used alone, they are not punched or have any holes in the outer metal sleeve of the carto. Those holes only exist if the cartos will be used in a cartotank since those holes allow the juice from the tank to wick into the cartomizer. For use in a cartomizer, you have a few options. My favorite so far, but admittedly only the second type of carto I've tried so far, are these:

Boge 510 XL LR Stainless (Laser Slotted) - (1 box)

They are boge branded so you are getting a very good carto just off the bat. Boge makes cartos for many manufacturers although they use different specs per the manufacturers so it's not like every carto is intrinsically the same. With that said, the ones linked above are low-resistance (2 ohms) and would work fine on an EGO battery. These are laser slotted and wick very well in my experience. A set of 5 is $7. You'll want to visit this page by Baditude to get all the basics down:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3710-5-cartomizer-tank-setup.html

Other well-known carto brands are SmokTech cartomizers like here:

https://www.myvaporstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=510DCTC

As well as Ikenvape (most say these are the best, they are made by Boge to Ikenvape's specs):

Products

I hope that helps!

 

[GunArm]

I'm rubbish at tinkering with that kind of stuff

but I know I would be rubbish at it.

First, at risk of sounding like a hippy, you are literally creating this reality by believing it. This is a limiting belief and a self fulfilling prophecy, that will keep you rubbish at it as long as your belief that you are prevents you from trying it. But really anyone teach themselves to fish. If you really just aren't interested, no problem, but hypothetically let me tell you how it would go down if you tried. You would get a decent beginner RBA like an RSST, and watch some youtube videos on how to build it. You would have trouble rolling the mesh at first. Your first coil would have hotspots, and you would be frustrated. Then you'd ask about it and people would give you some tips, then rolling mesh and dealing with hotspots would "click", and you'd be set for life. Unless you have a debilitating physical condition there's nothing about it you aren't capable of doing.

Yeah I've read a lot of stuff about people saying how much better the taste is when they use this or that coil or different cotton etc ....... It's brilliant though that they get some tangible benefit out of going that bit further other than just saving money. I salute them, it's just not for me.

Other benefits are that you can have bigger airholes, I hate busting a lung on super tight draw things like clearos and cartos and protanks (oh my!). Also you get more vapor production, and yes better flavor. The vape will be exactly how you want it since you built it to your own preferences. Most important of all, IMO, anytime something doesn't hit right "for some reason" you can open it right up and see why with your eyes, no mystery.

Anyway some people just don't want to mess with it, which is fine. Any modern mod uses a standard 510 connection on it, so any modern atomizer will work on it. Clearos, cartos, 510 drip attys, RBAs and RDAs. A decent (or even cheap) variable voltage mod, and a protank will indeed offer you a much better experience than what you are using now.

 

[vjdossey]

VJ, cartos can be used two different ways primarily - alone or in a tank, aka a cartotank setup. When used alone, they are not punched or have any holes in the outer metal sleeve of the carto. Those holes only exist if the cartos will be used in a cartotank since those holes allow the juice from the tank to wick into the cartomizer. For use in a cartomizer, you have a few options. My favorite so far, but admittedly only the second type of carto I've tried so far, are these:

Boge 510 XL LR Stainless (Laser Slotted) - (1 box)

They are boge branded so you are getting a very good carto just off the bat. Boge makes cartos for many manufacturers although they use different specs per the manufacturers so it's not like every carto is intrinsically the same. With that said, the ones linked above are low-resistance (2 ohms) and would work fine on an EGO battery. These are laser slotted and wick very well in my experience. A set of 5 is $7. You'll want to visit this page by Baditude to get all the basics down:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3710-5-cartomizer-tank-setup.html

Other well-known carto brands are SmokTech cartomizers like here:

https://www.myvaporstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=510DCTC

As well as Ikenvape (most say these are the best, they are made by Boge to Ikenvape's specs):

Products

I hope that helps!

THANK YOU so very much for takung time to explain and for sharing your experience and info!!! And man can you imagine my disappointment and the mess I could of had if I purchased a 'pre punched' carto and tried using it withOUT a tank. Lmao-the visual is kinda funny actually. Ha! I am ordering a pack-just to see. Maybe it'll open new doors for me! I love vaping and all the choices we have with it-not to mention how easy it was to transition from analogs... Its changed my life-health wise and so much more! thanks again!

 

[toddrhodes]

Glad to be of help!

And yea, using a pre-punched carto outside of a tank would get awkward quickly It would not be a disaster on the level of pulling a carto OUT of a cartotank whilst it was filled with juice. That is major facepalm territory. Double facepalm territory, dare I say.

 

[vjdossey]

Glad to be of help!

And yea, using a pre-punched carto outside of a tank would get awkward quickly It would not be a disaster on the level of pulling a carto OUT of a cartotank whilst it was filled with juice. That is major facepalm territory. Double facepalm territory, dare I say.

Will keep this in mind for when I do get myself a tank

 

[tmccooljr]

If your satisfied stay with what you got. But if you are actually interested in vaping a little more then just to quit (which it seems like you are since you are on the forum) I would suggest slowly making your way to the dark side of mods and rba's. Look I swing by vape shops all the time, and I meet people who have these same questions. Allot of times we are even vaping the same juices, or i have a mod on me that has the same juice in it. So I let people put my mods and atties up against the performance of theirs. Pretty much 10 times out of 10 they have a new set up next time I see them. Its just the way it is, somethings work allot better then others. And in my opinion a clearomizer is a good start but nothing more then a start.

Building does take a little learning curve but if you are going to vape for a while it is cheaper in the long run to buy a more expensive rba and some supplies then it does to buy heads every time the old one is bad or you want to change juices. Also most clearomizers do break over time.

The question is now what type of juice do you like the most and what set up it would work best in. Good luck to you man.