INCREDIBLE 510 cart upgrade!

[Vee]

I've tried many different ways for this mod. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but it just doesn't work for me. I haven't tried putting it in the middle. I don't see what poking holes in the sides of the straw would do and putting it in the middle, you'd have to cut it down a bit more since the atomizer mesh goes into the filler a bit.

There just isn't any difference to me. I can put an extra drop or two in but I'm not getting any amount of extra time before having to top off again.

As many people as there are excited about this, I wish I could get it to work for me too!

 

[testerjtester]

I keep the edge of the straw just below the 'stuffing line' off to the side. I use the flat one and it doesn't interfere at all with the atom. Now once in awhile I accidentally drip on the side with the straw, and it can get a little in and clog the holes. Usually after a couple draws it's okay, but everytime I rebuild the cart with fiber, I just clean the straw and re-use it (especially when I have a perfect size one ).

As for your last question, you have to remember to leave an ample 'air pocket' at the bottom of the cart. If you forget that, the straw has no meaning other than a funny internal decoration. Hehehe. Also, make sure some juice or stuffing doesn't block the straw very much at the top. As long as you have an air pocket at the bottom, and the straw isn't blocked or too short, it should allow the proper airflow to accelerate your vaping pleasure.

Thanks for the extra detail, KreeL. After initial success, I'm having trouble getting this to work right, and I suspect that key here might also be the quality and consistency of the filler material. So far I've really only been using the original stuff, sometimes with a pretty fresh cart and sometimes after washing and re-using, in which case it gets kind of hard and shrinks up so it doesn't fill the width of the cart, and so doesn't create the apparently necessary air pocket, because I find myself topping off just as much as without the straw.

I've tried polyfill, but the kind I bought causes a bad taste right away, and Fluval does the same thing with a slightly different taste. I'll try a different kind of polyfill or smaller amounts of the Fluval, and try to get to a material that doesn't bunch up and get hard after 2 or 3 topoffs.

Also, are more people having better luck angling the cut on the top of the straw as well as the bottom, or leaving it straight at the top? So far I've only angled both ends, but that's causing the juice to be more likely to overflow into the top...

Thanks,
Tim

 

[lorraineg57]

I've tried many different ways for this mod. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but it just doesn't work for me. I haven't tried putting it in the middle. I don't see what poking holes in the sides of the straw would do and putting it in the middle, you'd have to cut it down a bit more since the atomizer mesh goes into the filler a bit.

There just isn't any difference to me. I can put an extra drop or two in but I'm not getting any amount of extra time before having to top off again.

As many people as there are excited about this, I wish I could get it to work for me too!

Did you shorten the filler and pull it up so that there's a hollow area under it?

 

[let_there_be_vaping]

Hahah. I know the Qtips you mean. Are you using the batting or cotton poly off the qtips as well for cart stuffing?! Should work as well right? 2 in 1 find... good'on ya!

I'll def have to try this mod when I get my 510 ...it's in transit!

Cheers all ... this is great!

You're gonna luv your 510!

LOL, actually I hadn't thought of using the swab end for cart material. Looked too dense. Let me know if you try it and how the swab works, ok? But, you're right, if the whole thing could be used... that'd be better!

 

[netdragon]

I kept forgetting to grab the coffee stir stick so I was looking at my e cig stuff and seen Q tips. 8-o (A Light went off) so I cut the Q tip tube to size and BINGO! Upgrade complete.

 

[Vapor Fiend]

If I'm reading your instructions correctly (really nice job, by the way, very well described), it sounds like the juice should go down into the straw opening and leak out through the holes - is that right? If so... is it at all possible that the juice is actually traveling along the outside of the straw, and thus entering into the filling as per the mod as originally posted?

It just seems like the consistency of the liquid is thick enough that it wouldn't travel well through the inside of a little straw... I have globs of it that stick to the outside of my penstyle carts which gravity won't dislodge. And when I try to transfer liquid from a 10 ml bottle to a 3 ml bottle with a 1/4" diameter opening, I have the stuff squirting back out and running down the sides!

If I'm reading something wrong... then, never mind!

Yes basically the liquid travels through the straw and releases an air bubble when it gets completely through. A drop directly over the entire area of filler and straw is the best solution though. If you get clogged a bit, just poke the straw with a paperclip.

The liquid might have a hard time traveling through the small holes poked on the sides of the straw, but I imagine that some is getting through. Any little bit helps as long as it provides airflow and areas to drain the liquid back into the filler.

I'm currently working on a better design for this method of cartridge modification. It's going to involve the small plastic insert from a 401 cartridge, cut down with filler material wrapped around a tube extended from the bottom. This will allow a structure to be set inside of the 510 cartridge that allows air flow and stability.

 

[h4w4ii4n]

I finally tried this mod on a 801 cart and it works like a charm. This has to be the first time I almost vaped a pen cart dry. I'd say 95% of the filler was completely white. Thanks for a great idea.

 

[KreeL]

Just remember you MUST leave an air gap at the bottom of the cart by cutting the filler and pulling it up to the top. No air gap, no worky. The slant cut on the straw goes all the way to the bottom with the slant cut facing inwards. Lorraine got it.

 

[lorraineg57]

Yes basically the liquid travels through the straw and releases an air bubble when it gets completely through. A drop directly over the entire area of filler and straw is the best solution though. If you get clogged a bit, just poke the straw with a paperclip.

The liquid might have a hard time traveling through the small holes poked on the sides of the straw, but I imagine that some is getting through. Any little bit helps as long as it provides airflow and areas to drain the liquid back into the filler.

I'm currently working on a better design for this method of cartridge modification. It's going to involve the small plastic insert from a 401 cartridge, cut down with filler material wrapped around a tube extended from the bottom. This will allow a structure to be set inside of the 510 cartridge that allows air flow and stability.

I'm trying to figure out something I can put underneath the filler where the hollow space is to keep the filler elevated. Has to be something that won't hinder the air flow, some type of spacer. The filler keeps sliding down into the hollow space causing a burnt taste once in awhile. I keep having to pull it up with tweezers. I'm thinking a spacer of some type would alleviate that....

looks like your idea here would achieve the same thing....

 

[Vapor Fiend]

I think I know exactly what to use. Look up "glass screens".

Here's an image of them

Many people use these for water-pipes and/or hookas. These screens are SMALL. They would definitely fit underneath the filler material inside a cartridge. I'm going to pick one or two up at the smoke-shop by my house tonight and see if they work.

I still haven't found a suitable plastic part that will work for my other idea yet.

 

[Vapor Fiend]

This is a picture of a different kind, the kind I plan to use.

I also thought, maybe a small metal spring would work? A very small one.

 

[terranlanding]

SCV's got the right idea. I was going to say to use a little pinched up piece of metal pipe screen, but glass is almost always a good choice. Those glass screens are expensive though, especially if you lose stuff as often as I do. Good idea though! let us know if its works to keep the bottom open.

 

[waywardsister]

Just tried this on my 401, using the straw from a can of compressed air. The draw is somewhat easier compared when I'd refill without the straw, and I taste more of the juice flavour. Worth experimenting with.

Not bothering with my 901, bc I use tea bags as filler and they wick great! They don't seem to work the same in the 401 carts.

 

[lorraineg57]

SCV's got the right idea. I was going to say to use a little pinched up piece of metal pipe screen, but glass is almost always a good choice. Those glass screens are expensive though, especially if you lose stuff as often as I do. Good idea though! let us know if its works to keep the bottom open.

I was thinking of going to the craft store and looking at glass beads. There are all kinds of odd shapes, I may be able to find something similar.

 

[KreeL]

This sounds like a great idea! Keep us posted, and I'll try to find an easy solution as well.

 

[-god-]

NICE!! I was litterally getting two or three puffs of my Johnson Creek Juice then nothing. I thought my atty was toast. I tried some other E-Juice and it worked fine(must have been thinner).

I used this trick(with a plastic Q-tip) and the JC works like a charm now too... the fill ups last WAY longer and BIG puffs evertime. Man, this should be the first mod done...

Again, nice find and THANKS for the tip!

 

[lorraineg57]

I need to do something else, my filler keeps slipping down and I have to keep pulling it up with tweezers, I end up getting dry hits from it....

 

[KreeL]

Okay...this is something I discovered. Cut off more of the filler -- about 3/8ths, but make it a bit more 'firm' (just a little practice and you'll get it). Still holds plenty of juice, and it doesn't slip below the straw. Mine's still going strong and I haven't had to 'pull it up' for several days now.

 

[nziese]

Wow, I can't wait to get home and try this with my 801.

What do you guys use, the manual switch 510 or automatic? Which would you recommend and where would you recommend buying one?

 

[NPerez]

Whoa, I can taste my flavor now!

Thanks, guys

@nziese - everyone recommends the manual pretty much. I have one and can vouch for it.