Just got my order from Velvet Vapors! Help, first time re-filling!

[krysti]

So I just got my order from Velvet Vapors and it's my first time ordering juice. I have always ordered pre-filled KR8 cartomizers before now. I ordered 3 ml sample bottles and I took off the ends of some used KR8s and put about a half a bottle of liquid into each one. I have no idea how many drops that was.

Did I do it right??? How long do I have to let the carts sit before I try them?

So far I have used Raspberry Bavarian Cream, Rootbeer Float, Strawberry Cheesecake and Cotton Candy. Can't wait to try them!!!

Krysti

 

[dormouse]

Which PG/VG did you choose? If you bought 100% VG you are probably going to have a hard time. You may need to thin 100% VG with some drops of distilled water unless the vendor has already thinned it quite a bit.

And I never think of it as refill because I never let a carto get dry and singe. I keep them damp for 7-10 days or until the carto no longer works well and then I start a new one.

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

With the carto off the battery... 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

Fill
Hold a bit of tissue on the threaded end hole (or use the carto condom spike to block the 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.

Cleanup
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) While the carto is still open end down, touch a soft bunch of tissue to the top of the stuffing to get the loose juice - this will help prevent leaks.

Settle (first fill only)
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
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. Also, I use such light sediment-free juices, I can look at the stuffing and see if it needs juice because the stuffing goes back to near-white.

I often 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). Easy to pop out to add juice.

 

[Charlz]

look for the filler to be moist to the top. Avoid dripping down the center hole by holding the cart at an angle. If it drips out the connector you've overfilled. Some people look for that drop to come out the bottom then let it sit upright for a moment and clean off the bottom with a tissue or cotton swab. before you connect draw gently from the top. If it gurgles, you have juice in the center tube. Blow it out by blowing from the mouth end and holding a tissue over the bottom until you see/hear no juice. Still, it's good practice to let them sit for awhile after you filled to allow for the best absorption.

 

[Charlz]

dormouse, you are a very fast typer!

 

[krysti]

Well, I already kind of blew it because I forgot to put the condom on a couple while I was filling and so it started dripping out the bottom. I guess I was so excited to get new flavors I wasn't thinking... (I did have them removed from the battery and popped off the tops.) I have them sitting now with the condoms on.

So should I let them sit for about an hour first, you think?

 

[swedishfish]

Let them sit a bit, wipe them off and give them a try. If you have way too much juice I get a q-tip and dab the top a bit.

Hope you like them!

 

[krysti]

Also, I have some pre-filled cartomizers from SmokeTips that are empty. I'd like to use those to re-fill also, but the tops don't come off! What's up with that???

 

[hairball]

A new fresh unfilled cartomizer will hold about 30 drops of liquid. That's about half your little bottles. After dripping onto the filler, let sit for 20 minutes on the battery threaded end. Gently blow through into a paper towel to remove extra juice that may be in the the airhole. Screw onto your battery and enjoy.

 

[hairball]

Also, I have some pre-filled cartomizers from SmokeTips that are empty. I'd like to use those to re-fill also, but the tops don't come off! What's up with that???

Some are glued on. You can get them off but once you do, they caps are usually ruined. You can use a drip tip in place of them.

 

[swedishfish]

You can pry them off. I did that with the smoke tips. Get a little screwdriver, stick it in the hole (not too deep or you'll damage the carto) and pop it off.

 

[krysti]

Sorry, dormouse, forgot to answer your question. I got 100% PG. I'm more interested in throat hit then lots of vapor. Although, vapor is nice too.

 

[krysti]

Thanks, Swedishfish, I will try that. If they get ruined, oh well, they're not going to do much good to me sitting there empty anyway.

 

[krysti]

Okay, so they had been sitting probably for about 1/2 an hour and I just tried one - the strawberry cheesecake. I got barely any vapor and it tasted like perfume. I feel like I must have done something wrong because I have read reviews other people really liked that one. I'm very disappointed... About the vapor, I know I ordered all PG, but that's what I'm used to from the pre-filled V2 and SmokeTip.

 

[Charlz]

It also helps to put a small wad of tissue in the bottom of the condom. It will help wick out some extra moisture.
You will learn not to throw any extra parts away like rubber tips and condoms and such. You will be surprised what you find a use for

 

[Charlz]

Okay, so they had been sitting probably for about 1/2 an hour and I just tried one - the strawberry cheesecake. I got barely any vapor and it tasted like perfume. I feel like I must have done something wrong because I have read reviews other people really liked that one. I'm very disappointed... About the vapor, I know I ordered all PG, but that's what I'm used to from the pre-filled V2 and SmokeTip.

The more creative the juice, the more they need to sit for awhile. Set the flavor aside for a week or so. It will taste better next week. Sorry you had to waste a cart to find that out.

 

[swedishfish]

That juice may need to steep for a couple days. Some juices that have a perfumey taste at first do.

 

[krysti]

So I've decided maybe dripping is not for me... The only one that turned out half-way decent is the rootbeer float. All of this is just way too complicated - I don't have the patience, but I hate the inconsistency of pre-filled cartos too. Right now it's seeming the lesser of the two evils though.

 

[bigtiime]

It's really not that complicated. It's just new for you and you don't have a routine as of yet is all. Don't beat yourself up over it. Vaping isn't smoking nor are the rules and routines that govern it. You'll do fine.

 

[krysti]

I just mean I don't have the patience to order liquids, get all excited about the flavor, fill the cartos, let them sit and then try them only to find out they taste like perfume and have to steep for awhile (if that even will work, who knows). I just want to order a carto, stick it on my battery and be on my way... I do miss the old days of just stopping at the gas station, buying a pack of cigs, knowing what I'm getting and it being consistent. The thought of analogs now though make me sick, yuck!

 

[swedishfish]

Here's a good thread.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-discussion/244945-2011-juice-year-award.html