Lots of noob questions........

[Phishman]

Can cartimizers get gummed up? Why does it seem like it's harder to take a pull after use on a cartimizer? Can cartimizers be cleaned? Why does it seem that the longer you use a cartimizer the more juice you go through? Why does it seem that flavors taste better over time? Why do some flavors give better throat hits?

 

[Rosa]

I think your average cartomizer can be refilled a few times - that's all. They are meant to be disposable after all.

 

[Lisa66]

I found something on this site that helps me make cartos last a little longer. I'm not into cleaning them, although some people like to.

Here's something you can try: There are little dental picks made by "GUM" that come many to a pack, along with a little snap-shut case. They have a white rigid plastic handle and the part meant for teeth/gums is green and rubbery, with little rubber nubs. These fit into either end of a carto. Push it in there and move it around and you can get some buildup off the atty part of the carto. This is also good for use when you accidentally get some into the center hole when refilling. You can wipe them off and reuse them many times.

I think they cost about $3.50 for a pack. Hope this helps.

 

[dormouse]

After days of using them, they can get gummed up. You can try cleanign them and you have to dry thoroughly it you do. Looks for cartomizer cleaning videos on Youtube where they use hot water and a modified turkey baster. here is one video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcDWoCNtojk&feature=related

Something that can happen sooner is the center air channel of a stuffing filled carto can get off-center and block the air inflow from the threaded end. You can try to straighten it but I only recommend you try it when you have a spare carto, just in case you snap wires inside etc and kill it. Also sometimes dried cooked juice can block the threaded end hole somewhat - the channel straightening procedure would clear that too. I have been using a 510 carto for a MONTH (1/2 the time since I vape 2 PVs with different cartos) and I've cleared and straightened the channel several times. I just took it out of the trash after giving up on straightening it this time - and I straightened it! I generally skip the part of rearranging the stuffing and just poke a totally straightened small paper clip through and use it to try to fix the channel angle.

This is a great video that not only shows filling but also shows straightening the central air channel
YouTube - How-to guide to refilling KR808D-1 or Vapor King cartomizers

Cartos are meant to be disposable. If you always add juice whenever it seems a bit low (and before singeing it) you can get days or maybe a week or longer out of a carto. But yet the performance can go down.

TH is heat and nicotine and how much PG in the base liquid (because PG lets through the most harshness of nicotine and VG makes the vape smoother and more vapory and cut the harshness and TH). Heat may vary between different types of cartos because their electrical resistance varies. Lower resistance sucks more power and runs hotter. You can't use try low resistance (LR) cartos or attys on a slim ecig battery (too much power draw for the internal electronics of the battery and can kill the battery) but even within standard resistance parts, some are lower resistance and some are higher. V4L has two resistances of cartos (their WOW blanks are lower resistance and run hotter than their coolcarts)

Re tasting better over time - the flavorings need to blend sometimes.