Maximizing Your Cart's Lifespan

[LeftCoastVaper]

After throwing away countless carts with only a week's mileage or so (sometimes longer, usually not), I figured there has to be a way to make these things last and perform decently for at least a month or longer. As we all know, the first symptom of a dying cart is the dreaded "stuffiness" syndrome, which quickly cascades into reduced vapor, impossible draw, and ultimate tossing. Yeah, I tried un-stuffing them by shoving a needle or paperclip through the draw hole but that seemed to make them die even faster - you can never get a straight shot through the little center tube. Then the obvious solution hit me: keep that air channel clear from the outset. In other words, never let it clog in the first place.

Over time (and that time ain't very long) the polyfill expands and warps, causing the air passage to constrict. Once this has happened the cart's basically doomed, but a little preventative medicine seems to work magic. So, every time you fill the thing run an 18 gauge needle or a very straight paperclip through the center vent, starting at the top, or tip end, and pushing through the connector hole. Wiggle it around a little, remove and vape.

I've been testing this method on a single Boge LR cart for about a month, and the thing still works like new. Awesome!

A couple of tips: use the condom method to fill - don't poke it with a syringe and needle; that just kills 'em dead. And, if you insist on cleaning it (not recommended by me), keep the needle or clip in the hole while you're doing it. The most important thing is to maintain the integrity of that little center tube.

 

[j21blackjack]

I'll have to give this a shot, I would love to extend the life of my cartos.

 

[DrOckW]

Good info, my wife actually figured that one out too. Just so long as the center tube stays intact it's a go!

Thanks for spreading the good word!

 

[alex3x]

For myself I came at the conclusion that filling up carto's with the condom method was what clog carto's, because when you fill em with that method there's juice that go up in the center vent hole and when this juice fries it makes a resine that clog the vent hole. That's why I use the serynge filling method, adding 4-5 ml per fill, the juice stays in the cotton... but I'll try to rim a paper clip every time I fill it just like you said....


Yeah can you tell me why poking the carto with a serynge kill the carto? but I don't really poke it with the serynge because I insert it between the cotton and the wall of the carto... I don't poke directly in the center of the cotton..

Alex

 

[sandybeach]

Hmm, good idea. I use the condom fill, but I wipe off the threads and blow the carto out before I vape. I wonder if this does the same thing as the needle?

 

[LeftCoastVaper]

Poking with a syringe pushes and distorts the filling and center tube. I'd do it once, at most - when the cart's new - and use a condom or simply drip to refill thereafter. At least this has been my experience.

 

[LeftCoastVaper]

Hmm, good idea. I use the condom fill, but I wipe off the threads and blow the carto out before I vape. I wonder if this does the same thing as the needle?

Not quite the same. Over time the center tube still warps out of place. The only means I've found of avoiding this is to align it every time, or as often as I remember...

 

[alex3x]

Poking with a syringe pushes and distorts the filling and center tube. I'd do it once, at most - when the cart's new - and use a condom or simply drip to refill thereafter. At least this has been my experience.

But I don't poke it... I just insert the serynge between the cotton and the metal frame of the carto, I feel practicly no resistance when I do that and the center tube don't moves of a micrometer.

It's only my small experience but in my vaping life I have used around 7 cartos... the first 6 clogged after 3 days of use for each... I mean the heating element was still working but is was impossible to take a drag on the carto ( I was using the condom method). My seventh carto that I'm still using at the moment and that I refill with the serynge method is running strong for the past 2-3 weeks and the air flow still good. Because of that I came at the conclusion that the condom method was clogging cartomizers prematurly.

And yes the last carto is still crackling like a brand new after 2-3 weeks of use...

thanks

Alex

 

[alex3x]

That's why I use the serynge filling method, adding 4-5 ml per fill, the juice stays in the cotton...

A little correction for my post above... I refill cartos with .4 or .5 ml per refill

 

[LeftCoastVaper]

...Because of that I came at the conclusion that the condom method was clogging cartomizers prematurly.

And yes the last carto is still crackling like a brand new after 2-3 weeks of use...

thanks

Alex

You may be right about the condom method. Continued, peer-reviewed, scientific testing has shown me that direct dripping on the polyfill causes less reduction in airflow. Careful syringe filling as outlined above may be fine too. Also, I'd like to amend my original post to exclude needles as poking devices. A paperclip works better, with less potential for damage.

 

[Rsunset327]

I think the answer to this is to somehow be able to replace the filling that's curled in there without needing microscopes, tiny hands and tweezers. I've tried to follow some Youtube vids on how to do it but I'm just too heavy handed. I find if I keep it very wet all the time it will give me 2-3 weeks. This is with the Greensmoke carts. I'll test some BLUs later on.