Maxx Fusion Cartomizer Autopsy and Parts Explenation
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A number of my original ten had the coil to the side, and surprisingly, not one of them had any burnt polyfill. I'm glad I found out the new ones I got today had the coil partially or entirely outside the tube, otherwise this weekend I would have probably been squawking about burnt polyfill!
I'm glad too. When these things work, they work GREAT.
I think I'm about ready to stop holding my breath. IMHO, the silence is probably a tacit admission of a real problem.
Having some cartos that work great, and some that don't work that great, I got used to look through the hole on the battery end against a light source to see what the airflow path looked like.
On the best performing cartos, the path is completely free. A pefectly round visible path.
On the worst performing cartos, usually only a half circle or less is free.
On the best performing cartos, the path is completely free. A pefectly round visible path.
On the worst performing cartos, usually only a half circle or less is free.
Now that is interesting and could prove very useful, thanks I hadn't read that anywhere yet!
That's why I posted the info. It doesn't add up with all the rest.
But I can assure you the coil and wick are there
Only thing I can think of is the coil must be to the side, but can they perform better in that case?
I may take on of these appart when they stop working ok and take a look. Hoppefully, taking them apart won't mess with the coil positioning.
But I can assure you the coil and wick are there
Only thing I can think of is the coil must be to the side, but can they perform better in that case?
I may take on of these appart when they stop working ok and take a look. Hoppefully, taking them apart won't mess with the coil positioning.
It stands to reason that if the coil/wick are pressed to the side of the tube that it might improve wicking. I don't think many, if any, of my cartos were this way. In fact, it couldn't happen in my first 10 because the wick was so short that it barely spanned the center of the tube, so the wick would dislodge if it was pushed to the side as needed to obscure it's visibility.
It might also be an optical illusion where your eyes are unable to focus on something so close. Try using a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe.
It might also be an optical illusion where your eyes are unable to focus on something so close. Try using a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe.
Decided to give one of the cartos a torture test, so I used it exclusively with 100% VG.
Did about 20 refills until it stopped working. Then took it apart.
I must say, I'm impressed with how it managed to hold on.
In the end, it failed because the wick is completely clogged. Nothing more.
(Note: the filler is dark because it still has juice in it, and it's a dark VG)
- The wick is completely clogged, covered with "caramelized" juice. Wouldn't expect it to be otherwise.
- The silicone o-ring/plug is not burnt. The 2 dark spots are "caramelized" juice. I cleaned it after and it's in perfect shape.
- The inner sleeve is scorched were it was in contact with the coil. It didn't burn.
- The silicone adesive is in percfect condition. The coil was placed well above the silicon, further up the inner sleeve.
- The inner filler is scorched, were it was in contact/close to the coil.
- The outer filler in not burnt or scorched.
PS: Sorry for the blurry pictures, but macro is not my phone-cam strong point.
Did about 20 refills until it stopped working. Then took it apart.
I must say, I'm impressed with how it managed to hold on.
In the end, it failed because the wick is completely clogged. Nothing more.
(Note: the filler is dark because it still has juice in it, and it's a dark VG)
- The wick is completely clogged, covered with "caramelized" juice. Wouldn't expect it to be otherwise.
- The silicone o-ring/plug is not burnt. The 2 dark spots are "caramelized" juice. I cleaned it after and it's in perfect shape.
- The inner sleeve is scorched were it was in contact with the coil. It didn't burn.
- The silicone adesive is in percfect condition. The coil was placed well above the silicon, further up the inner sleeve.
- The inner filler is scorched, were it was in contact/close to the coil.
- The outer filler in not burnt or scorched.
PS: Sorry for the blurry pictures, but macro is not my phone-cam strong point.
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Thank you pmos. I am curious, since you mentioned cleaning the caramilization from the o-ring, is the "scorching" on the sleeve and filler definitely not similarly caramalized? You did not mention attempts to clean them, and with that yummy black mass of a wick, it seems like this is a possible cause of the discoloration.
Just seeking clarification, yeah?
Just seeking clarification, yeah?
Nope. The sleeve and inner sleeve are definitely scorched. (not burnt though)
(I would expect them to be, anyway.)
One additional note: I tried not to let the carto get completely dry before I refilled it, but of the +/- 20 times I refilled it, I think at least 2 times I let it get very dry.
(I would expect them to be, anyway.)
One additional note: I tried not to let the carto get completely dry before I refilled it, but of the +/- 20 times I refilled it, I think at least 2 times I let it get very dry.
Nope.
I was expecting that, but as I said, even the 2 dark spots are "caramelized" juice. I cleaned it after and it's in perfect shape.
I think that is because the actual coil was nicely positioned further up in the sleeve (about 2mm), so even the silicone adhesive has no burn marks at all.
I was expecting that, but as I said, even the 2 dark spots are "caramelized" juice. I cleaned it after and it's in perfect shape.
I think that is because the actual coil was nicely positioned further up in the sleeve (about 2mm), so even the silicone adhesive has no burn marks at all.
Yeah there is quite a bit of variation in the way these things are assembled. Out of the 5 I have taken apart 2 had those melted impression and 3 had some oddly placed coils and wicks which in some cases lead to the burned polyfill.
I'll admit to that. I am not an engineer, let alone a materials engineer. I am a smart guy who knows how to read, listen, and learn however.
For the most part, I see myself as a liason between the engineers on the one hand and the consumers on the other. I gather my data from you guys, from google, from my engineers, etc., and try to do my best to synthesize it all and come up with testable hypotheses. Then, the challenge is to get past the typical engineers' attitude ("I have years of experience, I know what I'm talking about, your complaint is impossible," etc, etc, etc) and push them to really listen and respond to your complaints and observations, by testing the possible hypotheses. In this case, I accepted their initial assurances that the silicon didn't produce toxic vapors, but asked for the MSDS and testing data to prove it. I misstated when I said it didn't outgas, I meant to say it didn't outgass toxic vapors. But either way the statement was based on their assurances, and I've been less and less confident in those assurances as I've been kept waiting for the data I requested. And of course, as you've posted more info for me. So, thanks for that. 
You have convinced me I need to look much closer at those componants. It would explain some of the contradictions in the other reported data. Who knows, you might even be able to convince me formaldehyde is as scary as you say.
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