More new questions not often asked

[inmortus]

This is my second attempt at posting questions that I think have not (or at least not that often) been asked. Most things I can find by just searching the forums but some I still find myself not too sure. Here are some newbie questions I am hoping you can help me with. For reference, I use a Volt and currently use cartomizers:

• How long can I keep a cartomizer before using it? By this I mean: Say I have a brand new cartomizer on a drawer. Will it "dry" after a day? a week? a month? Can I just keep it in a drawer indefinitely and whenever I want just put it on the battery and use it?
• Same question but with one that has been used. By this I mean: say I am currently smoking X flavor in a cartomizer. Can I take it off, switch to a new flavor, put the used (but not finished) cartomizer away in a drawer, and then put it back on my battery at a later time? If so, how long can I keep it "stored"? (Obviously I would put the rubber caps or condoms back on while it was stored).
• One of the reasons I ask this is because I am currently smoking a cartomizer of "Desert Joe" flavor. I liked it so I ordered a bottle. I don't have any more cartomizers of this flavor (it came in a sampler package) so I was thinking about taking it off my battery and keeping it in a drawer until my bottle arrives in order to start refilling it... But I am not sure if keeping it on a drawer for (say) a week is a good idea...
• Different type of question: are there any good economical "blank" cartomizers that work with a Volt battery other than the ones sold directly by SI? It just seems "weird" that their blank cartomizers cost exactly the same as those that come on any flavor (how can blank ones cost the same as those that total 5mL of juice?)

Thanks again for your continuous help.

 

[xrufx]

Well I'll tell you a story that changed my mind about storing juice in carts for a long time. I have switched to tanks these days but I came across an old dual coil clear carto I had filled probably months ago. Behold I was able to see just what happened to this particular juice in this particular carto and in my particular care. Disgusting is what I saw. Mold inside of the carto. Naturally no one leaves their juices for months inside of a carto, but it got me grossed out.

Had it not been a clear one I might have been curious to try the flavor again. I don't know when it started to grow mold or what factors contributed to it, but I am now a believer in "fresh" juice. To me, the $$ of new juice is cheap compared to the visual I have.

Of course, as always, your experiences may vary. I'm sure many people have found old cartos and thought they tasted fine.

 

[inmortus]

Yikes!

Now... what about a week... should I be worried about it?

And also: say I am re-filling a cartomizer (few drops every day to keep it wet). How can I know when it's time to throw it in the trash and start a new one? I've read people stating they've used them for up to 4 weeks, but how do you "know" it's time to switch it?

 

[AttyPops]

I''m guessing (and it's a total guess) that a week won't be too bad. The previous post about mold is...troublesome...to say the least. Using it probably pulls a lot of air and microorganisms into it.

As to the last question...YES!!!! Use blanks and buy bottles of juice. Most setups use a syringe to fill them, but there are other methods. I don't have a link tho. Maybe see the SI specific sub forum and model sub-forum:
KR808D-1
Smokeless Image

EDIT: You "know" when performance drops off. Some try to clean them out. Many toss them (they are disposable).

 

[Tish Talons]

the mold was due to the VG in your liquid. This probably wouldn't happen with pure PG liquids, as PG is an antiseptic. However, if you don't plan on vaping the juice in your carto within a couple weeks, I would toss it and start over just to be safe.

 

[ardelleg]

SI has 5 ml cartos? I have never seen a 5 ml carto....

I have kept cartos hanging around for a long time and the only thing I have noticed is a lack of vapor/flavor in them... can't imagine why mold would be growing in them.... possible I suppose.... now I will have to go look at some of my older ones.... used and never used....

I didn't spend a lot of time thinking much about my smoking, and I tend to treat vaping the same way....

 

[xrufx]

When I used cartos, nothing went off in a week's time. But like AttyPops says, they're disposable. When in doubt, pitch it.

Oh believe me, I tried cleaning them and whatnot. The hassle never made up for the savings.

 

[mitzeli]

If you are concerned, throw them in the freezer until your juice arrives. You can clean them by soaking in vodka, I use a turkey baster dropping the cart in the tube to force the liquid in and out. I then dry them by a fan overnight, you also can put them in the oven on a very low temperature.. You should have no problem using them. The trick to ensure they are DRY.

 

[X P3 Flight Engineer]

SI has 5 ml cartos? I have never seen a 5 ml carto....

I have kept cartos hanging around for a long time and the only thing I have noticed is a lack of vapor/flavor in them... can't imagine why mold would be growing in them.... possible I suppose.... now I will have to go look at some of my older ones.... used and never used....

I didn't spend a lot of time thinking much about my smoking, and I tend to treat vaping the same way....

*****

I believe they are referring to 1ml/carto and a pack of 5.

*****

There is no set time because there are a lot of variables such as temperature, humidity, and how they were filled to begin with. Some pre-filled cartos appear to have dried out before they are even used the first time. Usually SI cartos can be refilled and used for approximately a week.
It is best to have the juice so that the carto filler can be kept constantly moist. If the filler dries out then the filler can singe and will never be acceptable. A lot of people prefer the clearomizers so that the fluid level can be seen.

Relax, Enjoy!

 

[White Rabbit]

Cleaning suggestion, I do mine weekly:

Soak your cartos in the highest level of Vodka you can find (not flavored) for about an hour or so, then boil them for at least 15 minutes in water. If the water turns brown, change it and repeat. Let the cartos cool, blow them out and stuff a small bit of paper towel into the end where the filter material is. Let them dry overnight. Then refill using the condom method, top off after 15 minutes of letting them sit, and vape away.

I have been using the same cartos from Smokless Image for three months. I clean mine every week like I said above.

 

[Mister Grim]

SI has 5 ml cartos? I have never seen a 5 ml carto....

I have kept cartos hanging around for a long time and the only thing I have noticed is a lack of vapor/flavor in them... can't imagine why mold would be growing in them.... possible I suppose.... now I will have to go look at some of my older ones.... used and never used....

I didn't spend a lot of time thinking much about my smoking, and I tend to treat vaping the same way....

He means a 5 pack of 1ml cartos

*****
I believe they are referring to 1ml/carto and a pack of 5.
*****
There is no set time because there are a lot of variables such as temperature, humidity, and how they were filled to begin with. Some pre-filled cartos appear to have dried out before they are even used the first time. Usually SI cartos can be refilled and used for approximately a week.
It is best to have the juice so that the carto filler can be kept constantly moist. If the filler dries out then the filler can singe and will never be acceptable. A lot of people prefer the clearomizers so that the fluid level can be seen.
Relax, Enjoy!

ooops looks like you beat me to it