My cartomizer is just driving me nuts...

[Spazmelda]

When you are learning how to use a carto tank, I think it's just a given that you will go through cartos at an alarming rate. I know that I almost gave up, thinking it was just a stupid delivery system and would never work and people were just ....ing with me when they said it was awesome. Now, aside from a very occasional carto that just won't wick (maybe filler is too compacted?) they work great for me.

I use boge cartos with one hole punched with a saddle valve. My juice is 50/50 pg/VG and I add 5ml vodka per 100ml juice (DIY) to thin it down a little. I used to do slots with a dremel, but since I do hot swaps (swapping new cartos in without emptying the tank) I didn't like how the rough edges of the slots would tear up the gaskets of my tanks. But you can see from this thread that there are many different ways to get a carto tank to work. You just have to figure out what works for you. It is definitely fiddly at first, but once you figure it out it can be fantastic and fiddle free.

 

[Baditude]

You don't necessarily have to wait 10-15 minutes once you find your grove. Take a few short puffs after you condom fill or top fill and look for bubbles coming out of the hole(s). You'll know for sure that its taking in juice they way. I'm too impatient to wait when I wanna vape. U need bigger holes or more of them. There is definitely a learning curve with cartos but once you get the hang of it you'll know exactly where to punch and how to punch, you'll know what voltage you prefer and what juices need special care to wick.

I agree. The method I use (drip from the top with wood toothpick in the center hole/shake like a thermometer, add more juice, shake again, etc) takes 7 minutes tops with a new carto/tank and is ready to vape immediately. Refills take 1 minute, ready to vape immediately. My technique is described in my blog post, accessed in the link below my avatar.

Get youself a Slap Yo Moma tank accessory tool to make it all possible if you don't already have one.

 

[chellemmm]

Then again, they make some really nice clearos now...

 

[rand4ll]

I don't care for the condom method of filling cartomizers - personal preference. I have had much success with this method:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3710-5-cartomizer-tank-setup.html

I agree with those who suggested that a single hole may not be adequate for that juice. Your vaping technique on a cartotank may also need adjustment. A long, slow, consistant draw of 4 - 6 seconds works best. Think of a straw in a thick milkshake. Each draw should pull replacement juice from the tank into the carto.

Are the cartos single or dual coiled? And I agree that once you get the burnt taste in a carto, it's toast...throw it away.

I learned most I know about cartotanks from baditude's blog posts. I do use the condom fill method though as it is easy for me and works well.

Another thing I have learned is I never use just one hole in the carto. I go with 2 holes if it is 50/50 or higher pg and 3 if lower. Never have flooding or dry hits that way and they last from 3-8 tanks depending on the juice. I just change them when they get clogged up or taste changes...

 

[Spazmelda]

I also use condom fill, but I do it assembly line style. I get out about 5-10 cartos and the same number of condoms. Fill each condom about 3/4 full of juice. Punch the first carto with one hole, then stick it down into the first condom until juice is all the way up to the top of the carto (overflowing the filler). I set that aside, and punch the 2nd carto and do the same, on down the line until all cartos are soaking.

By the time I get to the last one, the first one has usually soaked up all the juice. I pull the first carto out and top up the juice in the condom (about half full this time), stick the carto back in until juice and set it aside again. The same for the rest of the cartos.

Then go back to the first one again. Take it out of the condom blow extra juice into the condom, set the carto aside on a tissue. Do the same for all the rest. Then I squish any extra juice left in the condoms back into the bottle it came from. Dry off the cartos and blow them out again on a tissue. Vape one right away if I need it (I fill new cartos when im down to only a few soaked cartos left in my stash though, so I can let the newly loaded ones soak for a few days. Not usually necessary, but I do it anyway).

This goes a lot quicker than it sounds, and I then have a stack of new cartos ready to go for a few weeks. Maybe takes me about 15 minutes to do 6 or so cartos. I like letting them soak for a while, just to make sure all the juice is evenly distributed, but like I said, it's not really necessary. I usually do this one flavor at a time. If you were doing several flavors you'd have to be more organized, and it might not be as efficient.

 

[Punkndrublic]

You're holding it wrong.

 

[carey whitley]

thankxs guys for the advice i really needed that!

 

[kpmeth]

You're holding it wrong.

whadda ya mean?