My tank mod is driving me crazy.

[Broklynite]

I don't know what is going on, but I simply can not win with my setup. I need help. Please help me.

I have the Provari. Until a couple of weeks ago, I used the eGo-T add-on which provari sells. I wasn't happy with it because as it turns out, it is low resistance, which defeats the purpose of getting a provari, frankly.

So, I decided to put a little more money on the table and bought a tank mod. I bought 3 ohm stainless steel Boge single-coil cartos. Standard off the shelf stuff. I got them from two different sources, Crystal Clear vaping and PureSmoker.com.

For the tank, I bought the stainless steel Lil Mama tank (the one with the window), along with the Slap Yo Mama adaptor. I also bought the carto puncher from BDV.

The e-liquid I'm using is a tobacco flavor PG/VG mix (mainly PG I think) from ModernVapor.

So. When everything arrived, I very carefully followed the videos. I lined up the carto in the punching tool, made two tiny holes, stuck it in the tank, manhandled the tank closed with some e-liquid inside. I actually forgot to pre-fill the carto, I realized later. But it didn't matter. I drew on it and experienced the finest vaping of my life. I was delighted. This was what I had been looking for for so many years.

The carto lasted for a good week before it died. Well, I had another 34 to work through, didn't worry about it. And that's when the trouble began. That great draw? I can't get that again.

Now I have one of three things happen. 1. The carto won't do anything at all, and I get an E1 error on my provari. This happens with cartos from both sources. 2. The carto immediately floods. I get maybe 1-2 okay hits before it floods completely and I am getting a very hot spray of droplets in my mouth. 3. The carto is clogged and nothing air or liquid goes through.

In a word, I am annoyed. Either I am doing something incredibly stupid, or I am incredibly unlucky. I have tried pre-filling and not pre-filling the cartos. I have tried making larger holes in the carto. I've wasted a dozen cartos and I don't know how much e-liquid trying to fix this problem.

The *only* thing which seems to help is if I take the drop tip off and wrap my mouth over the entire top of the tank, then take a very long and very slow draw. When I try doing the same with the drip tip on, I get flooding.

Please help, I'm at my wits end.

 

[ianlm]

have you tried making a single small hole in the carto? if your liquid is high-PG that should be more than enough. I only use a single smallish hole for up to 50/50 PG/VG.

Also, what voltage is your provari set to? High voltage on a dry carto can burn a hole in the center tube, causing liquid from the filler to leak out constantly.

 

[Caridwen]

Sorry your having difficulties. One more post and I can move your thread to the tank discussion. Maybe you can get some additional help there if you are still having problems.

 

[Broklynite]

have you tried making a single small hole in the carto? if your liquid is high-PG that should be more than enough. I only use a single smallish hole for up to 50/50 PG/VG.

Also, what voltage is your provari set to? High voltage on a dry carto can burn a hole in the center tube, causing liquid from the filler to leak out constantly.

I've tried varying the voltage but noticed no significant difference. That said, I generally vape between 4 and 4.5 volts.

I have not tried making a single small hole, but I will try that.

 

[mynameisrob]

Your hole is def too big. That's why it continuously floods. And a carto that constantly gets flooded will clog very quickly.

Try making a single small hole, and I mean small. Find a picture from a vendor of the pre-punched cartos for the Smoktech dual coil tanks, I know madvapes has a picture of them. That small hole is about the size needed for mostly PG juices.
Basically try making the hole as small as you possibly can. Just enough to punch through the carto. Then fill the carto completely FIRST and then put it in and fill the tank. That should fix your problem

 

[MeowMix]

I wish I had some kind words of wisdom for you, but I don't. That being said I'll be following this thread like a hawk because I went through the same exact thing your going through but with a Lavatube and a Lavatank. I had pre-punched carto's though, so the work was done for me.

I expierenced the same thing. I'd get either A- Flooding of the Carto, B- Juice in my mouth or C- Either no suction at all, or when I tried to fidget with it, to much suction and no air bubbles from the hole in the carto.

I will say this, I've read on the boards that letting the juice soak into a new carto for a few hours, or possibly adding a spin to the carto was suggested. But I kinda gave up and just listed the whole shebang on the classifieds. I'm currently using V4L with 808 Carto's I fill myself. I'm happy with my choice, but I miss the large, voluminousness clouds of vapor I got when I did get something from the Lavatube.

 

[Broklynite]

Your hole is def too big. That's why it continuously floods. And a carto that constantly gets flooded will clog very quickly.

Try making a single small hole, and I mean small. Find a picture from a vendor of the pre-punched cartos for the Smoktech dual coil tanks, I know madvapes has a picture of them. That small hole is about the size needed for mostly PG juices.
Basically try making the hole as small as you possibly can. Just enough to punch through the carto. Then fill the carto completely FIRST and then put it in and fill the tank. That should fix your problem

Mmm, that's what I thought initially. I remembered something tho. At one point, I punched the carto twice, but one was a tiny hole and the other didn't actually pierce the casing- the holes are small enough, it is difficult to tell. That might have been a bad one tho, I'll try again. I put just enough pressure on until either I hear the pop or feel it, then immediately stop.

I've filled the carto beforehand, plus allowed them to sit for several hours before loading. No help.

 

[Broklynite]

I wish I had some kind words of wisdom for you, but I don't. That being said I'll be following this thread like a hawk because I went through the same exact thing your going through but with a Lavatube and a Lavatank. I had pre-punched carto's though, so the work was done for me.

I expierenced the same thing. I'd get either A- Flooding of the Carto, B- Juice in my mouth or C- Either no suction at all, or when I tried to fidget with it, to much suction and no air bubbles from the hole in the carto.

I will say this, I've read on the boards that letting the juice soak into a new carto for a few hours, or possibly adding a spin to the carto was suggested. But I kinda gave up and just listed the whole shebang on the classifieds. I'm currently using V4L with 808 Carto's I fill myself. I'm happy with my choice, but I miss the large, voluminousness clouds of vapor I got when I did get something from the Lavatube.

What I really wanted was a high resistance pure tank system, no carto or anything. Sadly, it seems that they either aren't available, or I am assured that they are extremely expensive. With the fairly short lifespans of atomizers, I don't relish needed to pay a lot of money and buying a brand new one every few weeks. I'd rather buy a ton of cheap-o cartos, if only I could get it to reliably work. And reliability and reproducability are key here. I *know* it is possible do do because I did it one time. I don't like that it is apparently so finnicky, but if it's something one can get the hang of, I'm all for it. But I have enough cartos, enough stubbornness, enough annoyance to do this.

You know what? Maybe I'll do this properly. I'll start afresh and make a spreadsheet detailing every different attempt and its result. Sound be fun (groan).

 

[cba191]

get the punch from cov or vip vapors. It works MUCH better. It's spendy, but well worth the money. Two turns, two holes, and it's done.

 

[rolandpibb]

I have smoktech tanks. I use the pre-punched flanged 1.7ohm cartos, but before I use them I tap the hole with a hammer and finishing nail to make it slightly bigger. Unless you're vaping 100%VG, one hole should be enough.

I vape 70/30 and have never had a wicking, flooding or leaking issue.

 

[Broklynite]

Well, I think I *may* have figured out the solution to the problem. As always, it is something stupid, small, and probably obvious to those of you with more experience.

I made a big spreadsheet, lots of variables, got all my gear together, then figured out the problem on the second try.

I tried one hole, dry. Result: cotton taste (expected)
one hole, freshly wet. Result: perfect.

Now, I was trying this without the drip tip or anything, just lips wrapped around the top. Yes, I was giving my provari oral.

I fully assembled the whole thing and took a puff. The carto was flooded. Suspicion flared. I removed the tip and all and blew out the excess. Tried tipless again and it worked fine.

Now, my cartos come with a rubber cap at the end opposite the atomizer. I had seen vids where people assemble and use tank mods, but they always use cartos previously prepared, never fresh from the package. When I have used cartridges and cartos in the past, the tip was a hard plastic you left on. So I pushed the rubber down inside with the drip tip when inserting the drip tip. That was pushing down hard on the cotton inside squeezing it and preventing it from being packed properly.

So I removed the rubber endcap, then reassambled the whole thing with drip tip. And I'm puffing on it right now, no trouble.

So, yea. That was the problem. The rubber endcap was pushed inside and pushing down on the cotton, preventing it from wicking properly, etc. Solution- take the rubber cap out. Obvious in hindsight.

 

[Bradder]

Glad to hear you got it straightened out. Happy (continued) vaping.

 

[jamentertainment]

You my friend are not the first!!!!!!!!!!!!....thats all i need to say about that.

 

[Broklynite]

Heh, thanks. It even makes sense- my first one worked beautifully because my drip tip was delivered late, so my first week I was vaping without one. Good thing, I guess, because having had that first great week, I knew it was possible.

 

[MrGiggly]

Glad you got it sorted and are enjoying your tank. Couple of tips that work for me.

Always pre-fill a carto when first installing it in a tank. You can of course pop it in and leave it for a while and then give it some primer pulls before vaping. Point being not to dry burn the filler else you will never get the burnt taste out.

When punching cartos, make sure you don't punch too deep. If you do you will perforate the inner lining which will bugger up the carto.

 

[ianlm]

awesome. glad you got it figured out. how's the vape from your tank setup now?

 

[Broklynite]

It is simply amazing. It is everything I had hoped it would be. Strong and smooth, tasty. I've been using it to quit smoking (a little over 5 weeks now) and being without for the last couple of weeks was really putting me on edge.

 

[ianlm]

i would imagine. i carry 2 mods and an extra set of batteries with me everywhere i go, under no circumstances am i willing to go without a vape!

the carto tanks are pretty awesome. i've been using them all day every day for a while now instead of dripping and it's a lot more convenient.

 

[Broklynite]

I'm pretty excited. If this has indeed solved the problem (and I think it has) it makes it a bit easier for me to experiment with different flavors. In the old way, you always had to vape forever to get the flavor out of the atty. I'm thinking about actually buying a couple of extra tanks to make flavor swapping a little bit easier. Not all the nice metal ones maybe, but it'll be easier for quick swapping for flavor experiments.

Hm. There's a thought. Veering way off topic here, but I have a monthly gaming party with some good friends. Maybe I can do a vape tasting as well with a bunch of flavors, and we all have fun trying and rating them. Seems like it could be some cheap fun.

 

[Broklynite]

Slight change- it went dry last night, though there was plenty of liquid. So I punched a second hole, re-wet it, and I'll see what happens.