Been searching for the answer to this but to no avail. Has anyone encountered this and if so how did you correct the problem?
Need Help. The saddle punch bends the carto and it will not fit into the dct.
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Is it a stainless steel carto? Stainless is tough stuff. It's steel with a nickel additive to make it harder. Nickel steel is used in revolvers so you know it's hefty.
Maybe someone here can help you. I don't know how people punch holes in SS cartos other than using a saddle valve punch. It works fine on copper pipes. Some people use a Dremel tool to cut slots instead of punching holes. Another alternative would be to drill very carefully with a tiny bit. If the bit pops through into the filler, then you ruin a carto.
Maybe someone here can help you. I don't know how people punch holes in SS cartos other than using a saddle valve punch. It works fine on copper pipes. Some people use a Dremel tool to cut slots instead of punching holes. Another alternative would be to drill very carefully with a tiny bit. If the bit pops through into the filler, then you ruin a carto.
I wouldn't use a Dremel. There have been concerns about doing so, and metal shavings, etc. As for the OP's issue... I recall reading that you can expect the point on the punch to dull after about 50 punches, and that some maintenance was required to keep it in prime working condition (e.g. re-sharpening it). For regular consumers, they likely won't ever realize a profit from using a punch vs just buying pre-punched, so its not something I've looked into too closely. Personally I'd just go and spend the $6-7 for a new one, or the $14 for those little ring cute ones. 
They are the smoketek prepunched cartos for the DCT. Maybe I just got a bad saddle because I purchased it yesterday and the first two cartos I punched became bent in such a way that I could not slide it into the dct.
Maybe I purchased a return that was already dull. I will give it a sharpening and see if that helps.
Maybe I purchased a return that was already dull. I will give it a sharpening and see if that helps.
I have to punch mine to wick my vg juice and I ran into the same problem - and wasn't warned about it.
Got froggy one evening, after a few beers, and was trying to figure out why the hell one of my tanks wasn't working after I rammed in the punched carto. Emptied the tank and proceeded to take the plastic end of a screwdriver and start whacking at the lumpy spots. (You can see exactly where you need to do this when you attempt to put the carto inside the tank - it's by the hole you just punched, naturally.)
Just remember... being a chic gives me a gentler hand so I'm not beating it to death, and definitely don't use a hammer! It's more like hard tapping, I suppose.
I've got one of those "cute" ring type carto punches. Just received my Go go tank and realize I'm going to need a saddle valve b/c that thing has a rather large carto.
Got froggy one evening, after a few beers, and was trying to figure out why the hell one of my tanks wasn't working after I rammed in the punched carto. Emptied the tank and proceeded to take the plastic end of a screwdriver and start whacking at the lumpy spots. (You can see exactly where you need to do this when you attempt to put the carto inside the tank - it's by the hole you just punched, naturally.)
Just remember... being a chic gives me a gentler hand so I'm not beating it to death, and definitely don't use a hammer! It's more like hard tapping, I suppose.
I've got one of those "cute" ring type carto punches. Just received my Go go tank and realize I'm going to need a saddle valve b/c that thing has a rather large carto.
Yeah I've got one of those siam mods ring carto punches too, and it's nice. I've probably punched about 40 holes with it so far and I don't see that it's dulled appreciably yet in terms of denting instead of piercing. I would try to make sure not to punch the holes near enough to the ends of the carto to cause insertion problems when sticking it in your tank. If the mashed/dented bit is not on either end I think you'd have a better time of it. What I do with the little ring hole punch is just use the width of the ring itself as a guide and punch my hole(s) at least one ring width away from either end of the carto.
Had the same problem a few times myself,best way I found found was to take the tank apart and put the cart into the top piece before punching the hole with the valve !!!
I can't find the thread where I originally found this, but this makes a great carto puncher!
http://www.drillspot.com/products/157425/Lovejoy_AL050_Aluminum_Shaft_Coupler_Body
with these screws:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/157425/Lovejoy_AL050_Aluminum_Shaft_Coupler_Body
with these screws:
I think if you punch it "slowly", it'll help bend it. A quick, fast punch should just ram that point on through with minimal bending. I tried to get too technical with mine by counting how many turns it took to get the size hole i wanted. That way i wasn't going too slow and chancing a bend on the carto prior to the actual punch. Just a thought anyways...
When I made my homemade syringe tank, I used a punch and a hammer to make the holes. It bent it some but it worked fine for that set up. The tank wasn't for me but, I'm about to try my wife on one. I've read that a saddle punch will work better if you sharpen the point with an emory board. I'll be giving that a try.
I haven't tried it, but seems like it might work. Dremel almost thru, then punch thru the thinner metal that's left. No resistance to the punch, and no shavings inside the carto.
Edit: don't forget to deburr the slot edges.
Edit: don't forget to deburr the slot edges.
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Just tried it, works great, no carto distortion.
If you don't have a dremel, use a metal file and file a little flat, just take away some of the metal to make it thinner.
If you don't have a dremel, use a metal file and file a little flat, just take away some of the metal to make it thinner.
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Thank you for all the suggestions everyone. I sharpened up the saddle punch and it no longer clicks when punching through but doesn't bend it as much but still bends it pretty good. I tried with a variety of old cartos I had laying around and it only seems to be a problem with the smoketech pre-punched cartos. They are not as sturdy as the other ones I suppose. The holes are way too small on the pre-punched ones and punching them really bends them out of whack. I am charging up my dremel now and will try that method. See if it works any better.
Well I tried the slot with the dremel tool and it worked like a charm. I had a high powered magnet nearby and used it to draw out any excess metal when I was finished. Slid right into the tank with no probs. The only worry I have is that it might catch the o-ring on the way in. Anyone have issues with that?
Just for safety's sake, a Dremel can be a dangerous tool if you don't use a vise or something to hold the carto. One slip and a Dremel can inflict some nasty injuries. Rubber inserts on the vise will prevent damage to the carto. I have some magnetic rubber coated inserts on mine that hold tight with gentle pressure of the vise.
Both hands on the Dremel when in use!
Both hands on the Dremel when in use!
yes, I fixed my saddlevalve. I used a little rubber foot from an old coffee pot and placed it in the area of the pin as a guide. Then I found out it was very dull even after only a few uses. It's softer metal than it looks- I just took it out and used a sandpaper type nail file to sharpen, now it goes through like butter, w/o the pop. also helps to leave the nut up top loose to help with the feel. the resulting holes look almost as good as laser punched.
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