New to E-Cigs help please

[Bob92985]

Hello Forum,

My name's Bob and I just got my Blu e-cig starter kit a couple of days ago and so far I love it!
I'm just a little concerned about the quality of the cartomizers. They seem to lose their flavor rather quickly. Some as soon as only a few draws (5-8). They still however have been producing a lot of vapor. I don't draw hard on them at all, I take light 3-4 sec draws. I've done some research to find out when a cartomizer is spent and haven't been able to link my experience to exactly what others describe. I'm not sure if I'm getting the "burnt" taste because when the flavor is gone or weak its not especially unpleasant, its just not near as flavorful as it had been. I'm just not sure what to think about it lol.

I know Blu has some mixed reviews but I don't have the money to move up to a more high quality model at this time. However, I did just order a few bottles of juice from Johnson's Creek so that I can start refilling my Blu cartomizers and maybe help solve the flavor issue and save me some money.

If any of you more experienced users out there have any information to throw at me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[avicens45]

I'm fairly new to vaping as well. I experienced this with my volcanos. I have just found the best way to avoid that burnt taste is to just keep them wet. Once you get a strong burnt taste, that carto is pretty much shot IMHO. Here's a vid for that...A double demo! The Cartomizer Condom Filling Method, and the Taryn Spin. - YouTube . Also, maybe look into a straight atomizer, very inexpensive, and direct drip. This gets the best consistent flavor, but can be a hassle. Good luck and hope this helps a little. I know some of the more experienced guys will probably get you some good info on this forum

 

[NGIB]

Factory filled cartos are a crap shoot as there's no telling how "full" they are. Filling your own, and keeping them topped off, should solve the problem...

 

[Pappy]

. . . I'm not sure if I'm getting the "burnt" taste because when the flavor is gone or weak its not especially unpleasant, its just not near as flavorful as it had been. . . .

When you get the "burnt" taste, you'll know it.

 

[Bob92985]

Thanks for the video! I just need to find some of those rubber ends he had. Mine only come with one that fits over the battery end. What did you mean by keeping them wet though?

 

[recidivus]

Hello and welcome to ECF! Can't say for your model, I've not used pre-filled beyond a couple disposable ecigs, but I've read that pre-filled can be less than spectacular. I'd try doing a manual refill once your juice arrives. Looking at the Blu I'm guessing it's an 808/minicig. With mine I was getting great vapes on a new carto, once I start refilling them they perform less well until they need replacing in 2 days (pushed one to 3 and it only gave 5-10 good hits and couldn't hold half the drops). Also, refilling the pre-filled cartos may not work out spectacularly.

I'm not sure how you are vaping either, but I also noticed when I was taking more than a few pulls it started to run...erm, "dry". Letting it sit for a minute to cool down and (what I assume) pull more fluid to the atomizer helps sometimes.

Juice quality may also be an issue.

So, with that all out of the way.

Keep on truckin' with the blu if you can. You should look into getting a couple packs of empty cartos (they're a cheap troubleshoot), perhaps one 5 pack from a couple different manufacturers to see which YOU like.

I know the initial costs are high and where the hesitation with buying more hardware is coming from. What you can do is: While you are not smoking, put some money aside and start looking into a more robust cig. With money you save from not smoking, it shouldn't take long to have enough for a basic kit to get started. You'll get a ton of info here on what is good/bad etc, but I just got an ego-c with clearomizers and it is worlds apart from my 808 experience, and has opened the door to many more options.


"Keeping them wet" just means popping the top off the carto and putting 5-10 drops in, or however many it will hold (one drop at a time, rotate 45deg, you don't want to see any juice pooling. This helps extend the carto life because the polyfiber or w/e it is filler doesn't dry burn. Once it gets burnt that nasty flavour will not go away, and I think it messes with how well it retains fluid too.

 

[Bob92985]

When you get the "burnt" taste, you'll know it.

So maybe I'm just being super picky when the flavor dies down

 

[Bob92985]

Thank you recidivus. Can I get blank cartomizers that will work with my Blu battery?

 

[the_vape_nerd]

Bob you are not super picky...you like what you like and theres no reason to put up with sub par performance. Blu does have a rather bad reputation here. If you can still return it, I would advise you to do so. You can get a better performing kit at either Vapor for life or Smokeless Image at about half the price.

If you are stuck with it though, it is what it is so I will just tell you what I can on the cartomizer issue.

There are several videos you can search for on youtube which will explain the "condom method" of filling a cartomizer. This will get you full saturation on the first fill which is very important. Just type in condom method cartomizer into you tube's search and you'll see the videos. The first 1-5 times you do this, could be messy so have a few paper towels laying around.

After the first fill, you will want to top off your cartomizer every 2 hours or so. Just until they looks a little slushy on the top. Give them about 10 minutes for the liquid to move into the polyfill and you should be right as rain.

Long term, do think about a change in hardware or systems. ECF is filled with people having Blu frustration.

 

[the_vape_nerd]

Thank you recidivus. Can I get blank cartomizers that will work with my Blu battery?

Anyone know what type of battery a Blu is? I've not owned one but I'm sure somewhere you can get blank cartos. Even if you can't, an adapter can be purchased for 3-4 bucks.

 

[NGIB]

Any 510 carto will work, just don't get any low resistance ones as the Blu battery can't handle it. Anything >= 2.6 ohms or so will be OK...

 

[recidivus]

forums here say either a 306 or a 510 carto will work.

"-snip-
The 306's fit correctly. The 510 cartos will work also but are bigger around than the Blu battery but hold a bit more juice and have a larger hole in the mouthpeice."

 

[Bob92985]

Bob you are not super picky...you like what you like and theres no reason to put up with sub par performance. Blu does have a rather bad reputation here. If you can still return it, I would advise you to do so. You can get a better performing kit at either Vapor for life or Smokeless Image at about half the price.

If you are stuck with it though, it is what it is so I will just tell you what I can on the cartomizer issue.

There are several videos you can search for on youtube which will explain the "condom method" of filling a cartomizer. This will get you full saturation on the first fill which is very important. Just type in condom method cartomizer into you tube's search and you'll see the videos. The first 1-5 times you do this, could be messy so have a few paper towels laying around.

After the first fill, you will want to top off your cartomizer every 2 hours or so. Just until they looks a little slushy on the top. Give them about 10 minutes for the liquid to move into the polyfill and you should be right as rain.

Long term, do think about a change in hardware or systems. ECF is filled with people having Blu frustration.

Thanks for your response! Yes actually I just looked at the vapor 4 life titan. When i can afford to do so I'll probably order that. The kit is about $70 and I can buy blanks from them for about $9

 

[Bob92985]

Ok, i just ordered the V4L Titan kit that comes with the portable charger and what not. Hopefully that one works better for me. All the reviews I've seen on it so far are great and cartomizers seem like they are gonna be much higher quality, I also got blanks to fill.

Thanks for all of your support guys. I smoked for a few years, started in the USMC and quit almost 2 years ago because the wife wanted me to. Haven't smoked since but I always missed and vaping gives me exactly what I've been missing : )