New to ECF / Vaping - Feeling overwhelmed!

[VapNfool]

Cartos can be refilled quite few times. You'll get various opinions from "just a few" to "hundreds". In any case, you can refill them a reasonable amount of times if you take care when cleaning them. Here's some info on cleaning and refilling cartos:

YouTube - Care and Feeding of Cartomizers Part 1

YouTube - Care And Feeding of Cartomizers Part 2

Also, you'll see some saying DO NOT BOIL CARTOS so if you wanna clean another way:

YouTube - KR808D-1 Carto Cleaning: Quick-n-Easy.

As far as getting new cartos to fill, I think it's the best way to insure flavor and functionality but don't overlook cleaning and refills. That works well too if...like I said...you do it properly. I do both.

Oh...and you do not disasseble the carto. Just clean it. Hope that helps!

 

[loft]

Cartos can be refilled quite few times. You'll get various opinions from "just a few" to "hundreds". In any case, you can refill them a reasonable amount of times if you take care when cleaning them. Here's some info on cleaning and refilling cartos:

YouTube - Care and Feeding of Cartomizers Part 1

YouTube - Care And Feeding of Cartomizers Part 2

Also, you'll see some saying DO NOT BOIL CARTOS so if you wanna clean another way:

YouTube - KR808D-1 Carto Cleaning: Quick-n-Easy.

As far as getting new cartos to fill, I think it's the best way to insure flavor and functionality but don't overlook cleaning and refills. That works well too if...like I said...you do it properly. I do both.

Oh...and you do not disasseble the carto. Just clean it. Hope that helps!

One question I can't seem to find an answer to in other threads about blanks is if they come pre-assembled with the filler material (foam / cotton / etc)...? And I'll check those vids out now. Thanks!

 

[toddos]

Cartos are all one-piece units. If you get blanks, all of the filler and everything is already in there. You just need to pop off the white rubber tip and drip your juices in (some say fill from the battery side, but I don't do that and see no reason why I should). Don't confuse cartomizers with cartridges. Cartridges are just plastic tips containing a filter material that plug onto atomizers, and as you search around you'll find a lot of cart filler mods like blue foam, teabags, etc. Those don't apply to cartos, so you don't need to worry about them unless you decide to try out a 3-piece PV at some point.

 

[loft]

Cartos are all one-piece units. If you get blanks, all of the filler and everything is already in there. You just need to pop off the white rubber tip and drip your juices in (some say fill from the battery side, but I don't do that and see no reason why I should). Don't confuse cartomizers with cartridges. Cartridges are just plastic tips containing a filter material that plug onto atomizers, and as you search around you'll find a lot of cart filler mods like blue foam, teabags, etc. Those don't apply to cartos, so you don't need to worry about them unless you decide to try out a 3-piece PV at some point.

Ohhh okay. What about using the condom fill method?

 

[toddos]

Same deal. Drip 10-15 drops into the condom, pop off the plastic tip, and slide the open end of the carto down into it (again, some say to do it from the battery end but I don't and see no reason why I should). Flip it over, slide the condom off, and watch the juice get absorbed. If you're doing the spin method with this, go ahead and spin/shake the carto and if the filler looks dry go ahead and do another 5-10 drops in the condom. Repeat until full or you see liquid down the middle of the carto. Blow that out and vape.

Personally, the condom method is really nice and quick but it can be overkill when you just need to top up. Spending 2 minutes dripping into the carto isn't all that much more time consuming, and I get a better sense of when the carto is filled up (at worst I'll waste one or two drops, where I could waste much more than that on the condom fill method).

 

[loft]

Same deal. Drip 10-15 drops into the condom, pop off the plastic tip, and slide the open end of the carto down into it (again, some say to do it from the battery end but I don't and see no reason why I should). Flip it over, slide the condom off, and watch the juice get absorbed. If you're doing the spin method with this, go ahead and spin/shake the carto and if the filler looks dry go ahead and do another 5-10 drops in the condom. Repeat until full or you see liquid down the middle of the carto. Blow that out and vape.

Personally, the condom method is really nice and quick but it can be overkill when you just need to top up. Spending 2 minutes dripping into the carto isn't all that much more time consuming, and I get a better sense of when the carto is filled up (at worst I'll waste one or two drops, where I could waste much more than that on the condom fill method).

True. Now I really need to find some flavors that I like... I can't decide on what to get for menthol. I was looking at FSUSA and I have no idea what to get... Extra flavoring and pg/vg are what I'm hung up on. SmokeTip cartos that I have are fine for vapor but I am trying to get it as close to a regular Newport as possible. I know the flavor will never be exactly the same.

 

[toddos]

I really like FSUSA. For your first order, I'd suggest not adding any extra flavoring and going with their "pre-mixed" juices (should present only a few PG/VG options to choose from). Their 3ml samplers are all 24mg nicotine, so I suggest getting 5ml bottles as "samples" instead. Try out a bunch, find what you like, and then buy more.

Personally, I really like FSUSA's cocoa, wyatt earp, rocking chair, and ry4, but everybody's taste is different. A lot of people like the purecig flavor as an analog replacement. I've not tried it, but it sounds too smokey for my tastes.

Also, you can add menthol to any of their tobacco flavors, so maybe give that a try.

 

[loft]

I really like FSUSA. For your first order, I'd suggest not adding any extra flavoring and going with their "pre-mixed" juices (should present only a few PG/VG options to choose from). Their 3ml samplers are all 24mg nicotine, so I suggest getting 5ml bottles as "samples" instead. Try out a bunch, find what you like, and then buy more.

Personally, I really like FSUSA's cocoa, wyatt earp, rocking chair, and ry4, but everybody's taste is different. A lot of people like the purecig flavor as an analog replacement. I've not tried it, but it sounds too smokey for my tastes.

Also, you can add menthol to any of their tobacco flavors, so maybe give that a try.

I will definitely keep this in mind, but I am going to see what the SmokeTip variety pack is like to get a general idea about different flavors (I ordered it last week along with the PCC and black battery) - and I'm going to order the Vapor King manual battery that's on V4L to give that a whirl before ordering anymore cartos. Right now, I have 37 prefilled cartos to use that I ordered prior to finding ECF... and I also am saving the empties that I have so I'll have a total of 40. Once I get the manual battery and use some cartos, I'll order some e-juice and boil/fill the empties. I think I'm getting the hang of this

I also want to take a moment and thank everyone that's personally replied in this thread and gave help/suggestions. I really appreciate it!

 

[RXDI]

Welcome! Best of luck to you!

 

[loft]

Welcome! Best of luck to you!

Thank you

 

[banjo]

Check out the MistressNomad videos. They are an excellent introduction to vaping & provide most of the information you will need.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-videos-newbies-particular-broke-newbies.html

 

[loft]

Thanks for that link. I really appreciate it.

 

[loft]

So I will admit... I'm thinking of switching to a Riva... for home use anyways.

Sent from my Liberty using Tapatalk

 

[loft]

Just an update. I decided to order a Joye eGo starter kit with an additional battery, official Joye cartomizers, and a bunch of different sampler juices from FSUSA. My girlfriend seems to really be hooked on the SmokeTip and I'm just going to give her everything I have for it. I can put all the good information you guys gave me into saving her some money and getting off analogs as well. Thanks again everyone for all the help!

 

[DropEmCigs]

I am really interested in refilling instead of constantly purchasing cartomizers. I don't think I'll be chain vaping because I do get the occasional dry mouth from vaping but I am adjusting to that as well. How many times (average) can a cartomizer be refilled? And now to find some Nuport e-liquid I think...? Should I get blank cartomizers as well to start or just refill the SmokeTip & V4L's for now? And when cleaning do I need to disassemble the cartomizer or throw them in as a whole unit?

Hello loft. Just a thought...: I have also purchased some empty cartomisers (and fills them with a suringe from nearest drugstore). I have noticed also an unpleasant dryness - or even worse a sense of filler "grains" in the mouth - from the carto's. Maybe you should try some of the alternatives as well ?
Or...try to get some better flowing juice (I'll try that myself, shortly), i.e. increase PG% since PG is thinner, or dilute 5-10% with demineralized or sterile water (also local drugstore). Alcohol (vodka) can also be used to dilute... If the flavour get's too weak, it's possible to get most flavours as concentrates, too. Just a thought.

Vape away.

Edit: Why thinner juice ? The cartomizers (mine, anyway) only have 1 wick, in which the juice must travel. It must all pass the highest filling point inside the carto. Thick juice=hard/slow travelling.

 

[djjdnewyork]

PigCig was my first e-cig purchase. I spent a week doing research -- given that there are TONS of options out there, which is crazy-confusing for total novices -- but one of the most knowledgeable-seeming and sharp reviewers out there posted a video review of this product. He gave great insight into the advantages of Ego-style big batteries over the (universally-recommended-for-beginners) KR808-D1 model, including i) far superior battery duration, and ii) big vape. But what seems to set the PigCig apart from the other big batts: you can use it w/ all the KR808-D1 and GreenCig cartomizers that are out there. (As a bonus, LeCig's customer service has been truly stellar.) Glad I went for this over a "training wheels" model. The throat hit is great. good luck to ya

 

[loft]

PigCig was my first e-cig purchase. I spent a week doing research -- given that there are TONS of options out there, which is crazy-confusing for total novices -- but one of the most knowledgeable-seeming and sharp reviewers out there posted a video review of this product. He gave great insight into the advantages of Ego-style big batteries over the (universally-recommended-for-beginners) KR808-D1 model, including i) far superior battery duration, and ii) big vape. But what seems to set the PigCig apart from the other big batts: you can use it w/ all the KR808-D1 and GreenCig cartomizers that are out there. (As a bonus, LeCig's customer service has been truly stellar.) Glad I went for this over a "training wheels" model. The throat hit is great. good luck to ya

Thanks, djjdnewyork! I've actually moved away from the pen style PV and am moving into the 5v vaping area. First I decided to make my own 3.7v nicostick which can be found in the modders section... and then I ordered a 5v PT in the beginning of the week and am about to order a GLV2 PV from www.greatlakesvapor.com; Thanks for the kind words though!

 

[djjdnewyork]

Damn -- thought I was some kinda expert, based on my two whole weeks of experience...didn't do the math on the fact that ya got two months on me! I'm reeeeeeeal sharp. Re: the 5V, I took note of the Magnum (from N-Haler).
As a novice, I still prefer to buy prefilled carts -- if you have any recommendations for a good vendor, that'd be great. thx

 

[loft]

I use cartomizers from IkenVape. Gold v2, 801 Fusion with adapter, and LR 510 when I feel like carrying around my ego and not looking like I am doing something suspicious.

Juices vary but for the most part - Boba's Bounty from AVE, Vanilla Tahity & RY4 from FSUSA, and the normal Dekang menthol (Chinese juice).

 

[djjdnewyork]

Thanks for the 411 re: Ikenvape. I've been seeing some stellar reviews for flavors (juice, not pre-filled carts) by an outfit name of Backwoods Brew on the forum: Backwoods Brew. OK, heading off-line -- thx for the insight