Newbie learning curve?

[jmpublius]

This is gonna seem like a goofy question, but how do you know when a carto is finished? I thought I'd just start getting less and less a vapor, but today I was using my e-cig and everything seemed fine, then I got a nice burn in the back of my throat and blew out a cloud of chemical smoke. Obviously, this means my carto was spent, but is there an easier way? Is there something that's a dead giveaway when one is finished? Or is this something you just eventually get a feel for?

I should mention, I don't seem to be going through them as quick as everyone said I would. I thought I'd be going through two a day, but I seem to be making them last longer.

 

[Zal42]

Personally, when i first notice a change in flavor (not necessarily a weakening, just a change) or vapor production, I refill. For my 70/30 liquids, anyway, I find that the carto will take another 12-15 drops at this point. I have some higher vg liquids that this isn't as reliable for, but they don't work so well for me in cartos anyway, so I've switched back to carts for those.

But yes, you do eventually "get a feel for it". Nowadays, I just find myself instinctively knowing when it's time to refill, but I remember the days when I had to pay attention to it.

My cartos seem to last quite a bit longer than I hear many reports of here, too, so you aren't alone on that. Maybe we're just blessed by the vaping gods.

 

[unsure]

Im sure folks here is who still uses carts that can help. All I can remember is when the taste and vapor gets less & less then load it up.

 

[robocig]

You really do just get a sense of when you're losing vapor production or taste. I keep a bottle of whatever juice I've been favoring on me at all times, so I usually top off my cartos pretty frequently. Doing this has kept me from actually burning out any of my existing cartomizers, so I guess I'm doing something right!

 

[CBB]

You will learn to notice when there is a slight drop in vapor production, there will be a slight change in flavor as well before it gets dry enough to get the gag burn. You may find that if you have a regular vaping frequency you can top off at certain time intervals to prevent running your cartos dry.

 

[cookiebun]

The second you notice a drop off in flavor or vapor add more juice the carto.
I burned up up several cartos myself the same way you did.

 

[dormouse]

I never finish them because I want to get days or a week of use out of one. I add liquid when the vapor seems light or a bit dry. I don't risk singeing them. I only buy soft-cap cartos. On my main ones I use a drip tip as mouthpiece instead of the white end cap. So it's easy for me to add a bit of juice. I use manual batteries so they are no so prone to being killed with juice leaks out the bottom of a carto.

 

[MickeyRat]

I'm more like dormouse when I'm using a carto. Every three hours or so, I top off the juice after four days or so it's starts to get nasty and it's time for a new carto. I save them, one of these days I'll get around to boiling them and see if that brings them back.

 

[JuiceJunkie]

From my experience, when I start to get the burnt taste is when it's time to fill/replace the carto. If you are filling, just take some juice with you and occasionally fill it by adding a few drops. After a while, you'll know when you need to fill it without getting the burnt taste.