Not the best start to vaping..please give your input!

[aqaz69]

Hi everyone,

I just made the switch from smoking to vaping, but unfortunately my experience hasn't got off to a great start. I ordered a basic 510 cartomizer starter kit from CanadaVapes (good reputation) and 3 juices with 16mg nicotine: Canadian smooth (their most popular and well reviewed), chocolate chill and canadian rich. I placed 6 drops in each cartomizer and tried all the flavors.

The chocolate chill did not vape at all..I just kept getting a nasty burning taste in my mouth!
The canadian smooth tasted absolutely terrible.
The canadian rich was delicious, but every puff gave me a sharp tingling feeling in my throat that totally detracts from the experience.

Could I have been doing something wrong from a technical standpoint? Could it really be that all 3 juices were just that bad? Is that sharp tingling feeling what they call "throat hit?" (if so it's not pleasant at all).

I've gone back to cigarettes while I ordered some new ejuices hoping that will solve the problem...

 

[Rowdycat1]

Based on what you said I think maybe you didn't put enough juice in your cartomizers. I don't use them on a regular basis but in my experience, 6 drops wasn't enough to fill them. The burning taste and tingling you feel is likely the filler material inside burning up because it's not saturated with eliquid. Start with a new one and fill them completely before trying to vape. Good luck. The first ones you tried are probably ruined. They cannot be fired dry.

 

[ccm2000]

The 510 cartomizer should take 15-20 drops to fill. Let it sit vertically a few minutes after filling and blow through the mouthpiece end of the cart (off the battery) to make sure you didn't overfill.

 

[Crazyinariz]

with a caromiser you need to fill it till the filler material is completely soaked. The filler should look like a slurpee. The 6 drops is for an atomiser when dripping. A cartomiser has filler material to soak up the juice whereas an atomiser is just a coil. Once you get that burned taste the cartomiser is dead, take a new one and, while turning it slowly, put 20 drops into the filler (try not to get any down the center post). Wait 5 minutes and add 5-10 more drops. Keep doing this until it's fully saturated then hold a tissue, towel, whatever over the bottom and lightly blow to get all the excess juice out. Next, vape away.

here's a PBusardo video that demonstrates how (using the condom method)

 

[Mike Sheda]

Chocolate is a very hard e-liq for most vendors... I wouldn't suggest it for new vapors just starting out because it rarely vapes like you think it should.

 

[cdsaint66]

What Crazyinariz said. There is very little that tastes as bad as a burned cartomizer. I fought with filling cartos for some time, but once you get it down things get much better. Also, watching all of Pbusardo's videos is something I would highly recommend. There are little hints and tips scattered all through them. You never know where you'll find a useful bit of information.

 

[aqaz69]

Thanks guys, I'm going to try filling it with more drops. The funny thing is that the video from the website itself tells you to put 6-8 drops to fill the cartomizer..see below (i've read this elsewhere too)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rYXbeaPmcfg

 

[SissySpike]

Its better to over fill and blow out the excess than underfill IMO.

 

[Zealous]

That video was a demonstration of "refilling" your carto. What he was doing seemed more like topping off, which IS refilling, but you do it before the carto is empty. If you are starting with an empty carto you have to completely fill it up so that's more like 15-20 drops. He probably should have been more clear in the video though as I can see a new vaper misunderstanding that.

 

[Evi|grin]

And even after it appears to be full, let it set for a few minutes and check it again. It may need another drop or two after 15 minutes.

Take you time "priming" a cartomizer and you will have a far better experience. My first experience was terrible even after watching the videos and reading the "how to". Once im sure mine is full, i blow it out from the battery side. After i put mine in a tank i check for a gurgle. When its done right there is no gurgle or flooding.

Once i know that is all good i take a few quick pulls at lower volt setting and wait a few more minutes to make sure its wicking properly. Turn up your watts or volts slowly is you have VV/VW device. Mine needed far less volts than i thought to get a good vape. IMO throat hit is far more noticeable with a carto vs my clearos types at the same volts even if i get less vapor.

Good luck

 

[Amish Ed]

That video leaves much to be desired. If you only did around 6 drops, you definitely burned your filler. 20 drops is more like it. The condom method he used is much more the 6 drops. And the way he showed using a syringe/needle tip was horrid. You're supposed to put the tip along side and down into the filler and then squeeze. If you did it his way you would end up with juice in the air hole, flooding the carto.

 

[aldo.lim]

hi and welcome
i too used a cartomizer when 1st switching from smoking to vaping and had that same tingling feeling at the back of the throat that you described, for my case, I found out it was from too high nicotine content. Try using lower nicotine liquids, should get rid of the tingling sensation and smoother throat hit. Oh..and JMHO, i found "clear" juice works better in cartomizer than thicker juice..dunno about carto tanks though

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

You might also consider ditching the carts and getting a clearomizer which they have for your 510. Less fiddly and way easier to fill and maintain. I also think they produce better vapor but I'm using a different setup.

The tingly part may be a PG reaction depending on what ratio your liquid is. My first buy was very high PG and didnt agree with me at all. I felt it in my tongue and eventually my lips. Almost like being numbed.

I got some 50/50 PG/VG and have been very happy with that and no problems at all.

 

[thewomenfolk]

This is just my personal opinion based on experience with Cartomizers, but I find them very inferior compared to using a Clearomizer tank with any eGo, preferrably an eGo Twist or Kanger Winder, or the Spinner, which are all VV (variable voltage) devices.

But if you want a more permanent setup get something like the Vamo (cheap) or the Provari (expensive) or any other VV Mod, which uses a small or a large rechargeable battery, and then get a Protank II to use on it. Check out the various VV MOD's (there are many), which range from small to large. Then you'll know what real vaping is like.

Also, the rechargeable-type VV Mod's don't wear out like the Ego's do, and you won't have to keep replacing them. If you have a VV like the Vamo and a good bottom-feeder tank like the Protank, you're all set and won't have to worry about buying more stuff except for your juices and cheap replaceable coils for the Protank. I went from using the little Cartomizers to using the Cartomizers in a tank to using the Clearomizers with my VV Mods, which I think are the cat's meow.

A good way to start would be to get an eGo Twister (or 'Winder' or 'Spinner') and use it with a C5 Clearomizer. Remember to 'tip' the eGo upside down every now and then because I believe the C5 is a top feeder and when you tip it you're wetting the coils with juice and preventing dry hits. Those eGo devices can last a year or more and you can certainly get an idea of whether vaping this way is the way to go without spending a lot of money upfront.

 

[Vwls]

Hi... you are in the right place. ECF is a wonderful community and you'll find all the information you need here from helpful people who really care.

A lot of good advice in this thread... I'll add just a bit more.

1) How many cigarettes do you normally smoke in a day and what strength? It may be that 16mg juice is too much nic for you.

2) Check the PG/VG ratio of your juice. You may be having a bad reaction to either of these ingredients - experiment with different ratios till you find what works. The quest for juice that's right for you is one of the most challenging parts of getting started, but please don't get discouraged.

3) Make sure your carto is completely filled (slushy) before you vape it. (Throw away the ones that gave you a bad taste because they are ruined now.) As mentioned, you should be able to fit about 20 drops. One thing that helps is when you are filling the carto, put a toothpick down the center hole to prevent flooding that passageway. Then leave the bottom rubber "sleeve" that came with it ON while you are dripping into it. Pinch the soft rubber, and it pull down ever so slightly, and drip a few drops in, then un-pinch the rubber. This will suck the drops you've added right down into the polyfill. Repeat till all drops have been absorbed. Fill several carts and pop the little white inner cap back into the filled ones - then you'll have backups for later.

4) Buy yourself a Davide glassomizer tank. You can vape on this for a long time - it's super easy to fill, and there are no dry hits as long as you don't let it get under 1/4 full. Here is a full sized one for a good price: AnyVape Davide Glassomizer... and here's a mini: Mini Davide Glassomizer Kit. I really recommend this for new vapers because there is a learning curve with other systems, but this one is ridiculously simple and reliable. It's also nice looking and you can put your own drip tip on it.

Wishing you the best in your journey - remember, you're doing this for your future and your health - nothing is more important, so hang in there and never give up till you find the perfect vape!

 

[Baldr]

My advice is that cartomizers suck. They are a relic of a bygone day. Get a protank, or a vivi-nova tank, something along those lines, and you'll be better off.

I agree with the people who said that you didn't put enough juice in, but I really think you'll be happier with a simple tank. With a protank, it's much easier to fill/refill, and it's much easier to see how much juice you have left. You can refill the thing, or replace the atomizer head, without using tools. It's just easier all the way around.

 

[MrFrank]

I remember my first improperly primed cartomizer VIVIDLY. Blegh...Horrible! Once I learned the proper way to prime the cartomizers things got a lot better.

However I have to agree with some of the others on here...I have had much better experiences with Clearomizers vs Cartomizers/Carto Tanks. The vivi nova for example...a great clearomizer that has been on heavy rotation for me since I first purchased one. A good place to start IMO.

 

[Linden]

I continue to prefer cartos. I use this method to fill them quickly and completely:

 

[HeadInClouds]

I wanted to be sure I found something I liked right away with my first order, and i knew I wouldn't be in the mood to mess with equipment, steeping, or any delay. So I used disposables. I ordered from White Cloud because their 10-pack of Flings was $30, lots less than I'd seen in convenience stores. I got lots of flavors and a mix of strengths. I loved 2-3, liked most of the rest, found a couple that were horrible. I quickly placed a new order for the ones I liked.

If I hadn't found flavors I'd liked right away, e-cigs would not have worked for me. I'd advise you to get a bunch of flavors at once, whether juices, cartridges, or disposables, just go for huge variety, and you're sure to find one you like faster.

 

[DavidOck]

Indeed, sounds like the carto was, really, dry when you vaped it. I find that at least 20 drops (uh, how big is a drop??) are needed. And yes, once burned, toss it. No way to get rid of the burned filler taste.

If you like cartos, watch a few more vids of how to fill them.

For use on top of your 510, you might also want to look at the Vivi Nano. It's carto sized, but fills like a clearo, from the top, and is clear so you can see how much juice is inside. Easy to use, good vape.