# of refills? And when do you toss a carto?

[fletchfx]

Is the filler replaceable or do you just keep using the same filler?

After messing around with different carts, I have found that the KR808D filler is actually removable!! Its just a barrel of polyfill wrapped around a wire with a piece of paper wrapped around inside the wire. the paper is actually what gives it the burnt taste when they go bad.

To get the filler out, just use a pair of needle nose pliers and grab ahold of the poly fill, it will pull straight out (Make sure you are only gripping the poly fill and not the paper or wire or the shroud around the wire) . I tired putting some wool nibs in place of the polyfill but do not have a straight up answer as to how it will do at this point, I just did it about an hour ago. It does have a slightly different taste to it, almost smoother if you ask me. I tried this two different ways, with the paper in place and without the paper in place. The one with the paper seems to taste better then the one without, I am guessing the wool is to close to the wire at that point and starting to scorch.

Anyway, you can get the filling out and replace it on the KR carts, I have tried the Smoke 51 carts, but could not get the filler out without screwing up the wire and also tried some of the other carts for the E8 which is just filled with paper it seems, again the wire is intertwined so it pulls the wire out along with the paper.

BTW, if anyone knows where I can get E8 blank carts or at least carts that don't taste like used dryer sheets, I would love to get some. I would up buying a bunch of carts from Japan and they really suck 8-o

 

[whimzkool]

Yeah, someone on here has a video where they use the cartom, sans filling, to drip on.
Health Cabin has 50 cartoms for $50.00. Didn't realize at the time I ordered there is a ECF code discount of 10%. I used a code for 8%.. oh well. If you place an order in excess of $250., shipping is free. Net cost, .90 per cart. Do a co-op order with some other folks. Might even be able to get a further price reduction by emailing them for large quantities. If anyone wants to do this, I'd be happy to buy more.
WMZ

 

[Guineahill]

This thread piqued my curiosity so I decided to run my own experiment. Granted I have only tested ONE cartomizer so far and therefore my results are statistically useless.... but....

I opened a new cartomizer four days ago and have been using it exclusively. I got five refills in it before it lost performance. Then I washed it, blew it dry (wow... that sounds... ummm... yeah ), and refilled it. After two additional fills it lost performance again. I'm going to try washing it again. So far it has handled eight refills - nine fills all together.

I'll report back as this experiment progresses.

 

[Guineahill]

It died.

The last wash and refill didn't help it at all. It was still producing heat and I could force some vapor from it if I tried really hard... but I wasn't performing in a way that was usable.

So, naturally, I decided to perform an autopsy. There was definitely some charred filler in it. When I pulled out the coil, it was lightly crusted with black.

So.... this one lasted for nine fills. The first six fills (original and 5 refills) were great.

It is probably a good idea to go ahead and toss the cartomizer once a decrease in performance is noticed.

I think I might do this again in several days or a week and see what happens.

 

[chayce]

I've been using the same cart for about a month. Wash it out about once a week when it starts getting funky. The big thing is that I top it off several times a day, and always keep the filler wet. Also, after dropping the silicone ring (they seem to disappear like contacts) I've found that it is pretty worthless unless you overfill the cart. Without the silicone ring, it's easy to pop the end off and refill until the poly is moist again. The death of a cartomizer is due to burning dry and burning the polly, as long as it stays wet they are the most resilient atomizers I've found.

 

[chayce]

Well my favorite cart is now retired. The inner tube was starting to yellow, and I couldn't regain flavor after a couple washes. Tried another new one, and it was a dud. (almost no vapor production and hard drag.) Then my next one worked fine although it doesn't run as well out of the box. Need to get my multimeter out and check ohms.

Still makes me sad though, using the same cart happily for more than a month with great results and my old faithful is dying. Might try an alcohol bath, I really liked that cart.

 

[FlipnOut]

Try running a paperclip through the center of the dud, it's probably just blocked. I've heard of one that had a piece of aluminum wedged in the center of it from the machining process.

I received 20 atty's in my initial order on the 19th of December. I've refilled all of them numerous times, and only threw one away (my Dremel accidentally slipped and cut it apart)... I've got a couple of my menthol cartos that are getting the musty flavor to them, so I'm going to give them an overnight in Everclear in the next round...

I love the fact that they hold so much liquid, but I'm not sure that it's really any cheaper than using a quality atty/cart. I've heard rumors of people getting 6 months out of a 510 atty. I didn't have that kinda luck with my 3 piece.

 

[j122068]

i gusse the filler you speak of is the poly fill you can get at wallmart ive heard people whos tried this on another thred (fluval in a kr8) liked the ridged fluval is fluval poly fill and where can you get the ridgid stuff

 

[Nietzsc]

The problem I have with cartomizers is that after 3 or 4 refills they start to produce less vapor. The resistance is still good on the cartomizer, actually the same as new, but the vapor is the one that gets very low.

Any advice?

 

[Nietzsc]

I've read a lot of people that say the filler inside gets burned, but only one spot gets burned (where the coil makes contact) so I'm going to try to re-acomodate the filler inside and see what happens cause the rest of the filler is still in good shape.

 

[Katmar]

I've read a lot of people that say the filler inside gets burned, but only one spot gets burned (where the coil makes contact) so I'm going to try to re-acomodate the filler inside and see what happens cause the rest of the filler is still in good shape.

Keep a very close eye on the burning. People, myself included, are having issues with burnt carts after very little use. We don't know what we are inhaling at that point. You can try to keep them topped off, but the problem comes from the most inner fiber that is dry long before the outer filler. When that inner filler dries, burning takes place.
Good luck and be careful and alert.
Greencig carts are a better alternative, though not as tasty, I am told.

 

[Belletrist]

The problem I have with cartomizers is that after 3 or 4 refills they start to produce less vapor. The resistance is still good on the cartomizer, actually the same as new, but the vapor is the one that gets very low.

Any advice?

Have you tried washing them out?

 

[Scottbee]

The problem I have with cartomizers is that after 3 or 4 refills they start to produce less vapor. The resistance is still good on the cartomizer, actually the same as new, but the vapor is the one that gets very low.

Any advice?

Certainly the e-liquid that you use will have a bearing on this. Generally speaking.. the "darker liquids" often have more "stuff" in them ("stuff" being a highly scientific term)... and that stuff doesn't readily vaporize. It tends to stay in the filler material, or worse yet, form a carbonized crust and/or film on the nichrome heating element. And that can reduce the vapor production.

I don't know of a good and reliable way to remove that cooked-on "stuff" on a cartomizer.

 

[Synthnadz]

Certainly the e-liquid that you use will have a bearing on this. Generally speaking.. the "darker liquids" often have more "stuff" in them ("stuff" being a highly scientific term)... and that stuff doesn't readily vaporize. It tends to stay in the filler material, or worse yet, form a carbonized crust and/or film on the nichrome heating element. And that can reduce the vapor production.

I don't know of a good and reliable way to remove that cooked-on "stuff" on a cartomizer.

That has been my experience. In fact, my cartomizers have an average lifespan that is in direct proportion to how dark my liquids are. I vape nothing but Tasty Vapor Doublers mixed with my own nicotine, and the cartos I use for the light colored flavors last longer than ones I use with medium colored flavors, which outlast the cartos I use with the dark colored flavors. Always. And this experiment's been producing the same results for months now. ;-)

 

[Nietzsc]

Thanks all, well this is my first time with cartomizers so I haven't had the time to sit down and test a bunch of options. These cartos are from HeavenGifts and also the liquid (Dekang) and both flavors that I'm using aren't dark at all.

I took apart one of the cartos and noticed a hole on the thing wrapped around the coil and a little burn on the filler.

I'll report back after trying stuff...

 

[Guineahill]

I refill my cartomizers. Over time the vapor production does decrease. When it reaches a certain point I toss them. When I have dissected them I notice that there is indeed a build up on the coil. Can't dry burn these and I haven't had any luck at all soaking the build up off. No great loss in my mind... they are, after all, disposable!

 

[Nietzsc]

I thought that decrease in vapor production was due to the fact that the filler was burned, but if it's because of build up in the coil then I see no point trying to fix them.

 

[Guineahill]

I imagine that either can contribute. I haven't had an issue with burning filler - at least not yet.

 

[keyzygirl]

I top off alot and Im a lazy refiller.I havent had any probs with burning,but they are disposable,so Im not too worried about it.

 

[TokenToker]

Hi newbie here, just ordered a VaporKing, can't wait to get it. I went with the VK after reading many of the posts here. I know it will vary from person to person, but approx how many analogs is a cartomizer equal to? I only smoke about 1/2 a pack a day, Trying to get a feel for how long 15 pre filled carts will last. I bought some juice as well.