Plain carto vs tanked carto

[Evi|grin]

Well last nite i tried a XL 3ohm 2 hole single coil in a Artemas locking tank. I did not want a 3ohm but the employee thought i should give it a try since i have variable watts and volts. Results are ho hum IMO. I like the tank but i started getting LOTS of juice in the MVP connection after a few minutes. Im sure i filled it correctly SO, i used a sealed 510 extender and no more gurgle or leaks. Flavor IMO is still not as good as a plain un punched 1.7ohm coil with just a drip tip.

Not bad for a $9 tank IMO


Im using 50/50 or thicker juices (normally) and the holes in the carto are pretty small. IMO it should have been fine without the sealed 510 extension. Im still learning about cartos and i have no issues with just a plain unpunched carto. IMO the flavor on that one is awesome. Maybe i just need some more 1.7ohm coils and try one hole instead but atm im not sure it will be any improvement over the simple to use plain carto.

Now the question/s mainly for Baditude since his advice keeps improving my carto experience. Others are surely welcome to give their opinions too.

1) What carto do you think is best for stand alone use? I see some Platinum and Diamond series on Ikenvapes. The price seems reasonable and i really want to try a 2ohm single coil but im open to suggestions on ohms.

2) How long does a carto usually last as a stand alone and do some brands last longer than others? The cheap SmokeTech 1.7ohm single coil cost me $1.39 locally. Im very happy with it even though i need to top it off occasionally. That does not bother me.

3) What carto brand and ohms do you think will make a noticeable improvement in the Artemas tank?

4) Ive also got some new 70PG/30VG juice i really like in my MT3S. What changes in carto selection will work better with that PG/VG blend? I would rather slow my vaping than get liquid in my battery connection. Im not a "chain vaper".

5) If im getting very satisfactory results with a plain carto and a drip tip, is it really worth me bothering with a tank. The KISS theory is nice and i kinda like how it looks on my MVP. I might even try to find a cell phone wrap just for grins.

Thank you and any suggestions would be most appreciated.

 

[BardicDruid]

My first suggestion is toss the locking tank, I've had several and they all sucked. I use Smok cartos, 1.7 ohm, 2 hole with 80%PG/20%VG and have no problems wicking, they even worked well with 70/30. I get my cartos from Hoosiers Ecig or SmokTek.com, they also sell 3 hole if your using a really thick liquid. For the longest time I used the regular Smok Tech DCT tanks without any problems, both sites I mentioned have them, but I decided to try IBTanked tanks and have fallen in love with them.

The only draw back to the IBTanked ones is they don't have the recess on the bottom caps for the flange on the carto, otherwise their great. You may like the IkenVape cartos, but to me they just seemed weak, the only way to know for sure is to order a couple and try them. Keep following Baditudes blog and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Evi|grin]

My new favorite B&M has the Smoktech 1.7 un punched no flange for $1.39 each. Sofar i REALLY like them as a stand alone. I may just buy a bunch and get a punch in case i want to use them in a tank. Ive also seen Kanger has a single bottom coil that is horizontal instead of a vertical coil. I can also get those fairly cheap locally but i think they only carry 35mm.

BTW i just turned up the watts on the 3ohm carto in my Artemas and after letting it set all night it seems to taste better now. Sofar no juice is leaking into the connection on the extender.

Thank you for your response.

 

[Glenn54]

2) How long does a carto usually last as a stand alone and do some brands last longer than others? The cheap SmokeTech 1.7ohm single coil cost me $1.39 locally. Im very happy with it even though i need to top it off occasionally. That does not bother me.

Can anyone answer this from the op? I'd like to know also.

 

[ronjamesmajor]

Smok cartos all the way for me as well. The 1.7 single coils, both punched with a flange, and without flange stand alone are awesome for me. I only vape 50/50 juice, and both the XL's and regular size seem to work consistently well. I even punch the regular's and put them into my kir fanis tanks for the provari.

As for carto tanks, I enjoy the DCT locking tanks. Smok pyrex glass tanks work really well if you're just getting into carto tanks. They just slide and lock onto the flange. Maybe not the nicest looking in the world but they're definitely functional, and won't break down with juices.

 

[Ladiekali]

Hi. I was using cartos for stand alone. And still do for my diy and new juice testings.

I wasnt sure id like the tanks. Seemed like i was happy enough with carts as stand alones.

But i had a credit for an online vender, tried the smok pyrex dct.
Omgosh i loved it.
I have since found them much cheaper less than $7 a pop.
I also have an ibtanked. I couldnt afford more because they are pricey. And i vape many different flavors.

Well i have ordered three more smok dct's in 6 ml size and 4 in 3ml size.
I love them all. I will be getting more ibtanks in various sizes and colors.

Both tanks are easy to use and work flawlessly for me.

Now about cartomizers.
I have many and many more on the way. My idea was to try as many as possible.

My least fave is kanger. I would just by pass those all together.

I currently like both boge and smoktek.
I have some from ikenvape and smoktech on the way. So i cant comment yet on those.

Since im using wattage i havnt noticed a real difference in size, or single coil or dual coil. I do like the xl sizes at a higher wattage than a standard size.

Using tanks i have never gotten a burnt or any bad tasting vape. And i hit hard. Well with the exception of the kangers they seem inconsistant.

Its like fill it and forget it. Especially nice with 6ml size!


If you are happy using cartos you will probably be head of heels for the cartotanks!

 

[Evi|grin]

Well i got some of the IKVs rated at 2ohm and they show as 1.7ohm on my MVP. Ive only tried one so far and its rocking without any leaking. The flavor is really good too and they wick very well for me. Im keeping my fingers crossed since ive had a carto work fine then go to heck within days but they were all SMOKs in tanks.

I still enjoy the unpunched SMOK 1.7ohm SC for tasting but i really want to try the huge SMOK MEGAs. I get about a week plus out of them with sweet juices before they die or get too tight. Lighter and less sweet juice will likely last twice as long IMO. The MEGA 4XLs s might be ideal for when im in the mood for menthol and should last longer to help offset the price difference.

Those jumbo 4XLs look very interesting with a different drip tip. I found replacements and an adapter to use a standard 510 drip tip. My B&M is getting me some to try with their next order. The price is so close to online, its worth the wait. I hate ordering a small amount and pay almost as much in shipping.

The SMOK 3ohm i tried was "ok" but then it started having leaking issues within a day or two so i vaped it dry and threw it away. I think part of the problem is the pollyfill QC and the limitations of the MVP voltage output with a 3ohm coil. The rest is my vaping style/technique.

I think ive found what works for me in the DCT Pyrex and now im ready to use the IBtanked when it arrives.

 

[Ladiekali]

I have the mega 4x and really like it. But for best flavor i top it off a lot.

I love the smoke dct pyrec too.

And the ibtanked is awesome! I will be getting more of those.

 

[SKYYcamel]

I really like this set up a lot. (Boge F16 Cartomizer Tank (Clear)) Performs great and is inexpensive. I'm using 65pg/35vg juices in them with no issues.

 

[Evi|grin]

I really like this set up a lot. (Boge F16 Cartomizer Tank (Clear)) Performs great and is inexpensive. I'm using 65pg/35vg juices in them with no issues.

IMO if you like the F16 carto, you will like the IKVs Mega Fusion Punched too. They appear to be very similar but i have not actually tried a F16 carto for a exact comparison.

Isn't the F16 tank a polycarbonate? Im pretty much sold on glass tank for my cartos and i prefer SS end caps. I dont use any tank cracker that i know about but glass/ss just taste cleaner to me with some juices. My UDCT is ok but the SMOK DCT Pyrex is a improvement and its only $10 locally.

Thank you for the link though. Their price on F16 cartos is excellent. I will be giving them a try too now that i found them at a great price.

ATM im on my second day with 70PG/30VG with a 2 hole IKV and there is no sign of juice on my MVP connection. I had to clean the connection several times a day with the SMOK 2 hole cartos i tried. There is a difference internally between the two carto. I can even tell by how long it takes the pollyfill to absorb the juice. It takes much longer with the IKVs. IMO that is why it has not leaked so far.

I just loaded up another DCT Pyrex with a IKV and a Mango juice i use mainly in my iClear30. Its a bit on the mild side on flavor in the iCear30 but its quite nice in the IKV carto. Throat hit much better but the vape is a bit cooler at the same watts.

 

[stl1969]

But i had a credit for an online vender, tried the smok pyrex dct.

Thank you!

I just ordered some of these. I've been thinking about trying carto-tanks for quite awhile now - I've been using SMOK large cartos for a long time.

 

[Ladiekali]

Make sure u use flanged cartos for it, i tried some others and ruined my battery.

 

[KC33]

I really like this set up a lot. (Boge F16 Cartomizer Tank (Clear)) Performs great and is inexpensive. I'm using 65pg/35vg juices in them with no issues.

Have you tried their new version, the Pyrex V2?

 

[stl1969]

Make sure u use flanged cartos for it, i tried some others and ruined my battery.

I don't think I got flanged cartos - I just have the ones that came with it. But it's working GREAT! I can't believe I waited this long to order these!

The flavor and throat hit are incredible and I don't need to worry about the carto getting dry.

I'll look around for those flanged cartos - thanks for the tip!

 

[vernhall]

I like my cheapo 3ml FastTech tanks with Boge slotted cartos -- nary a gurgle or dry hit ever...

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

I have also been experimenting with tanked carto setups and here are my current findings:

I have two tanks; my current all day setup is an IBTanked 22mm standard and my backup is a Big Daddy Vapor "lil mama" tank. I believe the IBT tank holds roughly 5ml of fluid where the lil mama holds about 3-3.5ml of fluid. Both are great tanks but a little pricey imho. I did primarily buy them for the looks though ^_____^


Now to the main discussion: CARTOS!

I have tried the smoks and the boges so far. I only had one Smok (which was a 1.7ohm) and I actually burnt that out at 3.4 volts on a ProVari. Its really weird because I checked the resistance and it was legitimately 1.7-1.8ohm on the provari. I replaced that one with the Boge and have been running my backup with the other boge with no issues. Both are single coil 2.5ohm standard 2x laser punched cartos. The are kind of loud when it comes to usage but perform relatively well. Flavor is my biggest issue as I am at a lost for words running 70/30 juice through them. Its weird. It may be the juice since it is kind of fresh (week old) so some more "testing" is due. In my opinion the Boges are doing well. I would just like some more robust flavor but I think the issue may be the brand, steep time, and also the pg/vg VS hole size...

As far as not punching and using them for tasting/testing... I think it comes down to preference. I was given the best advice ever as a newbie: sometimes you just have to dive in and try things. Take a leap of faith and discover what works for you. Cartos are a 1.50 average. some are closer to 2 dollars and some are closer to a dollar. Try a few different brands and then pick your poison. For me: I have ordered two of everything far. I am going to try several ikenvape cartos and then proceed to my favorite. I dont see any real difference running them in a tank or out of a tank. you should see similar results. I do notice when I add a drop or two to the top of the carto that the flavor is slightly more powerful. So if you run them as a stand alone your results may differ.


I do plan on running some testing it and posting it here. Good luck! Oh and surevapes is a good site :tup:

 

[jwag1973]

I recently switched to Carto's using them as stand alone and in tanks. For me it depends on the circumstance. I load several stand alone up to switch flavors back and forth during the day. The same with tanks, the difference being less refilling! I enjoy having both options.

 

[yzer]

I like the Smok single coil cartos, unpunched and without the flange. These work very well with my thick DIY 95% VG juice. I use carto tanks by IBTanked.

No need to guess about how many holes or slots are needed if you punch the cartos yourself. You just experiment until you find out what works. You're not left with a bunch of useless cartos that won't work for you. Non-punched cartos save money, too. Don't buy a cheap carto punch. I recommend the Siam Mods V2 carto punch sold online by Phiniac.

Which cartos work best with juices of different viscosity? There are differences in the build of Smok and Boge cartos. The wicks that cover the coils are different and so is the filler density and material. I find that Smok cartos works best with thick VG juices and Boge doesn't flood as easily with thin PG juices. The Smok cartos have a higher juice capacity per size than Boge.

I prefer single coil. My favorite size is XL whether or not I'm using stand alone cartos or cartos in a tank.

I can use 3.0 ohm cartos with the VV/VW Sigelei Zmax V3 telescopic. Using 3.0 ohms will offer me a greater range of wattage possibilities without burning the carto but I like to vape between 6.0 and 7.5 watts. My batteries last longer using 1.8 to 2.0 ohm single coils and deliver 6.0 to 7.5 watts just fine without burning.

It usually isn't coil failure that limits carto life. Cartos get tossed after the taste falls off. It's the flavoring in juice that gunks up cartos and eventually ruins the taste. I use unflavored DIY juice but I'm very sensitive to how it tastes. Yes, unflavored nicotine juice has a taste. I usually run 18ml of juice through a Smok carto before tossing it.

I used cartos without a tank for a long time. Even with XL sized cartos I had to top them off with juice every 15 minutes or so for the best vapor production and longest carto life. Cartos perform best when saturated with juice and just short of the point of flooding. The way to get the best vapor, best flavor and longest life from a carto is to use them in a quality carto tank. The trade-off is a wider atomizing device than with a carto alone.