Please help me solve my Smoktech DC Tank woes.....

[KillFace]

Alright. I had a conversation with pbusardo (author of the "How I Slot my Cartos" video) about this problem and he says he can't figure out why it is happening...says maybe to try a J-tank with boges.....but I have 2 of these Smoktech tanks, and I want them to work.

Hardware:

-KSD VV eGo PTs
-Smoktech tank Dual Coil Cartomizers, with bottom flare (1.5ohm total)
-Smoktech 4ml Tank V2
-Smoktech 6ml Tank Dual Coil
-Dremel with metal cutter disc used by pbusardo
-Watts Saddle Valve from Home Depot
-Jughead's Jokesmoke 2.0 (100% VG)

I slotted a carto using his method for the first time and I'm pretty sure it went only as deep as in his video. It sure looks like some of the filler gets cut along with the metal. After cutting, a distinctive cut metal smell comes off the carto..... I filled it with some jokesmoke 2.0 (100% VG), which is very lightly flavored, and gave it a long time to soak in....and then put some in the tank and let it sit a while.

I tried vaping it and it had this rather strong ground metal taste....exactly like the carto smelled after slotting....
I tried to slot two more.....being as careful as I could to just barely pierce the metal and not go through any filler. It turned out a little better, but still had that unmistakable, rather unpleasant flavour....

Even several hours later, I could still taste that terrible taste in my mouth and nose....

Then, I bought a saddle valve and tried punching a carto. After filling it, tried vaping and I still got that same taste.....just not as intensely.....but it is still there.

I originally had put some watermelon flavoured juice in the tank and original carto when I first got it....without punching or slotting......I realize now that it had the same metal taste then, too....again, not as strong as punching....I originally thought the taste was part of the juice and didn't like it, but now it's obvious it is from the carto.

So, is there something wrong with these cartos? Am I doing something wrong?

Those of you who use ST DC tanks.....what carto do you use? what method do you use? Do you find it tastes any different from a regular boge carto? I'd really like to put these tanks to use (have a 6ml and a 4ml).....but I can't stand this metal flavour.....I've already wasted a good 6-10mls of juice trying to figure this out.

Thanks guys,

KillFace

 

[Cobber]

What are you using for a drip tip

 

[KillFace]

What are you using for a drip tip

I have several.....the plastic one that came with the tank, 2 different aluminum ones, a stainless steel one...

This flavour happens regardless of drip tip and even if I suck on the tank without the tip. (insert joke here)

 

[Cobber]

Well it was worth a shot ... I know I get a strong metal flavour with the Alum and SS drip tips. I have punched and slotted cartos and have no issues with the taste ... but i use stronger flavoured juice.

Sorry I am no help at all lol

 

[KillFace]

Well it was worth a shot ... I know I get a strong metal flavour with the Alum and SS drip tips. I have punched and slotted cartos and have no issues with the taste ... but i use stronger flavoured juice.

Sorry I am no help at all lol

What cartos do you use for punching and slotting?

 

[TrueNorthist]

I use a needle file to slot my tank cartos and do not notice a metal taste. Using a power tool will heat the metal and melt the filler and likely contaminate it. That is why I use a file. More work but no heat. The saddle valve method should not cause much heat though, so it is odd that you would get any contamination that way. Maybe if the metal removed remains in the filler? Have you tried washing one to see if the taste goes away? Use a 75/25% mix of white vinegar and water to low-boil the carto for 10 minutes, rinse it thoroughly until no smell of vinegar remains, then carefully blow it out and "bake" it in a convection or gas oven @ no more than 250 degrees for an hour or so. Then try it again.

There was a time for me where just about everything tasted metallic. Maybe that is what is going on?

 

[KillFace]

I use a needle file to slot my tank cartos and do not noticed a metal taste. Using a power tool will heat the metal and melt the filler and likely contaminate it. That is why I use a file. More work but no heat. The saddle valve method should not cause much heat though, so it is odd that you would get any contamination that way. Maybe if the metal removed remains in the filler? Have you tried washing one to see if the taste goes away? Use a 75/25% mix of white vinegar and water to low-boil the carto for 10 minutes, rinse it thoroughly until no smell of vinegar remains, then carefully blow it out and "bake" it in a convection or gas oven @ no more than 250 degrees for an hour or so. Then try it again.

There was a time for me where just about everything tasted metallic. Maybe that is what is going on?

hmmm, perhaps that may work. I considered washing it, but I didn't know how that would affect the filler.

I still don't know how to explain how vaping the carto WITHOUT punching or slotting seems to have a weird metal taste when comparing the same juice in a boge...

 

[NoizMaker]

Very strange indeed.

Are you re-using the juice that you put in the tank? It is possible the juice became tainted with particulates from the slotting you have done.

If you don't have reactions to PG I would suggest that you either try a PG juice and scratch the slotting or punching or cut down the juice you already have with it (though it'll weaken the TH and flavour).

If you are dead-set on VG (or do have an allergy) then maybe you should thin it out with some strong pure grain alcohol, absolut vodka or distilled water at around 2-4% max (but start with 1 or 2 % in a small batch just to be safe. You can always add more but can never take the alc back out). That will keep the TH alive, make it thin enough to vape in your DCT and you won't have to sacrifice much on flavour.

I am using a DCT with Juggy's PB& Banana in 100% VG right now and it is vaping great with no mods to the juice or the DCT cartos. I am 100% sure they thin it out for you already but since YMMV it's all about finding what works for you.

 

[TrueNorthist]

I still don't know how to explain how vaping the carto WITHOUT punching or slotting seems to have a weird metal taste when comparing the same juice in a boge...

I guess it is possible you got a batch of "dirty" cartos. I use Smoktech 1.5 dual coil cartos exclusively and have not ever noticed a metal taste, except when I was going through that metal period. (Not the one back in the 70's)

 

[Switched]

Unless you are using a PG based liquid or a VG that has been diluted between 10-20% you are going to have problems.

 

[KillFace]

Very strange indeed.

Are you re-using the juice that you put in the tank? It is possible the juice became tainted with particulates from the slotting you have done.

If you don't have reactions to PG I would suggest that you either try a PG juice and scratch the slotting or punching or cut down the juice you already have with it (though it'll weaken the TH and flavour).

If you are dead-set on VG (or do have an allergy) then maybe you should thin it out with some strong pure grain alcohol, absolut vodka or distilled water at around 2-4% max (but start with 1 or 2 % in a small batch just to be safe. You can always add more but can never take the alc back out). That will keep the TH alive, make it thin enough to vape in your DCT and you won't have to sacrifice much on flavour.

I am using a DCT with Juggy's PB& Banana in 100% VG right now and it is vaping great with no mods to the juice or the DCT cartos. I am 100% sure they thin it out for you already but since YMMV it's all about finding what works for you.

Not reusing the juice.

I haven't tried a PG juice because I really wanted to have a tank of Jokesmoke 2.0 on the go, so that's what I used for testing....

I do have an order from jughead coming in today with a bunch of JS 2.0 (VG) and a bunch of JokeSmoke Signature (50/50).....so I'll give the PG/VG juice a try.....

I'll try filling it and waiting without punching or slotting or anything....and then try to vape it to see if I notice a taste difference from the boges....then if that's fine, I'll try punching a hole.

Perhaps I just didn't wait long enough before vaping the first time......maybe because it is 100% VG it didn't wick all the way, and the taste I got was from a dry burn......though, it did taste just like the carto smelled after slotting.....and it didn't taste the same as a boge dry burn (which I've tasted).

*sigh*......perhaps the stardust will blow cartos out of the water anyways...

 

[KillFace]

I guess it is possible you got a batch of "dirty" cartos. I use Smoktech 1.5 dual coil cartos exclusively and have not ever noticed a metal taste, except when I was going through that metal period. (Not the one back in the 70's)

lol, well that could be it...but I did use the original that came in the tank, another from a box of 5 refills from my first order and another from another box of 5 refills from a second order....

 

[KillFace]

Unless you are using a PG based liquid or a VG that has been diluted between 10-20% you are going to have problems.

I'm starting to agree with this point.....

However, why would I have no problems with 100% VG juices in the boge cartos and yet problems with these Smoktech Dual Coil ones?

 

[jeffsgonefishing]

i use the smoktech dc lr on my smoktech 4ml stainless tank with boba bounty. i drill the single hole out slightly with a battery operated drill slowly then i add a few drops of pg (have not tried distilled water yet). it seems to work well and the only problem is that the cartos only work well for a few of days(too many flavours in boba kill coil). taste is good. i may try a second hole next time.

 

[Switched]

I'm starting to agree with this point.....

However, why would I have no problems with 100% VG juices in the boge cartos and yet problems with these Smoktech Dual Coil ones?

DCs are akin to a 4 barrel carb. It has 2 coils and demands twice as much juice. VG is like fuelling them carbs with an 1/8 in fuel hose vice the require 3/8". If I am not mistaken, that taste you are experiencing is the funky burnt carto taste that happens if not properly moist will happen in the beginning and will not go away.

 

[TonyTT]

Is it possible to have over dremelled the carto shell that the smoke off the carto either singed the filler, or left it's smoke in the filler, leaving the metallic taste?...maybe do a vodka rinse?...(This is all just pure blind speculation)

 

[Switched]

i use the dc dual coil on my smoktech 4ml stainless tank with boba bounty. i drill the single hole out slightly with a battery operated drill slowly then i add a few drops of pg (have not tried distilled water yet). it seems to work well and the only problem is that the cartos only work well for a couple of days(too many flavours in boba kill coil). taste is good. i may try a second hole next time.

... but what a convenient few days those were

I buy nothing but the best and on avg cartos last me 2-3 tops, some will go past that, but few. After your taste buds are fully recovered of a life of neglect and abuse, a stale carto pops to the surface quicker than you can say WTF

 

[VapesAlot]

sounds to me like a wicking problem also, most 100% vg wont wick well in any carto. if you have an atty try dripping a few drops to see if you have the same taste on the juice, a hack saw or just a nail and punch the carto and you shouldnt taste any metal. 100% vg IMO is only good if you are dripping

 

[andyman97]

DCs are akin to a 4 barrel carb. It has 2 coils and demands twice as much juice. VG is like fuelling them carbs with an 1/8 in fuel hose vice the require 3/8". If I am not mistaken, that taste you are experiencing is the funky burnt carto taste that happens if not properly moist will happen in the beginning and will not go away.

This taste always makes me sad because I know I'm losing a carto full of juice
I always find myself hoping to be able to vape through it but it never happens...

 

[jeffsgonefishing]

i have been smoking for over 30 years with a couple years of that not smoking. i have been vaping for only 6 weeks. i have always had good taste buds. smoking for some reason has not killed them and i can taste things is food that some non smokers cannot.
i love the taste of boba and can live with a carto death every two to three days. switcher what carto are you using? If you have any suggestion for me they would be appreciate. i like to try new things.