Refilling used cartomizer

[sze5003]

So I boiled my cartomizers that were done, dried them completely out and used some liquid from ECBlends, Reduced PG to be exact and the toffee flavor. I used the condom method first on one and then drops on the other. I can not seem to get any good vapor out like I did with the pre-filled carts.

I mean I get vapor out but its very little and if I inhale nothing comes out. But I do feel the vapor in my mouth and it is warm too so I can tell its pulling through. No gurgling sound same sound as using a prefilled Volt cartomizer.

If I just drag on it and blow out the vape I see it, but if I just let it sit in my mouth then inhale and blow out, you can barely see anything come out. It is reduced PG meaning it should be more VG in there, more smoke, but the liquids seem to be the same viscosity.

 

[ThreadKiller]

I find that even with refills, I need to let the cartos steep for awhile. A day or two minimum.

 

[cindycated]

Could be a couple of things:
• Maybe the cartos weren't dry enough? May be just the top part of the filler that's dry.
• May be overfilled? Try vaping it more. Maybe it'll loosen up.
• Underfilled? If you let it sit awhile, can you drop in more? Top should look slushy.
• If the carto gets really hot, the heating coil is probably still encrusted with crud. In my experience, boiling hardly ever gets rid of this.
Welcome to the world of carto cleaning!

 

[sze5003]

Could be a couple of things:
• Maybe the cartos weren't dry enough? May be just the top part of the filler that's dry.
• May be overfilled? Try vaping it more. Maybe it'll loosen up.
• Underfilled? If you let it sit awhile, can you drop in more? Top should look slushy.
• If the carto gets really hot, the heating coil is probably still encrusted with crud. In my experience, boiling hardly ever gets rid of this.
Welcome to the world of carto cleaning!

They were left to dry I think 2 days, I am thinking that they are dry. I put enough liquid to make the top slushy and I noticed if I put more in, it could leak so I stopped. I let it sit over night after I filled them and it still pulls the same way. What is steeping?

And what is the proper way to clean them? I am waiting for blank cartos to use with the same fluid and see if there is any difference.

 

[marlou]

They were left to dry I think 2 days, I am thinking that they are dry. I put enough liquid to make the top slushy and I noticed if I put more in, it could leak so I stopped. I let it sit over night after I filled them and it still pulls the same way. What is steeping?

And what is the proper way to clean them? I am waiting for blank cartos to use with the same fluid and see if there is any difference.

There are so many methods people use for cleaning. I've tried several and have settled on just using a syringe with very hot tap water. I flush them out about five times, then pump out as much water as I can with the syringe and let them dry 2 to 3 days. That works for me and is a simple way to clean them. Some of my cartos last a long time, through several cleanings. Some don't last very long, but I think that's because some juices really kill cartos pretty fast.

Steeping is just letting a bottle of liquid sit for a period of time to let the flavors blend and develop. SI's liquids don't need to steep. Usually it's the liquids that are mixed when you order them that need to steep. You can tell when you first get them and taste them. The amount of steeping time will vary, you just need to go by your own taste.

 

[sze5003]

There are so many methods people use for cleaning. I've tried several and have settled on just using a syringe with very hot tap water. I flush them out about five times, then pump out as much water as I can with the syringe and let them dry 2 to 3 days. That works for me and is a simple way to clean them. Some of my cartos last a long time, through several cleanings. Some don't last very long, but I think that's because some juices really kill cartos pretty fast.

Steeping is just letting a bottle of liquid sit for a period of time to let the flavors blend and develop. SI's liquids don't need to steep. Usually it's the liquids that are mixed when you order them that need to steep. You can tell when you first get them and taste them. The amount of steeping time will vary, you just need to go by your own taste.

Wow I did not know you need to let these things out for days to dry. What about after you fill them should they sit there for a day or two, that is a lot of waiting haha. The taste of flavors I got seem fine. I have a syringe I just probably need to find a pencil grip or something to attach the cartomizer. I'm afraid I made it worse by boiling them.

 

[marlou]

Wow I did not know you need to let these things out for days to dry. What about after you fill them should they sit there for a day or two, that is a lot of waiting haha. The taste of flavors I got seem fine. I have a syringe I just probably need to find a pencil grip or something to attach the cartomizer. I'm afraid I made it worse by boiling them.

Some folks say you can dry them in the oven...lowest temp for about 20 minutes, I think. I was afraid of that. I did dry mine in the dehydrator once, but I'm basically lazy so just letting them lay on a paper towel for 2 or 3 days is easier. lol

To clean them with a syringe you either need an oral syringe that you can buy in a drugstore or you can buy a carto cleaning kit from SmokTek. I have both and both work, the one from SmokTek is sturdier and comes with two sizes of tubing that holds the cartos. There is also a gizmo that Vapian makes that you can use to clean and fill them. I don't know just where Vapian's video is, maybe someone else will come along and advise you about that method.

The filler at the battery end of the carto takes a long time to dry since it's not exposed to the air. As long as I get out as much water as possible and let them dry at least 2 days they work fine for me.

Edit: Oops, you asked how long they should sit after filling. It's better to let them sit about 20 minutes, some say overnight. If I'm in a hurry I use them right away. You just want to be sure they're saturated so you don't burn the filler.

 

[luvinit]

I clean my cartos all the time, and it sound to me like they aren't dry enough. I've left some for a week and the very bottom is still not dry. I made a little drying device by cutting Xs in a plastic tub lid, push my cartos through the X and put them on a heat vent and they're dry as a bone overnight. I refill by dripping, let them sit at least an hour and can usually top off with a few more drops.. works like a charm. But I only clean and refill once, then I toss them. Gunk does build up on the coil and nothing I've found gets rid of that.. good luck to you!

 

[ThreadKiller]

The vid for Vapian's ClearomizerCartomizer (or whatever he's calling it).
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo.../200782-cartomizerfillinator.html#post3531580

Can be used to flush too, from what I've heard.

 

[cindycated]

I clean my cartos all the time, and it sound to me like they aren't dry enough. I've left some for a week and the very bottom is still not dry. I made a little drying device by cutting Xs in a plastic tub lid, push my cartos through the X and put them on a heat vent and they're dry as a bone overnight. I refill by dripping, let them sit at least an hour and can usually top off with a few more drops.. works like a charm. But I only clean and refill once, then I toss them. Gunk does build up on the coil and nothing I've found gets rid of that.. good luck to you!

Yeah, I think having them upside-down helps get the bottom end dry faster, with gravity and all. I have a similar set-up, but don't have any heater vents, so I end up waiting longer. I have enough to rotate, so they usually end up sitting for about a week anyway. But yeah, they really do take a while to dry, and it's probably more crucial at the unexposed bottom end where the coil is.

I got this idea when I remembered how I used to have to hand-wash and air-dry my uniforms when I worked at IKEA (they only gave us 2 shirts for 5 days, sometimes up to 12 in a row. Ick). Gravity pushes the water down, and they were always still a little damp on the bottom end. But if you push the water down to the exposed end and you got in a crunch, you could just whip out the hairdryer, right?

And that crud that builds up on the coil is very stubborn and crusty, probably carbon-based (like burnt sugar in the oven after sloppy baking). I've found that boiling water alone has very little effect on it, but have had pretty good luck with soaking them in some kind of alkaline solution (like Rave's denture tabs) for a week or two, then blasting them with hot water and a syringe. That way, at least you can see tiny black crud nuggets in the discharge. I have a lidded glass jar by the sink that I toss spent cartos into. By the time I get around to cleaning, they will have soaked for a couple of weeks...

Heehee, I just re-watched Alien 3 the other day. Remember the end when they dipped the alien into molten lead, then sprinkled it with cold water and it completely shattered? (nope, too young). I keep hoping extreme temps would have the same effect on the crud (tried boiling water then ice water), but so far no luck. Oh well...

 

[MFToms59]

I'd try a little White vinegar & Water mixed, White Vinegar is a great Natural Cleaner. I use a solution of W-V & Water to clean the mineral and soap deposits from my Shaving Brushes, it is a good rinse for your hair & scalp and has many other uses. I'm too new to clean my Cartos, only 11 days vaping & smoke-free.

BTW, I'd start with ~1 teaspoon to 1oz water, after cleaning I'd do to rinses in plain water.

 

[sze5003]

I'd try a little White vinegar & Water mixed, White Vinegar is a great Natural Cleaner. I use a solution of W-V & Water to clean the mineral and soap deposits from my Shaving Brushes, it is a good rinse for your hair & scalp and has many other uses. I'm too new to clean my Cartos, only 11 days vaping & smoke-free.

BTW, I'd start with ~1 teaspoon to 1oz water, after cleaning I'd do to rinses in plain water.

Well I even put some of mine in the oven. They are toasty dry now too. My blanks came in so I filled one of them and it seems it must be the liquid too, although it is reduced pg, I can barely see some vapor come out when I exhale..unless I take really big hits. So could be that ECBlends juice may not be as concentrated? Seems like Volt's prefilled cartos produce more vapor somehow.

 

[marlou]

Well I even put some of mine in the oven. They are toasty dry now too. My blanks came in so I filled one of them and it seems it must be the liquid too, although it is reduced pg, I can barely see some vapor come out when I exhale..unless I take really big hits. So could be that ECBlends juice may not be as concentrated? Seems like Volt's prefilled cartos produce more vapor somehow.

You may already know this, but on the off chance you haven't read it yet.....don't vape the same way you smoked, take long easy draws into your mouth and then inhale.

If you have more than one flavor of eliquid, have you compared the amounts of vapor? Some liquids just don't produce as much vapor as others.

I always get good vapor with SI's batts and cartos, but I vape a variety of flavors from different vendors and the amount of vapor varies from one juice to another.

 

[phishtraveler]

sze: i am thinking its the juice you are using that is causing the low vapor....try some volt freedom juice or another one that has more VG in it for greater vapor production. carto may be fine, juice could be the issue....

 

[sze5003]

Yeh i think it could be the juice too. Cartomizers seemed dry to me too. I will try it out but I am trying to deal with this weird rash now oh man. Posted some info in the health section maybe others have had the same thing.

 

[EleanorR]

Uh oh. That sounds like it's a PG sensitivity.

Unless it's shingles, eczema, or a host of other problems --!

If switching to an all-VG juice doesn't make it go away, then definitely see your doctor.

 

[sze5003]

I have 40/60 PG/VG liquid left, unused, and 60/40 Pg/vg too. I've been vaping VG 100% from AVejuice. Rash is still there, sometimes looks less predominant and only in certain areas. Can't tell if it is pg or vg because it has not completely gone away. Doctor didn't know if it was Ejuice or e-Cigs in general, he didn't know much about this stuff and a dermo is booked for months in advance but who know.

I've ended up finding out that once they are dried in the oven and refilled slowly by dripping that the cartomizers work a lot better.

 

[Imagine]

could any other things be causing it besides vaping? new detergent? something like that ..that may have been over looked cause your mind went to vaping? ....cause moving to 100% VG would avoid any issues from PG...

I have 40/60 PG/VG liquid left, unused, and 60/40 Pg/vg too. I've been vaping VG 100% from AVejuice. Rash is still there, sometimes looks less predominant and only in certain areas. Can't tell if it is pg or vg because it has not completely gone away. Doctor didn't know if it was Ejuice or e-Cigs in general, he didn't know much about this stuff and a dermo is booked for months in advance but who know.

I've ended up finding out that once they are dried in the oven and refilled slowly by dripping that the cartomizers work a lot better.

 

[sze5003]

could any other things be causing it besides vaping? new detergent? something like that ..that may have been over looked cause your mind went to vaping? ....cause moving to 100% VG would avoid any issues from PG...

Not that I know of, I have not changed any of my diet or soaps/food. I really hope its not nickel allergy or pg/vg related. Although I would have gotten it before if it was nickel since doorknobs and the like would have given me that. Weird thing is, no itch at all, just bumpy and ugly looking. I can't give up vaping a week or two to see any changes too hard

 

[DedTV]

Wow I did not know you need to let these things out for days to dry.

Yep. They're made to hold liquid, not evaporate it.

You can put them in an oven on it's lowest temp for awhile to bake off the excess moisture. But I don't like that (or boiling) as I use black carts and it can melt the adhesive on the wrapping or melt the wrapping itself.

I found some dosing syringes at Walmart that were under $2 (also on Amazon) that have a rubberish EZ Dose cone looking thing that comes with them that attaches to the syringe. The cone has an opening at the end that a cart will fit tightly in. I use that to suck water through to clean out the old juice and then blow air through it to help it dry faster.
Then I hook the cart up to an electric air mattress inflator that I modified (just trimmed a cone they come with with a small hole to be a little bigger and added some strip insulation foam around the opening to grip what I shoved in it) so it'll hold and blow through the cart to really dry it out.