Short refill life, need tips on refilling & how to prevent burning

[NJSkip]

1ml of e-juice = how many cigarettes? I realize how impossible this question is; however, my pre-filled cartos seem to last about 15 cigarettes worth of analogs. When I refill, it seems to be more like 8 cigarettes worth of analogs.

My refill method:

1. Pop cap off
2. fill condom with 20 drops from 5ml bottle
3. lower carto (mouth end down) into juice
4. cap/plug the atomizer/battery end
5. flip carto over, spin.
6. Repeat with 5-10 additional drops

So that puts 25-30 drops in my cartomizer. Today's refill is already dead. It's still producing vapor, but it's starting to burn. It's possible I had already burnt out the cart prior to refill.

Should I be refilling as I go? Like, 3 drops after every vape-break? I judge how much I vape by timing it along side someone who is smoking cigarettes.

Also, I feel like I'm burning my cartos frequently. So two questions on that...

1. How do you know when to refill before burning?
2. What are my non-poly-fill options? I don't want to inhale burning poly fumes.

 

[dormouse]

I don't use the condom method. Some think it shortens the life of cartos. And some cartos have inner seals that may be keeping juice from getting to all of the filling. I buy soft-cap cartos and fillt hem as intended.

I don't vape my cartos dry. Whenever the vapor seems light or a bit dry in a way that can't be fixed by turning the ecig carto down for 5 seconds, I add juice. I take the carto off the battery, pop the soft cap (or pull the drip tip since I usually use a drip tip as a mouthpiece instead) and I drip 5-8 drops into the stuffing - whatever it seems to need. I make sure the threaded end is dry and clean, aim the open end down into a tissue and blow into the threaded end to clear the central air channel so I can see light through the carto (assuming it's a carto w/ a central air channel). cap, and use. Because I don't run them dry I don't singe the stuffing.

On a fresh fill of a dry blank carto, I fill it with at least 18-24 drops per ml of capacity, clean it up, then let it lay on different sides for 15 ninutes or so to make sure all of the stuffing has absorbed juice.

I am using 70pg/30vg and 80pg/20vg juices. If you have thick high VG juices it may take a lot longer for the juice to be absorbed into all of the stuffing and it may be easier to singe the cart since the juice will move sluggishly through the stuffing. If your juice is thick, try thinning it.

If you don't want to add juice on the go, bring multiple cartos with you.

 

[sam12six]

As far as burning, it'll burn for 2 reasons: There's no liquid at the heating element, or it's just too hot. They're really the same reason, but people think of it as 2.

Obviously, vaping the thing completely dry means it will burn very quickly, so topping off relatively frequently is the best preventative for this.

For the overheating thing, you'll see people all the time saying, "I put a drip tip on it to keep the carto from burning my lips."

Honestly, if it's hot enough to burn your lips, imagine how hot it is in the center. The entire carto is insulating you from the "ouch" hot of the heating element and it's still too hot for comfort. This means great vapor but the juice near the element gets used up faster than new juice can wick, so it's basically dry near the element.

For me, the change in technique that made carto life go from a couple of days to a couple of weeks was not vaping the thing when it's hot to the touch. When I want to chain vape, that means having 2 or 3 batteries with cartos to cycle through.

 

[Dudeman]

Soft tip carto's and drip fill them. Once full, let it set for 10-15 minutes to allow a full soak. I use a drip tip since it's easier to remove and once vapor production or flavor starts to diminish, I top it off usually getting a good 15 drops in there. I vape at 6v 24/7 and have only burned a handfull of carto's in over a year.

 

[NJSkip]

good advice, but I think I'm going to migrate off of cartos sooner rather than later. I disected 3 cartos at various stage of life and I managed to burn all 3.

 

[dormouse]

Try an Ego w/ tanks?

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Vaping has a bit of a learning curve, so don't give up just yet. I never thought I'd be a dripper, but it's how I vape 95% of the time now. I never thought I'd use cartos, but now when I'm out and about they're all I use!

I don't think anyone would be able to tell you exactly how many cigarettes = 1 carto. It all depends on how you vape. It's easier to remember that the average vaper will go 3-5mls of juice per day. If your carto holds 1ml of juice then you'll probably go through 3-5 of them.

Dudeman hit the nail on the head by saying that you need to refill as soon as vapor production drops off. If you keep vaping past that point, then you're going to burn the filler and ruin the carto.

Not all cartos are created equal and different brands definitely have their fans. Some really like Boge, some really like SLB. I really like the IkenVape line of cartos.

 

[JWebb]

I agree, Ikenvape has great cartos and products.

 

[swedishfish]

I don't use the condom method either- too messy and wastes juice. At least the way I do it it does.

I said in your other thread, I alternate three cartos. When there's no flavor, switch cartos. Refill in AM or evening. When they taste funky, I throw them away.

 

[Higbe33]

I just bought a box of atomized cartrides and don't understand how to use them. Is there a video showing how? Soft cap like you are talking about. I understand the condom idea for storage I'm guessing, but why another condom on the threaded side? Does it need to stay on until usage also?

Hig

 

[swedishfish]

I just bought a box of atomized cartrides and don't understand how to use them. Is there a video showing how? Soft cap like you are talking about. I understand the condom idea for storage I'm guessing, but why another condom on the threaded side? Does it need to stay on until usage also?

Hig

What kind of pv do you have?

 

[Higbe33]

My Riva just came in the mail and I ordered the carto seperate. Seems like that hole runs all the way thru and will get juice on the battery.

 

[melloyello]

sounds like a typical cartomizer. tilt the carto 45 degress and slowly rotate it in your fingers while you drip onto the filler until it starts dripping from the bottom end. let sitt for few mins and then blow lightly into the carto to clear the center hole. screw it on the battery and your good to go.