Stupid newbie with stupid newbie question (about cartos)

[LondonGirl]

So I got my new e-cig on Tuesday and decided to see how I like it before giving up the cigarettes. Well, now I've not smoked for 3 days, and don't honestly want to stink any more, so that seems like a good thing!

Anyway, I don't know if these clearomisers I got with my starter kit are just rubbish or what, but they leak, so I decided to get some cartomisers instead. I've primed one and it's great. But how often should I top it up? I have an hour commute and need to basically use it non-stop during that time. Will it last that long?

How much should I top it up with?

I'm thinking my long-term solution may be a cartotank, but for now I just need something cheap, hassle-free, non-leaky, and that won't burn for at least an hour. Would appreciate any advice!

 

[happydave]

clearomisers should be topped when 1/2 - 1/4 empty.

i have used a lot of crappy carto tanks.

these cartos Odyssey Boge Single Coil Cartomizer

with this tank Odyssey Tank | E-Cig Supplies @Totally Wicked

on a VV mod are by far the best vape i have ever had from any cartotank.
in fact i would say its in my top three devices i currently own.

can you show me a picture or link of the cleromizer you have?

 

[Munnin]

If you are using a carto in a tank....I normally only top them off after I have vaped through a full tank. I will fill the tank, then prime it with a few drops on the carto with drip trip removed. When first priming it you can use PBusardo's "condom" method or drip directly from the bottle about 6-10 drops. When I prime a new tank full using the same carto I usually only do just a few drops to get the filler saturated enough then do a primer puff.

 

[LondonGirl]

I can't post a link as I'm still new, but I'm using a CE5 clearomiser that came with my starter kit at the moment.
It's leaking from where the base screws into the tube (sorry I don't know the proper terms) - not where it joins the battery, but above that.

Munnin, do you mean the carto will only last an hour if it's in a tank?

 

[vapo jam]

kanger protank would be a good choice (or any of kanger's similar tanks). they're relatively cheap, durable, don't leak, and can hold a good amount of juice.

i don't think a carto will last you an hour of chain vaping... if that's your only option, maybe fill up 2 or 3 before leaving so you can switch them out?

 

[AttyPops]

I don't usually advocate one device over others. But this time, I will. I suggest getting an Evod. Dirt simple. Easy to mess with. I know a bunch of people (including myself) that use them. They are my "semi-disposable" solution....not a huge investment basically. You can swap the coils/heads.

Yes...I have several other "toppers" too...I use the Evod for when I'm driving. No need to drip. No leaks.

Warning...they need eGo threads. But you can get an adapter if you want to use a standard 510 connection.

 

[RAAng]

I can second this about the EVOD. I've been vaping for two weeks. Have had only one problem that wasn't user error - bad atomizer. User errors are pretty simple and I have been able to correct them myself with a little bit of looking and a few You Tubes. Got a Protank Mini so I'd have something glass. It's a little finicky, but you can figure that one out too. The EVOD is sleek, slips in my purse, and doesn't look like I'm sucking a flashlight.

One thing I have learned - if it leaks, make sure everything is screwed in tight. Was filling the Mini and couldn't figure out where all the juice was going. Eventually it showed up running down my hand.

 

[CountBoredom]

I'd improve on AttyPops answer and suggest Kanger T3s or MT3s (second one has a metal sheath--helps protect the tank). They hold a little more liquid than the Evods and have an easier draw to them (more air flow). Great for traveling since they're cheap, don't leak, and are bottom coil. Another warning: both the Evods (standard, not the glass) and the T3s/MT3s are polycarbonate tanks which can crack if certain flavors with high acidity are used (usually citrus and cinnamon flavors). The coils for each last about 2-3 weeks and can be found for as little as $6 for a 5-pack online.

Congratulations on being smoke-free and welcome to ECF!

 

[silvertorch]

Prefilling a few cartos and swapping them out might be your best bet for an hour commute, cartos don't last as long as clearomisers do.

IBTanked makes some of the best carto tanks in my opinion.
As far has cartos Boge makes good one, Smok does as well.

Baditude has an awesome set of blogs on this forum that have helped me out when I started vaping.

(1) Proper terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A Guide to Juice Attachments.
(5) Baditude's Cartomizer Tank Setup Guide
(8) Cartotank Help For a Noob

I would read all of Baditudes blogs though, lots of good info.

 

[Rat2chat2]

I started out on cigalikes and quickly moved to the ego style battery. I have used ProTanks, ProTank mini's and eVOD's since I began. I have tried others but always seem to prefer the ones I started out on. The reason is because they are easy and dependable. On down the line you will even find that they are super easy to rebuild yourself if you want to continue saving money. I don't know how much you vape, but if your battery is not lasting long enough, I also would not hesitate to recommend the mvp2. I love mine.

Welcome to ecf and all the wonderful people that you will find here. Good luck to you and your continued success.

 

[Grimwald]

Cartos alone...not in a tank...should last well over an hour. Total time will depend on how much you vape and what type of carto you are using. When I first started vaping, I used regular size (35mm), standard resistance (3 ohm), bottom coil cartos. I usually vape about 6 mil per day. These cartos hold about 1 mil of juice which would last me 2-3 hours. I would fill up 5 cartos in the morning and that would last me most of the day. Hope that helps.

 

[efhunter]

Those ce4 and ce5 clearos seem to be disposable junk. I'm looking into an upgrade as well. Thanks for the links silvertorch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[djsvapour]

Hi LondonGirl.

Sorry to hear about your leaky clearomiser. YES, a cartomiser will be almost leak-proof, and an hour on a train is not going to be a problem.

A cartomizer filled properly will be plenty of liquid, but as you have commented (might get a carto-tank) would require top ups during the day.

Would I recommend a carto-tank? Maybe, but there are some shocking ones on sale, especially from mainstream UK vendors. I would get flamed on here within minutes if I told you just how bad some of the cheap brands are.

There are clearomisers that will work for you, just not what you bought (in most likelihood). I do enjoy a carto tank, but during the day (at work, out and about) a clearomiser will always win. Yes, the taste can be inferior and yes, when it comes down to it a carto is the same price as a clearomiser replacement head. I don't use them at work/on the train as the ones I have are BIG. Big, as in they fit a big e-cig.

I can advise you of some possible choices and vendors too, if you are interested.

Alternatively, you could ask on AAEC UK.

 

[nhieuquadi]

Kanger protank would be a good choice for you, I would be very happy if the new people get acquainted with you.

 

[djsvapour]

Kanger protank would be a good choice for you,

Maybe.

I do quite like the Protanks, but my preference has always been the mini ones. I found v.1. and v.2 Protanks were too gurgley.

 

[peestandingup]

I started the same as you. IMO it's really tricky to not have a carto leak. Best solution is to of course get a carto tank & you'll never have to worry about it again. The X8 tank is an OK starter tank. But if you've got just a bit more money (like under $30) then an IBtanked is the way to go. Best vape I've ever had. And NEVER leaked.

 

[LondonGirl]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

Unfortunately switching cartos during my commute is not an option as I do it by car. This is why I really need something that will last me the full hour. But it looks like there are plenty of options, so I'm sure I will find something that suits thanks to your suggestions.

I've heard great things about the IBTanked, but just want to be sure a cartotank is what I want first. As I live in the UK the shipping is a little higher, though it looks like it would be worth the cost.

Anyway, for now I've ordered the cartotank from Totally Wicked that someone suggested earlier - thanks for that!
And I've also ordered an EVOD as that sounds popular too.
Will try them both and see which I prefer.

For now, I took one of my clearos apart last night, put it back together, and left it filled with water overnight and none has leaked. So now I've taken it apart again to dry out and will try it with eliquid later. But maybe it just wasn't all tightened enough or something. One of them was already OK as long as I keep it upright, so hopefully I now have 2 usable ones to keep me going until my goodies arrive!

 

[djsvapour]

Anyway, for now I've ordered the cartotank from Totally Wicked that someone suggested earlier - thanks for that!
And I've also ordered an EVOD as that sounds popular too.
Will try them both and see which I prefer.

Which TW carto-tank did you buy....?


(oh, I see...)


Good, but very expensive.

 

[Feignix]

London Girl, what e-cig is your cartomizer going to be on? Is it possible you could have TWO batteries with a cartomizer on each, if it's just a case that you're afraid of it running out too soon, but prefer a cartomizer at this point? I too think you will find the Evod to work GREAT, at least I have! I started on a cheap version and quickly upgraded to Kanger's and their EXCELLENT! I chain vape on me and RARELY have them leak, when they do, I just clean the base, change the coils and I'm set again, but that doesn't happen very often when using Kanger's. The new Kanger Evod glass is more like the Kanger aerotank, which are my favorite tanks thus far! I've NEVER had one leak after around 2 months of NON-STOP use, knock on wood! I have four of them I like them so much!

I just got my Boge's for an AGR and Smokteck cartotanks I had previously ordered and can't wait to set them up and try them out! Good luck to you!

 

[smacuser]

I second the IBTank: Complete Tanks

The Thingy that came with it really revolutionized the way I fill the carto inside of the tank.

https://www.ibtanked.com/accessories/thingies/reg-thingy-std-detail

Just fill the tank with the carto inside. Drop it in the Thingy and screw/unscrew the lid about 15 times. You can see the eliquid filling the carto by the air bubbles that come out of the punched hole on the side of the carto.

Best purchase I made all year.

BTW - I feel the heads on the PTs and evods have kind of gone downhill. I've yet to try to rebuild them.