I don't know if this has been tried before and didn't see it on the forum, so.....
This idea is basically to accomplish the same idea as the straw mod: To allow the juice to wick faster, and also allow faster refilling. But my mod doesn't use a straw, and it even allows the option of gently forcing the liquid through the filler from the back.
What did I do? I drilled a hole towards the back of the cartridge into the side of the fluid reservoir. I did this on a 901 cartridge that I use on a 510 e-cig, but I see no reason why this probably couldn't be accomplished on a 510 cart or any other cart, so long as the hole is drilled in the right spot.
I used a 7/64" size drill bit. I actually wanted to use a smaller bit but oddly those are always the first ones to snap when I buy a set of drill bits.
This mod may work even better with a smaller hole, but I don't know if I'd go much bigger. Certainly no bigger than 1/8". But regardless, so far I am impressed. I used a paperclip and ruler to figure out where to drill the hole, but hopefully the pics will help. Basically you drill it into the beveled / angled part of the 901 cart. When done, you want to make sure that the hole only leads to the reservoir and not the air chamber part. To test that, just plug the air vent on the side of the cart and blow into the tip when done. If you can't move any air, then the hole you drilled should be in the right spot. I have gone through 3 carts since this mod and here are my results:
1) I use fluval for filler per the fluval mod instructional video, but this may also work with other fillers.
2) No leakage from the drilled hole *. On my first attempt, I decided to see what would happen first: a leak from my drilled hole or over-filling the cart in the usual sense. I stopped at 15 drops and had no leaks until I plugged the cart into the atty, at which time I had leakage at the atty. But this had nothing to do with the mod. I simply overfilled the cart. And by the way, I have NEVER filled a cart so quickly, even with the straw mod. Just drop after drop! *As far as leakage... you do want to make sure that you get the fluval all the way down into the cart. Use tweezers like in the video. You will know if it is all the way in because you will be able to see it through the hole.
3) One problem I noticed was that the draw was WAY too easy. Simple fix: While taking a drag, press your upper lip against the hole.
4) When it seemed like the wicking was starting to get behind, you can force the juice up the filler and towards the atty by holding the PV sideways (almost like a flute) and blowing into the hole. You need to do it gently or you will flood the atty, but this DOES help push the liquid toward the atty!
5) After a while, nothing I did seemed to get me any more vapor so I pulled the stuffing out and although not bone dry, it was pretty close. I have never had that much success draining a cart!
6) So.... I restuffed the cart with fluval again but this time I cut the fluval twice as long as it should be, folded it in half, then stuffed it down into the cart. The result is that it makes the draw better without having to press your lip against the hole (although that does still help). All in all, I'd say that with the doubled-up fluval, I was able to get 15 drops in with no leaks anywhere and it seems to work good for the sized hole I used.
7) Vaped once again nearly non-stop, occasionally blowing into the hole. Again though, gently. I blew it a bit too hard or long and ended up with juice coming out between the atty & battery once. Realistically, you may not even need to blow into the hole, as the mere presence of the hole seems to help it wick better anyway but you should notice an instant change in vapor after doing so as long as there is still juice left. I should add that if the draw isn't too light for you (especially with doubled-up fluval stuffing) that by NOT plugging the drilled hole as you drag causes air to get sucked into the hole and through the stuffing. I would guess that this also contributes to the better wicking.
I'm not suggesting this is better than the straw mod or PTB mod or any other cart mod for that matter. But it has performed quite well for me and I thought I'd share it. If anyone does want to try it, I'd be curious if a smaller hole would work as well if not better. One size down from what I used would be 3/32". Or maybe even try 1/16".
Pics attached.
This idea is basically to accomplish the same idea as the straw mod: To allow the juice to wick faster, and also allow faster refilling. But my mod doesn't use a straw, and it even allows the option of gently forcing the liquid through the filler from the back.
What did I do? I drilled a hole towards the back of the cartridge into the side of the fluid reservoir. I did this on a 901 cartridge that I use on a 510 e-cig, but I see no reason why this probably couldn't be accomplished on a 510 cart or any other cart, so long as the hole is drilled in the right spot.
I used a 7/64" size drill bit. I actually wanted to use a smaller bit but oddly those are always the first ones to snap when I buy a set of drill bits.
This mod may work even better with a smaller hole, but I don't know if I'd go much bigger. Certainly no bigger than 1/8". But regardless, so far I am impressed. I used a paperclip and ruler to figure out where to drill the hole, but hopefully the pics will help. Basically you drill it into the beveled / angled part of the 901 cart. When done, you want to make sure that the hole only leads to the reservoir and not the air chamber part. To test that, just plug the air vent on the side of the cart and blow into the tip when done. If you can't move any air, then the hole you drilled should be in the right spot. I have gone through 3 carts since this mod and here are my results:1) I use fluval for filler per the fluval mod instructional video, but this may also work with other fillers.
2) No leakage from the drilled hole *. On my first attempt, I decided to see what would happen first: a leak from my drilled hole or over-filling the cart in the usual sense. I stopped at 15 drops and had no leaks until I plugged the cart into the atty, at which time I had leakage at the atty. But this had nothing to do with the mod. I simply overfilled the cart. And by the way, I have NEVER filled a cart so quickly, even with the straw mod. Just drop after drop! *As far as leakage... you do want to make sure that you get the fluval all the way down into the cart. Use tweezers like in the video. You will know if it is all the way in because you will be able to see it through the hole.
3) One problem I noticed was that the draw was WAY too easy. Simple fix: While taking a drag, press your upper lip against the hole.
4) When it seemed like the wicking was starting to get behind, you can force the juice up the filler and towards the atty by holding the PV sideways (almost like a flute) and blowing into the hole. You need to do it gently or you will flood the atty, but this DOES help push the liquid toward the atty!
5) After a while, nothing I did seemed to get me any more vapor so I pulled the stuffing out and although not bone dry, it was pretty close. I have never had that much success draining a cart!
6) So.... I restuffed the cart with fluval again but this time I cut the fluval twice as long as it should be, folded it in half, then stuffed it down into the cart. The result is that it makes the draw better without having to press your lip against the hole (although that does still help). All in all, I'd say that with the doubled-up fluval, I was able to get 15 drops in with no leaks anywhere and it seems to work good for the sized hole I used.
7) Vaped once again nearly non-stop, occasionally blowing into the hole. Again though, gently. I blew it a bit too hard or long and ended up with juice coming out between the atty & battery once. Realistically, you may not even need to blow into the hole, as the mere presence of the hole seems to help it wick better anyway but you should notice an instant change in vapor after doing so as long as there is still juice left. I should add that if the draw isn't too light for you (especially with doubled-up fluval stuffing) that by NOT plugging the drilled hole as you drag causes air to get sucked into the hole and through the stuffing. I would guess that this also contributes to the better wicking.
I'm not suggesting this is better than the straw mod or PTB mod or any other cart mod for that matter. But it has performed quite well for me and I thought I'd share it. If anyone does want to try it, I'd be curious if a smaller hole would work as well if not better. One size down from what I used would be 3/32". Or maybe even try 1/16".
Pics attached.
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