from another thread...................
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-punching-tool-even-i-can-do.html#post4287920
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-punching-tool-even-i-can-do.html#post4287920
Thank Me Later =)
- Thread starter Jason-Tank
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OK, stupid question... What department @ Home Depot can I find this in? The people who work there are pretty useless sometimes...
My guess is plumbing since it's for piercing piping...??
We don't use anything fancy but we do use an awl and it punches a perfect hole in the carto with no bending or denting of carto at all. Leave the condom on and punch right throught it easily. The condom also keeps the carto from rolling around. I have friends in Afghanistan that use an ice pick with the same good results.
Ask for a saddle valve. Might be near the RO/DI water filter stuff
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Picked one up last night (the A50 linked in an earlier post at Home Depot - yes, in the plumbing isle) - works like a charm - although I haven't actually tried one in a tank yet (need to empty a tank first) but they look like they should be dead on.
To the person who seemed to have an issue with dimpling after the first hole - one thing I did find (while testing with a dead carto) is that if you don't have the cartomizer fairly well seated and tight - you may not actually punch through and create a dimple instead. So don't try to rush things and make sure everything is nice and secure and so far - my little $7.00 saddle valve looks like it should last at least awhile. If it does get too dull after 30 or so cartomizers, well, I'll just buy another
To the person who seemed to have an issue with dimpling after the first hole - one thing I did find (while testing with a dead carto) is that if you don't have the cartomizer fairly well seated and tight - you may not actually punch through and create a dimple instead. So don't try to rush things and make sure everything is nice and secure and so far - my little $7.00 saddle valve looks like it should last at least awhile. If it does get too dull after 30 or so cartomizers, well, I'll just buy another
Just a thought here-if I were doing this to something at home, I'd slide something like a wooden dowel down, or plastic pipe into it before putting the hole in to hold the shape.
Picked one up last night (the A50 linked in an earlier post at Home Depot - yes, in the plumbing isle) - works like a charm - although I haven't actually tried one in a tank yet (need to empty a tank first) but they look like they should be dead on.
To the person who seemed to have an issue with dimpling after the first hole - one thing I did find (while testing with a dead carto) is that if you don't have the cartomizer fairly well seated and tight - you may not actually punch through and create a dimple instead. So don't try to rush things and make sure everything is nice and secure and so far - my little $7.00 saddle valve looks like it should last at least awhile. If it does get too dull after 30 or so cartomizers, well, I'll just buy another
Yeah, I was thinking on the durability of the saddle valve, it's probably only meant to be used once- but it needs to be sharp and sturdy enuf for stiff, untempered copper.
Maybe use a file or dremel to sharpen/deburr it once in a while. you could also make it a bit easier to use by replacing the bolt or nut with a wingnut, and tighten by hand.
I bought a saddle valve from lowe's last night and made a couple of my old cartos look like they ...... off the mafia. It works REALLY well. At least as long as you're only trying to punch through close to the threaded end. You try to put the hole closer to the mouthpiece (not that anybody would), and it tends to crimp it a bit. I didn't have any problems mentioned previously about the tip of the valve getting weaker. It worked great for me and my boges. That may be the other key thing. Some cartos may be thicker than others methinks. What cartos are y'all using and what kind of success have you had with the different tools mentioned here?
I am going to have to get another one to have on hand as everyone else seems to be getting good results. The carto definately needs to be centered and the clamp tightened down securely. The one I have that I took out the pin and replaced with a cut to length and re-sharpened 3/32 drill bit, is working well, but eventually the drill bit will work loose and pull out.
The pin in mine didn't really dull down any. Maybe the very very tip of the point....but it's still pretty pointy and still works well
I guess if you were really serious about it, you could put a diamond encrusted bit in it
I guess if you were really serious about it, you could put a diamond encrusted bit in it
The pin in mine didn't really dull down any. Maybe the very very tip of the point....but it's still pretty pointy and still works well
I guess if you were really serious about it, you could put a diamond encrusted bit in it
HHMMMM.
So far so good.
While I've got some Boge cartos on the way - I did have a spare box of 1.5 dual coils here so to test out the saddle valve, I punched through those -
1. Went through the entire box of 5 + a dead carto I was using as an initial test and the pin on the valve is showing no signs of wearing down (at least not to where it won't punch through a cartomizer). This is putting two holes per carto btw
2. Went ahead and put one of the home-punched cartos in my tank last night after work - filled it up and have been vaping steadily on it since then (probably about 2.5 mils worth). So far it's wicking just fine - hasn't flooded - all good.
The only thing I've noticed (and I'm calling this under the header of personal learning curve) is that if you don't have the carto seated quite right and really quite snug - I've had a few occasions where the pin will actually miss the carto and simply extend off to the side of the cartomizer. No big deal - just reset the carto and try again - but figured it was at least worth pointing out.
FWIW - This happens to be a smoke-tek 1.5 dual coil carto running on a Buzz Pro at roughly 4.3 - 4.5 volts (hovering right around the yellow marker on the BP) in a 5ml tank filled with BWB's E-Joker niquid.
While I've got some Boge cartos on the way - I did have a spare box of 1.5 dual coils here so to test out the saddle valve, I punched through those -
1. Went through the entire box of 5 + a dead carto I was using as an initial test and the pin on the valve is showing no signs of wearing down (at least not to where it won't punch through a cartomizer). This is putting two holes per carto btw
2. Went ahead and put one of the home-punched cartos in my tank last night after work - filled it up and have been vaping steadily on it since then (probably about 2.5 mils worth). So far it's wicking just fine - hasn't flooded - all good.
The only thing I've noticed (and I'm calling this under the header of personal learning curve) is that if you don't have the carto seated quite right and really quite snug - I've had a few occasions where the pin will actually miss the carto and simply extend off to the side of the cartomizer. No big deal - just reset the carto and try again - but figured it was at least worth pointing out.
FWIW - This happens to be a smoke-tek 1.5 dual coil carto running on a Buzz Pro at roughly 4.3 - 4.5 volts (hovering right around the yellow marker on the BP) in a 5ml tank filled with BWB's E-Joker niquid.
Glad you're having such good luck with it. I think we may have found the perfect tool for this
I've seen others mention the pin slipping off the carto. It seems that if you don't get the carto in the valve straight, it causes it to sit slightly sideways and can cause it to slip off. I've noticed the same thing. Also, not sure if anybody's checked on this or not, but when I went to lowe's I saw they had a 1 1/4" and a 1 1/8", and I got the 1 1/4". Maybe the 1 1/8" would hold the carto tighter and keep the slippage from happening?
Found a pair at Menards that work great. Circuit Alert Voltage Sensing NM Cable Stripper at Menards $19.99 The cost was a little high but I guess it will be worth it in the long run. I hate the waiting game for the pre-punched ones. I can say THANKS now!
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Hopefully you'll have better luck that I did with a wire stripper...I tried one that seemed popular but no luck, just bent the carto:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tips-tricks/226475-thank-me-later-2.html#post4276028
The saddle valve from Home Depot has been working great so far..
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