Thinking about trying the cartomizer thing

[Jules22871]

As the title says I'm seriously thinking about trying the whole 2 piece unit thing. I have to go to multiple doctors and I think it would just be easier to toss a few cartomizers in my bag and go instead of carrying all the crap I carry. I have to use crutches to walk so anything that can lighten my purse is a plus. So I'm asking all of you to help me figure out if this is for me before I spend any more money..

What drew you to the cartos? And what keeps you using them?
What flavors do you suggest to someone that loves cappuccino flavored juice more than anything else? I also like coffee and tobacco flavors along with flavors like blackberry brandy, etc.
What should I buy, just starting out, to see if I even like it? I have to be able to justify this to the hubby since I have multiple models and mods and all the wonderful "stuff" that goes with them.
How hard is it to refill the cartos?
How long does a carto last before needing refilled? I am a pretty heavy vaper that drips with everything but my 401. I use roughly 3-4ml a day.
How hard is it to clean them. I have a huge fear of germs and the thought of bacteria building up in a carto as I keep refilling it just makes me queasy. Can they even be cleaned?
Is the nicotine strength the same as it is with regular bottled liquid?

Edit to add another question: I read somewhere that the cartos can be used with a 901 battery. Is this true?

Thanks for any help!

 

[newb]

As the title says I'm seriously thinking about trying the whole 2 piece unit thing. I have to go to multiple doctors and I think it would just be easier to toss a few cartomizers in my bag and go instead of carrying all the crap I carry. I have to use crutches to walk so anything that can lighten my purse is a plus. So I'm asking all of you to help me figure out if this is for me before I spend any more money..

What drew you to the cartos? And what keeps you using them?

I didnt want to deal with the whole 3 pc thing.. I just wanted something easy. Just put the carto on and go..

What flavors do you suggest to someone that loves cappuccino flavored juice more than anything else? I also like coffee and tobacco flavors along with flavors like blackberry brandy, etc.

Caramel Mocha Frapachino - RY4 - Parlament - Smilin Menthol

What should I buy, just starting out, to see if I even like it? I have to be able to justify this to the hubby since I have multiple models and mods and all the wonderful "stuff" that goes with them.

Get a regular auto or PT with some carts. (901 Charger works with these batts)

How hard is it to refill the cartos?

Not hard at all... See this sticky with video demonstration http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/39350-refilling-cartomizer-movie.html

How long does a carto last before needing refilled? I am a pretty heavy vaper that drips with everything but my 401. I use roughly 3-4ml a day.

Generally, the cartoz should have about 200 draws

How hard is it to clean them. I have a huge fear of germs and the thought of bacteria building up in a carto as I keep refilling it just makes me queasy. Can they even be cleaned?

Yes they can and it is very easy. Just rinse, blow them out and you are good to go!

Is the nicotine strength the same as it is with regular bottled liquid?

Depends on which ML bottle..

Thanks for any help!

See Above In Red are my answers.. Hope it helps you decide..

 

[Jules22871]

Thanks for the quick reply! I've seen that video before but had forgotten about it. I'd say refilling is something that I can do with no problem.

As for cleaning, can the filler be taken out and cleaned or replaced? I'm a terrible germaphobe. My kids laugh at me all the time for it,lol

I usually vape 12mg or 18mg with an occasional drop or two of 36mg when things are tough. Would the cartos that are 12mg and 18mg the same as the bottle liquid? I'm sure they are and that this is a stupid question but I want to be sure.

If I opened a 36mg cart to curb a craving, would I be able to seal it to keep it from drying out?

 

[Skyler]

This is exactly how I ended up here with V4L. I love the mods but when it is time to grab and go for a long period of time this is what I take with me. I take the PCC with the extra batt and a couple of carts and I'm good to go for the entire day. No refilling or messing around with equipment. Puff, puff, puff and puff some more. When there's is no more puff I change out the cart and start all over again. No muss no fuss!

 

[Jules22871]

Thanks Skyler. I have a couple of surgeries coming up and I really dont want to pack an arsenal to take with me. That's the main reason I'm looking into them.

 

[newb]

Thanks Skyler. I have a couple of surgeries coming up and I really dont want to pack an arsenal to take with me. That's the main reason I'm looking into them.

You should be ok with 18MG.. It does the trick for me...

Cleaning the carto:

Remove the white (mouthend) cap & Silicone Ring.

Then run it under tap water, blow it out from mouth end so water can come out of battery end.. Do this 3 times (takes 1 min total) and your good to go.. They are clean. Remember the heat & vapor sanitize it also lol

 

[Jules22871]

Thanks newb. I didnt even think about the heat helping with cleaning. The more I think about it the more I like the whole idea.

 

[Skyler]

I wish these were around with my surgery. Had to smoke and it had to be outside so my husband helped me walk while I rolled out the IV pole. Let me tell you the looks I got smoking in front of the hospital.

If you just take your PCC loaded with batt and carts you should be fine. They are nice looking and very discreet.

 

[CreatvDigitl]

I recently bought an adapter to go from my 510 battery to the cartomizers and a 5 pack of empty carts. For my personal taste, I like the cartomizers a lot better because I like the throat hit that they deliver. And I appreciate newb's post to say they can be cleaned. My first one is on the way out of service so I will try it.

 

[sawlight]

You can also use Everclear or Vodka to wash out the carts if you are really worried about germs.
What you described is the exact reason I went with V4L, I don' have to mess and fuss with it if I don't want to! It's easy to refill them, but hard to get them to last as well as the factory carts. The factory fills them with 1ml, they come pretty loaded already!
I was a fairly heavy smoker, 1-2 packs a day, and I vape pretty heavy, I average two carts a day.
I started with a PCC and two batteries, it's a slick setup, I can carry two carts and an extra batt with me, good to go! If I was to do it again, doing what I do and never knowing when I will have work or how long I will be out when I do, I'd buy the same again.
For you though, I would recomend the XL kit and the Leaford Lanyard. Charge up the batts at night, throw one in the purse, and one in the lanyard. They last me 11 hours on average, then a couple extra carts in your purse, or get a case for them. They come in a decent cardboard box that will work on it's own. That keeps the PV easy to get to, no fiddling in your purse trying to find it and if you drop it you don't have to try and pick it up off the ground.
If I wasn't so broke I wouldn't even mess with refilling, thats how spoiled you get with this system!
I LOVE the Parlament the capachino I tried was pretty good I have to say, and people are just raving over the frapachino!
Good luck on your decission and let us know if there is anything else we can help you with!
Welcome to the forum!

 

[Drozd]

you can get adapters to use cartos on 510 batteries and they should thread onto a 901 but the draw may be weird and theres an adapter for that too if thats the case...

Given the hardware your sig line indicates all you really truely need to try them out is an adapter from one battery you already have to a carto..and really some blank cartos...you can use juice you already have and like (they will taste similar to a 901) (I like using a syringe to fill my cartos but thats totally personal preference but from totally blank they hold 1ml so the syringe works well for me)
As for resealing an opened carto..theres silicone caps for both ends one of which has a plug for the tube inside the carto so it's real easy to seal so they dont dry out..

EDIT: As for cleaning Ive even heard of someone using one of those shark steam wand thing after they rinsed them with water too..

 

[Mary Kay]

Hey Jules my Tipsy friend! At least V4L has a nice asst. of Your flavors..lol! I am vaping Rum and Cola tonight..very nice! They do have blank cartos in colors..a nice blue for your Blackberry brandy.

I like the complete ease of throwing a few batts with cartos in my purse and going off for a day. You may also want to try a passthru for the car..no sense in wasting batts on the ride.

Let me know if you decide to give V4L a try..I'll help you keep an eye on the mailbox!

Come down to the Women's Room..we have a new flavor thread going!

 

[DanF]

You could rinse 'em with PGA if that helps. I couldnt imagine leaving the house with any of my 510 stuff, cartos are the way to go.

 

[LastOutlaw]

It looks like everything has been pretty much covered in the replies for you but i thought I would mention that if you use the passthru you will most likely go through more carts than with the batteries. The passthru heats the cartos up more giving a better hit and producing more vapor but also uses juice more quickly. With the carto you can also drip a few drops in through the battery end at times if you want to. I do this occasionally when I feel a cart I have running low and just want more minutes of that flavor. Make sure you leave the socket area of the cart clean and dry with a wipe of a tissue before using it just to insure you dont ruin any equipment.

 

[pianoguy]

I wipe down my batteries and cartos with some rubbing alcohol to keep them clean on the outside. I'm not particularly worried about germs on the inside, as PG is a natural germicide:

Medicine: Air Germicide - TIME

 

[keyzygirl]

I got the old case,took out the part that holds the batts and cartos.Now I can put an xlong in my case at an angle with 5 cartos and the lanyard with an xlong on my neck.Im more than set for the day.

 

[Jules22871]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'll definitely give it a try when I get my next vaping allotment of money,lol

MaryKay, I'll be sure to stop by and check out that thread.

 

[Jules22871]

Where can I find the adapter so I can use my other batteries until I figure out if this is something I want to keep doing. The hubby is going to let me order 2 packs of carts since it will make getting out and about easier on me. You have no idea how hard it is to carry all the crap I have. I'm scared to death of running out of something so I take one of everything,lol I use crutches to walk and had to go to a messenger bag type purse to hold all my stuff and still be able to safely walk and carry it.

 

[Pawpaw]

Where can I find the adapter so I can use my other batteries until I figure out if this is something I want to keep doing. The hubby is going to let me order 2 packs of carts since it will make getting out and about easier on me. You have no idea how hard it is to carry all the crap I have. I'm scared to death of running out of something so I take one of everything,lol I use crutches to walk and had to go to a messenger bag type purse to hold all my stuff and still be able to safely walk and carry it.

Try here: PV Adapters

 

[Jules22871]

Try here: PV Adapters

Thanks for the link. I noticed that there is not an adapter for a 901 battery to an 808 carto. Do the cartos fit on the 901 batts? That would be awesome since I have a ton of those that rarely get used.