Tips for punching cartos?

[IntelligentDesigner]

Got any?

I chain vape and can never seem to keep the filling wet despite all the best priming efforts and following instructions to a T (whatever that means). I've read hundreds of tips and watched lots of videos and am pretty sure I'm doing everything right, but the wicking through that one itty bitty hole at the bottom just doesn't seem to keep up.

I tried drilling but had a hard enough time keeping the bit centered on the rounded edge. When it did finally go through, it smashed the center tube, effectively ruining the carto.

I tried cutting a slot with one of those oscillating multi tools but I couldn't hold the carto still enough. It just shook with the blade. I have no clamp to hold the carto tight while I try that.

My local B&M had a couple cart punches that fit nicely around the thing and had a screw to punch through the steel, but he said they don't work very well and bend the metal; so they're not stocking them anymore.

My next effort I guess will be a hacksaw to try to cut a slot but I don't wanna ruin another good carto if it doesn't work so I'll just have to wait until this one goes bad I guess and use it as sort of an experimental cadaver.

So, when you need more holes in your cartos, how do you make them?

 

[Atlexus]

I use a saddle valve I got from Lowes for about 5$ it works like a carto punch with a screw. Even though the metal bends slightly it works fine for me.

-Atlexus

 

[LV SuzyQ]

I get Ikenvape punch! ( 2 laser drilled holes) I have used saddle valves and don't like them at all ( my fingers hurt turning them) I've also got a cheap one from Phiniac that punches the hole well but you can't see or hear the punch so you can go too deep but I've figured out that 3 and a half turns works to a perfect punch for me. There is a 40$ carto puncher out there that's supposed to work great. Clouds of vapor I think has them but its been out of stock.

 

[Baditude]

I gotta say I'm not a fan of tool-punched cartos. The punching process invariably deforms the carto's that I've attempted. I've also used a dremmel tool to slot carto's. I found that to be unsatisfactory, too.

If you got the time, I've written an article about what tool-punched carto's can do to your inner o-rings in your tanks. You can find it in my blog in the below article that has a dozen or so online vendors that sell pre-punched cartomizers ready to be used in cartotanks. You should be able to find a few vendors in the list that sell carts with 2 or even 3 holes that should suit your needs.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...nched-single-coil-cartomizers-cartotanks.html

You can find other articles I've written about cartomizers and tanks in the link below my avatar. Hope that helps you out.

 

[jnnfrlsw]

I have tried all the different ways to punch my own cartos. The saddle valve-couldnt keep the pin centered, it always slid over the side of the carto. The little carto punch tool distorts the cartos shape and makes it impossible to slide in my tanks. If I have to punch my own, I slot them using a dremel. After alot of money spent on tools to punch or slot, I have decided its worth the few extra cents to order them already punched. I prefer 3 holes and they are hard to find. Mostly I use the 801 Fusions from electronistix with 1 punch. I have to top it off on occasion when I vape too fast but its the best option I have found for my needs.

 

[r77r7r]

Most places have a $5 punch listed under ACCESORIES, or in with the carto and tanks. They're good to have in case you need to enlarge what you have, or add one.
I use these-
Cartomizer Punch
Most of them, if used correctly, will only dent slightly. I can pretty much match a laser hole with a yr. old sharpened saddle valve.

 

[Dacholiday Dach]

Dumb question of the day. Why would you punch a hole in one? Newbie here, so I want to learn all that I can.

 

[r77r7r]

Dumb question of the day. Why would you punch a hole in one? Newbie here, so I want to learn all that I can.

No dumb questions here. The holes are for when you use them with carto tanks. If you go up a few posts^^^, check out Baditude's blogs, I think he may have good info on such things there.

There is also the ADVANCED SEARCH up top^^ to type anything into that you want to know.

 

[Ben C.]

Dumb question of the day. Why would you punch a hole in one? Newbie here, so I want to learn all that I can.

So you can put it in a tank which is filled with juice and keeps the carto optimally saturated for quite a while. The juice wicks into the punched holes as you vape, so it's like using a perfectly fresh filled carto with every pull.

Punched:

or you can buy laser punched cartos as well (see the tiny hole near the bottom of the carto in the tank):

 

[IntelligentDesigner]

I can't afford the $40 punch or the $80 Dremel at the moment, although I'd absolutely love to have another Dremel. When I do run into my next disposable $40+, I'm gonna get an RBA.

I'll look at a saddle valve next time I'm at Home Depot/Lowes. I can get some O-rings there too for cheap enough in case the punched carto ruins them, though I do thank you for the warning and knowledge, Baditude. But I'll look into the 3-hole cartos as well assuming I can find them in flanged versions to work with my Volcano tank.

Anyone know where I can get a laser to punch them?

 

[Baditude]

Dumb question of the day. Why would you punch a hole in one? Newbie here, so I want to learn all that I can.

A carto needs a method of being able to receive the e-liquid from the tank, so holes are created in the steel shaft of the carto to accomplish this. Each time someone sucks on the mouthpiece of the tank to vape, it creates suction in the cartomizer, thereby pulling more liquid from the tank to replenish what is vaped from the cartomizer.

People can punch their own cartomizers with a carto punch tool, or preferably purchase pre-punched carto's (laser-drilled) from their vendor of choice.

This is taken from my blog: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3710-5-cartomizer-tank-setup.html

Tool punched cartos. Many carto punch tools can physically deform the cartomizer's shape from round to oval (see first image below, notice the deformity of the carto's shape). This deformity could possibly make them difficult to fit through the tight round hole in the tank's endcap. The extra effort required to twist them through the endcap could put unneccesary wear and tear on the endcap's rubber gasket o-rings, whose function is to prevent a tank from leaking it's liquid contents.

Laser-drilled cartos do not have this issue, and they wick the juice just as well as the larger hole tool-punched cartos in my experience.

(click to enlarge)

Exploded-view diagram of the parts of a cartomizer tank.

(click to enlarge)
Cutaway diagram of a punched carto. Arrows depict movement of air and e-liquid within the carto.


A tool-punched carto (note the oval-shape deformity of the cartomizer's shaft).


A "pre-punched" (laser-drilled) cartomizer purchased from a vendor.


A pyrex glass-tubed cartotank with aluminum endcaps and mouthpiece on a Provari.

 

[r77r7r]

I can't afford the $40 punch or the $80 Dremel at the moment, although I'd absolutely love to have another Dremel. When I do run into my next disposable $40+, I'm gonna get an RBA.

I'll look at a saddle valve next time I'm at Home Depot/Lowes. I can get some O-rings there too for cheap enough in case the punched carto ruins them, though I do thank you for the warning and knowledge, Baditude. But I'll look into the 3-hole cartos as well assuming I can find them in flanged versions to work with my Volcano tank.



Anyone know where I can get a laser to punch them?

They have small punches at many vaping suppliers now for $5-6. Look under ACCESORIES or in with the tank stuff.