Trouble filling blank cartmizers...

[P-Funk]

I have found that filling new, empty cartomizers fresh from the box has an unseen pitfall:

Sometimes a freshly filled blank cartomizer just burns the hell out of all parts of my mouth when I use it. No amount of tweaking I can manage has been able to fix a cartomizer so affected once it has begun. I have destroyed about a half dozen of them in this manner in the last week.

I have succeeded in filling three blanks, and they have each worked for several refills so far. The ones that died did so immediately, with bad results within two vapes. I assume I must not be using the proper technique, being that I have had a 33% success rate.

What method do you use for filling fresh cartos? I have been using 1/2 carto condom followed by Taryn spin twice in succession. This does not seem to be the best method. Are there any other special steps I should be taking?

Additional info: I am using DIY liquid that I mixed myself, ratio 20% water to 80% VG, with flavor drops added on top of that.

Thanks for the help everyone...

 

[Mary Kay]

Try dropping the water level a bit. I am sure it "Boils" faster then the V.G.. I use the same method of refilling as you with NO dead cartos.

 

[keyzygirl]

That seems like alot of distilled water.I could be wrong though,check the DIY.

 

[aubergine]

I'm filling blanks, no problemo. I think check that recipe?

 

[P-Funk]

DIY board recommended the 20/80 recipie. It has worked in 3 of the blank cartos I tried.

Also, I have had a 100% success rate putting this recipie into prefilled carts from V4L that needed a refill.

I'm filling blanks, no problemo. I think check that recipe?

Mind sharing your method?

 

[Mary Kay]

I am wondering if the recipe was for atomizers and carts like the 510 or 901. I wonder if the same recipe is right for cartos?

 

[P-Funk]

If my juice was the problem, it should have killed my cartos 100% of the time. It vapes fine in 3 out of the 9 blank cartos I have tried.

I have never had a problem on a cartomizer that has been refilled with this juice. My issue only seems to occur on freshly filled blanks.

For these reasons I think I must be doing (or not doing) something that makes my successful first fillings successful. I just don't know what it is.

Can you share how you first fill a blank carto out of the box? What exactly do you do before you vape it? What do you put in it? How do you put it in?

 

[P-Funk]

Also, the DIY folks suggest that too little water is the main danger with VG... apparently it will gum up your atomizer if it is not diluted. I am mixing up a batch of 30/70 now to see what happens, even though the DIY gurus recommended between 15% and 20% distilled water.

 

[keyzygirl]

1 ml in a syringe.

 

[GrannyM]

Yah, it doesn't look like the juice is the problem....you seem to have the thinning ratios correct .... unless it needs a more thorough shaking....

In my experience, the carto usually gets really hot if the juice is not wicking. So maybe 3 possibilities? ...
1. not enough juice in the carto. The condoms hold about a ml of juice, so a blank carto should soak up just about a full condom's worth of juice when you fill w/that method. If there's only 1/2 a ml of juice in there & it gets vaped immediately, it may not have found its way to the atomizer yet. Also, look through the carto with no plugs in when you're done ... you should see light at the end of the tunnel ... too much juice doesn't vape well either.
2. Juice is too thick ... looks like your recipe is correct, but maybe need to shake it up some more.
3. Maybe the juice hasn't had time to saturate the wick yet. I usually let them set a bit after filling, just to soak in good (but I have had success vaping immediately after filling with the condom filling method & the Taryn spin)

Just some thoughts....hope you get if figured out.

 

[P-Funk]

I will try letting them sit for a bit and see if that helps... I had previously only vaped immediately after filling.

I have been filling using 2 half condoms... I had found if I use one whole condom a bunch comes flying out the mouth end. I guess it makes sense to let it soak in... this also explains why I can fit two half condoms but not one whole condom, if true.

 

[Desertfremen]

I know nothing about DIY so I can't help you there.

However, when I fill blanks I also use the carto condom method of refilling.

I drop 15 drops into the condom, push down, put on a .... plug and then do the Taryn Spin. Then I repeat so a total of 30 drops is in the carto. (Well close to since a little residue is left in the condom.) With this method I haven't had any problem filling blanks.

Do you spin afterwards? I have found that the Taryn Spin is crucial to having a carto vape correctly. Especially when the juice is thick. I even use the TS with prefills if they've spent considerable time in a horizontal position and this seems to greatly increase flavour and vapour.

 

[P-Funk]

Thanks for your thoughts, Desertfremen!

I have been using the spin; however, you are doing something I have NEVER done: substituting a buttplug for a condom!

I will definitely give your method a try. Also I will let it sit for a bit as GrannyM suggested.

I really hope these methods get this to work properly for me! I am kinda pumped now, so I think it's time to brave destroying another carto. I will post a full report.

 

[aubergine]

I am going to fill this carto with Drambuie.

No I'm not.

 

[5cardstud]

I use the same method this guy does with broken carto caps but I don't break them. I just throw them here is his video. C:\Users\pecos\Downloads\http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VNAEnU6MAc

 

[Nilius]

I personally do not like the condom fill method. I use the drip method shown here:

YouTube - Care And Feeding of Cartomizers Part 2

Then I let them sit over night. If I need to vape immediately I will add the Taryn spin after 20 drops, then add another 10

 

[Uncle Pennybags]

After refilling put the condoms back on and let sit over night.

 

[P-Funk]

OK,

I just mixed up a new flavor batch using banana and vanilla. Then I filled it into a fresh carto using advice from members in this thread. It seems to have worked successfully, but not without its kinks.

First, I added 15 drops to a condom, squeezed it into a fresh blank cartomizer. This took a few minutes as I had to wait for it to soak in before the carto would accept all 15 drops. Then I spun it with a buttplug, added 15 more drops with a condom, and spun again with a buttplug. Then I let it sit for about 20 minutes. Then I vaped.

It was flooded... I blew out the carto a few times and then after vaping for about 10 minutes it started to produce nice vapor.

I consider this a successful venture as my cartomizer survived and I know that every time I have had one survive the initial fill it has served me nicely thereafter.

I am going to try this again on a fresh blank and let it sit with all 30 drops overnight and see what happens.

I really appreiciate all of the insight and feedback. Thanks to you guys I have about a half pack of cigs here that I didn't use today!

 

[timothy]

hey with a little more practice you'll be able to chunck that pack and never look back

 

[TaketheRedPill]

Care and Feeding made me laugh with the white lab coat. I'm too lazy to spin. Just use dropper bottle tip to force the liquid into the filling, and I do like to replace the inner seal and white tip, just because it's a baffle to any particulates, with a condom over them to keep them in place. I'm also too lazy to draw a circle on a condom, so, pinch, then pinch in quarters, and cut the peak and unpinch, it's a circle. Good to go. Get used to the weight of a full cartomizer in your hand - you'll soon be able to tell when you need a refill. I never let them go to where they need a full mg recharge. I agree with the advice to let them sit and soak for a bit and blow out lightly before using the first time.

TTRP