Um.... Just curious....

[jenmurray116]

As a newbie, I've had a few bumps in the road this week - one battery died after only a few weeks, though I really hadn't used it..... (I think some liquid leaked on it), another battery had the button get stuck (freaked me out as I didn't know how to turn it "off" then - finally got it popped out and it's been fine since) - and now this - I went to twist off a clearo and it literally fell apart in my hands! Not sure what happened (or if this is normal or not...??) but I ended up with juice all over me, the counter, the battery....

I've definitely noticed that I've had 2 different experiences with CE4 clearo's from 2 different places. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with them or move up to something else - I really want to keep things simple but leaking is a tiny bit of a problem...

 

[The Ocelot]

Hi - CE4s are cheap little pieces of plastic; sometimes they work great, other times they melt because it's Thursday. I found that to be true no matter who the vendor is or what design they are. I use them, because I bought a bunch when I first started and didn't know what else was available. It's part of the vaping learning curve.

 

[retrox]

What batteries are you using? Ego-style are sealed, so getting juice on it shouldn't bother it. Just keep the contact wiped clean. If you've got the newer Ego batts, those have short-circuit protection that you can reset by plugging the batt into the charger for a moment. I've had dodgy clearos short a couple of my Ego batts but plugging them in always fixed them.

As for the clearo, looks like you've got a bottom-feeder there, which means you have to be very careful how you screw them off the battery or you could end up screwing the atomizer/wick assembly off the tank (which looks like what may have happened). Makes for a bad day.

I will go ahead and suggest the new Kanger EVOD clearos. They are also bottom-feeders so you have to be cautious (always unscrew the battery from the clearo, not vice-versa!). I've been using them for a couple of weeks now and no leaking issues to speak of.

 

[Johnnie Price]

I had a love affair with clearos when I first started not long ago. The concept is awesome. You can see when it's full or when it starts to run dry. No guessing or waiting for the taste of a ruined carto. Really, what could be better?

But they just don't work. They leak or break constantly. They get dry hits when vaped too often. They work best when left to sit for 30 minutes or more after filling, whwn they work at all.

For me, a carto is they best. They don't leak or flood, they're consistent in taste. They're reliable. They make them in all sizes and will hold as much juice as you can ask for, or you could be bold and toss them in a tank. Cartos are cheaper, too.

 

[The Ocelot]

I've been having good luck with CE3s lately. Like everything else, some people like them, some don't. I did have one epically fail the other night (the juice is held in by a vacuum, so when it leaks it gushes), but I'm not holding that against the right of the box.

 

[Cool_Breeze]

As a newbie, I've had a few bumps in the road this week - one battery died after only a few weeks, though I really hadn't used it..... (I think some liquid leaked on it), another battery had the button get stuck (freaked me out as I didn't know how to turn it "off" then - finally got it popped out and it's been fine since) - and now this - I went to twist off a clearo and it literally fell apart in my hands! Not sure what happened (or if this is normal or not...??) but I ended up with juice all over me, the counter, the battery.... View attachment 184504

I've definitely noticed that I've had 2 different experiences with CE4 clearo's from 2 different places. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with them or move up to something else - I really want to keep things simple but leaking is a tiny bit of a problem...

Hi, Jen,

That 'looks like' it was made to come apart to me. I have similar cartomizers that when unscrewed, look like that in the photo. These types are generally 'rebuildable,' as in the heads are replaceable or, given a little wick and wire, one can install a new coil and wick into the existing head. Looking at the picture enlarged, it looks as if there may be an oring above the base where it fits into the tank portion. Is this the case? If so, put the two pieces back together, remove the tip, load up some juice and vape away.

 

[DavidOck]

I agree - it looks like a CE4+, CE5 or clone, and it's supposed to come apart to replace the coil.

I guess I've just had extra good luck with 'em, have half a dozen in rotation, only had a couple leak. Of course, if you take it apart when it's full...

 

[ilk80]

That 'looks like' it was made to come apart to me.

Agreed, those look like the star dust ones me & hubby got (got vapes). I have had that issue with other clearo's though and my husband can vouch. I can kill just about anything at least once (carts, batteries, cords, juice bottle once...don't ask lol). I am a hard vaper and still lack impatience three years running. Are you sure you did not have a reusable?

 

[Cool_Breeze]

For what it's worth, the ones I have screw together rather than friction fit as yours appear to be. Northwestvaprors.com appears to still have them on closeout at $3 each. There may be some difference in the heads on these and other similar ones...read the fine print, but hey...they work fine for me.

 

[Beccca]

I like cartomizers too,,,,,,,,,no fuss no muss, whatever muss means.

 

[retrox]

Oh wow, I should have zoomed in and looked at that picture the first time. There are indeed no threads on the base, so I'm assuming the base piece plugs into the tank? That seems like a tragedy just waiting to happen. Whatever you decide to try, I'd get rid of that clearo ASAP.

 

[Cool_Breeze]

Whatever you decide to try, I'd get rid of that clearo ASAP.

Or simply unscrew it at the base.

 

[jenmurray116]

Thanks guys, as always for the info - it never occurred to me that it was meant to come apart!! But retrox is right - I went to unscrew it off the battery and think I unscrewed the clearo instead - and it just took me by surprise when juice went everywhere!! It's funny though (to a newbie) I thought I ordered the same CE4's from two different vendors, but even by size alone, I can see they are different. But for some reason, I didn't think these were meant to come apart - and I would have no idea about replacing the coil at this point!

I know whether people use clearo's or carto's seems to be a personal preference - is leaking the major reason why people use carto's? I'm not really sure what the main difference is (though I'm guessing they are made of different materials...?) I liked the idea of the clearo's just because I wanted to see the level of juice left.

 

[jenmurray116]

For what it's worth, the ones I have screw together rather than friction fit as yours appear to be. Northwestvaprors.com appears to still have them on closeout at $3 each. There may be some difference in the heads on these and other similar ones...read the fine print, but hey...they work fine for me.

Thank you!! I will check them out!!

Oh, and I did throw that one out and I'm probably going to toss the others I have like it - the first batch (from where I got the Ego-T batteries) have not been a problem!!

 

[Johnnie Price]

Oh wow, I should have zoomed in and looked at that picture the first time. There are indeed no threads on the base, so I'm assuming the base piece plugs into the tank? That seems like a tragedy just waiting to happen. Whatever you decide to try, I'd get rid of that clearo ASAP.

That's how a standard CE4 is built. Hell, dig back through this forum far enough and you'll find threads where people were dismantling these to re-coil them before the CE4+ was introduced.

Same with the CE2 and CE3 even.

 

[DavidOck]

Check for threads on the bottom part before you toss 'em. If you've just unscrewed it, it is the newer type, and fully reuseable. Just clean it out and screw it back together.

And, yes, it is really easy to unscrew the wrong part from the battery We've probably all done it.

I like clearos (and tanks) for that reason, too - I can see how much juice is in them. If you like a smaller form factor, check out the Vivi Nano. It's about the size and shape of a carto, but clear, bottom coil, easy to fill, and clear (or in colors). Holds just under 1 ml, so for all day you'd need a few... I like them for testing new juices.

Cartos are filled with a polyfill batting, clearos like the Stardust have a (usually) silica fiber wick. The same juice will taste a little different between them.

Cartos are opaque, you can't see how much is in them. And they usually hold a lot less juice, although there are extra large cartos out there.

Cartos, having a steel case, are a bit sturdier, although the only clearo I've broken is because of my fumble fingers, dropping it.

 

[Fury83]

And so the lesson of unscrew from the base was learned by another vaper.

 

[jenmurray116]

Just an fyi - here's a picture of the same clearo but a new one - the way it looks here, it never would have occurred to me that it would separate as it did.... but, lesson learned!

 

[DavidOck]

Now you're ready to proceed on the highway of vaping towards your next lesson

Hey, that's how we learn, right!

 

[ilk80]

I tend to pop between clearo's or carto' but I love the stardust, I can see what I am vaping and these ones are easily cleanable and I love being able to reuse them without gunk buildup.