Volt Cartomizer Refilling

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genjaguar

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Mar 31, 2012
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Hello,
I just got my Volt about a month ago. With it I ordered some sample packs to test through the flavors. All the cartos had good flavor and I could easily taste the difference between them. I decided to go with the cappuccino flavor to refill and bought a pack of 5 (18mg because they didn't have 12mg) along with some refill liquid(12 mg). I bought these about 3 weeks ago so they have been sitting on my desk since then.

I noticed that these cartos are not giving me the flavor I expected. Even one I just got fresh from the pack is not really giving me any flavor. Is it possible they dried out from sitting out too long? I get good vapor from them just no real flavor.

Another thing is that I took the first one out on Monday. I noticed it didn't have much flavor so I tried to put a few drops of liquid into it. It was giving off good vapor but still no flavor. So I then used the condom method overnight (filled it about half way and when I put it on fully it came up to just over where the white mesh in the cartomizer ends). I left that overnight and took it off in the morning (a little liquid was left in the condom). But smoking it during the day it again barely had any hints of flavor. Sometimes it gave what seemed like a harsh feel and taste and even left a little stinging sensation in the back of my throat for a while after taking a puff.

Am I not refilling these correctly? Did I somehow burn them out? I barely used it for an hour before I put a few drops in it and then only used it for another hour before leaving it in the condom overnight. I just grabbed a new cartomizer right now and it doesn't really give me any flavor either. I already put a few drops into it with no change. Gonna put the condom on this one tonight and see how it is tomorrow but I doubt it will get better. Not really sure what happened. When I first tried the flavor it tasted great but now even fresh out of the pack it doesn't give me anything.

I don't vape too much during the day...only on my breaks at work. I used to only smoke about 5-7 cigs a day so not a heavy smoker. I do take quite a few more vapes at night while working or playing on my computer.
 
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rse1

Senior Member
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Feb 5, 2012
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Aloha, OR USA (near portland)
Hi and welcome to the ECF.

The harsh taste (and the lack of flavor) is an indicator that the filler around the coil is dry. This can actually start to burn the filler and once that happens, you will always get a burned taste from that carto. It's best to just toss it.

One thing you might try is just dripping ejuice into the carto until the top looks slushy, wait a minute or two and do it again. Another method to try is to use the condom fill method from the battery end - I get a better till that way.

In either fill method, make sure you hold a tissue to the battery end of the carto and blow through it to clear the air passageway of fluid before you install it on the battery and try to vape - you don't want fluid leaking down into the battery (it can kill a battery or muck up the switch).

A regular sized carto will take about a millilitre of juice (about 20 drops from a regular bottle or 40 drops from a needle-nose bottle).

I hope this helps. Take care and stay vaping.
 

genjaguar

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Mar 31, 2012
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Chicago
I figured the harsh taste meant that it might be starting to burn. However, I was still getting good vapor from it. Since I never really tasted the flavor to begin with I didn't notice the flavor diminishing. I went through two new cartos already and now I'm on my third which is still not really giving me any flavor.

For the condom method, I do use it on the battery end since that seems to work out better. After taking it out I always blow out the airway to make sure nothing drips onto the battery. I was getting about 20 drops into the condom before putting it on the carto.

Would leaving the condom overnight have any downside? I figured it might give it better soaking and more time to settle.

As for losing my flavor...maybe it is possible. I sometimes get small hints of the original flavor I used to remember but to not have any real taste of it on a fresh carto seems surprising to me.
 

sailorman

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Jun 5, 2010
4,305
2,840
Podunk, FLA
You can get plenty of vapor from a burnt carto, it'll just taste rough.

I have no explanation about loss of flavor from a fresh carto though, although it's entirely possible you're just suffering from flavor burn out. Do you have any other flavors. I've found it helps to swap flavors now and then to keep the taste buds on their toes.

There's no downside from leaving the carto overnight. It's just wholly unnecessary.
If it doesn't soak in well enough in 5-10 minutes, it ain't going to happen ever.
 

genjaguar

Full Member
Mar 31, 2012
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Chicago
I was using sample packs up until this week when I grabbed the first cappuccino carto I had bought. The last sample pack I used had me finishing with cherry, vanilla, and grape flavors. Then grabbing the cappuccino carto I had no flavor. So it wasn't me burning out the flavor from smoking it too much.

The new one I just started last night doesn't give me any flavor either today after using the condom method. It is not really giving me anything other than a slight stingy sensation sometimes in the back of my throat or a lite harsh taste and feel. Otherwise it seems like it tastes a little smokey.

The weird thing is...smelling the bottle or a new carto I can definately somewhat smell the flavor. And occasionally I do get a hint of the flavor when vaping...but most of the time I get nothing.
 

genjaguar

Full Member
Mar 31, 2012
15
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39
Chicago
Well I haven't tried the syringe method but I doubt it would change anything if even fresh cartos give me the same issue. Before I started these (which I was planning on using for the month) I had the sample pack. In those I could taste the vanilla or cherry or grape fine. When I first bought the volt and I bought sample packs with it, all of them I could taste the difference. The cappuccino carto in the sample pack and its flavor is what got me to buy the refill liquid and a 5 pack of it. So I definately know that I have tasted it before and what it was like.

My battery is fully charged (I tried on both since I bought a starter kit). I haven't tried any blank cartos.

I do not have any sinuses or allergies and I know I'm not sick at all for any of that to be interfering. I'm still not tempted to smoke since the vapor is working and I'm guessing giving me the nicotine so I'm not tempted to go back to cigs. I would just love to get the cappuccino flavor back.

Could it have been a bad 5 pack I bought. I was gonna order another one just to test since I will have plenty of liquid to refill with. I also still have 2 fresh ones in the 5 pack but didn't wanna use them all yet.
 

ChinMullet

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Jan 14, 2012
250
184
Outer Space
SI's prefilled carts do not have a strong taste, in my experience. (No idea about their refill juices) They're also not dripping wet with juice, as you can do when filling your own.

If you're already comfortable refilling carts and such, why not try cappuccino juices from other vendors? If your carts are relatively dry, I might even consider refilling the cartos you have with juice from elsewhere. You'll mix juices, but that's not always a bad thing. I'm sucking on a chocolate cart that I jusrt refilled with banana, and it's pretty damn good.
 

ChinMullet

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Jan 14, 2012
250
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Outer Space
What would you recommend as a good place to get cartos and juice for a Volt?

SI/Volt's cartos seem to be generally thought of as good, blank and prefilled. I almost always buy blanks at this point, but keep some prefilled for over night trips and such, when I don't want to fuss with bottles.

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I would buy from any of them again.
 
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genjaguar

Full Member
Mar 31, 2012
15
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39
Chicago
I did finally remember one thing. When I first refilled one of the cartos I spilled some of the juice. Not knowing better...I tasted the straight juice (of course it did not taste good and was pretty strong). Could this have any effect on not being able to taste when vaping now?

And I've been looking around the other sites posted as well as posts made on the forums for a good kind of cappuccino/coffee tasting eliquid. Since most of them just sell the liquid I'm guessing I would have to be buying blank cartos (from the volt site?).
 
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zonezilla

Full Member
Mar 19, 2012
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maryland, usa
i just recently tried refilling the volt cartos and i have the same exact issue as you so your not alone i decided to buy some of these KR808D1 Ultimate CE2 Clearomizer XL no annoying polyfill to worry about just inject the juice and go they should be here by tomorrow or monday so ill reply on how well they work but they cant be any worse than trying to refill the volt
 
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