What's the Lifespan of a Cartomizer?

[XeniaMike]

Just wondering how many times you refill your cartomizers. I have re-filled one (started out blank) three times and it's already starting to taste bad. Is it different every time? Seems like I've filled them more than 3 times before and were fine.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

It's VERY important to fully saturate the carto- it may look wet on top but underneath it's bone dry which leads to burnt filler. There have also been issues with the quality of cartos lately. Apparently they supposedly changed the filler material.
Many have switched to using carto tanks because it takes away much of the guesswork of when to fill them.
With a carto+ tank I get before tight draw begins:
light juice- 80- 90 ml
dark juice- 50- 60 ml

 

[XeniaMike]

Yea, I was using a very dark (JC Silverthorn) and the top was soaking wet, and it even leaked out the end like I overfilled the cart or something, but still got burnt tasting. Maybe I just used it too long?

 

[TheOnlyCindy]

Just wondering how many times you refill your cartomizers. I have re-filled one (started out blank) three times and it's already starting to taste bad. Is it different every time? Seems like I've filled them more than 3 times before and were fine.

I'm a newbie, reading and learning all I can! My Volt cartomizers can be refilled MANY times before they start to taste a bit "off". Are you refilling them with the same flavor of liquid?

Cindy

 

[markfm]

I run 18 - 20 ml consistently, change a carto whenever the taste changes even faintly. I might well get Vapoor's numbers, this is for my own specific DIY mix, high flavor organic, at 8 - 10 watts. Darker/thicker eliquids can definitely have an impact. Carto consistency/QC is also quite variable, I stick with one vendor just because the product they sell is built to their specs.

Initial priming is to me something where it's either done right or the carto is toast -- if I get a burnt taste, insufficient initial soak, I toss it, since once it's bad it doesn't come back to life.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Dark juices and heavy VG juices are hell on a carto but even with the darkest of juices it should last longer. Have you thought about using a Mini Vivi Nova? At least they can be cleaned and parts (head) replaced. How do you first fill your carto?

Yea, I was using a very dark (JC Silverthorn) and the top was soaking wet, and it even leaked out the end like I overfilled the cart or something, but still got burnt tasting. Maybe I just used it too long?

 

[XeniaMike]

Cindy: Yes, I'm careful to use only the same liquid in the cartos.

markfm: the liquid in the suspect cart was very dark. Tasted good the first couple of times.

 

[markfm]

3 times is still kind of on the low end. Where I run 20 ml, even with a dark eliquid I'd usually expect at least 10. You might just have hit a badly built one (that QC thing, luck of the draw).

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Here's a vid by PB. Some drip fill, others syringe fill, below is a condom fill...

 

[Exile]

Im still fairly new to vaping, but I seem to get about a solid week out of my Boge 2ohm cartomizers. Thats refilling them multiple times, and vaping on them like its going out of style...

 

[FattyMcChubChub]

Even with a tank system I was replacing cartos about once a week. Quality control varies alot with any type of cartos I've found. The filler material plays a part in the flavor, as well as the condition of the coil and whatever it may be wrapped in. But once you burn a carto you're SOL. It's better to flood it a bit than underfill and burn it out. You can fix a flood but not a burnt coil.

 

[fourthrok]

Cartomizers all seem to have different personalities. Even the same brand from the same vendor out of the same box!

I get all my cartomizers from one source and they are Boge. I get both 2ohm and 3ohm single coils. In one box there can be vastly different performing cartos. Sometimes a whole box will be consistently good. Sometimes a few will be burnt or "clogged" out of the box...but in the same box there will be ones that last an ungodly length of time.

It's just the nature of the beast. They vary. Doesn't matter who makes them.

 

[sawalke4]

Can they be boiled out and reused after they start to taste bad?

 

[Amusingdead]

Great to read this thread, because i have had the same experience with refilable cartos. Which i just recently bought because i had a liquid that kept cracking my iclear tanks i got withe the itaste mvp.

I seem to be having the same issues with the cartos some run good and others bleh.

An additional question i have is for a dual coil tank like the iclear 1.6ml tanks. when do i know when to change the coil head?

I mean these tanks seem super good to start then the taste runs flat sometimes very quickly, im not sure if once i fill the tank i should let it sit for a period of time to fully "wick" (i hope thats the right term) fully. Thought maybe because it wicks up instead of at teh bottom like the kanger t3's that could be an issue of not cosntantly keeping the tank toped off.Additionally im not sure if im buring the coils out and reusing them incorrect. the draws even with the same liquids seem to vary greatly. lol im so confused!!!!! >sad face<

i wanna get that nice pv4 taste every hit and its just not the case with teh tanks or the cartos.

any thoughts on my taste issues while we on the subject?

Thanks so much,
~Adead

 

[markfm]

Some people do, but after a handful of months I stopped doing that, wasn't worth the time/effort.

Fourthrok -- If you have gear with a 510 fitting, you might want to try an Ikenvape standard length 510 platinum cartomizer, they're very consistent. I use those and the Ikenvape 801 fusion exclusively.

 

[XeniaMike]

Ok here's the weird thing. Filled a blank carto last night, vaped all day and every drag was fantastic until suddenly it went from great to burned instantly! Cart has only been used once. I had some juice with me so put a few drops in, looked wet on top and promptly came out the other end. Does that mean it's still full? I'm thinking I need to get onto tanks. LOL

 

[j_n_f]

I was having issues with some of mine feeling empty much too quickly... As one might expect, I was simply not putting enough liquid in them

 

[XeniaMike]

I was having issues with some of mine feeling empty much too quickly... As one might expect, I was simply not putting enough liquid in them

I know that's what I thought, but when I fill them, some even comes out the end like I overfilled them, but the last couple still burned up.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

When refilling a carto with drips tilt it and drip the drops into the filler. Turn and fill each side of the filler until slushie. Placing a round toothpick GENTLY in the airway beforehand helps keeps juice out when refilling. Your carto is prolly 1 ml...20 drops = 1 ml so it may take 10? drops to refill. Shake the juice bottle beforehand.

Ok here's the weird thing. Filled a blank carto last night, vaped all day and every drag was fantastic until suddenly it went from great to burned instantly! Cart has only been used once. I had some juice with me so put a few drops in, looked wet on top and promptly came out the other end. Does that mean it's still full? I'm thinking I need to get onto tanks. LOL

Edit: Realize 1 ml of juice is not very much. Don't know how much you vape on a daily basis but the norm is 3- 5 ml.

 

[j_n_f]

I know that's what I thought, but when I fill them, some even comes out the end like I overfilled them, but the last couple still burned up.

I'm going to start marking the condoms when I'm refilling my next set of blanks and keep a closer eye on them. I'd like to get it down to a science, but some of the responses make it seem like there is no science. Some will refill 5 times and some 10. Hm.