cleaning cartomizers?

[dupont]

After watching one of the videos (suggested by you good forum folks!) I have learned how easy it is to pop the end off a cartomizer and refill. That works great - thanks!

The video also recommended cleaning older cartomizers by: 1) removing the two end plastic pieces, and 2) dropping in some boiling water for a few minutes.

I decided to try this and am not having success with my cleaned cartomizers. I blew them out and left them to dry for a couple of days, and the wadding looks quite clean. But the do not seem to hold much juice (drops appear below the battery end much more quickly than with un-cleaned cartomizers I refill). And although they produce some vapor, they don't produce nearly as much as cartomizers I have not cleaned. I cleaned 3 and they all seem to react this way.

Do you think they are still not quite dry? Any thoughts appreciated!

 

[hairball]

I would say they are still wet. The next time you clean some, put them in a food dehydrator if you have one. Works like a charm. Another way is to stick a wadded/twisted paper towel in the end after you sling as much water out of them as you can. After 24 hours, turn the paper towel around and do it again. I've cleaned tons of them by drying mine in a food dehydrator and have never experienced not being able to fill them with anything under 20 drops on first fill. Sorry you're having problems and I hope that my info helps.

 

[dupont]

Thanks, I suspected they were still wet. I don't have a dehydrator, but I'll probably experiment with stuff around the house (oven on very low, etc.) or just give them more time to air dry.

Also, the cleaning didn't work perfectly on the first run, but it's not really a problem. In the last month (with the help of this forum) I have progressed from thinking of cartomizers as a single-use item, to dripping through the mouth-piece hole, to the condom method, to removing the end cap - each step a big improvement! I'll keep fiddling with cleaning - Thanks.

 

[hairball]

If you go with the oven for drying, becareful as I've read where they got too hot and it killed the carto. I've never tried it...just relaying the info. You're welcome.

 

[dupont]

Yes - I would suspect that any significant heat would cause damage. Maybe 100 with the door open... I'll look around for other stuff too (hair drier, leave in a sunny spot?) - maybe pick up a dehydrator somewhere. Thanks again.

 

[earthpig]

Some (actually most) survive the boiling process, and I've heard 510 carto's have a plastic ring in em that won't survive it. I on't know this from experience.
808"s do well.
I've had some flavors that were downright stubborn, and would take multiple boils and rinses just to get the taste out. It was peppermint, and after all the boil/rinse processes (4 times) I pretty much resolved to myself it was useless unless i ws going to use the same (or similar) flavor back in them.
That then raises the question of why boil em, if it was so hard (if not impossible) to get the flavor out? Just refill with the same flavor or toss em. There really isn't a lot of longevity in carto's anyways, and I generally get 8 to 10 refills in them.

After a boil, they generally have a sllght degradation of quality. They don't seem to vape as well.

Ok, so that's my $.02c

Pig

 

[dupont]

Thanks Pig - good points. I seem to be getting more refill's out of mine, but once I settle on some flavors I may be less interested in cleaning. I'm just fairly new to all this and learning the ropes - it's all good!

 

[earthpig]

What I find is some juices will flat out kill a carto. and others will last long. I had one flavor go 18 refills and I lost the carto.
I don't know how long it would have lasted. Mind you, it was getting a tight draw and vapor was dropping.

Some of the darker fluids (seems as a rule) are hard on carto's. A Dk Choc flavor I had would kill a fresh carto in one fill.

 

[dormouse]

Most people do not have success cleaning stuffing-type cartomizers, most particularly at drying them and ever getting them to work well again

My recommendation is that you not count on being about to clean cartos. Buy plenty of cartos. Do not use cartos to test juices. Only put juices you like in cartos. And then keep the carto damp with the juice and use the carto for as long as it works well. Then discard it or save it to attempt cleaning, but don't count on being able to clean it.

I find my stuffing-type cartos work well the longest with them juices w/ 20% or less VG, especially clear light colored juices that leave no residue.

If you still want to try to clean AND DRY them, then go read the previous threads on this topic. Go to Goodle and do each of these searches and read the threads:
site:e-cigarette-forum.com clean carto
site:e-cigarette-forum.com clean cartomizer

 

[earthpig]

Agree with everything, dormouse,

except the ones I've run long term have been with vg @ 100% (light colored, but carmel)

I use Johnson Creek , Tennessee Cured, Red Oak Series...which is straight vg, and my common vape.

 

[dupont]

Thanks for all the info! I'll do the searches and see what else I can learn on the topic. I have a decent stash of filled carto's that I can refill. And I will continue experiementing with cleaning and drying.

Do you all have any suggestions on brands and/or vendors for blank RN4081 carto's?

 

[earthpig]

Sorry. It's a model I'm not familiar with.