On eDripping.com, I have primarily discussed dripping and tanks (or Tank-o-Mizers) as a means of delivering e-liquid to an e-cig atomizer. I feel that both methods of e-liquid delivery have strengths; while dripping gives you maximum control of nicotine and vapor, tanks are cleaner and more convenient. But what about cartomizers? A cartomizer is an enclosed atomizer with a built-in tank or polyfill for holding e-liquid. It holds far more liquid than a standard disposable e-cig cartridge, and provides quite a bit more vapor as well. I find the experience similar to what a tank system would offer, and some people vape exclusively with cartomizers. One of the differences between a cartomizer and a tank is the fact that a tank system uses a fixed atomizer; when you switch between tanks that have different e-liquids, the first e-liquid remains on the atomizer for a while. Not so with cartomizers; they allow you to switch between e-liquid flavors instantly.
Learn more: What is an electronic cigarette cartomizer?
In this article, I will discuss the process of filling a cartomizer. The products that I use to illustrate this process are Volcano’s Mega Clearomizer ($12.99 for a pack of five) and Cartomizer Refill Kit ($3.99). Although the Clearomizer is not the only cartomizer design out there, it is one of the most popular that I am aware of.
Place a thin object such as a nail or extended paper clip into the hole in the middle of the cartomizer’s soft tip, and pry it out of the cartomizer. You can sometimes do this with your fingernail as well, depending on how tightly the cover is packed in.
Pry the nozzle off of the tip of your bottle of e-liquid, if you are using a plastic bottle. Insert the syringe — without the thin tip attached — and extract 1 ml of e-liquid. In the case of Volcano’s cartomizer refill kit, 1 ml fills the syringe. Standard cartomizers hold about 1 ml of e-liquid, while Mega cartomizers hold around 1.5-1.7 ml. Keep a paper towel handy to catch any drips.
Place the thin tip on the end of the syringe, and insert the syringe into one of the two small holes inside the cartomizer. Do not put e-liquid in the center hole. In the picture, I have outlined the correct holes in red. If you look at the cartomizer from the side, you should be able to see the tip of the syringe just poking into the tank. If you accidentally bend the tip, remove and replace it. The tips tend to get bent after a few uses, since they are soft for safety’s sake.
Empty the contents of the syringe gently into the cartomizer. You should begin to see the e-liquid filling the tank if you are using a Clearomizer. If you are using an opaque cartomizer, watch the top for any liquid that might appear, and be prepared to wipe it up with a paper towel if you overfill. You want to avoid e-liquid going into the center hole as much as possible.
If you have a Clearomizer, it should be pretty obvious when you need to refill it — you can see when the tank is running low. If you have an opaque cartomizer, though, it might be a little more difficult. Pay attention to the way the vapor tastes; if you start to get a burned taste from your cartomizer, refill it immediately to avoid burning the wick or polyfill. Generally, you will find that you need to replace a cartomizer every 5-7 uses.
If you have a cartomizer with polyfill such as this low-resistance cartomizer from eLiquid Planet, refilling the cartomizer becomes slightly easier and does not require a syringe — just an eyedropper or bottle with a dropper tip. As with a tank-based cartomizer, you want to avoid putting e-liquid in the center hole. Lean the tip of the bottle or dropper against the outside edge of the cartomizer and put around 4-5 drops in. Wait for the liquid to saturate the polyfill, rotate the cartomizer and place a few drops on the other side of the polyfill. When it looks saturated, replace the soft top and enjoy.