Ever wonder what it looks like inside of a Kanger 510 Cartomizer?  First, I have to tell you why Mike and I even decided to take it apart.  One night, I just filled a cartomizer with e-liquid.  Or should I say, I overfilled a cartomizer.  There was e-juice in the center of it and it was slurping as I vaped.  Very annoying. 

I made the mistake of taking the drip tip off and using canned air to blow out the center tube. Next thing I knew the entire wad of batting came out and I had a icky mess on my hands. 

Note to self: Don't do that again.

Initially, I threw it in the trash.  The next day I saw that the e-juice had evaporated and it wasn't quite so messy to pick up.  It was now in two pieces, the barrel and the batting (polyester I assume).  I took it to the office so Mike could see the inside of it.

Next thing I know he's got the tools out and after about 10 minutes had it completely taken apart:

This poster really drives home the point.  I have always been fascinated with the poster hanging on the wall at Knoxville Vapor.  My thanks to Bill and Terri Livezey for not only letting me take pictures of it to post here, but Bill was even kind enough to take it down so I could try to get the best camera angle.

The fine print of the ingredients is difficult to read (again this makes the point).  The source of the information is printed at the bottom left corner of this poster and says it originated on the  http://www.tveca.com/ website.

However, I could no longer find it on their website.  I did, however, find the list of ingredients listed under the section "...what is in a real cigarette here" on these websites:

• http://www.vapeatron.com/new-e-cig-forums-24424/#post134809
• https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=168903319911587&story_fbid=169171453218107

I was in a Pilot convenience store today buying coffee and noticed they are selling a new (to me) brand of e-cigarette called VaporX.  I don't know yet how much Pilot is asking for it, but tonight I got on their website (http://www.ivaporx.com/index.php/products.html/) and see they want $149.95 for their kit that has a 650 mAh battery.  Can you say OUCH!!!  That is beyond highway robbery.

You can get a kit from my friends at Knoxville Vapor with a 900 mAh battery for just $24.99. http://knoxvillevaporshop.com/index.php/shop/starter-kits/starter-kit-detail

Follow Up: A couple of day later I was in Pilot once again and I asked the clerk how much they are asking for these VaporX e-cigs.  She said they don't even have them yet.  Hmm.  Pilot surely wouldn't hang a poster in there store for free, especially for a product they're not selling.

Interesting E-Cig Modification.

My friend, Mike Reed, had made a suggestion to me a couple of weeks ago that before I order from an e-cig website I should Google around for coupon codes to save some money.  You can often find some on www.e-cigarette-forum.com. Well today he found a wonderful resource: A rather long list of Vendor Coupon Codes from gotsmoke.com.  This is also a good way to learn about other E-Cig vendors.

This is the style of variable voltage e-cig I saw several of the employees using at the Vape Store in Los Angeles.  I didn't have time to question them about it.

Mike Reed sent me this link:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/variable-voltage-apv-discussion/302456-ovale-v8-vv-discussion.html

Mike Reed sent me this.  Watch the video at the bottom of this page.

eeekkk-its-melting.html

This is a great article that describes various E-Cigarette Terminology:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3230-1-proper-terminology-carto-tank-what-primer-juice-delivery-attachments.html

For my friends in Nashville, TN there is apparently a Vape Shop near you. http://www.nashvillevapor.com/site/

I haven't been there, but I would appreciate hearing about it if you go.

Since I recently started enjoying the use of cartomizers I'm wanting a quicker way to fill them.  I have found one of the quickest ways is to use a needle and syringe.  Being new to needles I didn't realize there is a standard when it comes to sizes and color codes.

There are some nice charts here:
http://www.vitaneedle.com/disposable-needles-syringes.htm

Here is a possible source to order some from for e-cig use:
http://www.mypvshop.com/store/accessories/syringes/

I would love to find a local source, but it appears the local drug stores keep them locked up behind the counter and they do not have the sizes I want.  I currently have a 21 gauge blunt tip needle, but for several of my e-juice flavors, they are too thick and the 21 gauge isn't large enough of a diameter.  It appears I need between 15-19 gauge.

That is something else I just learned.  The smaller the gauge size, the larger the diameter.

If anyone knows of a local source for blunt tipped needles, please let me know.