The Dom Mods Budget Carto Punch (TM)

[domesticextremist]

I have to say I could never see what all the fuss was
about regarding putting cartos in tanks.
However the last HC GB left me with an excess of Smok DCT
tanks and a previous GB had left me with a pile of Boge LR
cartos which were largely untouched since I discovered the
Stardust.

Since I had both I thought I might try out a proper DCT. Only
problem was my cartos were 35mm and the tank is designed for
45mm cartos.
A quick bit of work with my mini tube cutter and measuring
spanner soon edited the tank to the right length.

Next problem was to punch the carto, it was late on Friday
so there was no way I could get hold of a proper punch even
if I did want to shell out £10 for one..

Tried the drill - didn't work. So I fell back to a hammer and nail.
After sending the carto into orbit around the front room a couple
of times and hitting the nail squarely on the thumb I needed
a plan B

[domesticextremist]

So I made this:



The Dom Mods Budget Carto Punch (TM)

Materials required :

One lump of wood
9.5mm drill
2.5mm drill

Mark a line to get things centred
Drill a big hole
Drill a small hole 10mm from the edge of the wood.

My bit of wood was 21mm thick, so I have two settings
10mm and 11mm depending which way you put in the carto.

Done.

To use, simply push the carto through the big hole until
the base is flush with the wood. Put a nail in the little hole
and invoke some help from Thor

[domesticextremist]

Fit to your tank and fill in your preferred manner
(I used a Spiky Thing).

Here it is atop a VV passthrough, with a plinth and a ceramic
vase drip tip to prevent any slippage (the Boge has no flange)



Perfick

[Batdragon (AKA Batty)]

Nice one, I do have one querstion though. If you have made this jig why dont you use the drill with a HSS drill on it to make the hole and not a nail?

[domesticextremist]

Works quite well although I find the flavour a bit muted
compared to a Stardust. As well it is a pain in the posterior
to fill - lots of faff and spillage so far.

So all in all I'm not a carto tank convert (not yet at least), but at
least I found out on the cheap

[Gordy]

it could be worth finding something to make a limiting sleeve so you dont hammer the nail in too far ...even a tube of washers around the nail would work

[domesticextremist]

Jun 11, 2012 0:06:16 GMT Batdragon (AKA Batty) said:

Nice one, I do have one querstion though. If you have made this jig why dont you use the drill with a HSS drill on it to make the hole and not a nail?

Well I think I'd end up just widening the hole, plus it's a lot
simpler to get a nail and hammer out than to dig out the drill
and bit and then put it all away again.

I'm a lazy bugger me.

[domesticextremist]

Jun 11, 2012 0:09:34 GMT Gordy said:

it could be worth finding something to make a limiting sleeve so you dont hammer the nail in too far ...even a tube of washers around the nail would work

I was worried about that but if you don't whack it too hard
it's pretty easy to hear when the carto has been pierced and
stop.

So far I've done two cartos without wrecking them.

[Gordy]

i guess as long as the nail is nice and sharp you could control it
with the snug hole for the carto im also guessing you dont get alot of deformation of the carto ?

[domesticextremist]

Yes, it does seem to help keep it circular.

[Sandra (aka Chillax)]

Well done dom, nothing more frustrating than a carto in orbit

[domesticextremist]

Well I've been using this for a while now and though it mutes
the flavour compared to a Stardust, it is quite satisfying to hear
it crackle and pop and I get a good amount of vapour from it.

I've also found the better way to fill it up. When sliding down to fill with
a spiky thing, the punched holes would let loads of juice leak out of the
bottom. Instead, I just remove the drip tip, wiggle off the top cap and fill
with juice.

Then I place the top cap back on and holding the lot top and bottom with
both hands, invert it and squeeze the top cap home.

It takes a bit of coordination and could go horribly wrong, but so far it is less messy
than the other way and I get more in the tank.

[Perpetua]

That's how I fill any of my Tanks Dom, by popping the tops off.

A dab of vaseline, around the seals helps make that easier as well for me.

[Roger]

Remove tank/carto from battery, push threaded end of carto down into tank, fill, push (and twist) from drip tip end, replace on battery. No mess, never had a spill, also give all threads a quick clean at the same time. Simples.