An oil cartridge is essentially the heart of any vape pen. It’s responsible for holding the device’s oil supply and for vaporizing the oil, so the quality of the cartridge has a major impact on the overall quality of your vaping experience.
A vape cartridge also only lasts a limited amount of time, so it’s something that you’ll need to replace fairly regularly. Maybe that’s one reason why there are hundreds of different oil cartridges on the market today.
Oil cartridges may be common, but that doesn’t mean they’re all made according to the same quality standards – and buying the wrong cartridge can be ruinous. Every month, thousands of people across the country search online for help with issues relating to oil cartridges, such as:
- Clogged cartridges
- Leaking cartridges
- Gurgling cartridges
- Burnt hits
To make matters worse, these problems don’t only happen because of the quality of the hardware you’re using; they can also happen if you use your cartridge incorrectly.
In this comprehensive guide to oil cartridges, we’re going to help you avoid the problems that new vapers often experience. Reading it, you’re going to learn:
- How to identify a high-quality oil cartridge.
- How to understand the many different features that today’s oil cartridges have.
- How to set up, use and maintain an oil cartridge correctly.
- How to troubleshoot the most common issues with oil cartridges.
Introduction to Oil Cartridges
Let’s start by defining the topic. An oil cartridge is an attachment for a vape pen or 510-thread battery. A vape cartridge stores the device’s oil supply, and it also includes the atomizer coil necessary to vaporize the oil.
Here’s how an oil cartridge works.
- The outer portion of the cartridge is a plastic or glass reservoir that holds the oil.
- The inner portion of the cartridge consists of an absorbent ceramic core with an atomizer coil in the middle.
- When you puff on your vape pen or press the activation button, the atomizer coil vaporizes some of the oil held in the ceramic core.
- When you complete the puff, the ceramic core absorbs more oil from the cartridge’s reservoir.
- This process continues until the cartridge is empty.
Why Are Oil Cartridges So Popular?
Oil vape pens are probably the most popular devices on the market for herbal consumption, and a large part of that is because oil cartridges have so many benefits. These are the most important ones.
- Vape oil is a concentrated product that’s very potent. A single cartridge holds enough oil for several lengthy vaping sessions.
- Although oil cartridges give you an incredible amount of vaping time for the money, they’re extremely small and portable. A fully assembled vape pen is easily small enough to carry comfortably in your pocket.
- They’re convenient and easy to use. Using a pre-filled vape cartridge is as simple as connecting it to your battery and puffing.
- They can provide a wide variety of different experiences. Vape oils are available in many different flavors, strains and potencies.
- They provide a consistent dosage with each puff, allowing you to enjoy experiences that remain predictable from one session to the next.
- They’re available in both pre-filled and refillable forms. You can buy pre-filled cartridges for maximum convenience, or you can buy empty cartridges and fill them with your own vape oils to keep your costs low.
Do Oil Cartridges Have Any Drawbacks?
Compared to other herbal vaping solutions, oil cartridges have very few drawbacks; that’s why they’re so popular. However, there are two potential downsides that you should consider.
- They can leak or produce a burnt flavor if they’re not used correctly.
- Some cartridges may be too wide or too tall to work with certain vape pens or 510-thread batteries.
Types of Oil Cartridges
Oil cartridges come in a wide variety of types, and they can be made with many different materials. The large selection of cartridge types makes it easy for you to pick one that’s absolutely perfect for your needs – but before you can do that, you need to know what’s available.
Pre-Filled vs. Refillable Cartridges
When you buy an oil cartridge, the most important thing that you’ll need to do is choose between a pre-filled cart or a refillable one. Here’s how they compare.
- Pre-filled cartridges are already filled with oil, so they’re ready to use as soon as you buy them. That fact makes them extremely convenient. However, a pre-filled cartridge is only meant to be used until it’s empty and isn’t designed for refilling. A pre-filled oil cartridge may last several days or even weeks depending on how often you use it. The fact that you can’t refill them, though, means that pre-filled cartridges cost more in the long run than refillable cartridges.
- Refillable cartridges are empty when you first buy them, so you’ll need to fill them with your own vape oil. That can be inconvenient and potentially messy because vape oils are thick and difficult to dispense. Vape oil is much less expensive when you buy it in bulk, though, so you can save money in the long run if you use refillable cartridges. In addition, you can reuse a refillable cartridge as many times as you like until you’re no longer happy with the flavor.
Core Materials
Choosing the core material is easy when you buy an oil cartridge. At Hamilton Devices, we only sell and recommend CCELL® vape cartridges. CCELL® was the first company to make a vape cartridge with an absorbent ceramic core, and ceramic remains the leading material for this purpose. We recommend against buying a vape cartridge with a core made from any material other than ceramic.
Outer Wall Materials
The outer wall of an oil cartridge may be made from glass or plastic. Here’s how they compare.
- Glass is usually more durable than plastic, which may be a particularly desirable feature in a refillable cartridge. In addition, some people believe that glass-walled cartridges seem to have superior flavor quality. However, glass-walled cartridges also tend to cost more.
- Plastic is lightweight and inexpensive, but some people find that plastic-walled cartridges can’t quite match glass cartridges in terms of durability and flavor quality.
Mouthpiece Materials and Shapes
Vape cartridge mouthpieces are made from a wide variety of different materials including plastic, glass, wood, metal and ceramic. They’re also available in a variety of shapes including cylindrical, tapered and whistle tipped. Each material feels slightly different on the lips, and each shape causes the vapor to hit your palate slightly differently. None of the different mouthpiece materials and shapes offer specific benefits compared to the others, so it all comes down to personal preference. You should try vape cartridges with several different mouthpieces and choose the one you like best.
How to Choose the Right Oil Cartridge
When it comes to buying an oil cartridge, many of the choices you’ll make will be completely subjective. There’s really no wrong choice, for instance, if you’re trying to decide between a cartridge with a plastic wall and one with a glass wall. There are a few important things to consider, though, before you make your final decision.
Device Compatibility
Some vape pens have specialized designs for maximum discreetness or portability, and the designs of those devices determine what vape cartridges you can use with them. For instance, the Cloak by Hamilton Devices has a sheath that completely covers the cartridge, so it doesn’t work with cartridges that have extra-long mouthpieces. The CCELL® Palm has a design that allows the majority of the cartridge to hide inside the body of the device, giving the vape a very sleek profile. However, it doesn’t work with extra-wide cartridges. Before buying a cartridge, you want to be certain that it’ll fit in your device.
Oil Type
Vape oils come in a wide variety of types such as CBD oils, full-spectrum extracts and single-cannabinoid oils. Some vape oils are extremely potent, whereas others produce little or no psychotropic effects at all. It’s important to research what’s available, so you’ll be certain you’re getting what you want.
Material Preference
As we mentioned above, vape cartridges are made with a wide variety of different materials. We suggest always choosing a vape cartridge with a ceramic core, but the other decisions – choosing a cartridge with a glass or plastic wall, for instance – largely come down to personal preference. Experiment with different cartridges to discover what you like.
Brand Reputation
If you’re buying a refillable oil cartridge, choosing the right brand is easy. CCELL® was the first company to offer an oil vape cartridge with a ceramic core, and CCELL® continues to be the industry’s technological leader. That’s why we only sell CCELL® cartridges at Hamilton Devices.
If you’re buying a pre-filled cartridge, though, you’ll have a bit more research to do because you don’t just want to know what hardware the maker of the cartridge uses – you also want to know exactly what’s in the cartridge. It’s wise to buy only from companies that send their products to third-party laboratories for testing and publish the test results for customers to view. You don’t just want to know about the active compounds in the oil; you also need to verify that the oil is free of unwanted contaminants like heavy metals, molds, pesticides and residual solvents.
Pre-Filled vs. Refillable
As we’ve mentioned already, choosing between a pre-filled cartridge and a refillable one is one of the biggest decisions that you’ll need to make when you buy an oil cartridge. We encourage you to try both types of cartridges and see what’s best for you. If you’re new to vaping, you may find it easiest to start with a pre-filled cartridge. If you already know that you’re going to be a very frequent vaper, though, it might be best to consider learning how to fill your own cartridges right away due to the much lower long-term costs.
Using and Maintaining an Oil Cartridge
Now that you know everything you need to know about buying oil cartridges, it’s time to learn how to use and maintain them. The biggest strength of vape cartridges is their simplicity, but it’s still helpful to have an idea of what you need to do before you get started.
Filling the Cartridge
If you’re using a refillable oil cartridge, you’ll need to fill it before you can get started. If you’re using a pre-filled cartridge, you can skip this step.
- Make a note of your cartridge’s capacity – most carts hold 0.5 or 1.0 ml of oil – and draw that amount of oil into a blunt-tip syringe.
- Dispense the oil into the cartridge’s filling hole, which is the small hole slightly offset from the cartridge’s central air chimney. Note that the cartridge may not quite look full. That’s normal because the cartridge’s mouthpiece will take up some of that empty space. Resist the temptation to overfill the cartridge.
- Place the mouthpiece over the top of the cartridge and press or twist it to secure it in place.
- Wait about a half hour to ensure that the cartridge’s ceramic core is fully saturated with oil.
Connecting the Cartridge to Your Vape Pen
Next, you’ll need to connect the cartridge to your vaping device.
- If you’re using a standard vape pen battery with a 510 thread, you can simply twist the cartridge into your device’s threading. Make sure that the cartridge is screwed all the way in but don’t over-tighten it.
- If you’re using a vape pen with a magnetic dock like the CCELL® Palm, twist the included magnetic connector onto your vape cartridge and slide the cartridge into the device’s hole. The magnet holds the cartridge securely in place.
If you haven’t charged your vape pen, you should do that before you begin vaping.
Using the Cartridge
Once you’ve filled your cartridge and attached it to your vape pen, you’re ready to start vaping.
- If you’re using a vape pen with a manual fire button, turn the device on by pressing the fire button five times. If your device doesn’t have a fire button, it’s on when a cartridge is connected.
- If you’re using a vape pen with adjustable voltage, set the power to the lowest available level before you begin vaping. This helps to prevent burnt hits. You can increase the voltage later once the cartridge is fully broken in.
- Vape by drawing air gently through the cartridge’s mouthpiece if your vape pen doesn’t have a fire button. If it does have a fire button, draw air through the mouthpiece while holding the button.
- Inhale the vapor and hold it in your lungs as long as you like before exhaling it.
- Take a couple more puffs and put the device down for a while until you’ve allowed sufficient time to gauge the effects. Some vape oils are extremely potent, and the effects could potentially be unpleasant if you consume too much.
Storing the Cartridge
When you’re not using an oil cartridge, always store it in a cool, dark place to protect the delicate vape oil from sunlight and heat. It’s also a good idea to store the cartridge in an upright position because it helps to prevent leaking.
Maintaining the Cartridge
The most important aspect of maintaining an oil cartridge is ensuring that it stays clean. If a cartridge ever leaks from the threading or airflow vents, remove the oil right away using a cotton swab dipped in a little rubbing alcohol. Dry the cartridge thoroughly before using it again.
Fixing Common Problems with Oil Cartridges
Oil cartridges are fairly complex, and you’re bound to experience some occasional issues if you’re new to vaping. Here are the four most common problems with vape cartridges and how to fix them.
Leaking or Gurgling
- Reduce the amount of air pressure that you use when puffing on your vape pen. You only need to puff firmly enough to make your device’s light turn on. The most common reason why oil cartridges leak or gurgle is because new vapers tend to puff too firmly.
- If you’re filling your own cartridge, make sure that you’re not using too much oil. If you overfill a cartridge, it may leak when you affix the mouthpiece.
- Avoid storing an oil cartridge on its side for a long period of time, as this can break the cartridge’s internal vacuum and cause a leak.
- Always make sure that you’re buying high-quality cartridges. You’re more likely to experience problems with cartridges made to lower quality standards.
Clogging or Poor Airflow
- Dislodge the clog by taking a quick, firm puff or by using a paperclip or toothpick to remove the clog manually.
- In the future, use less air pressure when puffing on your oil cartridge. Leaking and clogging often go hand in hand – so there’s a good chance that if you experience one of those problems, you’ll also experience the other.
Weak Hits
- Make sure that the cartridge isn’t empty.
- Check your device’s charge level. With many vape pens, the vapor production will decrease noticeably when the battery is nearly dead.
- Make sure that the metal connection points on your vape pen and cartridge are both clean.
- Increase your device’s voltage if possible.
- Try taking longer, slower puffs to inhale more vapor per puff if your vape pen doesn’t have adjustable voltage.
Burnt Hits
- Make sure that your cartridge isn’t empty. If no oil remains in the cartridge’s ceramic core, the coil will overheat.
- Use your vape pen’s automatic preheating function if it has one.
- Reduce your vape pen’s voltage if possible.
- Wait longer between puffs. It takes several seconds for the ceramic core to refresh itself after you puff on an oil cartridge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Cartridges
If you have an additional question about oil cartridges that hasn’t been discussed in this guide already, you’ll probably find the answer here. These are the most commonly asked questions about oil cartridges.
- How long does an oil cartridge last?
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- A filled oil cartridge provides enough oil to last for several lengthy vaping sessions. You may find that you can use the same cartridge for days or weeks depending on how often you vape and how long each session is.
- A refillable cartridge lasts until you’re no longer happy with the flavor. When the cartridge begins to taste burnt, it’s time to consider replacing it.
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- Can I refill a pre-filled cartridge?
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- A pre-filled cartridge usually has a tamper-proof mouthpiece that’s not designed for easy removal. Removing the mouthpiece from this type of cartridge may cause the outer wall to crack, rendering the cartridge inoperable. So, although you can try to refill a vape cart, you should be prepared for the fact that the cartridge may break in the process.
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- What’s the difference between an oil cart and a disposable vape pen?
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- A disposable vape pen is essentially a vape pen with a permanent oil cartridge that’s not removable. Disposable vapes are available in pre-filled form, and you can also buy an empty disposable vape pen and fill it yourself. Disposable vapes aren’t intended for refilling, though, and you’ll need to replace the entire device when it’s empty.
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- Why are CCELL® cartridges the best oil cartridges?
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- CCELL® is famous for creating the first oil cartridge with an absorbent ceramic core, and that remains the central technology used by all high-quality oil vape pens today. CCELL® has used its first-mover advantage to remain at the forefront of oil vaping technology with initiatives like the use of improved ceramic blends and medical-grade stainless steel, stringent heavy metal testing and a new aqueous casting system that reduces carbon emissions by up to 35 percent.
Conclusion
After reading this guide, we hope that you’ll feel better prepared to approach your first experience with oil cartridges. We’ve explained how to buy vape cartridges, how to use them properly, how to maintain them and how to fix the occasional problems that may arise when you vape.
As you’ve learned, buying the right cartridge is crucial if you want to have a good experience. It’s equally important to avoid the common mistakes that new vapers often make, though, such as overfilling and puffing too firmly. We’ve gone through a lot of information here, and we encourage you to bookmark this page and return to it in the future when issues and questions arise.
Are you ready to begin shopping for oil cartridges now? View our full selection of CCELL® vape cartridges. Remember that a cartridge always works best when you pair it with a great device. Shop our vape pens and 510-thread batteries now.