A couple quick updates on my continuing experience with the 'leakproof' 1701 cart for your amusement:
I abandoned the MP that came with it (going back to the usual Omicorn rubber one) and have had no more leaks. A big improvement to me. I believe the issue involved a rubber seal on the top of the flue. A little 'stack of smaller and smaller doughnuts' (although square and one piece) that makes a plug to seal against the supplied MP. So now it leaks out the top (into the rubber MP only, hopefully) but if stored upright (or reasonably so, at least 'nose up') it does not leak at all.
The surging I was getting is tied up in this part too, I think. The seal at the top allowed material to collect up there, not just condensate but substantial amounts of oil can get pumped up there. When I'd pull harder, it would surge. This was camouflaged by a leak in my Nibbler (so draw would never go to zero). That was poor fit of the glass (dual ring seal failure), easily fixed with a slightly larger ring (I think the ring from the Cera cart, it was the first in the box...). You might want to test your Nibbler for this, easy to do. Roll up the bottom of an Omicron MP and stuff it up the bottom of the Nibbler and see if it still draws some. Mine did....I assume from the start. Once I discovered it, repeated tries to reseat the plug were only successful a time or two. The ring is the cure for me here.
I don't understand how this guy works. You can see into what seems like the bottom of the tank. Sometimes it's dry but working great. At such times weight shows 200 or more mg of oil in there somewhere. Sometimes it stalls out with a bunch somewhere. Between times it works just fine. I'm convinced that it's technique related at this point.....at least I can see nothing else to explore.
IMO this guy shows great promise.
I'm maybe two grams of various thinner oils into it with no further problems leak wise (as long as it's stored right). I still don't think I fully understand, let along have mastered, this fun little gadget. But it will make vapor, and hasn't yet tasted at all 'burnt'. The oil taste is still fresh, no 'cooked oil' aftertaste. Whatever the 'fix' G knows how to pull of is I hope that happens soon. It's hard to get too serious on a Beta unit you know is going to change........
OF