Oh boy, oh boy! Goldie (<---- term of enderment) you have just opened a can of worms LOL.
You have unknowingly opened a can of worms not because of the Q or subjectivity but dependability, and to that, there is no simple answer. I tried in to extrapolate the information and arrive at a conclusion in the past. I thought I had it pegged, but alas I was mistaken. My conclusions were skewed by my own successes.
Thus far, in my quest for the perfect
vape, I've been less concerned with atty longevity than with finding attys that hit the spot to start with. Now that I've got dial in what I'm looking for (2.0 resistance level type behavior), I'm wondering what people's experience is with how long attys can be expected to hit that spot before requiring a ceremonious burial.
... and that is pretty much what I have been doing as well. Unfortunately attys of the same resistance is but one factor I have come to find out. Resistance is only a portion of atomiser make up. Would these
devices perform better if they were mass produced by a machine, rather than manufactured and assembled by hand?
I haven't been searching for longevity, but what I've noticed so far is that 510s don't last as well as 901s or 801s (or 401s). I've only used one (yup, just one) 801 atty so far, so that's not a large sample size to say the least
I do have a pile of 510s and a few 901s (and decent pile of 401s too). It's my experience that 510s give up the ghost faster than most. Wondering if others find that to be the case too?
Ouch! goldielocks says that porridge taste funny
My experience has been the total opposite, and hence why I started off by saying that is one big can of worm you opened there. Nonetheless a subject worthy of discussion.
I am still using atomisers that I have started with from February (510s) I have two SLBs 510 left from my original batch of 6. I have one 801 left from my original batch of 10, mind you these were used at 5V plus. I do not like the 801 at 3.1-3.7V, it runs too cool and vapour production is poor, because of the inability of the atty to wick or the cart to deliver the liquid
proportionately to the atty. As WWay I farted around 3 ways from Sunday to get them to work properly (801 carts) and just gave up on them. I found that the 801 performed slightly better on a PT at 5V, and hence why I built a 5V boxmod. At the time, I had also come across that dripping the 801 was the way to go. 901s I am not too fusyy about them. They provide great flavour with diminished throat hit which makes them perfect for morning coffee vaping. The learning curve is steep IMO. Getting one to work properly, is hit and miss. When they work hey work great, when they don't it can be frustrating. Because of their relatively HR, I have been using them at 5-6V while dripping. The downside, the vape quality of the 901 as previiously mentioned goes out the window IMO. I have only popped 1 trying to break it in, and it was user error as I got frustrated with it. When my mood is more relaxed I give them a whirl and slowly they are finding their place in my vaping arsenal, but nothing replaces the 510.
I've never had an atty "pop" on me yet. Instead, they whither and die by way of under performing in terms of vapor and flavor to the point that I just can't stand to use it anymore at 3.7v. If a cleaning/dry burning does bring it back sufficiently, its done for. Some of these "done for" attys may still be usable at 5v (but they get really hot).
Popping attys is excatly that they pop. It is a distinct sound (usually when new) that occurs followed by the atty turning cold. Most of my attys will die off as stated, performance drops, then the die. However, I have also had them simply go cold. It has also occured after I have tried to revive them by cleaning. I am starting to lead towards cleaning is a pointless time consuming process that provides marginal results at best.
It has been stated we need to accept that attys are a semi-disposable item, with a life expectancy of 2 weeks at best. Armed with that information, any atomiser that lasts and performs past that is a bonus. Some folks have claimed? 10-12 months out of an atomiser. I find it a little reaching based on my own experience, but will nonethelss calssify it as an exception rather than a norm.
More to follow....