No more atty cleaning with isopropyl.

[JeffTM]

I recently used 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean three atomizers. It appeared to help at first, but I soon realized it was difficult to get a good amount of vapor from them. They still "work", but seem to have lost a lot of oomph. I recently tried a brand new atomizer and I'm getting plumes of smoke again. Has anyone else noticed this?

I'm thinking of joining the "don't clean until it fails" school of thought. I was cleaning to get flavor out, but I've found that just switching to a new flavor will eventually remove the flavor after 10 or so big puffs. I might just stick with hot water and a 24-hour dry for my next cleaning.

 

[MASSACRE SOxCAL]

I agree but I dont wait 24 hrs why when your gonna get it wet anyways,juices are made with water so just blow it out drip and happy vapin.

 

[Andy.Griego]

....ty i tried my first alcohol cleaning last night...better go check my vapor production

 

[StarsAndBars]

I don't clean mine anymore, just blow them out. If I notice a performance drop in an atty I will give it a dry burn. I know people say don't do that no matter what, but I have done it at least 6 times to the atty I am using now and it works like a beast (LR 510 from Eastmall). I do it whenever the atty starts acting slugish. Sometimes I fire it for 20 seconds without stopping. Do it until I see the entire coil glowing red, then stop. You'd be surprised how much gunk burns off the coil.

The thing that made me see dry burning worked was a youtube video I saw of this guy doing it to his. He sat there for what seemed like forever firing his. When it started glowing he stopped, let it cool, and dripped. I figured if it works for him why not me. This is not to say that you won't possibly kill an atty or so in the process, but once it stops working, I just add it to the 'ok I'll probabaly never use you again but still keep you around' drawer anyway. Wish I had the link to the video, its pretty insane.

 

[debb]

I also dry burn now...but if they need a cleaning...I use heated vinager...soak....and rinse...shake..and dry burn...so far so good...

 

[PVPuff&Stuff]

No need for solvents as long as you keep up with maintenance. Solvents can actually do more damage, by dissolving the glue used to hold the atomizer together, or by removing paint from the knockoff atties.

Best way I've found to prolong atomizer life is a daily regimen. Use your e-cig before you sack out for the night, get it nice and warm. Unscrew the atomizer, and put it mouth side down on a towel to drain overnight. Most of the atty problems come from those ventilation holes being plugged with dried up juice.

If you let it clear itself out every night, the buildup will take longer to accumulate.

Hot water seems to do the best cleaning work, without breaking down glues in the atomizer body. Hot, hot water....swish them back and forth vigorously for a few minutes, let dry....but you really shouldn't have to "clean" these things too much if you properly maintain them.

 

[debb]

I swish mine in the vin...figured if it works for my coffee pot...ya know...loving your avatar pvpuff&stuff...guess it shows my age,,,lol

 

[Liv2Ski]

I don't clean mine anymore, just blow them out. If I notice a performance drop in an atty I will give it a dry burn. I know people say don't do that no matter what, but I have done it at least 6 times to the atty I am using now and it works like a beast (LR 510 from Eastmall). I do it whenever the atty starts acting slugish. Sometimes I fire it for 20 seconds without stopping. Do it until I see the entire coil glowing red, then stop. You'd be surprised how much gunk burns off the coil.

The thing that made me see dry burning worked was a youtube video I saw of this guy doing it to his. He sat there for what seemed like forever firing his. When it started glowing he stopped, let it cool, and dripped. I figured if it works for him why not me. This is not to say that you won't possibly kill an atty or so in the process, but once it stops working, I just add it to the 'ok I'll probabaly never use you again but still keep you around' drawer anyway. Wish I had the link to the video, its pretty insane.

I do the same, but have resurected a dead LR atty or two. Actually vaping a LR 306 that crapped out last night. I have gotten upwards of 7 extra days of a "dead one". I do the bridgectomy, remove wick and then carefully squeze the coils together with pointed tweezers. If the break is in the coil this fix works.

 

[Krazirob]

cleaned my cheapo BLU atomizer and still puffing and vaping like a champ......but i am not cleaning again until it starts to not vape good!

 

[Sandybeach40]

I recently used 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean three atomizers. It appeared to help at first, but I soon realized it was difficult to get a good amount of vapor from them. They still "work", but seem to have lost a lot of oomph. I recently tried a brand new atomizer and I'm getting plumes of smoke again. Has anyone else noticed this?

I'm thinking of joining the "don't clean until it fails" school of thought. I was cleaning to get flavor out, but I've found that just switching to a new flavor will eventually remove the flavor after 10 or so big puffs. I might just stick with hot water and a 24-hour dry for my next cleaning.

I have a flavor now where if I switch flavors it takes 2 days to get it out completely. So far though most flavors I have are easy to vape out but this one is a stinker.

So far I have had the best success with isopropolyen alcohol

 

[PVPuff&Stuff]

I swish mine in the vin...figured if it works for my coffee pot...ya know...loving your avatar pvpuff&stuff...guess it shows my age,,,lol

It does scream "40" doesn't it...? Hot water is the best. Alcohol for the threads on the outside, but they're really not made to be soaked in a solvent. Maintenance daily, or replace them every couple weeks...pretty simple.

YouTube - H.R PUFNSTUF INTRO

 

[VinnieVapor]

+1 For clean only when needed
+1 For vinegar: good results and nearly no after taste
+1 For nothing beat a new atty

 

[texastumbleweed]

i have used the same three atomizers (mega eGo) for past 3 months, never cleaned any of them, when i switch flavors, i just switch and let the old one just wear off....have had no problems with vapor production or any technical issues.

I recently used 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean three atomizers. It appeared to help at first, but I soon realized it was difficult to get a good amount of vapor from them. They still "work", but seem to have lost a lot of oomph. I recently tried a brand new atomizer and I'm getting plumes of smoke again. Has anyone else noticed this?

I'm thinking of joining the "don't clean until it fails" school of thought. I was cleaning to get flavor out, but I've found that just switching to a new flavor will eventually remove the flavor after 10 or so big puffs. I might just stick with hot water and a 24-hour dry for my next cleaning.

 

[El Dee]

When I puff an atty I too get her red hot take it off and insert it again mouth side down in a water bottle lid...Lids, paper towels and those dang condoms seem to be multiplying around the computer overnight.
Saw this video on the cartos. The guy had a syringe from Wally that's used to give babies liquid meds. The carto slides tightly into a cone shaped adapter. He swore by 91% Isopropol and I had that so.....I saved a pile of carts and a few LR atties then went on a cleaning spree...Man even though it is said the 91 iso leaves no residue those cartos were like licking a monkey's azz...Past nasty...Way past...All straight too the trash. An atty or two seperated from the glue being dissolved. It did OK on two or three atties...but nothing was really wrong with them anyway...so...I've got a RO water filter and I'll use hot, hot water next time I'm feeling like cleaning atties/cartos...

 

[tweazee]

we dont use iso -- we used PGA everclear.
soak attys for less than 5 minutes, lift them out and let drain, repeat until steady stream, and immediately blow out, and sit upside down on papertowel.
so far no troubles with any of the attys, and ther are no after taste on attys.

 

[Bozzlite]

I have been cleaning my attys every couple of weeks with IPA 91%. I haven't noticed any reduction in vapor production. Soak for 5 minutes and flush them until there is a steady stream. Put them in front of a small fan to dry overnight.

Next time they need cleaning, I think I will try the vinegar or the Everclear/Vodka method. At least those aren't harmful if ingested. Well maybe the Everclear is. But vinegar is prolly the least expensive way to go.

 

[mgmrick]

I don't clean mine anymore, just blow them out. If I notice a performance drop in an atty I will give it a dry burn. I know people say don't do that no matter what, but I have done it at least 6 times to the atty I am using now and it works like a beast (LR 510 from Eastmall). I do it whenever the atty starts acting slugish. Sometimes I fire it for 20 seconds without stopping. Do it until I see the entire coil glowing red, then stop. You'd be surprised how much gunk burns off the coil.

The thing that made me see dry burning worked was a youtube video I saw of this guy doing it to his. He sat there for what seemed like forever firing his. When it started glowing he stopped, let it cool, and dripped. I figured if it works for him why not me. This is not to say that you won't possibly kill an atty or so in the process, but once it stops working, I just add it to the 'ok I'll probabaly never use you again but still keep you around' drawer anyway. Wish I had the link to the video, its pretty insane.

I just did dry burn on 2 bad attys last night...they are better than new now