How long does your atomizer last?

[skyward]

I have had trouble with my latest batch of DSE-901 attys. The metal wick seems to be loosening, which results in poor wicking to the coil. The atomizer is not very used and it is clean. The atomizer gets real hot, but produces weak vapor. (not a battery problem)
Anyway, today I took my "weak" atomizer and took off the wicking, which covers the "shroud". There is a small thin flat metal band that covers and protects the coil. I took some steel wool and unraveled it into "whispy" strands. Then I made two small balls of it and stuffed into each end on the coil, under the shroud. Each ball of stuffed steel wool extends out and touches the "wall" of the atomizer (provides better wicking")
I am quite pleased with the result. TONS of vapor once again! It is wicking very nicely also.
Best of all... $10.00 saved by not having to throw away the atomizer. I am going to look around today and find some "stainless steel" wool. That way it won't get rusty, and it should last the life of the coil.

should check the tips and tricks threads. was some talk a while back about heating steel wool and emitting some nasty stuff

[whatagem]

For a while, I've been lazy about not changing my wool. Once I threw out my ratty wools and got new stuffing into carts, it seems to be hitting OK. But just OK.

You didn't say how old your atty is or your batteries.

I'm actually using the original starter kit atomizer. The biggest prob I have with it is that the 1st couple of drags are like...Ahhhhh. Then after that it's like, eh. But it's always been like that. As to how old, I think I bought it in late march or early april. Played with it here & there for about a month, then begin heavy useage. So....about 2 months give or take?

if you're looking to save some $$

I usually order from bestecig.com if making a big enough order to level out the oversease shipping. I get liquid and the occasional needed accessory from True Vapor. But thanks for the tip--will def be checking those out.

Are there any occasions when you could use a usb pass-through with it?

I am totally blue-collar but I sell on eBay. Been wanting a USB for home since I usually spend hours in front of PC in evenings. Waiting for some $$ to come in ;-D

I took my "weak" atomizer and took off the wicking, which covers the "shroud". There is a small thin flat metal band that covers and protects the coil.....

Is there somewhere where this is shown in depth with photos? I'd like a better hit but I don't get how to do all this & we've only got 1 spare atomizer between the 2 of us

Also, the screwdrivers work with the 901 atty's/carts so your not really wasting money buying a SD

What else is compatible with the 901? If I decide to go with something else, what do you guys recommend? I like my 901 but am concerned that when it comes time to quit smoking (in about 1.5 weeks) that I'll go thru the old ready-for-a-real-cig that I so often do now. At this point I am not really so concerned about $$$ I just REALLY WANT TO QUIT SMOKING!!!!!

[wv2win]

What else is compatible with the 901? If I decide to go with something else, what do you guys recommend? I like my 901 but am concerned that when it comes time to quit smoking (in about 1.5 weeks) that I'll go thru the old ready-for-a-real-cig that I so often do now. At this point I am not really so concerned about $$$ I just REALLY WANT TO QUIT SMOKING!!!!!

If you want close to hassle free vaping, both the Screwdriver and the Prodigy from puresmoker work with 901 attys and carts so you wouldn't have to switch. An other option, in about 2-3 weeks most suppliers of DSE901's should have the new manual batteries for the 901. The manual pass throughs are already available. I would suggest trying one of these 3 options.

[ecigarettes4less]

I had mine about a month, and its still going strong

[Closet Toker]

No need for the steelwool anymore.
I use only my Screw Driver with the 901-4075 atomizer. When the vapor production starts to fade, but the atomizer still gets very hot... It's time to "clean burn" the atomizer.
Blow out the atomizer to get excess liquid out. Then run the dry atomizer until the coil gets cherry red. Run it for about 8-10 seconds. Sometimes I'll do this a second time after the atomizer has cooled back down. Then add four drops of liquid, let it soak for a minute and then try it. You should get good-normal vapor production again. If not, the atomizer is probably weak.

Before I learned this trick, I've probably threw away more than one perfectly fine atomizer.

[purrin]

Yeah i was searching for this topic. Cause I'm new to this. I've been sucking quite heavily on an njoy ciggy for about 6 days (been through 20-25ml liquid. The atomiser died today. It cots me about $45AU to import a new one and takes two weeks to arrive so I'm pretty dissapointed. Going to be looking around for a cheaper solution I think. It had just 'broken in' in the last couple of days and I was getting a lot of pleasure from it. Now I have to go back to cigs until it's resolved and they're foul. I spent a fair bit on the starter kit too and I was happy with it but I think I'll b3e going with a new model with cheaper atomisers. Haivng read around a bit it's not that unusual for them to blow out after a week. Being able to fix them at home would be a good thing.

[VA Slim]

Chain vaper here.....I keep 3 attys and 5 batts in rotation constantly. Attys have lasted me from 2 days to 3 months. They're fickle and disposable. You need to know that going in. Don't like manuals or pass thru's.....they don't give me the pleasure or freedom that I got from smoking analogs. I loved to smoke, now I love to vape.

[PurKat]

Ruyandirect.com and eastmall.net have very good prices if you're looking to save some $$. The downside (not to me though) is that they're in China. Orders usually take 7 to 10 days to get to you.

Have you had any problems with customs, when ordering from Eastmall? I notice they are not shipping right now, due some Chinese Holiday, but will be back to normal service by Oct 9, 2009.

Thanks!

[whatagem]

Hey everyone! I am currently averaging one week per atty but I am a pretty heavy vapor. I have tried the whole cleaning thing---really not worth it. Nasty taste & very little power; time to throw it out.

I have discovered that with a few, I gently blew them out from battery end, stood them up with cart side down & batt end up in the air....after a few days I tried one & working like new. But of course this could be a result of my laziness to blow them out every now & then.

$6 per week plus the cost of batteries isn't so bad. Looking into mods to cut my battery cost so I can once & for all begin spending/saving my cigarette money--ha ha!
Currently using a Kensington battery pack with a pass thru around the house--getting me into trouble because I am LOVING the 5 volts.

All Chinese supplies out till the 9th :-(
too bad cuz I'm in serious need for batteries and China is just cheaper!

[cyberwolfrob]

Wel I have been vaping on one specific atty continuously for the past month and it seems to be holding up pretty damn good. This is one for the 901