Idea for atomiser cleaning (die-hard version)

[kinabaloo]

This is a suggestion for experimentation by the hard-core. Do not try this at home! Until we know it is of any use ...

The idea is for atomisers in a bad way, not routine cleaning (at least, not till we know its is effective and not detrimental). It is based on the cola / vinegar cleaning concept.

I don't have any atomisers like this to try it. So if any daredevils out there want to give it a go, here's what to do. Best done with a manual and goggles just to be completely safe, though it will probably be undramatic.

Take dying bunged-up atomiser, blow out existing liquid. Drip in considerable amount of vinegar (say, 5-6 drops). Let it soak in for a minute. And then ... activate it ! That is, switch it on (obviously a manual vaporiser it best suited for this). For 1 second. Repeat 2 or 3 times. Drip again and repeat. Blow out vinegar, rinse, prime and see if it has helped or hindered.

If cola/vinegar can achieve deposit removal, then adding heat could well greatly enhance that effect. Starting with a very dry atomiser would let the vinegar soak into the coil's core and probably work best of all. I suggest vinegar for this rather than cola because the heat - there's sugar in cola and the heat could make the deposits worse. And there's gas (which might just be how cola works) but i still suggest vinegar for the my heat clean method idea.

Any brave soul tries this, do report back - works or not.

If it does work, we can develop a 'cleaning juice'

[Sun Vaporer]

Originally Posted by kinabaloo

This is a suggestion for experimentation by the hard-core. Do not try this at home! Until we know it is of any use ...

The idea is for atomisers in a bad way, not routine cleaning (at least, not till we know its is effective and not detrimental). It is based on the cola / vinegar cleaning concept.

I don't have any atomisers like this to try it. So if any daredevils out there want to give it a go, here's what to do. Best done with a manual and goggles just to be completely safe, though it will probably be undramatic.

Take dying bunged-up atomiser, blow out existing liquid. Drip in considerable amount of vinegar (say, 5-6 drops). Let it soak in for a minute. And then ... activate it ! That is, switch it on (obviously a manual vaporiser it best suited for this). For 2 or 3 seconds. Repeat 2 or 3 times. Drip again and repeat. Blow out vinegar, rinse, prime and see if it has helped or hindered.

If cola/vinegar can achieve deposit removal, then adding heat could well greatly enhance that effect. Starting with a very dry atomiser would let the vinegar soak into the coil's core and probably work best of all. I suggest vinegar for this rather than cola because the heat - there's sugar in cola and the heat could make the deposits worse. And there's gas (which might just be how cola works) but i still suggest vinegar for the my heat clean method idea.

Any brave soul tries this, do report back - works or not.

If it does work, we can develop a 'cleaning juice'

kinabaloo--This idea definatly is has merit to give a go --theory being that you would not try to clean a stove without heat--hence why would an atomizer come clean without heat and the vingear has not been employed--I will report my findings of this approch-----Sun

[kinabaloo]

Thanks Sun. I don't see that it could do any harm. If it works, next is to find the best, non-toxic, not too string acid - phosphoric acid as in cola, acetic (vinegar), citric, ...

[Sun Vaporer]

Originally Posted by kinabaloo

Thanks Sun. I don't see that it could do any harm. If it works, next is to find the best, non-toxic, not too string acid - phosphoric acid as in cola, acetic (vinegar), citric, ...

Kinabaloo--I would walk a mile for a good vape and a solution to the elusive atomizer issues. People may say--what is the big deal about a 10 dollar part--well we can replcate the batteries of the e-cig--we can make our own cores and cartridges--we can do our own e-liquid---we can not to date replicate that atomizer and if they are banned for futher sale--how much is that 10 dollar part worth to you then---So I will give it a go----Sun

[kinabaloo]

Hi Sun, RjG in the modders forum has made a new coil and it works! Very good explanation and photos : Cigar rebuild - PICS (Bling v2)

If it really came to us having to make our own parts, some of us will find a way to make it easy for people to replace the inner coil by making the atomiser openable. I will certainly try And then either the wire or ready-made coils plus the easy-to-open-and-replace-coil-tubes will become available i am sure.

[ill_dawg]

Also, the people here in the polish forum seem to have rebuilt a 901 att. It's worth checking out the pics even if you can't read Polish.

http://e-papierosy.phorum.pl/viewtopic.php?t=223

[~Wonder]

I use hot vinegar to remove mineral deposits from my pyrex pots. An easy way for people who don't have a manual switch would be to pour some distilled white vinegar into a coffee pot and put it on the heating element of the coffee maker. Or I guess you could just put the vinegar in a pot on the stove and just bring it to a boil and then turn if off and plop the atomizer in. Let us know how it turns out.

[kinabaloo]

I have just dome experimenting. Examined one of my atomisers and the coil was just a black lump although the ridges of the wire could be made out. More or less managed to get off all the black stuff and it still works.

I had the inner atomiser out of the tube for this so i could observe progress with a magnifying glass. With nothing much happening at first, i got brave and dipped the whole thing in vingar and then applied current for about 10 -15 seconds - about five or so more seconds from when it began to fizz. Still no obvious improvement, still looked black. So did the same a few more times but this time dipping into the vinegar while it was fizzing. Still black. But after adding some VG and heating, the coil became a white/light gray/silverish color and the black stuff was all gone! All in all, it didnt take long but just gung-ho experimenting. There was no need to take the inner atomiser from its tube except to be able to clearly see the results. Pity I am unable to take photos on uper macro to show you.

I think Wonder's idea of approach could achieve the same thing more easily. Put in the whole atomiser (still in tube) and move around to get out air. Bring to a simmering boil. Remove from heat and leave in the still hot vinegar for say half an hour. If anyone tries this on an underperforming atomiser let us know how it goes. Heating the actual atomiser coil may not be essential but remains a possible method if the heated bath does not perform so well. What i enviage is a 'cleaning juice' composed of just clear vinegar or clear vingar mixed with VG.

Vinegar plus heat - kooking really promising, to say the least. I can not only report an improvement but a visible result

[exogenesis]

That sound very hopefull,
presumably the VG increased the boiling point & reduced the heat transfer
rate around the hot sumberged coil = locally superheated vinegar ?

Sounds do-able with an intact atomizer as well,
just a bit fiddly to apply the voltage while it's submerged.

Good test

[kinabaloo]

exogenesis - i did run it at times while it was submerged but feel that was not important. I dipped it in while running so to get a sudden cooling and also to simply flood it with vinegar. The sudden cooling may well also be unnecessary. I think hot vinegar is alone the key to the success.

A little strange that only when i 'gave up' and put on some VG (without rinsing it first) that all the black stuff disappeared. A liitle part had come off earlier but no more until the VG. I added the VG just to prime it ready for use again, but luckily i examined the coil after a few heatings with the VG. I suspect the VG just washed off the already softened black deposit although i didnt notice any black particles (though they would not necessarily be easy to see. Perhaps the coating of the vinegar soaked coil with viscous VG helped as you suggest. That's an idea akin to my theory of how the deposit could in part be degraded VG.